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Perhaps Qifrey should have suspected something was happening when he felt the first twinge in his lower back. He wasn't usually one to experience such aches; that was more within Olruggio's realm than his own. The ache had started a few days ago and the white-haired witch simply assumed he had moved awkwardly in his sleep; it wasn't like he was getting any younger, after all. It wasn't a particularly painful ache, just a background annoyance throughout the day.
Perhaps Qifrey should have suspected something when the pain began radiating to his hips a couple of days later. This was slightly more uncomfortable compared to the back pain, however was still ignorable. He had lived through the Silverwood spreading its roots through his nervous system, a little joint pain was nothing in comparison. He did, however, find himself crouching on his haunches whilst preparing dinner, taking deep breaths to try to alleviate the pain. It was in this position that Olruggio found him.
"Qifrey?"
Olruggio crouched down in front of him, gently reaching out to brush a stray hair out of Qifrey's left eye. He rested his palm against Qifrey's cheek.
"I'm fine, fy seren," Qifrey murmured, nuzzling into Olruggio's hand. "I woke up with a spot of back ache. This position seems to help. Seems we aren't getting any younger," he added, with a wry grin.
Olruggio sighed. "Right you are. Go sit down, I'll make you some tea and finish the cooking."
Qifrey frowned. "It's just a little ache, Olly. I'm fine to keep cooking, you have commissions to get back to."
"Aye, but we're a team, Qifrey. I'm here so you don't have to suffer anymore. My commissions aren't urgent, they can wait. Just allow me to help. Please."
Qifrey scowled slightly, staring at the floor. He gave the tiniest nod of acquiescence and allowed Olruggio to lead him to the table and hand him a mug of tea.
Olruggio kissed the crown of his head. "Relax a little, eh? I've got you."
Dinner was a quiet affair. The girls were glancing worriedly at Qifrey as they whispered amongst themselves. It was, after all, unusual for Olruggio to do all the cooking by himself whilst Qifrey was well.
"Master Qifrey?" Coco asked, hesitantly.
"Ie, blodyn tatws?"
"Are you...okay? I mean, you look okay but the meal doesn't taste like yours? Thefoodisreallygoodthough,masterOlly," she rushed to add.
Qifrey chuckled at the faux offended look on his Watchful Eye's face and his apprentices' anxious expressions.
'I'm quite alright, thank you," he reassured with his usual kind smile. "I've simply got a little back pain and Olruggio was kind enough to offer to cook."
"But you're too young for back pain, Master!" Tetia exclaimed, slamming her hand on the table as she jumped up. The girl pointed dramatically at Olruggio. "Back pain is more his thing than yours!"
The other girls nodded along in agreement.
"How old do they think I am...?" Olruggio muttered in horror.
Qifrey couldn't help the laugh that escaped him, hiding his smile behind his hand.
"I'm honoured that you think me so young, however, you girls are aware that Olly and myself are the same age, are you not?"
The girls stared in slight amazement.
"But Master Olruggio looks so much older," Richeh murmured, as Tetia nodded enthusiastically.
"ALRIGHT," Olruggio stood up from the table, clapping his hands together. "For that comment, you girls can help me tidy up before bed. Let your Master Qifrey rest for once."
The apprentices groaned but moved to assist with few complaints.
Between the five of them, the cleaning was completed in less than half a clockmark and the apprentices began to ready themselves for bed.
"Goodnight, Master Qifrey! Master Olly! Hope you feel better, Master Qifrey!" Coco said, as she and Agott headed towards their room. The other girls copied her sentiments as they followed.
Qifrey awoke earlier than usual, the moon still casting long shadows through the window. As he shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position to get back to sleep, a sharp pain radiated through his midriff and it was then that he noticed the warm, sticky substance clinging to his thighs. An unfortunately familiar substance from various wounds over the years, although usually the cause was more obvious. Perhaps this should have been the final clue that tied the other symptoms together. He was, after all, raising four girls and had studied basic biology and medicine given how far the atelier was from the rest of society. Qifrey, in his sleep-addled state however, did not tie all these symptoms together and instantly panicked.
"Olly," he shook the witch sleeping next to him. "Olly, wake up! I think I'm bleeding and everything hurts and I don't know what's happing," Qifrey rushed to explain. His bottom lip quivered and his eye shone with unshed tears.
Olruggio sat up, instantly alert. He reached for his palm quire and quickly sketched a spell to give them some light.
"Hey. Hey, it's okay. What hurts?"
Qifrey moved the blankets to expose his midriff and legs. He stared in horror at the red stain growing beneath him.
"Oh, sweetheart," Olruggio murmured, gathering Qifrey into his arms. "I think it's your period, darling."
Qifrey stared blankly at him.
"I've never had a period. I don't think I can have them."
"Qifrey," Olruggio started, softly. "You've spent the better part of your life sharing your body with that bloody tree. You remember what Sinocia said; the tree was taking a lot of your nutrients and stunting your growth. It's to be expected now that your body is solely your own that you'd start experiencing new things that come with a healthy body."
It had been eight months since the removal of the silverwood and he'd slowly been getting healthier. Every meal he ate was his own, nutrients no longer being siphoned off to feed the parasite within. His thighs and arms had began to fill out and he was no longer the concerningly thin that caused Beldaruit and Olruggio so much worry. It seemed, however, that he had forgotten that with his newfound health (both physical and mental), came normal, healthy bodily functions. That is to say, Qifrey was experiencing the beginning of his first ever menstrual cycle.
"But I don't want that. I don't want this," Qifrey's voice shook and he buried his face in the crook of Olruggio's neck. "It hurts, Olly. It feels awful," he sobbed.
"I know, my love," Olruggio soothed, gently rubbing his hand down Qifrey's back. "I know. C'mon, why don't you go wash up; I'm sure you'll feel a little fresher, and I'll change our bed. We have those nice sheets we bought last week in Kalhn to try out."
"No, no, I can't ask you do that. I can sort it all. Why don't you go back to your room whilst I'm experiencing this. I'm sorry for waking you but I can sort everything out now I know what is happening," Qifrey was quick to counter Olruggio. He was wringing his hands anxiously, worried that if he allowed Olruggio to help with this, the other man would be too disgusted to stay.
Olruggio took Qifrey's hands in his own and spoke earnestly. "Qifrey, darling, I'm offering. I'm your partner. It's my job to help you when you need it. Stars above, you don't even have to need it or ask for it, I just want to help. You don't have to suffer alone any more."
At Olruggio's kind words, Qifrey promptly burst into tears.
"Qifrey?!" Olruggio sounded alarmed, rushing to gather the sobbing witch into his arms. He gently rocked the two of them, kissing away Qifrey's tears as they fell. "Hey, it's okay, my love. Shhhh, it's alright."
"I'm sorry, Olly," Qifrey sobbed. "I'm so used to having to suffer alone. I'm not used to having people who can help without causing more pain. I'm sorry."
Qifrey cried in Olruggio's arms until he felt he had no more water in his body. He felt exhausted and floaty from his bout of tears, with no energy left for any embarrassment he was sure he's feel in the morning. He curled up closer to Olruggio, resting his head tiredly on his partner's chest, his eyes fluttering shut.
Olruggio sighed as he heard Qifrey's breathing even out, an obvious sign that the other witch had fallen back asleep. "What are we to do with you, eh, Qif?" He shook his head fondly, gently manoeuvring the man to begin cleaning up.
When Qifrey next awoke, he was clean, smelling of prism lemon soap, and the bedsheets beneath him of the fresh lavender that he used with the girl's bedding to aid with sleep. The sun was already high in the sky, flooding the room with warm light. He turned his head to Olruggio's side of the bed, unsurprised when he found it empty. Olruggio was not naturally an early riser but was always good to cover mornings with the girls if Qifrey was unable.
He instead turned towards his bedside table to find a glass of water, a small vial containing suspension of tranquileaf and some rocklodge ginger biscuits. Qifrey couldn't help the soft smile that spread across his face. He quickly drank the contents of the vial and nibbled at one of the biscuits to remove the bitter flavour. They were still warm; clearly freshly baked and helped sooth the cramps he was experiencing.
The bedroom door opened.
"Good morning, love," Olruggio said, smiling at him. "Feeling any better?"
Qifrey flushed. "Good morning, cariad. Yes, thank you. I... I apologise for my behaviour last night. I was not in the right frame of mind."
"No need for apologies between us, Qifrey." Olruggio moved to sit on the edge of the bed, leaning forward to peck Qifrey on the lips. "Especially not for anything like that. You were in pain and I'm glad that you're able to allow for me to help when you're hurt or upset. It shows how far we've come."
Qifrey sighed happily, moving to rest his head on the shorter witch's shoulder. "Then, allow me to thank you instead. Thank you for taking care of me last night. Thank you for cleaning me up when I was not able. Thank you for making the bed. Thank you."
He punctuated each statement with a kiss to Olruggio's face. His forehead, his cheek, his nose, and finally his lips. Olruggio's blush deepened with each declaration and kiss, his face radiating heat by the time Qifrey was done. The white-haired witch leant back and giggled at his partner's expression.
Olruggio coughed, embarrassed. "Well, I'm glad you're feeling better at any rate. Are you feeling well enough to get up? I believe the girl's are missing their master this morning. Ach, don't worry," he rushed to reassure Qifrey. "I simply told them that you were feeling a little under the weather. It was Coco's idea that we bake you some rocklodge ginger cookies. I believe Richeh and Agott are preparing some bread porridge, whilst Coco and Tetia work on making a contraption to make a hot water bottle that never cools."
Qifrey smiled. He gently knocked his shoulder against Olruggio's. "It seems our girls have inherited your kindness, my dear. Well, I can't let their hard work go to waste. Let me get dressed and I'll be down now."
Olruggio's flush deepened as he waved away Qifrey's compliment. "Aye, I'll let them know you'll be down and they can show off their work."
He stood, brushing Qifrey's hair off his forehead and planting a soft kiss.
"I'll see you downstairs, fy seren," Qifrey whispered, tilting his head to capture Olruggio's lips.
Despite the aches and pains, Qifrey had never felt more content. His family were here and he had never felt more loved.