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Keyleth’s body feels like it was badly bruised inside and out.
A side effect of the gambit she had made to use Raishan’s disease to kill her undead form.
She’s glad that bitch is dead, but man, did she really go through the wringer afterward.
It doesn’t help that in her weakened state, the nightmares kept flooding into her mind.
The sight of her, older and world-weary, grieving at everyone’s collective grave.
The sight of Vex, collapsing and flung like literal dead weight in that tomb.
The sight of Percy, killed by a loose end he failed to resolve.
The sight of Kash, crushed underfoot by Thordak.
The sight of everyone, dead and decaying, filling her vision in the midst of that gas.
The sight of Vax, walking into the light and into a cloak of feathers.
Even the sight of Raishan’s necrotic fire just inches away from obliterating her had she not acted quick enough.
Some have already happened, and some that no doubt will occur in due time.
She’s scared, deathly scared, of being alone.
When she finally opens her eyes, it’s a brand new day.
A damp cloth sits across her forehead, and she’s snug under the covers of her bed in Whitestone Castle.
She’s alive. She’s breathing.
And the lingering poison from her gambit has run its course and faded from her system.
She still feels rather weak, though.
She almost doesn’t want to get out of bed, though.
Because of the figure laying down next to her.
Vax is completely out, slight bags under his eyes, no doubt due to keeping a constant vigil all night.
It’s rather cute, really.
Keyleth feels her heart go aflutter a little.
Here they are again, in the same bed.
But unlike before, where it was passion born of grief… this time there’s nothing left unsaid between them.
He loves her, and she loves him.
Suddenly Vax begins to stir, his eyes fluttering open.
When they do, they are greeted by her own.
“Morning, sleepyhead.”
Keyleth grins. “I could say the same to you. Did you really have to stay up all night?”
He reaches for her hand beneath the blanket. “For you? I certainly would.”
That gets Keyleth to stop grinning and be pouty. “Please don’t do that. Even someone like you needs rest, you know.”
“All right, love. I will,” Vax assures her as he takes her in for a lazy kiss.
“So why were you up all night? Surely not just because of me?”
“I’ll tell you once we get up for breakfast. There’s… a lot to discuss.”
Keyleth nods. “Okay. But before we do…”
She looks up to gesture at the towel still adorning her hairline. “Could you please get this off me first?”
Vax smiles that familiar cheeky grin of his. “As you wish.”
Gods, I love you, Vax.