The sun already high in the sky Cassius began to grow impatient. He did not like the way Fawn had left him the previous day.
Unaccustomed to humans, he had not meant to harm her with his immature actions. Serving a long night's reflection, Cassius now anguished over each passing hour. Fearing as the day progressed without even a hint of his Fawn, that perhaps the wound was too grave for her to keep their promised meeting.
Concerned and increasingly frustrated by his confinement in the cave. Cassius decided to find her himself. Recovering enough of his magic from the crude necklace he had borrowed from Fawn, it was possible for him to take on a human form again. Cassius did so, in order to enter the city without causing too much disruption.
Treading through the forest, he passed through a small cluster along the city's outskirts before joining its streets unnoticed. Once in its limits, Cassius could sense Fawn's lingering magic. Stronger now, it left trails of her drifting on the wind. There was something ancient about her magic's energy, almost as though it were an extension of the earth that was always there. Especially alluring to magical beings, few would be able to identify it, but most would be drawn to it instinctually.
Followed these crumbs of her magic, Cassius eventually found himself wading into heaving masses of sweaty, smelly humans crowded into the streets. Pushing past the throngs, he spotted her. Still separated by masses of people, she was all that he could see among the droves. Even more enchanting than his memories of her, Cassius was distressed once he noticed that her face looked drawn. Struggling to balance a heavy load and stand, he felt a sudden tightness in his chest, upon seeing her in this weakened state.
Without even noticing it, his feet had begun to move towards her. Reaching her side as quickly as Cassius could manage, he arrived just in time to catch her as she stumbled back. Fainting in his arms, Cassius's chest was clenched further by an uncomfortable heaviness, which seemed to press down on his heart.
This sensation stayed with him as he carried her to the Abbey, guided by the child that accompanied her. At first, intending to take her back to his lair to administer an emergency dragon remedy, Cassius decided against this method in the end. This was only because he did not want to upset Fawn by using this method without her express permission. However, should the human medicine prove ineffective in curing whatever ailed her, Cassius had no qualms about resorting to using his own methods.
Sitting on the floor, Cassius leaned against the wall next to the meager straw mattress where she now slept. Observing each breath Fawn drew into her chapped lips and the steady rise and fall for her chest with a mix of relief and anxious anticipation. He could no longer deny admitting to himself that he cared for her after this ordeal. It was a feeling, which had been lost on him for quite some time. However, he did not dislike this developing affection for her.
Removed from his calm contemplations, Cassius heard a commotion come from outside of the door. His gaze shifting slightly anyway from her, he listened to the voices from the corridor. "She's fainted from hunger and exhaustion, leave her to rest." Came a clear protest from one of the Sisters. "Forgive us Sister, we need to see her." Replied a burly voice.
"Please, Sister Agnes, our minds won't be at ease until we see her for ourselves." Pleaded another. His soft baritone in stark contrast to the other. There was a hush, as some unseen agreement must have been met and shortly afterward two men entered. Hastening to the sleeping Aribelle's side, Cassius glared at them upon their approach. Placing themselves opposite him, they barely acknowledged his presence.
Kneeling, one reached out to touch her cheek. However, Cassius protectively slapped his slender hand away without a word. Glowering at each other, a mutual feeling of annoyance seemed to rise among the three men.
"Thank you, Sir, for bringing her here." Said the muscular one, his polite address diminished by his agitation "We can see that she is looked after from here."
"If she were properly looked after to begin with, I wouldn't be here." Cassius replied coldly, unmoving from his spot.
"What my brother here meant to say, is that we are very fortunate that you were there to aid our precious Ari, but we don't wish to trouble you any further." Said the other, fairer man.
The muscles in Cassius's jaw clenched. Displeased by their obvious attempts to dismiss him and by the familiarity with which they seemed to address his Fawn. His eyes narrowed, as he observed, "Neither of you appear to be physicians."
"What?" replied one.
"How are you better qualified than I to care for her then?" Cassius asked critically. This seemed to push the more muscular of the two beyond feigning civility. "Scram while we're asking nicely, creep!" he barked crossly.
However, before their argument could escalate much further a soft moan was heard from the sleeping woman between them. Her long eyelashes fluttering, they opened to reveal her dazed eyes. Looking up at the three them in confusion, she groaned a complaint "So, noisy." Attempting to sit up she clutched at her temple still obviously disorientated.