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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jun 22, 2008 14:21:31 GMT -5
I recieved the missive from Valerian house and nearly fainted with fear. "Gregoire!" I cried. "Avrielle is ill!"
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jun 29, 2008 12:14:49 GMT -5
I shifted from my desk, my stomach aching. I had been feeling unwell for the last few days, but now it had fit me hard. I moved hearing my name and going toward the sound of Annette.
"Annette," I said coming toward her once I had found her. "I think its going around." I was burning up.
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jun 29, 2008 14:00:56 GMT -5
I turned to look at Gregoire. His face was flushed except for a pallor around the mouth, and my eyes widened. "Oh my love," I said, going to him and putting my hand to his forehead. "You're so hot! We must get you to bed."
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jun 30, 2008 12:34:07 GMT -5
"You must call some one." I collapsed there my body going limp and my mind blank.
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jun 30, 2008 12:36:16 GMT -5
I screamed. "Gregoire! Gregoire!" Collapsing next to him, I cradled his head in my lap. "Fetch the chirurgeon!" I cried out, weeping. "Oh Gregoire, oh my love." I stroked his hair. "Help me get him to bed!"
Two of Gregoire's men appeared and lifted his body carefully, bearing it upstairs to our room. I followed closely, one hand on my stomach. Please, if there was any justice, don't let my baby's father die.
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jun 30, 2008 13:17:43 GMT -5
I absently felt movement, my eyes only open a tiny slit as they moved me.
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jun 30, 2008 14:25:17 GMT -5
I saw Gregoire's eyes flutter as we moved him to his bed. Gods be praised, he was still alive, but his face was bright red, and pallid around the mouth. As the staff moved to lay him down, I sat at the edge of his bed, stroking his hair. "Bring cloths and a basin of cold water," I instructed them, "we must bring his fever down."
As they went to fetch the cool cloths, I stripped him down, taking the vest and shirt off his limp body, as well as his breeches, leaving him in his shorts. When they returned I said, "Make tea of the healing herbs in the garden. All of you, cover your noses and mouths, to protect you."
Dipping one of the cloths in the water, I wrung it out and placed it on his forehead. Taking another, I began to bathe his body with it.
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jul 2, 2008 22:04:15 GMT -5
I felt movement and vaguely heard sounds, I opened my eyes a little and saw Annette.
"Annette my love, you should not tend on me." I said horsely. "Go find my Chirurgeon." I added closing my eyes and moaning.
I was burning alive, my core hot, but my body shaking with cold. My stomach tangled within itself but I have no urge to vomit.
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jul 3, 2008 0:38:01 GMT -5
"Hush, love," I whispered. "He is coming. I could never leave you like this."
At that moment, the chirurgeon entered, as well as as a servant with a pot of steaming tea. Standing, I went to him. "Thank you for coming, doctor," I said.
"Of course, madam," he said. Going to Gregoire, he began to examine him. "The face is indicative of La Scarlatina...my lord, if you would open your mouth and stick out your tongue..."
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jul 4, 2008 0:09:29 GMT -5
I looked up absently, a blurry figure before me. Opening my mouth I stuck out my tongue to him.
"Hmm, interesting." He said looking to my lady wife. "Yes, I think it is the sickness." He nodded and looked back at me. "How long have you been ill?"
"Only this very day." I whispered horsely.
"And vomiting, coughing, fever?"
"Fever yes." I whispered feeling faint. "None of the others."
"Hmm," He crooned again. "Thats a bit odd. I will return in a bit, there are some symptoms that don't seem to match. He would have the rash at this advanced stage." He nodded, or at least thats what it looked like. "Give him this." He said handing her something. "And this to calm him. I'll return posthaste."
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jul 4, 2008 13:02:45 GMT -5
I stood to one side as the chirurgeon examined Gregoire, twisting my hands worriedly. When he mentioned some symptoms not matching, I wondered if he had a different sickness on top of La Scarlatine. Still, I accepted the bottles he handed me. "Thank you, doctor," I said. "I'll be in touch if anything changes."
"Please, let me know as soon as he improves," said the doctor, though his eyes said or if he gets worse. "Tea may also help, and he should eat if he can. Soft foods are best. And keep him cool."
"Thank you," I said again. "Malina, please show the doctor out, and bring me a teaspoon and some bread with honey."
As soon as they were gone, I returned to Gregoire's bedside to continue bathing him. "Don't worry," I crooned, "everything will be all right. The doctor gave me some medicine for you." Even as I said the words, my stomach tightened. I had no idea if everything would be all right.
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jul 5, 2008 16:52:01 GMT -5
I vaguely heard Annette murmur something and nodded thinking to myself. That woman, I had seen her, the one with dark hair that looked like a Shahrizai...she had been here and I didn't remember her from before. The words the chirurgeon had said struck a cord and I wondered faintly if this was something not of the sickness' making, something more perhaps, something more sinister.
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jul 5, 2008 21:35:38 GMT -5
Gregoire couldn't speak, and my worrying intensified. Taking a cup of tea, I dipped my finger into it and wet his lips with a few drops. "There, now, my love," I said. Gods, I needed to keep talking, needed to keep him with me. "That'll help a bit. And look," I said, as Malina reentered with a spoon and the bread and honey, "it's time to give you your medicine."
Taking the spoon and food from her, I instructed her to keep an ear out for the bell and to make sure all the staff were taking precautions against the sickness. Once she had bowed out, I poured the calming medicine into the spoon and lifted his head a bit. "You need to drink this," I said. "I know it probably tastes bad, but it will make you better."
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jul 6, 2008 0:40:09 GMT -5
I opened my mouth and lifted my head gently so that I could take the medicine. She was right of course and I sputtered a little, liquid droplets falling on my chin and neck but most of it washed down with a hard swallow. "Annette," I whispered horsely. "Annette, I...." I swallowed. "My will is in the study, in a coffer under a hidden panel." I forced the words.
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jul 6, 2008 0:48:25 GMT -5
My eyes widened as he spoke, but I forced myself not to tear up. If he was telling me where his will was, perhaps he thought he was dying, and he couldn't die! "Thank you for telling me," I murmured, picking up the other bottle of medicine. "You can tell me which panel after you take this other medicine and drink some more tea..." I poured the second medicine into the spoon and held it to his lips.
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jul 6, 2008 1:04:29 GMT -5
I opened my mouth and obliged laughing a little. "I knew I had chosen well in you." I whispered after I swallowed. "Our child will be in good hands."
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jul 6, 2008 10:39:34 GMT -5
Picking up the cup of tea, which had cooled down by now, I held it to his lips. "He will be in two pairs of good hands," I said as he sipped the tea. "After all, he has a mother and father who already love him so much." The way Gregoire was talking was beginning to frighten me. "But of course, just in case, which panel in the study is it?"
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jul 6, 2008 13:09:51 GMT -5
"Its under the rug, its the loose one with the knot in it." I said softly coughing a little as I awkwardly drank down the tea. "I'm sorry my love." I whispered after swallowing. "But no matter what, you will be taken care of."
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jul 6, 2008 14:12:22 GMT -5
"I know," I whispered, stroking his hair. I reached for the bowl of soft bread and honey. "Is your stomach all right? Can you eat a bit?"
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jul 7, 2008 14:57:47 GMT -5
"Its not my stomach at all my love." I said softly. "Its some what else." I beckoned her to come closer and swallowed wetting my lips.
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jul 7, 2008 16:02:58 GMT -5
I leaned in, leaning my ear close to his mouth. "What is it, my love?"
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jul 7, 2008 23:23:08 GMT -5
I reached out slowly and caressed her neck and cupped her head gently. "There was a woman with dark hair, I made nothing of it at the time but I do not believe she belongs to our house." I swallowed. "I fear I've made too many enemies." I didn't say much but I couldn't manage any more then that and my hand dropped, too weak to do much else. "I must write a letter, please bring me parchment and a quill."
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jul 8, 2008 14:16:26 GMT -5
Malina. I had hired her to help in the kitchen; never imagining her to be an enemy. "Yes, of course," I said rising from the bed. "I will bring it now." I stroked his brow. "Rest, my love, I will be back soon."
I left the room and closed the door gently behind me. One of Gregoire's men was outside. "Stay here," I said. "See that no one goes in or out, except for myself or the chirurgeon. If anyone tries to force entry, I give you permission to incapacitate them." The man nodded solidly.
I went downstairs to Gregoire's study and locked the door behind me. Going to the panel he told me about, I checked for the presence of the coffer before taking quill, ink and parchment from his desk. Locking the door again, I went to the kitchen. Malina was there, eating a piece of bread, looking comfortable as could be. I said to her, "Malina, I wish for some more honey, please see if you can find some on the black market." She nodded; the black market had prung up now that all the shops were closed.
Walking past her, I went to another of Gregoire's men. Quietly, I said, "Go with that woman on an errand, and do nothing to alarm her. Once you are in the Temple district, alert the police, and have her brought to the Palace dungeons for questioning. But do not have her harmed." The man nodded.
Once that was done, I went back upstairs. Entering softly, I went to Gregoire. "My love," I said, "I have sent the woman from the house. She will be brought to the Palace for questioning. And I have brought the pen and parchment for you."
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jul 8, 2008 22:42:47 GMT -5
I nodded but said nothing before sitting up as best I could and, using a book, I began to scribbled a quick note. Once I was through I made sure it was dry and sealed it with a wax seal before handing it back to Annette.
"This is in case of an emergency." I said slumping back down into bed. "It is addressed to my patron Prince Delaunay de la Courcel. If something happens to me, or you for that matter, and you fear for your life you need to take this to him. He will take care of you."
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jul 8, 2008 23:28:07 GMT -5
"Prince Delaunay de la Courcel," I repeated. "And I can trust him?"
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jul 9, 2008 14:18:32 GMT -5
I nodded. "With this letter, he will do what's needed to take care of you." I whispered feeling weak. "He knows the score and he knows that I had made enemies. If this is indeed poison then he will seek justice."
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jul 9, 2008 14:22:31 GMT -5
"Poison?!" I asked, horrified. "You mean, you think it's not an additional sickness? We need an antidote! Something..." I trailed off.
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jul 9, 2008 14:48:25 GMT -5
I shook my head. "This is swift, too swift to be a sickness my love." I felt my stomach turn terribly and stared up at her. "I don't know what it is, but..." I trailed off. "What ever happens just promise me you'll take care of our child." I whispered.
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Post by Annette nó Fronsac on Jul 9, 2008 14:58:45 GMT -5
"I promise," I whispered, taking his hand in mine and kissing it. "I love you, Gregoire."
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Post by Grègoire de Fronsac (D) on Jul 9, 2008 15:00:18 GMT -5
"I love you too Annette." I felt dizzy then, my head swarming and my breathing began to slow.
"Annette." I whispered. "It's dark."
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