Skyrim: Dark Firewood

Pity Party

"Faendall,"

The words Kerev whispered out clung to Faendall's mind. Even now, they were repeating in his head. Echoing for hours on end.

"Never leave me."

Faendall looked over at his sleeping companion, alone on the bed. He was swaddled in all new bandages, proper ones. Thankfully there were plenty of people willing to assist with healing. Faendall wasn't sure how he'd live with himself if Kerev somehow perished.

He took a deep breath and stretched. He had been sitting in the inn room chair for what felt like hours. Hell, it might've been days at this point. Faendall couldn't bring himself to lay beside Kerev. He didn't feel like it was right.

He thumbed the beaten and aged journal in his hands for the hundredth time. He had fixed all the pages, put them back in place. He managed to keep from reading a single entry, too worried for Kerev to think straight. But he managed to fix what page damage was done to it. All except for Kerev's blood that now stained the majority of pages.

He stopped on the pages with the flower bookmark again, considering. He shut the book again, going back to idly thumbing it. It wasn't his place. Wasn't his right. His burning curiosity could handle not getting fed.

Faendall flinched when Kerev made a pained noise. He sat up straight and set the journal aside.

"Kerev?" Faendall asked, voice gentle.

Kerev stirred, blinking open his eyes. There was a single candle lighting up the room, nothing too harsh at all for the Dunmer. Kerev's eyes seemed to glow in the low light, meeting the Bosmer's.

"...Faendall?" He asked, in disbelief.

Faendall got up and went over to Kerev, kneeling beside the bed. He reached for one of Kerev's hands and gently squeezed it, sighing in relief.

"You're finally awake."

Kerev used his free hand to rub his eyes, squeezing Faendall's hands with the other. He nodded, still exhausted.

"How long?"

Faendall paused to think, nearly counting on his fingers. He decided against it, using a thumb to rub Kerev's knuckles.

"A few days. I changed your bandages an hour or so ago. You're almost all healed." He assured his companion.

Kerev just nodded, closing his eyes again. Faendall could see his companion's chest jolt a few times. He frowned, Moving a hand to move Kerev's hair out of his face.

"Are you okay?" Faendall didn't need to ask, he knew the likely answer.

Kerev sniffled and looked at Faendall again. Tears were welling up in his eyes. He reached for the Bosmer, gently grabbing the collar of his tunic.

"Hold me," he pleaded.

Faendall felt his heart leap into his throat. And almost immediately after felt like a horrible person.

"Y-yeah, okay."

Faendall carefully crawled over Kerev to get to the wall. There was more room there, and it was better on Kerev if he didn't have to move.

Faendall laid on his side, getting a bit overwhelmed. He wasn't sure completely what to do, and he tensed when Kerev stared moving.

Kerev  turned so he was on his side as well, facing Faendall. He wrapped his arms around the Bosmer, shoving his face into his collarbone. Faendall relaxed, wrapping his own arms around Kerev.

"I'm sorry I called you a harlot," Faendall whispered, rubbing Kerev's back.

Kerev let out a weak laugh, a hiss hidden just behind it. Faendall couldn't help but smile.