Completed A night to remember

[Grendel Strand]

"Make way, make way!"
The able bodied of House Strand ushered Grendel and Nilofer through into the house after the attempt on her.

His Mother was still outside fighting, getting them both to safety was paramount and it was a little late to say the night was a success but they protected themselves. That was the important part.
As the night started so it ended with them sitting alone. Grendel dismissed the guards from the library and went to Nilofer.
"Did he harm... you?"
Dizziness hit him like a lead weight wrapped in a blanket and he fell to one knee before her. His hand, it was turning a sickly colour already.
"Blasted, thought... I was... fast enough!"
In the hurry to get Nilofer away from the kidnappers he batted the sword away with his hand, the contact lasted only a moment but it seemed that was enough.

Whether he was slowing down or the world was he could not tell but his arm was turning to fire in his senses. Trying to stand he all but collapsed into a seat opposite her.
What in the world was in that poison?
As the world muddled his senses he heard the very pounding of his blood in his ears. It was so different from battle fugue, he wondered if he might remember this feeling and describe it later or if he was simply going to die.

Nilofer Saladin

 

[Nilofer Saladin]

Nilofer followed Grendel as they were hurried back into his house. She sat down in a chair heavily but was too on edge to notice they were in a library.

Her gaze moved to Grendel as he spoke and she noticed something off about him. As if in slow motion, they both looked down at his hand, which was not only bleeding but also turning a nasty yellow. Fear pooled in Nilofer's gut but it also served to ground her.

She managed to come to her own senses enough that she slid off the chair she had been sitting in to come to her knees in front of Grendel. She took his hand palm up in hers, careful not to upset the wound. She did her best to remember what the man outside had said about the venom on the blade, but she couldn't remember enough to help her now. She merely sent a silent prayer that Grendel had only received a tiny bit of the venom.

For now, though, she knew what she ought to do. Her mind kicked into gear as she surveyed the room around her. There was a pitcher of water on a table beside the chair she had been sitting in, and she picked it up and removed with it the thin white table cloth it had been resting on. She tore a strip from it, dipped it in the pitcher of water, and pressed gently at the cut in the palm of Grendel's hand.

It came away stained red and yellow, and she hoped she had managed to wipe off any excess venom before it managed to get into his bloodstream. She pressed once more at his wound with another bit of wet tablecloth, before wrapping it in dry tablecloth in a sort of bandage.

"Can you stand? We need to get you help," she said, her voice wavering only the slightest. Surely Grendel and his family had a physician of some sort on standby or at least one who lived nearby whom they could call on.

Grendel Strand

 

[Grendel Strand]

Perception flowed in and out of focus for Grendel. The roaring pain of his arm was numb to Nilofer's touch and in the back of his mind he grocked an unfairness to that fact. As she boud his hand in careful but quick motions he tried to remain calm but the dizziness made his heart race.

At her question he gave a nod and answered in words he had to focus on to collect.
"Yes, I, think so."
He planted his limbs and roused himself. The Door may as well have been all the way back in the Khaleeti for how able he felt to reach it.
Unsteady but surely he made his way to the doorway feeling like he was making every step underwater.

When he finally reached the door Nilofer was with him and he wondered if she had left him at all in the personal eternity it took to get there.
"That was, very difficult."
He admitted to her with a weak smile he definitely felt too nauseous to look real as the colour drained from his face.

Nilofer Saladin

 

[Nilofer Saladin]

Nilofer helped Grendel to his feet, letting him lean on her. She draped his good arm around her shoulders and slowly walked with him to the door of the library, where guards were waiting. When they reached the door he leaned against the frame and spoke and smiled weakly, and Nilofer did her best to hide her fear at how quickly ill he was becoming. She didn't know how much poison it would take in his blood for it to kill him and she really wished she knew more about basilisk venom.

Thankfully the guards were not useless and when Nilofer appeared in the doorway with Grendel looking mighty ill, they immediately sprung into action. "Take us to his rooms, please," she managed to say as two of the guards pulled him away from her, allowing Grendel to lean on them rather than her. She followed them as they hurried through the halls and to her it felt like an eternity where she was willing Grendel to stay conscious before they finally reached his chambers.

He was helped onto his bed and Nilofer was immediately at his side, inspecting her poorly wrapped bandage. Already it was turning nasty shades of brown, and so she quickly and gently unwrapped it, took a handkercheif she had found on a table beside Grendel's bed, and dipped in the water pitcher besides it, pressing the wound gently once more in a feeble attempt to draw more poison and blood away from the cut.

Grendel Strand

 

[Grendel Strand]

The door to Grendel's chamber exploded and Mrinnaleth entered, a splatter of blood on her dress but otherwise unblemished. Her face was furious with concern as her eyes flashed from her son to Nilofer and then his hand.
"SUMMON LEONAS."
Her voice rang out with all the authority of her station as Matriarch and she went to the side of her remaining son, took his hand and felt his brow.
"What happened child?"
In their brief interactions Mrinnaleth had tried to be kind to the girl but her heart was too wounded by grief to fully open and it kept a terseness to her voice that she did not truly mean.

Grendel for his part had not spoken all the way up to his room and was having difficulty breathing. His hand was discoloured, almost looking necrotised in parts.
He was barely awake.

Footfalls betrayed Leonas' arrival.
A stern figure, slim and gaunt who never spoke.
There was a few moments before he would arrive.

Nilofer Saladin

 

[Nilofer Saladin]

Nilofer jumped when Grendel's mother burst in, and inwardly cursed herself for it. She usually had much better control over herself.

She guessed Leonas was the family physician, but she didn't get much time to be relieved before Mrinnaleth turned that firm gaze and voice on her. This time Nilofer was able to control her reaction.

"A guest at the party attempted to kidnap me with a Cortosi blade coated in basilisk venom, but before he could, Grendel leapt in. He saved my life and for it, got a dose of venom. I don't know much about basilisk venom and I don't know how quickly it travels through the bloodstream, but I've tried to draw as much of it out of the wound as I can,"

She spoke softly and her voice only wavered a bit. She shifted her gaze from House Strand's matriarch back down to Grendel's hand, pressing gently with a clean portion of the damp cloth in her hand.

She heard footsteps in the hall and glanced up as who she assumed was Leonas appeared in the doorway.

Grendel Strand

 

[Grendel Strand]

Mrinnaleth's face grew hard as she listened to Nilofer's recounting and as she realised her son's condition she gripped the bedsheets in her fists.
"Foolish boy."
Her face mixed anger with grief in her features.
"Like his brother and father. Act first, think later."
It was not the first time she had said the words, just never to Nilofer.
Leonas appeared in the doorway, a leather bag in hand.
He set up silently wasting no time in getting about his work.
"It's basilisk venom Leonas, what can be done?"
Just like that Mrinnaleth was composed again, her face a mask of placid calm.
Leonas said nothing, but adjusted what he was doing, drawing out a series of items, a small brass box with grooves in it, a series of small glasses and rubbing alcohol.
Calmly he got a chair and set it up next to Nilofer and sat then put his spectacles on to inspect the injury which was getting darker.
Gently he prodded the flesh and felt the darkened skin. Then he took a smell and made a sign with his hand, a brief dismissive gesture.
"He says it's not necrosis."
Mrinnaleth breathed a sigh of relief and visibly relaxed a bit, just a bit.
Leonas looked then at Nilofer and then at the cloth she was using to draw out what she could and gave her a nod then signaled for Nilofer to bring the oil lamp closer that he may reach as he rubbed his hands and arms in the alcohol then offered her some.
Nilofer may recognise the procedure as bleeding. A cut was made in the skin at the sight of an infection or poisoning and a heated glass brought over it to draw out the pollutants and bad blood.

@Nilofer

 

[Nilofer Saladin]

Nilofer somehow felt soothed by the presence of Leonas. He did not speak, and he did not seem panicked or stressed or despairing, despite the direness of the situation. She drew in two deep breaths, remembering what she had learned. A healer ought to have exorbitant amounts of self control- and Nilofer regained nearly all of hers as Leonas got to work beside her.

Nilofer understood immediately what Leonas was doing and was quick to rub her own hands and arms in alcohol before bringing the oil lamp closer as instructed. She was careful not to burn Grendel's flesh, her hands steady as she watched Leonas work.

She felt a pang of guilt for not thinking of bleeding- she knew the procedure well. She chalked it up to adrenaline and swore to herself she would not let it happen again.

Grendel Strand

 

[Grendel Strand]

Mrinnaleth watched her son as Leona's worked, settling next to him.
"Leonas has been with us since Grendel's father and I were married. A physician to help bring in the next generation."
She let nostalgia cast the shadow of a smile on her face before she resumed the careful observance of her son.
Grendel did not move but for his breathing one may think him dead already.
"He is very skilled."
Leonas prepared the glass with Nilofer's help and with no hesitance at all he used the mechanism of the box to slice into the flesh of Grendel's arm, which provoked a sharp wince from him and placed the glass over the line of incisions it made.
The dark mixture of blood and venom pooled on the surface with gusto and as Leonas tipped the arm to catch the excretions and held it there, letting the vacuum of the glass do its work.
Before long the beaker was almost full of the dark mixture.
Grendel's eyes opened and his mouth moved. Mrinnaleth dabbed at his forehead and hushed him.
For his part he looked about but only rested his gaze when he saw Nilofer, a fact his mother did not miss.
"Has my son told you of why Leonas does not speak?"
She asked.

Nilofer Saladin

 

[Nilofer Saladin]

Nilofer watched Leonas work half in awe. Holding the lamp steady and following any silent instructions the healer gave her, her fingers itched to do what he did, especially as he drew blood and venom from the wound.

At long last, Grendel's eyes opened and when they found Nilofer a rush of breath she hadn't known she'd been holding escaped her.

When his mother spoke, she blinked a couple of times, raising her gaze to the older woman. She opened and closed her mouth, before shaking her head. There were a great many things Grendel had yet to tell Nilofer about, and she was glad he still had time to do so.

Grendel Strand

 

[Grendel Strand]

Mrinnaleth sat next to the bed, it seemed the danger had passed for now.
Leonas seemed deaf as well as mute in that moment. Unmoved by the conversing about him. He simply gestured for suture and more alcohol, applying both as he finished up what treatment he could and while he began to clean his instruments he left enough gauze and bandage for Nilofer to wrap the wounds in Grendel's arm and hand.

"As I am sure that you know there was a civil war not long ago in Vel Anir. My, Grendel's father and brother were among those lost to us. Leonas was another victim of their savagery and wanton violence."

Mrinnaleth spoke with a mixture of hatred and grief. The air became thick with it.

"During one of the worst nights of fighting Leona's was trying to administer his craft. He made no distinction and that was his only mistake. The rebels captured him and demanded he gives up the locations of the Noble families he had served. Asked him to betray his sworn patients."

Her eyes glimmered with pride as she spoke, casting a long look at Leona's, who diligently cleaned his tools.

"He never gave them up, not even when they took out his tongue he refused to point the way. Soldiers like to speak of courage but few know what real courage is. Leonas has proven his metal and has our gratitude for as long as he lives because of it."

Mrinnaleth wiped her eyes and made it look like she was adjusting her hair.
Grendel watched, barely able to take it in.

Nilofer Saladin

 

[Nilofer Saladin]

Nilofer watched Mrinnaleth as she told Leonas' story. The healer did not seem to hear, and showed no visible emotion to this story.

Nilofer glanced over at Leonas, who continued to work faithfully. Slowly, Grendel seemed to be coming back to himself.

Nilofer could not think of anything important to say to Mrinnaleth's story. "He truly is brave," Her words sounded fake and meaningless but she meant them. What else could she say?

Nilofer turned her gaze back to Grendel as Mrinnaleth pretended to adjust her hair. She set down the lamp as Leonas finished his work on Grendel's hand. She picked up the gauze and bandages Leonas had set aside and when the healer was done with his sutures, she gently but firmly wrapped it. Her hand lingered over Grendel's when she finished.

Grendel Strand

 

[Grendel Strand]

"Yes, he most certainly is."
Mrinnaleth stood, seemingly satisfied in her son's wellbeing for the moment and made her way to the exit, Leona's noticed and held the door open for her.
"You did well tonight. Whatever you may think of the why of all of this you can take pride in that."
With that she and Leonas left them.
The dim lamplight did not reach the high ceiling, giving the impression of infinite darkness above.
Grendel's hand twitched and after a long moment he parted his lips and in a hoarse voice said.
"Nil?"

They had not yet begun pet names or nicknames or any of that. Grendel had always used her name but right now it was all he could muster.

Nilofer Saladin

 

[Nilofer Saladin]

Nilofer gave Mrinnaleth a small but genuine smile as the older woman stood and left, Leonas behind her. As the door shut behind them, Nilofer turned back to Grendel. He said her name, or at least a shortened version of it, and she leaned forward, placing her hand gently in his bandaged one.

"I'm right here, Grendel," she said. He was slowly coming back to himself, color returning to his features. Nilofer let out a short breath in relief.

It took her a couple of seconds to realize just how alone they were. Her father and mother would lose their minds, but Grendel's mother seemed to trust them both enough to leave them alone. They were going to be married soon, after all.

Grendel Strand

 

[Grendel Strand]

His head felt like lead and pounded in that deep way that blood did when your body was fragile and weak.
It was not unlike recovering from his first battle in which he was knocked out cold from an blow to his helmet.
Drearily his eyes found her after scanning the room.
"What happened?"
The gaps between his words were longer than they should have been but his eyes were steady on her. Anchored.
"How did I get up here?"

Nilofer Saladin

 

[Nilofer Saladin]

"You were cut with a knife with basilisk venom. Leonas managed to draw out most if not all of the venom." She replied. "Your mother was here too,"

"You're going to be ok," she said, and she wasn't sure if she was reassuring him or herself.

Now that her heart was no longer pounding her ears she could hear the commotion still ringing out outside the walls of the Strand Estate. They were gradually dying down as people were ushered away, but Nilofer knew this would be something talked about for a while to come. Perhaps they really ought to just get married already, give them something else to talk about.

Grendel Strand

 

[Grendel Strand]

He was cut.
Flexing his hand hurt and his arm hurt as well. The bandage was peaking a bit of blood, nothing to fret over.
"Mother..."
He rolled the word about in his mouth before concern hardened his features.
"... was anyone else hurt? Are you alright?"
Reflex bid his hand onto hers, took it, damaged as it was.

Nilofer Saladin

 

[Nilofer Saladin]

Nilofer took his hand gently, smiling a little. "No one else was hurt. I'm alright, thanks to you," she replied softly.

She was silent for a moment before speaking again. "Did you want to speak to your mother? I can send for her."

Mrinnaleth may be able to better soothe her son, and reassure him that everyone else was ok and would be ok.

Grendel Strand

 

[Grendel Strand]

"Thanks to me..."
He did not remember exactly what happened, there was a cloud of smoke and dirt, he moved towards the shimmering light and... nothing after that until he was here on his bed. A side effect of the poison no doubt.
"No she, she's busy. We're all okay that's what matters."
Not wanting her to go he squeezed her hand a bit to communicate this and let his eyes rest a bit.
After a few breaths he broke the silence.
"I hope this doesn't put you off Anirian living. Typically parties have less kidnapping attempts."
Humour was the shield against both panic and dread. His brother had told him that many times and even though his voice was still weak he tried to slip a sliver of merriment into it.

Nilofer Saladin

 

[Nilofer Saladin]

Nilofer smiled weakly as Grendel attempted to make light of the whole situation. She supposed he could now, considering it was over and no one had died.

"Not at all," she replied. "Especially not now that I know what you and your family are capable of." If she was to live here with Grendel in Vel Anir, she knew she would be safe.

"I only hope you don't think me weak," she added, in a softer voice. How had it been so easy for Roul to get his hands on her, with Grendel right beside her?

Grendel Strand

 

[Grendel Strand]

A single eye, his tattooed one, opened and looked at Nilofer.
"Nonsense."
His other eye opened and he tried to sit up but gave up almost instantly. so he contented himself with placing his other hand on top of hers. Encasing it between his own.
"You did not panic or faint. You remained calm, that is much more than most can claim."
It was an unfortunate truth of the world that one did not have as much choice over their fates as they seemed but merely over how they reacted to it. Both of them had been given no choice in their meeting, or the nature of their relationship and they were both simply dealing with it. This night had tested them and they had passed it safely. It made Grendel glad that she was with him.
"I'm glad you're here and that you haven't been scared off by this."
Again his words were slower than they should have been but he was tired and without realising it he had begun to caress her hand in his. Some instinct left over from humanities ascension from beasts, a primal conveying of simple affection not unlike the instinct to hug or kiss.

Nilofer Saladin

 

[Nilofer Saladin]

Nilofer relaxed a bit without really realizing it.

"It would take a lot more than that to scare me off," she said softly.

It took her a moment to realize Grendel's soft touch on her hand, and for a minute she just looked at their joined hands. The whisper of a smile flickered across her face, and she returned her gaze back to his face.

"Get some rest. You need it," she said.

Grendel Strand

 

[Grendel Strand]

He did, the very word rest made his eyelids heavier but he let out a resistant sigh instead and gave her hand a brief squeeze before letting go.
Laying down he knew simply that sleep was impossible, his mind was too weary, his body pained him too much. He would have to endure for a while yet.
"Would you stay? I know, I know it's a bit selfish of me but I might have lost you tonight. I really don't feel like letting you out of my sight just yet."
As he spoke the words he knew how true they were. How deeply they had run within him.

Nilofer Saladin

 

[Nilofer Saladin]

Nilofer could understand the feeling she saw on Grendel's face. He was exhausted but sleep was still a ways off.

"But I might have lost you, to a ridiculous act of bravery," she replied softly, her voice almost teasing, implying she didn't really mean she thought his act of bravery ridiculous.

She did not move to get up from where she sat on the edge of his bed, nor did she pull her hand from his.

"I'll stay however long you want me to,"

Grendel Strand

 

[Grendel Strand]

Reckless bravery. That didn't sound too bad.
"I couldn't let him take you."
It was all the explanation he had. The sight of her vanishing into the dust with that Cortosian stranger compelled him to move.
Despite it he smiled, his scarred lip twisting upwards in that way he did not like.
Her hand was warm, as if she had brought a bit of the Empire's warm sun with her just under the skin. Vel Anir was somewhat more temperate. Wetter.
Sometimes he thought of Nilofer as a desert animal out of its climate. He certainly felt like that when he had first met her, the dry heat did not suit him.
"Do you know why he targeted you?"
The candidness of his speech surprised him a bit but he did not believe the strangers speak of money.

Nilofer Saladin