The Kingdom, The Witch, & The Warrior

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

Kreiss gave a small nod at the lecture. "I understand Zena. Thank you for being concerned. I will do my best to be aware of my condition and not push myself." He moved to settle back down on the 'edge' of the bed. When she laughed he just gave a defeated smile. "When one grows up around others that demand titles it is a difficult habit to break Zena. In the case of the bed, I can hand the bed back over to you and sleep on the floor. I am sure you would like your bed back as it is certainly more comfortable than a chair. It is the least of what is appropriate in such a situation."

The blushing made him tilt her head. "I was just asking..." He paused and then thought for a moment longer. "I didn't mean in that way! I would never infer that a lady would do such a thing, nor would I accuse one of such! Forgive me if that is what it seemed like I was doing!" Now he was also blushing and doing his best to explain himself. "This is the strangest first meeting I have ever had. Usually it is so polite and formal."  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

The witch only blushed more as Kreiss tried to explain himself and tried to offer her bed back but she only shook her head rapidly " N-No its okay! Take the bed! Yes all to yourself! I-I will not touch it or go near it!" Zena took a couple steps back to show that she would not dare climb into a bed with another. Feeling embarrassed she quickly turned away so she was not looking at him. " II might of undressed you but it was o-only for your health and nothing more!"

Zena covered her face with her hands and let out a groan thinking of what an idiot she must look right now. She had never been this close to a man before and she didn't really clue in till now. " I am getting water!" She said as she hurried out of the cabin, grabbing a bucket to fill up with water to put in the water barrel she had inside. She walked behind the cabin to the little spring and filled it up with water after splashing some in her face. She looked into the water of the spring and looked at the reflection of herself, seeing her once fire like red hair now a plain brunette colour. She played with the ends of her hair before picking up the water bucket and heading back to the cabin.

When Zena entered the cabin she dare not look at the knight and went straight to the barrel. With all the strength she had she lifted up the bucket and dumped the water but not without struggling a little. Putting the bucket down with huff and puff she rolled her shoulders back and rubbed her neck. Life was so much easier when she could use her magic.

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

"N-no really please! It is your home!" Kreiss insisted. They were just a bumbling mess of apologies and being insistent and politeness. Then she exclaimed she was going to get water and Kreiss moved to stand. "I-I can do that for-." She was out the door and he slumped back down. "-you." He placed his face in his hands. "She undressed me? I mean I know the bandages had to get on me somehow but to-. That-. If I wasn't dead before I am certainly going to be killed now."

Kreiss just began to play out the conversation in his head. He wasn't going to be able to lie to her and when she found this out it only spelled his doom. "Kreiss how could you let an innocent woman do that? Do you have no shame?" He knew he couldn't have helped it as he had been out but he still somehow felt responsible.

When Zena came back in, Kreiss nearly jumped. "Welcome back Lady Zena!" He yelped out of instinct, still beat red. "I mean- That is. Uh-...." He just fell silent. "I'm going to go to sleep now! Yes! Oh I am so tired!" He faked a yawn. "I can't believe I am this tired! How unfortunate! Just look at the time." Of midday. "I just cannot stay up any longer!" His head hit the 'pillow' and he immediately pretended to be asleep.  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

Zena looked over to Kreiss to only see his bright red face that made her face slowly turn back to a red as well. " Uh..." She was about to say something when all the sudden Kreiss was tiered by how 'late' it was. " Kreiss its only-" She started but her was in bed and 'asleep' " Midday..." The witch let out a sigh before walking over to her desk and flipped through her books as she was looking for something that might help with Kreiss's eye sight.

As time went on through her reading, Zena tried to conduct something that could help him but it would be easier if she could use magic but she didn't dare use any in fear of being found out what she really was. The small female stayed at her desk all day trying to find something till her dull red like eyed gave out and she fell fast asleep at her desk. The fire in the fire place soon burnt out along with the candles that lit up the cabin. Zena slept quietly at her desk worn out as she used her arms as a pillow over top her books.

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

Kreiss had pulled guard duty before, he could stay in bed without doing anything. It was nearly the same thing, except as a guard he had to try and pretend to be aware of what was going on. Now he didn't. It made it much easier to take naps. However when night finally fell and the lights had gone out he sat up from his bed once more and got up. It take a moment for his eyes to adjust.

Soon however he saw the woman whom had been taking care of him sleeping at the desk. He glanced over to the bed of straw and gave a nod. The Lady of the house sometimes did this as well. Very slowly he moved over to the small woman and moved to gently pick her up. His breath was held while he did so, and his muscles creaked at him in protest, but Kreiss was not one to back down from a physical challenge presented by his body.

After the lift he began to gently tilt the small woman he was carrying parallel with the bed, not to fast, if he did it would cause her to wake, he had learned that the hard way over the years of taking care of the Lady. Once she was straightened he moved to the bed and laid the woman flat before placing the blanket around her person. He then shifted to lean against the bed frame and go to sleep as well, this time in a sitting position with his arms in his lap. Even that effort had wiped him completely out of stamina and then some.  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

Zena slept quietly at her desk, not making a sound at all or really any movement other then the quiet breaths she took making her small frail body move slightly. As Kreiss gently picked her up she let out a slight moan from the movement but it did not wake her up. The small woman was truly small, light and frail but even so she still had a nice curve to her under that red cloak of hers. As Kriess started to walk towards the bed the little witch in her arms stirred a little, moving her head little to only nuzzle into Kreiss for warmth.

Though that warmth she nuzzled into was soon gone as he had laid her down in her bed that she had not slept in a week. Not long after the knight who was meant to sleep in her bed put the blanket over her Zena curled up into a ball to gather up as much warmth she could and slept happily in her warm bed.

In the morning Zena woke up to the unbearable cold do to the fire being out. She slowly rose from her slumber and let out a little yawn before looking around confused. " I am in my bed? But how...? " She asked herself before she saw Kreiss. " Kreiss!? What are you doing!? You are going to catch a cold and you cant afford to get one in your condition! She said jumping out of bed and quickly putting a blanket over him.

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

As soon as the yelling began, as if that was some queue to wake him from something, Kreiss yawned and stretched. "Good morning Lady Zena." A hand moved to cover his mouth as another yawn appeared. "Don't be so worried... I'll be fine honest. Just get some more sleep." He lazily waved at where she had been and not where she was, the flurry of person already having wrapped him up into the blanket.

"You um... Fell asleep at your desk while reading I believe. You were so exhausted even when the candles and fire went out you didn't wake... I thought you needed some actual rest so I carried you into bed. Didn't realize how much it would take out of me so rather than finding a place to sleep that would be somewhat warm, I just passed out against the bed." Kreiss stated, recounting all he had done last night to aid her into getting into bed.

He looked up at her rather innocently, almost overly so considering he was a knight and instrument for war. "Please do not be mad at me? I was only trying to think of the well being of my caretaker and current guardian. A single night will not destroy my health. I promise."  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

Zena let out a sigh as Kreiss called her Lady but just shook it off, it would be a while for him to get use to just calling her by her name with no title but then again by the time he got use to it he would most likely be well enough to leave. That was if he took care of himself better. " I do not need the rest you do Sir Knight." She teased at the Sir Knight part as she made sure the blanket was tucked in nicely around him to keep him warm.

She listened to what had happened last night and she shrugged slightly. " You really didn't have to do that you know... I have slept all over this house and who knows how many times at that desk. I haven't slept in my bed in a week, a few more day will not kill me." She assured Kriess as she was kneeled down so she was eye level with him. " Don't do it again in your condition if you are going to strain yourself like you did last night. I can only heal so much of you."

She then stood up and was about to go light the fire when Kreiss looked up at her and begged her not to be mad at him. " I am not mad at you I am just worried." She said softly before going to the fire place and starting up the fire before lighting up the candles of the cabin. " How is your sight? has it gotten better since yesterday? Are things still blurry?"

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

Kreiss just sat there and watched her work, moving about the house. "My sight? Well..." Kreiss looked around for a moment. "Hard to tell since I just woke up. Now as for sleeping, how about we make a deal so I don't feel bad for taking your bed. At night I will sleep in the bed, during the day you get to sleep and stay in it. Or maybe the other way around? Perhaps I should do night shift since the only thing I would need to do is make sure the fire doesn't go out... Would that work La-." He cleared his throat again like he had done the day before.

"Would that work for you Zena?" He asked. "Though to be honest, it wasn't so much carrying you that exhausted me, as much as it was moving slowly so as to not wake you. That was the hard part. You are rather light. One could almost say fragile, like those porcelain dolls that the Lady collects." Kreiss stated, thinking of the only apt comparison that came to mind.

"I will say that I cannot promise you that I won't do that again as well. No matter what you say, the bed is yours and so you need to use it when you are tired. I cannot be given better treatment than the one who is caring for me. That is not right." Kreiss folded his arms across his chest with a small harumph and then wince as he touched a wound.  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

As Zena lit the last candle she rubbed her hands together to get warmer as Kriess said he wasn't sure about his eyesight. " Let me know if it improves or not in the next ten minutes or so." She said, hoping it was better as she started to worry what to do if it didn't get any better. But Kreiss seemed not to care about his sight but sleeping. He brought up a proposal about taking turns of sharing the bed. I could take a couple naps here and there in the bed if that makes you feel any better."

It seemed like Kreiss was not going to drop this at all so she was going to have to meet him halfway in order for him to agree on something. As Kreiss commented on how fragile she was and called her a porcelain doll her fair white cheeks started to slowly turn a rosy pink. " I-I am nothing like them. They have better hair and clothing then I ever will." She muttered the last part as she dusted her outfit a little.

" I guess I will just have to make sure not to fall asleep at my desk then." Zena said as she rubbed the back of her head before hearing wince, making her look over at him and shake her head. " Get back into bed before you hurt yourself more."

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

Kreiss sighed, that was the best he was going to get out of Zena it seemed like. He moved to climb into bed as he was instructed. "We can fix one of those things. Do you have a brush for one's hair?" He asked, now sitting in the bed. "And I think my vision is slightly better than before. Like I said yesterday, it has been getting better over time, I think my body is just trying to sort itself out."

He then paused. "Wait, if you are not going to sleep at your desk where were you planning to sleep Zena?" Kreiss tilted his head slightly in question, vaguely reminiscent of a dog when they tilted there head. "Also... When am I allowed to wear my armor again so I can get used to its weight? My skills as a warrior are going to get rusty if I stay this way for months at a time. I'm not one of the best fighters in the kingdom for nothing... Though the thrashing I took might state otherwise..."  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

The little witch of the woods watched the knight climb into bed, happy that he did not argue with her and did what she asked of him. When he asked if she had a brush to for ones hair she nodded slowly. " I have one yes." She said a little unsure why he was asking for one. She looked around the room as if she was trying to remember where she last saw it. She walked over to a wooden chest and opened it. The chest was filled with old dresses and various other things that her mother left behind.

She pulled out a old mirror and comb from the chest but kept looking through the chest, remembering some of the last memories she had of her mother. " Hm? Oh in that pile of straw I pointed out before." Zena said, snapping out of it and closed the chest. She grabbed the old mirror and comb and walked over to the bed, now standing in front of Kreiss.

" Once you are able to touch a wound without flinching. The last thing I want is for your wounds to open up and get infected." She said with a firm nod and tried to think of ways so he wouldn't sit in bed all day because she knew he would not listen to her and get out of bed and do something that may hurt himself more. " Start small... Carry water into the house and fire wood. Once you can do so we will see about the armour."

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

Kreiss let out a hum and gave a small nod. "I see, that is fair enough and you were struggling with the bucket yesterday so I can understand why you would want me to do such a thing." He gingerly took the brush and mirror. He set the mirror aside gently. "Now if you could sit, I will get started."

Kreiss made a simple motion for her to sit down on the ground where he had previously been and then waved the brush around for a bit. "I promise I will be gentle. I have had plenty of practice since Lady Vendmere as a child always wanted her hair brushed." He paused. "That is, if you will let me. I understand if you do not want me to, but it will certainly get you closer to that of a porcelain doll yes considering the two requirements are better clothing and better kept hair."

He flashed a small smile, as if trying to encourage her to go along with what he was saying. Kreiss was already looking at her hair now though, looking at it carefully. "Mmm, I can already spot a few tangles, I think I have my work cut out for me don't I?" He asked to no one in particular.  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

" It is a deal then." Zena said with a smile, happy that they were both satisfied.You can bring in the water and firewood in the afternoon. Then once you feel up to it you could even cut the fire wood." She explained as she remembered it wouldn't be long till she needed to cut more fire wood. Zena watched him take the old mirror and comb from her hands before he asked her to sit she looked at him confused to what he meant.

She soon clued in by him motioning over to sit on the ground in front of him that he wanted to brush her hair. " Wait... You want to brush my hair?" She asked a bit surprised. No one other but her mother has touched her hair or at least with care. When she was a child and still lived in that small village people would grab her by her red locks and even cut parts of her hair. She then remembered that her hair was not red at the moment and that was why Kreiss had no problem brushing it.

Zena thought about it for a moment and shyly played with her hair when he said he saw a few tangles. Not only was there a couple tangles but also some straw from her bed. Zena then slowly sat on the floor Kreiss motioned her to sit moved her long hair to the back so it fallen along her back. " Don't... Pull any chunks of hair off." She warned him as she got ready for what was to happen. In truth she was scared because whoever touched her hair other then her mother brought harm.

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

Kreiss paused at that last comment. He didn't ask why but a hand reached out slowly, moving to pet her head for a few moments. "Not going to pull any chunks of hair off. I am not a cruel person." Kreiss stated gently.

Then his hand withdrew from petting, shifting to take a strand of hair up and setting to the brush to work. He was not quick or forceful, instead slow movements that started at the ends of her hair and with each stroke down with the brush, he climbed up the strand of hair a bit so as to make sure to catch any knots he could not see, guiding each to the end of the strand do be dis-entangled.

"Let me know if I am hurting you Lady Zena and I will stop as soon as you wish me to." Kreiss paused the brush and leaned to one side to look at Zena in the eye as best as he could figure. "Alright? After all, that's the least I can do for my caretaker." He gave a small smile.