Help from the OtherSide

65. Aftermath

Yumiko's POV

Everyone looked relatively relaxed, now that all the members were together. Anarzia was the most joyous on seeing Deccan, however he didn't seem too keen on entertaining her.

My heart did a little dance in my chest on seeing him. I finally found my breath again, knowing that he's safe. At this very moment I felt the uncontrollable urge to smother him with kisses. But I restrained because of the company we were in.

Deccan's relief filled gaze roamed on me but I looked away, unable to bear the sight of Anarzia clinging onto him.  A flicker of sadness crossed his face but passed quickly when Liam exclaimed on his appearance.

Out of us all, Deccan looked the most injured. The war created a totally different effect on him. The carefree and comical smile he wore was replaced with seriousness and exhaustion.

Liam pulled him onto his bed and we gathered around them.

"Please tell me-- us everything that happened to you." Telsin bashfully handed him a ceramic cup of herbal concoction.

"Where do I even start." Deccan chuckled awkwardly. "So the four of us with Dora and-- Wait, where are the wolves?"

"They needed a separate tent. Werewolves heal a little differently from elves. Beside our tent actually. We can pay them a visit once we're done." Telsin smiled patiently. "Please continue."

"Oh yeah, I dunno where to start. Something happened and I was left behind while they--" He gestured at us, "-- ganged up on an orc. Then the largest, ugliest one roared at me. The three of them literally chased me through the battlefield. I ran between clashing swords, until--" Deccan grimaced, looking at his arm.

"This happened. I had to come up with something 'cause those motherfu--"

"No naughty words Deccan." I chastised.

"Sorry mommy." He rolled his eyes good naturedly. "Well, I asked the palace guards to shoot when I gave them the command."

"But how did you get them to listen to you? As far as I know, except mother they do not take orders from anyone." Anarzia leaned against him.

"I didn't give them a choice, to be honest. Okay, picture this. You see a person maniacally running towards you with three mountain sized, bloodthirsty orcs behind. The guy screams at you to shoot flaming arrows at the monsters behind him. Do you stand and ask for paperwork, or do you shoot like you're fucking supposed to?" Deccan flared his nostrils.

"Oh."

"Anyway, I gave them the signal and they did. I threw myself on the ground, away from their range and--" He swiftly removed his battered tunic and revealed a body full of scratches and dried blood. He pointed on his back that had been scraped. 

Anger and self-hatred boiled my chest. All the pain he endured was because I failed to convince Killian.  He has done so much for me and when it's my turn to help him and my friends, I fail miserably.

My eyes stung with tears which I wiped angrily before anyone noticed.

I couldn't help but glance at the arrow wound I gave him on his shoulder. It had mostly healed, but left a permanent  brown scar. A constant reminder for my idiocy. The poor guy was sweet enough to never publicly acknowledge what I had done to him.