Heal me

22

It took a whole week until Tamlin regained his strength and was able to take a longer walk. He also gained some of the weight back and generally looked better now. However that was the only thing that changed. He still couldn't speak nor change back, his powers stayed locked as well.

You and Lucien stayed in the manor, taking care of him. Lucien was attentive and very helpful. Unfortunately, his relationship with Tamlin hadn't improved much. He growled at Lucien whenever he came closer or tried to talk with him, so Lucien mostly just kept an eye on you while keeping you company or went out to get you some vegetables and meat.

The closest they came to each other was at night as the three of you still slept together on connected mattresses. Even though Lucien tried to keep proper distance, as soon as he fell asleep he rolled over, his hand finding it's way to your waist he held you and warmed you up until the morning. It didn't take long and you got used to be surrounded or rather pressed in between these two.

As Tamlin got stronger and stronger, you could finally leave manor and take a walk in the gardens together, every day getting farther and farther, but never too far from the estate. You fell back into your routine of picking up herbs, berries and anything you could find on your outings.

Tamlin never said no to your tea, so you looked for as many medicals herbs that could help him, as possible. However, your options were quite limited and you had to settle for the little that you could find.

Even Lucien grew fond of the tea, often asking you for a cup. He liked to joke that you certainly enchanted it because no other tea could possibly compare with the taste of yours.

Rhysand came every day for a visit as he promised or sent you tons of messages at days he couldn't come. Tamlin grew restless every time he appeared, growling, but he gave you a space or disappeared somewhere together with Lucien, fuming and huffing even hours after Rhysand left. It was kind of cute.

Your days were peaceful and uneventful. Your old self would be grateful for that, but your new self would welcome any distraction that could keep your thoughts away.

When you came here, you tried to be cheerful and talkative with Tamlin. This side of you began to fade away with every day you spent in the destroyed manor. Tamlin couldn't speak and you didn't want to pull him down with your problems, anyway. He had enough of his own as you believed.

You tried so hard not to think about the past and memories that made you tremble and stole the air from your lungs. You were hiding it, but with every day it became harder. You lied to yourself and to Rhys, too, when you pretended to be okay, that you got over the past events. You knew your brother wouldn't have said no, if you wanted to talk about the things. Yet you didn't want to make him worried more than he already was. It was hard enough to get him agree with your stay here. If he knew, he would insist that you went back with him immediately.

You considered to talk even with Lucien who seemed to notice the change, but he didn't bring it out. Instead, he watched you with concern or brought some little thing only for you to cheer you up. He was kind and protective, and even though you got well with him, you didn't know him enough well to share your most vulnerable feelings.

And so you spent a lot of time pushing yourself into one-sided chitchat with Tamlin about such insignificant things as weather or butterflies in the garden, just to avoid the darkness of your mind.

One day you were standing by the window on the third floor of the mansion, looking out at the forest in the distance. Tamlin for a moment disappeared. When he returned, he halted few steps from you, watching you with narrowed eyes. Then he came closer, nuzzling to your hand. You thought he wanted just an attention, so smiling you turned to him, running your fingers through soft fur between the antlers.