Serenia's Chambers: Faire Noir, Cairhien

Several hours pass by, when finaly Serenia awakens. Its with a start, that sends her flying upwards. Panic might appear to touch her features, then the pain of the reality of things becomes all too clear as she lets out a whimpered cry; the pain dulled some, but not alot. She does not seem aware that Jerlon is anywhere nearby.

Jerlon had eventually fallen into a sleep, his eyes finally giving way to shut, but it was far from a comfortable sleep. The moment Serenia awakes in a panic, Jerlon too awakens. He's sitting up against the headboard with a pillow propped for some comfort. One arm is around Serenia's shoulder to the uninjured side. "Serenia..." he whispers, blinking a few times to clear his eyes as he slowly moves down in the bed. "It's okay..."

The young noblewoman gives another start as Jerlon makes his presense known. However, the panic ebbs a bit and the young woman allows herself to fall back upon the pillow. A light cry wrangles itself from her lips as she falls a touch too hard.. "Wha.. what happened?" Confusion touches her voice as Serenia raises her eyes to regard her husband.

Jerlon's hand moves lightly across her cheek in a gentle stroke as he shifts around to half face her. "An assassin took a shot at you on our way out of the palace. We were fortunate the arrow only hit your shoulder," he goes on, attempting to lock his eyes on hers. "The Reader said you will be well, but it might take some time for the injury to heal." Jerlon's voice is filled with that depth in caring.

Serenia shifts her eyes away from Jerlon as he attempts to make eye contact with her. For a long time, she remains silent, "You are sure that's all that was hit?" A grimaces touches upon her features. She raises her good arm and touches the bandaged spot lightly.

"It went through," Jerlon insures, offering a slight smile that will likely not be seen. His hand does pull away as she turns toward the injury, a light sigh coming from his lips. "It looked a lot worse then it was. You were walking one moment, and then..." Jerlon moves forward to press his lips on her cheek. "The Reader gave you something for the pain."

Oddly enough, Serenia does not pull away from Jerlon's kiss. "Did she say how long I will be like this?" There is, however, at touch of irritation within her voice. Yet, that could be attributed to the pain she's surely feeling. Her eyes widen slightly, then she starts to quickly rise once more. "Oh light... I forgot, I have a meeting with Lady Leah at the Palace..." She struggles to get up, intent on attempting to get out of bed.

Jerlon blinks a few times with her struggles. "Then Lady Leah will come here to see you," he states in a tone that might be a little too firm. "You will be in bed for a bit of time yet, my beautiful wife. And certainly we can not have you walking about a day after someone wished to take your life," he points out the next obvious fact, attempting to urge her down back unto the bed.

"I appreciate your concern, Jerlon, but I can't put my life on hold because of some minor injury." Serenia continues to struggle upward and to her feet, scrunching her face in obvious pain as she attempts to keep back any strangled cries which might want to escape her lips. "Showing whoever did this that I'm still alive and give them the appearance that I am uninjured may simply drive them away from me; seeing as how they failed their goal."

"But Serenia!" Jerlon objects, not really being all too willing to release Serenia from his hold. "Lady Leah will come to see you here. Would not satisfy? At least for today? The Reader was specific in keeping you in bed. The injury will be re-injured if you move around too much... and then it will simply take longer to heal..." More pleading, though there is no whining tone to his voice for once. "Would it not be better to return strong from this attempt?"

For a brief moment, Serenia pauses her movements. Confusion still clearly reigns upon her features. A soft sigh escapes after a small amount of time passes, and finally she allows Jerlon to settle her back into the bed, if that is what he wishes. "I suppose what you say makes sense..." Those words are spoken reluctantly. The Lady takes great pains not to meet Jerlon's eyes; perhaps not wishing to see whatever expresssion which might be residing on his features presently. "It may be even better to reschedule the meeting for a later time." She concludes quietly.

"It could be better, yes," Jerlon sighs in relief a little, attempting to urge Serenia down with a few more light kisses on her cheek. "These guards seemed doubtful they'd find the person that did this..." he grumbles about that. He returns to lightly stroking at her cheek, settling in more beside his wife. "Do you have any idea who would do this to you, lo-.." Jerlon stummers to a stop and turns away. "I mean.. Serenia."

A brow lifts at Jerlon's near slip, a curious light touching Serenia's eyes. Pressing her lips together, she shifts herself away from her husband just a bit; not enough to remove herself from his side, but enough to be seen and noticed all the same. "No, I have no idea. It could be any number of people. Someone who is jealous over our marriage, someone my father dealt with, someone who disliked how I dealt with them in High Court...." She shrugs her shoulders a bit, murmuring quietly, "This is Cairhein." Those words are spoken as if that's all the answer that's needed.

"I nearly lost you," Jerlon manages with some anguish, though more with an anger in his tone. "Some bastard nearly took you away. I hardly think that is enough of an explaination. And the guards acted as though this happens every day." Jerlon shifts back in her direction, and then he reverts to the other side again as though uncertain. "Would you like something to drink?" he offers, as he moves off from the bed.

"That's because it does." Serenia states quietly, her tone softening a bit as she turns her eyes to observe the reactions of her husband. A thoughtful expression takes shelter upon her facial features. "Things like this happen every day, but to different people each day. I'm sure the guards are doing everything they can to find the person, but it may be that they will not be able to find hard evidence to implicate a party who did this to me." A light sigh escapes her lips once more. She pushes herself further into the blankets, raising them over her bad shoulder with her good hand and arm. She looks to the table which holds the various glasses and beverages set aside for both herself and Jerlon, eyeing them curiously. "Yes... I would, thank you." Looking back to her husband, that curious expression enters her eyes once more.

This time Jerlon is the one avoiding eye contact, or even looking to Serenia in general. As he begins to pour two glasses of water, he is turned away from her. Jerlon takes a few long sips of water, and finishes the glass in fact, before pouring himself the second. "I suppose, Serenia. I suppose. But it seems so cowardly, to simply hire an assassin out of convenience. I would dual for your honor, at least such an opportunity would not be faceless and cowardly." Taking both glasses, he begins returning back to the bed.

"Here, it is a sign of power, to exact fear over your enemies." Serenia states quietly as she watches Jerlon pouring the water. "What better way to show you have power over other Houses than to openly attack them and instill fear into their hearts. You remind them that they are weak and vulnerable at times; and have let down their guard for far too long." She nods a bit as she speaks her words, somewhat in agreement over her own activities. "Far better care will be taken when I venture into the city next."

"But anyone is vulnerable in public, it makes no matter how powerful or weak one is," Jerlon argues lightly. He places down his glass of water, and then sits on the bed and turns to her to take more care in giving her the glass. "It is cowardly. There is no power in it. So long as a person can afford an assassin, he can afford to instill fear in others..." more grumbling. "I'm sorry, Serenia. I'm angry that someone would do this."

Serenia takes the glass from Jerlon, and holds it a moment before taking a sip. "It is a fact of life here, and something you will have to get used to." Her comment is made in a matter of fact manner, her eyes turning away from the man who is her husband to look at the cup from which she now sips.

"Of course..." Jerlon reluctantly agrees, turning to take another sip of his own glass. He sits there at the edge of the bed, his back turned away from her. "Would the person that hired the assassin not offer us a hint of who they are? And if they do, would you hire own to retaliate?"

"They'd be foolish if they did." Serenia states quietly, drawing the cup away from her lips after wetting her parched throat. "Even if I would not hire someone to retaliate, allies of House Hagon might." This brings a definite frown to Serenia's features. "I do not believe in using assassins when I can ruin a person through other methods, much more satisfying methods."

"Good." Jerlon knew that, she has said as much in the past. "I thought you might think differently in anger of being a victim of this crime. But... its an every day occurence," he frowns at that. Finally, Jerlon does turn back to Serenia, seeing if he wants her to take the glass away. "You truly accept all this. I guess, its different for us."

There is a few moments of silence at Jerlon's words. "I don't really accept it." Serenia states quietly, "In fact I'm seething over it inside. But there's nothing I can do until further information can be discovered. There's no use getting too upset over something I can't even grasp.

Jerlon's leg curls unto the bed, one arm moving to prop him up as he looks to his wife. "And that is the next step? To gather information and go from there?" Jerlon can't look to her directly, his gaze just below her eyes. "I felt helpless, Serenia. I'm sorry, I think I'm dealing with this more then you are. I lack that... Cairhienin perception of the world."

A brow lifts in a delicate manner as Serenia further studies her husband. She takes another sip of the water, grateful for something to do with her hands; something not painful. "You are not Cairhienin, of course you don't have our perspective." Though the words might seem biting, they are spoken gently. She pushes the glass forward so Jerlon might take it, indicating she's through with the water for now, even if it is only half empty.

Jerlon seems to take some comfort at taking the water away, perhaps proving he's of use here. "I will have your social calendar cleared later. And mine as well. The Reader urged that I not leave your side, and so I won't." There, let Serenia suffer a greater suffering then her injury.

Serenia's eyes widen slightly at that, her lips turning into a small frown, "Why'd she do that? I can certainly take care of myself." There's that stubborn streak catching hold of her.

Jerlon shakes his head lightly, reaching to stroke her cheek. "Just for a few days, my wife. The less you do, the better it will heal. Perhaps what she gave you for the pain is working too well, but you did have an arrow going right through your shoulder." He's hopeful.

Glancing down at her shoulder at the reminder, Serenia's features wrinkle into something of a smirk. She does not pull away from Jerlon's touch, but she also doesn't look completely happy with it either. She offers no caresses or reassurances of her own. "I would rather not take the herbs she means for me to have." She was not awake to see what they were exactly, and that they were simply for pain alone. "I am not in all that much pain if I lie still."

"And if you lay still, you will need me in attendance," Jerlon counters quietly. Removing the covers of the bed enough away as he stands again, he slips beneath taking great care not to disturb the bed. "I would almost assume once her lotions fade away, the pain would be much greater... Serneia, it went right through your shoulder," he reminds her as though he himself felt her pain. "House Demmar will offer its aid, I'm sure. As will your other supporters."

"House Hagon can take care of whatever bills there are." Serenia's voice is firm on that. "We need no aid from any others for my injuries. /I/ will take care of matters surrounding the person who did this to me, assuming any evidence can be found." Serenia shifts herself over, closer to the side of the bed, when Jerlon enters beneath the covers. Her eyes catch the sun glimmering in from the window beyond, as it starts its rise over the horizon and brighten the new day.

"Of course," Jerlon mumbles settling into bed, his eyes looking skyward. "If you need anything, let me know." Showing his insecurities, his uncertainty, he lifts up once more. "You will want some reading material, of course."

"I am fine, though you might want to take a bath, or change clothing." Serenia looks toward Jerlon, taking note of his unseemly nature and haphazard dress style. "There are likely some things you need to take care of yourself today. I will be fine in the interim."

"No," Jerlon states flatly. "I will cancel my plans." Jerlon once again heads out from the bed, showing his mixed nature. The young lord may indeed not be thinking straight. Within he struggles with his emotions, and with not sharing more then would be appropriate to Serenia while they are both vulnerable. Opening the door of the chambers, he takes the time to share the requests from Serenia... a bath that is.

Serenia watches quietly as Jerlon cancels his plans and orders himself a bath. Shaking her head a bit, she turns her gaze back to the window, watching the clouds move across the sky slowly. "Why are you doing this? Staying here with me?" She still doesn't quite get his emotions and feelings, having never experienced them herself.

Jerlon closes the door and leans against it in a protective matter. "Because I care," Jerlon states flatly, looking to the ceiling. "Because if something were to happen to you I wouldn't simply shrug my shoulders, but I would mourn your death. Because I want you to live. Because I want to insure you are comfortable and safe, and feel cared for."

"Because of some misguided 'love' that you think you feel for me?" Serenia asks, her tone still gentle, far from holding its usual bite. She narrows her eyes a bit, their brown warmth looking almost suspicious as they gaze upon her husband.

"Because of an emotional hold you have on me," Jerlon admits, closing his eyes. Each time he is faced with his feelings for Serenia, he feels this certain slap across his face, that at the simple memory of all her mockings of him and his misguided love.

Shaking her head, Serenia simply watches Jerlon. After a few brief moments of study, she looks away from him and turns her attention back to the window. "How can you know that you truly love me when you do not even know me?"

"Does love need to be so complicated?" Jerlon asks, unable to face it, unable to face his emotions. Much like shock theraphy, her continued bashing at him at the mention of love causes him to quiver away at the thought. But he does stand for what he feels, even when his footing is lose. "I love you, Serenia. I truly do. Why else would I feel such agony when faced with your death? Why else would I shed tears for you? I would give my life for yours..." Jerlon's head goes to the floor then, as he waits for the retaliation.

That retaliation never comes. Serenia remains silent. She chances a small peek at Jerlon, but quickly turns her attention back to the window. She keeps her gaze there for the lack of a better thing to do.

It's difficult for Jerlon, being shown pain each time he expresses love. Even when Serenia doesn't retaliate, he still feels the pain, as though it were an automatic reflex to his expressed emotions. He stands there in silence for a time, though at the end he forces himself to head toward the bed. "I'll help you out of your clothes," he speaks lightly, closing his eyes as he stands at the side of the bed.

A puzzled expression turns itself upon her husband. "Whyfore would you do that?" Serenia's brow furrows, "Are not my bedclothes appropriate for remaining where I am?" She looks down at the garments she wears, then back up again. Blinking a bit, she tilts her head to the side in a touch of curiousity.

"For the bath you wished..." Jerlon responds quietly, still dazzed in his pain, but attempting to pull out of his own suffering.

Serenia shakes her head lightly, that puzzled expression only becoming more so, "I never asked one for myself. I told you to take one." She shrugs her shoulders a bit, "But that's entirely up to you. I doubt I could manage one myself, and keep these bandages dry."

Jerlon nods faintly, having misunderstood. "I think I enjoyed it better when you laughed at my insistance of love. Rather then stayed silent, with no reaction," he returns, somehow not feeling the end to their earlier conversation, and that liking hurting more now as she simply ignored his words.

"I'm not much up to arguing the matter." Serenia states quietly, turning her brown eyes away from him once more to look out the window. Avoidance, always the best policy to use. "I'm certain you can understand."

Jerlon's hand clenches into a fist. "Of course..." his voice rings with pain. "If you excuse me for some moments to make better arrangements," he lies. Jerlon takes a few steps backwards, away from the bed, before turning and head to the door.

"Of course," Serenia echos quietly, allowing herself to sink further underneath the blankets of her bed. She turns upon her good side, then simply slips the remaining covers over her head, blocking out the sunlight, and the sights of her room.

The door opens and closes briefly, Jerlon leaving in the half-dressed state he had slept in. Its a short walk to their regular rooms, where he walks within to close the door behind. Inside, he simply breaks down. Its not to cry, that he left, but it is to hunch over in the sheer anguish of it. Within moments he searches out for his blade, the secondary sword that he keeps within the room. The forms he practises are done with such anger, each motion more fierce then the one before. It is then that he takes that little music box he once gave her, and crushes it agains the wall with the tip of his sword. That is when he weeps... dropping the sword to the ground, he sits unto the bed with his head hunched over. The pain doesn't rest.

After a bit of time, Serenia pulls the covers from her head. Noticing that Jerlon has, indeed, left the room, a look of relief passes over her eyes. With a look of determination, she starts to rise from her bed once more, taking more care than she did the last time. She mumbles to herself, "It's only my shoulder that's hurt. Walking around can't be that bad." She never was one to sit and lay back, though even as she manages to make it to the edge of the bed, she has to grit her teeth a bit to bite back some of the pain residing in the movements she makes.

Jerlon eventually stops his tears, taking a face-rag from near the bed to dry his eyes. His face is flushed, and as he looks to the music box just destroyed, it laying in dozens of little peaces, it would almost look as though he first realized breaking it. Men do odd things in anger, not always realizing it. He simply stares at it, in more shock then pain.

"I will /not/ sit here all day, if I've something to say about it." That determination remains within Serenia's voice as she finally makes it to the edge of the bed, with feet swung down to the floor. Rising carefully, she winces visibly when she lets the arm on her injured side hang down. "I have to at least speak with the guards, find out who did this." She sighs deeply, carefully making her way to the dressing alcove where she clothing was placed for her.

Jerlon begins to pick up on the little peaces of the jewelry box, one by one, and likely getting most of them if not all. They are small enough to be clenched within his fist. As he looks to the waste basic, he can't keep himself from throwing it away. He heads to one of his drawers and places it within. A sigh escapes him then, as he turns and heads toward the door of their chambers. Whatever anger was demonstrated, that cool sensation sets over him.

"This can't be all that hard." Serenia speaks quietly to herself. With no one around, it's much easier for her to work through her thoughts. "Just take one arm from the shirt, then the other, slowly." She continues to murmur, grabbing the clothing with her good hand, then moving behind the screen - which obcures her view from any who enter the room. "How hard can that be?" A smirk touches her features as she settles the clothing down on the chair behind the changing screen. She undoes the buttons on her nightgown, then carefully starts to remove it from her body. It's not without pain, entirely, as she winces during the times where she's required to move her injured shoulder.

Jerlon slips out from one room, and heads into the guest chambers they had placed Serenia at. He does pause near the door, capturing a servant's attention. "Have our regular quarters prepared for today. Reclean the room." Jerlon then shifts his weight toward the door, opening and slipping within to find Serenia standing. The young lord's cheeks are still hot red, eyes perhaps red though it would not be that obvious he was weeping from their sight. He simply stands there, surprised she would be standing.

It is unknown to Serenia that Jerlon had entered the room about the same time she slipped behind the changing screen. She continues her mutters about the clothing, emitting a few grunts here and there about how things are going. Frustration finally takes over. "It's no bloody use. I'm about as useful as newborn kitten." There's a touch of anger within her voice, "Whoever did this will pay, and pay well," mixed with the determination from earlier.

Jerlon takes a deep breath and gathers his strength and composure, heading toward the screen though stopping a good five paces before it. "Serenia, I thought we agreed you would stay in bed." Though disappointed, he shows none of his hurt.

A deep sigh can be heard from behind the screen. "I can't just sit here all day." There's frustration in her voice, and a sense of uselessness. She remains behind the screen, flopping herself on the chair which holds her waiting clothing. A small cry escapes from her lips as she hits her shoulder a touch too hard.

Jerlon moves past the screen door without question, though his steps would likely warn her in advance. As he rounds the screen, he simply shakes his head. "Serenia, please... at least wait for someone to help you..."

A small tear, no doubt from the pain in her shoulder, finds itself escaping Serenia's eyes. The tiny droplet of water runs itself down her cheek, before stopping at her chin. Closing her eyes a moment, she grits her teeth and regains her breath. Likely, the thing she's about to do is one of the hardest things she's ever done. "Will you help me back to the bed?" Her voice sounds almost meek, and full of realization - not regarding Jerlon, but her own position and the pain she'll be in if she doesn't stay put.

Jerlon takes no comfort in her pain, it somehow only adding to his more. Jerlon's hand moves carefully beneath her uninjured shoulder and to the small of her back. He'll attempt to use the spine as a pressure point to ease the pain. His other hand gooes around her waist. "Lift just a little, it'll hurt either way, but... not as much like this..." he hopes.

There is a small moment of hesitation before Serenia nods and complies with Jerlon's request. She moves forward just a little bit, waiting on him to help her further. He might be able to tell that she was in the process of attempting to remove her night garmet, but was never able to do so.

Jerlon lifts her up, the motion starting off slow though quickening until she is at full height. It does send her into a light embrace with him, though he stands away a half step, holding her gown in place. "Did you indeed want a change in clothing?" Jerlon wouldn't assume she'd be leaving, after-all.

Glancing down at the garmets upon the chair, Serenia shakes her head, "No. I think simply going back to bed will suffice." There is a quiet air about her; almost seeming defeated over some matter or another. She avoids eye contact with Jerlon, looking meek; though that could only be a product of her injury. "I will need help making certain what I do have on stays in place." She admits quietly.

Jerlon strength shows a bit as he holds her in place and begins to fasten the ties of her gown. Once complete, he carefuly begins to walk Serenia toward the bed. In her meakness he does gain a certain confidence. "I won't be such bad company, right?" he pokes a little, seeming to always bounce back.

The young noble woman allows Jerlon to take control of the situation; this another hard thing for her to do. Shrugging her good shoulder, she moves forward as directed. "Perhaps not." She speaks quietly in answer to his spoken words. Not a retaliation, yet nothing overly committal either.

Jerlon swiftly removes the covers from the head of the bed, and begins to hide Serenia within the bed. "Did you want the herbs for the pain?" he questions quietly, helping her slide within before pulling the covers over-top.

For a brief moment, there is a stubborn tilt to her chin. "I can wait a little while longer, but I think I'll need them before long." Again, there's defeat within Serenia's voice. It's perfectly obvious the young woman does not want to ingest foreign remedies.

"Of course." Jerlon once again manages to kiss her cheek, truly proven that he has this way of bouncing back from his pain, once he deals with it in his own way. As he pulls away, he does call for the servant to release the Reader of her stay after they are given the herbs. And he too heads into the bed to keep her company.