Companion (61)

The next time Caeli woke, she was met by the galaxian women, a bath being made as she was rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"It is time for treatments and strengthening my lady.", the shorter woman said.

Lynx moved to the side of the bed and took a seat.

"We have a plan for you my lady. If it is alright with you, I can go over these plans, and if it pleases you, we can begin?", she said smiling.

Caeli nodded, it was nice to have someone involve her in the decision making process. Hearing of all that had transpired while she had been Traveling was displacing to say the least.

"We will treat your wound every day until it truly begins to mend. In the mean time we will make sure you are fed well to give you strength. Once a day we will work on restoring your muscle use with exercises. You need not worry about anything else other than getting better. How does that sound?", Lynx asked placing a comforting hand on Caeli's.

"Thank you Lynx. Yes, I am ready for whatever it may require.", she said.

It took no time at all for Caeli to realize how difficult it would be.

The cleaning of the wound was excruciating but done first as the bandage would be fairly soiled after each rest period she took.

They assisted in getting her dressed, Carli insisting on a pair of soft leather mens breeches and a linen open throated top (courtesy of Einar), insisting on its superior comfort to a dress. And then the exercises began.

She could hardly walk from the bed to the door and back. The revelation made her feel disheartened.

After the exercises, the two women bid her goodnight. Apparently the entirety of everything had taken up most of the day. Caeli marveled at how something could both feel like an eternity and an instant simultaneously.

"Your bell at the bedside will call us should you need anything through the Rest. That is what we consider the evening to those who live with the sun. Otherwise feel free to do as you please. If there is anything we can fetch you to assist in this, please inform us. Good Rest my lady.", Lynx said.

"Thank you ladies. Your time and attention honor me.", Caeli said smiling roguishly as she laid her head back panting in the chair, trying desperately to recover from the exercises.

The women couldn't help but imagine that she was some sort of princess of thieves in her mens attire, her hair loosely pulled back in a bun, strands of her hair sticking to her face and neck from the sweat she had accumulated whilst using her atrophied limbs.

She had slumped involuntarily in her chair, her arms resting in her thighs, her long fingered hands loosely dangling between.

Her gaunt form and half smile giving her an aristocratic and arrogant air to her features.

The women blushing and smiling at the thought bowed, and exited the room.

It took her what she estimated to be about an hour before her breathing returned to normal and she could sit up.

Caeli had a mind to try and find a way out of the room, to see where she was but exhaustion took her swiftly.

She did not dream.

Her shoulder throbbed in the night, her muscles ached after a long period of disuse. Not to mention the fact that she had not left the chair. Despite all this, it was one of the most restful slumbers she had ever experienced.

She reached for the bell, the women having made certain it was close by when they had helped her to the chair. She rang it, again, with no sound.

The shorter woman named Calliope arrived to assist Caeli in freshening up and changing to bed clothes.

Once changed Calliope ensured that Caeli was settled before bidding her good rest.

She would occasionally wake in the night, bumping her wound as she moved to get comfortable in her sleep, the pain causing her to rouse. No confusing dreams or Traveling, as Raven had called it. No new questions about her past, or her future.

Just sweet unconsciousness.

The next time she woke, wondering how long it would last.

She was pulled from her thoughts when a light thumping came at the door.

Bat came barreling into the room, along with a wonderful smell. A combination of sweet and spicy.

"Good morning.", she rasped to Bat, smiling broadly.

Bat was just as excited to see Caeli, bringing his paws up onto the edge of the bed to push his face into hers, licking excitedly at her cheeks.

"Good evening, that is what many say here.", came a deep voice.

Raven stepped into the room with a tray that looked deceivingly small in his large clawed hands.

Bat got down and looked back at his master happily wagging his tail.

Caeli's smile faltered slightly.

"Good evening.. my lord.", she said hesitantly. It was difficult to do after knowing him only as Raven. It was all the more difficult for the fact that he was carrying food into her room for her.

Ravens step faltered and he stop short of being near her bed.

"Raven. Please?", he said softly, his eyes down cast to the tray in his hands. It was the one closeness they had left from their friendship. It felt like not so long ago she had given him that name and he held it dear to his heart.

Hearing her call him by honorifics hurt him deeper than he would like to admit.

"Evening here is what you would consider the morning. Wake is equivalent to your "day" and Rest to "night" here, deep within the Midnight Forest.", he said lifting his head to look at her.

She nodded slowly.

"I apologize, I would not of come if not for the fact that I caught Bat trying to balance your breakfast down the hall. He was very excited to see you. So excited that he almost fed the floor.", he said, she smiled in response and his heart raced. He hesitantly went to her bedside to place the tray in her lap. He bowed deeply. "Please enjoy.", and he turned on his heel, making his way to the door.

*Before you make a fool of yourself, or worse, make her uncomfortable.*, he thought to himself.

"Thank you.", she said quietly, not realizing that he had already left the room and the door was shut.

She looked at Bat who continued to wag his tail happily. He sat and cocked his head at her, as if to say, "What was that all about?"

Caeli sighed heavily.

"I honestly don't know.", she said in response.

She carefully lifted the lid covering the entirety of the tray.

The smell hit her full force.

A muffin, the size of her fist and spiced, sat beside a large pat of butter on a small plate. Assorted fruits that she did not recognize shimmered in the low light along with nuts and what she presumed to be an oatmeal like substance. There were small containers of jams and jellies along with a cold glass of what she guessed was a juice, red orange in color it smelled of vegetables but was sweet on her tongue.

She ate slowly and with much effort. She spilled most of what she attempted, her limbs and appendages weakening without warning and loosing hold of her cutlery as she went along. What food made it to her mouth, she sallowed slowly and waiting, allowing each bite to reach her stomach before deciding whether or not she could fit more.

Once she had eaten, and barely fit, five bites, she finished and set the tray aside, looking to Bat who was now laying on the floor dozing lazily.

"I know I've just risen but I think you have the right idea.", she said groggily, the food warming her body and lowering her defenses against the exhaustion.

She smiled as she laid back on her pillow. She patted the side of her bed to see if Bat would like to come up. The idea of sleeping alone and waking in the dark frightening her ever since her first night there. But sleep was claiming her quickly and disregarded her fear of the sleep paralysis she had experienced.

Bat lifted his head, hesitant at first. She wondered if he had ever been on a bed before.

Gingerly he lifted himself onto the the end of her bed, wary of doing something he had likely never done before, and circled once before laying down.

She took a deep breath and let the dark take her.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Raven was leaving her room when the women were on there way to help her begin her day.

He stopped them with a hand.

"Not today, allow her to rest. You may resume tomorrow.", he said softly.

The women bowed deeply and turned back around.

He glanced back at the door of Caeli's room before heading for his study.

After an hour or so he realized that Bat had never returned.

"Have you seen Bat?", he asked Einar who had been reading in the corner.

The butler-general lifted his head and looked around thoughtfully before shaking his head.

Raven disappeared in a quiet flooding of smoke before reappearing in front of Caeli's door.

He reached up a fisted claw, pausing before rapping softly.

There was no answer.

He disappeared in smoke again and reappeared just on the other side of the door.

He saw Caeli sleeping soundly, her long white hair splashed across the dark linens like rays of moonlight. Her skin glowing and her face serene. At the foot of the bed, Bat was laying on his back, all four feet in the air, and snoring.

Raven smiled internally.

Her kindness and acceptance always amazed him. No average person would allow a gargoyle to come towards them without fighting them off, much less allow them to sleep at the foot of the bed like some house hold pet.

She looked even smaller, like a child, with the large creature so close for comparison.

Raven left the room the same way he had entered it and returned to his study.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Caeli woke, Bat having encircled her feet at the end of bed, snoring softly.

The room was darker than before, leading her to think that it was the Rest period Raven had mentioned.

She attempted to sit up and found that she was unable to do so.

Her heart began to race. She tried to speak but found her jaw clenched, just like before.

"Mmmm", she moaned helplessly.

Bats ear flitted back and forth but his eyes were still closed and he was still as a statue otherwise.

Caeli could hear her rapid breaths exiting her nostrils as her panic rose.

"Mmmm", she moaned a little more loudly, a tear rolling down her cheek.

Bat sat up quickly before crawling to her head, the bed wide enough to accommodate him being by her side.

His large black eyes sparkled in the dim light as he cocked his head from side to side, observing her.

She moaned again and this time he licked her face. When he realized she couldn't reach up to pet him his worry grew.

He started whimpering and nudging her frantically.

Tears poured as he nuzzled her cheeks and arm, avoiding the one in the sling.

Finally he howled loudly, then continued his efforts to rouse her.

A moment later Raven appeared in the room and quickly moved to her bedside, sitting on the opposite side of Bat.

"Caeli? Are you alright?", he said gently, putting a clawed hand against her small cheek.

Her chest shuttered with sobs and she was hissing air through her clenched teeth.

"Shhh, shh, it will pass. Just hold on, it will pass.", he said despairingly. Seeing her in such terror wrenched at his heart mercilessly.

He gently lifted her into his lap and held her close, her sobbing slowed.

Bat continued to whimper and lick at her hands.

"Do you remember our first meal together? I caught everything you tossed me but you couldn't catch a thing to save your life.", Raven said in his deep and quiet voice. "Do you remember the mushroom I showed you in the forest? Just before I could stop you, you touched it and spores that smelled of rotten meat flew into your hair. You had to take a bath that lasted an hour to get the smell out.", he said chuckling and causing a deep vibration that Caeli could feel.

She took a deep breath and inhaled the cool scent of night that always radiated from Raven, allowing his chilled skin to refresh her.

"Those were the best nights of my life.", he whispered.

Caeli felt a twang in her heart, distracting her from the fear.

Another deep breath and she was able to shakily lift her hand and rest it against his chest.

Bat yipped happily and performed celebratory circles on the floor.

Raven gave her a gentle squeeze in response, he wanted to never let go. But he also knew he was crossing lines that she had drawn in the sand.

Carefully he laid Caeli back in her bed and snapped his fingers, the lights brightened slowly to illuminate the room.

Bat came back to the bedside to put his head under her hand. She wiggled her fingers in a semblance of a pat.

Another deep breath and Caeli's jaw came loose.

"How are you feeling?", Raven asked, standing away from the bedside.

"Better.", she croaked in response. She fought her way to a sitting position, her breath still quickened.

"Would you like some water?", he asked.

She nodded.

A low and hollow whistle came from Ravens skull and Bats ears lifted to attention.

Bat licked her hand softly and plodded towards the door. The door opened and shut to allow the gargoyle its exit.

Raven pulled a chair to the bed side, keeping it a respectable distance from Caeli.

"I… do not…. like that, at all.", she said slowly regaining some of her faculties.

Raven nodded slowly.

"I can't imagine what you're going through. Is there anything that I can do to help? I cannot keep the sleep paralysis from happening, but I will do what I can to help you during the episodes.", he said, his gaze downcast to the floor. He wanted to help but he knew he should be giving her space.

Caeli's heart twisted at seeing the massive beast in such a state. He was sweet and some how contrite despite his enormous size and sinister visage.

"I am afraid. When I wake alone, the inability to move, although seemingly temporary, is disorienting. Having Bat helped.", she said slowly.

Raven nodded in understanding.

"You helped.", she said, barely a whisper.

Ravens head lifted quickly to meet her gaze.

Her white silken hair sticking to her skin. The lengths past her waist and curtaining her body, ending in pools all around her. Her chest rose and fell quickly causing the fabric of her dress to billow out her scent. Honey milk and lavender mingling with the sweat of her body.

He swallowed hard.

"I am sorry for the things you must suffer, things I wish I could endure in your stead.", he said simply.

But was he?

Not so long ago he thought he'd never see her again, and only moments ago he was holding her in his arms.

No, he wasn't sorry for that.

But he was sorry that he might of done something to make her uncomfortable, and sorry to see such a vibrant woman in such pain.

Caeli shook her head.

"Raven… I-", she started.

He lifted a hand to stop her and stood.

"No need to explain but I will say, I cannot put into the words the joy I feel at knowing that I some how brought you comfort. I will not come again. I will instruct Bat to be your companion in the meantime, in case it happens again. Try to get some rest. Goodnight, Caeli.", he said bowing deeply one minute and disappearing the next.

Caeli blinked rapidly.

She wasn't sure how to feel, but she couldn't deny the way he affected her.

For now she needed to focus on getting stronger.

At least that's what she told her self once Bat returned with a precariously balanced glass of water.

They settled back into bed. She was sure that she would struggle to fall back asleep, in part for fear of the paralysis, and also because she was sure she'd slept enough for a century.

She pulled the covers close with some effort and closed her eyes as Bat put himself against the back of her legs.

She was asleep in seconds.