"How much trouble can one person get into?" Eden muttered to herself unhappily, sitting huddled next to Arielle under the waxed canvas as the rain poured relentlessly around them.
"I'm sorry... I was just... It was... I..." Arielle stuttered and then her voice trailed off when she could find no reasonable explanation.
Earlier during the day, when Eden had mentioned something about stopping and eating, but that their supplies were running a little low, Arielle was absolutely set on the idea of hunting something. To Eden's surprise, the bard had decided on fowl hunting since there were so many birds in the area. Secretly, Arielle had wanted to get her own revenge on Eden and show her that she could pluck birds out of the sky with the same ease Eden plucked fish out of the water. The sky had been growing more and more menacing as time dragged on and Eden didn't like it. She tried to hurry the bard along, but Arielle told her to remain patient. The bard managed to shoot down two birds with relative ease and grinned proudly as the warrior acknowledged the achievement quietly. When Eden mentioned that maybe Arielle should get the birds before the jackals that were also around did, the blond shot off into the forested hills. And then she got lost. Eden found her some time later, an impatient scowl on her face, but it was more at the weather than at the breathless bard. Dark clouds had already completely overtaken them and rain began to fall lazily as they made their way out of the hills and back onto the road.
Eden had a faint hope that the storm would die out quickly, but it seemed set on proving her wrong. The guardian suggested several times that they should perhaps stop and wait out the storm, but Arielle would say that she had a good feeling about it, that there was no sense in waiting it out, it would be over soon. That way they ended up spending two hours in the pouring rain, pulling their unconvinced horses behind them, their feet ankle deep in mud. A wind kicked up to add insult to injury, driving the rain into their faces with stinging accuracy and making them very aware of being cold and wet. Eden finally had had enough and having noticed an outcropping in the hills that formed a kind of hood, she turned them all toward it. It was long and deep enough for the horses to find some relief from the weather. Unfortunately, the slanted rain reached the women and Eden took out her waxed canvas, deciding that wet clothes that were inside could dry while wet people could get sick. The two women huddled underneath it both due to lack of space and a feeble attempt to keep warm. Eden was used to extreme conditions and though she was just as wet and cold as the bard, she focused her thoughts on other things. Arielle, on the other hand, sat there pretending she wasn't shaking, yet the rattling of the canvas giving her away. There was no use in changing, their new clothes would quickly get wet and getting a fire going was next to impossible. Eden took off her metal armor and shifted closer to the blond, hoping some of her body heat would reach her. Arielle looked across at her and saw the guardian's sour expression.
"What is it?" the bard asked, trying to force her teeth to stop chattering, "Except for the fact that we practically drowned in the rain because I absolutely had to play Artemis?"
The warrior didn't respond to the try at humor and it made Arielle a little nervous. It meant that the situation was serious, or that the warrior was angry, or both.
"I'm trying to find a way to get us warm." Eden mumbled.
"That's alright," Arielle replied, giving a try at nonchalance, "I've been cold for the last two hours. I can hardly notice it now."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Eden asked with a light bitterness.
"Well, I... I didn't want you to think I was weak or complaining." the bard blurted out.
A short silence fell between them as Eden's eyebrows furrowed over a solemn thought.
"I'm sorry..." Arielle said quietly, "That sounded like you're to blame for this."
"Aren't I?" the guardian replied shortly.
"No. I could have said something about it, but I chose not to."
"Because of me."
"Eden," Arielle sighed lightly, "it's not your fault. I should have said something."
"And I could have noticed." the warrior replied sulkily.
"My goodness," the bard exclaimed in light exasperation, "you can't have eyes around your head and also inside of mine."
"I should have just known better."
"Eden, I'm not a child!"
Eden gave the bard a look that told her that she wasn't a warrior either.
"Listen, I'll probably just have a cold. I'll be a little sick and then I'll be well again. I have a tendency towards colds; I know what they're like."
Eden shot her a look of stern concern.
"Eden, please, stop worrying! I can take care of myself."
"I can see that." the warrior muttered and Arielle exhaled loudly.
"You're acting like I'm 5 years old and you're my nurse." Arielle grumbled.
"I may not be your nurse, but I am responsible for you."
"Are we really going to argue over this?" Arielle asked impatiently.
"Why not? We already are." Eden retorted in the same tone.
An edgy silence fell between them which was quickly filled by the roaring rain.
The day turned to evening and the evening was nearing night and the rain had no intention of letting the women go. They sat huddled together, pressing their backs against the rock wall, hopelessly trying to make themselves smaller. Arielle shivered and Eden willed herself not to, knowing that her shivering would only underline the predicament they were in and frighten the young bard. Eden stared hard at the rain, hating every drop of it and violently searching her mind for a solution. The waxed canvas kept the wind and water out, but they were soaked and Eden knew that staying like that too long would be the death of them both.
Arielle was startled when Eden quickly tossed the canvas aside, got up, and wrapped it tightly around the bard.
"What are you doing?" the blond asked nervously.
"We can't stay here. I'll go see if I can find something better."
"No." Arielle stammered out alarmed, grasping Eden's arm through the canvas, "It's dark... You can't see a thing in all this... You'll get lost."
"I'll be fine."
"Don't leave me." Arielle blurted out suddenly.
Eden heard the strain in the blond's voice and saw the fear in her eyes and it touched a rare soft spot in her. Yet, the urgency to get them to safety was greater.
"I'll be back soon."
Eden tore away from the bard's grip before the blond had a chance to protest or disagree. Arielle followed Eden with wide eyes, watching her quickly disappear into the rain. She pulled the canvas more tightly around herself and quietly began to wish for Eden's immediate return, suddenly feeling very alone and vulnerable. She noticed that the dark seemed darker, the rain colder, the wind more relentless, and the desert vaster and more uninviting without the guardian's presence beside her. It was such a simple yet poignant thing. And as the bard wrapped her arms around her knees and drew them in close to her chest, a strange thought entered her mind. Here in the middle of a place where no one in their right mind would want to be, Arielle probably felt as accepted as she ever had in her life. She had acted childishly, naively, and even irresponsibly, she knew that. Yet, she realized that Eden had never chastised her for it. She would sigh, roll her eyes, even lose her temper somewhat from time to time, but she never criticized or patronized her. Instead the warrior would note the things she did well and the rest she would set upon her own shoulders. It was an earth-shattering thought for the bard who had lived her entire life in the shadow of inadequacy and constant disappointment in her. Yet she swept the thought away quickly under the carpet of her fear. I will never belong... If I make others happy enough then maybe one day I'll be happy too... Maybe...
Arielle was torn out of her thoughts with the sudden appearance of a completely drenched warrior carrying a tired smile.
"Come on," Eden said, a little breathless, "I found something."
The bard got to her feet as Eden turned back around. It was dark now, the rain driving against them hard. Arielle wondered how Eden could see anything at all and tried to follow the barely visible warrior, slipping and sliding in the mud. A shot of fear ran down her spine that she might lose sight of her and she then instinctively reached out and grabbed Eden's hand. At first she felt an uncomfortable and surprised jerk, but as the guardian's hand realized who had grabbed it, it settled and slightly strengthened its grip. They stumbled and slid along, keeping close to the mountain, Arielle letting Eden almost pull her along. The bard noticed that they had probably reached the place Eden was talking about when the sharp rapping of the rain against the canvas finally stopped. She pulled the canvas off her head and looked around only to see a lot of darkness. She noticed the audible dripping from the warrior.
"It's a small cavern. We can make a fire, I hope. I moved the horses to somewhere more sheltered already." Eden stated.
"That's... good..." Arielle managed, not being able to think of anything better to say.
They both turned toward one another and caught each other's gaze at the same time in the very dim light. They didn't know what to say or do so they simply stayed like that and became suddenly acutely aware that they were still holding each other's hand. But their gaze didn't move. Their hands didn't let go. And something passed between them then, amongst the echoes of the water dripping off of the soaked warrior. They both noticed it. They didn't know what it was exactly or how to describe it, but they could feel it there. It moved from their eyes and their breath, settling on the other's skin, soaking in through their blood until it finally embedded itself deep in their bones. Arielle didn't know why she wasn't scared. Eden didn't know why she was.
A sudden, violent fit of shaking coming from the bard threw them back into reality and Eden broke away and wandered into the back of the cavern in search of anything that might burn. She silently thanked God when she found some quite old deadwood and brought some back to the front of the cavern and began making a fire in front of some larger rocks with such practical efficiency that the bard couldn't help but look on in admiration. Soon an orange and yellow glow filled the cavern and just the crackle of the fire made them both feel a little warmer. As soon as Eden saw the fire was well on its way, she grabbed her still rather dry cloak which she had taken out of her saddlebags earlier and held it up in front of the blond.
"Out." Eden ordered.
The bard blinked at her.
"Out of those clothes." Eden explained and then waved the cloak a little, "Put this on until they dry."
Arielle gave a small nod, but still stared at the warrior. Eden sighed and hung her head, driving her gaze into the ground, and pulled the cloak up enough to nearly hide her completely from Arielle's view. Just when Eden thought that she was going to have to raise her voice with impatience, she heard the bard starting to struggle her way out of her armor and clothes. When she felt her take the cloak away, Eden spun around quickly and walked a few paces away, trying to make Arielle feel as comfortable as possible.
"I'm finished." Arielle announced quietly.
Eden turned around slowly and saw the bard standing there, wrapped in her black cloak, holding the middle tightly so that it wouldn't open. Arielle looked so lost and helpless in that moment that the warrior thought that she might have smiled if the situation wasn't so gloomy.
"Sit down." Eden said, pointing the bard to the rocks near the fire.
The bard nodded, shuffled over carefully and sat down, leaning against the rock. Eden scurried about the cavern like the woman of the household. She lay Arielle's clothes out to dry along with her own gambeson which she finally peeled off and other things she had pulled out of their saddlebags. She scowled noticeably at the state of their food and supplies and then let out a loud sigh since nothing could be done about it now. She found a longer tunic that was the driest thing they had between them and changed into it, laying her clothes out to dry too. She took out some herbs from her pouch which was thankfully dry and put some in two cups. Eden then disappeared with their small, iron pot only to return with it full of rainwater and she set it on the fire. When it boiled, she poured the water over the herbs and handed one cup to the bard.
"Drink this. Slowly." Eden said as Arielle took the cup from her.
They sat next to each other and sipped on their tea, the rain now more of a background melody than before. When Arielle had finished her tea, she handed the cup over to Eden.
"I'm sorry that I'm just sitting here like this." she said apologetically, "I talked about taking care of myself and I simply sit here like a little child. I just can't get myself to move somehow."
"Are you still cold?" Eden asked, concern spreading across her face as she noticed that the shivering hadn't subsided.
She touched the bard's cheek lightly and her face turned stern. Arielle was warm to the touch.
"It would be better if you were inside." Eden remarked mostly to herself.
Slightly worried green eyes looked into concerned blue ones and Eden suddenly realized that she was still touching the bard, her hand now traveling over her forehead. Her hand froze. What is going on with me? She pulled it away and turned her head to look out at the pouring rain, debating whether to brave it in order to get Arielle to the nearest town. But the rain was too heavy, it was too dark, and Tyre was too far. She exhaled loudly.
"You wouldn't happen to be able to control the weather, now would you?" Arielle asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Sometimes it seems I'm not able to do anything at all." Eden replied, turning back to the bard with a small, yet sad smile.
"Hey... That's not true..." Arielle reassured gently, her hand unconsciously floating to the warrior's slumped shoulder, "If not for you, we would probably be underwater by now."
The green eyes turned soft as they peered into the now sad blue ones. Arielle noticed how many different shades those blue eyes could turn. Depending on the warrior's emotions, her eyes looked like ice, the ocean, sapphires, or tears. She wondered what the guardian's eyes looked like when she was happy. She would have liked to one day see her happy.
Eden hung her head, feeling pleasantly uncomfortable under the blond's gaze, put her hands on her knees, and got up while the bard's eyes followed her. She crouched near the fire and began making another round of steeped herbs.
"Drink this," Eden told Arielle, turning towards her on her heels and handing her the ready cup, "then get some sleep. We'll try to make you as warm as possible."
Arielle nodded gratefully, taking the cup and beginning to sip from it gingerly. Eden drank from her own, remaining near the fire, enjoying its heat on her uncovered, cool legs. When Arielle was finished, Eden swept over their damp things, feeling for those which were hopefully dry. She handed the bard her shirt and pants and later put on her own. Exhaustion and fever were beginning to overwhelm Arielle and she didn't really notice how they ended up on relatively soft bedding, lying on their sides beside each other and under some makeshift covers and the waxed canvas which kept out the light wind and kept in some heat.
"Thank you, Eden." Arielle said to the warrior facing her, her eyes growing heavy, "I'll wake up feeling much better tomorrow, you'll see."
Eden replied with a light smile although her gut was telling her something different.
"Sleep well." the warrior murmured.
The bard fell asleep before she could answer.
Yet, Arielle slept fitfully throughout the night, tossing and turning. Eden awoke every now and again and noticed the bard's flushed cheeks and damp forehead. When Arielle would toss the covers aside, Eden would silently wrap them back around her and it went on all night. When dawn began to break, Eden awoke to a sun breaking weakly through a mostly cloudy sky. At least it had stopped raining though the clouds threatened that it could start again at any moment. But she also awoke to a feverish Arielle who had begun to develop a bad cough. Eden was worried, but didn't let it show, not wanting to scare Arielle any more than necessary. She silently decided that she didn't give a care if even Jesus and Lucifer themselves were going to have a duel right in the middle of the road, she had to get them to Tyre as soon as possible.
Eden packed their things quickly and then talked Arielle out of wearing armor and instead into putting on an extra shirt.
"But I'm going to be a little vulnerable without my armor, aren't I?" Arielle tried to argue.
"That's what you have me for, isn't it?" Eden responded, the small smile twitching in the corner of her mouth.
Arielle smiled, sighed, and gave up.
Although Eden rode them hard to Tyre, she stayed as close as possible to the bard, keeping a watchful eye on her at all times. She was slightly relieved that although her cough was getting worse, Arielle had enough strength to keep herself on her horse and maintain their pace.
They reached Tyre in the afternoon and had no time or energy to admire the city and its seemingly countless towers and massive walls colored like the surrounding sands, stretching from the main gate to the harbor on the other side that finally opened into the sea. Eden walked them both into the first tavern they encountered which thankfully turned out to be a rather reasonable one as far as the quality, people, food, and price were concerned. The tavern keeper was a bit of a different story. The two women walked up to the long, wide counter full of plates, mugs, and tall goblets. The tavern keeper was a large, burly woman with long, curly hair showering down her shoulders and with a dress that had a neckline which seemed to be meant to display her very impressive cleavage.
"Are you the keeper?" Eden asked.
"Aye." she answered gruffly, eyeing her with an immediate and evident distaste.
"I'd like a room with two beds, please." Eden announced, trying to sound as friendly as possible.
The keeper kept eyeing Eden harshly and it was already starting to get on the warrior's nerves.
"The two of you?"
"Yes."
"No more of you anywheres?" she asked suspiciously, scanning the tavern quickly.
"No... Two beds for two people. Do you have a room or not?" Eden replied, a growing impatience tainting her voice.
"Well," the keeper said hesitantly, "I might got a room."
"Good." Eden finally answered and started to move to get out some money when the keeper interrupted.
"I run a nice establishment here, see? No fighting and the like, see?"
"That's fine."
"Fine, ey? Well, I know your like, see?" the keeper drawled, leaning over the counter, her immense chest almost spilling out of her dress, "I don't tolerate no trouble, see?"
"Well, you won't get any from us." Eden answered shortly as Arielle, who was standing next to her, coughed.
"What's with that little one?" the keeper asked, jerking her thumb at Arielle.
"She's just a little sick."
"Sick, ey?"
"It's just a cold. I got caught out in the storm yesterday." Arielle added softly.
"Cold or no, I ain't liking the looks of it, see? Hows I know that you don't have a plague or such? I'm running a nice place here and I don't need no people turning up dead on me, see? Don't know where you've been and the like."
"Listen," Eden started, no longer hiding her irritation, "we're travelers so obviously we're tired, hungry, and a general mess. We wouldn't still be standing here if we weren't."
"Travelers?!" the keeper exclaimed, standing up straight and throwing her hands up in the air in amusement, "Ha, that's a good one! Now, you might fit the part, but I can see that little blond tart gets aroun-"
"Shut. Your. Mouth." Eden interrupted, growling through her clamped teeth and leaning forward, "That's my friend you're insulting."
The tavern keeper's amusement disappeared in a heartbeat. She gasped when she saw Eden's countenance turn from general disinterested annoyance to a menacing violent threat in half a breath. The blue eyes turned icy, the lean body became taut with battle readiness, and she seemed to draw all the energy from everything in the tavern and was simply waiting to unleash it with a cruel pleasure. Eden spread her arms wide over the counter, her hands gripping the edge as if she wanted to pull it up and rip it out. And truthfully, probably the only thing that kept Eden from doing just that was a hand she felt rest gently on her shoulder and a nearly silent whisper of her name.
"Look lady," Eden growled, "either you want trouble or you don't. The decision's yours."
"Didn't mean no offense or the like." the tavern keeper said quickly, "I gots a room that'll be to your liking, I'd be guessing. Just like you asked. I... I'll even throw in hot water for no charge. So there's no hard feelings and the like."
"Throw in an apology and you'll have a deal." Eden practically ordered.
"I beg your apologies, miss." the tavern keeper said to Arielle nervously.
"I took no offense. I can understand that you have to maintain the quality of your establishment." Arielle answered sympathetically, giving a small smile.
Eden almost snorted in disbelief and the tavern keeper gave the bard a little look of relief.
"I've been running this... establishment since my husband's passing, bless that poor bastard's soul. Ain't easy for a woman around these parts. Get all sorts around here, noble folks and shifty bastards. Got to keep a handle on things, see? Makes a woman mighty suspicious of everything, see?" the tavern keeper explained.
Arielle gave her a smile and nodded with understanding which got a smile from the keeper in return, revealing a couple back teeth missing.
"Here's your key. Up the stairs, to the right, at the end. Ain't no enemies in this tavern, see? You need anything little one, you just say Berta says it gots to be done." Berta said anxiously and handed the key to Arielle.
"Thank you very much, Berta. You're very kind." the bard responded and the two women turned to go to their room.
Eden gave the keeper an extra glare for good measure and saw her shrink away a little. In the middle of the rather long flight of stairs, another fit of coughing took Arielle and the warrior wrapped her arm around the bard's waist so she wouldn't lose her balance. The more frequent and more severe coughs were beginning to worry Eden, she had never seen a cold develop so fast. She stole a glance at the bard and noticed that she was growing warmer as she was getting paler.
"Come on now," Eden gently encouraged, supporting the blond and helping her up the rest of the stairs, "we're almost there."
When they reached the room and Eden had shut the door behind them, their exhaustion suddenly caught up with them and they both simultaneously slumped onto the same bed. Eden was relieved when she felt that the room was warm and dry. Both women felt their eyes drifting closed.
"Eden?" Arielle whispered, her eyes closed.
"What is it?" Eden replied, her eyes flying open as she sat up and turned to the side, hovering over Arielle.
"Must everyone keep calling me 'little one'?" the bard asked with a slight exasperation that made Eden chuckle a little.
"Well, what do you want to be called?"
"How do people usually address you?"
"Well... most people are usually too scared to address me at all."
"Oh." Arielle said, a little disappointed, but realizing that it was probably true, "Perhaps just remind me that after I get better, my next task is to grow."
Eden gave her a warm smile that the bard didn't see. She got up and began to shift the bard in the bed.
"Alright then... giant one, time for some rest." Eden said, pulling the bard's boots off and the covers over her.
"Rest?" Arielle protested half-heartedly, "It's the middle of the day."
Eden raised a brow and Arielle opened her mouth, but then decided it was useless and closed it. Eden got up and was deciding on what to do next when Arielle interrupted her thoughts.
"You rest too." she murmured.
This time the warrior opened her mouth to protest, but then decided that it wasn't such a bad idea. She was really exhausted and the supplies they needed could be bought later. The warrior walked over to her bed, pulled off her boots, wandered under the covers, and almost immediately fell asleep.
Eden awoke a couple of hours later and saw that the bard was still sleeping. She quietly slipped on her boots and went downstairs to get them something to eat. Berta served the warrior some hearty stew, constantly keeping a guarded eye on Eden which the younger woman tried to ignore. She ate at one of the empty tables, grateful for the relative peace. When she had finished, she ordered some hot broth with vegetables for Arielle and took it back to their room. She opened the door as quietly as possible, feeling the heat of the stew through the trencher in her hand. Open green eyes were waiting for her.
"Where did you go?" Arielle asked gently as Eden shut the door.
"I got you some soup."
"Oh." she remarked somewhat shyly, not wanting to admit that she began to grow frightened when she awoke to a room with a missing guardian, "Thank you."
They stayed in the room for the rest of day. Eden did everything to let Arielle rest as much as possible, either dozing herself or doing other quiet tasks. She took a mental inventory of what they had, what they needed, and what the rain had ruined. She threw out the food that had gone bad and decided that she would need to get more herbs for the bard. In the light of the falling dusk and a single candle she lit upon the table, Eden took out her leather bound journal, a quill and a small ink well from deep within her saddlebag. She was absorbed in writing, the light from the candle quietly flickering, the quill scratching the paper gently.
"I didn't know you keep a journal." Arielle whispered in a rasp, her eyes open again, gazing at Eden from across the room as the warrior shrugged.
"One of my many skills." Eden bantered lightly.
"What do you write down?"
"My thoughts, things that happened... those kind of things."
"So do I."
"I'm sure that your writings are more worthy of paper than mine. You're the bard after all."
"Somehow I doubt that."
They exchanged a smile before Arielle drifted off to sleep again. Eden watched her for a few moments and felt a strange sense of peace begin to spread within her. When she realized it, she shook her head, clearing herself of that feeling. It wasn't for her. It could get her killed.
Arielle slept better than the previous night, but now it actually worried the warrior. Arielle was having a harder and harder time keeping awake and her sleep was growing gradually deeper. Eden awoke a few times during the night and checked on Arielle. The fever didn't want to break, but she took feeble comfort in the fact that it wasn't rising either.
The next day, Eden spent the morning getting breakfast for the bard, making her herbal infusions, and racking her brains for anything she might have overlooked or forgotten that might help her friend. Arielle's overall condition saw no change, but the cough was getting progressively worse and Eden could begin to hear a rattling in the bard's breathing. The guardian decided to leave the blond alone for a short while, while she went to the market to get some necessary things. An apothecary was nearby the market and Eden walked in to ask for his advice. He finally shared his medical knowledge after Eden practically threatened to skin him alive with a dagger. Unfortunately, he didn't tell her anything she didn't already know. The guardian trudged back to the tavern with all of her packets, sacks, and bundles of things.
Arielle looked over at Eden as the warrior walked into their room laden with what seemed to be half the market.
"I'm sure you got an earful from Berta when she saw you." Arielle commented weakly.
"Oh no." Eden replied, a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "She seemed to be quite at a loss for arguments today."
"You gave her one of those looks of yours again, didn't you?"
"A look?" Eden answered in feigned innocence.
"Yeah, I thought so." Arielle sighed with a smile as Eden turned to put the bundles on the table, "Then again, I think you scared her enough for the rest of the year yesterday."
Eden simply shrugged. For her it had been a strange, but immediate reflex. She didn't want to cause trouble or commotion, but the tavern keeper had pushed too hard and crossed the line when she offended Arielle. The warrior's response was just a reaction. For Eden, protecting the bard didn't mean just saving her from demons and raiders, but from everything, even in the smallest and seemingly most harmless form. The fact that Arielle was sick only made her more protective. People could say whatever they wanted about her, she was used to it. But no one was going to be unfair or judgmental towards the bard. Eden turned and met Arielle's warm gaze. No one.
Arielle wanted to jump out of bed and hug the uneasy guardian as she recalled the last evening's exchange. There was a part of her that secretly adored the protective guardian. It made her feel a safety and security she noticed that she had never felt before. And until now, she also hadn't noticed how much she needed it. The bard needed the sense of some kind of attachment, some kind of belonging. A smile crossed her face at the thought and the guardian's gaze met hers. Arielle admitted to herself that no one had ever stood up for her like that and it made her feel special. No one.
"Thank you for defending my good name yesterday." Arielle managed to say playfully before she was taken by another fit of coughing.
Eden frowned, leaving the bundles in disarray on the table and walking over to Arielle.
"How are you feeling?" the warrior asked, placing the back of her hand to the bard's forehead and feeling the constant uneasy heat.
"Warm and tired." Arielle answered simply, "A good enough excuse for one of your famous teas?"
"You don't need an excuse." she answered with a light smile, getting up to make her another herbal infusion.
As the day passed into evening, Arielle's state deteriorated. Her temperature kept rising and nothing Eden did seemed to help and the warrior began to grow more and more concerned though she kept it well hidden. She thought of calling over a barber or physician, but knew full well that they would have given the blond the same things she had and calling for a priest was simply out of the question. She sat on the edge of the bed, next the feverish bard, giving her tea, cooling her face and forehead, trying to get her to eat. In the midst of it all, somewhere completely unnoticed, the bard's hand somehow slipped into the warrior's and took refuge there.
When evening turned to night, Arielle began to toss and turn and mumble incoherently in her fever, seeing things that didn't exist, talking to people who weren't there.
"Ssh, quiet now. Get some rest." Eden soothed, her stomach tying itself into about a hundred knots of desperation.
"I want... I want you to... do something for me..." Arielle said weakly, forcing out words in between deep, raspy breaths during a moment of clarity, "I don't... I don't want to... be buried here... Take me home... Please..."
"Hush. Of course you're not going to be buried here because you're still going to live for years, far past me even. You have so many things to still see and do. Concentrate on getting well now." Eden countered, her heart beginning to race anxiously.
"Eden... I'm scared... I'm so scared..." Arielle whispered, her voice breaking.
Eden saw a tear escape the bard's eye and trickle down the side of her face and she felt something inside her snap so hard that it sent a clap of thunder through her brain and caused her to take a deep breath. And a warrior spirit appeared within her, but a different kind than the one she had known for so long. It wasn't made of anger or violence. This warrior was protective and undeterred. This warrior spread her wings and wrapped them around Arielle to keep her safe and had shield and sword drawn to fend off any potential harm. This warrior would fight anything and everything, from demon to angel, from seen to unseen, protecting the bard with everything it had. This warrior belonged to Arielle.
"Don't be scared." Eden whispered with a strain in her voice, gently stroking the bard's cheek and looking straight into her emerald eyes, "I'm right here. I'm right here beside you so there's nothing you need to be frightened of."
Although her eyes cried, each letting a single tear fall, Arielle smiled widely because she believed Eden. Eden read something in those shimmering eyes, a gentle, very shy, but genuine plea and need. She got up, took off her gambeson and boots and carefully climbed into Arielle's bed, slipping in behind her. She propped herself up as comfortably as she could against the bed frame and then pulled the bard up towards her. She wrapped one arm around the blond's waist while the other either slowly brushed away the blond's damp hair from her forehead or ran a soaked, cold cloth over her flushed face and neck.
"I can hear... your heartbeat..." the bard whispered calmly, her head resting on the warrior's chest and she let out a content sigh.
Eden willed her heart with all her might to not betray the true terror she felt. She knew that Arielle was now beyond any help that the warrior could give her and that it was all up to her whether she would see the next sunrise. The thought that the blond wouldn't see it almost made Eden's heart race beyond its limits.
"Sleep now, young bard," Eden soothed, running her fingers through the blond's hair, "I've got you. I'll keep watch. You rest."
"Watching me... like a hawk... " Arielle said, her eyes closing, resting her arm on the warrior's arm that was protectively keeping her from death's cold grasp, their fingers unconsciously slightly intertwining.
"Always." Eden whispered into the bard's hair, determined to have the young woman stay.
And for the first time since she could remember, Eden began to pray for a life. She said all the prayers she knew, made up new ones, and towards the middle of night was begging, pleading, demanding, and threatening every heavenly being she could think of for the blond's recovery. Arielle opened her eyes suddenly for a moment and looked up at Eden and the warrior could see that the bard already had one foot in a different world far beyond them.
"You... I saw you in clouds and stars..." she whispered barely audibly, gazing in feverish wonder, "I wished for you... You came back for me... My knight... My guardian angel..."
And as suddenly as her eyes opened, they now closed, her body falling limp in the grasp of a deep, unconscious sleep.
Eden wanted to scream. Her agony and desperation ran around in circles inside her, finding no release. She tightened her hold on the bard and began to rock her gently. She furiously wished her strength and health to seep through her hands and into Arielle and she locked their fingers together, folding the bard's head under her chin. She sighed deeply and then began to pray one prayer with all her heart; that if death was to visit them that night then Eden should be taken and Arielle spared. It was better that way; it seemed the world would be a darker place without the playful blond, a much darker place. The bard's rattling breathing slowed to a point where Eden didn't know if the current one would be followed by another and she sat in painful anticipation of each.
"Don't you leave me." she whispered into the bard's ear, half a plea and half an order, "Don't you dare leave me."
A labored, ragged breath came in response.
"Please..." the warrior asked with utter abandon.
A single tear escaped the warrior's eyes as she counted breaths throughout the night.
Much later, Eden's eyes had finally decided to overthrow her and closed themselves. Yet, her mind was alert, her whole body ready to react to anything if need be. She was in a strange state of being both awake and at rest, a skill she had perfected during her time as a desert bandit. With the barely rising sun, she felt a warmth on her cheek, a shift in pressure on her chest and she opened her eyes and looked down.
She saw Arielle, her hand lightly pressed to Eden's cheek, looking up at her, with tired but glimmering green eyes and Eden swore that she had never before seen as beautiful a green as she did at that moment. The warrior's heart swelled with the tentative hope that the worst had passed, that this wasn't a cruel dream, that Arielle was going to be fine and it almost choked the unaccustomed woman. They just gazed at each other, Arielle caressing Eden's cheek lightly with her thumb, Eden holding her protectively in her arms, both too tired, hopeful, and content to say anything that might shatter that moment of delicate calm.
Once Eden's mind furiously began to register that it was a new day, and more importantly, the cheerful bard was still with her and that the danger that had teased her heartlessly all night was gone, she began to feel self-conscious. She carefully began to unwrap her arms from around the blond, thinking their protection no longer needed.
"No." the bard in a hushed yet decisive plea, her eyes burning pleasant holes into the warrior's soul.
Eden stopped and then returned her arms to where the bard wanted them. Arielle gave her a faint smile and then rested her head on Eden's chest, sliding her hand down beside, closed her eyes, and fell asleep with a sigh. The moment was so fragile, so quiet and calm, that Eden thought her heart might explode from it. She smiled down at the sleeping blond.
"Never one to rise with the sun, hm?" she whispered into her hair.
Eden was desperately trying to keep everything normal, detached, superficial in her mind. Yet, it was completely useless. Her heart pounded and her soul ached in a pleasant excruciation that the warrior had never experienced before. She wanted to yell in victory and hold the bard so tightly that she probably would have crushed her. She instead used all that power to keep herself calm and focused, continually observing Arielle closely for any changes. After some time, when that intensity of feeling finally began to subside under the warrior's stubborn will, Eden closed her eyes and decided to join Arielle in slumber.
That tall, powerful frame again. Those dark green wings.
"You've kept your promise, Eden. You've done well." she said, a faint smile on her face.
"I keep my word."
"You do." the angel agreed and then slightly knotted her brows in a serious change, "Protect her always. Whether she is ill, angry with you, or even gone, always protect her. With everything you are and from everything there is."
Eden looked at the dark haired angel with a perplexed curiosity. The angel simply smiled faintly again, hung her head, and turned to leave.
"Who are you?" Eden asked.
The angel stopped and turned her head.
"I'm your guardian angel, guardian."
"Then you must have a name as each guardian's angel does."
The angel gave a faint nod, turned back, and walked away without saying another word.
Eden opened her eyes and saw that the sun had already risen to a fuller morning, the rays spilling through the window and resting on the sleeping bard. She watched Arielle's chest move up and down, breathing regularly, the labor growing a little lighter. She gently took one hand and felt the bard's forehead- it was finally cooler.
Arielle's eyes fluttered open to the touch and she took a few moments to remind herself of where she was and what was happening and then looked up at Eden.
"Did I wake you?" Eden asked with a little regret.
"No..." Arielle answered quietly.
"Your fever is going down." Eden said, gently brushing the hair off the bard's forehead, "How are you feeling?"
"Like I just finished plowing 12 leagues of seabed with only one breath." she answered in a whisper and a faint smile and getting a slightly strained chuckle from Eden, "A good enough excuse for one of your famous teas?"
Eden smiled faintly, struggling with a lump rising in her throat and threatening to make its way to the surface. She started to move to get up, but Arielle clutched the front of her shirt with her fist and Eden stopped.
"Did you watch over me all night?" Arielle asked in a somber tone, but Eden's eyes and face betrayed the answer, "Thank you..."
Afraid her heart might actually break, Eden gave the bard a gentle squeeze, carefully untangled herself, and went out under the pretense to get something from downstairs. She almost ran towards the stairs hurriedly and stopped right at the top of them, pressing her forehead and hands against the wall. She gritted her teeth, breathing hard and irregularly through them and squeezed her eyes shut, determined not to let a tear fall. The tension of the terrifying night was finally beginning to lift off of her and the diminishing iron grip of her terror was now letting her muscles shake and heart tremble. She stood there, fighting for control of herself when all she really wanted was to fall to pieces and lie there broken for a little while, giving herself time to let the shock and fear reverberate through her bones and finally sink down into the floor. Yet she forced herself to take several deep breaths, determined not to lose control over herself. Calm down. Focus. If anything, I need to be there for her now. She began to regain her composure, moved away from the wall and smoothed her tunic absently several times before turning on her heel and walking back into the room. Thankfully, the bard had dozed off and didn't notice that Eden had returned empty handed.