L [o/i] ve is a journey

Sleep, Eat, Study, Repeat | Recovery

It took another week.

Another week of a slowly lowering body temperature of Nerivie, another week of Lunaris sitting at the bedside, and partially sleeping next to her after being overtaken by his exhaustion. Another week of applying the creme, and feeding her a local, very nutricious version of porridge, that he made with the tea.

But by the end of the week, during a surprisingly cloudy morning, Lunaris heard a mumble. It sounded like his name.

He opened his eyes, barely fallen asleep a few minutes ago, and looked at her weakened smile.

„I am so sorry." She whispered, „I promised to help you with your magic and we wanted to see all the food places. And then I am sick."

He got up, and vehemently shook his head.

No. No. It wasn't your fault! It never was! I am just happy you're ok! I was so worried about you. About me, too. About us. He wanted to yell, but as always the words stuck in his throat, closed, and he felt like he'd choke on them. They pushed harder, painfully, and found their way through his eyes that filled with tears of relief. Lunaris bend over Nerivie, burying his head on her chest, crying.

She was ok. She was going to be ok.

**

After she was able to eat normal food again, which took only a week, she was quick able again to move around like before. Lunaris had, after a whole first day of consideration and her waking up again, admitted he had undressed her, to be able to apply the the salve he was taught to make.

She „listened" during his whole explaination, and when he started to beg for forgiveness, she stopped him: „I am sorry you had to see me." She whispered with a sense of guilt, as Lunaris had to see a monsterous deformity when he took care of her. He looked at her in confused surprise. „Did you... take my mask off?" she ask, touching the elegant made item that covered her face.

Lunaris crossed his hands in front of his body, and looked at her in all sincerity: Absolutly not!

„Thank you!" Nerivie breathed quiet. „It is the curse that caused all of this."

Lunaris, with a look of curiousity, and also empathy, cocked his head to one side. As if he wanted to ask, but didn't dare. As if he was waiting for an explanaition like always, or permission to ask.

But she remained silent, while staring at the blanket.

So during the following days of the week, she applied what she could reach, and had him help with what she could not. The scar tissue had becoming a bit better, but it was only so much. Even Lunaris could see, it would take months, if not years, to heal properly. His thoughts sunk into the pain, and the anger he felt torwards whoever had caused this. 

But it was in the past, and he had no right to dig it up.

On day, Nerivie finally felt her old strength bubbling inside her. 

It was an early morning, and she had listened, caught in her thoughts, to Lunaris breathing. 

He saw her. Her uglieness. The things she had tried to hide. And he was still here. It made her wonder, but also, thankful. 

This could have been the day the fever killed me, finally. she thought within herself. I have been so close to dying muliple times because of it, and it was only by luck I survived. Maybe, this time, my luck carried his name.

A name she gave him.

When the first rays of sunlight touched the foot end of the bed, she stood up to dress herself.

Drowsy, and still caught in a dream, Lunaris watched her closing the buttons of her cape. Nerivie looked at him, when she realized, he was awake. 

Lunaris surprise took over him, when he saw her energetic smile, and heard her words filled with thirst of adventure: „Let's explore a dungeon nearby!"