81, Bedrest

Tenac was pacing the room, casting his eyes on Ayya’s sleeping form in the bed. She had been sleeping for over a day and he didn’t know what to do. Firlea had reassured him she would wake up. She had just drained far more energy than was good for her. He wanted to punch something; he needed to train, but he couldn’t leave her. Tenac had tried to sit by her bed, holding her hand. But it just made him feel useless. Pacing helped a little. It gave him an outlet for his frustration and let him be by her side. Since she had fainted in his arms, the only time he had let her out of sight was when Hinat and Firlea had washed her and changed her clothes, and that had been under his protest. The only thing that made him leave the room was the threat the two aari had made to open a portal and send him to the base camp. He wasn’t entirely sure they could do that, but he didn’t want to chance it. Tenac stopped and looked down at Ayya. He didn’t know how he would explain this to her father. Kopa would probably kill him, after Bettina had put him through enough pain to last a couple of lifetimes. And he deserved every bit of it. Tenac was supposed to protect her, keep her safe. He had failed. He walked up to Ayya’s bedside and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. Tenac didn’t know what he would do if she didn’t wake up. She had been the most important part of his life for years, and now that he finally knew they could have a future together, he couldn’t lose her. He froze in place when he heard a little moan from her.

“Ayya?” he asked, bending down to caress her cheek. He saw her frown and then her eyelids fluttered and finally he was looking into her deep green eyes. 

———

Ayya felt someone caress her cheek, and she blinked and looked into Tenac’s summer blue eyes. She smiled at him and before her brain had started working; he was kissing her. It wasn’t the usual kiss; it was a kiss full of desperation, love and relief. Ayya accepted the kiss and put her arms around his neck. 

“Hey,” he said as he backed off. 

“Hi,” she said, smiling at him. He looked tired and worried as he sat down on the edge of her bed. She put her hand on his cheek and he leaned in to it. “Did I give you a scare?” she asked. 

“Yes. Please don’t do it again. I don’t think I can handle it,” he said.

“I’m sorry. I will do my best not to repeat it,” she promised. He bent down and kissed her again. “How long have I been asleep?” she asked. 

“A little over a day,” he told her. 

“What has happened?” she asked. 

“Don’t worry about that, just take a day or two to regain your energy,” Tenac told her. She smiled at him. She felt bad for putting him through all the worry and heartache she knew he would have suffered from. 

“That doesn’t sound like something I would do,” she said. He just shook his head, but then he smiled. 

“No, it doesn’t,” he admitted. “So, thanks to you, most of the patients got out of the fire and because we got the extra time, they could stop the fire from spreading. You did good,” he said. She smiled, but she saw there was something else.

“But?” she asked. He sighed.

“But some patients were sick enough that the smoke they inhaled became too much,” he said.

“How many?” 

“Forty-three.” She drew in a sharp breath. 

“That’s almost half of everyone there,” Ayya said. Tenac nodded. “Jason’s father?” 

“He didn’t make it. I’m sorry Ayya,” Tenac said. Ayya nodded. She felt bad that she hadn’t been able to save any of Jason’s family. “You are not allowed to feel bad about this. You did everything you could. The ones that survived have you to thank for it. If not for you, they all would have been dead.” 

“Does he know?” Ayya asked.

“Yes, Sister Loise told him,” Tenac said. “He has been asking if he can come to see you,” he then told her and she smiled. 

“He’s a sweet boy,” she said. 

“He isn’t the only one. It feels like the entire city has been asking about you. The king, the head of the council, Zerden, Anna, Erik, Father Link, they have all come by and asked about you. The kitchen keeps sending up sweets and your favourite food,” he continued. Ayya frowned. 

“Do we know why the king hadn’t spread the word about how the sickness is spreading?” Ayya asked.

“Apparently, he told the council and told the council members to spread the information to their districts. He is investigating why it wasn’t done,” Tenac told her. 

“That seems careless. He has to be aware there is still a resistance in the council against our work,” she said. 

“Yes, but I think he made an honest mistake. He wanted to trust his council,” Tenac said. Ayya nodded. “How do you feel?” Tenac asked. 

“Okay. A little hungry, but otherwise I’m fine,” she said. 

“Is it okay if I let Hinat and Firlea in? They have been almost as worried about you as I have.”

“Of course, let them in,” she told him and started to scoot up to sit in bed. Tenac got up and picked her up and sat her down so she was leaning against the headboard. He stuffed pillows behind her back and around her. “Thank you,” she told him and kissed his cheek. Tenac smiled and walked to the door. He opened it, but stayed in the room. Ayya heard him call for her friends and they came into the room and let out happy noises as they saw her sitting up in bed. 

“You scared us half to death,” Hinat told her as she and Firlea had Ayya in a tight hug. 

“I’m sorry,” Ayya told them. Hinat and Firlea joined Ayya in bed and they talked about lighthearted things. Tenac stood looking out of the window, not leaving the room as he usually would. There was a quiet knock on the door.

“The food is here,” Tenac said. 

“We can have a picnic in bed,” Ayya suggested to her friends. They all agreed and Tenac brought in food for all of them. Ayya was hungry, and the food tasted amazing. She was getting a little sleepy after eating too much. Tenac had collected the plates and her friends were preparing to leave. A rider knocked on the door and told them the king and Zerden were asking about Ayya. “It’s just as well we invite them in,” Ayya said. 

“Are you sure? You look tired,” Hinat said. 

“I’ll ask them to come back tomorrow,” Tenac told her.

“No, I would like to get it over with so I can relax,” Ayya insisted. Tenac nodded.

“Do you wish us to stay?” Firlea asked. 

“No, Tenac will keep them in line. I will see them and then take a nap. Thank you for looking after Tenac when I was sleeping,” she told her friends.

“It wasn’t easy. He was even grumpier than usual,” Hinat smiled.

“But we were happy to do it,” Firlea added. They both hugged her and when they left, Tenac showed the king and Zerden into her room. 

“It is a relief to see you awake,” the king said. He looked tired, but civil unrest could have that effect, Ayya guessed. 

“Thank you. I’m sorry if I caused any issues,” she said. The king smiled and shook his head. 

“I think the only one who has created issues am I,” he told her. 

“I heard about the council. I’m sorry you are facing such issues alongside everything else,” Ayya said. 

“No, it was my fault for trusting people I shouldn’t have trusted,” the king admitted. “I hear you will be on bedrest for a while. I thought these would make it a little easier,” he then said, holding out two old books. 

“Thank you,” Ayya said as she accepted them. 

“I remembered you like to read. These are the two books in Old Urundi that I could find. I believe we have more books, but these are the most recently read ones, I assume. I have to confess I don’t know my way around the library.”

“It was very thoughtful of you,” Ayya said. 

“We will take our leave and let you rest. The news that you have woken up will be a relief to many. I hope to see you up on your feet soon,” the king told her. 

“Thank you. And thank you for stopping by.” Zerden hadn’t spoken. He had just been looking at Ayya. As the king was walking out, Zerden turned to face Ayya again. 

“Would it be okay if I brought my mom by tomorrow? She has been worried about you,” he asked. 

“I would be happy to see her,” Ayya agreed. He nodded and walked out. As Tenac had made sure they both left, he came back and took the books from Ayya and put them on her bedside table. 

“Time for a nap,” he told her. 

“That sounds wonderful,” she admitted. She rearranged the pillows and lay down in bed. She saw Tenac heading for the chair by her bed. “Tenac.”

“Yes?” he asked. 

“You too,” she told him and patted on the empty part of the bed. She had scooted to one side to leave room for him. He just looked at her. “Tenac, you look like you haven’t slept in a week. You need the rest just as much as I do.” He gave her a small smile and gave her a nod. He got into the bed next to her and, just like he had done the night of the banquet, he wrapped his arms around her and Ayya felt herself relax and drift away.