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All it took was the sight of him staggering into camp, weak and in pain.
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Shadowheart wasn’t used to remaining idle. She always had something to do. Usually something to appease her goddess.
A goddess she no longer answered to. A goddess she now despised.
All these changes weighed heavy on her mind, a heavy fog running through.
Granted, these changes weren't necessarily bad; She had learned her parents were still alive. She could finally be their daughter, rather than serve their captor.
Spending time with them was new. The cleric’s beloved druid, Othwyn, had insisted she remain at camp to spend time with them while he and most of the party set off to confront Lorroakan. “You’ve only just found each other, my heart. Take some time to get to know them, and let them know you. The real you”, he had said.
And so she listened. Rather than undertake a major task such as a battle, she would spend some quality time with her parents.
Now she sat in the middle of camp, holding back a snow-white canine, internally panicking.
“Okay Scratch, these are my parents. Their names are Arnell and Emmeline, and they just want to meet you”, The silver haired cleric gently says, gesturing toward the elf and human pair sitting across from Scratch.
“My darling, don’t worry, he seems quite clever. You don’t need to hold him back like some rabid beast”, Emmeline said, amusement and fondness weaving together in her voice.
“I’m not! I’m just making sure he doesn’t go running up to you two. He’s a very friendly dog, and sometimes he can be eager to show it. Too eager, jumping eager”, she replied.
“We’re not so fragile that a jumping dog would spell the end of us”, Arnell stated.
“Maybe so, but I want to make sure the two of you can rest. After all this time, it’s the least you deserve”, Shadowheart replies, concern in her voice betraying her illusion of tranquility.
Just as Arnell opened his mouth to reassure, the half-elf saw people enter the camp; a towering horned figure, staggering slowly and propped up by Karlach, followed closely by Wyll and Gale.
Her beloved druid was back.
Covered in blood.
Shadowheart immediately let go of Scratch and ran towards the small crowd, yearning to reach the injured half-elf. She needed to be near him, whether to heal or simply to ensure he would be comforted.
“Hello, my love”, Othwyn said, a casual air permeating despite his clear agony. “It’s nice to see you again”.
As he was laid down, all she could do was stare. He looked as though he had been dragged through the Nine Hells; Angry red burns painting his fair skin. Singed ginger locks, be it his mane of hair or untamed beard. Constellations of bruises, spanning the entire length of his torso, each seemingly matched by vicious gashes.
“Lorroakan is taken care of, but the battle was brutal. We all got pretty banged up, but Othwyn got the brunt of it all. We tried to heal him the best we could, but none of us have much ability in that realm”, Wyll explained.
“It’s okay. I know you did the best you could. Go and rest, I’ll cast what healing spells I know.”, Shadowheart replied.
As Wyll stepped away, the cleric stepped toward Othwyn.
“I’m glad you’re back, Moose. Let’s try and patch you up”, she said, laying a gentle hand on his forehead, between his nicked horns.
“With you here, my heart, I’m already feeling better”, Othwyn warmly replied as Shadowheart quietly muttered incantations.
“That’s sweet, but I do need to heal you regardless.”
“Be my guest.”
After a minute or so of her tending to his wounds, Othwyn shifts his focus, yearning to break the lull that had overtaken them.
“How have you been, with your parents I mean?”, he says quietly.
“Well enough”, she replies tersely.
“You seem troubled.”
“Well, you’re laying here, looking as though you’ve been chewed and spat up by a dragon.”
“And you wish you could’ve been there to heal me sooner.”
“Am I that obvious?”
“You’ve lost much of your mystery to me, my love.”
She chuckles.
“It’s not that I don’t want to spend time with my parents. I do want to spend time with them. But, I want them to regain their strength, and I want my loved ones to stay safe. I feel much more at peace when I can make sure you’re safe.” Shadowheart says, her words laced with a whirlwind of adoration, concern, and the slightest hints of exhaustion.
“I want you to stay safe, too. Especially since you have only just regained your parents. You have so much time to make up for, and I want to ensure you have more time to spend, be it with them, me, or any of our companions.”
“I want the same for you, and I can only ensure it by keeping you safe, staying by your side more often. You can protect me, but I can also protect you, moose.”
Drawing her close, Othwyn puts his arms around her as she lays down next to him.
“Alright, if you choose to come along more, I won’t fight you on it, not that I’d ever actually fight you.”, he says with a gentle chuckle.
They lay there for a bit, him rubbing gentle circles on her back, finding solace in the peace each other brings.
A peace gently broken by the voices of the cleric’s parents as they step closer to the half-elf pair.
“Othwyn, dear, how are you feeling?” Emmeline asks.
“A little worse for wear, but nothing some rest won’t fix. I’d be much worse off if it weren’t for Shadowheart”, he replies, eliciting the faintest of blush on the half-elf in question’s face.
“That’s lovely, son. Get some sleep”, Arnell replies.
Sitting up, Shadowheart starts, “Everyone seems to be tired. I can start on some food so everyone can eat before heading to bed.”
“Dear, you look exhausted. You’ve been working tirelessly, relax, your father and I can handle it”, Emmeline says gently.
“It’s alright, you two need rest, I can-”
“You’ve taken care of us plenty, sweet daughter. We want to take care of you. We can handle it”, Arnell interjects. “Both of you deserve some rest. If you need anything, just call us over.”
As her parents walk away, Shadowheart lays back down, resting her head on her beloved’s chest. The pair lay there, their arms intertwining. She becomes entranced by his tranquility.
As he rubs reassuring circles on her back, she is lulled to sleep by the soft beating of his heart, the assurance that he’s alive, here with her.