As A Stranger Or A Friend?: The Swallow And The Drowned Sailor

Fay - 13 Sun's Dawn, 1246 A.D.

"I wish he would stop treating me like a child."

"He loves you very much, Fay, that's all." Alma assured me with a small smile.

"If he truly loved me, he would let me in on his plans."

"Leave it to him for some time, my dear. He is deeply hurt that things turned out this way."

I sighed, watching as he came over the hill towards us.

While I understood her reasoning, I disagreed with it. Despite my coming around in the last couple of days, I could tell he was throwing himself into his plans over-eagerly. He spent hours and hours in Walter's study, pouring over maps and whatever else he could get his hands on, leaving little time for much else. That meant I didn't have a chance to spend much time with him, let alone speak to him. I didn't like that so much, but he told me he was on the cusp of uncovering more details about the attack on the Wreath of Eyes and asked me to be patient with him. So, I waited, but I was getting more anxious for answers as time passed.

Despite all of this, he, like clockwork, made time to feed me three square meals a day, bathe me, and give me opium at night so I could sleep. And just as reliably, he continued to insist that he didn't need a medic, but I could tell he was extremely unwell and not getting better. He was trying to hide it by acting like everything was alright, going so far as laying with me this morning to prove it, but I could see how much it strained him to perform what was usually an easy thing for him. Just how far was he going to push himself?

"May I steal my wife?" He asked with a smile as he approached.

"You needn't ask." Alma replied with a smile of her own.

She kissed me on both cheeks, did the same to Wilkes, then took her leave.

I pulled my shawl over my shoulders and crossed my arms before giving him a tight-lipped smile.

"How are you?" He asked softly.

"Better, I suppose." I said with a shrug.

"Just let me handle things, hmm?" He came to place a kiss on my forehead, stifling yet another cough.

"Why? If you plan to take on The Pale Kings, as I'm assuming you are, you'll need all the help you can get. Including getting seen by a medic. You're not well." I reprimanded him.

"Fay, not with this again. You're worrying for no reason." He complained with a frown.

"Wilkes, I'm not blind." I replied more seriously.

"Fay—"

"We're better together, aren't we? You and me, remember? But that can't be if you are not with me." I said, placing my hand on his chest where I had branded him.

"I know that. Why do you think I'm doing all this if not for us?" He asked with a hurt expression.

"Because your ego is fragile. Don't punish yourself like this for my sake, you stupid pirate." I said, moving my hand up to cradle his cheek.

He leaned into my touch and closed his eyes with a sigh. "It's your fault I'm like this."

I chuckled. "Is it now?"

"Yes. You have no idea what I feel when I hear you cry..." He placed his hand over mine, furrowing his brow painfully.

"Then you are a fool for loving someone like me." I said, pulling him into an embrace.

"I can't help it." He hugged me tightly and let out a shuddering sigh, "It has to be you."

"Then let me help."

"Why? Why won't you let me do things my way?" He asked frustratedly.

"Because I love you." I said tenderly, "You and me, hmm?"

"Have I ever told you I hate your stubbornness?" He asked with a strained laugh followed by another cough.

"Many times." I replied softly, "Now, tell me what you have, Quartermaster."

"Aye, sir."