ORPHEUS

Chapter 26

Orpheus woke up feeling a little stiff. His eyes fluttered open to see the clearing, lit brightly by the morning sun. The clearing where they were attacked. He snapped into awareness at that thought. The events of the previos night came back to him in flashes. He stood, stumbling slightly and called to Katherine. God knows what could have happened to her. Oh, Kathy.

"Katherine!" He called again, his voice trembling, as he held on to the trunk of a tree.

"Orpheus?" Came a voice from behind him.

He turned to see her holding the skin of water and her satchel. She stood there, the wind blowing through her hair and nightdress, her expression was one of confusion and he could could see the concern in her eyes. He ran to her, as fast as he could, and enveloped her in his arms. His heart was still beating erratically, he could feel it against his chest, and he was sure she could feel it too.
His shadows as usual, slithered onto her, winding around her as if they belonged there.

"You're alright." He said, reassuring himself. She in turn clasped the material of his shirt and pressed herself closer to him. He could feel her heat calming him as she rubbed her cheek in his chest.

"I'm perfectly fine." She said in a whisper. Her then felt her fingers prodding a spot which seemed slightly tender. "And you're all better too."

He only tightened his arms around her.

"How did you not sense it? How did I not sense it?" She muttered to herself.

"It was probably cloaked" her replied, swaying slightly with her in his arms. He felt better. He winced at the thought of her taking care of those holes on his back. He knew he was healed mostly because of his shadows but he didn't want her to go through what she had. Not so soon into her transition. She was still so young, albeit more powerful than he had ever imagined.

"What happened to the creature?" He wondered, after she had pulled herself away and picked up her things.
She merely shrugged and told him that she had killed it as she walked towards the tree where he woke up.

Orpheus only stood in place looking at her, slack-jawed.
He was so proud.
She was his wife. His.
He smiled widely as he trudged towards her and when she stood from her bent position, he kissed her. One quick peck that left her gaping with wide eyes.

"I am the proudest husband in the kingdom" he declared winding his arm around her waist. She shoved his chest playfully with a small smile of her own.

"Where are we going to go, Orpheus?" She asked suddenly serious.

"The council" he replied, tensing slightly. "I need to be released."

"How do we get there?"

"We take a portal of coarse" he said giving her a teasing smile.

"Of coarse" she repeated, giving her a grin of her own.

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They had been trekking along a winding path for what seemed like hours when they cane across a river bank. The sun was at its highest peak, shining onto the water and illuminating the beautiful clearing. Katherine immediately sunk to the ground to refill the water skin and Orpheus took the bow and quiver and went off to hunt.

After he left she shed off her gown and drifted into the water. She let out a long sigh and started to run her fingers through her wet hair. Oh, how she missed those almond-rose scented soap bars that her husband had bought for her.
After rinsing her horns, she swam to the shore and stepped out. She retrieved Orpheus' satchel and pulled out her clothes. She had put on her chemise and breeches when she felt a tingle up her spine.