And Therefore is Winged Cupid Painted Blind

Before she could fully conceive the grace of his walk, he was stopped before her merely a few feet away. He said nothing either, and though at first she thought it was from pride and status, she could see deep in his eyes he wasn't able to speak either. His eyes seemed to struggle with composure just as her head was.

This day was five years before the arrival of the Purple Mist that Althea was in her hut entranced and held captive by those vivid, green eyes. She would always remember the first time she met him on this day in her hut where the course of her life turned away from all it knew before to another destination she never could have dreamed. Unlike her nightmares, there was no Mist that came in after him, no claws at the door. Just his eyes looking into her eyes.

Durai finally came out of the near trance he was held under when he stood before Althea and took in fully how beautiful she truly was. "Healer, I have a man … I mean..." Even Durai was surprised at how like a rambling fool he sounded, so unlike his noble stature and impeccable nature he prided himself in all his life. Surprised, but he was also charmingly amused. "Apologies, Healer. One of my men is badly injured. I was able to get him to the edge of the village, but I can't chance moving him further. I ask please that you come with me to him. Please see what you can do for him."

Althea found still no breath for words and simply nodded and gathered an emergency bag of supplies she kept on a shelf near the door to the hut. Bad injuries seldom happened; most people are able to bring themselves to a Healer's hut for treatment. On the rare occasions that this could not happen, a Healer always had an emergency bag to rush out instantly to help extreme cases. Durai watched her movements as she left the hut ahead of him. She was also graceful like him but not in a way that was high in the air but more rooted to the earth. He was in awe of her more and more.

Althea paused as she walked out of the hut. She was in such a rush to help that she didn't realize she needed him to go first to know where she was going. Durai came out of the hut and remembered his urgency and changed his fast walk into a graceful run. Althea followed keeping up admirably despite being notably smaller than he was.

After they crossed the barricades of the city, small though they were, Althea could see a man on his back lying on the ground barely lifting his head. She immediately passed her escort to be by this man's side. He had the uniform of a guard at court, but the front was torn in many places, and she found the injury fast. He had a deep gash in his abdomen, very deep. She could see broken sinew of muscle and even the softness further deep of precious organs exposed from the gash. There was blood beginning to pool around him, and she was terrified.

There are times that people are injured or ill beyond the skills of Healer. There were some things even the Magic of the earth could not fix and courses that could not be altered. This man, Althea thought, could be past the point of help. She looked from the wound to Durai and saw the worry for her guard. Perhaps they were even friends. She didn't need to say that he was very badly hurt, this was obvious. She didn't say that she may not even be able to help him, for if this man felt confident that he could, there wouldn't be a sign of worry and dread.

Althea put her soft and nimble hands comfortingly against the guard's cheek and gave him a soft smile. She pulled the man's arms away from holding his wounds and parted the pieces of cloth that remained of his uniform. She closed her eyes to concentrate. She would try with all that was within her to do what seemed impossible. No matter what the circumstances, she always helped, even if it was hopeless; even if she were sure to fail. Everyone deserved the chance.

She reached for the song deep within the earth and pulled straight from her soul. The ground turned warmer and the breeze carried floral scents Durai hadn't noticed before. Althea laid her hands on the wound and sang. She radiated in otherworldly melody, and her hands glowed. The guard's eyes went from the terror of his painful gash to stunned awe at what he was hearing. Durai was held captive by the scene as well. Both men couldn't believe in dreams or in all Magic that such a song could ever exist. The guard even began to have tears roll down his face; it was just so utterly beautiful.

The strength of her song changed as she pushed even harder for her powers to do the impossible. The song swelled with hope and determination, different but still breathtakingly beautiful. The guard felt relief like a drug radiate from his abdomen to reach every part of his body. He lowered his upper half still leaning on his elbow to rest fully horizontal on the ground. He felt at peace.

Althea couldn't believe it herself, but the wound started slowly to heal. Her skills may even be enough to save this man. She continued to sing, rocking as she did to pull as much Magic from the earth into her song as she possibly could. The glowing moved even beyond her hands up her arms. Durai couldn't mask how shocked and impressed he felt. He began to smile. He began to plan.

The healing grew faster and faster as her song became more and more intense and indistinguishable from very breath of the earth. It was Ancient and new, indescribably complex and yet basic and simple. The ground beneath the guard welcomed in it the blood spilled forth and returned flowers as if by a miracle. The breeze about the small group danced with what seemed like joy and pride at the music and purity of purpose.

Finally the singing slowed and quieted until the last traces of it were carried away on the slowing breeze. Althea was just as much in shock over her showing of skill as Durai and his guard. She had no idea that she had within her such a powerful, Ancient song. The man was healed almost completely leaving only what seemed a scratch. But she had saved him when she thought for sure she was beyond healing.

"How did this happen? This was really a terrible wound." Althea had seen severe wounds before from the men in the village that would go out and hunt or the builders of grand structures involved in accidents. But this gash seemed different and frightening.

The two men looked at each other with severity. Durai spoke for his man, "It was an accident in the woods. His horse, it got spooked. He was thrown from the horse and landed on his sword." The guard lowered his head almost as if in shame though it was a completely understandable accident. He must have a high sense of duty, Althea thought to herself.

The guard slowly got to his feet and was joyfully surprised he was able to stand without pain. He truly was safely mended. He looked into her eyes with tears in them and said, "My lady, you have my sincerest gratitude, and I am truly in your debt. May you be blessed." He took one last look of her to save her face within his mind, and walked confidently away from her towards horses she never noticed before waiting patiently and loyally not too far off.

Leaving behind only Althea and Durai together.

"What is your name, Healer?" Durai asked. The trace of his smile was still on his face making him even more handsome and beguiling. Althea felt the blood warm her cheeks in what was surely the most embarrassing blush as the sight of his approving smile and request. In reality, the new color in her cheeks made her glow radiantly, and Durai completely surrender within himself to the spell she was casting over him.

"My name is Althea, sir."

"Althea, I am Durai, and I have never seen a Healer do something like that. I'm truly astonished. I thought for sure my man would die. You are," he paused as if any words he could find would be woefully inadequate, "an angel."

Althea flushed even more and smiled herself. She couldn't believe that this was happening. Even if he walked away now, got on his horse, and rode away into memory, she would be warmed from this meeting the rest of her life she thought.

Perhaps she dreamed and fantasized so hard that she could actually feel his hands take hers. No, it was real. She looked down in shock and excitement despite every attempt to reflect his calm, noble composure. "Just don't faint!" she thought.

"Come back with me," she heard him say. Durai tried to search for words to convince her with all his charm, all his persuasion. But he still found himself like a bumbling fool just staring at her.

As it turns out, he didn't have to.

"I will."