It took the healer some time to examine my ribs, then tend to my wrists. She didn't ask anything, even when she saw my damp, wet, face, and I thanked her for it. Nox disappeared a while ago, saying he has things to do. I almost fell to the ground when he said his last words before dismissing himself: 'Because you're mine.'
The first thing on my questions list was: What? I am his? What does he mean by that? Does he mean what I think he means?
I wasn't sure if I was excited by what he said or scared or what, but I most definitely felt confused; thus the 'what' from my questions. What makes him think he can say something like that and not explain? Not give a clue to whether he's joking or not?
I shake my head, both tired and frustrated, and lie down on my bed, waiting to see if Nox would come back or if he already left. I guess I could assume he left. Why would he stay?
I almost fall asleep when a maid comes in quietly. "My lady?" she whispers as if to check I wasn't asleep.
"Hmm?"
"Um, Lord Waylen came back, do you want to see him or shall I tell him to come back in the morning?" she asks hesitantly.
I sit up a little reluctantly. "Now is fine." I say.
There are only a few candles lighting the room when Nox comes in again, and I am immediately feeling my cheeks embracing a deep reddish color. I feel hot, and it makes me uncomfortable enough that I thank the Gods for having so little light remaining in the room.
"You know telling me to come back some other time isn't a crime, right?" he asks.
I shake my head and ignore his question. "What do you need?"
"Need?" he says. "I don't need anything, I just came to see if you're alright."
"I am alright." I assure him. "The healer said my wrists would heal fast, since there's hardly nothing there, and my ribs should feel better within a week."
He nods seriously. "Good." he says. "I hope you don't mind..." he trails.
"Don't mind what?"
"I told my father about my happend." he admits. "And he wants to help."
With that I plump on the bed, feeling once again tired. "If you came to talk about Lanader, I'm afraid you'd have to wait until the moment I'd want to. Now is not one of them."
I hear him sigh in frustration. "Sage, we need to - "
"Do nothing? I agree." I cut in, and I know I shouldn't, but I can't help but when it comes to my murderous brother. It makes me angry, talking about him, and I don't want to get angry so late at night.
"Sage." Nox says harshly and firmly. "If you don't take this seriously, I will take this matter even farther. You know I can." I did. Nox's father was the late Queen's cousin; Nox used to spend his earlier childhood with the crown prince.
I frown, but I know Nox can't see my face clearly, so I add, "Nox, we'll talk tomorrow." When I have more time to think of ways to avoid you, I don't say.
"Yes, of course you will." he says. "Sage, I need you to tell me about everything that happened. Well, if he is THAT stubborn, I will, but I make no promises about saying anything beyond that.
"Fine," I hiss. "Tomorrow." He clearly hesitates. "NOX."
"Fine." he hisses back. "But I'm coming early."
"Do whatever you want." I say, irritated, and turn away from him.
I can hear him sigh. "Sage." he says. "Please turn around so I can talk to you."
I don't reply, but I do glance back at him.
"I'm sorry, all right? I was scared today. I almost lost you - "
"But you didn't." I mutter.
He frowns. "Don't interrupt me. I was scared, and I almost lost you, and I just want to make sure you're safe."
I knew Nox well enough to know he didn't finish and there was another part to what he had to say. "Well?"
"I would like to leave Relox here."
My eyes widen. "Relox, your personal guard? Of your personal command?" Nox had a different set of guards than his father's, and in his, Richard was his Captain, while Relox was his Second. Why on earth would Nox feel the need to leave Relox here, I wouldn't know. "Why would you want to leave him here?"
"In case your brother returns."
"He wouldn't," I assure him. "Trust me."
"I do, but we can't be curtin, no matter what the piece of information you have that you're so reluctant to share with me claims. I'm leaving him here."
"Robert has plenty of guards of his own."
"None loyal to you." he reminds me. "Relox is loyal to no one other than me, and would do as I ask. Even if it is against your thoughts on the matter."
Well, I wasn't Relox's master, but that didn't mean he could follow me all day and night. "I don't need or want him to stay here. I'll see you tomorrow, and you can take your guard with you when you leave."
"Usually by this point we find a compromise." he says lightly.
"Well, Relox isn't staying here." I say. "Don't bother to compromise about that."
"What would be so bad about Relox staying here?" he asks. "He would just make sure no harm will come to you while I'm not here to make sure of it."
"If it's so important to you, then you stay. I don't want a bodyguard watching me all day, nor do I need one."
"Allright, it's settled, then." he said and moved to sit down on a cushioned chair near my bed.
"What?" He wasn't making any sense.
"I'll stay, and Relox could go home without me."
"What?" was my brilliant response.
"You just said 'If it's so important to you, then you stay'. Well, it is, so thank you for the invitation."
I get up from my bed, forgetting about my ribs and clenching them hard enough for it to hurt again and make wince. I groan in pain and Nox is suddenly standing next to me, looking worried. "You are not staying. Relox is not staying. No one related to you in any way is staying here." I order.
"You know I don't answer to you, so don't bother."
I roll my eyes. "Nox - " I fall to the bed again. "Lanaden is not coming back, I promise you. He is probably on a ship by now; you can leave."
"Well, maybe I just don't want to."
What does THAT mean? "What?"
"You don't seem to understand anything else I tell you, so here you go: I am scared to lose you, you are the most important person in my life, and losing you would be worse than dying. I don't care about anything you're saying right now. I am staying, and there is nothing you can do to change my mind. Are we clear?"
Not ever in the slightest. I groan. He runs a hand through his dark blond hair, and his blue eyes are piercing when he looks into mine. He looks almost... pleading. I don't know what he means, or if there was anything of reality about what he said, but I sigh, knowing well enough that arguing with him this late at night would be fruitless. "Allright." I say. He raises a brow in question. "You can stay." His shoulders relax at that. "But you are not staring at me all night. If I'm going to sleep, than so will you."
"You're very stubborn, did anyone ever tell you?" he asks, looking amused.
I ignore him. "Well?"
"Allright, I'll sleep. Where will you have me?"
What a ridiculous question. "You said you want to stay, didn't you?"
"Yes. I ment where in the house."
"In here. There is no way Robert will let you stay if he hears about this."
Nox sits back down on the chair next to the bed. "Goodnight, then."
I roll my eyes. "You're not sleeping in a chair." I move farther away from him on my bed until I am on the other side of it. "Lay down on your free time." I say and turn to blow out the candle on the nightstand on my side. "When you do, make sure to blow out the candles, will you?" I'm teasing him for annoying me, and he knows it.
"You want me to... sleep in your bed?" he whispers, almost shocked to his core. I try hard not to laugh, but I can't repress my smile. Maybe he doesn't know I'm teasing him.
"You asked to stay." I say as a way of explaining.
"I can stay on the chair."
"Would you like me to join you there?"
"What?!"
I do laugh this time. "Relax, Nox. Now go to sleep."
"On the chair?" he asks hopefully.
"In the bed. I don't bite, you know, just get in." I lay down and cover myself in the sheets.
It takes him a minute, but then he climbs in, and lays down on the bed like I told him to. Very far away from me, I notice. "Goodnight, Nox." I whisper into the darkness after he blows out the candles remaining.
"Goodnight, Sage." His voice is raw and rough, and it sounds a bit lower than usual. I wonder why.