Alchemilla Hill

Who... just who are these people? Where am I? My body's all numb, numb yet heavy I can barely move my arms or wings, just what?...

"She's awake." A surprised exclamation from the man which cradled my hand, His eyes a bright green like the ferns and leaves of a moss-filled forest, bright brushes of hair akin to the sun above, and a kind face wearing a clear expression of worry and relief? The other man standing closer to the white door at the end of this room is standing up straight turning around towards it in a rush his hair short sweeps of dark brown, almost like the earth of that clearing... Am I within another dream? What is going on?

"I'll go get Arthur!" The door swings open and closes with ease, it seems neither heavy nor oppressive. Leaving behind a sensation of an often traveled path, one shaped to ease...

"Can you hear me? How are you feeling?" That man by my side... He's talking to me, right?

"....." Huh? How come my voice isn't coming? Is there something wrong with my throat? My left hand feel so heavy but I need to know. My fingers some feeling a bit coarse against the soft skin of my throat, part of it seem wrapped in some firm fabric.

"Could it be that you're not able to speak?" Those concerned words, no... I'm being troublesome... what if... what if, ough, my chest's clenching cold... so cold, the bright scene in front's growing unclear... no, no, no!

"Oi, are you ok? Does it hurt?" Spinning, my breaths... will they disappear too? What just happened back then? The crowned, the cave, a-and... and. *blergh* That piercing smell, that brown stain spreading through that pure white beside my face. Hands, firm gentle hands are helping me up in a sitting position, this freeing room, this strange bright man, they are all still here, and he is looking even more worried now, deep furs digging between his golden brows, and the flesh around he's lips are tightening like his holding something back, in front of me a cup filled with a clear liquid it smells floral.

"Here, try drinking this just for a bit until the others arrive." Others? Oh, yeah, that other man left to get someone named Arthur, didn't he? The liquid in front does seem tempting, my throat is parched and the scent seems so fresh, I should indulge a bit in this kindness. The drink dancing on my tongue, freshening it up with the likes of dancing within blooming fields, a river cleansing away that dry pain from my throat as it spreads a sense of warm calm all the way to my wingtips, chasing that freezing pain away, ah, even my eyes feel a bit heavy now.

"Did it help?" That benevolent face is giving me an amiable and reassuring smile, how can someone like this exist within such a ravaged world? Oh! I'm being rude I should respond, a nod, I should still be able to even if it's heavy.

"I'm glad, make sure to take the time you'll need recovering. Can you write?" Writing... Harry did teach me! He... he... *Nod*

"I will not ask, but I'll bring you a pen and paper later." This man, this shining bright man, I have to hold on, it is heavy, I fear my hands are going to slip through his firm grip.

"Did she take the Lady's mantle?" The door, I did not even hear it, the tall brown-haired one is back and behind him is a shorter old man, withered and white, his back curving into a hump, his skin loose and wrinkled, but his eyes resting behind a pair of brown rimmed glasses are some of the clearest I've ever seen within visions or not, a gleam of shining silver. The affable blonde man nods, what on earth is a Lady mantle? I don't think I've had... oh, his perceptive gaze is resting on the dark smear marking the pillow side.

"She had some sort of episode shortly after waking, I helped her calm down a bit after drinking the mantle solution." So the drink was called that, never have I seen in any books.

"Help her out whilst Abel changes the bedding, oh, Abel, make sure to bring the chair from my study first so the little lady has somewhere to rest before you do." So the tall one is Abel, he turned back out towards the hallway quickly and without complaint. Arthur must be someone important or dear to these people, when I think about it should it not be one more? Ah, he's moving closer to the bedside, my left wings tip is twitching with a sense of worry, what will he do? What will he ask of me?

His wrinkled hand is resting on my forehead now wandering down towards my right wrist pressing two of his fingers towards the inside, is he feeling for something? Ah, my eyes are getting heavier, the numbness it is pressing, like a thick veil enveloping the air itself.

"She has a mild fever and her pulse is a bit weak but stable so she should be able to recover enough to travel in due time." Travel? What is he talking about? It's so sudden.

"What about the lacerations and her wing?" My wing?

"The lacerations will leave some scars but the rest should heal without any grave complications, but the fracture in her right wing leaves me a bit uncertain, it's a first for me, but I believe it should heal in a few moons just keep it bound until the break heals." Fracture... lacerations, I should be... the breeze from the open window feels... comforting, pleasant.

"How long until she's ready?" Wings flickering in the rays, a purple butterfly.

"Two weeks James, I've sent a letter to your wife explaining the situation, make sure you stay until then or at least thill she writes back." That name... James, but only two weeks, what will...

"Got the chair." Abel's back, dragging a thick puffed chair with a high back, the legs are emitting a faint scraping noise as he drags it close to the window. The soft blanket is pulled off, someone must have changed my clothes before I woke, clean bandages wrapped around my left hand and leg whilst my body is covered by a light white nightgown. Hands wrapping behind my knees and shoulder, lifting me from the soft bedding, James is carrying me towards that chair basking in that pleasant light. The touch of the chair, warm and fuzzy, makes me want... want to just close my eyes a bit, just a little.

"Before you get back to resting little miss I've got to welcome you." My eyes, even blinking is heavy, that old man seems almost distant yet not.

"Welcome to Alchemilla Hill, hope you'll have a good stay."