Violette and the white horse, whom she dubbed Cloud, stepped carefully toward home; her charge carefully positioned upon the 'bed' fashioned of saplings entwined together with strips of bark. Cloud would occasionally inquire after his master with a soft nicker and a glance over his shoulder. Violette soothed the horse the best she could, keeping a watchful eye on Sir Leo's condition as she walked along behind.

They arrived at the cottage very few minutes later, Violette leading Cloud parallel to the entry so that the stretcher stopped directly in front. Then she carefully guided Sir Leo to a sitting position. She soothed his protests away and placed his arm around her shoulders, easing him to stand and then steadying him as they slowly progressed into the cottage and to the bedroom portion of the three-room house.

Violette eased him onto the down mattress, hushing further protests with a smile and a firm hand at his back to lower him the remaining way. She removed his cape and boots with gentle movements and then pulled the quilted blankets close about him.

"Keep still, sir knight, while I set about preparing he herbs." She lightly kissed his forehead before turning for the kitchen.

Sir Leo slipped in and out of consciousness as Violette set to the task of gathering the herbs necessary. Dried. Fresh. Boiled. Ground. She combined them with patience and care, finally letting the mixture set. Then she found a roll of material and made her way back to Sir Leo's side.

Violette turned down the blankets and sat on the edge of the bed. She set down the roll of material and reached out to carefully unfasten his top coat. Then she pulled his undershirt free, eyes glimmering at the deep bruising of both the internal bleeding and the broken ribs.

"Oh dear," she voiced brokenly.

Violette bit back the tears and reached for the roll. Then she carefully wrapped his chest, securing the ribs in place so that they could heal more quickly. Sir Leo winced, clenching his jaw as Violette did her best to gently tighten the wrap.

"This will help," she whispered. "Try and breathe shallow and slow," Violette instructed. "That will relieve the pain of it."

She carefully and tenderly removed his topcoat and undershirt entirely. A jagged dagger wound met her gaze. Violette unfurled a large portion of the material roll and ripped it off. Then she folded it up and lightly dabbed at the blood oozing from the wound.

"I need to get warm water and herbs," she told him as she stood. "Keep still."

Violette gathered the herbs prepared before and then poured water from the teapot into the basin beside the bed. Then she sprinkled the herbs within it. The remaining herbs were then poured into the teapot, and it was again set to heating.

Violette soaked the bloody material into the medicated water before again dabbing at the wound with a tender pressure. "This will help the pain and stop the bleeding..." Violette lightly bit her lip, eyes glimmering.

Sir Leo reached over to cover her hand. "All will be well, my lady Violette," he assured calmly, no hint of pain evident in his voice.

Violette met his gaze and smiled. "I know, sir knight. Now please, keep still."

She guided his hand back to his side and then finished the task of washing, treating, and wrapping the wound. Then the teapot sang and Violette left Sir Leo's side to set about preparing another herbal tonic to heal the bleeding within.

Sir Leo drank the tonic with no complaint.

Violette set the cup aside and took his hand in hers, leaning forward to smooth hair from his cheeks and forehead. Sir Leo's focus never wavered from her face.

"The herbs will help you sleep," she told him softly. Her eyes focused on his. "Rest now. Rest and be well."

Sir Leo's hand slightly tightened on hers. "The lady has rescued the knight."

"Shh," Violette urged, and she placed a finger on his lips. "Sleep, sir knight. Please." And she began to softly hum, moving her finger to stroke the hair along his forehead.

Sir Leo closed his eyes, and the tension and strain slowly flowed from his body. Violette continued to hum as she watched him, expression concerned but not fearful.

Finally, his hold relaxed on hers, freeing her hand to do the other portion of his remedy. Violette drew the quilts down away from the discoloration that signified the internal bleeding. Then she softly placed her hands against his skin and closed her eyes as she released a deep breath.

Focusing the will. Sharing the power. Summoning the warmth and healing. Drawing out the evil and replacing the good. Focusing the will. Sharing the power. Summoning the warmth and healing...

Violette continued throughout the rest of the afternoon and night, not pausing to rest even when fatigue fogged the corner of her mind. She kept on, sharing her strength so that he could be made whole.

Only when dizziness and exhaustion robbed her focus did she remove her hands and pull the quilts up around him. Then she carefully stood, leaning down to smooth more hair from his face and kiss his forehead before the world dimmed and she collapsed to the floor...

..."...olette?"

Violette moaned softly, struggling through the fog to the baritone voice beyond.

"Violette?" ... "My lady Violette?"

Stronger now, Violette pulled her self toward the voice and opened her eyes. "Sir Leo?" she called as she pushed herself upright.

There was a release of breath. "My lady Violette. I thought you ill and could not move to investigate."

Violette smiled and sat on the edge of the bed. She checked his temperature with the back of her hand. "Are you feeling better this morning?"

"Stiff. Unable to move without great effort, but yes. The pain is noticeably diminished."

"Oh, I am glad." Violette reached out for the quilt. "I need to check your wrap," she told him as she pulled it down. "I also need to see if you're still bruised or just tender."

Violette tucked the quilts around his hips and lightly gauged the tautness of this chest wrap. "I might need to tighten this later today," she informed him with a soft smile.

Then her eyes focused on the area just below. Her expression brightened. "Oh my," she breathed. She tenderly pushed and touched the area that had been nearly black before. "Does this hurt?" she asked as she watched his expression.

Sir Leo clenched his jaw. "There is discomfort," he said tightly.

"Sir Leo," she chastised softly. "I need to know if there is pain." Violette carefully pushed. "Here?"

He winced. "Pain, yes, but not blinding as before."

She moved her hand. "Here?"

"The same."

Again Violette's hand moved. "And here?"

Sir Leo shook his head. "Tender, but no pain."

"Good." Violette pulled the quilt up to his upper chest again and met his gaze. "Tea for breakfast, an herbal lotion, bed rest, and then you'll be well again." She motioned to his shoulder. "But first I had best check there."

Violette unwrapped the bandage and carefully removed the medicated material. "You are a fast healer, Sir Leo," she intoned softly. "But I believe another application is wise." Violette stood and lightly touched his arm. "Keep still while I ready the herbs and water. Alright?"

"Of course, my lady."

Sir Leo listened as she performed the same careful routine as the previous day. This time she hummed.

"Did you learn the herb-lore from your granmamma, my lady Violette?"

"I did. Before her and granpapa moved out here they were healers who traveled throughout Lunar." She sighed deeply. "I so loved their tales of adventure, and that was how they taught me."

"They used the tales? As examples?"

"Yes, and what a lovely and exciting way to learn for a young child! I could never get enough of their stories. I always craved more and another and still another." Violette giggled. "They told me I had to earn the stories after a time."

Sir Leo softly smiled.

"Here we are." Violette set a basin onto the side-table and soaked another rag. Then she sat on the edge of the bed and gently cleansed the wound. "Mostly I've healed birds and bullfrogs." She smiled. "And the occasional horse or cow. Not very exciting. Nor very romantic."

Violette bandaged the shoulder and then sat back. "There." Seriousness returned. "And please tell me if it begins to feel warm, or sting and throb."

"Yes, my lady."

The smile lightened her eyes. "Now, let me fix you a slice of bread and butter to have with your tea."

Violette stood and returned to the kitchen. Humming. The clink of china. Footsteps. The swish of skirt against skin...

"Breakfast is served. Ah ah. Don't move," she urged when Sir Leo seemed to move to push himself upward.

"My apologies. I had forgotten."

Violette smiled and sat again on the edge of the bed. "I even put some preserves on it." She pulled apart a piece of the buttered and jellied bread and offered it forward. "Ahhhh."

Sir Leo's lips twitched as he opened his mouth and accepted the piece. "Mmm. Quite exceptional, my lady Violette."

Violette giggled. "Thank you. One more piece and then I need you to drink your tea."

Another portion of the bread slice was offered and accepted, and then Violette balanced the small plate on her lap as she brought forth the tea. Again, he drank it all with no complaint. Then the bread was finished and Violette retrieved a small bottle from a shelf within the side-table. Violette pulled down the quilts and then carefully measured out a small portion of the pale blue lotion into her palm. She set the bottle aside and dipped her fingers into the portion before tenderly massaging it into the skin of the tender sections of his chest.

"There is a tingle and warmth," Sir Leo observed.

Violette nodded. "The herbs. They work quickly." She finished the application and wiped her hands on a nearby cloth. "I didn't put as much of the sleeper in your tea as before, but you will become tired. Your body still needs time to heal." She pulled the quilts up and then brushed the hair from his face with a slight smile and a soft touch.

Sir Leo took her hand in his and held her gaze. "My lady, how shall I ever repay this kindness shown?"

Violette covered his hand with hers. "There's nothing to repay, sir knight."

Sir Leo watched her face. Then he brought their clasped hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles, eyes closed.

Violette's expression softened. "Rest now."

Sir Leo lowered her hand from his lips and released a slow breath. Then tension flowed and his breathing deepened. Violette carefully pulled her hand from his and focused on the condition of his wounds, performing a less intense and draining ritual as before to help the knitting process. Once completed, she tucked the quilts about him and stood, making her way to the door and taking up her basket and shawl. She turned at the door and watched him sleep with a soft smile... and then she softly closed the door.

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