HEART OF GOLD | CORIOLANUS SNOW

𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 34

The dust had hardly settled when a cry shattered the room.

"Oh, Lilith!"

Lilith's eyes glided from Snow towards the exclamation: Criseida was frozen in the doorway, one hand clasped to her mouth. Then she swooped down on Lilith, arms fleetingly outstretched before she caught herself and shrank back. She hovered away from the bed where she was out of range of inflicting potential harm.

Hot on her heels was Mae, laden with an overnight bag and beside herself. She gestured at such speed Lilith could not decipher the sign language—if it was still sign language at all—but she was willing to bet Criseida had her covered.

"We were worried sick when we heard," she said anxiously. "What happened? How are you feeling? What did the doctors say?"

Lilith mustered a smile for them. "I'm fine. They said I'm going to be fine. There's no need to worry."

Criseida surveyed her with apprehension. "Are you sure? You look pretty beaten up."

Mae bobbed her head fervently.

Why won't anyone believe me today? thought Lilith wryly.

"Oh, no. Of course, I do," said Criseida, her face stricken. Lilith stared, puzzled. 

Had that been aloud?

"I can vouch for her." It was Snow. He was already on his feet when Lilith turned back toward him. Standing practically at attention, he gave Criseida a deferential nod of greeting. "Mrs. Gold."

"General Snow!" It was as if Criseida was noticing him for the first time. She bowed in return. "I do beg your pardon for my negligence."

Snow smiled genially at her. "There will be no such need, Mrs. Gold."

"Please, it's just Criseida. Thank you so much for calling, and for staying with Lilith. It's very kind of you."

"It's the least I could do, considering the accident occurred under my watch." Snow glanced briefly towards Lilith, then addressed Criseida again. "If you'd allow me, I wish to take this opportunity to offer my sincerest apologies to the Gold family"—he paused for a second to properly gaze down at Lilith—"and to Lilith."

Transfixed by that intent quality she knew those blue eyes were capable of, Lilith found herself wondering if her ears were playing tricks on her. But she had been watching him all this time; if she relied solely on lip reading, she was fairly certain she would be decoding the very same words.

"Like you said," came Criseida's voice, "it was an accident. You couldn't have known. It's not your fault. Right, Lilith?"

Absently, Lilith looked over. Her concussed brain, holding off sleep and confusion with difficulty, fought to process and produce a relevant response. Finally, she managed a gentle shake of her head.

"No, it's not his fault."

Her eyes had travelled mysteriously back to Snow. He lowered his momentarily, a smile resurfacing, small and modest.

"You are the kind ones," he said to Criseida, who chuckled. "I ought to leave you alone. Lilith needs her rest. She won't be required to come in until she feels up to it."

"Thank you, General," replied Criseida.

Snow's gaze, which had flitted occasionally towards Lilith as she was mentioned, settled onto her then. "Get well soon, Lilith."

Although thoroughly baffled, she said, "Thank you, sir."

After Snow excused himself, Lilith's will to stay awake seemed to have gone with him. With Criseida's and Mae's consent, she drifted off. When she regained consciousness, the first thing she noticed was the throbbing in her arm. Then she glanced around and realized how late it must be: The lights in her room had been dimmed, and the sky outside the window was a deep navy. Mae was camped out on the couch, Criseida nowhere in sight. Silhouettes of fruit baskets and flower arrangements could be made out on the overbed table parked above her feet. Lilith thought she detected the faint scent of roses.