Lion Head Mesa you're like a parasite, but you keep me alive

She woke at sundown, unknowingly. Overhead the stars were slipping from their places, slanting soft light over the palace.
There was weakness, and then there was this, plaguing Nazli now. She could lift her head; she could taste metal on her tongue from the medicines and foods that Tavina had fed to her. Still, Nazli was not all there.
In the corner of her eye she could see a figure leaning against the wall —

he had not left her side.

senmut had taken few meals; he ate a few mouthfuls at the door and waved the rest away. he did not sodden himself with wine, but helped tavina to keep nazli's temperature low with soaked cloths.

and he prayed; senmut did not think he had ever prayed so very fervently.

the high priest was dozing against the wall when she awakened; and as he came awake, he saw her parted lids and heaved a long, shuddering intake.

senmut went to her side at once. "thank Heqet you draw breath," he managed, greenjade eyes already swimming in saltwater.

He looked nearly as bad as she did, having not slept, and that itself was quite a feat given her condition. Nazli opened her mouth to say something - even trembled as if she might get up, but didn't have the energy, and didn't have the voice. She croaked a soft sound and it felt as if she'd swallowed a sand dune.
Meekly she settled again, and pitifully rested her chin as close as she could reach.

no words. and there were none formed as well.

senmut lowered his chin to rest against her jawline, ever slightly, and the reassurance she was indeed alive was a boon to all parts of his spirit.

he wanted to ask why she had not returned. but he knew why nazli had not.

and so in silence, in something akin to peace, they rested together.

When she could, she shifted. It was a gradual inching, scooting herself in line with him and tucking in close. He was cold to the touch somehow, and she still held a bit of sunstroke, or thought she did. Being beside him like this made her feel warm all over.
When Nazli had the energy again to move at all, she croaked, Stay?

"of course."

senmut pulled a goatskin to her shoulders, and then settled his slender muzzle across the rise therein.

there were many things to speak. many apologies to give.

but for now, there needed nothing to be said.

he breathed. he existed.

He fussed over her a little.

Of course.

Her cheeks warm, her mind dizzy. Missing something — the starvation had done a lot to carve her away, so who was to say Nazli knew where she was, or who he was — or who she was, now.

Still, she sucked in a breath and held it. She felt withered, like the scant trees that stood tall but dessicated beyond the palace; to think of all the resources wasted on her! The worry! And she was here now, after betraying them — Khaba.

S-sorry.

of course — the twitch of his jawline against the narrowness of her shoulder was involuntary, an immediate denial that nazli had ever done badly.

"i wanted you here. i wanted you to come back." senmut admitted in a whisper pitched only for her ears. he had searched for her, looked for her, sent spies to find the lavender one. "no apologies, nazli. you of all among us have done nothing wrong."

the prince's eyes ached; he shut them, and took a breath that at its very corners shook with his deep feeling.

Nazli relaxed some, with him there.
Of course she had little energy for anything else; and the softness of his voice lulled her to something close to sleep. Already weak, the struggle to stay present became too much. She could hear him as she drifted off —
wanted you — come back...

The only reply he would receive was the quietude of her breathing.

<3

for some time, senmut did not leave. he laid close, hovering in the land between sleep and wakefulness.

when her breathing smoothed, his too slowed.

here he was no royal, no high priest; here, with her, senmut was only a mud-stained boy from aswan, fellahin to his very essence.

an equal. a lesser.

at last, he reluctantly drew away and laid a paw upon her coverlet, gently.

"i will be back tomorrow," he told tavina at the door, glancing back once more at nazli before he strode down the corridor, heart heavy.

but he would return, each day, as she regained her strength.