The Baron and his Lady

Thirty-six: Brothers

Lucian's pov
I woke with a massive headache. My eyes fluttered as I tried to remember where I was. I saw the cream coloured ceiling with it's ancient four poster bed and me lying on it.

I pushed myself up and felt the sudden nausea. I caught the pillars and steadied myself, there, that's so much better.

There was a knock on the door and Tristane came through, "You're awake.."

I just stared at him. He sounded relieved. "What happened?" I asked.

He sat the tray of food next to the bed and pulled a chair, "You've been out for two days Lucian. We thought you died back there."

I frowned. What is he saying? I cannot recall anything at all. I stared at my hands saw some bruising, a few scabs over the elbows and some stitching on my right arm.

"I don't remember.."

Tristane sighed, "What do you remember so far?"

What indeed? I guess there was that storm inside the beyond and that was odd. It was always sunny there. For some reason the clouds have gathered and it rained so hard. There were flashes of lighting and constant rumbling of thunder. I also remembered the ground shaking, the wind blowing so strong that I had to use my body to shield another.

My throat was suddenly dry, it was coming back. I gripped the pillars tighter and heard Tristane say, "You're going to be sick! Hold on." Then he was on the door, I heard him call someone for help.

My head was spinning and the ache was heavier now, memories flashed before my eyes and I saw her.

Amber eyes, dark hair and the loveliest mouth I have ever laid eyes on. She was staring at me, telling me something, but I couldn't hear her. I saw the lips moved but no sound came out. She raised her hand and cupped my face, on her finger she wore my mother's emerald ring. And it all came back to me.

My wife.

Krista.

Tristane went back to me with a damp towel, "Press this in your forehead, the coldness helps."

"Where.." I raised my eyes to him, "where is she?"

He pushed the towel to me and wanted me to lie back down but I fought him back, "Where is she? Where is she?"

"She's fine...for now." He said with a pained voice, I waited for him to continue, "She's been through shock and we had to call the doctor. Nothing is broken and her injuries are minimal. She's resting."

I sighed, "She's alive then. We made it."

"Lie back down Lucian, I'll have Claus here in a moment."

As soon as he said that, Claus came through the door. When he saw I was awake, he almost ran to the bed. "Lucian, how do you feel?"

I gave him a smile, beneath Patrick's face, I could see it was still Claus. "I've never felt so damned blistered my whole life."

"You forgot, there was one time you fell off your horse because you were too drunk. Your head was bleeding for days!"

"And who's fault was that again?"

Claus gave me a smile in return, "It was mine. I dared you to drink at a young age because you always loved to brag you can outsmart me."

"I thought I did. Yet you still came saving the day, as always."

Tristane cleared his throat, "I'll leave you two for now. There's some things I did to do."

We both nodded at him. Claus took the empty seat and was serious once more, "Are you fine Lucian?"