Return (Summer Challenge, Chocolate Chip Mint, Strawberry Banana)
‘Verse: ☼ The Sun, Radiant ☼
Challenges/Toppings/Extras: Summer Challenge ‘14: Special Brownie #19 (You are what you are, and you make it hard), Chocolate Chip Mint #26 (battered), Strawberry Banana #22 (a hug)
Rating: PG
Title: Return
Summary: A queen checks up on a king.
Notes: “Kanta” is an endearment; “beloved” or similar.
Ravir intercepted me as I darted down the stairs to the infirmary. I saw his familiar grin at the bottom of the flight and nearly tripped in my haste to get to him. He knew me as well as I knew myself, sweeping me into a bone-crushing hug as soon as I was close enough, and I wrapped my arms about him in return gladly. He smelled of sweat and rotting earth, but I was already dizzy with glee and could not care.
“Oh, kanta,” he murmured into my hair. “I am glad to be home.”
“I’m glad too,” I said. It was all I could say. “Come, walk with me. King Gavin is awake. How serendipitous, to receive such news at the same time…”
He smiled at me gently. “Well, I think I need a bath first, yes?” He tugged at the sleeve of his torn and stained guard’s uniform - the very one he had been wearing when he had started the pursuit of the assassin four days before. “I’d hate to see the good king looking like this.”
Better than I know myself… “Very well. Have your report ready when you return.”
“Of course.”
We parted with regrets and not five minutes later I was at the infirmary, striding into the room and right past the senior healer, who tried to head me off. I had no patience for the man, and never did. He was competent at his job, but insufferable besides.
Gavin was sitting up, poking at a bit of oatmeal. A green tinge still lingered over his fair features, but his eyes were clear as they’d ever been. When he had woken before, delirious, the blood rimming his blue irises had startled me, but now he looked up at me and nodded graciously as if nothing had happened.
“Queen Ruhana,” he said, voice hoarse with disuse.
“King Gavin. How are you feeling?” The little assistant - I could not recall her name, but she looked familiar from my visits in recent days - pulled a stool over, squeaking apologies, and I sat down at his bedside.
He winced, saying candidly, “Tired. But much better than I could be, thanks to your healers.”
“You have been through much, and I am sorry that it happened at all. In my own palace no less!” I shook my head. “But my First Consort, Ravir - you’ll remember him, yes? - has just returned from pursuing the man who tried to kill you. I thought it prudent to see you first, but I assure you, I will be taking all necessary steps to ensure the assassin is brought to justice.”
“That is fine,” he said mildly, studying me with such a shrewd look on his face that I had to fight to keep my discomfort from showing outwardly.
I nodded my farewell and left him to his rest, ordering the healers to attend to his every need. I poked my head into the next door down the hall; Matthew slumbered on, oblivious, and I did not wake him.
Challenges/Toppings/Extras: Summer Challenge ‘14: Special Brownie #19 (You are what you are, and you make it hard), Chocolate Chip Mint #26 (battered), Strawberry Banana #22 (a hug)
Rating: PG
Title: Return
Summary: A queen checks up on a king.
Notes: “Kanta” is an endearment; “beloved” or similar.
Ravir intercepted me as I darted down the stairs to the infirmary. I saw his familiar grin at the bottom of the flight and nearly tripped in my haste to get to him. He knew me as well as I knew myself, sweeping me into a bone-crushing hug as soon as I was close enough, and I wrapped my arms about him in return gladly. He smelled of sweat and rotting earth, but I was already dizzy with glee and could not care.
“Oh, kanta,” he murmured into my hair. “I am glad to be home.”
“I’m glad too,” I said. It was all I could say. “Come, walk with me. King Gavin is awake. How serendipitous, to receive such news at the same time…”
He smiled at me gently. “Well, I think I need a bath first, yes?” He tugged at the sleeve of his torn and stained guard’s uniform - the very one he had been wearing when he had started the pursuit of the assassin four days before. “I’d hate to see the good king looking like this.”
Better than I know myself… “Very well. Have your report ready when you return.”
“Of course.”
We parted with regrets and not five minutes later I was at the infirmary, striding into the room and right past the senior healer, who tried to head me off. I had no patience for the man, and never did. He was competent at his job, but insufferable besides.
Gavin was sitting up, poking at a bit of oatmeal. A green tinge still lingered over his fair features, but his eyes were clear as they’d ever been. When he had woken before, delirious, the blood rimming his blue irises had startled me, but now he looked up at me and nodded graciously as if nothing had happened.
“Queen Ruhana,” he said, voice hoarse with disuse.
“King Gavin. How are you feeling?” The little assistant - I could not recall her name, but she looked familiar from my visits in recent days - pulled a stool over, squeaking apologies, and I sat down at his bedside.
He winced, saying candidly, “Tired. But much better than I could be, thanks to your healers.”
“You have been through much, and I am sorry that it happened at all. In my own palace no less!” I shook my head. “But my First Consort, Ravir - you’ll remember him, yes? - has just returned from pursuing the man who tried to kill you. I thought it prudent to see you first, but I assure you, I will be taking all necessary steps to ensure the assassin is brought to justice.”
“That is fine,” he said mildly, studying me with such a shrewd look on his face that I had to fight to keep my discomfort from showing outwardly.
I nodded my farewell and left him to his rest, ordering the healers to attend to his every need. I poked my head into the next door down the hall; Matthew slumbered on, oblivious, and I did not wake him.