|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 2, 2006 23:03:56 GMT -5
"We're done for today," the marquist said finally, and I sobbed. "You can stay here for a few minutes until you can move," he said, a sound of bewilderment and slight unease in his tone. He went back out to the front and left us alone.
"Aleron," I gasped, raising my head and reaching for him.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 2, 2006 23:09:19 GMT -5
I hugged her as much as I was able and wished I could do something to ease her pain. "I'm sorry," I said softly, looking over her back. "But you did wonderfully, it looks beautiful."
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 2, 2006 23:12:49 GMT -5
I pressed my face to him, drawing on the feel and scent of him to help me focus. As badly as I wanted to move, to be gone, I couldn't, not yet, it was still too painful.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 2, 2006 23:20:20 GMT -5
To Riva I said softly, "Let's get you back to Hannah and her medicines, how does that sound?" as I tied her hair in a lover's haste knot at the back of her neck.
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 2, 2006 23:46:48 GMT -5
"I just want to be with you," I told him, wincing as I sat up. I met his gaze and a twinge of shame went through me at making him worry so.
"You're right," I said, changing my mind. "that sounds best."
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 3, 2006 0:00:34 GMT -5
"I'll help you get back to Gentian then," I replied with a soft smile. "And then you can get everyone aquainted with your kitten. I'm sure they'll all love her."
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 3, 2006 11:56:12 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said, meaning it for so many things. My fingers caressed his cheek lightly for a moment.
Then, steeling myself, I got down from the table, whimpering softly at the pain. My dress was laying on a chair on the other side of the room.
"Can you hand me that?" I asked him, looking at the dress.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 3, 2006 11:59:05 GMT -5
Nodding, I stood and retrieved the dress. "You really should get bandaged before you put the gown on, else the ink could bleed out as you walk," I told her. "Also, the gown rubbing against the lines will hurt more."
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 3, 2006 12:21:10 GMT -5
"Oh, ok," I said softly, stricken at having to stay any longer. I just wanted to be home, though I really didn't know how I was going to walk all that way.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 3, 2006 12:22:56 GMT -5
The marquist finally came back in and, with a few expert motions, bandaged Riva's back and then left with the same quiet effiency. "Raise your arms and I'll slip the gown on you," I told her, laying a kiss of the soft kiss of her cheek.
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 3, 2006 12:38:54 GMT -5
Slowly I raised my arms up enough for him to slide the dress on. It was getting harder and harder not to cry with every movement.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 3, 2006 12:42:04 GMT -5
She was in so much pain that ran a hand over the lines of her face and kissed her forehead. "You can walk out of here, I know you can- every step will be easier than the first one. Prove to yourself that you can walk outside and then I'll carry you the rest of the way."
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 3, 2006 12:45:59 GMT -5
"No, you can't carry me all that way," I said. "I'll walk."
Slowly, oh so slowly, I made my way out of the shop and out to the street again.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 3, 2006 12:58:31 GMT -5
With a nod I followed her out, matching pace and then offering her my arm. "You can lean on me if you want," I offered in a concerned tone.
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 3, 2006 13:01:51 GMT -5
Making sure I wasn't on the side where I would crush the kitten, I moved next to Aleron and leaned o him as we walked.
"Next time I keep enough coin to hire a carriage," I said softly.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 3, 2006 23:42:42 GMT -5
"That would be a good idea," I replied with a slight grin. "Though that means I wouldn't have reason to be this close to you."
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 3, 2006 23:50:58 GMT -5
"You could be close to me in a carriage and I wouldn't have to walk," I told him, as I fought down the rising nausea pain was causing.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 3, 2006 23:54:14 GMT -5
She was going to be ill if we had to keep going like this. Stopping, I looked at her and said, "Put your arms around my neck."
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 4, 2006 11:23:31 GMT -5
Ashamed at my weakness, I hung my head but did as he said.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 4, 2006 15:31:42 GMT -5
Carefully, with one arm around her shoulders and another at her knees I picked her up as gently as possible, letting her arrange herself- she really was very light- before I started moving.
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 4, 2006 18:21:05 GMT -5
"I love you," I said quietly, before pressing my face to the curve of his neck. The shame I felt at being so weak was mitigated somewhat by the feel of his arms around me. I focused on that and on how much I loved him.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 5, 2006 14:25:58 GMT -5
"A good number of people end up like this after their first marquing session," I told her softly as I began to walk in an attempt to mitigate the shame that hung about her. ""It's just that no one talks about it."
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 5, 2006 16:08:35 GMT -5
"Thank you," I told him softly, my face still pressed to his neck. It did help a little to know that I wasn't the only person in the history of adepts to feel this way.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 5, 2006 18:33:54 GMT -5
"I love you," I replied in the same tone. "And just think, you have Hannah to look after you and give you medicines. Those seem to help a lot. Most adepts don't use anything for the pain- it's too expensive."
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 5, 2006 22:46:08 GMT -5
"I love you too," I said, raising my head a little. "And I promise to do whatever Hannah says so I get better faster."
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 6, 2006 0:18:51 GMT -5
"Thank you," I replied, happy and knowing she would be well cared for, even though I knew it would mean even longer until I could see her again. "The sooner you're well, the sooner you can do as you wish."
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 6, 2006 0:26:24 GMT -5
"All I want is to be with you," I told him, laying my head back on his shoulder. "Everything has become so complicated and difficult lately. It makes me want to run away with you even more."
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 6, 2006 12:04:07 GMT -5
"If you want to do that then we will, once your marque is finished," I said softly but firmly. "But I think your brother is just trying to keep you safe. He doesn't know or understand about us, no one really does."
|
|
|
Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 6, 2006 14:47:48 GMT -5
"He doesn't know or understand me either," I said. "He talked about me going to Tiberium and that I should be at court and wanting to take me to 'our home'. I think he's ashamed of who I am."
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Nov 6, 2006 15:34:45 GMT -5
"Do you WANT to go to Tiberium and to see where you spent your childhood?" I asked, having a feeling I knew the answer but knowing that her saying it aloud would make things easier. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to."
|
|