Reesa was finally beginning to feel better. Maira had predicted that she could try walking in a few days, but Reesa thought different. She was sure she would be able to walk as soon as she needed to. And she planned for that time to be soon. That very night, in fact.
She waited a long time, trying not to turn over too much in her bed. She wasn't sure where Maira went at nights. Perhaps home, or perhaps a nearby room. Either way, Reesa didn't know the answer. Indeed, she knew hardly anything about where she was. In all the time she had been there, all she had seen was this room and a glimpse of the hallway beyond. Between her lack of knowledge and the... unreliable, perhaps, status of her leg, getting out wouldn't be easy.
When she felt she would fall asleep if she waited any longer, she sat up in bed. She felt stiff, oh, so stiff! Resting in such a soft bed for so long wasn't good for her, she decided. She tugged the covers off and gently set both feet on the ground. Her still-healing leg felt like it was strung along a board and a whole army of dwarves had been hammering on the other side of the plank for an hour. She shook off the pain, though, and stood. She wobbled for an instant, steadied herself, and moved towards the door. Two thirds of the way there, though, her bad leg bumped into a chair. It fell over with a clatter, and she cursed under her breath, both in pain and with frustration at her mistake. Less than a minute later, in came Maira, dressed in a nightgown and carrying a candle. She eyed her charge as she gently admonished,
"Now, miss, what are you doing out of bed at this hour? You should be asleep."
Reesa hesitated. She really liked Maira, and somehow she didn't like the idea of lying to the woman who had taken such good care of her. Perhaps Maira would let her go.
"For personal reasons, I will be disappearing under mysterious circumstances."
"Now, miss Reesa, I can't let you do that. You'll go back to bed this instant."
Reesa stared at the woman, wondering if she could get past her. And... was it even worth it, really? Would it be so bad to stay here and have the kindly young woman help her back to fitness and wholeness?
She waited a long time, trying not to turn over too much in her bed. She wasn't sure where Maira went at nights. Perhaps home, or perhaps a nearby room. Either way, Reesa didn't know the answer. Indeed, she knew hardly anything about where she was. In all the time she had been there, all she had seen was this room and a glimpse of the hallway beyond. Between her lack of knowledge and the... unreliable, perhaps, status of her leg, getting out wouldn't be easy.
When she felt she would fall asleep if she waited any longer, she sat up in bed. She felt stiff, oh, so stiff! Resting in such a soft bed for so long wasn't good for her, she decided. She tugged the covers off and gently set both feet on the ground. Her still-healing leg felt like it was strung along a board and a whole army of dwarves had been hammering on the other side of the plank for an hour. She shook off the pain, though, and stood. She wobbled for an instant, steadied herself, and moved towards the door. Two thirds of the way there, though, her bad leg bumped into a chair. It fell over with a clatter, and she cursed under her breath, both in pain and with frustration at her mistake. Less than a minute later, in came Maira, dressed in a nightgown and carrying a candle. She eyed her charge as she gently admonished,
"Now, miss, what are you doing out of bed at this hour? You should be asleep."
Reesa hesitated. She really liked Maira, and somehow she didn't like the idea of lying to the woman who had taken such good care of her. Perhaps Maira would let her go.
"For personal reasons, I will be disappearing under mysterious circumstances."
"Now, miss Reesa, I can't let you do that. You'll go back to bed this instant."
Reesa stared at the woman, wondering if she could get past her. And... was it even worth it, really? Would it be so bad to stay here and have the kindly young woman help her back to fitness and wholeness?