Elysian- After Stellarlune

Chapter Four- Sophie

Sophie woke with a start, gasping for air. Elwin came rushing around the corner and into Sophie's view. Keefe made a startled snort, sitting up and blinking rapidly. Sophie hadn't realised he was there, she must've woken him.

As Elwin hurriedly grabbed some vials, she processed the information. Keefe had stayed with her in the Healing Center, maintaining a grasp on her hand. Sophie opened her mouth to say something, but Elwin cut her off.

"Sophie, how are you feeling?" He asked as he gently lay Sophie back down from a sitting position.

Sophie was about to answer, but a pained groan escaped instead as a horrible stabbing feeling erupted in her side.

"Not good then." Elwin muttered as he brought a tray of the vials he had collected over to her cot. He set them down carefully by her feet, choosing one and holding it to Sophie's mouth.

"Drink, it'll help with the pain. And it's not a sedative." Elwin added after seeing Sophie's skeptical expression.

Sophie gratefully swallowed the elixir, grimacing at the taste. It wasn't as bad as some of the other elixirs she had tried, but it definitely wasn't good.

"Thank you." Sophie's voice was hoarse. "How long was I out?"

Elwin and Keefe exchanged a look.

"Just tell me."

Elwin sighed. "A week. But it was a well spent week-"

"A week?!" Sophie exclaimed. How could she miss a week when-

Oh. Oh no.

"Sandor. Sandor and Gisela. Are they alive? Are they okay?" Sophie glanced between Elwin and Keefe, both of whom weren't answering.

"Do you want me to tell her or do you want to?" Elwin asked, turning to Keefe.

He sighed, staring at his feet. "I will. It's fine."

Elwin nodded. "And Sophie, I need you to drink all of these." He gestured to the roughly 20 vials on the tray.

"Fine." Sophie grumbled before turning back to Keefe as Elwin disappeared around the corner again. "Are they alive?"

"Well, after the cave collapsed and we brought you here, the council sent a few regents and emissaries there to look for a clue of what was going on. Grady had notified them after he had been informed by Fitz, and they went down there to search for Sandor and my mom."

Keefe gulped, pausing to take a breath. He grabbed Sophie's hand, sending her several breezes. It only made her more worried.

"Gisela's body wasn't found, but Sandor is..."

Sophie clamped a hand over her mouth, not even bothering to stop the tears streaming down her face.

Keefe gently wrapped Sophie into a hug, making sure not to hit her injury.

"I'm sorry." Keefe said, his breath tickling her neck.

Sophie wanted to say something, but sobs were the only thing that slipped out. She clung to Keefe, as if he was the only thing holding her together.

Come on, Sophie. Pull yourself together.

Sophie reluctantly pulled away, swiping at the dried tears staining her face. She took a deep breath. And another. And another.

"I can't focus on this right now." Sophie said, trying to put on a strong face.

Keefe re-situated to where he was in front of her, and he took her other hand. His eyes searched her own, filled with concern. "It's okay to mourn, you know."