Note to self: Worst.Day.Ever.

Finally, after a few moments, the young man's eyes opened. Their golden color was dimmer than usual, and his vision still wasn't the best. Even so, he was alive, and that was all that mattered. He looked at his fiance, soon to be sister-in-law, and his brother, and the smallest of smiles came to his face.

Sabriel's eyes just went wide. He had no clue was to say, so he just turned to Mery. "He's awake," the boy said.

Nicolas laughed softly and weakly. "Yes, I do suppose I should," he said to her, smiling when she touched his cheek. He would have lifted his hand to touch hers, but he was just too weak to do so. The young man had lost a lot of blood, which obviously wasn't good or healthy.

He loved her, he loved her more than anything or anyone in the whole entire world. He was glad he hadn't died; he didn't want to be without his loved ones, or them to be without him.

"So, did anything exciting happen while I was out?" he asked, doubting that he had missed anything too important, but wanting to ask anyway. His voice was still weak, but even so, he wanted to talk to them.

Sabriel smiled widely now, glad to see that his older brother was awake, and talking and laughing at that. He still didn't say anything, but it was more than apparent that he was happy to see Nicolas acting like himself. Plus, if he was awake so soon and so unexpectedly, then he would probably make it through this.