Alright, One more trip in to the past before we get back to the story. Magnus is in rough shape in the present, but 30 years ago...it was Alice who needed care....

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30 Years Earlier ~

Magnus

The new slave quarters Magnus had commissioned were not yet finished, and he had no intentions of putting the frail human woman in such drafty accommodations. Instead, Magnus decided to set Alice up in the largest of his guest rooms.

Helping her from her filthy, ragged clothes with care, he ran Alice a warm bath, and lowered her body into the soothing water. Magnus cleaned her wounds as best he could, trying to ignore the continued guilt he felt seeing her battered body.

The animal was skeletal. Her clothing had masked that fact, but seeing Alice naked it was all too clear how much she had wasted away during her incarceration. How many pounds had she lost? he wondered. He could feel her wince in pain with every touch to her sores, but not once did she complain or cry out. Were any of the injuries she had sustained life threatening? Magnus feared to voice his fears.

It was not just her emaciation or recent injuries that disturbed him. Magnus could not believe the extensive scars she carried on her back, the amount of old bruises still not healed. It seemed Dulane was even more of a monster than he'd suspected. Each wound he found furthered the immense feeling of protectiveness he felt for the poor abused creature who'd saved his life.

Wrapping Alice in a towel Magnus dried her body, cradling her in his arms as he might a small child, and helped her to bed. He did everything he could to ensure her comfort. Dressing her in one of his own fine silk shirts, so big on her small frame, he propped pillows behind her back and covered her in as many down quilts as it took to stop her shivering, hoping that his efforts would have some effect.

Alice said little as he worked, her body weak, perhaps too weak to protest to his care. He feared that she was slipping but nonetheless, the courageous creature forced a smile to her lips when she saw his concerned expression rain down on her.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "Thank you, Magnus. You... too kind... I can't repay."

Magnus shook his head, taking her thin hand in his own, rubbing his thumb along the back of it gently.

"Hush," he said. "Sleep now."

It was not long before the human's eyes closed, but Magnus could not sleep himself. Pulling a chair beside the bed he spent the whole night in vigil over her, waiting at the ready should Alice need his care.

———

Two days later, he saw no improvement in her condition. The wound on her left leg had only become more inflamed and was hot to the touch. He had little doubt it was infected and it was clear she had contracted a fever as well. Her weakness was frightening to him.

Aside from the intermittent murmurs of pain, the human spoke little, her consciousness fading in and out in a fevered haze. Her bed sheets were drenched in sweat and though he tried to keep cooling compresses on her head, the heat of her body seemed to be unresponsive to his efforts. But Alice rejected the idea of his calling for a doctor.

"I will be fine," she assured him, staring at Magnus through glassy eyes. "I only need more rest."

Magnus knew she feared allowing another sibla to examine her and had right to do so. Many would likely advise he put his new slave down rather than waste any more effort to keep her in life. They might even demand it to prevent the spread of disease amongst other local human stock. Still, he could not ignore her worsening health. When she refused yet another offer of food and barely managed to sit up long enough for him to force a glass of water past her dry, cracked lips, Magnus knew he had to do something or else let death take her.

"The leg is infected Alice," he said, sitting beside her taking her hand gently in his own. "Surely you must know this. And you are ill. I don't want to loose you."

Alice's eyes blinked, trying to focus on his voice as she turned her head towards him. "If you truly wish to help," she breathed, "will you do as I say?" Even in her weakened voice he could hear her fear to speak so boldly. But Magnus smiled at her, squeezing her hand in reassurance.

"If you know of a way I might help I will follow your every command," he answered, and meant it. "Whatever it takes to make you well again."

The woman closed her eyes as tears slipped down her cheeks.

"What's wrong?" he asked with concern. "Are you in pain?"

Alice shook her head slightly as she opened her eyes again. "I am merely so grateful," she replied. "Your kindness is more than I deserve."

Magnus put a hand on her shoulder. "Tell me what I must do."

Alice proceeded to give him a long list of ingredients which Magnus was quick to collect, in spite of the strange looks given him by the sibla staff who ran his estate. He wondered what report they were giving to his brother on Magnus's obsession with his new human slave. He decided he didn't care.

Taking the herbs she had requested to her room, Magnus stood beside her bed listening attentively to Alice's instruction on preparing the poultice she required and applying it to her wounds, patient with her detailed tutelage. He gathered the medicine she requested, begging prescription under false pretenses that he himself had been ill and changing the dosage to her specifications.

Magnus marveled at Alice's apparent skill in the art of healing. It was only a few days before her parlor became markedly improved and her fever retreated. Soon she was able to take food in addition to the tea he had ordered prepared to Alice's specifications. Another four days later she insisted on being allowed crutches so she might abandon her bed, and before long, Alice was moving from her room to explore Magnus's home, and soon after, his estate as well, taking advantage of the warm weather to wander.

For his part, Magnus allowed her full freedom to do as she pleased as he went back to his daily activities, finally convinced that her recovery was assured.

When Alice expressed her horror at the meals his surly kitchen maid offered and insisted that he allow her access to his kitchens Magnus readily agreed to this as well and was glad he did. It seemed Alice's skill at healing was matched only by her culinary prowess. The meals she prepared for him, in spite of his maid's protests, were more impressive than any other he had ever tasted.

It was not long before he fired his maid altogether, a choice that was not difficult to make. The sibla woman refused to work with a human, but Magnus had no intention of going back to the subpar meals she had prepared. In fact, Alice was clearly more than capable to take on every task the sibla woman had performed with her lackadaisical efforts. Never before had his home been so well cleaned and cared for.

"I was in charge of my Master's kitchens," Alice explained one night as he complimented yet another exquisite dish. "Cedrick Dulane was quite particular in the meals we served him. Only the best was tolerated."

Magnus shuddered to imagine what the man might have done to his slaves if they failed to meet his lofty standards. Did she think he might be the same?

Alice must have noticed his discomfort at her words because she gave Magnus a small smile to ease his concerns. "I learned to quite enjoy cooking though," she assured him. "It relaxes me. And no doubt my skill was partly what spared my life for so long. I am grateful for that."

Magnus was certain she was right. Still, he hated the idea that she might feel as if she was now required to put so much effort towards pleasing him as she had her former master.

"You know you are not required to do anything for me at all," he said.

Alice frowned at the comment. "How else can I possibly repay even a fraction of my debt?" she replied.

Magnus shook his head. "Without your intervention, I would be dead," he said. "You owe me nothing at all, and I do not wish for you to do anything you do not want to do."

Alice didn't answer, staring at him with the same strange expressionless expression she had that night sitting by the fire when she'd expected him to take her life. Was she still skeptical of his words? He wondered. Had he not done everything to prove his sincere desire to care for her?

"Will you join me?" Magnus asked, gesturing to the meal in front of him. "There is far too much for me to finish on my own." He watched her expression morph to one of surprise and confusion. She hesitated.

"Please," he insisted. "I would love your company."

It was another moment before a hint of a smile broke across her lips and Alice nodded, taking a seat across from him and accepting the plate he handed her.

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Sigh....anyone else getting the feels? I mean their relationship developed so sweetly. Now that you have a clearer picture of Alice and Mangus's past do you feel differently about them? Of course, it doesn't matter much in the present ...Magnus is clearly in really bad shape:-(. Magnus was able to care for Alice when she was in similar danger, but what will happen now? Alice is not a sibla after all...there will only be so much she can do:-/ Next update coming on Monday. It's a very short chapter so you will get 3 chapters next week:-)