The man's eyes shot open as he woke with a startle, inhaling a deep and much needed breath of air. Elias wasn't sure what had awoke him, but he felt sweat dripping from his forehead and a strange, lingering fear within his heart.
Painfully aware of the quickened heartbeat within his chest, Elias tried to move the hand up to wipe his brow, but the arm wouldn't budge. Again and again the doctor tried, but the limb wouldn't obey his command. He tried the other arm, his legs, back and head, nothing moved.
Elias breathing turned more rapid, the fear grew and his eyes began to glisten. He swallowed, darting the gaze back and forth while trying to calm his own mind. This wasn't the first time this had happened, nor would it be the last. He didn't know the cause, but knew that it would fade and he'd be free once more. He had to wait it out.
At first, he tried to calm his breathing, assure himself that this would pass and he would be able to move again. However, when the man began to feel the pressure against his chest, the fear took over him again, the mind calling forth the hideous, beastly face he had been forced to look upon the last time his body had refused to move.
Where he had expected a fiendish growl, the doctor instead was greeted with a loud and attention demanding purr. He looked over and to his surprise found the cat climbing up along his chest.
The cat let out a soft noise, something between a purr and a quiet meow. The feline was quite aware it was time for breakfast, sworn to its solemn duty to make sure that the man was made aware of it as well.
Elias couldn't say anything and closed his eyes when he felt the gentle press of the cat's head against his face, the fur brushing down his pale cheek as the animal tried to wake him, unaware of his state. Another gentle bump of its head, followed with the whole body caressing over the man's nose, puzzled why he wasn't waking up. The cat meowed and turned, resting itself down against his chest with the front paws stretched over the doctor's left shoulder and the soft head nuzzling itself up into the nook of the man's neck; purring louder.
It was in that moment that he felt a weight lifted, the shackles that bound him shattering and allowing his body movement again. He sat up quickly, the arms wrapping around the feline companion to pull the animal into a close, but gentle hug.
The cat's tail twitched in annoyance, the animal was startled by the sudden embrace and repaying the gesture by sinking its teeth into Elias' shoulder, but the man refused to release the furry friend.
As if realizing that the doctor's hold carried purpose, the cat slowly relaxed, offering an apology by brushing its rough tongue over the mark left in the man's skin- The feline's head resting against the shoulder afterwards, offering what comfort it was able to give.
Elias' fingers caressed and brushed over the cat's silky fur, the fear slowly calming down with the simple gesture and the continued purring of the animal companion resting against his shoulder.
He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, as he became aware of the terrible ache returning, throbbing against the left side of his skull. The doctor hadn't missed it, but a promise had been made to stop drinking the tonic and allow his sleep to return- Was sleep worth this hellish ache that the mixture numbed?
Within a heartbeat or two, Elias began to try and distract himself from the pain and subtle fear that still lingered after the uneasy awakening.
His thoughts drifted to the past few days and the weeks before. The patients that had come and gone, but he was unable to record. The latest patient came to mind, miss Mossbank, who still took up a bed in the infirmary.
The doctor had managed to talk with the woman beyond discussing her injury. It had been a curious exchange, if a confusing one. He had found himself talking of things beyond his comfort, asking that if she were to feel insulted, that she would notify him so that the doctor had a chance to apologize for his mistake. He asked that she would not storm off without a word. The woman had agreed and assured him that she was not one to do so.
There had been relief in her words and assurance. He had already found interest in speaking with the woman, curious of her, but with the rest she needed, the doctor had been unable to do so for long. Perhaps he'd have the chance to do so again.
Elias' head turned, the man gently burying his face into the soft flank of the cat. Too aware of the headache, he thought back on the day he had allowed it to return, the same day he had decided to visit the tavern. He thought of the feeling he had then, as if a spike had been thrusted through his head.
It had always been difficult to numb the pain and by the end of that particular day, the doctor had sought the bottle, but all his wine had been gone. More often than not he had been told that Men drink so that the pain is numbed and taken away. That day, he wished to test this.
He had gone to the tavern across the street to get himself a new bottle, his mission had been simple and clear, the man had never planned on stopping and lingering that evening.
The doctor had been startled when his name was spoken by a familiar voice. When he turned, the man had found Aeruthuil's face, alongside two more: one that he knew, and another that he could not place.
It was in that moment that his eyes crossed those of the woman and Elias had felt his blood turn cold. He had been unable to read her expression, unable to understand or guess what the young woman had been thinking, but it had been enough for a reaction from the stranger, who sat next to the girl.
The doctor felt uncertain. He had offered to leave the company, but the pair of men had insisted otherwise. Elias agreed to sit with them, it would be rude to refuse and he couldn't risk causing hurt, not in the company that was present -and so he sat down.
Quietly, he sat and listen to the others. He was careful not to speak unless it was needed, the atmosphere was tense and tenuous and he was aware of it. Anything spoken might've been taken the wrong way and misunderstood, made into something it wasn't, someone would be upset and he'd be clueless as to why. At least, that is what his mind kept telling him.
Elias wasn't even sure if he was allowed to look at her. His mind raced, trying to figure out what he was allowed and what he wasn't, while he studied the pattern of the wood on the table.
He recalled the dwarf joining them and not long after that, the doctor dared to speak, when questioned about a certain matter in regards to the land lying south of Gondor and its people. The man kept his answers short, simple and on point, so that there would be no misunderstanding. He had asked the woman to be wary of her guests, but she only gave reaction to the words when the Ranger repeated them to her in a different manner.
What she had said made the doctor question a few things, he had been tempted to ask, but in the end, saw no point in it. Aware of the painful pressure in his chest, it had become clear that his company wasn't needed and most likely not wanted. Elias had given his farewells shortly after and left the tavern for the night, the bottle not forgotten.
Finally, the grip on the cat began to loosen, to allow the animal to slip away. Elias felt a little calmer now, even if the ache refused to ease up. It took the cat a few more tries to encourage the man to get out of bed, the doctor finding a small laugh at the cat and smiling as he spoke the animal's name. It was still strange to think that his little, furry companion now had a name, a real one. A name with meaning and purpose, rather than a silly, humiliating one that most animals were given.
He discareded the thought aside, fed the cat and finally got dressed to tackle the day ahead.
In the evening, when things had begun to calm down again, Elias looked around his self-made prison. He wasn't sure why, but ever since the fall, The doctor had begun to feel change, or rather, long for it. Despite his irrational fear of it, now he desired nothing more.
The man had thought of selling the infirmary and moving away, he had thought of training with Aeruthuil to strengthen himself. Thought of closing his practice of medicine fully and focus on something else. He wanted to travel, he wanted to see the world, learn something new. Elias wanted to be free.
This, however, was just a fantasy. When reality returned, the doctor recalled his responsibilities here and those he had been given at a young age. Elias had spoken of his desires before, but then reminded that he was needed here. It were the same words he had been told after the last time he tried to unshackle himself from the infirmary.
The doctor was told that he was respected and needed, yet he couldn't feel it. What he felt was judgment from those he met, abandonment in time by the same people. Elias didn't blame any of them. There was life outside these walls and while he was selfish, he could not chain anyone to the interior to share his prison. Some would return to see him, one visited every day. He couldn't ask for more.
Having sat in the chair, he listened to popping of the burning logs, while Aeruthuil reigned in the kitchen, having offered to make the doctor some tea when he learned of the headache's return. Elias thought it was a strange offer from the Ranger, but he was not about to complain. Instead, he waited patiently, until he heard the man's voice and saw the cup offered to him. The doctor thanked the Ranger for the kind gesture, the man settling down next to Elias by the fire and the two returning to their conversation.
The tea had an odd scent and Elias took a long time trying to figure out what it was. It was like no herb he had found in his life. There was spice to it, something both familiar, but yet alien. He sniffed again, brows furrowing as the man tried to determine what these smells were. The doctor knew them all, each one felt familiar and close to his person, but how? Finally, the scent took a single form and Elias knew this smell.
It puzzled him, nothing of this made any sense. Yet, there was something familiar by the whole experience. As if he had heard of such a thing before. Curious, the man turned to face the other, questioning the brew he had been given.
Aeruthuil had been reluctant to answer, but in time he explained and Elias listened, questioned and wished to learn more. The two spoke long into the night and Elias found himself relaxing, the heap of worries, fears and unattainable desires fading into nothing in the moment. His pain was gone and it wasn't long until the man found himself smiling as he listened to his company. He no longer felt alone.
