Cards Reshuffled

The priest is able to draw upon the power of his or her god to close wounds, still bleeding, encourage a faltering heart to keep beating and sometimes even bring back the dead. And yet, when the outcome is uncertain, and it is unknown whether the patient will live or die, perhaps the thing most likely to skip the scales of balance is love, and the true desire to heal.

Excerpt from ‘Ruminations Of A Master Bard’

“Easy, my lady. Do not attempt to move.”

Zaerini groaned, letting herself subside back onto the fluffy things she was resting against. Pillows? Yes, pillows. That’s good. Wearily, she forced her eyes open. Two tired and worried-looking faces were hovering directly above her, one from either side of the bed she was lying in. Anomen’s brown hair was unusually mussed, and there were dark shadows along his jaw and across his cheeks, as if he had forgotten to shave himself. There were dark circles beneath his eyes too, but when they met hers he sighed with relief, smiling at her.

Jaheira’s face was equally tense, and the druid’s green eyes were suspiciously shiny. When she noticed that Rini was waking up they instantly took on a stern expression, but not before there was a visible glint of tender concern. “Are you happy now?” Jaheira asked, crossing her arms across her chest. “You almost got yourself killed with that silly stunt! Have you any idea how close a call it was? You had severe internal bleedings, you could barely keep your heart going and Anomen and I…we almost did not manage to…” Her jaw trembled from a moment, and then she grasped the younger half-elf’s hands tightly. “Just…just do not ever worry me like that again!”

“I’m sorry,” Rini said, smiling faintly up at her friend. “I know I should have been more careful.”

“Might as well tell a cat not to be curious,” Jaheira said, snorting a little, then gave her a brief hug. “At least you are alive.”

“I know. Thank you, both of you. I know it was you two who pulled me back. I can’t ever repay that, you know.”

“There is no need to, my lady,” Anomen said, bowing. He smiled at her, his blue eyes warm. “Your continued presence amongst us is all the reward I would ever wish for. The world would have lost one of its brightest and most beautiful flowers, should we have lost you.”

“Oh! That…that’s a very nice thing to say. Thanks!” He really can be very sweet sometimes. And he honestly sounds as if he means it…though I’ve never felt less flower-like.

Well, what do you expect? Softpaws sounded rather testy, and she nudged her mistress impatiently in the side with a paw. The male wishes to mate with you, after all.

He…WHAT? Anomen wants to…what?

You hadn’t noticed? I guess you must be even more preoccupied than I had guessed with your own chosen mate then.

But…Anomen…”Anomen?”

“Yes, my lady?” Anomen eagerly said. “What is it?”

“Er…” Rini said, staring at him with what she thought had to be a pretty dumb expression. Unfortunately, that made him look even more eager, and very pleased. “I…that is…do you…”

“Yes, my lady?”

“Do you…er…” Feeling utterly helpless, she suddenly felt something inside her still clenched fist. “Do you…recognize this leaf?” She held up the leaf from her dream, a small shiver tickling her spine as she processed the idea that it had followed her into reality. Or had it always been there?

Coward, Softpaws said.

I’m sure you’re wrong! You have to be. Anyway, I can’t just ask him! At least not with Jaheira around.

A look of brief…was it disappointment? Then the squire dutifully looked the small leaf over. “I am sorry, my lady,” he said. “I am not familiar with it.”

“Ask one more knowledgeable about such things, child,” Jaheira impatiently stated, taking the leaf. “It looks a little like a linden leaf, but it is a little too round, and the color isn’t quite right.” She frowned. “I have never seen one quite like it. Where did you get it?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” Rini admitted. Already the memory of the dream was fading. There had been somebody who had spoken to her…but who? The only thing she could remember was a pair of bright green eyes. “I guess I’ll hang onto it though. Just in case.” Then she thought of something. “What happened after I was hit?” Sudden fear twisted her guts. “Everybody is all right isn’t sh…they?”

Jaheira slowly raised an eyebrow. “Oh yes,” she said, her voice neutral. “They are all fine, if very worried about you, of course. And the slavers have all been dealt with.” She pursed her lips. “In fact, I think I had better go downstairs and let ‘everybody’ know you will live, before ‘everybody’ falls quite to pieces. We could have nobody interfering while we were working with you, you see. ‘Everybody’ was quite noisy about that.”

“Oh…er…all right. So…when will I be able to get out of bed then?”

A small smirk crossed the druid’s face. “You are staying exactly where you are until tomorrow morning. Your wounds have been healed, but you are still weakened, and you will need time to recuperate. At least it should keep you out of further trouble…I hope. And do not attempt to sneak up out of bed, or I will summon a few vines to make you stay put.” She crossed the floor to the door, laughing softly. Then she turned around, and for a few seconds that tender look was briefly to be seen again. “Children…” she said, shaking her head. Then she walked out the door.

“My lady,” Anomen said, his voice very earnest. “Is there anything I can get you? Anything I can do to make you more comfortable?”

“Um…I’m fine, thanks.” Rini desperately stared up into the cleric’s face, trying to read his mind. Is it really true? Oh gods…what if it is? What do I do about it?

Isn’t that obvious, kitten? Softpaws asked, sounding curious. Tell him you have a mate already.

I can’t tell him that! For one thing, you could be wrong.

The cat purred loudly, settling into the crook of the bard’s arm. Oh, please. I do love you, kitten, but sometimes you can be very thick. I’m not wrong about this, I know a male in mating-frenzy when I see one.

Well…even if you are right, I can’t just tell him ‘I don’t love you!’

Why not?

It would hurt his feelings tremendously!

Softpaws was silent for a few seconds. When she spoke again, she sounded genuinely puzzled. What difference does that make? He is not the one you want for a mate anyway.

Oh, I give up. No, I’ll have to try to figure out how he really feels, and if you are right, then I’ll have to let him down gently.

“My lady?” Anomen said. “You suddenly look…a little sad? I have not offended you in some way, I hope?” He sounded quite anxious.

“No Anomen,” Zaerini hastily said. “You haven’t offended me in any way. I…just have a lot on my mind right now, I guess.”

“I am glad to hear it,” Anomen said, sighing with relief. He sat down on a chair by the bedside, and rubbed his knuckles wearily against his neck. “For all my aspirations to knightly honor and virtue, I have not always the way with words that I would wish. I have on occasion been known to give offence without intending to do so.” He suddenly smiled. “My sister, Moira, once told me that I have the manners of a bull that has just sat on a wasp. I fear she has partially the right of it, my temper has always been short.” Almost as quickly as it had come, the smile faded. “I...I think of my sister, sometimes, alone in the manor with my father. From the last letter I received, it seemed as if she was bearing up well. I think she was merely trying to ease my guilt, though. It cannot be easy for her, and I wish that I could take her away and send her somewhere where she would be happy.”

“What prevents you?” Rini carefully asked.

“She is not entirely different from you, my lady,” Anomen wryly said. “Moira can be stubborn... she refuses to leave our father's side even at his drunken worst, staying to take care of him. Since our mother died, I think she can hardly imagine doing anything else. I hope that old bastard does not treat her too harshly.” He sighed again. “You understand this, do you not? After all, your own sister is in great peril.”

Immy…what would she think of all this? What would she say? Would she tease me for being foolish enough not to notice what was going on? Then again…after that thing with Adahn, she’d likely not. At least not very much. Oh, I miss her teasing so much…”Yes,” the half-elf said. “Yes Anomen, I do understand.”

“I am glad to hear it,” he said, sounding happier once more. “It does my heart good to know we have some common ground, my lady, and perhaps more may be found.” He rose from the chair, and then took her hand, kissing it lightly. “And now I shall leave you to your repose. I have already tired you overlong.” As he approached the door, she thought she could hear him whistling faintly.

Well, Softpaws said. That went well. I see the subtle approach is really doing a good job with this one.

Softy…please don’t. This is difficult enough as it is.

Her familiar gave her an encouraging nudge on the neck with a small and very cold nose. I am sorry, kitten. But you really do need to do something about this.

I know. But what can I do? I haven’t done anything but try to be his friend, and I still want to be his friend. I never intended for him to think I wanted to be more than that, I really didn’t. And as long as he hasn’t actually said anything, I really don’t know what to do. I mean, I don’t want to give him false hopes, but I can’t start being rude to him to make him lose interest, and…and I just don’t know what to say to him!

Well, if you cannot say it outright, then you have no choice but to wait until the mate makes an open effort. And he will. Trust me. The black cat snuggled even closer to her than before, the furry body feeling very comforting against her. Kitten?

Yes?

I was very worried about you too, you know. Very much. We are bonded, you and I…I could not bear to lose you. Please try to stay alive?

Oh, Softy…of course I will. And thank you. Eventually she fell asleep, her arm still around her familiar’s warm body, and the soft sound of purring soothing her troubled thoughts.

If she dreamt, she did not recall it afterwards. And that was something of a blessing.