Paths of Green and Gold

Thoris - hospital

The fog dispersed slowly, letting in soft light. He opened his eyes. The shapes were spinning, their edges blurry. He blinked a few times and moved his head.

There was a bitter herbal taste in his mouth, and a familiar smell reaching his nostrils. There was no pain, no torture. Just drowsiness and dulled senses.

He opened his eyes again.

High above - a stone ceiling, the grey of the stone softened by sunlight. The air was cool and fresh. He tried to move, and still no pain appeared, so he sat up in the simple wooden bed. The white sheet smelling of starch slid down from his tattooed torso. Clean bandages wrapped his body, hiding the wounds. Around him, there were more similar beds, two of them occupied. The room was spacious and quiet. He heard distant steps and a strange murmuring sound from behind the high dagger-shaped windows. 

His surroundings were new to him, but also vaguely familiar. For a while he instinctively expected more tormenting visions weaved by his morbid mind.

How many times did he wake up in a similar place after yet another barely won duel? How many times, after getting in a fight with too many opponents, did he regain consciousness in a room full of beds, surrounded by white-clad priestesses whose main purpose wasn't as much treating the sick, as pushing their faith on to them? How many times did he wake up surprised that he was still alive? Maybe this time it was just his cruel Goddess toying with him, creating this strange version of hell?

He sat motionless for a while, waiting for the fragile illusion of peace to shatter, giving place to the previous nightmare. His hands instinctively gripped the sheet, as all his muscles tensed readying the body for the blow that didn't come.

There was no pain, no voices, no sea of blood. There was no army of well-meaning priestesses either, or any signs of their presence. Everything was... Normal. And much too peaceful. He finally realized with full force that he survived yet again. The Goddess he served was not benevolent, but apparently in some perverse way looked after her own. Even the outcasts.

[Thank You...]

He would offer proper thanks after leaving this place. He was not a priest. He didn't care about temples and altars. For him, the whole world was the altar. He didn't need ceremonial robes or ritual incantations. In the end, the sacrifice was all that mattered. And he made a promise to the Goddess many years ago...

But where was his sword?

He looked around again - the rows of beds, stone floor and walls, and a few fabric screens hanging in the aisles. His luggage was nowhere in sight.

He knew weapons were not welcome in places whose mission was to save lives and not extinguish them. He just hoped Selena took care of his possessions.

He focused on himself. He was undressed and his body was cleaned. All his wounds were properly taken care of. He didn't feel any pain and didn't bleed. The fresh bandages were wrapped tight around his chest, thigh, and wrist.

The most important thing, though, was the lack of sensations linked to withdrawal – he didn't know how long he was unconscious, but the absence of shivers, pain, nausea, and dizziness was a nice surprise.

The memories of earlier events were foggy.

[I will be back as soon as I can. Please wait here...] 

He completely failed her. She got to Thoris but it was not thanks to him. On the contrary - she made sure he got here safely. Once again, female hands tore him away from death's embrace...

"Thorn!" The cheerful shout echoed in the vast room. Two other patients woke up and looked around alarmed. The warrior turned towards the sound of quick steps. Selena was almost running between the white beds. She looked completely different than during the journey. She was dressed in a simple shirt with wide sleeves and a flowery skirt. Her long hair floated behind her like a black wave. He looked at his cousin as if he saw her for the first time. She wasn't a wild girl anymore. She was a beautiful woman.

[Cousin, you're an angel. I don't deserve meeting yet another angel on my path...  How will I ever repay you for everything you've done for me?]

He remembered the last image of Selena - the bloody Goddess - and shook his head, not trusting his senses. She was both an angel and a demon. The same delicate beautiful hands could bring life or death, light or darkness. Only a woman could be all that.

[However, if you wanted to, you could surely find me...]

"You're awake!" The girl's happiness was radiating from her, making the grey room brighter.  For a moment Thorn thought she'd hug him, but she just touched his cheek briefly.

"I could hardly wait! Master Vardalien said it could take a long time, but I tried to explain to him that you're not just some farmer, and that you got through all that almost supernaturally anyway. Don't get up yet. You should eat something first and make sure you have full control of your muscles. Master Vardalien says after such effort your body needs time to recover and material to repair the damage.” She was speaking so fast, he could barely keep up. Her cheeks were pink with excitement and her hands were drawing shapes in the air. She looked like a bird spreading its wings to fly off. He watched her in awe. Her long bangs hiding her amber eyes, full lips, and always moving hands – that was how he would remember her after he set off on his journey again. Soon.

Despite being drowsy and weak, he was amazed at all the little details of everything. Was it always like this? Or did lifting the veil of numbing smoke show him the world anew? He felt so light too, as if some heavy burden was lifted off his shoulders. But there was even more. Could he be feeling... happy? Was it Selena radiating that aura all around her?

He smiled, still trying to digest everything she said.

"I don't know how to thank you.” His voice came out raspy. He cleared his throat. "And your Master, too."

"First you have to get well," she smiled. "Don't worry about anything else now."

"Actually..." He ran a hand through his hair, embarrassed. "Is my sword safe...?"

Selena's melodious laughter echoed under the high stone ceiling, as she shook her head in disbelief.

"Everything is safe, I promise. Just focus on your health for now, cousin."

He sighed relieved and nodded, the uneasiness he felt before all gone.

"Here, you can put this on if you feel like taking a walk. Your clothes were washed and are still drying." She was still smiling brightly, as she picked some fabric from the foot of the bed and handed it to him. "But hunting a boar is still out of the question." She wagged her finger at him.

Boars were not the kind of prey he had in mind.

"A sword is not the best weapon to hunt boars, so I think I'll pass, don't worry..." He laughed, shaking his head amused as he put on the robe tying the belt around his waist. "And this isn't exactly a hunting outfit either..." 

"Fortunately, there is no need to hunt. I'll make sure you'll get your dinner. Is there anything you'd like to eat? I have to go back to Master Vardalien. Honestly, he is not the nicest person I met in my life, but I think I can deal with him somehow," she smoothed a crease on her skirt looking down. "But if not for his age I would tell him what I think about him," she paused blushing and tucked her hair behind her ear. "I know it's not good to talk like that, but," she smiled apologetically lowering her voice. "He is the most terrible arrogant old geezer I've seen in my life. He doesn't like anything - everything is always wrong, and he already let me know about thirty times that if not for my mother's request he would never agree to teach me. And that I shouldn't expect too much because it'll soon turn out I'm an i***t like all women and he will have to send me back to my mother to learn embroidery or something!" She put her hands on her hips laughing.        He was trying to listen to her speech, but after a while, he was unable to control himself anymore and burst out with heartfelt laughter.  

He stood up and placed his hands on her shoulders trying to get a glimpse of her amber eyes hidden under the bangs.

"If you can't do it, cousin, then nobody can," he said seriously. "I believe in you."

She blushed again looking down.

"And about the meal... I'll leave that to you," he changed the subject letting go of her, not to embarrass her more. "Just no boars, please." 

He sat down on the bed, still smiling. Selena's energy was contagious. Both other patients were now also sitting in their beds. One of them was even brushing his hair.

A middle-aged man with greying hair dressed in a white robe was coming towards them. Steel glasses gleamed on his nose. His attention was focused on Selena.

"Good afternoon." He stopped at the warrior's bed. "I see your friend is recovering well."

"Oh, I'm sorry if I was too noisy. I was just leaving, doctor. I'll send someone with food and try to be back in the evening if Master Vardalien allows." Selena looked flustered again.

"Apparently your presence itself is helping patients get better," the doctor laughed winking at Thorn.

The girl nodded at her cousin and curtsied to the doctor before hurriedly leaving the room.

"My name is Simon Tregarth and I am the doctor in our humble town," the man’s voice was screechy, but not unpleasant. He spoke with a strong accent that the warrior couldn't recognize. "So how are you feeling?"