Chapter 14

It was still early in the morning when Musa woke up. She was alone in a sterile looking hospital room that was very quiet. Looking around she discovered that she was no longer hooked up to any of the noisy machines and also noted that her head didn't feel as fuzzy as it did yesterday. Thinking about yesterday made her groan and cover her face in embarrassment; she never usually breaks down like that or cries so hard that snot comes out of her nose! Ugh! That definitely must not have been pretty! And Riven saw too! Of all people!

Slamming her fists on the bed Musa shoots into a sitting position with a loud noise of frustration. In the process kicking onto the floor something that was resting at the foot of her bed. Leaning over the side of her bed she recognizes that its her favorite pair of sweats, her blue spaghetti strap tank top, and some panties. Looking at the clothes another wave of embarrassment washes over her as she realizes that shes completely naked with nothing but a flimsy sheet to cover her. Musa Hastily reaches for the clothes wanting to get dressed as quick as possible.

Once she gathered up her clothes Musa practically ran into the adjourning bathroom and quickly threw on her clothes, only turning to look in the mirror once she was fully dressed. When she turned and saw herself though she gasped in surprise at the two new additions to her body. Slowly lowering herself onto a stool placed in front of the mirror she examined the pink puckered skin that lay on each side of her chest, right under her shoulders. They were a disgusting shade of pink that looked severely out of place on her pale skin. As she reached up to gingerly touch one she noticed in the mirror the same sort of mark on the back of her right hand. Looking away from her reflection she stares at her hand, flips it over, and over, and over. The scars are on both sides of her hand! The same size and shape on her palm and the back of her hand, like something went through... Like a stake went through.

Remember the pain of each stake King Mikahl pierced through her, Musa examined her hands, her feet, and turned over each shoulder in the mirror to take inventory of each and every scar. Seeing the amount of them brought tears to her eyes but she held them back, not wanting a repeat of yesterday. Calmly she recalled everything that happened on their mission and everything she could remember afterwards; hoping that by allowing herself to remember and feel the pain she could forget about it and lock the memories in some drawer in her mind. But, looking at herself in the mirror, and thinking about Flora and her baby, she knew she would never forget. How does one forget something like that? All those dead fairies, her friends on the brink of starvation and desperately lost in the catacombs, that feeling of wishing for death. No she would never be able to forget; but she would have to adjust. She was no stranger to loss and pain and she would keep moving forward just like she has before.

Reaching for the brush on the vanity she began brushing out her tangled hair and focused intensely on her face reflected in the mirror. Once she had strategically placed her loose hair over her shoulders she set the brush down, sat on her hands, and continued to stare into the mirror. She would be fine, everyone is fine, everything would be fine. She kept chanting that like a mantra in her head.

She was so focused on her inner thoughts that she didn't realize she had company until a familiar voice called from the doorway. "You know, I never did like your hair lose like that."

Still looking at everything through the reflection, she watched Riven leaning lazily in the doorway with his arms and legs crossed. looking perfect in dark jeans, a black V neck T-shirt, and a maroon zip up hoodie, almost the same color as his hair but just a little darker.

"Well I like it this way, in fact i think ill wear it like this from now on." Musa said, her voice a bit hoarse from being unused, but she tried to put some regularity in it with an uneven smile.

Uncrossing his arms Riven scowled and made his way over to stand behind her and said "Well it looks like shit Musa." Leaning over her to grab the brush he added tersely "Here ill fix it."

Musa tried to protest but was silenced by a glare in the mirror.

Once Musa gave a resigning sigh, Riven turned his full attention to brushing out sections of her hair. He knew that Musa loved having her hair done and took extra care to be slow and gentle. Taking his time brushing each section of her hair, Riven felt Musa relax and looked into the mirror to see she had closed her eyes and was humming. Smiling to himself he separated her hair into two bundles on each side, and began to sweep the right side up into a pony tail high up on her head. As he reached over to grab a rubber band on the vanity he noticed that her eyes were now open and she was frowning at him.

Ignoring her he tied up the right side and repeated the same process for the left. Once that was done he swept each pigtail away from her shoulders, and placed his hands on her upper arms. Leaning down he kissed her right shoulder and said "This is better, you look more like my Musa now."

"But Riven.. I don't want see them." Musa whispered, looking to the left, away from his gaze in the mirror.

Riven moved to her side and crouched down so he was looking up at her. Balancing on the balls of his feet, Riven grabbed her chin and forced her to look down at him. She just stared at him sadly, hating herself for not being stronger.

"Musa they are just scars"

"yeah but they're disgusting! and when I see them... I remember everything that asshole did! I remember everything he put us through" Musa Yelled and then started to sob "I remember what he did to Flora, I can feel each stake going through my body! I remember him touching me! And all those fairies! Myrta! Dead! Riven I don't want to remember! I want these scars to go away, I want Flora and Helia to have their baby, I want to know Myrta and Bishop are still alive!"

She was falling apart again and Riven didn't know what to do. He fumbled awkwardly for a few seconds and then scooped her up in his arms. Leading her out of the bathroom and laying her comfortably on her bed was the only thing he thought would help. She started to curl in on herself but Riven laid down in front of her and held Musa to his chest, rubbing her back and murmuring things like "it'll be okay" and "I'm here", trying to get her to relax. Eventually it had the desired effect and Musa's sobs turned into small sniffles.

"I'm sorry Riven *sniff* I didn't mean *sniff* to cry like that. I just... i'll stop being such a baby just give me a minuet *sniff*"

"You cry if you need to." Riven replied with a huff "What you and Flora went through was awful. If you need to cry to feel better than cry. I know i'm not much help when it comes to stuff like this but know i'm here with you... maybe that helps a little i don't know"

Reaching up to kiss him on the cheek, Musa says "You being with me DOES help. Thank you Riven."

Riven pulled her down onto his chest and kissed the top of her head, right between her two pigtails. "Your welcome Musa."

They lay together in silence for some time, Musa still holding tightly onto Riven as he traced small circles on her shoulder. It was Musa who finally broke the silence.

"The scars are pretty gross though... don't even lie I know you hate them." she laughed

Riven sat up straighter, forcing Musa to pull back and pear up at him.

"Musa you aren't the only one that received scars that day, it just so happens that yours are visible. Seeing what we saw, going through what we did, feeling what we felt... Were all scarred from that Musa." he said angrily and swung his legs off the side of the bed so Musa was looking at his back. Because he was turned away she almost didn't hear him when he whispered "I thought I had lost you Musa..."

Musa snaked her arms around Riven's waist and pressed her cheek into his back. "I'm still here, you saved me Riven."

"Hearing you screaming and crying though... I don't think i'll ever forget those sounds as long as I live Musa. Seeing you so beaten and bleeding, trapped on that wall.." Musa could feel every muscle in Riven's body get tense before he said "I cant forget that."

"I'm sorry Riven. I'm so sorry..."

"God dammit Musa stop apologizing!" Riven yelled as he jumped from the bed and turned to face her. "The point is we all have scars! its not your fault and you shouldn't try to cover them with your hair or by sitting on your hands! I don't care about your scars and neither will our friends for that matter! Were just happy that your alive!"

His anger died away with his sentence but he still stood across from her with his arms crossed, scowling at her cowering on the bed.

"You know Riven... your pretty cute when your mad" Musa said coyly after a short pause.

Riven gave chuckled and then ran his hand through his hair, releasing the last of his tension. "According to everyone I'm always mad."

"Mhmm. Exactly." Still kneeling on the bed Musa leaned over the edge and grabbed Riven's shirt, pulling him towards her just a little. Her position giving him full view of her low neckline.

"Musa..." Riven said uneasily. "What are you doing?"

"I'm not doing anything Riven"

What a flirt. If her low pitched voice wasn't evidence enough, then surely her provocative pose, made it very clear what she was trying to do.

"Musa please don't... your in the hospital for goddess sake."

Slowly and artfully she arched her back upward until she was eye level with him, still not letting go of his T-shirt. After a brief starring contest she wrapped her free hand around the back of his head, entwining her fingers with the baby hairs at the base of his neck. Cocking her head innocently to the side she asked "What ever do you mean?"

"Ugggh you know damn well what I mean you Siren!" Closing his eyes he tried weakly to pull away but she stopped him by saying "Are you saying you don't want me anymore?"

His eyes snapping open he gazed fiercely into Musa's eyes "That isn't fair Muse. I always want you." He looked away and lightly kissed each side of her hands, after each kiss murmuring the word 'always'. Then, leaning her back, supporting her with his right arm, he kissed the right side of her chest, "always", and then the left, "always". With her head leaning back Musa began to giggle, forcing Riven to smile against her skin. Slowly he lifted her back up as he trailed kisses up her neck.

"Mmm Riven... the door... is it locked?"

"Don't know don't care"

"Riven! Lock the damn door" she laughed

"Mhmm i'll get right on that" he whispered before nibbling on her ear

"What if the Nurse walks in? Shes supposed to be coming back ya know"

"Fine!" quickly he moved his arms from behind her, catching her by surprise and she fell backwards onto the bed with a gasp.

He took a couple quick steps towards the door, flicked the lock, and then stalked back over to Musa. That shocked expression was still on her face as she reclined backwards on her elbows. Riven kneeld on the bed and then slowly pushed himself up until his hands rested against the mattress on either side of her face. His body was pressed firmly against hers but he supported most of his weight with his arms.

"You dropped me!" Musa said with a bit of annoyance.

"Onto a mattress. I don't think that really counts" he replied and then, leaning closer until his face was an inch from hers, whispered "Besides, this is where you wanted this to head anyways." and Just as Musa was about to close the distance between them, Riven's Handheld went off, signalling that he had a message.

"Ignore it Muse."

"But what if-"

"No." Riven said and ended any further debate by capturing her lips with his. He wasn't rough, afraid of hurting her or hindering her healing, he was slow and deliberate with his movements.

Riven wrapped his arm around her waist and, without breaking the kiss, rolled them over until he was pinned beneath her. Musa had thought she was never going to get these moments with Riven again and every feeling of love and desperation her body had saved up, poured out of her in the form of kisses. She broke away from his mouth only to trail kisses down his neck, across his chest, and back up the other side of his face. She was touching Riven! Feeling his chest rise and fall beneath her hands and hearing his breath become labored as he craved more of her. His hands trailed up under her shirt and gripped the bare skin on her back. Musa was elated and couldn't help but laugh with Joy, and since she was so close, she blew into his ear playfully, and laughed even more as he jumped in surprise.

"Musa! What the hell was that for?" Riven protested and sat up on his elbows. Musa was sitting up with her legs on either side of him as her hands covered her mouth while she laughed hysterically. "I don't know!"

He watched her laugh, a slow smile formed on his lips and then he too started to laugh. "Musa I swear your ridiculous sometimes"

"I know I just cant help it. Is it messed up that I'm happy right now?" Musa asked.

He pulled on one of her pigtails and dragged her down till she was resting her head on his shoulder. Squeezing her tight he said "No Musa. I think after so much shit its about time someone feels happy again."

"True... sigh... I kinda don't want to move from this spot..."

"I'm sure I could think of more romantic places than a hospital room."

"Oh yeah? Like underneath the stadium bleachers?" Musa teased.

Riven laughed and replied "Must have been romantic for it to have happened three times!"

Musa swatted his arm lightly and said "It's your fault for being so damn irresistible!"

"So I'm irresistible eh?" He asked and lifted an eyebrow.

"Bite Me Riven!" she said as she blushed and his handheld went off again. "And will you check that damn handheld?"

"Its probably just Roy being annoying." Riven argued but reached over for his handheld anyways. "Everyone is supposed to be coming back from Kanuse today."

"Whats the hell is everyone doing in Kanuse? And who is everyone?" Musa asked in a shrill tone.

"Sheesh take it down an octave Musa. Ill explain in a second... scratch that Saladine will explain. It WAS Roy that messaged me, apparently Saladine knows your awake and wants to talk to you. He said he thinks Faragonda is on her way here as well." Riven quickly typed out a reply and then began untangling himself from Musa. "I told him were on our way"

"No way! Tell me whats happening right now." she pouted and refused to get up off the bed even after Riven was up and pulling on her arm.

"Gah! Stubborn woman! Fine! I'll briefly explain AS we walk there. Now, up!

Musa smiled, pleased with herself, and leaped off the bed. As her feet hit the floor however a wave of vertigo hit, and little black dots danced at the edges of her vision.

Riven steadied her before she could fall and watched her face as the dizziness passed. "Careful Musa! You aren't 100% healed yet."

"You weren't saying that 5 minuets ago" she laughed and began walking towards the hall.

"That's different!" Riven growled as he opened the door.

When the door opened it revealed a confused Nurse Ellison. "Whats different?"

Musa laughed as Riven got mad and turned red "Nothing. We were just umm... talking about shoes."

The Nurse looked incredulously at Riven with an eyebrow raise "Shoes? Really? hmmm... never mind I don't think I actually want to know." she laughed and then looked at Musa "How you feeling dear?"

"Pretty good, all things considered. Riven was just taking me to see Headmaster Saladine. I can leave right?"

"Yup! I just came to give you your paperwork and some shoes. Don't want you walking around Redfountain barefoot and winding back in the hospital now do we!" Nurse Ellison smiled and handed the file and slippers over to Musa, who then in turn handed the file to Riven and pulled on the slippers. After she was done the Nurse Hugged her and said "Take care Musa. I'm sorry for everything that happened but I'm truly glad your okay. I'll see you when you come back to visit your friend, but I better ONLY see you here visiting."

"Sure thing nurse lady! Thanks for taking care of me. I know I can be a handful." Musa replied and then stuck her tongue out at Riven when he snorted in agreement.

Nurse Ellison laughed, broke the hug, and watched as Riven threw his arm around Musa's shoulder and led her out into the hallway