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Lavender’s vow to protect her ward was unconditional, whether the boy was ill, injured or in the wrong she was to protect and guide. Despite all her hopes to keep from anything happening she had no control when he first became ill. Nearly two years after they had left the fae realm.
One morning when she had been early to rise she found the boy flushed and fussing under his blankets. The room was cold but sweat beaded on his face and his sheets seemed slightly damp. Half of his sheets had been kicked off in the night and the boy laid shirtless, the article thrown on the floor.
Blankets were one of the first things they had purchased, Violet leaving her ward home for a day returning with the thick sheets of fabric. Her old jacket had been hung up on the old door when she had bought their blankets. The boy had timidly asked if she wanted it back, celebrating when he didn’t think she could see. After that she refused to touch it, letting the boy keep it close.
More than once she found him wrapped up in it after a particularly rough day, neither would acknowledge it. Instead they just moved on the princess helping him to read or massaging his aching hands. A habit she picked up during her time in the magic corps, often doing it to recruits when she toured training grounds.
Though she had lived many years it was rare she had dealt with illness, Fae didn’t often fall ill in their own home. But only the cottage was her domain and they had strayed outside into the human realm often, so this was inevitable. Still it was uncomfortable.
Gently she swept a hand over his face resting palm up on his forehead, perspiration dampening her skin. He was burning up, no wonder he was sweating so much. His breath came laboured, chest rising and falling harshly as if he was having a nightmare. She needed to wake him, or at least try.
“Blue, Wake up.” Her voice was firm an order that resounded in her mind. A hand gently shaking his shoulder. Thankfully the boy immediately stirred groaning up at her; eyes heavy with sleep. Hand still on him she spoke gently, “How do you feel?”
He blinked up at her barely awake but aware enough to groan a response, “heavy, cold but too warm. My head hurts.” A moment passed while he seemed to struggle with whether or not to leave his blankets on, “Why am I wet?”
Lavender laughed at that, a full hearty laugh. She had not expected the question but in the small groggy voice it took her off guard. Sometimes she forgot her ward was only young and it always caught her off guard when the reminders popped up.
“Do you think you can walk?” She asked gently, stepping back for a moment to let him up. Watching the boy untangle himself from the remaining fabric. Only for him to immediately collapse back onto the bed with a groan, “I’ll take that as a no.”
Her charge only shook his head staring at the ground while muttering apologies. Hands shook in his lap while he refused to make eye contact. She had seen this a dozen times, his fear of failing her. When drills ran long or he struggled to read what she assigned. Though usually it was accompanied by some amount of sass.
Instead of saying anything else she leant down to hook an arm under his knees picking him up against her chest. Immediately his face buried into the crook of her neck warm breath fanning on her skin. It only took a moment to adjust him so he was comfortable before she set off to her own room her charge now clinging to her.
The dimly lit space of her own room was a bit warmer and much tidier, weapons lined up by the wall and blankets tidied on her bed. Fewer were on her bed than had been on the boys but it was enough she was used to sleeping in the elements. Any well seasoned soldier would be.
Gently she set him down on the blankets laying him down, “Rest,” She ordered gently worry creeping up on her. This was the first time she was alone with the ill, injured she could deal with but this was different. But she had to do it, there was no magic fix to illness. Well not one she was trained in at least.
Once her charge had settled on her bed watching her cautiously with drooping eyes she turned to leave, “I will get you water for now, do not get up.”
Then she left immediately heading back to his room to hang up the damp blankets. Ideally they would be washed but that could wait. She just needed them to dry enough they wouldn’t smell.
Moving everything off the bed she found a small necklace her ward made, a piece of rock he had found while wandering in their first week in this realm attached to, slightly worn string. She had enchanted it for him one night after he had almost been caught near the village, a protection spell. A memory that always made her smile, the boy rightly had been freaked out and begged not to be left alone for a while.
Once everything was hung to air out she went and got him some water, boiling it before she took it up. The water in the area wasn't the worst but she still wouldn’t risk it making him worse. Not until she at least knew what she was dealing with. Perhaps there would be a hag nearby though she hadn’t heard of any. If she did, what would she give them in return. They weren’t exactly rich and any inherent bargaining power she had was gone with her royal title.
Water, food and rest were the usual cures for most fae illness. So thats what she would do. The water finished boiling and she put together what she hoped would be a light meal in case he wasn’t hungry. Putting it all on a tray with her own mug of tea she headed up. Any plans for the day now long forgotten.
Blue tossed and turned on her bed having messed up the neatly laid sheets. It wasn’t clear how aware he was of her presence so she spoke quietly. Tray placed on a unit that had been here when they moved in, she gently readjusted the single thin blanket he left on top of him, “I’ve got water and some food you think you can eat for me?”
“Yes mama,” He drowsily responded, barely opening his eyes, voice hoarse from straining.
Violet froze, fully froze. She knew he was out of it but she was completely caught off guard nonetheless. Truthfully she hoped he wasn't lucid enough to remember it, he would likely panic when he realised.
Taking a deep breath she checked his water had cooled enough to drink before putting the cup to his lips pouring it slowly. Watching close as he swallowed rapidly, a small hand gripping her forearm when he wanted her to stop.
Next was food and she was slow to introduce that letting him sit for a moment before offering it to him. This was a slow process, his hands still trembling as he ate but he got there. Half of it was gone when he was done. Quietly drinking a bit more before laying back down.
Watching her charge struggle with his pain was hard. She had become close to her companion and truly cared for him as her own. So when he groaned in pain struggling with the blankets it sent bile up her throat. For once she regretted not learning anything medicinal.
After a while of the boy struggling to rest Violet moved to sit on the edge of the bed, hands smoothing out the sheets, “Have I ever told you about the first time I came to the human realm alone?” She knew the boy enjoyed her stories, often listening with rapt attention to tales about the palace or her military life. Her only hope that enjoyment could bring him some peace as she told the story quietly in the dimly lit room.