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[mnt_raph]

By this point the fighting has all but ended, and the tending of the wounded by according to their injuries has begun. Raph, who refuses to admit that the injuries he has sustained during the seige are anything other than cosmetic in nature, has been sorting and relocating the dead by alliegence. Mostly people stay out of his way, but one of the King's Own notices that his hands have begun to shake, his fellow warriors take it upon themselves to get him the medical care he needs. In the end it takes two knights and a healer to corral Raph to triage, and even then it's only after someone's promised him that they will find Abigail and assure him that she is okay.

Comments

[becareful_boyo]

"Good luck," he answers, dubiously. "You might need it."

Abigail ignores him.

"Here now. Let me help."

She moves close to Raph and attempts to work her way under his arm.

[mnt_raph]

He's just happy she's there and safe, and as such it doesn't take much more than the first attempt to get close to him, which probably raises more than one pair of eyebrows.

"You should see the other guy," he quips.

[becareful_boyo]

He can't see her face, so she snorts; it serves as an audible eyeroll.

"I saw enough of 'em afore I had to hide with the younglings," she states, stepping over a puddle of... something.

After that, she fixes her eyes on the castle as they make for the gate.

[mnt_raph]

"Was a hell of a thing, that's for damn sure. Ain't seen a fight like that in a good long time."

He seems almost wistful about it really.

[becareful_boyo]

Abigail stops short, grabbing his arm more firmly to ensure that he doesn't continue on and pitch face first into the mud.

"Am I to understand you enjoyed that mess?"

Of course he did. Furthermore, she 'enjoyed' watching him enjoy himself. She's just not over the shock of seeing him in that tent, bruised and battered.

"Should I go steal a prisoner to continue whackin' you about your half-witted head?"

[mnt_raph]

There's a second there where Raph pitches a bit more sharply than he was expecting, an indicator of just how much he's allowing himself to lean on Abigail. It's not enough for him to fall over, but just the right amount to shake him from his post battle reverie.

"Nah," he says after a pause, as if he's actually considering her offer as genuine. "There'll be plenty more beatin' up on the way, still don't have a solid count of who was lost."

This isn't something he's used to, losing friends in a battle. Facing and comforting those left behind is going to be a new experience for him entirely.

[becareful_boyo]

A quick clicking sound, almost a tsk, indicates what Abigail thinks about the first part of his response, but her gaze is clearly worried as she studies his profile.

"Do they think it's so many, then?" she asks, quietly.

No one has told her anything.

[mnt_raph]

"Too soon to tell. Everyone's kinda everywhere at the moment. Ain't had the chance to do a good an honest headcount. Most of our casualties came from the walls or the field, and those that fell first out there got...well, the Stormwings..." He sort of lets that sentence fall.

"We buried them first. No good in havin' loved ones see'em like that. Marked the spots with what identifyin' stuff we could find. Swords. Shields. Boots. that sorta thing."

[becareful_boyo]

Abigail says and does nothing for a long moment. Her eyes, wide and sad, are locked on his face. Then, holding his arm and waist tightly, she kisses his cheek and starts walking again.

Never did she think to see a day such as this.

"Dark God, grant them peace."

[mnt_raph]

"He better, or I'll find'im and kick his ass."
Spoken like someone who once stood up to War. Oh sure he got his ass handed to him but good, but he still stood up.

[becareful_boyo]

"Oh you would, would you?"

A bit relieved, Abigail lets go of his arm long enough to lightly smack his head.

"You need a bath, boy-o. And better sense."

[mnt_raph]

"Ow! Hey! Watch it! Can't you see I'm the walkin' wounded here?" His protests are more whine than actual protest. "Besides, ain't a whole lot we can do 'bout either. Doc says I gotta stay dry, an' ain't no one been able to get better sense outta me yet."

[becareful_boyo]

"Dry?" she sniffs, looking horrified. "You'll be recuperatin' in the barn, then. You and your pig-headedness should feel right at home."

This is utter nonsense, of course, which is why she's steering him toward one of the keep's side doors.

"The younglings'll want to see you."

[mnt_raph]

"Younglings huh? So what you're tellin' me is that you're throwin' me outta the fryin' pan an' into the fire then? Perfect."

Oh is there no end to his bluster?

[becareful_boyo]

Apparently not.

"Oh! To talk so, after you scared them half to death! They heard the same news I did," she chastises, "and for some reason they love you, you lug. They're wantin' to know you'll still be around t'try all our nerves, and not pickin' fights with the Dark God in the afterlife."

[mnt_raph]

Yeah, not so much, no.

"Better to be scared half, than actually be dead," he reasons. It's odd just how reassuring her tone is to him. The bickering is soothing, and the best indicator yet that things are going to be okay.

[becareful_boyo]

"Weeeeeeeeell. Isn't that grand? Look who's a philosopher now!"

She's smiling as she says it.

[mnt_raph]

"What can I say? I'm a man of many talents."

He sees her grin and raises her a smirk.

[becareful_boyo]

Abigail does yet another eyeroll.

"Oh, and I'm sure you're wishin' me to confirm that," she says, just as they pass a guard heading back out to the field. The guard blinks at them, smiles and continues on. "Fishin' for compliments. Just like a man to think o' such things at a time like this!"

[mnt_raph]

Raph sees the guard, and nods a greeting in his direction as they pass. He might even go so far as to try and make it look as if he's not relying on Abigail as much as he actually is.

Might.

"Can't think of a time better'n now for a little morale boost."

[becareful_boyo]

"Mmmmm hmmm."

Abigail remains silent, steering him toward a staircase.

Then: "You fought well," she admits. "T'was a sight to see."

[mnt_raph]

For a big lug he's remarkably easy to steer.

"If you could see me, I was doin' it wrong," he says with a disgruntled grumble. "outta practice."

[becareful_boyo]

Why, she wonders, are all men touched in the head?

"You ask for a compliment and then go arguin' with it? Goddess, I've half a mind to leave you to soak your own head for a few hours."

Right.

"Easy now," she adds, pointing him the last little way to their rooms. "Hungry?"

[mnt_raph]

Well...he was dropped as a child, let's not forget that.

"...sorry." It's more of a mutter than anything else. Exhaustion is taking its toll, and Raph doesn't appear to have exact change.

When Abigail asks about food, Raph merely nods as he reaches for the latch to their quarters.

[becareful_boyo]

Worried anew, Abigail helps him through the door and over to their bed. The fire has gone out, and the room is mostly in shadows. Abigail sees Raph seated and straightens, frowning.

This won't do at all.

Without another word she exits and makes her way back to the gallery. She bellows at some servants below in the great hall, arguing that her patient deserves his stew just as quickly as the people recovering in George's study, then returns and sets to work on the fire.

"The food will be here soon," she tells Raph. "What else do you need?"