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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 14:02:05 GMT -5
"Oh..." Hans replied, glancing at his surroundings on the floor.
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 14:07:09 GMT -5
"Do you think you can stand up?" She asked.
With great struggle, she helped him stand, only to have him fall back onto his bed. Else Laughed again. Never had she seen him so tired before. She assisted in taking off his shoes, but that was all she dared... for propriety's sake.
She covered him up with the bed's thick blankets and made her way back to the door. "Good night, Husband." she said before she left.
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 14:09:18 GMT -5
Han's sleepily blinked up at her. "Good night... Else." he managed before she left.
Hans ducked his burning head into his cool pillow.
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 14:22:26 GMT -5
The next morning, Else expected to find Hans at the breakfast table, strength and appetite rejuvenated after a good night's sleep... but he was absent.
As a servant laid down a platter of fresh fruit, Else touched her arm to get her attention. "Excuse me... but do you happen to know where my husband is?" she asked. "Did he go into the fields early today?" Sometimes Hans skipped breakfast for an early start, but very rarely. And after how tired he looked last night...
"No miss. He's been kept to his room, my lady." the servant answered. "I thought for sure that you already knew that."
Else bit her lower lip. Aside from their forced encounters and the 'goodnight, husband' evening call, Else realized that she didn't pay much attention to him. He was either absent or she was too busy with affairs to be bothered. Well... that would simply not do. How was she expected to rule a kingdom if she didn't know the state of her husband?
She folded up her napkin and left the hall, to pay a visit to Hans
She could smell the sick even before she opened his door. Inside she found a bedded Hans, two advisers, and the royal physician. A manservant kept to the corner, cleaning up when he could but staying out of everyone's way.
"What is going on?" Else demanded. "Why was I not informed of this?" She sat down on the bed by Hans' side, feeling his forehead. It was dangerously hot. "He... he has a horrible fever."
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 14:25:28 GMT -5
Hans opened his eyes with an effort. "...oh...hullo Else." Talking took to much effort, but he continued. "...You ...look beautiful."
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 14:38:00 GMT -5
Else smiled at his consistency despite his condition. She picked a cloth soaking in water by the bed and dabbed his forehead. She had nursed both her father and sisters through numerous fevers. "Hush... just rest, Husband."
She then glanced at the doctor. "He needs to be brought food, to keep his strength up. Broth, most likely. And why in the gods names is he still wearing this?" She referred to last night's supper attire. She called out to the manservant. "Get him a clean night shift, and we should be changing his sheets everyday-"
The physician put his hand on Else's shoulder. "My lady... it is a serious illness that ails him, to be sure..." he said. "... but we have done this before. It is you that we are concerned for. We must forbid your entrance into this room for the time being."
Else blinked at him incredulously, but then remembered that she was no longer a peasant who's skill-set are valued in dire situations like these. She was a Queen in their eyes. The physician escorted her out of the room.
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 14:44:55 GMT -5
Han's didn't want Else to go. She turned to leave, not seeing him reach out to her. The physician gently seized his arm and tucked it back under the covers.
The man kept poking a prodding at him, and Hans wondered if the pain in his stomach and the fire in his head would ever stop.
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 14:58:38 GMT -5
The Day passed very slowly for Else. She accomplished very much, but when she looked up at the clock and realized that it was usually this time that she would ride out to retrieve her husband for supper, she sat back in her chair...unsettled. Perhaps she had underestimated how much she needed such a break, to tear her away from such heavy matters.
She tried to slip into his room, but the physician had been right outside, talking to an adviser, so she continued on her way.
But after supper, after her productive time... which quite frankly wasn't THAT productive tonight, she was too distracted about Hans... she crept back up to his room, to say goodnight. The manservant was just outside the door, taking broth in.
She quickly walked up to him and took the tray from him. He looked startled. "I thank you, I'll take it from here." The man didn't have it in him to argue with the QUEEN... so he stepped aside. She entered the room to find that all had vacated for some reason... all except Hans.
Who looked worse then before. His usually bronze skin from working under the sun was completely peaked. There were deep bags under his eyes, and his breathing was slow and labored. She felt an awful, foreboding chill down her spine, but she put on a brave face. He couldn't die. It was simply in Rumpelstiltskin's contract that she be married to him... so he can't die. He just... can't.
After assuring herself with that reasoning, she sat down at his side. "Husband?"
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 15:01:56 GMT -5
Hans stirred at her summoning. "El...se..." he managed. Her hair was down. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked... but it hurt to.
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 15:06:47 GMT -5
Else put a finger to his chapped lips. "Just please eat this...it will help. I promise." She brought the bowl before him, close to his lips, with the spoon posed. "In fact it is so good, dear husband... that you may want another." She teased him.
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 15:12:10 GMT -5
Hans made an effort to crane his neck, to accept the magically good soup, but swallowing one spoonful felt like daggers in his throat. He made a pained noise and turned his head away from her.
Else asked him again and again to eat more... and he wish he could to make her happy. But it hurt so much.
He strained his eyes to look up at her. She looked sad.
"I'm...s-sorry." He breathed.
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 15:16:37 GMT -5
Else tried to blink back the wetness forming her eyes. She was just frustrated, she was sure.
"Sorry? What for?" She put the bowl to the side on the stand.
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 15:18:01 GMT -5
"Else...is not..." he couldn't find a word in the hot haze of his mind. He stuck to what he new was easiest. "...happy..."
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 15:19:37 GMT -5
Else managed a smile. She stroked his damp forehead. "Else would be happy if her husband was well again."
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 15:24:59 GMT -5
"...no...no..." Hans labored as he shook his head.
"Else...was never...happy. N-not...with Hans..."
A tear fell from the corner of his eye onto his pillow. It hurt so much: feeling this way and saying these words. "...I'm sorry..." he whispered, shakily.
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