This was the part where heroine fainted or the chapter ended and the next one opened on her sickbed. Real life unfortunately didn't fast-forward through the ugly, uncomfortable parts though and so she was still very much there and so was her brother, so was everyone else beyond her four falls. Gaius couldn't know yet or else he'd surely have confronted her about it, oh Merlin he'd never look at her kindly again. Who would believe her if she said it had been nothing more than letters? Who was she to suggest the letters weren't bad enough on their own?
She was vaguely aware that her brother had stood up and was walking across the room but it wasn't until he settled near her on the floor that she actually registered it properly. He didn't say anything. For at least half a minute neither did she, not until she finally worked up the courage to speak again. "How bad is it?" Her voice was little more than a whisper and the closest she could get to looking him in the eye was staring rigidly at one of his shoulders.
She was vaguely aware that her brother had stood up and was walking across the room but it wasn't until he settled near her on the floor that she actually registered it properly. He didn't say anything. For at least half a minute neither did she, not until she finally worked up the courage to speak again. "How bad is it?" Her voice was little more than a whisper and the closest she could get to looking him in the eye was staring rigidly at one of his shoulders.
