Allaura Aislinn
Pain.
That was the first thing I felt when I woke up.
I couldn't help but wince when I tried to move.
"Don't try to move, Aura." Caspian's voice rang out next to me.
I turned my head and noticed him sitting in a chair next to the bed I was laying on. Then I noticed how large the room I was actually in. "Where are we?" Caspian lifted himself off the chair and walked over to me and say at the edge of the bed. "In Norbalian. There's a safety wall surrounding the palace, that's why the Verl Fay couldn't enter." He explains.
I nod and shift on the bed but groaned at the aching of my whole damn body. "Why the hell does it hurt so bad." I stress and look at Caspian. "And how the hell are you still standing—or sitting right now." He shifts and uses the back of his hands to support himself on the bed while he leans back. "The training did a number on you. Your back is super sensitive due to—to you know. We have to work on your stamina." He says.
I think back to how it all happened. The Fay were able to heal. They said she helped them, someone—something helped them develop a new trait. Thankfully they aren't able to grow new limbs, so when we go to fight them, we have to cut off the heads to make sure they stay dead.
Fay killer.
"They knew me." I whisper to Caspian. "They called me Fay killer. They knew who I was." Caspian shifts his body so now only his elbow is supporting him. "They probably knew the Fay that you killed in the woods. They probably smelt their blood on you, their own scent." He explains. "What the hell are we gonna tell Alek. We failed the mission." I stress.
It was only the second mission he assigned. On the first one he was stressed that we got back late. But now? We only killed one Verl Fay.
I just hope our explanation is enough for him.
"Don't worry about him. We're staying here a few days anyways." Caspian says. "Wait, here? In the castle? With the Queen?" Caspian lowers his head and chuckles. "Yes Aura, we're staying here. But don't worry, you'll be sleeping here from now on."
I lift myself on my elbows and curse at the pain. "Who's room is this?" I ask while I take in my surroundings.
It's a large room. Much larger than the one at training, and the bed is much softer and bigger. The walls are painted a deep blue. Almost black, but it's a beautiful color and matched the room beautifully.
The sheets consist of dark blue and white.
They're so soft.
"This is my room."
My eyes pop out of their sockets. "Your room?" Caspian nods faintly as he also looks around it. "What. um—what exactly are you to the queen?" His eyes travel to mine before he speaks. "I'm here guard. I protect and serve her. Whatever she asks of me, I do. No matter the cost." He says. "Even if it'll kill you?" I try to joke but— "Yes."
I say nothing more about the queen and his duties to her. But I do ask. "Does she know about me?"
Caspian pursued his lips. "No. And for your sake. She will not know."
I sigh and carefully lay my back onto the mattress. But my back refuses to go down all the way.
I let out a frustrated sigh and turn my whole body so my forward is now pressed onto the mattress. "How long have I been asleep for?" I mumble against the cold pillow. "Not too long. We gave you some tonic. Oils would help your back too." He explains. "Well it's not like I can reach and massage my own back."
Caspian stays silent for a moment before speaking again. "I can. Unless you're not comfortable with it."
I can't help but smile at his words. He's improved with me. Some days I've realized he just doesn't like talking, or sometimes he doesn't know how to respond. But he's improving while he speaks with me.
"I'd like that." Is all I respond with.
I hear him shuffle off the bed. "Get yourself ready, I'll be out shortly to grab the oils." He says and I hear the door open and close.
I grab the back of my shirt and whimper when I feel it slide against my back.
I cannot tell if the pain is from within the muscles, or from any cuts or bruises from the falling.
I pull the back of my shirt and bring it over my head so it could lay on my shoulders.
My stomach and back are fully exposed but at least I'm not fully uncovered.
I bring my arms under my chin and wait.
Moments later I hear the door open and feel the bed dip. "The oils have healing properties, they've also been warmed up so it'll soothe the ache." Caspian says from behind me. "Is it bad? My back I mean." I ask him. "Not terrible. You have some bruises but no open wounds, thankfully. I think the most damage is in your muscles."
I hear the rattling of glass bottles and hear him unscrew one.
I slightly flinch and my back goes tense once I feel the warm thick liquid being poured onto my skin.
His hand comes next and I can't help but tense even more. "Relax. This won't work if you are tense the whole time."
I do as he says and relax the muscles in my back.
His hand is warm and rough against my skin. He stops his hand in a few places and I feel the ache lessen in that area. "How do you do that? You healed my hand too." I ask. "It was a gift. Not many Elfin have it. Some are born with elemental powers, some with healing. Or even both. I was given healing powers, and I couldn't be more thankful." He explains. "Do you ever wish you had elemental powers? So you could defend yourself?" I couldn't help but ask. "Who wouldn't." —he chuckles— "It would be of great help to me if I did but I wasn't given it. But I was given healing, so I'll use it to my full advantage."
He continues to message my back with both of his hands. He massages all the way up to my shoulder blades, and back down to my waist.
I don't ever want this to stop.
I let out a relieved sigh as he continues to massage my back.
"Are you hurt? Do you need me to massage you anywhere?" I tease.
He pinches my back and I squirm under his hold and he chuckles. "You were hurt Allaura." He states seriously. "You were so tired, so weak because of the Fay. I found a claw mark on your wrist. The reason why you felt so weak was because of the poison."
Poison.
I almost forgot. The Verl Fay tried to claw my face, and since I was so focused on retreating the claws away from my face, she was able to get my wrist.
"So much happened. We were running and—and they were chasing us. I was so scared I must have forgotten." I mumble.
All I remember was the adrenaline. That fear that was embedded in my bones. I remember pushing myself to keep running. Telling myself that I wouldn't die then, that I couldn't die then.
I bury my face deeper in the pillows as I feel my eyes burn.
Caspian continues to massage my back. Putting down at least three different oils.
"I'm sorry." I whisper.
Caspian's hand pauses on my back. "I'm sorry you have to deal with me. I know you despise me, that you despise humans. So I'm sorry you have to spend your time with me. a human when you could be doing anything else." Caspian's hands still stay frozen near my waist. "I did despise your kind." He states. "But that was before I met you. I learned that humans were evil. That they were selfish and unkind and ruthless. But you showed me how wrong I was. I knew all of it was a lie the moment you jumped off the cliff after me. Even after all that I have said to you before, even after how I treated you before. You still thought I was worth saving." My bottom lip quivers as he continues to speak. "I may be Elfin, And I may have a cold heart. But you are the human in me Allaura. You warm up my cold heart. You broke the ice, and now, because of you, my blood beats warm again. And it beats warm only for you."
Tears make there way down my cheeks in steady streams. "So thank you Allaura. And don't think you are ever a burden to me. I actually enjoy your company, believe it or not." He teases.
I let out a chuckle and wipe the tears from my cheeks.
He squeezes my shoulders in reassurance and continues to rub different oils on my back.
So maybe we weren't such strangers after all.
£
Caspian left and allowed me to rest after he was done messaging my back.
Whatever magic he did, worked. I didn't struggle to move nor stand. There was still a small ache on the top of my back but it was bearable.
His room was mostly empty, other than the large bed in the middle and a desk.
There weren't any paintings hanging off the walls, or any decorations for that matter. It was just empty, cold.
I still haven't been able to release my wings again. In the moment they snapped back into my back, I was scared. The moment they snapped out, I was terrified. So I think they drive off emotion. But I need to learn to control it myself.
If I were able to control them on the ruins, I would have brought both Caspian and I to safety a lot faster. But I had nobody to help me.
I turned once I heard the door open and see Caspian walk in with a tray of food. I smile softly at him, and I could have sworn his lip twitched upwards.
I followed him to the bed where he sat the try of food down. There was bread, sausage, grapes, cheese and more. It looked delicious and I already know I'm gonna devour it.
"Your room is so plain, why?" I ask as I pop a grape in my mouth. "I never found the time to decorate it. I only slept in here. I spent most of my time here training, or on my own assignments."
Caspian looks around the room with a frown. "It looks depressing in here." I almost chose on a grape as I laugh. He looks back at me with amusement, but it's gone once he asks. "How is your back feeling?" I swallow my food before I speak. "It's much better. My upper back is still slightly sore, but whatever you did, worked. Thank you." He nods and nods his head to the tray between my legs.
We sit in silence as I eat. Both of us wondering, what we'll do next. And how we'll get back to Aleksandr.
Back to my friends.
-
HOPE YOU LIKED IT LOVELIES!