'Tell me what you see.'

'The outlines of things close by. I could see you and… Briar. But Saptientiis was too far to see much of.'

'Patientiam has started to restore your eyesight. The fact that she was able to do that much, makes her talent as a healer one of the best we have.'

'Who is the best?'

'I am.'

'Does this mean you can finish what she's started?' he asked, turning to look at her.

'I can, however, it will take time. If the healing is attempted all at once it could actually have the opposite effect and make it so even the best can't restore it.'

'Will you do more?'

'Not today. Patientiam had done the extent of healing one can without making it worse. If I were to attempt more, you could lose everything you have gained.'

'I understand.' James touched her cheek and kissed her briefly.

He pulled her to lean on him and slipped his arm around her waist. While he held her, he fell asleep. After the sun was set Lilly fell asleep as well.

James groaned. His eyes felt like they were on fire. He felt Lilly s.h.i.+ft and leave his side for a while. He covered his face with his hands and tried hard not to cry. The formation of his salty tears made his eyes burn more. He felt Lilly's hands on his arms.

'James?' she asked.

'My eyes burn.'

'I need you to move your hands, okay?'

He lowered them and groaned. Lilly covered his eyes with her hands. She seemed to slowly draw the pain away before her hands left his face. He covered his face again. Having pressure around his eyes helped, but didn't do much for the burning. Lilly gently removed his hands and placed her hands over them once more. She drew more of the burning sensation away. He covered his eyes again when she pulled her hands away. Kept them there longer until he felt Lilly's touch once more.

'Do your eyes still burn?' she asked.

'No, they feel numb.'

Gently she lifted one eyelid and he jerked back. 'Did that hurt?'

'No it's too bright.'

'Too...' Lilly sighed.

'What?' he asked.

'More healing has been done, far beyond what I would have kept in a good range.'

'What! Who...?'

'Calm down, James. The Adremedian who has done this is all ready paying the price.'

He shook his head. 'Do they realize what they have done?'

'They do now.' Her hand touched his cheek. 'Don't get discouraged, the door may not have closed yet.'

His eyes opened and he immediately regretted it. The pain was enough to make him curl up. Lilly sat by him and wrapped her arms around him. James turned into her and clung tightly to her sleeves until he could get back to sleep.

He woke to Lilly's voice some time later.

'Good morning, Patientiam,' she said. 'Where is Briar?'

'He was gone when I woke up. Do you know where Sapientiis has gone?'

'He's in the healing tree. He tried to do too much healing and made himself sick.'

James buried his face into her chest a little more to block the light of the sun.

'Is James okay?'

'His eyes hurt.'

Patientiam furrowed her brow. 'Do they hurt because of me?'

'No. Sapientiis tried to help last night and got carried away.'

'Pretty foolish for someone who bears the name of Wisdom,' James muttered.

'He's still a child, James. He'll learn.'

'At what cost?'

'Knock it off. You are no worse off, despite the excess work. Sapientiis will be lucky if he's up before the sunsets.'

James was silent.

'Will Sapientiis be all right, Rosae Lilly?' Patientiam asked softly.

'He'll live, but not without some challenges.'

Lilly s.h.i.+fted a little and James clung to her. 'Don't go.'

'I'm not going anywhere yet, but I need you to move a little.'

James sat up and covered his eyes. Lilly tore a strip of fabric from her pant leg and tied it around James' eyes. The cloth was thick and tight enough to block out all the light.

'Rosae Lilly, can I...?'

Lilly s.h.i.+fted. Her clothes rustling slightly as Patientiam sat on her lap.

'Rosae Lilly?'

'Yes, Patientiam?'

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'...How long have you known Briar?'

'Oh, I don't know. I think it's been three hundred years?'

'Three hundred and twenty-five by my count, Lilly,' Briar replied, stepping through the trees.

'Good morning, Briar.'

'How can you call it good? I can't find Sapientiis.'

'He's in the healing tree.'

'What's he doing there?'

'Fool nearly burned my eyes out,' James replied.

'Enough, James,' Lilly said.

Patientiam snuggled closer to Lilly.

'Is he all right?' Briar asked.

James stood and felt his way around the tree before venturing off on his own. He didn't understand why Lilly was defending the young Adremedian. Did she not care that what sight he could have had back could now be gone forever because of him? Was it because he was Human? Was it because he was older? Why wasn't she more upset about this? He screamed his frustration then dropped to his knees and sobbed.

'James?' Lilly asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He brushed it off and moved away. His steps were uneven and he swayed, almost losing balance. On the other side of the meadow he knelt once more.

'James, what's wrong?'

'Does no one care that I may never see again because of that fool? Is it because I'm Human?!'

'It's not that at all, James. In a sense, Sapientiis is on his death bed.'

He remained still for a few moments then gave a small nod. 'Can you give me a moment alone?'

'Sure'

Lilly left.

James slowly made his way back to the tree he had Lilly had slept against. Wherever she had gone, she wasn't back yet. Patientiam gave him some berries and roots to eat before she climbed the tree to return to Sapientiis' side. James ate then slept.

James followed Lilly through the forest, keeping her hand in his. He had been happy to feel her next to him that morning. Her kiss had been soft and her embrace tight. They stopped a few places before she untied the cloth. She hadn't moved it far when his hands caught it, put it back, and tied it into place.

'Too bright,' he told her.

'Okay. I'll need to look at them, but I will wait until tonight.'

'Lilly.… How is Sapientiis this morning?'

'He's recovered a great deal, but not without damage. Certain letters have become difficult to say and physical movements have become slower.'

'Will he be able to overcome those difficulties?'

'It's too soon to tell.' She took his hand and led him to a different part of the forest.

The walk was good and the air felt warm despite the time of year. James wondered about Sapientiis' difficulties. If he couldn't overcome those difficulties, it would make his work as a healer harder. And where he had the possibility of getting his sight back still, he knew had no place to complain.

Lilly's hand slipped from his and he stopped. After a moment her hand moved across the back of his hand. When he started to turn it, she prevented him. Then he felt something small crawl down his fingers to the center of his palm where it curled up.

'What it is?'

'Future b.u.t.terfly.'

James chuckled. 'Caterpillar.'

'Caterpillar?'

'What colors?'

'Whitish-gray, light green, and yellow.'

'Have you seen any fuzzy black ones?'

No, but I believe Willow has.'

'Are you serious? Eight hundred years old, and you haven't seen a black caterpillar?' He smiled a little.

'Very few of those years have been spent outside the confines of the forest,' she replied seriously.

'Lilly, smile. You don't have to be so serious.'

'Yes I do. So much pain has been caused because of me.'

The caterpillar crawled off of James' hand onto her own, before she placed it back on the b.u.t.terfly bush. James reached out and found her waist. Sliding his hand across her abdomen, he slid behind her and rested his chin on her shoulder.

'But even more joy had come because of you as well.' He felt her hand brush his cheek.

'Thank you, James.'

'I love you, Lilly.'

'I love you, too.' She turned and kissed him