Emalia opened her eyes and stared up at the white-washed ceiling of her bedroom. For a moment, everything was fine - she was home and nothing had changed - then the memory of the night before hit her in the stomach and left the butterflies there crushed and twitching with needles for wings.
The day had begun with Emalia getting up from her bed and going about her normal business. The day before, she had found out Colin's secret and it had nearly crushed her. He had gone and left her alone for the rest of the night and the majority of this day, until she stepped from the doorway to visit Nephesh.
A slender piece of parchment requested, if she could stand it, an audience with her. Emalia closed her eyes and turned back into the cottage, closing the door behind her. Nephesh, she supposed, would be fine and she called to Colin - the kindness of her heart beckoning her to let him talk to her.
Colin appeared in the time it takes for lightning to strike the ground and they immediately began to talk. It seemed to Emalia that Colin had a valid reason for every point she made against their being together. He couldn't give her children, but many "natural" men couldn't. She, he pointed out, was among the ranks of priests who gave life back to the dead - how was it different for him? Emalia's head swam with reasons why it shouldn't be - but the only objection she could then assert was: "I can't."
"I can't do this," Emalia whispered, shaking her head. "I can't. I'm sorry, Colin. I am so, so sorry."
"Emalia... I can be everything you need, all you have to do is let me show you."
Colin dipped his hand under her knees, lifting her to his chest as though she weighed nothing at all. "Come Emalia... let yourself be loved."
Initially, she attempted to ward him off, emptying herself of her healing power as well as her lifeforce. Without the benefit of having a father to show her how to control herself, she also found herself drained. Colin, having been rejected, was a gentleman once more, setting her in her bed and helping her prepare for the upcoming night.
Once, however, he had determined her inability to refuse, he decided upon staying to be sure she would be alright. A large portion of the time was spent talking until Colin joined her in her bed. He pulled her to him, his hands caressing her even as she laid unable to go anywhere.
Of things that are natural, nature has a way of ensuring that beings embued with life wish to continue with that natural progression. The simplest touch of warmth to warmth can make even the strongest minds go weak, and with the constant encouragement of large hands and gentle words - Emalia found herself laying where the tale began only hours later. With her eyes closed, hopeful that Colin would be unaware of her waking, and doubly hopeful that no one would ever know that she gave herself to a dead man, and that somehow... she could make Colin understand that what had happened was only a mistake... one that would not be repeated.
