Chapter 57: Borrowed Time (Daveth)
When evening came in the castle, Daveth woke up in a room unfamiliar to him. Seeing this, the healer immediately left.
- Hey, can you tell me where I am? - the thief asked him, not getting the answer.
He began to look around. There were no weapons or anything that could replace weapons in the room. Daveth tried to recall what happened after Nancine wounded him. They were in the woods, he remembered that for sure. Then there was severe pain, darkness, Elissa's voice and one nightmare repeated time and time again.
Daveth's thoughts were interrupted by an older woman in a dress who entered the room. The thief examined her and immediately realized that she was a noble, but her posture and gait made it clear that she was not afraid to get her hands dirty if necessary.
- Ser Daverth, right? - the woman asked.
- Almost, it's Daveth. And please don't call me "ser". I can't stand this title.
- My name is Eleanor Cousland.
- Cousland? Are you the mother of twins? So, we have reached the Waking Sea?
- Yes, that's right. Elissa spoke of your courage. You saved her from a fatal blow, and I thought it deserved a reward.
Daveth thought of gold, but Eleanor took out a longbow from behind her back.
- This bow belonged to me for several decades and saved me from the Orlesians and other enemies. I wanted to pass it on to one of my children, but none of the three became archers. And I decided that any worthy archer would get it. Elissa and Roderick said a lot of good things about you, so I have decided to give my bow to you.
- Thank you, Lady Eleanor, - Daveth said with slight disappointment and took up the bow. - Where is Elissa? I would like to talk to her.
- She is walking with Roger on the western ramparts.
- Understood. Thanks again.
Daveth left the room and, with the help of several guards, found the wall. On it, Elissa looked at the sea waves, and Roger ran in circles.
- Enjoying the view? - Daveth asked.
- Yes. This is a good view. There is a similar view from Highever. Not from the castle itself, but from the harbor. When I was sad, I sneaked out to the harbor and sat by the sea.
- That was not the case in my village, m'lady. There were only views of the huts.
- I'm sorry that I'm talking too much about myself. Glad you're back on your feet.
- Thank you for dragging me to the castle.
- Roderick is to be thanked for that, and not just me.
- Roderick is not a stunning beautiful lady, unlike a certain girl.
- Yes, about that… I don't know if you heard me in the afternoon or not…
Daveth remembered what Elissa had said. Something about a curse on her. That everyone she was close to dying.
- Yes, but listen to me. You remember the Joining, don't you? I then told ser knight that I was ready to give anything to stop the Blight. And I spoke the truth, because I have nothing but my own life. Which means I don't have much to give.
- What does it have to do with this?
- You told me about Dairren, about his death, about the fact that he is not the first to end up like this. You're afraid for me, but that doesn't make sense. I'm ready to die. Seriously, I'm ready. And while I was unconscious, I became even more convinced of this. I had the same nightmare eight times in a row. the nightmare about the Joining. It included Duncan, Alistair, Theron, ser knight and myself. I drank the blood first and died a painful death. Then everything was the same, but instead of Theron there was Faren, and then Sereda, Aedan, Neria, Kallian and Daylen took his place in turn. You were the last one. I died eight times in my sleep. And after that, I'm not scared anymore. I was supposed to die at the Joining, but something just didn't let me die.
- Of course, I'm glad to see such zeal in you. But... why, of all the girls in our group, are you so interested in me?
- I see how you suffer. I don't know what you were like before we met, but you were hardly on edge all the time. How many hours a day have you slept since we left Denerim?
- Three or four.
- But it's not normal. Even Aedan slept more. I can't watch you hurt yourself over Dairren's death.
- But I deserve it! - Elissa yelled, looking at Daveth intently. - If we hadn't been together, he wouldn't have been in the castle that night.
- Being with you is his choice. Like mine. You need to relax and let go of what happened. Howe will pay for what he did, but if he turns you into this, then you can say that he's already won.
Daveth turned to Elissa and took a step forward.
- Now I'll take one more step. And we will be very close to each other. If you say "No" or even slap me, I will understand and stop bothering you forever. You decide.
The thief approached the girl even closer and, after waiting ten seconds and receiving no reaction, passionately kissed her. Elissa broke the kiss to say:
- Let's go to my room.
An hour later, the Teyrn's daughter and the thief lay naked in bed, tired but content.
- I'm sorry, - Elissa said. - I shouldn't have started it so soon.
- No problem, m'lady.
- I told you not to call me that!
- Old habits, sorry. Now I won't. Will you tell your mother about us?
- Not yet. Perhaps we should not rush and make any plans. Let's leave things as they are.
Elissa ended her answer with a kiss.
- It will be better that way, - Daveth said. – Treat me as something temporary. And when I die... when I die, keep on living and never look back. But as long as I'm alive, I'll be with you.
The young thief didn't lie in bed for the first time in his life. Feeling that he does not have much time left to live, he is ready to do everything for Elissa.