The Dip
POV: Alexandra
I woke up the next morning feeling like I slept wrong and felt a pain in my neck. After Lucien heard that Loki was possibly in the room with Tilly, he had guards posted outside her room and ours so no one could get in. We were all concerned about what Loki would want with the small child. It was likely no coincidence that she would happen to be visited by him right as she was coming down with a deadly disease. I was anxious to get a clean bill of health so I could go out in the camp and see Lucy. Vanessa had taken her in for the night until I was better. No one could find Nystasia which, I was told, was not unheard of for a fae. They liked to get into nature so she was likely running around the lake getting recharged. I wished I knew where she was so I could send her home with Lucy. We didn’t want Nystasia getting sick and we didn’t want Lucy to catch it either. When she stood with Vanessa, Whisperia sealed her tent so that we could be sure that Lucy wouldn’t get sick or get anyone sick since she was right next to Tilly’s bed. Doc said they would likely test all the children today.
I looked around the room and noticed that I was the only one awake. It was strange that I would be up before Ronan, Derek, and Garrett. Usually, they had to drag me out of bed in the mornings. Doc was the next one to wake up, he immediately looked at me and nodded. He said in a hushed voice, “We can check you now if you want, Your Grace. I know you are anxious about Lucy.” I nodded, “Yes, please.” He got out of bed and walked over to the cabinet with the supplies. He pulled out a vial of dark blue liquid and grabbed the pitcher of water. He went over to the cauldron bowl that I had on my workstation and had me sit on my chair at my desk. He looked up at me and smiled, “This method of testing is less intrusive than the water magic test that goes through your nose or mouth. Just dip your hand in the bowl when I tell you to.” He poured the water into the cauldron and then poured a few drops of the dark blue oil-like substance in. He looked back at me again, “You see how the color of the water is this deep dark blue?” I nodded, “Yeah, I’m kind of amazed that just a few of those drops could turn the water that color.” He winked at me, “Trade secret dear. You sure you don’t want to change your profession?” I shrugged, “I mean, I did want to be of service to Vellum. Medicine is a service. I just don’t know.” He patted me on the shoulder, “Just promise me you’ll get a good long thought for it okay? I think you might have real talent in magical medicine considering your bedside manners, empathy, and most importantly your skill with fire. You may not be able to heal with water but you can help to heal with fire. Anyhow, getting back to the task at hand. When you place your hand in the water when I ask you to, you want to see the water turn clear. If it turns brown, you are indeed sick and will need to stay confined.”
He chanted the words to activate the spell, the runes on the sides lit up a yellow color and he nodded at me to indicate that I should put my hand in. The cool water gently crept up my hand as I slowly submerged it into the cauldron. I looked down hoping and thinking the water would immediately turn clear. It wasn’t turning brown but it also wasn’t clearing up. I looked up at Doc who was staring at the cauldron to see signs of what my results were. He looked up at me and smiled, “Sometimes results aren’t immediate, Your Grace. We just have to be patient.” Lucien could be heard over Doc’s shoulder yawning and stretching. He looked over at us, “What are you doing?” Doc looked over his shoulder, “Oh good morning, Your Majesty. We were just testing Her Grace for the disease. She’s anxious about young Miss Lucy so I figured I would test her first so she can go see her. I believe Dorothea will test the child this morning. I understand the child stood with Vanessa, Dorothea, and Whisperia in their tent so it shouldn’t be long now before we will know the child’s results.” Lucien rose from his cot and walked over to us. He looked over Doc’s shoulder down at the cauldron, “What are we looking for here Doc?” Doc looked down, “Just what we are seeing. Look, Your Grace.” I looked down and the water was clear. I inhaled deeply relieved that I could carry on with my work. Doc took my hand from the cauldron gently and wiped it with a towel, “Congratulations, Your Grace. You are not infected.”
He looked back at Lucien, “Now then, Your Majesty let’s get you tested as well. The realm cannot do without a King.” I got up from my seat and offered it to Lucien. He nodded, “Somehow it feels odd that I should be taking a lady’s seat.” I chuckled quietly, “A necessary evil, Your Majesty. Please don’t let formalities and being a gentleman get in the way of your health. It would be a pity if you were stuck in a tent all day, perfectly healthy.” He sighed as he lowered himself onto the chair, “I guess I can overlook it in this instance. Just remind me, Alexandra, that I owe you a small favor for your kindness.” I felt heat creep up into my face, “Oh no, I think your being healthy is good enough for me.” Doc smiled at Lucien, “You have a very devoted servant in this one, Your Majesty. If she were to become Queen, it would be the best thing for our realm.” Lucien looked up at me, “In a moment of weakness, I will have to admit to you that it is my truest wish but don’t say that to anyone else.” Doc chuckled and held up his hand, “Doctor, patient confidentiality. I couldn’t tell anyone even if I wanted to.” I looked down at him, “Wouldn’t that only count if this discussion was about his health?” Doc smiled, “Not necessarily, if it is good for His Majesty’s health then I consider that to be part of the clause. My King’s health is most important.” Doc turned and dumped the water into the bucket that was sitting nearby and poured some more water into the cauldron. He placed more of the oil-like substance in the cauldron while he was explaining to Lucien what exactly he was going to do and what he needed Lucien to do. Lucien went through the test just fine so he immediately left.
When the rest of the party in the room woke up, Doc tested each one to find out if they passed. Derek conducted Doc’s test since he was proficient in water magic and passed the test so he left the room quickly so he could meet up with Lucien to plan the next steps in dealing with this disease. I decided it would be a good idea to go and check on Lucy before I started my work for the day. Doc had told me that I could take some time to check in with the witches, Lucy and Jess if I needed to. Derek, of course, was eager to go see how Jess fared in being in charge for a day. We decided it would be best to go check on her first since we weren’t sure if they had conducted the test on Lucy yet. We came up to the mess tent and my stomach let out a well-timed and very loud plea to feed it. I hugged my stomach and blushed, “Er, I guess I was hungrier than I thought.” Derek laughed, “It’s because you hadn’t had a minute to think about food since you woke up. I bet that you being near this tent your brain reminded your stomach you needed to eat. Come on, let’s go get you fed.” We had an uneventful breakfast and, of course, my shadowy furry friend made his morning appearance so he could eat. Jess did well enough but having everyone asking her questions was a bit overwhelming for her. She told us that she knew where Nystasia wandered off to but she didn’t think it would be a good idea to let her know about the disease. She divulged where Nystasia was becoming one with nature so I could have Vanessa portal Lucy over to her later and she could send them both to Blackwood.
We made our way over to the tent the witches were staying in and saw that the seal was still on the tent. This meant that Whisperia had not broken the seal which meant Lucy was still in there. I concentrated on communicating with Mordred, I was able to inform him that Derek and I had a clean bill of health and we were waiting outside of the tent. A portal opened up beside us and he had asked me to step through. We were portaled straight into the tent but Mordred was not inside. Vaness and Whisperia were having a discussion on what they were going to do for the day. Dorothea was sitting in front of a table preparing the test for Lucy who was on the other side of the table. I called out to her, “Lucy, how are you?” Her face lit up and she ran over and hugged me, “Miss Alexandra! I was told you might be sick and I was so worried.” I hugged her back and crouched down to her level, “I’m fine as you can see. Are they testing you for the illness?” She nodded, “Miss Dorothea said that I have to give my hand a bath in the grey bowl thingy.” I nodded, “I did it this morning too. It isn’t bad, just a little cold. Do you think you can cooperate with her?” Lucy smiled, “Yeah, I will do as you say.” She ran back over to the table and I followed her over. Dorothea smiled up at me, “You’re just in time. We’re going to see if this sweet child is alright.” She turned to Lucy, “Bairn, are you ready?” Lucy nodded, “Yes, I will do that because Miss Alexandra wants me to.” Dorothea directed the child to place her hand in the bowl and she complied. I found myself holding my breath while we awaited the results. Slowly the dark blue water turned to clear water and I heard a collective sigh echo through the room. I looked around and saw that everyone was gathered around the table staring down at the test results. I sat for a little while with Lucy so I could explain to her how she was going to see Nystasia again and that she would be taking her home to Blackwood. She was upset she couldn’t say goodbye to her friend but I promised that I would bring her back to the Glades in a few weeks. I silently prayed to Almighty that Tilly would be okay so I wouldn’t have to break the news to her that we had to bury her best friend. It broke my heart just thinking about it. I informed Vaness where she could find Nystasia and we left for the medical tent.
We stepped into Ronan's room and he was reading one of the books we had brought him. He smiled at us, “Everything good out there?” I nodded, “So Lucy is okay and Jess was overwhelmed by taking temporary command. I read somewhere that introverts make excellent leaders but I have to say that whoever theorized that never met Jess.” Derek laughed, “She had such a headache from yesterday but she didn’t really complain. It isn’t in her nature to, she just did her job. What I heard from everyone I spoke to, she was effective. I’m so proud of how she handled things.” I nodded at Derek and turned to Ronan, “I guess we can finally get on with this light healing magic that I’m supposed to develop. I just need Apollo here to help me to figure out the rest of it.” Ronan chuckled, “I don’t suppose he won’t just materialize right here right now, will he?” I shrugged, “Sometimes they do but it doesn’t always work that way. It appears that that won’t be the case.” I heard a chuckle, “Oh ye of little faith.” The golden orb, that I had not noticed until now, materialized into Apollo.
