Noah nodded to Elann’s words and took the sugar cube into his mouth, desperate to be rid of the bitter taste even if it wasn’t as bad as the pain he felt. Noah only wanted the one, and grew quiet as Elann bid the sack of cubes away. She petted his hair softly, though her previous encouragements didn’t do their job to full effect. She said it wouldn’t be like last time, that he would be up, but he doubted it silently. He listened though, and attempted to heed her words over his injuries. His pain was still present and aching, yet Elann slid into his blanket-bed to sleep alongside him.

Consciously, he wasn’t ignoring her, just focused on himself and his own pain, but as she came into his space he considered the pain he had in a selfless sense. She felt it too, and though she had encouraged him to let her feel his pain too, it was something he didn’t want her to have. Looking at her as she asked Aimee to sing more, he closed off his end of the bond, relieving her of the ache as Aimee nodded to Elann’s question. Noah hugged his pillow with the one hand and closed his eyes to sleep, not worrying about Elann’s retaliation because he felt as if he was in the right.

Aimee’s soft voice sang softly down to the couple until she was sure they were both asleep. She busied herself then, taking to reading then walking outside. She wouldn’t leave her brother again, she resolved, deciding to stick to the caravan until he was healed again. She stayed outside until night came, creeping back into the caravan where she saw Noah stirring slightly. Her ears heard his muffled moan, but it wasn’t in physical pain. Her brother’s eyes were shut but there was a sweat on his brow and a muttering coming from his lips now.

The wagon rocked as it went slightly off road, almost throwing Aimee off balance as she crept curiously towards her brother and Elann. She caught her balance, throwing her hands out to her sides and wobbling on one leg, her dancer’s grace keeping her from being thrown into the bench. Once the wagon settled she set her foot down on the floors and dropped down to her knees instead, crawling towards her brother. When she got to him her hand came up and patted his cheek a few times, hushed voice calling his name until his eyes cracked open to search for her. When their eyes met she showed him a small reassuring smile.

[i]“Hey, it was just a dream,”[/i] she said softly. She pinched his cheek lightly, watching as his face turned from apparent fear to relief. [i]“It’s time to get up anyway. We’re at the campsite.”[/i] She peered at the lump his thin frame made in the blanket. [i]“How’re you doing?”[/i]

[i]“Fine,”[/i] he said dryly. [i]“Hungry.”[/i]

Aimee nodded, looking to Elann at Noah’s side. She fell back to sit on her heels, resting her hands on her lap patiently. She hummed thoughtfully for a moment. [i]“Do you want me to get you something?”[/i]

[i]“No,”[/i] he croaked quietly.[i] “Stay.”[/i]
[i]
“Okay. We’ll wait then.”[/i] Aimee gave him another nod, sliding into a cross-legged sit instead.