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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 20, 2008 22:46:08 GMT -5
I nodded. "Maybe then I can get some sleep," I said, reaching for the bottle. I took a sip, then another, propping myself up enough to at least do that. My stomach seemed to have settled a bit, or perhaps I had just gotten used to holding it still by sheer will. Either way the medicine stayed down. With a little sigh I lay back and closed my eyes.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 20, 2008 22:53:14 GMT -5
I set the bottle aside and looked at his angelic face, still so shadowed with illness. I made myself promise not to cry again until I was certain he was asleep. Reaching out, I stroked his brow and hair, needing to touch him as I silently prayed.
Merciful Kushiel, please don’t take him from me. I’ll never survive without him. I’ll do anything you ask, just please let him live, let him come through this as strong as he was before.
Leaning forward, I laid my head on his chest, listening to the beat of his heart.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 20, 2008 23:04:39 GMT -5
Her fingers moved over my brow, and I took comfort in it. My breathing evened out under his ministrations, and I slipped into sleep with her head on my chest.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 20, 2008 23:12:27 GMT -5
His breathing became steady and the beat of his heart slowed to a peaceful tempo. My favorite sounds in the world and they couldn’t give me comfort.
Not wanting to wake him, I slowly sat up and then buried my face in my hands and sobbed silently. I’d had years of practice growing up at how to cry without making noise, learning to hide my emotions from Dominic and Gus. I cried until I was empty, quietly rising and going to the bathing room to clean myself up. I washed away the telltale signs from my face and even took the time to brush through my hair and put it in a loose braid. I needed it to be out of my way while I was taking care of Christophe.
My head ached from the crying and my throat was raw. Feeling as if he would worry less when seeing me though, I returned to the bed and climbed in on my side. I sat leaning back against the headboard, determined to watch him until he woke.
The outpouring of emotion had drained me though and I felt myself dozing lightly.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 20, 2008 23:25:09 GMT -5
I didn't sleep very well, waking often. But then I would see Mala, her face soft with sleep, and it would soothe me enough to fall back asleep myself. A few hours after the chirrugeon left, I woke coughing and couldn't stop.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 20, 2008 23:32:39 GMT -5
When he started coughing, I was instantly awake. I slipped my hand under his back.
“Sit up, love, it will help,” I said. My head and throat still hurt from crying and my heart beat fast with worry. “Then I’ll get you more medicine.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 20, 2008 23:49:08 GMT -5
I sat up, movements jerky from the coughing, and it eased a little. I took the medicine when she offered it to me, swallowing before my breathing erupted again. It seemed the syrup wasn't as soothing the second time. It did subside after a minute, but my throat felt raw.
My movements had dislodged my blankets, and gave me the chance to look down at my chest. I gulped a little at the red rash spreading across my skin. This really was no flu.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 20, 2008 23:55:24 GMT -5
I set down the bottle of syrup and turned back to him, gasping when I saw the rash on his skin.
Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods.
Making myself move, I took the pillows from my side and propped them up behind him. “Here, lean back a little,” I said, hoping to sound calm. “It should help you not cough as much.” I began trying to straighten the blankets but it seemed harder than it should have, worry was making me weak. “How’s your stomach? Could you handle some broth?”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 21, 2008 12:28:18 GMT -5
There were notes of panic in her voice, making my heart speed up and my breathing become ragged. Not good, as I started to cough again. Calm thoughts, I told myself, closing my eyes to concentrate and struggling to breath normally. Everything will be fine. There is nothing to worry about. Calm, tranquil.
Slowly my coughing eased, and I could breath again. "I don't know if it will stay down, but I am thirsty," I told her, voice scratchy.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 21, 2008 12:35:33 GMT -5
Getting up again, I went around the bed and poured him a cup of water from the pitcher that had obviously been refilled while we dozed. Thank gods for well trained servants.
I brought him the cu, noticing how the water trembled in the cup from the shaking of my hands. I gripped the cup with two hands and held it for him to drink. “Have some of this and then I’ll get them to make you something to eat. You need to eat,” I said, still trying to sound soothing and calm. “Maybe some bread and honey? That would be soft on your throat.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 22, 2008 16:34:01 GMT -5
I nodded. "Maybe they could bring up some more of your tea at the same time?" I requested, taking the cup from her, afraid she was going to spill it. I sipped, waited for a moment to make sure my stomach wasn't going to instantly rebel, and then drank. The water felt so good sliding down my abused throat, though I didn't like how it sat heavy in my stomach. One step at a time, I reminded myself. I was burning up, I knew I needed the liquid.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 22, 2008 17:29:41 GMT -5
“Yes, of course,” I said, going to the door, knowing there would be at least one servant waiting in the hall. I gave orders for soft bread, honey, more tea – stronger this time, and for the bath to be filled with cool water once the tray was brought up.
Closing the door, I returned to him, absently wiping the sweat from my brow. “It’s coming,” I said, sitting on the edge of the bed beside him. “After you eat, you need to take a cool bath for your fever.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 22, 2008 17:42:36 GMT -5
I nodded again, watching her with worried eyes, half-lidded though they were. "Are you doing alright love?" I asked, voice still rather sad.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 22, 2008 17:45:00 GMT -5
“I’m fine,” I told him, refusing to rub at my neck to try and ease the lingering headache. “Just focus on getting better, my love. More water or shall we see how that sits first?”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 22, 2008 22:52:53 GMT -5
"Let's give it a few minutes," I replied, eyes closing now that I was reassured. I felt so tired, but sleep wasn't restful.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 22, 2008 23:29:01 GMT -5
While he rested back, I poured myself some water and took a sip, my throat still aching from the crying. It was dreadfully warm in here and I dipped my fingers in the water and ran them across my brow.
Then I took Christophe’s hand and cradled it between my own, thumb lightly stroking over his skin. “I love you,” I told him softly.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 24, 2008 15:58:35 GMT -5
"I love you too," I whispered with a little smile, eyes still closed. "I'm glad you're here, looking after me."
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 24, 2008 18:48:10 GMT -5
“So am I,” I said, smiling at his smile. “Not that I would let anyone else tend to you.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 25, 2008 2:57:05 GMT -5
I rested for a time like that, my hand in hers and my eyes closed, propped on with pillows. And then the servants arrived with the food. The smell of the tea first made my stomach clench with hunger, and then roll with nausea. I rolled over onto my side and brought up the water I had drunk a few minutes earlier.
"Gods..." I coughed, struggling to wipe my mouth while my head spun and my digestive tract continued to heave.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 25, 2008 12:43:23 GMT -5
I moaned with frustration as he got sick again, hating that I couldn’t help him be better. I held his hair back out of the way and wiped his mouth for him as spoke soothing words.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 25, 2008 14:57:57 GMT -5
The nausea abated after a moment that seemed to take forever, and I managed to move back so I wasn't hanging off the side of the bed. The fever was addling my wits, and the room seemed to spin slightly. I closed my eyes against it, just trying to breath. "Mala," I croaked after a moment. "Can you open a window please?" The room was stifling, close and far too warm. Not to mention all those lovely scents from my exertions.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 25, 2008 19:32:03 GMT -5
“Of course,” I said, standing quickly. Oh what a mistake, my legs wobbled and my head throbbed.
Gripping the bed for a second, I tried to gather myself and then staggered slightly to the window and opened it. I took deep breaths of the clean, cool air then looked back. The servant and called for help and everything was quickly being cleaned, removed and replaced.
“Is that better?” I asked Christophe. “Shall I open the balcony doors?”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 26, 2008 0:29:33 GMT -5
"No, that's fine," I said, watching the work of the servants with uninterested eyes. It was hard to be anything other than completely selfish in this state, and I was feeling rather miserable. I waited until they had filed out, and then tried to smile at her. "Tea first? Maybe it will help me keep down the rest." They had set the tray too far away for me to reach it, making me feel even more useless.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 26, 2008 10:12:26 GMT -5
I nodded and carefully made my way back to him, rivulets of sweat running down my back. I sat beside him again and poured a cup of tea. I was grateful they’d thought to send wooden mugs instead of real teacups, otherwise the room would have been filled with the sound of china rattling together as unsteady as my hand was. The mugs were easier to hold and wouldn’t break if dropped; I again sent thoughts of thanks for well trained servants.
“Here you go love,” I said, holding the mug with both hands as I offered it to him.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 26, 2008 11:38:33 GMT -5
I put my hands over hers, but then pulled away, startled out of my disinterest. I made the effort and leaned forward, ignoring the nausea it produced, to lay a hand on her forehead. Even with my fever, I could tell she had one too.
"Bed, now my love. One of the servants can help me with this." Gods, I had gotten her sick. What had I done?
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 26, 2008 16:43:23 GMT -5
“I’m fine,” I insisted. “It’s just worry. Please, drink your tea.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 28, 2008 1:05:39 GMT -5
"Henrietta," I called, then started coughing. The girl appeared, a concerned look on her face. "Mala... needs to lie down," I said between the coughs. "Get someone to... fetch the chirurgeon." I couldn't say anymore for a moment.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 28, 2008 11:40:05 GMT -5
I wasn’t going to argue my health in front of one of the servants, and a chirugeon could examine Christophe again.
“Do as he says,” I told Henrietta and then turned back to Christophe. I set the tea aside, spilling just a little, he couldn’t drink it right now anyway. I had to get him to relax and stop coughing.
“Shh, it’s alright,” I said, urging him to sit up more. “She’s gone to call for a chirugeon, everything will be fine.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jun 28, 2008 13:16:14 GMT -5
I really hoped I wouldn't have to do this to get her to take her medicine. I coughed until my head was spinning, then finally it abated. All I could do was breath, try to get the room to stay in one place, and moan.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jun 28, 2008 14:46:39 GMT -5
I left him for just long enough to get a damp cloth and bring it back, wiping the sweat from his face and neck as I tried to ignore the pounding in my head and my roiling stomach.
I made soothing sounds, trying to help him relax.
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