When the Moment comes

Severus regained awareness to more voices. These ones were hushed and soft.



“He should regain consciousness soon. We couldn’t risk giving him more sedative, only enough to numb the pain.”



Where was he? He could remember bits and fragments of a convoluted world; the memories held little explanation. Only the pain did. A thousand needles were pinned into his body. Curiosity fought caution. Curiosity won. Severus cracked his eyes open observing the place through a narrow slit and a grid of eyelashes.



“Severus.” A hand timidly touched his hand. Severus tensed at first, but the hand was warm rather than offensive. The injured wizard didn’t have the energy to fight anyway. He allowed the touch drawing silent comfort. There was no reason to fake sleep because his awakening was discovered. Severus fully opened his eyes with the light regaining all memories. Eradian hovered above him.



“How?” Even to his ears that sounded like a painful croak. His throat was dry.



“Would you like a drink of water?” Eradian asked. Other than wrinkled clothes and uncombed hair nothing suggested the restless night he spent sitting beside his beloved.



Severus managed to nod with an effort. His head was heavy and his limbs were stiff. Severus flexed the muscles and the needles sunk into his skin with vengeance. He winced.



Eradian rearranged the pillows and lifted Severus into a more comfortable position. He brought the pleasantly cool glass to the patient’s lips. “Take little sips please.” Eradian warned.



Severus obeyed. He pushed the glass away after swallowing few times. “How did you find me?” He tried again. His voice was alien, but it was an improvement. He was disappointed when Eradian, who had to wrap a hand around Severus’ shoulders to support him, placed him on the pillows. It was remedied when Eradian reclaimed his hand after sending the glass away.



“I placed a tracking spell on you.” The prince confessed. “I didn’t trust the safety of that mansion.” The thought of the past danger to his beloved unsettled him. Eradian unconsciously stroke the hand he held. He needed to be assured of its reality. “Your house-elf found me. She was beaten severely. The healers convinced her to accept the healing herbs. At first she said she deserved to be hurt for failing you. I organised a team of twenty guards. They either killed or captured all but one of the wizards, who were identified as part of the Death Eaters group. Their guilt needed no proof. You were there assaulted by them.” Eradian didn’t speak father re-living the moment. The fight was instant. One of the Death Eaters activated a portkey. The others were stunned. Eradian didn’t care for the enemies, letting the guards take care of them. He focused entirely on a huddled form which lay prone in a pool of blood. When Severus lost consciousness the kidnappers resolved to torture, using the prisoner’s skin as a canvas. The knife cuts were not deep, but creative. The scratches were symbols and name acronyms. It was not difficult to guess what the other activities were engaged in prior. One of the kidnappers was petrified spotting a huge erection.



Sick to his stomach, Eradian dropped on his knees beside the still form checking for a pulse. It was there, fast and irregular. Eradian wrapped the bloodied form in his cloak and pressed Severus close to his chest refusing to relinquish a hold on his charge, until accompanied by the guards he entered the palace healing wing.



“Tell me how bad.” Severus requested. His eyes nervously swept across his arm which was covered by a long sleeve of a cotton shirt.



“They didn’t get that far.” Eradian assured thinking about the dark mark and the sexual assault. He could not claim they didn’t mark Severus. It was a long task healing many cuts. He rolled up the sleeve to convince Severus. The pale skin was smooth as he promised.



“Wonderful, you are awake.” The arrival of a medi-witch draped in a long, white nursing gown interrupted them. “Are you tiring or upsetting my patient, young man?” Her sparkling, dark-blue eyes settled on Eradian. Severus recognised an authority figure equivalent to Madam Pomfrey at Hogwarts. This was a Mistress of the healing wing. “Remember,” she said strictly, “I allowed you to stay only if you do nothing to regress the condition of my patient even in the slightest. She must have caught the mood of everyone in the room with a sniff of a bony nose. Her age was difficult to guess. Her hair was entirely white, but her face was completely smooth, like the wrinkles never dared to exist there. However, she was old enough to glare down at the young prince impressively enough to make him uncomfortable, although in height she fell somewhere between his waist and his shoulder.



“I’m sorry Madame Meline.” Eradian smiled the best puppy smile at her. “I will behave.” He seemed more cheerful than he felt. He regretted having to upset Severus, but what he learned about the young wizard so far, suggested that Severus wouldn’t be able to rest until a satisfactory explanation was given to him. Madam Meline of course was not entirely serious about chasing him out of the healing wing, not that she would hesitate if the need arose.



She huffed with a look that stated her doubts that Eradian would behave. “Make yourself useful and hold this.” She ordered. She held a small tray with a small bow of steaming, vegetable stew and a silver spoon. Eradian obediently accepted the tray.



“I just need to briefly examine you, dear.” She addressed Severus who had not said a word since she came in. “No extensive probing or anything.” She promised. The healer stood beside the bed waiting to be given permission for the examination.



Severus curiously observed the witch since she entered. He found her amusing rather than threatening. Obviously she didn’t take nonsense from anyone. That didn’t mean he wanted to be on the poking and probing display. Still, it was nice of her to ask because she didn’t really need anyone’s permission. “If you must, Madam.” He relented trying to sound indifferent. Someone of the sulkiness must have escaped because Eradian’s lips twitched suppressing a smile. Meline chose to ignore it. She proceeded to check his pulse, touch his forehead and other such irritables, tisking as she went along. Severus tried to ignore her, which was becoming increasingly easy as the aroma of the freshly made stew invaded his senses nearly making him dizzy. He couldn’t remember the last time he ate. Severus swallowed, feeling humiliated just at the prospect of being caught drooling at the food like some kind of animal. His stomach grumbled loudly. He scowled at the betrayal, blushing.



The healer tisked one last time, “everything seems to be healing as it should.” She announced. A bed table appeared which she placed in front of Severus and then transferred the bowl within his reach. “Try to eat some of the stew, dear.” She told Severus. “There isn’t a lot of it anyway. Your stomach needs to adjust and we don’t want you becoming ill should you eat too much.” In her opinion the boy needed to be fed and fed. He was nothing but a bag of bones. She was highly displeased with the boy’s guardians. She had her own piece of mind about what needed to be done to the wizards who abused children. The King would certainly hear what she had to say.



“Thank you, Madam.” Severus interrupted her line of thought. He wrapped his fingers around the spoon before she could reach for it. He was not going to be embarrassed farther to be spoon fed like a baby. The spoon was clumsy and heavy in his hand. He almost dropped it into the bowl with a splash. Eradian wordlessly wrapped his hand around Severus’ and guided the spoon in the right direction.



“Right then.” Meline looked at Severus fondly. The boy needed to be hugged and cherished in her opinion. She settled for brushing a hair lock out of his eyes, which resulted in a skittish look from him. “I will leave you two be.” She fixed Eradian with another stern look. “You are to behave young man. Severus needs rest.” Rising up to her full height she flowed out of the room with dignity.



Severus swallowed a mouthful of stew.



“She likes you.” Eradian noted. He smiled brightly. He was happy when someone else liked Severus. What he learned so far about the young wizard did not encourage an optimistic view that many did.



“That doesn’t mean she can coddle me like a baby.” Severus retorted. He was not used to having affectionate glances directed at him.



Eradian didn’t even bother hiding his smile. Severus was so cute sulking. “This might be my biased opinion, but I find you difficult to resist coddling.” He leaned closer to Severus wondering if he could get away with a kiss. “Not that I will share with anyone.”



Severus looked down into the bowl. “You promised Madam Meline to behave.” He reminded.



“Yes I did.” Eradian sighed and fed Severus another spoonful of stew. “I was hoping you were going to keep it a secret.”



“Nah,” Severus mumbled lazily, “I rather use the secret to blackmail you.” The soft bed and a full stomach made him pliant. After a while he gave up a pretended hold on the spoon letting Eradian feed him. His eyelids were heavy. He yawned. The stew disappeared. He didn’t protest when Eradian wiped him with a napkin.



“Sleep love. You are safe here.” Severus felt soft lips brushing his forehead before the dreams claimed him.