As They Fall [First Draft] ~ Currently Editing ~

Thirty - Three

A/N: This is it! The last chapter!!! I can't believe it. Thank you all so much!

Dedicated to @Tripiley for being such an avid reader lately <3

My consciousness faded in and out for what felt like a lifetime, sneaking me glimpses of light before plunging me back into darkness once more. I found myself in a dark room with my parents, Elizabeth and uncle Henry their skin deathly pale and their mouths open in silent screams as my mind filled with guilt.

"I never meant for you to die!" I called out to them, but I couldn't make a sound, my lungs burning as if I was trying to breathe underwater. I felt myself being dragged away from them, like something had grabbed my waist and pulled me backward. The last thing I saw was their eyes filled with sadness as they began to fade, hot tears spilling onto my cheeks as they disappeared. My eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the bright morning light filtering into the room. My lips were cracked and my throat parched as I sucked in a lungful of air, wincing as my chest rose painfully. My heart thudding in my chest brought me back to reality and I could hear someone snoring softly. I sat up slightly, catching a glimpse of Charlie at the end of my bed, his burns hidden beneath clean bandages.

"Charlie..." I croaked, sliding my leg out from underneath his head in an attempt to rouse him. He jerked awake, his blue eyes immediately filling with delight.

"Amelia, you're finally awake!" he exclaimed, moving his chair to sit closer to my face.

"How long?" I struggled to rise but Charlie placed a gentle hand on my shoulder and pushed me back down, offering me glass of water from the stand beside my bed. I accepted it gratefully and downed it in one large gulp as he replied,

"A few weeks. You woke up a few times but I guess you don't remember anything."

"I remember killing Lord Marsh, you and your mother trying to save me... but then its foggy and all I can recall is hours of drifting in and out of light and dark." I responded, furrowing my brow as I tried to push the images of my loved ones to the back f my mind.

"At least you're alive," he sighed, taking my hand in his, "that's all that matters."

"How bad is it?" I asked after a moment, reluctant to remove the thick blanket covering me and discover the extent of my injuries.

"I used what little dragon tears you had left to stop most of the bleeding but it wasn't enough and I won't lie; it's left a pretty nasty scar." I closed my eyes as he spoke and bit my lip to stop it trembling. "Hey," he continued, caressing my cheek, "now we match." He peeled back his bandage to reveal a long stretch of pink, scarring skin and I met his gaze with a kind smile. He covered his burns once more, while I pushed my blanket away from my chest and got to my feet. My legs shook, the muscles weakened by their disuse, and I sought my reflection in a nearby mirror.

My armour had been removed, replaced with a loose, white nightgown that did little to hide the damage Lord Marsh had done to my body. A great, ugly line of stitches now ran from my shoulder to my hip, skimming the edge my left breast. I trailed my finger along the wound, hovering just above the skin, afraid the lightest touch would tear it open, and let out a heavy sigh. I turned away from the mirror and faced Charlie who was now leaning against the window looking out at the forest as he basked in the warm sunlight. Ever the gentleman. I found my feet moving of their own accord, limping toward him until my arms were around his waist. He turned around in surprise and embraced me in return. Comforted by the warmth of his arms encircling me, I buried my face in his chest as I had done so many times before, his lips resting on my head.