The warm smell of roasted meat fills my nose and stirs me from my sleep. I was having the worst dream. The details are fuzzy but Garrick was there and I was in immense pain.
With a jolt, I realized it wasn't a dream.
"Roman." I croaked out. My throat felt coated in sand.
Turning on his heels, Roman dove to my bedside. Tears were threatening to fall from his eyes as he grasped my hand.
"Astrid! Are you okay? I was so worried. You were sleeping for so long, you lost so much blood. I was starting to fear the worst. I can't take another loss, not right now. Please tell me you're okay!" The words tripping out of his mouth, each trying to be first, each saying everything Roman had been scared to think.
"Hey, hey, it's alright, I'm okay." I tried to quiet his fears. "What happened? Where's Garrick? What are you cooking?"
I, frankly, wanted him to answer the last question first.
Roman stood and retrieved a bowl of stew for me. It was full of carrots, potatoes, celery, and beef. It was the most delicious food I've ever eaten. Or maybe I was simply starving.
"You've been asleep for almost 3 days now. I am so sorry for what happened. I put some salve on your wounds underneath the bandages, you should be healed in no time. I should've been there, I never should've let you storm off." He fussed.
"Roman. It's okay. It's not your fault. But please, where's Garrick?" I asked. I won't be able to sleep knowing he may still be close.
He paused for a long time. He seemed to be debating the answer, as if it were too painful to talk about.
"He… he won't be bothering us again."
Really? That's it? He won't be bothering us? No, I need more.
"How can you be sure? He tracked us for how long out there? Who's to say he won't do it again. And this time he's going to want vengeance. How am I supposed to feel safe if he's–"
"He razed Ivystone. My home town, Astrid. It's all gone, he killed anyone that crossed his path. He killed Norah." He held out a bracelet, it had a leather wrist wrap and a compass adorned with metal flowers, "she's gone." His voice breaking.
Choking back a sob, Roman met my eyes.
"So, no. Garrick won't be a problem anymore. He's not anything anymore."
Woah. I shouldn't have pressed it.
Stifling a groan from the pain in my ribs, I embraced Roman. The silence only being broken by the occasional crackle from the fire. After a few moments I felt Roman start crying, a cry that evolved into wracking sobs.
I just sat there, holding him. I may not have known Roman for a very long time, but I feel like I know him better than most anyone else. He had lost his sister and his former best friend, one on bad terms he can never reconcile, the other by his own hand. And now, this harsh, wild, reckless man was sobbing in my arms.
I'm not sure how long we stayed like that. Once his cries settled down, we ended up laying back, and I softly patted his back as he slept.
At some point, I had also drifted off and when I awoke, Roman had moved back to the campfire. Alright, I guess the time for vulnerability is over.
I moved to stand up but the pain in my ribs was overwhelming. I placed my hand on my bandage and realized I was bleeding. The pressure from Roman leaning on me must have split them back open.
"Uh, Roman?" I called out to him.
I don't know how to dress my wounds.
"Can you show me what to do? I didn't really spend much time in the palace infirmary."
YOU ARE READING
Between Two Vines
Adventure(Formerly The Forest of Life) Saviors aren't always as expected. They're people too. They make mistakes. But how they choose to live with those mistakes is what matters.
