Mari hesitated but moved to let the horse rest on her lap, though eventually, the mare's head moved to the floor, though the girl kept on reassuring her with soft pats. It had to be at least twenty minutes later by the time the mare had gotten herself up again, but the little filly was still on the ground... trying but clearly failing to get up at all. It could take a couple of hours, so they'd probably need someone to watch the two animals for a little while. The grey mare seemed to have taken to the youngster quite nicely, though... already looking after the little thing, licking it clean and making sure it was healthy. Granted, the mare was shaking and looked to barely be standing on her own, but she was being a good mother, that was for sure. Mari was definitely worried about the foal, though, even if it seemed to be in good condition. It was small, and she didn't think it was due for a good few weeks yet. The weather was only just warming up, but not at all livable for a feeble-looking animal... but she supposed they'd just have to wait and see. Watch the youngster for a few days and see how she got on. She looked over at Sage and gave a slight look of relief to the boy... but he almost seemed too exhausted to notice. She frowned a little but picked up the blankets she'd gotten and slowly made her way over to him, making sure to steer clear of the new mother and her filly. "I knew these would come in handy for something," she told the boy gently as she unfolded one and went to wrap it around his shoulders. He'd be weary... very weary, or she assumed so. She knew very well that he'd been terrified of letting anything happen to the horse... and he'd done a good job of making sure everything went alright, even if that wasn't really his duty. But right now, he was covered in blood and sweat and it certainly wasn't pretty. He was still healing, and right at that moment, he was very exposed to all kinds of illnesses. She could call a guard with more... horsey experience to come and watch the two, and she needed to get this boy inside and cleaned up... and, well, warm. But she also expected that he'd want to sit with the animals for a little while. She tugged the blanket around the boy's sides a little more and gave him a gentle smile before placing a friendly hand on his cheek. "You did so well," she told the boy lightly as she sat down just in front of him. "But why don't we go and get you cleaned up... then you can come back out and see them again," she offered quietly.

Sage was just sort of staring at the two horses, until he felt the blanket wrap around his shoulders. He blinked and looked over at Mari, who was kneeling next to him. He blinked tiredly at her and then gave her a thankful grin for the blanket ...he was wet now, and cold. Very cold. He sighed and nodded at her offer, knowing he wouldn't be much use to the horses if he froze to death or got an infection. His wrist was...well, really dirty, and suseptible to infection, since it wasn't quite healed yet. He was too tired to argue anyway, and it was good for the two of them to bond. The horses...not him and Mari. Though, the compliment she gave him did warm his heart a bit. He was worried about the foal, but they had a few hours until they could come back and expect the foal to be standing. He sort of quietly reached a hand out for some help getting up...he did make sure it was the more clean one. Not that either were necessarily clean. He just wasn't sure he could make it up and out himself right about then, and he was too tired to even try.

Mari helped the boy up after a moment or so, and gave him a small smile. To be honest, she was covered in horse sweat and slobber, and it wasn't particularly comfortable for her, but at least she wasn't soaked through the way Sage was. Once he was up, she gently patted the boy on the back and helped guide him out of the stable. She shouted for a guard she was pretty close with to just keep an eye on the mare and foal... she certainly didn't want the boy coming back to find a dead foal and a stressed out and grieving mare. There was a strange quiet in the air as they walked back, but it wasn't uncomfortable... rather they were both very, very relieved about the whole thing. She smiled at the doctor as they passed, though it was an almost nervous one... she didn't want the man to get angry with her for letting the boy deal with the horses the way he had... she was fitter, so she should have done a little more rather than just sit at the mares head while Sage did all the work. But she foal would have probably died if she'd tried to do what Sage had done. And the mare too, for that matter. Once in Sage's little room, she sat him down and went to grab him a small glass of water before reappearing to give it to him, then she went away again for about another ten minutes. When she got back, she handed the boy a towel and cocked her head towards the bathroom in the ward. "I've run a bath for you... go get cleaned up. I'll have dinner out by the time you're done," she told him lightly, a bit of a smile on her face. She then gestured towards the bathroom again. "Go on. You can eat once you're out and then see to the horses again."

Sage padded along next to the girl on the way back to the castle, too tired to do anything but put one foot in front of the other. They passed the doctor, who gave them an odd look, but the boys wasn't hurt, just messy, and he had Mari with him, so...he'd be alright. She'd get him cleaned up and warm. Besides, he was with another patient so he couldn't just leave. Sage sipped at the water the girl handed him, barely noticing she'd left. It was nice to drink something...he'd been more thirsty than he'd realized. He half jumped when the girl came back in, though he just nodded tiredly when she instructed him to take a bath. He slid off his bed and wandered into the bathroom slowly, sinking into the clean water thankfully. Normally, he wouldn't care if he was a mess, but this was sticky and gross and a bit different from mud. Well, either way, he didn't really care. He lay there for a bit, letting the water clean him off before he slipped out and dried himself off. He took the soiled bandages off, and found a clean set of clothes outside the tub. Maybe the doctor had dropped them off...or maybe the girl. He supposed it didn't really matter. He slipped them on and then wandered out. He'd have to clean and rebandage his wrists, and the girl had told him to eat ...but he really just wanted to sleep, so he just curled up on his bed under the pile of blankets in there, since he was always cold, and passed out practically as soon as he closed his eyes.

The girl went to sort the food out once the boy had disappeared into the bathroom. It'd been cooking pretty much all day... and to be fair, she was very exited about it. There was enough for about seven or eight people, which was the few patients in the ward, the doctor and her own family. Well, her own family would have to eat a bit less, but it was something - and, well, it was free. She came back in about an hour with nicely laid out plates for the people in the ward. She went to the doctor with a grin once she'd given everyone else their plates, and handed one to him when his patient left. "You'll never guess what happened today," she chirped lightly as she went to sit in a corner next to him... Sage was asleep now, so she could afford to talk about how completely and utterly in awe of the boy she was. He'd been so... not brave, but that was kind of what she was going for. So determined to look after the mare and foal, and that was definitely something to be admired.

The doctor turned to look at the girl and raised his eyebrows slightly at the girl's chirp. "Well, I have a feeling you're about to tell me whether I know what happened or not," he hummed in a rather amused manner. He took a bite of the meat, waving the girl on. She could talk about it...he was awfully curious as to why the boy had come back to the castle like that. He was probably sound asleep by now, if he knew the boy, but no doubt he'd be right back out... wherever he'd gone. Probably the barn. But he was confused about what had taken place, so he'd listen. Besides, he did like the girl.

Maria nodded lightly at the man and gave another big grin, one that seemed almost too big for her face. "Well, we were out feeding the horses, and this grey mare... Snowball?... went into labour. Which, I have to say is very strange because it's a good few weeks early." She furrowed her brows slightly at that thought, remembering that this was a very... fragile filly. And mare, really. She shook her head slightly and looked back to the doctor with bright eyes. "But the issue was that this foal was breach. The poor mare was in agony - so he gave her a shot for the pain...." she briefly went over everything that Sage had done for the stressed mare, her voice so... exited. She sounded like a child, really. "Then about a quarter of an hour later, a pretty little black filly with a black blaze showed her face. I reckon she'll gray out with time, though," the girl chirped lightly as she pulled her legs up into the chair. "I've never seen someone so determined to help an animal like that. It really was very sweet," she added with a light chuckle.

The doctor ate while the girl talked. It took quite a while, but he was interested in the story. Sage had ...helped birth a foal? It was odd, but not unlikely he supposed...he spent enough time down there with the animals to know a bit about what happened. He was sure he'd seen other mares go into labor before. He hummed and chuckled once the girl finished, nodding slightly. "The boys always had a way with animals," he hummed fondly. "He's spent more time down in that barn than anywhere else. All those years ago and now...that black stallion has a rather special place in his heart though...and I think this little filly will too." He was proud of the boy, he really was. But...he couldn't help but make a joke. "That explains why he looked like he was the one who just popped out of the mare. Would explain his kule like personality," he chuckled lightly, teasing the boy slightly. "If he didn't finish feeding all the horses he'll be in a tizzy when he wakes up," he commented. "Try and get him to eat something and then help him finish. He'll still be tired but the boys stubborn so he'll just sneak out alone otherwise." He sat back in his chair, done eating by then. 'hes a good kid. He just needs some help," he hummed.

Mari nodded lightly to the man, and an agreeing smile crossed her face when he spoke of the boy. He wasn't so bad - well, not as bad as she thought he'd be. He was stubborn like the doctor had told her, and she knew that she'd never be able to get him to stay put once he was on the go. "I think he got the mares done... in foal and without, and I did all the geldings. Just the stallions left I think, and by the looks of the board, they only get like a handful of oats each, and we've already made those up. Hopefully, he's not too stressed about it as you say. It won't take long for us to sort them out," she noted lightly. She nodded lightly when he told her to make sure he ate... it was an amusing thought, really. She'd spent hours on this... the boy wasn't going to get away with not eating anything. "I'll shove it down his throat if I have to, I swear it," she chuckled lightly. She really would, too.

The doctor chuckled and nodded, getting up to set his dishes down by the sink and patting the girl on her shoulder as he went past. "I'm sure you will," he chuckled. "You're very good for him, you know. He needs someone like you. The princess, too." He nodded as he spoke, knowing that someone a bit bossy but nice and gentle and comforting he could learn to trust was exactly what the boy needed. "He needs some good friends...he'll likely try to push you away at first, but eventually he'll grow to be a good friend." He looked over at the girl and nodded again. 'and once you get his loyalty, there's nothing the boy won't do for you." He wrinkled his nose then, huffing out a breath. "Except eat or take a shower," he snorted.