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<Angel> ::after several hours, the chirurgeon - fetched from Arabel the previous evening - emerges from Angel's room, looking drawn and tired:: * Jewel sets aside the book she hasn't been reading and stands immediately, looking anxious. "Well?" * Jewel looks rather drawn and tired herself, having done only the barest amount to clean herself up and eat since returning. <Chirurgeon> ::sighs:: He'll live. I'd recommend bed rest for at least a week, but you'd need to be three times as large as you are now to keep him there. He's lost a lot of blood. <Chirurgeon> ::wringing his hands together, which makes a soft, whispering sound as his fingers are very, very dry:: I've left three medicines with him. The one in the large, green bottle is for his dressings. Change the wrap twice a day for the next three, and then continue as needed. If the wounds fester at all, send for me. <Chirurgeon> The smaller green bottle is for pain. You'll want to be careful with that. No more than one swallow every half day. The last, in the brown, is a restorative for the blood. Make him take all of it, when he wakes. <Jewel> ::nods:: Thank you. ::grimly:: I'll do my best, sir. I got him home, I have no intention of losing him now. ::she leaves the "again" unspoken:: <Jewel> ::goes to a coffer and counts out the chirurgeon's fee, doubling the amount he'd initially quoted:: I thank you for coming so far. ::she cocks her head:: The owner of this estate is... quite fond of martial sports, and I regularly despair that he keeps not even a bonesetter in the house. Have you ever considered a retainer position, sir? <Chirurgeon> ::nods:: He's asleep, now, but you should stay with him. I don't *think* we'll lose him now. ::raises an eyebrow at the small pile of coins:: Let me get some rest, ma'am, and I can return - to check on your friend... and discuss that matter? <Jewel> ::firmly:: We won't. He's been through worse, I'm afraid. ::looking at the floor:: The profession of bodyguard is a very hazardous one. <Jewel> ::biting her lip:: I can go in now? <Chirurgeon> ::pats her arm:: After I married, I vowed never again to make a decision when I was short on sleep. You should get some yourself, if you can. But, by all means, check on your friend. ::he bows:: I'll return later this evening, or tomorrow morning. <Jewel> ::manages to smile a little:: If he can, perhaps I can. Thank you again. * Chirurgeon makes his way out of the manor, humming to himself. * Jewel watches his exit down the drive from the window, biting her lip. After a moment, she opens the door quietly and slips into Angel's room. * Angel is sleeping restlessly, half-covered by a thin sheet. He sports several bandages, one around his right shoulder, another covering his left forearm. His entire left shoulder is black and purple, and he is beaded with sweat. * Jewel puts a hand over her mouth, her face crumpling, and takes several deep breaths for calm. Carefully, she lifts rather than drags a chair to a spot beside the head of the bed and sits, reaching for his right hand and holding it gently. <Angel> ::after some amount of time, Angel opens his eyes:: My lady? ::his voice is very soft, would be unnoticeable, if there were any other sounds in the room:: <Jewel> I'm here, Bastian. ::she squeezes his hand lightly:: <Angel> ::coughs:: I take it we won? <Jewel> ::smiling a little:: Sylvie and the other prisoners are safe. Near as I can tell, we got them all out. And, near as I can tell, no one else in the house survived with the exception of our prisoner-- Sylvie's administering sleeping draughts to her downstairs. The house is a total loss, burned to the ground. That, at least, should make Dawn happy. ::dryly:: So should the gold. <Angel> ::nods slowly:: What... ::he coughs again, leaning forward with the force of it:: What day is it? <Jewel> The 31st. The rescue was yesterday. ::anxiously:: There's a blood restorer the chirurgeon gave me, for when you wake, and pain medicine if you want it. <Jewel> ::a bit of steel coming into her voice:: And you, sir, are on two weeks' bedrest. ::her voice gentling again:: You overdid it a bit, I think. <Angel> ::shakes his head:: Can't... we can't stay here very long, my lady. Lyegen will look here first, when he discovers what has happened. And I am in no shape to protect anyone. ::he looks aside:: I'll take that restorative. * Jewel uncorks the bottle and hands it to him, helping him sit up enough to drink it. "It's liable to be nasty, but you're to finish it all. No spitting. ::faint smile in her voice:: * Angel tastes, grimaces, and then, with a pained expression, drinks the rest in a single swallow. "Eurgh." <Jewel> Thank you, my lord. ::taking the bottle back and checking to be sure it's empty before setting it aside:: It has to be good for you if it's so nasty. <Jewel> ::trying to mask the worry in her voice:: I'll... you've dealt Lyegen quite a blow, I think, and one that he won't have been expecting. And I *refuse* to lose you simply because you won't stay still. I'll... I'll think of something. The chirurgeon will be back later. <Angel> ::looks at her for a long moment:: My lady... I am... ashamed. <Jewel> ::gapes at him a moment:: You-- what have *you* to be ashamed about? <Jewel> You saved all those women, and the boy-- you took on a household of nearly a score of men! <Angel> Of how I have treated you, my lady. ::holds up one hand to still whatever objection she might have:: Bear with me. I am not frequently given over to confess something like this, so take advantage, while you may. <Jewel> ::blinks and settles back, looking bemused:: <Angel> ::coughs again, pulling himself further upright:: My lady, I have trivialized you. I have marginalized your role in our operations. Because I did not think you capable... your very presence - much as I could not bear to be parted from you - I viewed as a burden to the Guild. I was wrong. I am sorry. <Angel> Yesterday, you showed more courage and ingenuity than any three other guildmembers I could have selected for an assault on such a fortress, had I known in advance we were to do it. <Angel> I am very proud of you. And sorry that I was blind to your potential... None of us would be alive now, if not for you. * Angel touches his forehead with his fingertips and makes as much of a bow to her as possible in his present position. "My honor is yours, to do with as you wish." <Jewel> I... ::biting her lip and lowering her head, speaking softly:: You give me far too much credit, my lord, and yourself too little. ::looking up, meeting his eyes:: Anything I did, anything I've been capable of... it's because of you. I wouldn't have done any of it-- *couldn't* have-- except for the thought that I couldn't let you down, love. I... I had to do what you needed me to. <Jewel> ::her voice choked with emotion:: I told you from the very start... I was determined not to be a liability to you. <Angel> ::his voice wry:: You did... and it is my shame that I did not believe you. <Jewel> ::shakes her head quickly, holding his hand tight:: No, you were right to... ::one corner of her mouth lifting up:: In many ways, I'm still half-sheep. But... you're my life, Bastian. I... can only do my best, to be worthy of you. <Angel> ::laughs, which turns into a cough:: At this rate, my lady, it is I who will not be worthy of you. <Jewel> ::trying to ease him back a little to quiet his coughing and pausing, her expression fierce:: Don't you *ever* say that. Don't even think it! Bastian, my heart... to me, to the Guild... you're worth *ten* of me, and you always will be! * Angel touches her face, cupping her chin in his hand. "My lady, you have saved me. You have saved my life, and more than my life. Do not think I do not know how hard it must have been for you." <Jewel> ::swallowing hard, whispering:: I was... scared. I'm... I'm so sorry I went back into the building, but when you didn't come out and I didn't see Sylvie anywhere, I... I didn't know what to do. <Jewel> But I couldn't break down, not when you needed me. <Angel> ::nods:: I did need you. Rather badly, if I make no mistake in the matter. <Jewel> ::smiling a little:: Well, when one decides to make war without so much as a squad of infantry... and then there was the matter of women throwing themselves at you left and right... ::the corner of her mouth twitches:: <Angel> ::shudders:: Don't remind me. She *bit* me. ::flips the sheet up to point out a rather nasty bruise on his thigh:: Three times, even. I hope she's doing better? <Jewel> ::nods:: She says her head aches like you wouldn't believe and she's very, very ashamed of herself... but the women have been talking to each other. I think it... eases, a little, for them to realize that it really wasn't *them.* <Angel> ::narrows his eyes slightly:: I'd believe the headache. At this point, it's hard to tell the headache from the rest-of-me-ache. ::looks at Jewel:: Is Sylvie... all right? How much... ::sighs:: Is she well? <Jewel> She's... glad to be home. Horrified about the others. She's dealing with it, and I think having others to worry about has helped. ::smiles:: I certainly underestimated *her.* She was... incredible, at the end. * Jewel leans over to kiss his forehead gently, the lightest brush of her lips. "As were you, my lord. You have nothing of which to be ashamed. If you give me your honor, then you should know that mine has been yours from the day I met you." <Angel> ::shrugs one shoulder, then winces:: Stupid, is what it was... but there was no way to be subtle... not with so *many* to get out. ::he glances at her:: Sylvie's never been much for violence; cracked a few heads a time or two. But all... all the girls took some basic manuevers class. I'm lucky she remembered them. <Jewel> ::shrugs, herself:: How were we to know? Lyegen... ::she grits her teeth, a muscle working in her jaw:: He... has a great deal to answer for. ::looks wry:: And all in all, I'm amazed you worried at all about being subtle, under the circumstances. <Angel> ::touches her nose with one finger:: Because, my lady, subtle is what I do best. As you can see, I'm not a soldier. <Jewel> ::chuckles, looking him up and down:: No, you're at least twenty of them, I'm sure, by the account Lyegen's getting right now. ::sighs a little:: I will *never* be you, love. But I'm glad I'd absorbed enough of what I was taught to help a little, at least. <Angel> ::snorts:: I'm very glad you're not me, my lady. One of me is plenty for the world. ::he coughs again, harder:: <Jewel> ::grins:: Hear, hear. Besides, I'm greedy, and I don't feel like sharing you. ::putting a gentle hand on his chest, with a small frown:: I'm going to have to ask the chirurgeon about that cough... I hope you're not bleeding into your lungs. Do you want some pain medicine? He said twice a day, a small sip, no more. <Angel> ::he shifts slightly:: Besides, no matter what Dawn says, I do not love myself quite *that* much. <Jewel> ::grins a bit smugly:: Of course not. You love *me.* <Angel> ::gazes at her:: Yes, my lady. And yes, I think I will take you up on that pain medicine. <Jewel> Oh! ::wrinkles her nose as she gets the joke, and puts a finger to his nose:: Subtle, my lord. <Jewel> ::nods and measures out a careful spoonful, offering it to him:: Sleep if you can, love. I'll need to talk to Sylvie, later, but I'll never be far. <Angel> ::makes a face, but takes the medicine:: Just... ::holds out one hand to her:: Stay with me? Until I sleep? <Jewel> ::nods, stroking his hair back from his forehead and slipping her hand into his:: Always, husband of mine. ::leans over to kiss his lips:: <Angel> ::Whatever the medication is, it seems to be very, very strong, as within a few moments, Angel is asleep again.:: * Jewel stays in her chair, her mind slipping into gentle contact with his. Within minutes, she is asleep as well, her head pillowed on his good shoulder. |
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