Stitching the wound
Upon entering the room, Elena hugged both Alan and Williams, tears streaming down her face, while Andrew's eyes welled up. "Thank you so much for saving our lives, you two. I can't even imagine what would have happened to us, to our children if not for you two." They felt awkward and didn't know how to console her.
Lilly, around 8 years old and a sharp child, understood the significance of what these two had done for them. She suddenly remembered and shouted, "Mother, Brother Al's hand! He took an arrow. He is injured; they both are!" Lilly started to panic.
Elena and Andrew felt embarrassed. "We are so sorry, you two. Let us see your injuries. We will treat them immediately." Elena began searching for injuries.
"Aunt Elena, I am perfectly all right. He is the one who played the hero of justice," Williams smirked and pointed at Alan. "What a crappy thing to say, you loser," Alan scowled at Williams but smiled at Elena and shook his head. "I am also fine, Aunt Elena. Except for the arrow scratch, nothing's wrong with me either."
"Give me your hand; let me have a look." Elena took his left hand forcefully, and reluctantly, Alan showed his cloth-wrapped wound.
Elena began to remove the cloth wrapping and sucked in the air when she saw the wound. "Not bad, Al," Williams let out a whistle. Elena's eyes teared up, and Lilly hugged him, crying once she saw his deep wound, which was still bleeding. "I am so sorry, Al. You had to take that arrow for me. I was so scared and unable to move at all." She started crying harder. Alan patted her head and ruffled her hair. "Don't be a cry baby, Lilly. I am happy to take this arrow, and I will always be happy to take it if it is needed for you both," he said, looking at her and at Rose, who was watching this exchange curiously.
Helen pulled his sleeves up to treat the wound and gasped to see a mark on his left forearm. "What happened here?" She traced a mark on his wound, and everyone, including Rose, looked at it curiously. Everyone else looked horrified, but Williams chuckled. "Ha ha... it's nothing to worry about, Aunt. Our hero of justice took down a pack of wolves when he was 10."
"If you don't shut up, Wil, then my fist will be inside your mouth to shut it for you," Alan glared. "Okay, okay, I am shutting up now," Williams put his hands up in a defensive way.
"Is it true?" Andrew asked. Elena looked up curiously. Alan nodded once. How many, Andrew asked curiously, not much uncle Andrew he looked embarrassed. How nuch Elena also asked again. Its 23 fully grown, Williams provided the details. After a dilence of a few seconds, Elena started cleaning the wound using alcohol. "It has to be stitched, my dear. You might feel a little pain," she took out the needle and thread from her medical box and started stitching.
"Wil, give me my gold coin," Alan demanded. "Shhhaaaa... I thought you would have forgotten about it. But noooo, Mr. Perfect of the Morgans can't forget something like this," Williams scowled and handed over a gold coin to him.
Everyone chuckled. "All done, don't move your palm or fingers for a few days. It will heal up nicely." Elena patted his chin with motherly affection. "Williams, are you sure nothing's wrong with you?" "There is something, Aunt." Alan said, looking serious towards Williams. Elena felt a bit worried. "Where, my dear?" She looked at Williams before Williams could deny. "It's his head, Aunt Elena, it stopped growing beyond 6 years. In a couple of years, even Rose will overtake him." Alan smiled wickedly.
Everyone started laughing. "Is it true, big brother? Will I grow more than Brother Wil in a couple of years?" Rose asked innocently with eagerness visible to everyone. Laughter rang again. This time, Williams couldn't help but join in.