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Laurance looked up out of instinct when the door creaked open, the wounds on his neck smarting as he did. He knew it was useless but old habits die hard, he supposed. The footsteps were far too heavy to be Aphmau or Zoey, but too careful and even to be Dale or his son. “Hello. Garroth, I heard your name was?” The man stopped suddenly as Laurance’s greeting rasp, as though he were surprised by Laurance’s recognition, even without sight.
He was getting used to the lack. Slowly, but a little every day.
“How-“ Garroth began, before seemingly thinking better of it. “I came to change your bandages. Zoey and Aphmau are otherwise occupied.” Laurance nodded in thanks, and managed a small smile. Words were still painful through his singed throat, and he’d exhausted his supply for the moment with his greeting. Garroth stepped closer, then hesitated. Laurance recognised his hesitation, and reached down to undo his own shirt. They were hardly on terms to undress one another, even if only for the care of injury.
Garroth was swift but startlingly gentle in his work, even to a man he would gladly call his enemy. Laurance can’t help but smile, even just on instinct. The time passed in near silence -surprisingly comfortable for the pair of them. The only words said happened when Garroth had to ask the shadowknight to move in some way, for access to his injuries. By far the most awkward were those on his legs and lower back, and Laurance couldn’t help but snicker when the other man stammered adorably in his requests. But he obeyed without giving trouble.
“I heard from Caddie that you took off your helmet for the wedding. Seems unfair that I’m the only one who doesn’t get to find out what you look like, ey?” His throat burned in protest, but some part of him longed to antagonise the man. It seemed only fair, after how he’d acted upon the shadowknight’s arrival. The larger man grunted in annoyance. “Good thing you weren’t my intended audience then.” Laurance attempted to roll his eyes. Eye? He only seemed to be able to control one. Oh well, neither of them were functional anyway. “And who was?” He finally rasped, his voice cracking halfway through. “Lady Aphmau?” He felt Garroth still, and heard him let out a breath of annoyance.
“No.” The head guard answered gruffly. “My intention was only to respect Donna with the presence of her friend, since I was told only to attend if I wore formal dress. It was the least I could do for her, after all she’s done for the village.” Laurance nodded, sparing his throat a response. There was a silence between them, left and allowed to stretch. Garroth seemed unwilling to make smalltalk, and Laurance was close to incapable to keep it up for more than a handful of sentences.
“How do you look?” He said eventually, speaking quietly. Laurance practically heard Garroth roll his eyes. “How I look is of no consequence to you, and I fail to see how it is any of your concern, since you cannot see for yourself.” Laurance let out a snort of annoyance at the words. “Maybe I just like to be able to put a face to a voice, buddy. Geez.” At the same moment, He winced painfully as Garroth tugged a bandage slightly too tight. Garroth mumbled an apology, then cleared his throat. “How did you know it was me earlier?” Laurance blinked in surprise at being asked. “You have heavier footsteps than Aphmau or Zoey, and I can hear your armour clanking. But it was too slow to be… What was his name? The kid. And too even to be the one who always sounds drunk.”
Garroth nodded, seeming to understand the logic. “The ‘kid’ is named Brian. And Dale sounds drunk because he is. Though I’m somewhat puzzled they visited you.” Laurance shrugged. “Guess I’m just that cool.”, he replied. Then after a moment’s pause, he asked the question that had been drifting through his mind unanswered. “So what’s Aph been up to?” Garroth seemed to hesitate before answering.
“She is attempting to ascertain a solution to the calamity inflicted on our community by-“
“In common, please.”
Garroth scoffed at the interruption. “She is trying to find a solution to the curse put on our village by my brother, the high priest. Is that dumbed down enough for you?” Laurance grinned sarcastically. “Sorry I didn’t spend my life in school with the rich kids. Yeah, I know what you said now.” Garroth sighed. “I apologise for my embellished language. I suppose I’m a bit worried about her.” Laurance nodded. “S’ good. She was taking it pretty hard.”
Garroth nodded. “I hope for her sake, that she is successful. As well as the sake of the town.” Garroth tied off the last bandage, then stepped back. “There. That should do it for today. I trust you can re-dress yourself without my assistance?” Laurance nodded. “Yeah, I can manage just…”
Laurance trailed off, frozen in confusion as a light seemed to illuminate his vision, and an image swam into focus. His remaining eye widened in shock, and locked onto the man standing in front of him. His hair was illuminated by the window behind him, making it seem to glow as a saint’s halo did in the murals and mosaics Laurance had only been lucky enough to see at the guard’s academy. His features were sharp, and nearly so pale as snow. Laurance had never in his life seen anyone so lightly coloured outside the halls of that same school, and Garroth seemed to be the living image of the statues and stone murals which were carved and painted with such love.
Laurance nearly wanted to call him beautiful, but it somehow seemed to be the wrong word. He associated the word with tiny and delicate things, like butterflies, or flowers. There was nothing dainty or delicate about the man before him, but grace was applicable. He truly looked as if Esmund the protector himself had stepped out of the pages of legend. Garroth’s form blurred, and for a second Laurance feared his sight was once again failing before he realised he was crying. Garroth seemed to lurch forward, extending a hand toward him with unexpected concern. “Er, are you alright? Did something pull tight, or-“
“I see you.”
Both of them stood in shocked silence at the shadow knight’s words before Garroth finally broke the silence. “…your eye isn’t clouded anymore. Did Lady Aphmau-?” He cut off, the door slamming open behind them both. Zoey appeared, panting and grinning like a child on solstice. “Garroth, you’ve got to come and see! Lady Aphmau banished the corruption, and now the market is- Oh my Irene, you’ll have to see it to believe it!” Laurance pulled on his shirt much more quickly than he should have, the fabric catching on bandages and pulling them painfully. But he was determined to see this. To see it. Garroth looked back at him, and extended a hand to help him to his feet. Laurance took it, and the pair of them followed Zoey up to the surface, though with some difficulty. Laurance rubbed his face on his sleeve, clearing his teary eyes. And as the pair of them were beholden to the market square, now shining in the sun like diamond. The ‘calamity’ and ‘corruption’ he’d heard spoken of were nowhere to be seen, and in the middle of it all was Lady Aphamau, standing at the feet of a statue he’d never heard of before.
The statue was a depiction of the goddess Irene, of a finer make than he’d seen since the academy. And in the goddess’s cupped hands, was a strange stone which pulsed and shone like something enchanted. He was distracted from the statue however, by Aphmau bounding up to them with a grin on her face. “Garroth! I did it, I fixed the rot! And-“ She stopped, her gaze locking with Laurance’s. “Oh my Irene, Laurance! It’s good to see you feeling better.” Laurance grinned, trying very hard not to acknowledge his shaking legs. “Better than you know, my lady. Whatever magic you’ve worked healed my sight!” Aphmau gasped, surprise and delight washing over her face. It was amazing to be able to see it again. Even with the left half his vision still gone thanks to the missing eye, it was more than enough.
And in the warm sun, and the gaze of his lady, and the shine of the stones under his feet… For just a moment, everything felt right in the world again.