36 Scars of War (2/2)

'James, I'm sorry to upset you like this.'

'It can't be helped. You're doing everything you can.'

'Not… everything.'

'What do you mean?'

Lilly slipped off his lap and stood. He placed his hands on her hips to keep her from going anywhere. 'Lilly, what do you need?'

'I don't know yet.' She coughed hard, but there was only a little blood. 'I need to find it. It's in the garden. I know that much.'

James stood and stopped to pick her up. He carried her on his back, as he left the fountain and started walking around the garden. They walked in ever widening circles from the fountain. Her condition seemed to worsen as the circles got bigger. Her head rested against the back of his neck as she looked at the leaves they passed. It wasn't until they were headed back towards the fountain that she found it. James set her down so she could gather what she needed. Lilly picked two of the small circular leaves.

'James, these will make me sleep for two days. I won't be able to wake at all during that time.'

'If it will make you better, that's all that matters.'

'Best pick me up then, they work fast.'

He picked her up in his arms as she ate them. Within seconds of swallowing, her eyes closed in sleep. He carried her back inside the castle, but James took her to the study instead of their room. For some reason he had the desire to read to her, though she may not hear him while she slept. He selected a novel from the shelf and sat semi reclined with her on the couch. Lilly was turned enough so she lay on her stomach, with one hand placed by her face. Opening the book he read to her. He read a quarter of the way through before he set the book down and closed his eyes for just a moment, but he fell asleep.

Waking the next morning, Lilly still slept on his chest. Carefully he sat up and carried her to their room. He left her in bed before leaving to find something to eat. They day seemed to drag for him and he retired early. His night was restless as he dreamed that Lilly would not wake up again, but when he woke up the next morning, she moved closer to him.

'Good morning, James.'

'You're awake.'

'As I told you I would be.'

He kissed her softly and watched her smile with his right eye. Her hand moved to the bandage on his face and her brow creased slightly. Lilly sat up and removed the bandage. He watched her close her eyes and bite her lip. Then her eyes opened in fierce concentration as her hand hovered just above the wound. The rot was halted and she worked on finishing the healing. James could feel a few things shift back into place and it hurt. He turned to look at her hand and a large section moved into place. He cried out.

She stopped and pulled him close. 'I'm sorry James. I'm almost done.'

'All right,' he gasped.

Lilly kept hold of him and let her hand hover above the wound. He felt her hand moved lightly across the entire left side of his face. It had been smashed when he fell off the battlements. His stomach wound had come from splintering wood as the battlements broke. His hair was gone and hadn't grown in after being burned off. Her hand went back to his left eye and covered it. He saw her eyes close and her head bow. Soon her hand came down and her head rested on his chest.

'Lilly?'

'I cannot restore sight to your left eye.'

'Give it sometime. You've done enough to finish the healing.'

'It's not a matter of time, James. All sight in your left eye is lost. No amount of time will bring it back.'

He lifted her chin and kissed her. 'All right. I love you.' He smiled.

She smiled back. 'I love you, too.'

James held her close then reached for the hand mirror.

Lilly stopped him.

'What is it?'

'It's not what you're expecting. Yes it is healed, but how it has healed was your body's choice, no amount of energy could change that.'

'I still want to see.'

Lilly let go and he looked in the mirror.