Chapter 12: Caring for Her

“I want to know who it was!” Saffron heard Elric’s raging voice ring through the corridor outside of her room. She wearily opened her eyes. The drapes were drawn tight against the sun that she could see reaching around the edges of the thick brocade. It gave the room a suffocating feeling. She sat up, intending to open them a bit but her legs were still a bit shaky.
She wasn’t sure of the exact poison she had been given but she knew that it was the type to cause paralysis, judging by her weakened limbs and her previous difficulty breathing. It was nearly tasteless in her tea. Had it had more time to dissolve, it would have been impossible to discern. Whoever poisoned her did not have a strong background in the practice. Thankfully, her grandmother was a skilled woman who made sure to teach Saffron how to heal ailments of all variety, natural and human-induced.
She took a swig of the water next to her bed after thoroughly checking its contents. She swilled the cool liquid around her mouth to rinse the stale taste of sleep from her teeth. She wanted to go for a walk. She needed to feel the fresh air on her face. Elric burst into the room, a murderous look in his green eyes.
His hair was disheveled and there was a thick stubble on his chin. He hadn’t appeared to have slept a wink with the dark circles that lay beneath his eyes, which widened when he saw her sitting up, something between relief and panic warred in his eyes. “You’re up!” he rushed to her side.
“Are you okay to be sitting up?” he asked, sitting gingerly next to her. She laughed, her throat raspy.
“It was just a bit of poison. I haven’t become an invalid,” she waved off his concern. “I would just really like to get out of this room. I need some air,” she said, and shakily stood. He gripped her arm and helped to steady her.
“Are you sure that is wise?” his eyes searched her face. This time she narrowed her eyes as she looked up at him.
“Unless whoever poisoned me is planning on picking me off with an arrow, I should wager it will be fine,” she snapped, irritated. He cracked a smile.
“So, you are feeling better than,” his voice held a note of relief.
“Yes. What I need is fresh air and a bit of a walk. I’ll need to change,” she added as she glanced down at her nightgown.
“Do you want me to fetch Mary?”
“She isn’t here? But who…” she trailed off looking around the room. Next to her bed was a pitcher of water, a large heel of bread, and a pot of steaming tea. Her sheets had also been changed since she had sweat out most of the poison the night before. She saw him looking slightly smug and bashful as she took inventory of the room.
“You did this?” her voice softened.
“That useless girl was of no help. Shrieking like a damn banshee and flapping her arms as if she would fly out of the window. I sent her away.” He replied, scornfully. She glanced down at the bed and saw the pillow next to hers was dented and she arched an eyebrow.
“Well, I wasn’t going to take advantage of you in your weakened state if that is what you are thinking! I wanted to keep an eye on you!”
She arched an eyebrow. “Pity.” He laughed and shook his head at her before drawing her gently into his arms.
“I’m just glad you are alright. You feel well enough for a few days travel?” he asked.
“I should be fine in a few hours’ time. Why?”
“The unrest at the border has gotten worse. I have been asked to go speak on the King’s behalf. We would only be gone a week or so. No more than a month at most. That would mean delaying the wedding but with what was attempted last night…” his eyes implored her to leave with him.
She didn’t have to think twice about it. “It would be nice to get out of the castle,” she replied.
“We will get married when we return,” he promised. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his mouth lightly, aware of the feelings that were growing between them. This was no longer to be a marriage of convenience, it seemed.
“I am in no rush, however, where will we stay?” she asked and opened her wardrobe, looking for an appropriate traveling gown.
“We have been offered rooms at the princess’s palace in Udril,” he said hesitantly. Her hand froze on a gown and she turned to look at him, her eyebrows lifted. “It has been offered as a safe place for negotiations,” he added.
“Well, I suppose that isn’t any more dangerous for me than drinking tea here,” she pulled a simple grey woolen dress from the wardrobe. “Do I have time to bathe before we leave?” he nodded.
“I’ll have Mary pack the rest of your things while you do. My offer to help you dress is still available,” he replied with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
“I’m sure it is,” she quirked and with a smile shut the door to the bathing room.
An hour later they were climbing into the carriage. Elric settled large furs around her, ensuring she was warm enough. As the carriage pulled away from the castle, Saffron was not sad to see it disappear behind her.
“It should take us about a week’s travel to reach the palace. It is what they call their summer home, but I think it rivals my father’s entire estate. They are considering it neutral territory for meetings which is why they offered us rooms there.”
“Interesting,” she replied, mulling over the situation. She would be safer amongst the enemies as opposed to her own future family. She really was tired of the court.
Elric stretched his hand over to hers and interlaced his fingers through hers. She smiled up at him, still feeling the vestiges of the poison's effects. He rubbed his thumb down her cheek and across her plump lips.
Pulling her in for a kiss, he whispered against her lips, “If you want, you are more than welcome to share my rooms while we travel.” She flicked her tongue along his lips causing a shiver to shake his body.
“If fate smiles upon you, perhaps,” she replied and kissed him.