Oh, but that was a discussion she wasn’t looking forward to having.
She wasn’t sure enough why she felt that way. Anxious, with a strange itch all over her skin and in need of something more than the short breaths that her lungs allowed. But in perspective, one would have to blame the loss of blood for taking a toll not only on her body, but also in the way her thoughts came and go with a feeling of fear attached to them. Fear of what Nadia would say when she found about the circumstances of that accident, of how little and ashamed she would feel having to expose herself like that. If the Countess would love her still or rethink on that very same possibility. All those things that would have been absurd any other day, but that right now was making her go down a spiral of her own making, and to an attempt to fight it by biting her own lips and focus on her lover’s hands treating her leg. On the cold and numb feeling of her own limb, and how very tired she started to feel now that the trap wasn’t torturing her any longer.
Her answer to her instructions limits to a brief nod. Partly because she doesn’t have energies for much more than that, and partly because she can’t understand her full sentences any longer. She feels dizzy, uncomfortable as to how reality decides to stay and leave when all she wants to do is to capture one more word, one more look at her face as she lifts her up in her arms and takes her to safety. But at the very least she thinks she can understand, and that’s why from her lips slides a word she mutters amidst her weakened state.
“Thank you…” Two words in exchange for all the things she wanted to say to her. Of how she’s put in awe with her strength and bravery. Of how, as the world began to turn darker to her, she clung to the sweet feeling of her embrace. And although she felt like she would pass out soon, she felt at peace like this. Resting against her as the race back to the palace took place and Nadia’s horse did its best to take them there seemingly in no time at all.
Soil turns into stone as they reach the city, and the last thing she thinks she hears is Alwa roaring. A loud, exasperated noise when the Palace finally entered her sight, and the guards moved aside to let the four them enter its domains.
Getting Nish back to the horse hadn’t been as challenging as she had expected, since she already knew which path to take (and thankfully still had Alwa by her side to guide her in case she got lost). She was soon back where she had left her horse, and after some careful manoeuvring to ensure that she didn’t hurt her any further, the were soon riding back to the palace as fast as she felt comfortable going while she held her in her arms.
Nadia almost says something in return when she gives her thanks, but she quickly realises how futile it would be to do so, since it was clear that she had all but fallen unconscious at that moment. For now she remains quiet, focusing on making sure that the two of them reached the palace without any further trouble, making sure to check that she was still breathing while she rode on. After what had felt like an eternity, she saw the city coming into view once more, and only a few minutes later, the palace was once more in sight.
Thankfully things had moved rather quickly once they had returned to the palace. The guards had been quick to help move Nish to the infirmary, and after the physician had looked her over and treated her wounds as best as they could while she was unconscious, they had relayed what they had found to the countess. She now sat beside the cot that she was resting on, reading a book in an attempt to distract her from the whirlwind of thoughts that were going through her mind as she waiting for the magician to wake up.
It wasn’t helping much, but it was better than nothing.
