Warsworn

down. Each breath was an effort. All I could do was hold open my weary eyes and stare.
    "… Death of air, birth of fire .. ."
    The chanting was muted, soft, as indistinct as my vision. It seemed somehow to first raise me closer to the sky, then lower me to the earth.
    I cried out as something cold bit my skin, surrounding me, covering me, stealing my breath and the heat from my body. My mouth opened as the flame died, and I sucked in great gulps of air, even as I rose high in the air… "… Death of fire, birth of earth ..." Keir. It was Keir beside me, Marcus on the other side. I blinked as the water ran off my face. I was in their arms, cradled, being lowered back into water as cold as death. Keir was letting cold water trickle from his cupped hand onto my face, and I blinked as the drops hit my eyes. I felt clean. Clean and cold and alive.
    "… Death of earth, birth of water ..."
    They lowered me again, into the stream, letting the heat flow from my body with the water. I was wrapped in a blanket and Isdra and someone else were holding my legs, chanting as they lifted me, dripping and gasping. Wet cloth clung to my body, as the hands supporting me lowered me into the water once again.
    "… Death of water, birth of air .. ."
    The waters flowed over me, driving away every breath and thought. My hair grew heavy, drawn away from my head as the current caught it, fanning it out in the water. My parched lips softened, and I ran my tongue over them, trying to get moisture into my dry throat. Keir used his cupped hand to dribble water into my mouth. I shuddered in relief even as the cold seeped into my very soul.
    "Enough."
    Gils? Was that Gils? There was a reason that thought was important, a reason that it was wrong to hear his voice. But my concerns were wispy and I couldn't keep them. They were pulled from me even as I was raised from the water. Before I could gather them back, I was dry and under warm furs and a hand was pressing softly on my heart. My eyes refused to open. A cup at my lips, a few swallows and the warm darkness welcomed me back.
    * * *
    I opened my eyes, and stared into the darkness. It seemed familiar somehow, to lay so, in a tent where the only light came from braziers. I was too weak to move, or do much more than simply breathe. It felt good, and it took long moments for me to understand that I was feeling better. Utterly drained of any strength, but I wasn't hot, wasn't sweating. My breath came slowly and I enjoyed the sensation for a while in the quiet warmth of the tent. A soft sound drew my attention. I thought about that for a moment, then slowly turned my head toward the noise.
    Keir was sitting on the floor, leaning on the bed. His one hand braced his head, the other lay close to mine. He was asleep, and snoring, something I hadn't heard him do before. He looked so tired, so haggard. Hair mussed, his chin rough and unshaven. If he slept like that for much longer, he'd have a sore neck. With some effort, I managed to move my hand enough to brush his fingertips with mine.
    His head snapped up, eyes wide. He stared at me in the dim light, then joy flooded his face, and he grabbed my hand. "Lara?"
    I tried to smile, but it became a yawn instead.
    "My heart's fire." Keir's voice was soft, and I blinked at him. "Are you well?" My curiosity forced me to make an effort to talk. "How… long?" He stroked my hand, gently. "Three days."
    I stared at him, trying to make sense of the images and memories in my mind. It was all so jumbled.
    There was a sound of someone stirring, but I couldn't lift my head to look. Marcus moved into my line of sight, with Gils right behind, looking anxious. When he saw that I was conscious, his face split into a toothy grin.
    "How?" I whispered.
    Keir glanced at the others. "We were losing you. Gils came up with an idea, to place you in the stream to quench the fire within."
    "You… were… chanting."
    Keir nodded. "A ritual. We wanted you to be prepared if…" Keir's voice cracked and he swallowed hard.
    Marcus cleared his throat. "For mercy, Lara. If the stream had not returned you to us, we were prepared to grant you mercy."
    I looked into Keir's face, so tired, so full of pain. "Oh, my Keir." He crawled onto the bed, and pulled me into his arms, which trembled even as they crushed me close. Voices spoke, but it was too much effort to try to understand. I closed my eyes, let my head rest on Keir's chest and concentrated on breathing, content. It was so comfortable