Snippet #2404567

Anaree exhaled against Nachytsm's chest and closed her eyes. Her fingers clutched to the rags of his tunic until her knuckles turned white. It hurt to have him hold her but Anaree didn't utter a single sound of discomfort. He had never held her before, not like that.

It was then that she knew she loved him. Anaree loved Nachytsm.

"You are an idiot," Anaree whispered against the battle worn man. She slipped out of his arm and stepped off the stool. Anaree used the back of her hand to wipe away her tears.

"Take those rags off," she told Nachytsm as she turned away from him. Anaree walked back over to the saddle bags and hastily dug around for what she needed. Eventually she pulled out a white bandage. Her shoulder was quickly wrapped in a crude way and tied with a knot. It would do for the moment. She could bear the pain of her shoulder but she could not bear the pain of seeing Nachytsm like he was now.

Anaree went over to the rusted bucket and turned it over. The inside was still good, still silver and intact. She filled it with cold water. Anaree set it beside her stool and then went back to the saddle bags.

She came back to Nachytsm with a clean cloth and a bar of kudzu soap. Anaree was going to be sure to thank Dejah when she was her next; if she ever did.

It was hard to concentrate and keep her eyes the same color for Anaree. Looking at Nachytsm is such a state created all kinds of conflicting emotions inside of her. They were pulling her every single direction and Anaree didn't know if she was going to split into a million pieces or remain in turmoil each time she was around Nachytsm.

She dipped the soap and cloth into the freezing water. Anaree stood back up on her stool and began on Nachytsm's face.

"You are to never, ever, let yourself look like this again, do you hear me Nachytsm?" Anaree said to him, looking directly into his eyes. She wasn't going to look away until he answered and Anaree wasn't going to allow him to look away either. Her fingers wrapped around his chin to hold his gaze on hers. Anaree's shoulder ached and her arm trembled. She didn't know if it was due to the pain or other things.

"Promise me, Nachytsm," Anaree said.