"...ania?"
"...rania?"
Voices. There were many, but this one was the only one I understood. I could feel myself pulling out of a deep sleep.
"She's coming to…"
The voice was of a woman. I couldn't hear anything else, except low rumble disturbing my ear drums. I needed to see, but I was filled with this sensation of complete serenity and calm. My eyes barely cracked open, the world around me a blur. I tried to focus, but a hand was placed on my shoulder, comforting me.
"There, there, slow and steady, sweetie," The hand moved and softly stroked my hair, "Don't force your way up, so breathe."
I couldn't fight if I wanted to anyway, so I took some breaths as I was told. My eyes opened a bit, letting in the light of the room, the world around me still fuzzy.
"Oh my, look at those amethysts. I've never seen anyone with that color in person before." I assumed she was speaking about my eyes, which always shimmered a deep purple.
I began to see more clearly, and my hearing was back to normal. A wooden roof, walls, and some lamps hanging around. But the light wasn't coming solely from them, I pulled my hand into view and saw it was radiating off of me. I was clean too, my skin was so clear I thought that was reason enough for me to be glowing. I was still weak, so holding my hand up required more energy than what was available, so it came down on my face.
I responded appropriately, "Ow…"
The woman giggled, "Oh no, why are you hurting your pretty little face?"
"I don't know," I mumbled into the hand that rested on my face.
The slap seemed to reawaken my full physical awareness, and I felt the room around me more clearly. I tried to sit myself up, but with little success, only to plop back down into the bed I was in.
"Easy now, your body is still recovering, Terren's jump did a number on you," the woman placed her hand on my shoulder again, as if to reassure me.
Terren. My rescuer. At least now I had a name, and she talked as if he were a friend, so that meant I'd have the chance to thank him. It felt strange though, the memory of the night before feeling somewhat clouded.
"Who… are you?" I asked her.
She gave a small laugh, "My name is Della, and yours is Kirania, right?"
I nodded, "And, where are we?"
"We're at an inn by a small spring," she explained, "we used it's water to heal you, it also gave you a nice bath."
I moved my ankle around, which now had no pain or stiffness. I felt grateful, but a nagging question kept peeking out in my mind.
"Why did he… Terren, rescue me?"
Della thought for a moment, then shrugged, "Maybe you could ask him when he comes back."
I fell silent for a few moments, thinking of what I should do now. I actually escaped, but what came next, I was so unsure. Before I left, the only thing I was told was to run south. Maybe if I had a map, then I could have been better prepared. I kept pondering for a few minutes, my strength to move slowly returning.
"You're being a bit quiet, honey," Della interjected, "Look on your face shows you have a lot of worry piling up."
I chuckled halfheartedly, "Am I that easy to read?"
"Well, we could relieve some of that stress," she offered her hand, "want to get up?"
I nodded, and proceeded to reach out. Taking her hand, I turned my body off the side of the bed. I got nervous, thinking I would collapse if I tried to walk.
"Easy now, I'll support you," Della stood up while still holding my hand.
I took a deep breath, and pushed myself up to my feet. After a few unsteady steps, I felt more balanced. I was still weak and tired, but felt no aches or pains. A mirror hanging on the wall caught my eye, and wanting to get a better look at myself, I motioned toward it.
Della understood, guiding me to it. When I finally stood in front of it, my skin looked as pure and clear as my hand, more than it had ever been. The glow from my body had faded a bit but was still present. I never looked more healthy, it even made me crack a smile.
"Oh my, so she can smile? Wonderful," Della joked, and it only widened my smile, even if it was from feeling sheepish. I hadn't really been in a situation that I could smile for the past few days, so it came as a refreshing cool to an otherwise dangerous heat.
"Was it just the water that did this?" I asked.
Della chuckled as she helped me move around the room, "It's a bit unbelievable, for us to have found a Haven."
My eyes widened, "Wait, a Haven? Is that where we-? How did you find one?"
"This particular spring found us, at the best time too. Terren had brought you back to our campsite, and I was about to start some healing spells. But before I could start, we heard a humming. It was a familiar melody, and it called to us. We followed the hum, and eventually arrived here."
After moving around a bit, she sat me back down in my bed. The story matched what I had learned in the books of my home's library, but there was something that felt off. When I was about to ask, Della knew exactly what my question was.
"The last time a Haven was found is lost knowledge. Imagine our surprise to find we weren't the only ones present. Sprites and fairies had built an Inn long ago, and there are quite a few who live here and have helped in your recovery." Della sat down again.
I looked down, thinking about what I was told, I guess it was possible that some god heard my prayer. I got the help I desperately needed, but could I really trust my rescuers and the sudden appearance of a Haven? My little flashback was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Ladies? Can I come in?" a man's voice called out.
Della smiled as she stood up, "Come in dear, she's awake."
The door opened, and my rescuer entered. He wore a smile on his face, showing his brilliant white teeth, and he looked like he had recently washed up. His hair was long and wavy, tied up in a bun. But then the strangest thing was that it seemed his beard had grown thicker since I last saw him.
He was carrying a plate of food, and my stomach began to fuss. Della sat back down at the foot of my bed, allowing Terren to take the chair at my bedside. The plate of food was placed at my lap, and it was mostly comprised of fruits and vegetables, with some bread. I was hungry, but I didn't touch my food.
Terren laughed, "Come on now, I bet you're starving. This food was provided by the fairies here, there's nothing to be afraid of. They were actually ecstatic about the chance to feed you, especially after your long nap."
I didn't look him in the eyes, but I managed to smile as I brought the bread bun to my lips. After taking a bite, I remembered how much I loved bread. It was still steaming, like it was just taken out of the oven. The warm feeling spread through my whole body, and I felt so much better as a result. I was sad to finish the bun, but at the very least, there was more food to fill in the space. I disregarded all lessons of manners I had received beforehand, stuffing my face full of food.
Terren laughed, making me slow down from embarrassment, but he just shook his head, "No don't worry, eat to your heart's content."
The approval to eat like a starving child was enough for me, and I was finished with the plate before I could take a moment to breathe. It was a really good meal, and it somehow made me feel full. Although, I wouldn't have turned down more bread buns.
I leaned back, feeling more relaxed than I had been before. I was tired again, the meal probably telling my body that it was time to go to sleep. I felt my body being tucked into the blankets and sheets of the bed, and I turned to see Della doing it for me. I still didn't feel completely ready to go into a long explanation of why I ran away. But from what I gathered, they seemed patient with the fact that I was still a kid.
My eyes slid closed as the warmth of the bed cradled me, making me start to slip away. All my worries were put to the side for now, a good rest necessary for the time being.