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Herrick glanced at her again, her fast steps putting her exactly ten paces ahead of him. Her long hair had been freed from its braid, the deep red glowing brightly when it caught the sunlight. Though nothing had changed outwardly, Maude seemed to fit in these halls .

Her darker coloring, the way she seemed to float as she walked.

Her leather leggings were snug against her form, the devastating curves that Herrick's fingers begged to trace, and the leather vest she had taken to wearing over her loose tunics cut her hourglass figure in a way that he knew attracted the attention of many others.

Lost in his observation of her, Herrick did not realize that they had arrived at a simple wooden door that Maude was currently pounding on. Her back still to Herrick, she reached for the black metal handle and let herself into the small room.

The walls were smooth inside what appeared to be an office.

There was a second door directly opposite the one they entered, but Herrick could not discern where it would lead.

Next to the door was a small desk lined with all the things a healer would need to create medicinal potions, salves, and tonics.

The roaring fire next to the table had a hook to hang a pot, but it was missing, the fire banked.

Directly in front of them was a small cot that was currently empty.

"Dahlia?" Maude called out, her voice coming out slightly squeaky, as she pushed the back door open.

Herrick followed her through the small office, his panic beginning to rise with her abrupt shift in mood. Maude seemed to have expected someone when she entered that space.

Past the other door, a long room stretched out before them.

Lined on either side were small bays with cots set up every few feet, a screen separating the spaces and allowing for privacy.

Occasionally, Herrick would see an Elven wearing black loose tunics and pants tending to the ill, but Maude seemed unable to find this Dahlia that she was looking for.

Ahead, one of the healers motioned toward the hall as he spoke with Maude, who nodded her thanks and took off, running down the hall.

Hurrying so he didn't lose her in the twisting halls of the Midnight Palace, Herrick followed Maude until she stopped in front of a seemingly normal door.

The door to the room next to it opened at the same time that Maude banged on the glossy wood in front of them.

Hakon stepped out into the hall, scrubbing the wet hair that was dripping onto his chest with dry linen .

"What are you guys doing here? How's Gunnar?" his brother asked, but before Herrick could answer, the door Maude had been pounding on opened.

A gorgeous Elven woman held the door open; her pitch-black hair and amethyst eyes held a soft light. Herrick did not dare allow himself to hope.

"Where is he?" Maude huffed, her breath coming harsh and fast. The Elven only motioned for her to go inside.

Herrick's knees almost gave out as he walked in behind Maude to see his best friend standing at the edge of the bed, awake and very much alive.

"Thank the Allfather," Maude whispered as she surged forward, wrapping her arms around Gunnar's shoulders. "You're okay."

Gunnar chuckled, the sound unsure as he hesitantly put his hand on Maude's back and patted it. "Don't tell me you were actually worried for me."

A soft sob smothered by a chuckle escaped Maude as she pulled away from their friend.

"Sit down, you stubborn fool. All of Dahlia's hard work will have gone to waste if you push yourself too far now," she said, clearing her throat to hide the emotion that had seemingly clogged her throat.

Herrick could only watch their interaction as he processed that Gunnar was going to live. Hakon was silent beside him, relief so strong in him that his galder was surging within his blood.

He lives , the voice in his mind whispered. For now .

Herrick pushed away the darkness that had invaded his waking mind, the relief of seeing Gunnar alive making every dark thought fade into the background despite the chill that ran down his spine.

"You have some very eager friends here to see you," Maude continued, pulling back to get out of the way.

Before Gunnar could reply, Maude walked away and brushed past him and Hakon.

Her moss green eyes flashed up to catch his stare, the air in his lungs promptly leaving him breathless as her relief mirrored his own.

But she did not speak, refusing to be the one to break their standoff. She turned to Hakon instead .

"I'll let the others know. Take your time," Maude whispered. "And I'll send Liv in; she'll want to see him too."

She turned to leave, nodding to Dahlia her thanks, when Herrick acted on instinct.

His hand shot out, wrapping around hers.

She stilled for only a moment before meeting his stare.

Refusing to speak— as he didn't want to be the first to break either— he leaned forward slowly, giving Maude the chance to turn away before placing a soft kiss on her cheek.

This strife between them was not over, but for this, for keeping close tabs on Gunnar when he was on his deathbed, for her relief when she found him alive, Herrick could allow his love for her to overpower his anger.

Her cheeks turned a soft shade of coral so similar to the sea creatures he saw in the summer before she turned away and left the room, taking his heart with her in spite of his anger.

Facing his friend again, Herrick only paused for a moment before he walked over to Gunnar and pulled him up into a tight embrace.

They each gripped the other tightly; the relief of seeing each other in this world and not Odin's halls was palpable.

Hakon quickly joined in, and they all stood together for a time as the brothers they truly were.

Gunnar was the first to break away, sitting on the edge of the bed again, a little winded.

"All I've done is rest, and yet, I am exhausted by the smallest of actions," he grumbled, running his hands over the ever-present neat braids that ran down his head.

The slice on the side of his scalp that had been poisoned was now closed even as the rounded side of his head seemed to dip inward, like the muscle and tissue there had been scraped away.

Dark veins splintered out from the cavernous angry scar a few inches before they returned to their normal appearance.

Otherwise, Gunnar looked the same as he always had, if just a bit more worn out.

His blue and green threads still wrapped around a few of his braids and his eyes still twinkled with humor, but he had lost weight.

Herrick was quickly scanning his friend for any other differences when the Elven healer in the room spoke .

"You have fought quite a battle against the poison in your blood, it's normal to feel this fatigued."

Herrick turned to face the Elven to ask about Gunnar's recovery when he noticed her jeweled eyes were already on him. Or rather, the iron around his neck.

"May I?" she asked softly, her voice cascading over his skin and soothing him like the darkest part of the night.

He only nodded.

Her slender fingers began probing the iron, her angular face pinched in concentration.

Herrick glanced over to Hakon and Gunnar to find them both dreading and anticipating the Elven's next words.

Her pointed ears poked out from beneath her onyx hair, capturing Herrick's attention briefly, forcing him to deal with all that had happened since they left Logi.

The Elven were still here, living under everyone's noses.

The full impact that should have affected Herrick earlier burst through him now.

His head spun as the healer continued to probe his binding, the icy burn seemingly not affecting her like it did Liv.

Hakon reached his side as the Elven— Dahlia— finally withdrew.

She acknowledged his brothers presence with a flat stare before returning to her thoughts.

Muttering to herself, she wiped her hands on a strip of linen that had been tucked into her waistband before walking over to Gunnar.

"I need to step away for a moment, finish your tonic, and avoid pushing yourself too far. I'll return later with your next dose," Dahlia said, her eyes glancing at Herrick as she spoke.

"Yes, Matron," Gunnar nodded, his eyes grateful as he took the tonic from Dahlia.

She rolled her eyes at his friend before heading toward the door. As she passed Herrick, her eyes landed on the iron and lingered. He couldn't be sure but worry seemed to flash there before she finally opened the door and left.

Before the heavy door could fully shut, Liv burst through it, making a direct line for Gunnar.

Halfway there, however, she stilled as she took in Gunnar's wide eyes.

She had not donned her glamour again, her pointed ears demanding all of his attention.

Gunnar stood, shakily and tried to make his way to their friend.

Knees about to give out, Hakon and Liv both lunged for Gunnar and caught him before he could hit the ground.

"I have missed a lot, it seems," Gunnar said quietly as he looked over Liv.

The color seemed to drain from Liv's face, her skin becoming ashen in the bright morning as she waited for Gunnar's reaction. It seems the Kolbecks had not reacted well to her truth. His cheeks burned at the thought.

Gunnar's eyes cleared of his exhaustion, quickly taking in the female in front of him who was holding him up by his elbows.

Humor sparked in Gunnar's eyes and Herrick breathed easily again.

Liv gave him a shaky smile and surged forward, wrapping her arms around his waist and squeezing.

Their friend only chuckled and patted Liv's back as he returned her embrace.

"Please tell me this means I am not the oldest anymore," Gunnar breathed as his energy started to wane again, moving to the seating area with the help of Liv and Hakon.