"No, I plan on staying here, with you. I know how lonely this place can be without company." Marian paused and looked him in the eye. She could do that now, he would see it. "That is if you want my company? You might prefer to brood in silence." There was a touch of teasing. After all who would she be if she didn't tease him a little? Even if it were only to hide the presence of butterflies in her stomach.
She found herself holding her breath as he held her finger so close. She didn't realize until he released it and she released the breath. "Indeed." She chuckled softly. Though her tone had changed, just a little. As if it wasn't really suffering. Or perhaps she didn't truly find it suffering. In spite of the repeated stings to her finger.
"You heard that did you? I can't do it far distances, but I forgot myself. I do mean sickly, I have never heard anyone claim I was sickly-sweet." But she didn't feel any of the pain she had been, nor did she shake as if she were over taxing herself. "I think if we continue working together that I might be back to my oldself before to long. Again, that is if you wish to, there is no pressure if you don't." But she did honestly hope he did. She looked forward to their time together.
Marian's expression changed to a thoughtful one. As she thought over the fellows she remembered, and cleaned their wounds. "I'm not sure the 'phantom limb' feeling ever goes away completely. I often heard it said that men that lost their hands, fingers or other parts, they could still feel them as if they were there. There was one man who lost his leg in the crusades that said that he had already fallen a number of times before remembering to stop and put on his substitute, or grab a crutch." Though the man had been in good spirits at the time. They always seemed so grateful whenever she came. Her gaze shifted back to his face, her lower lip caught between her teeth, just a little. "Exactly." That boldness had her leaning forward, reaching to gently brush his cheek with the edge of her knuckles. Something she hadn't dared do before. "It is a very nice face."