Feeling Ill: Mala and Chris

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I had gone to visit Geraldine the day before, we had gone out for drinks but she wasn't feeling well and we parted early. The next morning I woke beside Mala, not feeling so good myself. Stumbling to the bathroom, I emptied my stomach in a rather unpleasant fashion. Gods, it looked like this flu was going to hit with a vengeance. I was boiling up, and my stomach was still rolling. I wondered if I should bother returning to the bedroom, or if I should camp here for a little bit until my stomach settled.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

I woke to the sounds of Christophe being ill. Rising from the bed, I padded into the bathing room, still blinking the sleep from my eyes.

“Love?” I asked softly, locating him in the dim light and going to him. “What’s wrong?”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Oh, I'm sick," I replied. I inwardly cringed at how pitiful I sounded. "Geraldine wasn't feeling so well yesterday, I think I caught whatever bug she had. I have a fever don't I?"

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

I pressed my lips to his forehead. “Yes,” I said softly, then stroked my fingers through this damp hair. “Oh, my poor boy.”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

My stomach rolled again, and I just closed my eyes and concentrated on not retching. Once it had passed I spoke again. "Do you think you could get a basin for me? I think I want to lie down." Gods, today was not going to be fun. I just prayed that it was one of those bugs that was quick to hit and quick to leave. And that Mala wouldn't catch it.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

“Of course. Can you make it back to bed on your own?” I asked, growing more worried by the moment. Christophe was never physically weak. Gods, after some of the things I’d done to his flesh I think I’d come to believe he was invincible.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

My hand went to hers at the worry in her voice, and I squeezed it reassuringly. "Yes of course. I'm not dying." I managed a tease, then stood up. My stomach protested and I had to put a hand against the wall to steady myself, but it passed after a moment. "See?" I asked with a little smile, dropping my hand.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

I gasped softly when he had to brace himself against the wall, even if only for a moment.

“Alright, go lay down and I’ll be right there,” I said, moving out of his way. Every bit of sleep had fled me and now there was a cold, slimy knot of worry and fear in my stomach.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I hated the worry in her voice, and that I had caused it. I got back to bed without further incident, pulling the covers over myself. I was suddenly freezing cold, and the added blankets didn't feel like they were helping at all. I just lay there and concentrated on keeping my stomach in place at least until Mala returned with the basin.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

Snatching a robe from its hook, I wrapped it around myself and quickly headed downstairs. I collected the basin for Christophe and a bowl of cool water and clothes. I left orders for tea to be made and brought upstairs; the ginger tea I enjoyed for its spice was also excellent for nausea.

Hurrying back upstairs, I returned to the bedroom. The light in the bedroom was better than what had been in the bathroom and my worry only grew. He looked so pale and weak. I put the basin into place on his side of the bed and then placed the bowl and clothes on my side. Dipping a cloth in the water, I wrung it out and then climbed up to kneel beside him, placing the cloth on his forehead.

“This might help,” I said softly.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Thanks love," I murmured. Gods, it had been so long since I had been sick. I hated the helplessness of it. "I'm sorry. I know you have things you should be doing."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

“This is what I should be doing,” I replied. I wrung out another cloth and began gently wiping the sweat from the back of his neck.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I didn't bother disagreeing, even in my state I recognized when she wasn't to be argued with. I simply tried to enjoy her soothing attentions with the cloth. Unfortunately, my stomach had other ideas, and I had to lean over to the basin and hang on. Gods I was not having fun.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

My worry had backed off a little as I focused on soothing him, but it flared again as he got ill. I managed to snatch the cloth from his forehead to keep it from getting in his way, putting it back in the water to cool off. It was already hot from being on his skin.

There was a knock on the door and the tea was brought in. I had them set it on my side of the bed and sent them away for now.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I curled up on my side after my last bought. My abdomen ached from the heaving, and I was still freezing cold. I just closed my eyes. I knew the servants had come and gone, but I had been too focused on other things at the time, and now I didn't care to see if they had left anything.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

I used the other clothe to wipe his mouth, and then set it aside. He was shivering and I got up, retrieving a heavy quilt from the press and bringing it to the bed. It was a struggle, but I got it on the bed and over him.

“Can you handle some tea?” I asked softly. “I had them make a mild ginger tea. It should help your stomach.”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

Nothing was going to heat me up, but the weight of the quilt was very comforting about me. At her question I nodded. Even if my stomach rejected the tea, it would bringing up something. I had not so fond memories of dry heaving the last time I had come down with the flu. "Let's try it."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

I’d had them pour a half a cup so it could start cooling, and carefully I brought it to his lips, my other hand slipping under his head to help steady it. “It should be cool enough to drink.”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I sipped at the tea, only sheer force of will keeping it down. My stomach was not happy with me, not happy at all. But at least the liquid soothed my throat, something I hadn't realized was sore until now, doubtless because my concentration had been elsewhere.

"Last time you held my head up to drink, it was because I was tied to the bed," I jested weakly once I had forced the tea down.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

I smiled at the memory, shifting so he could lay his head in my lap and stroking my fingers through his hair.

“I remember,” I said softly. “It was good practice for now.”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"I'm glad you're here with me Mala," I said, just as soft. Things didn't seem quite as bad when she was stroking my hair like that.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

“I’m glad I’m here too,” I said, my fingers still running through his hair. “I wish I could make you better.”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

A wave of nausea threatened despite the tea, and it was a moment before I could answer. "Just don't get sick yourself love," I told her at a whisper. "That would be even worse."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

“I’ll do my best,” I said, trying to be reassuring. I leaned in and pressed my lips to his forehead again. “You’re so hot. I think I should send for the chirrugeon.”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"I'm sure I'll be fine, I just need to sleep it off," I told her with a weak smile. "It's just a flu, no need to bother a professional."

And then, as if to prove my words wrong, I started to cough. It hurt, not because it was that bad, just because it felt like I had been punched several times in the gut. I moaned a little, trying to breath normally.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

“Oh gods,” I whispered, my heart frozen with fear and I could feel tears in my eyes.

“This isn’t just flu,” I told him. “You’re getting worse too fast.”

Not wanting to leave him long enough to fetch a servant, I pulled the cord by the bed that rang the call bell. The door opened immediately, they must have been waiting outside. I gave orders to send for a chirrugeon, with understood threats of what would happen if they returned without one, and for the basin to be replaced.

That done, I focused on Christophe again, trying desperately to hide my fear as I stroked his hair.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I wanted to sleep while we waited for the chirrugeon, or at least doze, but the coughing kept me awake and kept my abdomen clenched in a little knot. It hurt, and not a good hurt that Mala could so often provide.

I don't know how long it took for the chirrugeon to arrive, but by that time the fever had switched over and now I was sweating from the warmth instead of shivering from the cold. He had me stick out my tongue after hearing me cough, and had me take off my shirt. I hadn't realized how damp my clothing was until I went to remove it.

"He has la scarlatine." The chirrugeon tried to keep his voice down while he spoke to Malabelle, but I could still hear him. "He needs to stay in bed, and he needs to be kept in isolation for at least a week. Try baths and cold packs, and keep him away from meat and eggs as well, I've found it helps. It also helps that he his young and strong. It should pass my lady."

"What, no steak?" I asked jokingly, then coughed again.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

I tried to stay out of the way while Christophe was examined, my arms wrapped around myself and adamant that I wouldn’t cry in front of a stranger.

When the chirrugeon began to talk to me, my resolve failed and I felt hot tears stream down my cheeks. I nodded, unable to speak around the lump in my throat. He pulled two bottles from his bag. “These will help ease the cough,” he said, handing them to me. I felt his stare get strong. “Watch yourself, my lady, this is very contagious.”

Nodding again, I still couldn’t speak as I went to the coffer and withdrew far more coins than he would ask for, but pressed them into his hand anyway. Nodding, he touched my arm gently and then left. I shut the door behind him, resting my head against for a moment and trying to gather my strength. It didn’t work.

Picking up one of the bottles from where I’d set it on the dresser, I returned to Christophe. “Here, you should take some,” I said softly.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Don't cry my love," I murmured, my hand going to her cheek, a thumb wiping the wetness away. I hated to see her like this. "Please don't cry."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

“I’m sorry,” I said, blinking away the next batch of tears that threatened. He didn’t need to worry about me right now. He needed to focus on getting well.

I sat beside him on the bed, fighting against the dark thoughts that swirled inside me. Thoughts of Christophe dying and all because I had fallen in love with him.

“Please, take your medicine, it will help your cough he said.”