The Concerning Illness
POV: Alexandra
The next morning I was on my way to the tent with Mordred in tow. Derek had been relieved to see me show up with Mordred. Derek and Mordred spoke in hushed tones while I was walking ahead of them. I imagined that Derek was telling him about his malicious brother. I turned to them, “You guys are kinda sucking at keeping me safe if you’re so distracted.” Mordred chuckled, “Sorry, my girl, we were just trying to figure out how to keep Garrett far away from you. I know you don’t like it but it might be a situation where I have to monitor you from time to time while you are out here. One thing I cannot understand though is why Sebastian didn’t show up. He is supposed to come out and protect you.” I sighed, “He really only knows when I am in danger when I have something to fear. I was not afraid of Garrett at the time, just annoyed. You’re right on all accounts. I don’t like it but it is a necessary evil.” Mordred gasped, “I’m frankly insulted that you would think that is evil, my girl.” I closed my eyes and shook my head, “You very well know, Mordred, that that is a saying in Terre. You’re being obtuse for comedy, right?” He smirked then winked, “Oh I suppose so. You’re very sharp to catch on.” Derek chuckled, “I kind of love watching the dynamic of you two. It is very entertaining.” I sighed again, “I’m so glad to be a source of entertainment for you. We have to get a move on though since Apollo will likely be waiting for us in the General’s room after my rounds. I don’t want to keep him waiting.” Mordred stopped, “You didn’t tell me about meeting a God. I think I will make myself scarce after you’re done with your rounds.” I turned to him, “Oh? Are you afraid of the Gods then?” Mordred laughed nervously, “Oh nothing like that, I just don’t know if I would get along with them. As you know, I have a past I’m not proud of and have pissed off a few Gods in my time. I cannot remember if Apollo was one of them.”
I chewed on the corner of my lip trying to think of a solution for Mordred to meet with Apollo. I wanted to see if the two could get along since my gut feeling was that they were alike in many ways. I snapped my fingers, “How about I ask him about you?” Mordred shrugged, “Do as you please, it isn’t like it will affect me. I may meet him someday. I am not sure that time will be any time soon.” I walked the rest of the way to the tent and started my rounds. I was able to help some of the adult patients feel more comfortable thanks to my fetching of pillows and glasses of water. One adult patient was overheated due to an infection in his leg, Mordred cast a spell that was able to cool him down. He wanted to cast a healing spell on him but we had not been sure what had already been done. I told him that we shouldn’t step on Doc’s toes. We moved on to the children’s ward of the tent, the children were all up playing with their toys. Many of them were already out of bed, this was where we came upon Doc checking on Tilly. We all walked over to him and I asked, “How is this sweet little patient?” I heard a hum come out of Doc and he sighed, “Oh, well she’s not doing so well today. She has a fever and no infection that we are aware of. I’m afraid it will have to be a water diagnosis test. It isn’t ideal to do with a child but it might be the only way.” He looked over at Mordred, “Lord Mordred, might I prevail upon you to assist me in the endeavor?” Mordred looked down at the small child and nodded, “Whatever you need from me, Doc. I am at your disposal on behalf of House Batiste, sir.” Doc looked at me, “Can I deprive him of your company later on?” I nodded, “Of course. Anything for young Ms. Tilly.”
Doc walked over to Lucy’s bedside and smiled down at her, “Now, Ms. Lucy, how are you doing today?” She gave the doctor a look of concern, “I’m worried about my friend. Will she be okay?” Doc winked at her, “Well with Her Grace’s uncle here to help out, I think she will be. He is the King of the Witches after all.” Her eyes widened as she looked at Mordred, “Do you live with Alexandra?” Modred smiled down at Lucy, “Sometimes but I travel often. My daughter lives in Blackwood though. She’s a very powerful witch in her own right.” She looked at me, “Will I be able to meet her?” I nodded, “Oh, yes! She is going to be married to my uncle Talon.” She scrunched her nose and then looked over at Mordred then at me, “Your uncle’s daughter is marrying your other uncle? That’s weird.” I laughed, “Mordred was adopted into my family by my grandfather. He is not my uncle by blood but my other uncle is my mother’s brother. They have been in love for a very long time.” She nodded, indicating that she understood what I was saying, “If they were in love for a very long time, why didn’t they marry a while ago?” I sighed, “We thought he was dead following a similar accident as the one here. He was recently discovered by me to be alive.” She smiled, “So you reunited the two people in love? That’s a lovely thing, Alexandra. You are the nicest person I have ever met.”
Doc finished checking Lucy over and smiled down at her, “She is a very kind soul. Now then Ms. Lucy, it looks like you can shed the cast and be released to Her Grace later today.” She smiled and looked at me, “Do we get to go to Blackwood then?” I shook my head, “We have to stay here since I still have tasks to fulfill here. We have a cot set up in my tent so you can stay with us and you can choose to walk with me on my daily tasks or you can go play with the other children that aren’t in the medical tent.” She shrugged, “I am not sure what I want to do, Alexandra. I would love to spend more time with you but I am not sure I will be a distraction.” I smiled, “You could never be a distraction to me. Do as you wish.” She gave a determined nod, “Okay, then I think I would want to spend a day with you and make up my mind then.” I leaned over and hugged her, “Very sensible. Just let me know if you wish to go play with the other children and we will get you there.” She looked over at Tilly who was stirring in her bed, beads of sweat on her head and small painful moans coming from the small child, she frowned. I found the same expression was on the face of Doc, Derek, and Mordred. I was sporting the same expression myself since the child looked a little worse than she had before.
Doc turned to Mordred, “Now, sir, if you will help me out. I shall ask that His and Her Graces help to keep the child pinned down.” I shivered remembering the couple of times that I had to go through that myself. I endured it but I couldn’t imagine how painful it would be for someone so young. Doc would likely not have thought to do so but it seemed he needed the quickest diagnosis possible. I took my place at the top of the bed while Derek took his spot at the bottom as a nurse wheeled the supplies for the test over to her bedside. I pinned down her arms and Derek pinned down her legs. Mordred chanted the words to start the test. Doc pulled a partition over to shield the other children from the unpleasant noise of Tilly choking. The water entered through her mouth as Doc took his spot next to Mordred. We waited for the results to come out, it took longer than expected. Doc sighed, “What I had feared.” He looked at Derek, “We will need to send word to Lieutenant General Chalshin that we need a team of troops to construct another medical tent, somewhere further away from the camp.”
Derek nodded and took his hands off the legs of the small girl. He walked out of the partition, walking as he normally did when he had a duty to carry out. I looked up at Doc, “Is something wrong?” He looked at Mordred, who shook his head, “It is best things stay between us until that tent is constructed.” I grunted, “You know very well, uncle, that I have my ways of getting this information out of you.” He smirked at me with an evil-like smile, “Only because I let you, child. Do not mistake me, I will not allow you to get this information out of me.” I rolled my eyes and folded my arms across my chest, “Would it kill either of you to share this information with me? It isn’t like I would blab it around the camp. Have I ever given either of you any reason to doubt that of me?” Mordred also folded his arms across his chest, “No, but this is a very serious matter. I think this is a need to know and I don’t think you need to know.” Doc sighed, “Look, Your Grace, I will be happy to tell you in a more private setting when both Chalshins get back here. I think we need to congregate in the General’s quarters. I will need to have the King summoned as well. We just need to find him since I suspect he isn’t in his quarters.” Mordred looked at him, “On that note, I know exactly where he is. I will fetch him.” Doc nodded, “Yes, time is of the essence here. In the meantime, I will take the child to her own room. Thankfully, one just opened up.” Doc and Mordred walked away as a nurse pulled the partition away from Tilly’s bedside. Lucy was staring at me as the partition came away, “Will she be okay?” I couldn’t affirm to the child that her best friend would be okay since I didn’t know myself. I didn’t want to frighten her either so I just smiled at her, “The good news is Doc now knows what ails her, he will find a way to fix her up. I have every confidence in him.”
Derek had come back, “I have someone going to go get my brother. Were we given further orders?” I nodded, “We are to wait in the General’s room for your brother, Lucien, Doc, and Mordred.” I said my goodbyes to Lucy and Derek promptly escorted me to the General’s room. He smiled as we entered, “You all are early.” He frowned as he looked at our faces, “Is something the matter?” I shrugged, “I don’t know as of yet but something serious is going on. We were told to wait here until the interested parties return.” With that, Lucien and Mordred entered the room. We all bowed and Mordred offered one of the two chairs in the room. Lucien looked over at me, “I believe a lady should sit before a gentleman.” I smiled at him, “That may be so but you are my King, Your Majesty. I concede to you.” He nodded, “Very well but you must take the other. Derek pulled the other chair over to Lucien’s side and I sat down as commanded to. Doc entered the room, “Good, almost everyone is here. We just need the other Chalshin.” We could hear Garrett behind him, “Well that is rude, Doc, I have a name, you know.” Doc stepped aside and Garrett entered, “You have us all here now so speak.” Doc looked at Mordred and sighed, “We need to keep this a secret amongst us all for now but I think we need to send the other two Queen candidates home along with unessential personnel.” Lucien straightened up, “Why? What’s going on?” Doc looked down, “A young child has contracted Boreous Disease.”
