He hated everything about this. He hated being under a roof– so confined by walls and unable to see the sky save for glimpses out a window, messing with his internal clock that made even an hour stretch on forever… Though, the boredom was worse and also a likely culprit for the seemingly endless flow of time.
He hated not being able to move on. Staying in one place was so against everything he had done, and continues to do, in his life. Movement was life, and coin, and staying inside this room while he was sick bothered him– he had been far sicker before and still continued his travels…
Then, of course, was Gryff’s seemingly worried behaviour over his health. Such a thing was odd– nearly unnatural in both the way the Whitehill tended to behave and that Raleigh was simply not used to anyone other than his hounds worrying about his well being.
So, having the younger man push him back into bed as if standing was going to be the death of the witch, earned the blond a loud ‘huff’ from the lips that pursed into an expression edging dangerously towards a pout.
“My lord,” he began, trying to keep a wheeze from following as he took a breath– that would just confirm whatever worry Gryff had that had him keeping him indoors. “I am well enough–” Whatever further protest was coming from the usual grinning witch was cut off by a sneeze.
The nearby fire, that had been crackling softly, roared with the sudden will to burn far hotter and larger than it should have.
Sudden flare just a few steps from where he stood caught the Whitehill by surprise — not for the first time today, yet he still had trouble adjusting to all the peculiarities the red-haired man had to offer. At first Gryff instinctively flinched in the opposite direction from the flames, but regained his composure fast this time. The startled expression was gone from his face in a moment, changing back to being something in between sarcasm, annoyance & a tad of genuine concern.
Raleigh sure used to be more docile when he was brought here, soaked in ice cold water head to foot, trembling like a leaf & barely capable of standing on his own. Despite getting wrapped in furs & being placed by the fire minutes after their arrival — in the lord’s own chambers, no less — the redhead soon showed first signs of having caught a cold, which was anything but surprising, given all he has been through. Therefore, the mage got tucked in bed before he could gain the strength to protest, and Gryff had to frantically recall all the scarce amount of things he knew about tending to sick people.
Another thing on his mind, albeit a minor one, was where he himself was going to sleep that night — given that earlier, he, without thinking the action through, had put Raleigh in the only bed available by the hearth — which conveniently happened to be his own, lord’s bed.
“I’m starting to miss the way you were right after takin’ the dive.” With a sarcastic huff & half a smirk, the lord crossed his arms, albeit staying on his guard, to prevent any of Raleigh’s further attempts to escape. “You sure as hell didn’t fuss quite as much. Come to think of it, that may have had something to do with how you nearly drowned, and then froze to death, all in a span of minutes. So forgive me for not letting you just sprint outside and catch your death out there — would be a shame, after going through all that trouble to keep you alive.”
Why he was still going through that trouble to take care of someone he barely knew — Gryff wasn’t even sure himself. Back by the stream, it did not even seem like a choice, more like a reflex, instinct, whichever you like to call it. Now, when his actions became more & more thought through, Gryff has settled on gratitude as his main motivation. Raleigh had gone through as much trouble when stumbling upon the Whitehill’s drunk & injured self on the road at night — it simply made sense to repay him with something of equal worth. That was how the young lord justified the decision in his head, at least, sparing himself the trouble of analyzing the rest of his feelings — just as he generally tended to do.
gamechangershow
izzy806
dailybridgerton
