Sarina stood there in a daze, wearing a man's tunic. It was soft on her skin and it smelled like mint, surprising yet calming.
Shaking herself out of her stupor, she walked slowly to the bed, her body feeling weak. What had just happened to her, she thought. She had walked into the water, happy as a bird, and then she remembered when her feet couldn't touch the ground anymore. She shuddered, thinking about what she felt next. She tried to take in air but, but instead water entered her nose and mouth. She tried to breathe it out, more water entered into her lungs. And then the awful burning. Who knew that water could burn? It burned her eyes, her nose, her mouth, her throat, and eventually it felt like it burned her soul.
She remembered struggling, and then blackness. She thought that would be all and then she would wake up on the other side of life, finally able to see the mystery.
But she did wake, but she wouldn't call it the end. Her eyes had opened and she was floating in a pitch black realm. Sarina had looked around her, trying to find a clue to where she was or how she had woken. She was staring into the blackness when she suddenly saw a small light. She grew terrified, thinking her life really had met it's end, without her doing a single thing. The light grew brighter and then the space exploded in lights of every color, and the lights formed into strings, surrounding her and creating a cocoon. Sarina floated there, silently bewildered and staring at the cocoon of rainbow light.
As she watched, the cocoons colorful strings began to move and form different images she wasn't sure the meaning of. Some looked writing in an ancient language, others looked like depictions of great moments in history of victories. And then strangely, a well. Sarina's mind became overwhelmed while staring at all that the cocoon was sharing until conscious faded back into darkness.
Sarina awoke again, but this time, she was staring into captivating grey eyes, that were so close to hers. Eyes that soothed her disoriented mind and burning soul.
Too soon those eyes moved, and she turned aware of her aching body bringing itself back to life as she coughed in fits. Caspar's arms were on her again and her body was pressed into his chest, making her warm and calming her further. She decided not to complain, still wary of the visions that she had just witnessed.
And then she had gotten naked with another man in the room, and face burned with more shame as she remembered that! Her mother would surely give her a what for if she ever learned of that.
Sarina shook her head at all the memories, not wanting to think of them for a while so she could get her bearing back in reality. She was about to begin her calming breaths when she heard a knock on the door. She cleared her throat,
'Who is it' Sarina called.
'It is Darya miss, with some clothes and tea.'
'Come in please.'
The older woman rushed in, taking in Sarina's disheveled state.
'Oh you poor thing' Darya exclaimed, hurrying to Sarina and rubbing her arms comfortingly and then checking her head to make her she had not caught a fever. 'Let me run you a bath to warm you up, I've brought you some clothing and I will send for tea.'
The kind woman continued fussing over her and then moved to side room to begin bath, twisting knobs that Sarina had not seen last time, and like magic the water began to flow into the tub, filling it with hot water. Darya helped Sarina out of the tunic and then ushered her into the warm water. Sarina almost panicked, remembering her very recent catastrophe with the liquid, but forced herself to remain calm, thinking of Darya's kindness. The woman was helping her like a mother, simultaneously comforting her and flaring the flame misery in heart that missed her mother and father.
The bath warmed her in no time, and she got out quickly, Darya helping her to get dry. The woman helped her into a much simpler white dress than the one she had worn before, with a little silver embroidery at the bottom. Sarina sat in front of the vanity mirror, and Darya helped her to brush out her hair. While they were brushing, the cook brought the tea. Darya poured her a cup, having Sarina sit on the bed and sip it while she cleaned a little. Sarina had never been so pampered. She wanted to let the kind woman know she could probably do most of this herself, but Darya seemed determined to aid her back to health while she was here.
After a little more fussing, Darya told her to rest and then she left.
Sarina sat on the bed for a while, sipping her tea, and then decided to find Caspar and thank him for saving her again.
She walked out of her room and then heard a noise to her right, coming from the end of the hall. It was a door opening, and she watched , wondering who's room it was, but she should've known it was none other than Caspar's. He came out in a fresh black tunic and black trousers. He looked like had also showered, his shoulder length hair curled slightly at the ends and still looked wet. He walked towards her and her breath caught, noticing his handsome features and those misty eyes. When he stood directly in front of her, really towering over her because of his height, he said
'How are you?'
'I am alive, thanks to you' Sarina replied, looking to the side to avoid his beautiful eyes.
Caspar hesitantly reached out to touch her face, but his hand stopped right before it reached her cheek. His arm dropped abruptly to his side and his face turned expressionless. Sarina was confused by the change, but then he said
'I have news about aid for Bamm.'