Quinn nodded. "Alright. Let me know if you change your mind." He replied softly.
The guard kept working, stitching up the wound now.
Aster flinched, squeezing Charlotte's hand again as another ragged cry tore its way from his mouth.
Charlotte nodded, wincing again slightly and putting her other hand over her mouth.
The guard gently held Aster still as he finished up the stitching, packing clean clothes around the wound and strapping Aster down so he wouldn't move. "Try to make sure he stays as still and flat as possible." He said, standing. "I'm going to see if we can coax any more speed out of these horses." He swung out of the carriage, climbing along it and into the drivers seat.
Quinn wiped his hands on his pants, leaving smears of blood behind.
Charlotte breathed slowly, barely moving. She was having trouble focusing on anything, but had recently realised that her arm was throbbing. Whatever. She'd deal with it later.
The carriage picked up speed.
Quinn sat down to avoid being flung around.
Aster let out another soft cry, a tear slipping down his cheek at the pain.
Charlotte looked up again and quietly said, "deep breaths, Aster." She took a breath of her own.
Aster blinked, trying to do as she said.
Quinn bit his lip, and walked over, crouching and smoothing back some of Aster's hair. "Hey, we're getting you to a healer. Just hang in there, okay?"
Charlotte nodded in agreement before unfocusing again, staring at a spot on the wall. "Just hang on," she whispered softly. She couldn't recall who had said that to her, but she had a vague memory of it.
Aster nodded slowly, chest rising and falling quickly with each breath.
Charlotte blinked several times, refocusing. She briefly looked around before examining the floor. It must have been an interesting floor.
Quinn put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, he'll be fine. Aster doesn't die easy. Trust me." he said softly.
Charlotte pressed her lips together so she wouldn't cry, and shook her head. "It's my fault," she whispered shakily.
Quinn frowned slightly. "It isn't." he replied. "I know why you think it is, but it really isn't." he said softly, rubbing her back gently.
Aster was silent, staring at the ceiling and blinking.
"Yes, it is!" Charlotte cried. "It's completely and entirely my fault and I should've been stabbed instead," she closed her eyes for several moments and wiped a tear from her cheek.
Quinn shook his head. "It isn't your fault, Charlotte. Yes, you may have distracted him, but did you stab him? No. Someone else did. You didn't wield the sword. It isn't your fault." he said firmly.
"I didn't wield the sword, but - I was the reason the sword struck," she argued, distraught. She absentmindedly went to scratch her arm, and hissed quietly. Somehow, she kept forgetting about that. She'd never thrown a real person before, and the cut was different, probably deeper than before.
"He probably would have gotten hurt either way, Charlotte. He would say the same thing I am. This isn't your fault." Quinn replied softly, still rubbing her back gently.
Charlotte pressed her hands over her eyes as though that would stop the tears. She took several shaky breaths before looking up again. "Gods, I'm being selfish," she muttered, drying her eyes and fanning her face to calm herself down.
Quinn shook his head. "No, you aren't. You're being human." he gave a wry smile. "Really. It's perfectly normal."
"Just because it's normal, doesn't make it right," she sniffed quietly and focused in breathing again.
Quinn shrugged. "Isn't that what decides right and wrong? The general consciousness?"
Charlotte shook her head. "Every person decides what is right or wrong for them to do, she stated. "And I will have to apologise later."
Quinn shrugged again. "Ah. And you can apologise, that's your choice. I'm just telling you that it isn't your fault."
Charlotte closed her eyes. "It is, but thank you."
"It isn't, and you're welcome." Quinn replied.
Aster was watching them, though it was doubtful how much he wad actually understanding through the pain.
Charlotte shook her head with a dry half-smile and stared out the window.
The carriage was going along at a fast clip, headed for the nearest town.
Aster was silent.
Charlotte eventually curled up in the corner and fell asleep. This was the the first time she'd slept while in the carriage. It was a very different experience from what she was used to.
Quinn kept an eye on Aster worriedly. True, the other male had been injured before, but never like this.
Charlotte shifted slightly and shivered.