the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

It's warm.

There's sunshine on her face, and something soft beneath her head.

Her head -- it aches, deep and throbbing, like the remnants of far too many bottles of alcohol. Mouth dry, she attempts to lick her lips and fails, feeling like someone has put sandpaper down her throat.

Alanna groans, not yet opening her eyes, and wonders when she was trampled by an ornery herd of horses.

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Adam's eyes are scrunched against the light, but he manages to keep one of them on Alanna, and one of them on the door.

The door where--

he knows Thom won't be coming outside anytime soon, but he can't help watch.

There's a quiet cough, unsure almost (as if a cough could be unsure), and he reaches down to smooth Alanna's forehead with a damp cloth.

A damp, cool cloth, a soft breeze and the sun warming her skin -- Alanna has felt worse.

She can't remember when right at this moment, but she's certain that she has.

"Nice," she mumbles, the corner of her mouth tilting up in an attempt at a smile.

The door's forgotten as all his attention is now focused on Alanna. His hand pauses, and he allows himself a little smile.

"Do you think you can handle drinking some?"

She gives a jerky nod and cautiously opens one eye, only to close it with a growl.

"Olau?"

It's raspy.

Adam nods, and says "shhh," for what good that'll do, and takes the cloth to dip again.

He moves enough to throw a shadow over her face, and Alanna manages to open her eyes without cursing.

The first few minutes are always the worst.

At his confirmation, she exhales, dragging it out like she'd been holding her breath just shy of too long.

"Thank you."

"Didn't I say shhh?" he asks, not really irritated at all.

The cloth is back now, and with it a glass with a small (very small) amount of water. Adam leans down and tries to help the glass to her lips.

He doesn't have to help much. She lifts her head a little and drinks greedily, knowing full well that nothing will help as much as cool water.

"Aye," she says, shifting her eyes to his, "but I'm no good at obeying."

"Drink, don't drink to bring it all back up," he says, but he's laughing, and obviously happy to see her drinking so much.

"Obviously."

"I'm not ill," she grumbles at him, "just exhausted."

Cool, pale fingers reach for his hand.

"Did it work?"

Adam makes no mention of lying in the sun, but just squeezes her hand, and nods.

"He's in there."

Adam nods his head towards the cottage.

Eyes wide, Alanna turns her head to an awkward angle and stares at the cottage.

"Does he have two heads?" she whispers, with a great deal of trepidation.

. . .

There's a long pause.

A very long pause.

And then Adam bursts out laughing.

"Your brother has many things, Alanna, but an extra head is not one of them."

Such is her relief that Alanna doesn't even scowl at the laughter. Instead, she closes her eyes and smiles.

"Thank the Goddess. I was terrified I would mess it up and have to kill him again. Can you imagine how he would've reacted to two heads?"

She grins up at him.

"There's aspirin in my saddle bags."

Adam sits with her a moment longer, but only a moment, before popping up to get the aspirin. He takes one, himself, before handing them over to her and laying down beside her.

"So."

Alanna takes several.

"So."

She bites her lip and mentally calculates how long it will take her head to stop throbbing with that many aspirin in her system.

"I'm so glad that's over."

Her hand finds his again.

Adam nods, silently.

Maybe it's not over. Maybe it's just the beginning.

"I'm so glad you're okay."

"Promised you I would be," she says, teasing. "I didn't dare break my word."

Glancing down, she tangles the fingers of her free hand in the chains at her neck and examines the emberstone. It still glows. Alanna hums in satisfaction; had the Goddess forsaken her for her choice, she can't imagine that it still would.

"I know." It's said softly, though, thankfully. He leans over, clasping his hand around hers, and kisses her.

She kisses him lightly, still aware of her dry lips and the sandpaper feeling in her mouth, even if both are vastly improved by the water.

"Do you realize," she murmurs, "that we've almost been married a year? And you haven't killed me yet. Well done."

Grinning, she nuzzles his neck and lies back again.

"If only because they'd know who did it."

He laughs, the sound muffled by her skin and the fabric of her shirt.

"What brings this up?"

"Thom said I am stubborn like a pig."

Hopefully Adam doesn't expect much coherency.

"I just love being here with you, and the triplets nearby."

Also, she's near giddy with the knowledge that her brother is in the cottage behind them, alive.

He doesn't, and he simply laughs some more.

"It's like...

It's like..."

He drifts off.

She smiles and squeezes his hand, and even though this is the last Thom will ever see of Tortall, Alanna feels like a missing piece of her heart has returned.

"Aye. And soon we will be moved here. Home."

"Home."

It's almost a whisper, certainly nothing louder. But the smile on Adam's face says all it needs to.