Through every turn I'll be near you
I'll come anytime you call
I'll catch you when you fall
I'll be guiding you
~Magic-Olivia Newton John~
The first thing Cordana saw when she regained consciousness was Khadgar's beautiful blue eyes gazing into hers. She felt his hand stroking her forehead and heard his soothing voice tell her she was going to be ok and that he would never again let her be parted from him.
Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts that she wanted to share with him, but in truth all she did was lie there staring. He took her hand, and she tried to squeeze his, but she was so weak, all she managed was a twitch. Cordana hurt all over. Although the healer and the physician had repaired the greatest of the damage, her body had been through a lot, and only time would see to the rest.
Once she had been stabilized, they had moved her to the recovery area. The injured were still trickling in, but the worst cases had been dealt with. Sadly there had been many deaths, mostly from the military quarter. Lady Toriona had lost a battle mage, and Jaaral had seen 3 well seasoned soldiers fall. Some of the citizens who had refused to leave their homes had also died, but in many cases they had managed to take a few shadow council with them.
War was a terrible thing, and the garrison was in mourning.
Khadgar asked if he could take Cordana back to the Tower and care for her himself, but due to the severity of her injuries it was strongly suggested she remain in the infirmary in case of any complications. Khadgar conjured a tiny room around her bed, so that she would have some quiet, and he created himself a little cot to sleep on. There was no way he would leave her side.
Lady Toriona came by to visit. She sat with Cordana and talked of mundane things, and the Kaldorei just looked and listened.
Commander Jaaral also paid a visit, and thanked her for her assistance. He asked if there was anything she needed or wanted, but Cordana just smiled and shook her head.
At night, Khadgar pushed his cot beside her bed and held her hand while he floated a tome before him and read.
On the third night, Cordana was able to squeeze his hand and the first words she said to him were I love you.
Khadgar asked for her forgiveness, for leaving her alone in the heat of battle.
"I should have stayed with you and found another to take that child to the bunker. You may be assigned to protect me by the Enclave Cordana, but I am assigned to protect you by my heart."
He kissed her and stroked her cheek. "I thought I would lose you, and if that had happened I would not be able to go on. You are my greatest strength, and my greatest weakness."
She gave him a smile. "I spent a lot of time searching for you, afraid that you would be overwhelmed and unable to hold your own. You might be incredibly powerful but you are just a man under all that battle gear!"
He gave a laugh. "I am indeed. I believe most of my skirmishes were fought trying to free residents and see them to the bunker. When one would be saved, I became aware of others. By the time I reached where we had parted, you were nowhere to be found, and the chaos made it impossible for me to find you. I will not let that happen again, Cordana."
She reached a hand up and touched his face. "I did try to follow you but a wild Rylak attacked me. That was a fearsome beast to be sure. Thankfully Jaaral was there to help, I am not sure that I could have prevailed against it if not for him and the others."
Khadgar extinguished the lights. "Rest now, Cordana. I will be right here with you. Tomorrow I am able to take you back to the Tower and take care of you. Unless you wish to stay here, of course."
"No, I wish to go home, with you!" she said.
"I figured that would be your answer. I am glad that you trust me enough to care for you, since you have told me that I seem unable to care for myself!" His eyes sparkled and he gave her a mischievous grin.
"That is very true and why I need to be close to you at all times. As for the other thing...that is what your name means, does it not? Trust?"
He nodded. "Indeed it does, in Dwarven."
Cordana thought about it for a moment. "You know, that made a rather interesting dichotomy...Medivh's name meant "Keeper of Secrets" in the Kaldorei tongue."
Khadgar smiled. "I haven't thought about that for a long time, but you are right! Now, you truly do need to rest." He handed her a cup of honey mead with the elixir inside it that would dull her pain and help her to relax. As she drank it and settled against the pillows, the Warden reached for the Archmage's hand.
Feeling the effects of the drink kick in, she gazed into Khadgar's eyes until she fell asleep.