A Million Roads to Nowhere

And Yet

Lena's made a habit of crawling into his bed at night and it's something Patrick doesn't mind. It helps him rest easier, if he can actually slip into any semblance of sleep, and he knows it helps Lena, too. This night is different, because it's the night before the full moon and neither of them know what to expect come morning.

Patrick half expects Lena to be a mess in the morning, but she's outwardly calm and no wisps pop up, no anything. Lena yawns, sitting up and groping for the dress she brought in last night to change into in the morning. She gets on fine by herself, mostly. The blindness is what it is by now, but the lack of movement in her hands is another matter.

"She hasn't said anything?" Patrick asks carefully as he laces up the back of her dress over her chemise.

"I still have all of today," she answers. "Technically."

Once she's all ready, she takes a step and visibly winces. Immediately concerned, Patrick snaps back to her side and begins fussing over her. She bats him off, frowning. Her cheeks don't emote the way they should, covered in gold as they are. Her expressions are stiff, unnatural.

"The gold is getting worse," she admits.

"Your legs?"

Lena nods. "I can still look forward to talking to the Seelie, I suppose. I still have time yet."

She sounds like she's saying it for his sake and he decides not to mention the conversation he had with Rozenn. Telling her, not telling her- it doesn't matter. Things won't get better or worse and he can save her some pain.

They go to breakfast and Patrick helps feed her since she has difficulty using utensils. They don't talk much and that worries him. Lena is a talker, but he supposes there isn't much to talk about. The silence grates on him after a while and he's ultimately glad when William joins them later.

The three of them go down to the beach, which could be more pleasant considering it's dead winter. William enchants some rocks with a warming spell and they fill their pockets with them.

"Patrick, I just remembered," William says suddenly. "Aodhan told me to send you to see him. He wanted to check up on you."

As of late, Aodhan has been busy with the rest of the injured and Patrick hasn't seen much of him. He told himself he'd go find him if he couldn't sleep, but it seems he was lying to himself, as he never did. Patrick's loathe to admit he's still embarrassed from the last time they were alone together.

I'm such a fool.

"Patrick?"

He jumps and he smiles sheepishly. "Ah, sorry. Aye, I'll go."

William gives him a concerned look and Patrick smiles. He leaves Lena and William on the beach and heads up to the infirmary. He snoops in the hallways before going in because he doesn't want to walk in on anyone, but he doesn't hear voices, just the soft scratching of a quill, so it must be safe to go in.

"Um, hi," Patrick greets. "William told me to come by."

Aodhan looks up from where he's writing down what must be notes, as several books are open around him. He points at the table on the other side of the room, the lower one that's more fit for treating patients. Patrick wordlessly goes and takes a seat.

"I should have known you would neglect your needs if I didn't keep tabs on you," Aodhan says in such a way that Patrick can sense the oncomings of a lecture. "All previous evidence pointed to this being so, but I still left you with clear instructions to come to me if you were feeling unwell, thinking, like a fool, that you would just follow them. Unfortunately, I lost track of time and several days have passed and I have now realized you have not, in fact, come to see me again so I can make sure you aren't slowly dying. Part of that is my fault, but it would not be a stretch to say that some of it is yours."