Garvan's view

I was comforted to know that my hunch was correct, I was not imagining things. I was also thankful that she was living in a safe looking place, and seemingly doing well for herself, going by the crops growing outside. I wondered if she had perhaps gone hunting, so I smiled and decided to prepare her a dinner for when she returned, I had still some travel supplies on me that I could use. I did not want to use her crops as she might have a plan I knew nothing of for them. It was better to be cautious. 

I moved my horse away, as I wanted my presence to be a surprise, not have her run off again as she had with Glory and Kell. I then began preparations for the night to come. To my surprise the flowerbed reacted to me as if I was its master. I wonder if this is the cave where Susan and my father conceived me? There was no way to tell though.

It was dusk and Sue had still not returned, and I knew she would have returned by now, so I went in search of her.

"Help me!" I heard a cry, it sounded like it was coming from the bottom of the small cliff that jutted out about 10 meters from the cave.

I panicked and hurried to where I heard the cry, sure enough it was Sue, it looked like she was cut all over and her foot seemed to be on a weird angle. "Sue! Are you ok?" I asked falling to my knees and holding her to my chest.

"No, I think I have broken my ankle," Sue teared up, "How are you here? I thought I was going to die down here."

"Kell came and said you had disappeared, so I went to look for you." I said, "Lets get you home." and picked her up.

She tensed in my arms as if she was going to push herself out of my arms and run away, "No! I don't want to go home."

"Wait, where did you think I was calling home?" I asked her, "I was referring to that cave I found your stuff in." 

I felt her relax then, "Oh," she giggled, "I am happy to go to that home."

I trudged up the hill carefully as I couldn't see where I was going well as holding Sue blocked most of the view of where to place my feet, and when we arrived at the cave, I was originally going to put her on the bed, instead I put her on the seating ledge near the spring pool.

"Let's bathe you first," I said, as her legs and arms were all scraped by her fall.

"But my ankle," she started tearing up.

"I can't do anything about it until you are clean," I stated matter-of-factly, "I'm not putting my tongue anywhere near it in that state."

"Garvan, I don't think that I can undress myself," she said helplessly.

It was then I realized how much pain she was in. I gingerly undressed her, every sleeve and leg seeming to cause more pain. I left her in her underwear as I knew she doesn't like being fully undressed around me. I could not blame her as she had always said that she only wanted to marry one person, I was the 4th married to her in a polyandry marriage.

Kell and I were the only ones that wanted her exclusively though. After Caspian got his child, he did not really care except for around DebraLee's death date. Although I knew I was bi because of Caspian, I did not really care to be, I would have rathered been Sue's only, but that was never going to happen according to the Goddesses mark. I never bothered to find out about who Sue and Kell believed in, though I know it caused Sue much angst. I was not to sure I wanted to know a God like hers, he seemed too uptight and rule bound.

I undressed and slipped into the water so I could carry her in then.

"Garvan," she sucked in her breath as I placed her gently into the pool.

I nodded.

"How did you find me? I am pretty sure that I closed off all communication to you all," Sue looked at me curiously.

"When Kell came worried about you, I got unsettled and searched for you within me," I explained, "It lead me here. I could feel I was in the right area, but I did not know where exactly you were. I found this cave when I was looking for somewhere to settle. When I saw your things, I moved my things in too. I hope this is alright with you?" I held my breath, as there was no guarantee she would want me here.

She did not reply, rather she looked in deep thought. Eventually she answered, "You can stay, I think it will be awhile before I can look after myself anyway. I know your tongue is magic, but even so, I think I should be careful."

"Would you want me here if this was not the case?" I asked, even though I dreaded her reply.

"I don't know Garvan," she replied looking me directly in the eyes, "I came because I am burnt out from everything. I wanted to find myself again. I feel like I have been lost in the process of being a mother and wife to you all."

"I understand," I nodded too, and I did, I wondered myself at times who I was, especially after Caspian had visited and Sue was not around for another couple of months. I felt guilty relieving my needs with Caspian. Caspian had no such issues though. He was always happy to be with me, and reluctant to leave when he had to go, but go he would as he did not like to leave his son too long without supervision.

Silence filled the cavern apart from the occasional sound of splashing as our conversation ended, I did not feel the need to speak as it was clear to me that she did really need to be alone. I took on a vow of silence then, and vowed also that I would be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible. 

I washed her wounds and used my tongue to seal the worst of them. I also realigned her break and healed it externally, internally it would take time. Once all her wounds were washed clean and the few healed, I removed her from the tub, dried and dressed her, then moved her to her bed so she could rest and eat there. 

I was originally going to sit her at the table to eat, but after seeing how much pain she was in I figured the bed was better. I placed her on the bed and got the food and fed her myself.

"I am not a total invalid Garvan," Sue objected.

"I know, but please let me do this for you," I replied continuing to feed her.

"Hm," she nodded and let me continue.

When she started to look full I stopped and asked, "Have you enough now?"

"Hm," she nodded again.

I put the bowl down and helped her to lie down, covering her with her quilt.

"Thanks Garvan," she uttered before going off to sleep. 

I sat there looking at her for a while, and moved her hair off her face, before getting up and cleaning away the food. I decided I would sleep on a separate bed to her as I did not feel welcome as her husband yet. I would rather lie beside my loving mate then an unwilling one.

"Can you help me vines?" I questioned them, to my amazement the ones that looked like they were bondage ones moved to make a bed for me to rest on. "Thanks vines." and with that I set up a bed for me and went to sleep.

The next day I woke early and went out side to watch the sunrise. It truly was a spectacular site. I was at peace just watching it rise when I heard a panicked "Garvan!" from within the cave.

I turned and hurried in, "Yes Sue?"

"Oh good you are still here, I did not imagine it," Sue sighed with relief.

"You're relieved I am here?" I ask her.

"Of course I am," she smiled at me, "but where did you sleep? I did not feel you next to me."

"I slept somewhere else, I did not think I was welcome to sleep next to you. You made it clear you wanted to be alone, I was merely respecting your wishes." I explained to her.

"Silly man, of course I want you next to me," Sue smiled lighting up my heart with love, "But thank you for thinking that I do appreciate it, but, from now on, please sleep next to me while you are here."

I nodded, "Is there anything I need do while we are here? I mean since you can't walk...is there anything..."

"Could you water the crops outside?" Sue interrupted my nervous driveling.

I nodded, "Sure." and turned to do so.

"Wait!" Sue exclaimed, "Shouldn't we have breakfast first?"

"Sure," I smiled in relief as my stomach decided then to announce that it was hungry, causing us to laugh.

"Someone's hungry," Sue teased me, "I would make  you something, but my foot is still very achy."

"Its ok Sue, I got it." I said as I went to prepare us breakfast, "I will bathe you again after breakfast and watering."

Sue nodded, "I would like that." and things were silent then. 

As I prepared breakfast, I felt her eyes on me, but whenever I looked over her eyes would rapidly look away as if she was guilty of something. After the 10th time, I said to her, "You do know it is ok to look at me?"

"Whaa??" she spluttered a red flush alighting her face, "I wasn't looking."

I could not help but chuckle, I was half undressed and I knew very well what my effect was on her being dressed like this was. I could not help it, I wanted her to desire me for me, see me for me, but she still, even after all these years, treated me like a stranger who beds her occasionally. I hoped that while we were here this would change.

"Why did you laugh?" she demanded of me.

"No reason," I said with a smile, "breakfast is done. Do you want to eat outside or stay where you are?"

"Outside please," she said, swinging her legs over the bed and giving a little squeal of pain. 

I nodded and walked over, picked her up and carried her outside. When I was outside, I looked around for a place to put her, but could not see anything.

"Over there," Sue pointed to a spot perhaps 50 feet away, I could see the bench there then, under the tree, and headed to it, placing Sue gently on it before disappearing to bring out our meal. "Thank you, Garvan," Sue called after me.

I nodded and smiled as I ducked back into the cave. I rested against the cave wall, my heart pounding, "Thank you God for this time, please make her love me like she does Kell," I did not know what God I was praying to though - did I mean the Goddess or the God Sue had been telling me of? I don't know.

Before long, I pulled myself together, got our breakfast and took it out to her to sit and eat as we looked out over the countryside, "It's truly beautiful here," I commented, as I stuffed a bit of egg into my face.

"Yes it is," She put down her fork and looked out to admire it. I checked to see how much she had eaten - it was not much.

"Sue, you need to eat to get better," I chided her gently.

"I am sorry Garvan," she apologised, "I just do not feel well enough to eat at the moment. The food is churning over in my stomach. Perhaps I will be ok later." and with that she lent back and closed her eyes.

I finished eating, and took away our things, cleaning them then getting dressed to work. As much as I would love to encourage her to look at me, I would rather not get sunburnt and I did not know how ferocious or not the sun could be here, so I did not want to risk it. 

I then went off to do the chores she had asked, watering and picking the ripe fruit to eat that day. I left her to go hunting not long afterwards. She was safe under the tree I had left her in the morning. I had also left something to defend herself with, water and a snack of dried fruit. 

🍀A/N Please vote if you enjoyed this chapter. If you see any errors please let me know as this is unedited.  🍀