Chapter Text
I sat on my bed holding Keefe's letter. Re-reading it for the thousandth time. Still unable to believe it's real. It has to be some cruel joke. He wouldn't do this.
He can't be gone.
He can't be gone.
He CAN'T be gone.
HE CAN'T BE GONE.
A tear slips down my cheek as I read the last line.
Love, Keefe.
LOVE.
I'm tempted to rip the letter to shreds, but I can't bring myself to do it. Another tear lands on the paper, slightly smearing the words. The letter was covered in those smears. My head snaps up as someone knocks on the door.
"Sophie?" A crisp accent calls from the other side.
Its Fitz.
"Come in," I mumble.
He cautiously walks through the door, and his teal eyes meet mine.
For the first time in a very long time. My heart doesn't flutter.
"Sophie, everyone's worried about you. we've barely seen you since-" He cuts himself off, looking like he's about to cry. His eyebrows furrow when he notices the letter in my hands. Fitz moves to sit next to me and lays a comforting hand on my arm. I flinch away. I know he means well, but I'm not ready for that.
"Can I look at the letter again?" He asks quietly. I hand it to him. Fitz reads the letter and studies me for a second.
"You're in love with him, Aren't you."
"Yes," I squeak. Telling the truth, but fearing his answer.
His face softens, "That's ok. He's much better for you than I was. Than I ever will be."
I can't hold back my tears anymore.
"I always have been, Fitz. Always. Maybe if I noticed sooner. Maybe if I paid attention, He wouldn't have left!" I sob. He offers his shoulder to cry on, and I gladly take it, soaking his tunic with my tears.
"It's not your fault, Sophie," He reassures me, "It's purely Lady Gisela's fault. Remember that."
I nod. Now unable to form coherent words.
6 months later
It had been half a year since Keefe had left, and I was starting to lose hope. That was until I got a hail from Mr. Forkle.
"I have good news and bad news. The good news is: We found Keefe!" He says, my face lights up. "The bad news is: It looks like the Neverseen found him first," My face falls.
"How bad is he?" I ask, fearing the answer.
"He's unconscious. There are cuts and blisters all over his arms, torso, and legs, he lost a lot of blood. And a cut on his face, unmistakably from a shamkniv,"
I suck in a breath, shamknivs cuts left permanent scars, and for Keefe to have one on his face... It wouldn't be good for his self-esteem
"Will he live?" It's the most important question.
"Elwin thinks so," Mr. Forkle reassures me, I let out a breath.
"Can I see him, please?" I plead.
He goes to talk to Elwin and comes back a few minutes later. "You may, but he's not in the best shape, his condition may leave a toll on you,"
"I can handle it,"
I needed to see him.
<><><><>
When I saw Keefe again for the first time, I gasped. Like Forkle had said, cuts were all over his body, blisters too. Shaped like hands, like the ones Wylie had. I rushed over to his cot to see his face. The face I had fallen in love with. His eyes were closed, and he looked peaceful. But there was a red curved line running down the side of his face. The scar from the shamkniv. The scar that would stay there forever. In a way, it made him more striking and handsome, like he had won a battle against a fierce animal. But I knew it would bother him, and that broke my heart even more. I reach up, and pushed his golden bangs aside, planting a kiss on his forehead before whispering an "I love you,"
I could've sworn he smiled
<><><><>
The next day, I got a hail from Elwin.
"Sophie, I need you to look after Keefe while I collect ingredients for an elixir that might help him,"
Instant yes, "What do I need to know?"
"He's getting stronger. He'll wake up every now and then, and if he does, just talk to him a bit, sometimes he'll talk back, but he's only strong enough to stay awake for a minute or so. He's been asking for you though,"
Don't cry don't cry don't cry!
"Ok, I'll be over in a second,"
<><><><>
Keefe was looking a lot better. Most of his scars had been sealed, and the blisters were looking a lot better. Elwin really was magic.
I walked over to him and grabbed his hand. Slowly, his fingers twined with mine, and his eyes fluttered slightly. It was enough to make my eyes well up. Just like I did yesterday, I brushed his bangs aside and kissed his forehead.
"Sophie?" Keefe's faint voice called out.
"Keefe!" my lips curved into a smile, despite the tears running down my face. His ice-blue eyes were only half-open, but they shone.
"Don't cry Soph, I can't stand it when you cry,"
I just nodded, still smiling like an idiot. He moved his other hand to lay it on top of my hand that was holding his.
"I love you too," He whispered and fell asleep before I had the chance to respond.