5.

The human gave a solemn look of pity as she showed her wounds, but he nodded silently and told Snow to guard the entrance as he began his work. Though it was hard, Summer bit her lip as Ostel's gruff hands began touching her bare skin, delicately examining her wounds. As he placed his hands upon the injuries Summer winced in pain from the pressure of his firm hands.

Then she felt a soothing warmth radiate from his hands, the stinging pain went away until there was not left but a dull ache from every injury Ostel confronted. Her scar across her face was the more notable wound, and Ostel slowly placed his hand upon her cheek. It was a soft and gentle touch compared to the last person who struck it. In the more delicate areas he looked up with a questioning gaze, and when Summer nodded he did the same treatment again.

One the wound around the thigh to the knee though she instinctively tensed and closed her legs. She let out a uneasy breath, to which Ostel stopped and waited patiently until she let him continue. When he went around behind her to treat her back however, she could not help but turn with him timidly. He gave a concerned look, "Summer?"

She shifted from foot to foot as she looked at him, she understood that he was only trying to heal her wounds, but she didn't feel comfortable with him at her back. After a moment of consideration, she pointed at Snow, then to the space between her and Ostel as if asking if he could stand between them as Ostel healed her back.

He nodded and whistked Snow to do as she requested, with snow happily rubbing his fur aginst her legs to comfort her. She took a deep breath and summoned what courgae she could muster and willed herself to turn her back to the human. As before, his hands went over each wound as carefully as he could, trying to cause as little discomfort as he could. Summer tried to force herself to keep her thoughts on Snow as his fur rubbed against her skin. 

Before she knew it Ostel was walking in front of her with a nod, "Well, that should do it I guess. Better I hope?"

She blinked a bit and gently touched her face where the cut used to be, now replaced with a pale white scar, before dropping her hand and nodding her head. Ostel had showed her more kindness in the small amount of time that he had been in the cell with her than she had expierenced in her entire life and that alone brought tears to her eyes. This was something she wasn't used to, something that she feared that should would have to repay in a way she never wanted to do ever again.

Before Ostel could say anything Summer collapsed into Ostel’s arms, which surprised him at first as he grabbed her shaken form instinctively as it heaved with soft sobs. He did not say anything, for sometimes nothing need be said. Instead he merely gently let her body fall with him as he rested his back against the wall of the cell. 

As if reading his mind his wolf companion came back with his fur cloak held tentavily in his fangs. Ostel nodded to Snow and wrapped the cloak around himself and Summer. While Snow paced around Summer's legs and rested there, his vigilant eyes watching the entrance. After a few more moments of silent tears, Summer tentively pushed at Ostel's chest, signalling that she wanted to be released. She wasn't very big on contact with humans and the fact that she had allowed Ostel to do what he did took more courage than she thought she even had. [i]I want to go now... I don't want to be in here anymore,[/i] she thought as she stared at Snow.

Ostel did not stop her as she stood up, he merely nodded and righted himself up, clasping his cloak back on. He then took a breath before scratching the back of his head in thought, "We need to go to the main hall, my father had summoned me to appear before the council before noon." he then looked to her and met her violet eyes with a worried glance, "He ordered your presence there as well. Fredrick will be present, will you be able to quietly conduct yourself?" He asked worriedly.

Summer gave him a disbelieving look as she straightened out her shoulders and lifted her chin up slightly, as if saying she could do what needed to be done. She was labeled as the silent one as it was, so he had no reason to worry that she would speak out of turn. She had a bad feeling about seeing Fredrick again, though she hoped that the claw marks she had left on his face were still there or had at least scared, to her the bastard deserved a good marring,

With a nod Ostel then nodded toward the door, "No matter what happens, stay close to me and Snow. if you feel like you cannot be quiet, lean on Snow, he will be right beside you, won't you?" The white wolf barked sharply and made his way to the other side of Summer. With that, human, elf, and wolf gladly left the cell behind them, making their way towards the main hall of the Grimwards.