The Grey Tower

Terric eased his way through the crowded infirmary. His wounds were minor compared to many of the wounds he saw. He leapt out of the way, pulling Avyra with him, as a woman with a crushed leg was rushed by on a stretcher. He almost turned and left on the spot. His tiny scratches were beyond insignificant compared to most of the injuries around. They weren’t even as bad as the injuries he’d been healed from earlier that day. If he stayed he’d just be diverting attention from somebody whose life depended on healing.

He guided Avyra off to a corner where a collection of Tower Guards and townsfolk waited a variety of injuries. “I shouldn’t have come here,” he said, leaning in close. “I should just go back to the barracks and find somebody who can just sew this up,” he said, referring to the long slash across his ribs. The laceration on his cheek had begun to open up slightly at some point as well. All in all, having already been healed once this day, and the fight that evening, Terric wanted some food or his blankets. A sweat tent wouldn’t go a miss either, he was still covered in blood. The one thing knew he didn’t need was to waste the Yellows’ time.

While Terric didn’t think that their having broken rules already was a good excuse to break more rules, he understood Avyra’s point. The wounds were minor, and if she healed them, that wouldn’t tie up resources.

With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he said, “I’ve danced with death a twice today, what’s a third?” Guiding her back out with a gentle hand on her elbow, he asked, “Where should we go? If we’re going to keep breaking rules, it’s wise not to do it somewhere the Aes Sedai will find us.” A tired looking Accepted saw them and was about to remark on Terric’s bloody clothes, but he kept the two of them moving.

Terric tensed slightly as the now familiar cold rushed over him. He reached up and touched his cheek, the long cut that had stretched from under his eye down his cheek was gone. He touched his ribs, the laceration there was gone as if it had never been. Healing still amazed him, there wasn’t even a scar. His lips turned up in the barest hints of a smile. “Did it work? I trust you can see for yourself.” He reached out and squeezed her shoulder affectionately, “Thank you.”

The moment hung in the air for an eternity. Avyra hung from him, arms wrapped around his neck. She stared up at him with her big green eyes staring up at him longingly. He wrapped his free arm under hers and pulled her up for a proper hug. Her feet hung several inches from the ground now. Terric’s heart pounded and his thoughts raced. She wanted to kiss him. How long had she wanted to? He wanted to kick himself for missing something so important. Part of him had known for months; that same part had ignored it. It wasn’t something he’d ever given much though. He really had to ask himself if this what he wanted. He cared for her deeply, but did he care for her in that way?

Her green eyes were beautiful, looking up at him like that. Their faces were extremely close now. Barely any time had passed since her simple question, “Can I?” she’d asked softly. His heart continued to pound. The day’s stress and exhaustion began to push any thoughts of what he wanted from his mind. They were replaced with memories of how worried he’d been when Avyra was in danger and how hard she’d worked to save a woman who’d hurt her in the past. At that moment, he didn’t care about the future. He tried not to care about the past. In all the chaos and blood shed of this night, they were both still alive. Terric tilted his head down and kissed her.

War still raged outside the walls and the city burned. They both smelled like ash and were covered in blood. None of that mattered at the moment. She clung to him face buried against his neck. "Thank you. I've wanted to do that for some time, now. But you're too tall. I'm glad we both made it."

Voice filled with mirth, he replied, “I’m sure you’ve had plenty of opportunities over the last few months.” He squeezed her against his chest, “Baring that, you could have kicked my knee out or something.” He laughed softly. He’d seen enough war and death in his life to learn to take these moments when they came. He gently lowered her to the ground and kissed the top of her head. Part of him wanted to just hold her until sunrise, but two healings in one day took a toll, not to mention the mental and emotional toll of battle. He needed to sleep if he was to be fresh when he next needed to dance the spears. He hugged her again, “Thanks for… just thank you for being you,” he said in a softer voice. Stifling a yawn, he continued, “Trust me, I’d love to stay here all night, but we should move on. I feel like I’m about to fall on my face, and we’ve broken enough rules for tonight.”