Inheritance: Scales of Change

Chapter Four - Summoning

Two days stuck in your cabin was two too many. You were getting irritable and stir crazy. Your ankle was looking much better but you still couldn't put all your weight on it. You managed to hobble across your room alright on your own, but anything further and you risked falling over, reinjuring yourself. You wrote to Sis, and Caspian to Tavros but had yet to send the letters out since you noticed Nightwing and Firetalon were spending a lot more quality time together, and Firetalon was less irritable with Nightwing's hovering as he would bring her little pieces of twig, or lace for her nest. You felt guilty tearing them apart. Just because you couldn't be happy didn't mean they couldn't.
You were fully awake, lying in bed, listening to Caspian's soft snoring coming from the study. He had been sleeping in there again since your injury, to your protest. But you had to admit it was nice having him so near, even if it tested all your will power to ask him to join you in your bed. You missed the smell of him on your pillow, the warmth of his body as he held you in the cold early mornings, and the way he would run his fingers up and down your back. Having him around you day and night for the past forty-eight hours was a nagging reminder of what you had to give up, because you could never really have it in the first place.
He stirred in the other room, and you heard the settee creak under his weight as he sat up. You quickly shut your eyes and pretended to be asleep as he cracked your door open. You heard him shuffle to the side of the bed, and sit down. You waited for him to wake you, touch you, do something, but he didn't, he just sat and watched you pretend to sleep.
    He sighed the quietest sigh, and then barely audibly whispered, "Every night spent away from you is agony. Every morning I wake up without you my heart breaks. It takes all my willpower not to slip under these covers with you, kiss you, hold you, and ask you to take me back." He paused and you held your breath. "I vow to you, I will find a way to make you mine once more, My Starlight."
    Your heart caught in your throat, you weren't supposed to hear that. Or were you? You were tempted to continue your facade in case he divulged any further deep desires, but you fought it, and pretended to wake up.
"Good morning." He smiled at you.
"How long have you been sitting there?" You asked, as if he would admit spilling his heart a few moments ago.
He ignored your question. "How is it today?" He looked down at your legs under the covers.
"Better." You were actually telling the truth, you tried to move it and it didn't send a shooting pain up your leg for the first time. "Maybe I can actually walk on it today."
"I don't think so. I don't want you risking it." He shook his head.
"Caspian, it's been two days of sponge baths, I haven't left my cabin, I'm going to go insane..." You whined.
He laughed. "Ok I'll tell you what. You eat, and I'll draw you a bath if you let me help you in and out."
"Deal."

* * *

"Alright, how do you want to do this?" He asked, standing by the tub.
"Well I can't bathe in my clothes..."
"You know, it's nothing I haven't seen before."
"Nice try." You chuckled. "Go drag that chair over to the side of the tub."
He wrinkled his nose in protest but did as instructed.
"Ok, help me over to it."  Once sitting you commanded him to turn around, and you waited for his back to face you before you stripped down.  "Alright, keep your eyes closed, but help me in."
He turned, eyes closed, and felt for you. He tried supporting your weight on his arms while you held yourself up, but you couldn't get in without sanding on your injured foot.
"Well shit. I don't think this is going to..." You began but without giving you a chance to protest he scooped your naked body up, keeping his eyes closed, and placed you gently into the water.
"Hey!"
"I didn't peek, I promise." He smiled, felt for the chair, and sat.
"Are you just going to sit there the whole time with your eyes closed?"
"Yes." He looked very pleased with himself.
"Mhm... right... turn around."
"You don't trust me?" He raised his eyebrow at you.
"Absolutely not." You suppressed a giggle.