Chapter Text
Hazy light.
Shadow.
Black. Icy blue.
The thaw of spring.
Someone began to weep. A familiar voice, gasping something between sobs. “Rysk. My Champion.”
Weeping for her .
Don’t cry, I’m fine. I’m right here, calm down , she said. The light retreated steadily, fading back into the quiet darkness.
“Please, Rysk, can you hear me? Do not—” a sob “—Please, stay, just a moment. Let me know you are here. Please .”
She opened her eyes again. I said I’m fine, you don’t have to—
She wasn’t speaking, actually.
Am I fine?
The room slowly came into focus.
Aymeric.
Aymeric.
Forehead pressed against her hand on the bed. Trembling. Crying. She reached for him with her other hand—but nothing moved. He looked up again and met her gaze. And whatever he saw there only made the tears start afresh, this time in relief.
“Thank Halone! Thank the Twelve! Dear gods, Rysk. Rysk! ” He let his other hand ghost near her face, her hair; clearly afraid to touch her anywhere but the hand he held. Rysk couldn’t feel anywhere else…so she couldn’t say if that was a good idea or not.
“Rysk, my Champion, can you hear me? Understand me?”
She closed her eyes slowly, exhausted. Took a bracing breath she could barely feel. Opened them once more and gave the slightest of nods. Her muscles felt foreign; too far away, somehow. And even that small gesture drained her completely.
The relieved smile she received from Aymeric was like the first warm breeze of summer over the sea. She relaxed into that thought and drifted along with it into a dreamless sleep.