Now in the healing room--The tiny frame of a frail Eleanor laid on a mattress, the strands of her hair cascading her effervescent face as she seemed to be asleep without a care under the watchful eyes of Slav-Her husband.
His blue gaze fell to her, he watched as the healer placed a damp cloth on her forehead--uh...* soft whimpers left her lips.
Slav stepped in closer--Asking for the cloth, he gently pressed it against her--Hands slightly trembling in the process.
"Such a beauty"... the healer murmured, her motherly voice filled with warmth. "You are lucky, son" Slav's gaze shot to her then at Eleanor, his lips curled into a soft smile as he brushed his thumb against her cheek. "Indeed" he murmured to himself.
Son, you are also wounded... Slav hadn't spared it a glance--Though he agreed to the healer's offer of getting checked.
The healer then took his hand; her frail fingers wrapped a white cloth over his arms--She then soon left.
Now left alone--Slav sat near Eleanor, his gaze never leaving hers, he then saw her lips ever so slightly quivering. His hands clenched at seeing her like this--without a thought he laid next to her, his hands effortlessly finding her waist.
Heat seeped in through his body as he guarded her, his breath hitched at seeing her this close, eyes' falling to her nimble frame then her petal-like lips--Mama... a whisper left her.
Slav's jaw clenched--"Baba"... her voice broke as a tear droplet rolled down her cheek--His finger reached out and wiped it away.
Slav then held her tighter, his jaw ticking further--She had lost everything... her mother, her home--
Though the worst part about it?
he couldn't protect her, he couldn't keep her sanity, he had let them kill her from inside, humiliate her.
Now to serve a man...who...
His hands clenched as he held her dangerously--To serve a man who had been the one to take everything away from her.
His gaze then returned to her, eyes slightly widening as he saw the ring on her finger
--She had kept it even after all this time. Slav let out a soft grateful smile as he then brushed his lips against her forehead.
His warm breath fanning against her back as he deepened it. His arms clutched her--fearing as if she might vanish if he didn't. His lips then traveled to her cheek, pressing a peck on it.
"I love you" he murmured--his eyes then darkened as past events played out on his mind. They had never bedded before--never.
After marriage--They had delayed it--Him, out of duty--Her, out of modesty.
If Eleanor had seen him-be sure, she would tumble out of bed in fury.
Slav's lips curled in a bittersweet smile.
Just then--a trembling whisper left her lips:
S-Slav... his breath hitched. Her eyebrows creased as if to really mean it, Slav...
His then cupped her face, his eyes searching for hers--Elen... Elen...?
Tears pooled over Slav's eyes--Elen... he murmured, hands gently caressing her silk- hair-- "S-Say it again"... he pleaded, his voice etched with desperation.
Will you...?
Slav... she murmured once again.