Hawlen opened her eyes groggily to see Virion standing over her, conversing with a nurse. She looked around her to see that she was back in the hospital. The ward was illuminated by the morning sun filtering in through the windows and lighting up the stone floor in strips. Virion noticed that she was awake and nodded then turned to leave.
'Wait...', Hawlen's voice came out as a mild croak and sent a spasm of pain to her head. Virion stopped and turned, a worried look on his face. But his mind was elsewhere, Hawlen could tell. His eyes were slightly glazed over and there was a sharp aura about him. Almost as if he were about to burst.
'Don't lose yourself... Virion' Hawlen said, staring into his green eyes. The anger boiling under his surface was almost palpable. He was close to cracking and she could feel it. Despite her limited experience with such matters, she could imagine that being completely consumed by anger as he was could not be a good thing. She wanted to help him, but she did not know how.
'I'm sorry but, you barely know me', he replied blankly. He was looking at Hawlen, but he seemed to be staring at a point far off into space behind her.
'You're gravely injured, take care of yourself first.'
The nurse beside him nodded fiercely in agreement and Hawlen sighed, remembering that she had snuck out of the hospital to attend Zaleria Salor's memorial service.
'Expect your father to visit after the senate meeting.', Virion said as he turned to leave the ward.
Hawlen perked up at this and she stared at the back of Virion's head as he thanked the nurse and left the room. She exhaled deeply and collapsed back onto the hospital bed.
Hawlen looked at the nurse, who was standing near her bed with a frown on her face. Her arms were folded, and her posture was as straight as a tree as she stared down at Hawlen, giving off an intense disciplinary energy.
'I'm not gonna run off again you know.'
The nurse's eyes narrowed as she started tapping her foot on the cold, stone floor.
'I don't trust you.'
Hawlen let out a laugh then shrunk from the pain. She let her eyes wander around the room, drinking in the sight of the perabel construction. A welcome one after her weeks spent running for her life. She stroked the wood of the bed frame she lay on, appreciating the craftsmanship. She chuckled to herself wondering whether she ever could have anticipated the day she would admire the craftsmanship of a bed of all things. Yet here she was.
'Are you just going to stand there glaring at me all day?', Hawlen asked the nurse who had not budged from her position. Hawlen cocked her head to the side and smiled slightly.
'If you intend to chaperone me today, we might as well get to know each other, right?'
Her single visible golden eye glinted mischievously in the morning light entering through the nearby window. The nurse stared at Hawlen suspiciously then suddenly sighed and relaxed.
'I wasn't sure how long I could keep that up', the nurse said with a smile as she shrugged defeatedly. Hawlen giggled and patted her mattress, inviting the nurse to sit.
'That scowl doesn't suit you', she said, grinning as widely as she could manage with her bandages. The nurse walked over and sat on the mattress heavily, her shoulders bent forward in exhaustion.
'What's your name?'
'Tilda', replied the nurse as she straightened her posture to face Hawlen properly. She had on a bright smile. Hawlen felt a pang of guilt for making this cheerful perabel turn sour. She reached out to touch Tilda's hand, a movement that sent spasms of pain up into her skull.
'I'm sorry Tilda, for worrying you. I just-'
'It's alright.', Tilda cut her off, enveloping Hawlen's hand with both of her own. 'Forgive me but I overheard some of your conversation with Mr. Salor.'
Hawlen's face fell as she stared into the nurse's brown eyes.
'Is it true you braved the Forest of Kolbidt? By your lonesome?'
Hawlen's gaze drifted downwards as she took a deep breath. Memories of her escape from the warlock forces flooded her mind.
'Yeah... I survived through dumb luck honestly', Hawlen chuckled and shyly looked up at Tilda to see that she was beaming.
'That's incredible lass! I never would've guessed! You're quite amazing aren't ya?'
'I wouldn't go so far as to sa-', Hawlen quickly stammered out but the nurse clutched her hand firmly and moved closer to her. A sharp spike of pain shot through Hawlen with Tilda's sudden movement.
'You can save us, can't you? You and the elf, Mr. Salor'
Her eyes displayed an intense hunger. The passive and kind nurse had transformed before Hawlen's eyes. She resembled a sailor drowning at sea, clutching desperately at the air hoping for salvation. Hawlen had not yet stopped to consider the dire situation the perabels within the stronghold of Port City were in. She was home but the fight was not over yet. Hawlen's head swam with pain as she brought up her other hand to cover Tilda's. She clenched her teeth and ignored the pain as she stared into the nurse's pleading brown eyes.
'We will make it out of this Tilda. I promise.', she said solemnly.
Tilda's expression softened and her hold on Hawlen's hand loosened. She slumped forward as she relaxed her posture and let go of Hawlen's hand. Tears began to stream down her cheeks. Hawlen shifted forwards, hesitating slightly due to the pain racking her entire body but she persevered and placed a hand on the nurse's back. Tilda looked up at her, a strange mixture of exhaustion and relief written on her face. She suddenly wiped her eyes and stood.
'Oh, what am I doing! You must be in such pain!'
Hawlen nodded slowly, a smile spreading underneath her bandages as she leaned back into the mattress. Tilda covered her with her sheets and checked her bandages, reapplying any that were getting old. She had a determined look as she worked. Hawlen felt satisfied and allowed the warm embrace of sleep to overtake her. The pain was overwhelming, yet her exhaustion was even more so.
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