Awakens in the night

Himari’s eyes fluttered open. They felt like they had been glued shut and her mouth was as dry as dessert sand. She felt something warm on her hand and looked down to see a hand held hers. She glanced up to find that Duncan had pulled a chair up beside her bed and sat holding her hand. It was dark and she couldn’t make out any features or even if he was awake but she knew it was Duncan. Maybe it was because of their connection or because of the warmth of his hand. Maybe it was his silhouette she knew. Either way she knew without a shadow of a doubt who was holding her hand. She finally remembered the events that had passed. She had completed the fields but she didn’t remember them coming back or of her getting in bed. Had she passed out again? He really ought to have been the hero in the book. He had all the wonderful traits of a hero and it felt like he was always rescuing her. She wanted to get up and go to the restroom and clean her face and get a drink of water, but she was afraid to wake Duncan. She jumped slightly when she heard Duncan say “You gave us all quite the scare my iskitini tvshka, even more so when you have been sleeping so long without waking up. I sent after the healer again today when you didn’t wake up. Poor Jameson and Arturo have been checking on you every thirty minutes all day and I had to force them to go to bed.” Himari felt guilt eating at her and went to apologize but Duncan cut her off mid-sentence “You have no need to apologize. You didn’t mean to worry us and no one blames you for resting so much when that is what your body needs.” Duncan straitened and said in a stern tone “You are never to push yourself to exhaustion again Himari. You are lucky that you didn’t catch a cold from pushing yourself so hard. Next time you might not be so lucky and what happens if I am not there and something bad happens.” His voice took on a pleading tone “Please Himari never do anything like that again. You scared me.” With that Duncan went to stand but Himari clutched his hand tightly in hers and said “I am sorry for worrying you. I promise to be more careful in the future.” Then she added on softly and shyly “Please don’t leave just yet.” Duncan touched his chest warmed by her words and said “I was only going to get you a glass of water my iskitini tvshka and will be back with it soon.” Himari went to sit up but Duncan placed a gentle staying hand on her shoulder and told her sternly “You are still in need of more rest. You will not get out of bed is that understood.” Himari blushed furiously as she explained she needed use of the restroom. Duncan offered to carry her but Himari refused and tried standing on her own but before she could stand fully Duncan was at her side helping her to stand and told her to put her wait on him. She was glad he offered because her legs felt weak under her and she said jokingly “How many days was I out? My legs feel like jelly under me, maybe I am in need of more rest.” Duncan said “You were out almost 72 hours and you will do nothing but rest tomorrow and the next day.” Duncan noticed the shock coming from Himari and her standing stock still and sked her “What is the matter? Are you in need of the healer again?” Himari started walking again and Duncan automatically started walking helping her to the restroom as Himari said still feeling shocked “I slept almost three days.” And said under her breath; “No wonder everyone was scared. I would be scared too if someone slept that long without waking.” She then questioned “What did the doctor. I mean, what did the healer say was wrong with me?” Duncan said “Exhaustion. He said you had pushed yourself too hard and had exhausted yourself completely. Cedric even double checked and agreed with the healer. He said that doing two layers of spells especially one as complicated as your barrier spell and doing it repeatedly for hours must have worn you out completely.” Himari agreed “Yes doing does spells on repeat was exhausting. Wait Cedric knows healing magic?” Duncan explained that Cedric was considered one of the best high healers in not just Imponini but the entire world.” Himari was surprised and impressed. Do to that fact Himari had to move so slowly they finally made it to the bathroom that adjoined her room. Duncan offered to go in with her, but Himari shot that down quickly. It was super awkward knowing Duncan was right outside the bathroom door, so she quickly did her business, washed her hands and face and headed out the bathroom. Duncan was standing where she’d left him. She went to lean on him but instead he scooped her into him arms. Her arms automatically wrapped around his neck as he carried her to the bed. Her face heating and warmth at being so close to Duncan spread throughout her body. She was sure Duncan could hear her heartbeat thudding in her chest. He gently placed her on the bed and covered her up before promising to be back soon with a drink and something to eat. Himari was so embarrassed. Duncan had to have felt her reaction to being so close to him. We do share a connection after all. She wondered if it was possible to die from embarrassment, because she felt like she might. She needed to get a grip on her emotions. She and Duncan were just friends. Weren’t they? Why did she react to him the way she did? She had never reacted to anyone the way she did Duncan? Why was that? What did it mean? Were all these feeling just a product of their connection? Would these feelings go away if their connection disappeared? For reasons she couldn’t explain that thought terrified her. She hated the idea of waking up and their connection being gone. Sometimes she felt the same wave of emotions Duncan elicited in her coming from him. Did that mean he felt the way she did? Was he just as confused by his response to her as she was by her response to him? Himari was not feeling brave enough to ask Duncan and she wasn’t sure she would ever be brave enough. She needed to figure out her feelings before she asked him, she decided. Now to concentrate on figuring out how I feel about Duncan. With her mind made up she waited for Duncan’s return. She used her magic to light the chandelier and was not surprised when Duncan gave her a reprimanding look as he entered the room a few moments later carrying a tray loaded with food that the smell had Himari’s mouthwatering and her stomach growling loudly. She blushed and buried her face in the pillow, trying to hide her crimson cheeks. Duncan gave a short laugh as he deposited the tray on the nightstand beside her and said “I am glad to see someone if hungry.” He helped Himari into a sitting position placing her pillows behind her. Himari baulked at the food stacked high on the tray and said “Please tell me you don’t expect me to eat all that. That looks like enough food to feed an entire family.” Duncan blushed and said while scratching his cheek “I may have gone overboard. I wanted to make sure you had plenty to eat since you haven’t eaten in three days. What you don’t eat I will take back down to the kitchen.” Duncan’s stomach chose that moment to growl loudly and this time he was the one blushing. Himari tossed her head back and laughed. She said “Seems I am not the only one hungry. Guess you are going to have to help me eat all this food.” Duncan grinned at her widely and said “Yes I will.” Duncan placed the tray on Himari’s lap and picked up a bowl of soup and ladled some of it onto the spoon and started blowing on it gently. He then held the spoon out for Himari to take a bite. Himari blushed. She staid still not able to meet his eye; “I can feed myself you know.” Duncan said “I know but I want to make sure you eat. Humor me please.” Himari didn’t know what to say so just nodded her head in agreement and opened her mouth as Duncan slipped the spoon in her mouth. The taste of the soup and her combined hunger made her forget her embarrassment at least for a moment, until it was time for the next bite. She chewed extra slow this time and finally decided she’d give Duncan a taste of his own medicine. She picked up a cube of cheese and held it out to him. He didn’t hesitate to open his mouth for her and she slipped the cheese between his teeth and lips. Her fingers accidently brushed his lips as she pulled her fingers back. She felt heat dance along her fingertips where his lips had brushed. Well that backfired spectacularly. So much for embarrassing him. I am the only one embarrassed. She looked up in time to see Duncan brushing his lips. When he caught her gaze his hand slowly dropped to his lap. Maybe I wasn’t so affected after all. It kind of felt empowering to know she affected him just as much as he did her and it made her happy to know he was affected by her too. Duncan looked down at the bowl of soup in his hands and said bashfully “Would you do that again? Would you feed me again?” He finally glanced up to see Himari shyly agreeing. She held up a slice of fruit and Duncan leaned forward and took it into his mouth chewing thoughtfully and saying “Things taste better when you feed them to me.” Himari said unable to bring herself to look at him fully “Yeah, it’s ugh. It’s the same for me too.” She glanced at him and found him smiling sweetly at her. She could feel the happiness her words caused him through their connection and she was sure he could feel her own happiness at his words. They started taking turns feeding each other shyly for a while until Himari and Duncan had finished all the food and drinks Duncan had brought. Duncan cleaned up before coming to sit by Himari on the bed again he asked “How are you feeling.” Himari smiled patting her stomach and said “Like an overstuffed bird. How are you feeling? You must be exhausted. You used a lot of mana to transport me to all those places and back here. Have you left my side at all since I passed out?” She could feel Duncan’s surprise and the warmth of his happiness. Duncan said “I don’t think I have ever been asked how I am feeling or known anyone to worry about me. I am usually the one worrying about everyone else. It is nice to be worried about, I must admit. I am okay. I have slept each night in that chair beside you and feeling your warm hand in mine helped me rest better than I can in a bed alone, especially when I was too worried about you to stomach the thought of being away from you for even a second. Now lay back down and rest. I will stay with you until you fall asleep.” Himari was about to protest when Duncan continued “I promise once you are safely in dreamland I will go get some sleep in my own quarters. I will not be able to sleep unless I know you are resting, so don’t even think about arguing with me.” Himari adjusted her pillows and laid back. Duncan used his magic to turn the lights off before he grabbed Himari’s had in his. She was surprised she able to was able drift off to sleep, especially since she knew she had slept so much already. The warmth from Duncan’s hand soothed her and soon she was fast asleep. A while later Himari woke slightly to the feel of lips being pressed to her forehead, but her eyes felt too heavy to open. She heard Duncan say “Chu Hullo li, um iskitini tvshka.” She wanted to ask him what that meant but she was so tired she couldn’t muster the energy to ask. She decided she would ask him tomorrow what it meant she decided. As slept pulled her under again.