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I stared down at my reflection in the water, and cautiously I lifted my hand to my head to touch the metal object. Red trickled down my face and into the stream below, and the current took it away, and I watched it go.
It was hard to think, every word seemed to trudge through deep water, as if my mind was flooded and I was wading through.
I moved without thinking, deeper into the stream, and the cool water felt good against my many wounds. I watched as I turned the stream red, dizzier I grew.
“Sire, do you want… help?”
I snapped out of my trance and turned my gaze to Este, standing on a stone and looking towards me, my cape wrapped around her.
“Yes… Yes I need help…” I admitted, and waded back to the riverbank, and sat down in the stream. I turned my back to her, and pointed to the many broken off arrows still in my back, “Help me pull them out.”
And she did, each one hurt, but I kept my eyes on the flowing stream. Leaves fell, they spun quietly in the water, caught in swirls of red and tossed over the stones and away down the stream, babbling joyfully.
“That was the last one, I think,” Este announced, “Now we just have to bandage you.”
I remained where I was, staring again at my reflection. How will I get this thing out of my head? Is it too dangerous to take it out? It’s much bigger than an arrow. I’ve never had a wound like this before.
“All done!”
I looked down at myself, some fabric from my ruined armor now wrapped tightly around my torso and shoulders, and I stood up shakily.
Este was standing behind me, holding out my tunic to me, staring up at me with her wide, innocent eyes. I never should have brought her out here. I never should have brought her anywhere. If I had not been so foolish and left her in Ha’Rar, Vera would still be alive, and I’d be lying in my bed in the castle— yet, I didn’t. Here we are, one in a grave, and two in the wilderness.
I took my tunic and put it back on, it was a bit of a struggle to lift my arms to put them through the sleeves, but I managed.
I trudged out of the stream and over to the clearing where we had spent the night, and I laid down in the grass, still soaking wet.
“Do Lords of the Crystal not get cold?” Este asked.
I didn’t answer. Este seemed to think about this for a long, long moment, before shuffling over to me and putting the cape over me too, and laying down. I let her, though I still said nothing.
“You didn’t have any blankets in your room…” Este whispers softly, and I laughed— and I don’t know why. I couldn’t stop it, it just happened. I must have startled her, because she sat back up.
“Are you okay?”
“… No…” I whispered, “I didn’t mean to do that…”
Este seemed to think for a long moment, before laying back down, “Goodnight, Lord SkekGra.”
“Goodnight, Este.”