Chapter Text
A cold feeling washed over you as your eyes opened, your vision blurry as you woke up for the first time in what felt like ages. A groan escapes your mouth as you sit up and look around. Your memory was blank of anything, even your own name, what happened?
"Oh lovely, you're awake." A voice called out causing you to look over with furrowed eyebrows, a woman with black hair stood there with a gentle smile spread across her face. "Are you okay, sweetie? You've been out for months now, I almost lost hope you'd ever wake up..I found you unconscious and bleeding out in the middle of the woods. I couldn't just leave you." The lady frowned as she walked towards you, sitting down on the bed and gently pushing you back down.
"Mm..where..where am I?" You managed to get out struggling to keep your eyes open and barely feeling the sensation as the woman took your hand.
"You're in my home, forgive me, I should probably introduce myself. My name is Marina."
"Marina..that's a nice name.." You smiled at Marina and squeezed her hand. "I'm-" you cut yourself off before you could continue, mind going completely blank. What was your name? "I..I'm sorry..I don't know what's wrong with me." The smile on your face was quickly replaced by a frown as you contemplated what was wrong. Marina thought didn't seem quite bothered by the fact you couldn't remember your own name, she gently raised her hand from yours to gently caress your cheek.
"Oh, that's just fine dear. I wouldn't expect you to remember a lot with the state I found you in and the fact you've been out for months now." She hummed, taking her hand away and tapping the fabric of her black dress. "How about we call you Asteri?"
"Asteri? I..I like that!" You beamed happily to which Marina clapped her hands together and grinned.
"Wonderful!! I'll be right back with some soup for you!" Marina hummed, getting up and rushing to the kitchen area. You smiled as you watched Marina leave and closed your eyes for a moment, the cold feeling you had when you woke was slowly disappearing, replaced by a comfortable feeling of belonging. You were still horribly confused. How come you couldn't remember? And what happened prior to Marina finding you in the forest? Nothing but fuzziness filled your mind as you tried to recall anything. Nothing came and the harder you tried the fuzzier your mind became, eventually you let out an exasperated sigh and gave up. Opening your eyes again you decided to look around the room, maybe something was here that would help spark your memory?
Looking around the room and actually taking it in for the first time you noticed how warm and inviting this room was, as if it was specifically made for this type of circumstances. The walls were unpainted, the wooden logs of the house stained darker and a fireplace in the center of the furthest wall from you. The room wasn't too big but wasn't too small either, the perfect size in which you could easily see everything no matter where you were in the room, the heat of the fireplace would comfortably enclose you in it but not enough for it to be too hot. You also noticed some vases with intricate designs on them, tapestries also hanged around the room, and things written in a language you couldn't quite put your finger on. Even though the room was filled with unfamiliar things it felt comfortable, even homelike. As if you've always lived here and always belonged. Marina reentered the room with a bowl of soup and a cup of tea.
"I hope you enjoy this, I wasn't sure if you liked tea or not. If not I can always drink it, a win win I suppose?" She hummed gently as she slowly sat you up, adjusting the pillows so they supported you and then handing you the bowl. "Careful, love, it may still be hot and I wouldn't want you to burn yourself." You gratefully took the soup, blowing on it and slowly eating it. A smile crept on your face as your shoulders released any tension in them, taking another sip of the soup.
"This is amazing.." You whispered slowly, taking another greedy sip of the soup.
"Oh, thank you, Asteri! It's a family recipe!" She answered happily and so the room fell into a comfortable silence. Marina got up and went to sit in a plush chair that was sat next to the fireplace, reading a book in the same language then other writing was in. It felt safe and cozy in here. You let out a breath, staring down at the soup and nodding slightly to yourself. Safe. You were safe.