"Oh, my love!"
Alex rushed to Meredith and embraced her gently. She was reclining on the bed, looking pale and worn.
"You're finally back!" she cried.
The moment she heard his voice outside the door, her heart had leapt, but her body, too weak to rise, had kept her in place. So, she simply waited, letting him come to her.
Alex pulled back slightly, cupping her face in his hands.
"What happened to you? Why did you let yourself get like this?"
Meredith offered a faint smile.
"I did nothing much, just the usual. I'm not sure why I became so exhausted. It just started a few days ago."
"Lies," Alex said, his voice tight with worry. "Lady Mills told me everything. If you needed help, you should've said something. I would've come back for you!"
She let out a soft chuckle and reached up to touch his face.
"Well… you're here now, aren't you?"
The knight let out a frustrated sigh.
"If I'd known, I wouldn't have waited for the trial to end and come home much sooner."
