Cravings: chapter two.
Elbereth awoke with dawn light shining in his eyes. He moaned softly, holding up a hand to shield his face. Normally he enjoyed luxuriating in his warm, comfortable bed as the dawn's golden glow washed over him, making him feel a sleepy, contented part of the morning's beauty but today his head throbbed dreadfully and the bright light wasn't helping matters.
His neck hurt too, a sharp, insistent pain compared with the dull ache in his temples. He brushed at the site of the pain with his fingers and felt the soft, slight scratchiness of a bandage.
The elven king tried to roll over, to sit up, but he felt terribly weak and shaky. Trembling like a new-born kitten he managed to prop himself up on his side a bit, staring blearily about his room. Someone had been moving the furniture about, he was sure of it. A chair had been pulled up close by the bedside, and a basin filled with bloodied cloths sat on the floor beside it. His shirt was there too, he saw, and likewise stained with blood.
He couldn't remember, couldn't think. His vision swam and he let his head fall back to the mattress with a slight whimper. Nausea gripped his stomach.
And then there was a slight commotion from the other side of the room, the swish of robes as another elf approached. A cool hand felt his forehead and Elbereth closed his eyes, concentrating on the pleasant feeling. A familiar, soothing voice spoke in his ear, warming breath brushing his cheek.
"I need you to sit up and drink, my King. It will make you feel better, I promise."
But poor Elbereth had not the strength to raise himself again. The best he could do was roll over onto his back, looking up into the concerned face of his friend, the elf wizard Tintagel. Gently, as if he feared his king would break, Tintagel put one hand under Elbereth's shoulder, cradling the elf king's head in the other. Carefully he lifted Elbereth until the wounded male was cuddled against his chest, head supported in the crook of his arm.
Elbereth let his eyelids flutter closed once more, enjoying the warmth and comfort of the other elf. He felt the smooth wooden edge of a cup against his lips and obligingly opened his mouth to drink. The liquid was pleasantly cool, with a sweet, fresh taste. Even as it slid down his throat the headache began to diminish, and he was able to give a little smile when Tintagel kissed his forehead.
"Better?"
"Yes." Elbereth whispered. The rasp of his own voice made him wince. "Tintagel?"
"Mmm?"
"What happened? Why do I feel so…awful?"
"Do you not remember, my king?"
Elbereth tried to cast his mind back. Fuzzy images swam before his eyes: he was lying on the grass, Shayleigh leaning over him…he was standing, swaying, while she curled on the ground crying and holding her wrist…
"Oh gods, Shayleigh!" He cried, eyes flying open. "Tintagel, I hurt her!"
The other's blue eyes were sad as he stroked a few sweaty strands of dark hair away from the injured king's forehead. "She hurt you first, my lord. She bit you so that she might drink your blood."
Elbereth could only stare, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly for a long moment before he finally found his voice. "What?" he rasped.
"You bled so much…all the healers thought they might not be able to stop it. We feared you might die, my king."
Tintagel sniffed, putting down the cup so that he could use his free hand to wipe at his tearing eyes. He and Elbereth had been friends since they were tiny children- the thought of losing his king brought a lump to his throat. Oh, how he had wept with joy last night when the healers had finally told him they'd made the bleeding stop, that his king, his friend, was going to live!
Elbereth lay quiet, snatches of the previous night running through his mind. "And Shayleigh?" he finally murmured.
"Under guard, my king- we feared she may do herself harm when she realised what she'd done. The healers have spoken with, as have I, and we think we know what came over her."
"Well?" Elbereth breathed, desperate to hear that his friend was well, despite the pain she'd caused him.
"She had been attacked by a vampire at the Edificant Library, my king. Not bitten! But we think even the scratches from the creatures claws may have had an effect on her. She says that she had had cravings all the journey home, but she could not discern what for."
"Cravings for blood? My blood?"
"We do not know. It might be that you were simply the first elf she happened across, or she may have sought you out deliberately. Shayleigh herself is in some confusion about the event."
"Gods! Do you think she'll do it again?"
"Nay, my king. Fear not, we'll keep you safe."
A healer entered, bringing with her another cup. Elbereth drank this one too, and found sleep closing over him almost immediately. As Tintagel laid him back on the pillows he managed to catch at the elf wizard's wrist.
"Tintagel, I want to see her. I want to talk with Shayleigh."
"Aye, my king. Rest now, and I'll go see how she is. If I deem it safe I'll bring her to you."
"Thank y-" Elbereth sighed, unable to stave off sleep any longer. Tintagel watched him fondly for a moment before rising from the edge of the bed and leaving the room. He needed to speak with Shayleigh.
oOo
She had spent a miserable night in a special room the healers had prepared for those not of sound mind. It was comfortable enough- very comfortable in fact- but for the steel bars of the door, securely locked. Elven warriors- some of whom she had trained herself- watched her cautiously from the other side, most with pity unhidden in their eyes. Healers came and went, some exchanging a few words with her, but it had been hours since any had come in to speak with her.
Tintagel had been earlier, to tell her how Elbereth fared, and to listen to her story. He had also brought her some food- fresh bread and cheese, some fruit and a little pot of tea- but she hadn't touched that at all.
She could not stop replaying the moment in her head- that delicious, glorious, awful moment when her teeth broke skin and Elbereth's sweet blood filled her mouth. It had been better than the finest fey wine, better than anything she had ever tasted.
Gods, I'm disgusting! She thought.
There were footsteps outside her door, and the guards moved aside as Tintagel entered the room with a faint rustle from his robes. He smiled at her reassuringly, but she couldn't smile back.
"Shayleigh," he said softly, crouching down in front of her where she sat cross-legged on the bed. "All will be well. Elbereth will heal, and we think we know how to make you better too."
"I don't -"
"Shh. But first I need you to do something. I need you to give me some of your blood."
I'm crazy, she thought. Tintagel's crazy. We've all gone crazy.
"What?" she managed with a shaky laugh.
He proffered a little knife and a small silver bowl. "I thought from your thumb…if we can catch it in this bowl than the healers can use it to make you better, Shayleigh."
She didn't understand but she obediently used the knife to make a small slice in the meat of her thumb and Tintagel helped her catch a dribble of blood in the little bowl. He helped her bandage the cut, gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and then he was gone.
Shayleigh settled down to wait, all the while brooding over how she had hurt one of her dearest friends.
oOo
It took them two days, but Tintagel, his fellow wizards, and the wisest elven healers of Shilmista found a way to separate the vampire from Shayleigh's blood. From that they were able to make a serum- a 'vampire antidote' Tintagel laughingly told her- which they injected into her arm before allowing her to visit Elbereth.
Under the watchful eye of Tintagel and a handful of warriors and healers alike she sat on the edge of the king's bed and smiled, somewhat tearfully, as his silver eyes opened and regarded her sleepily. He was pale- more so than usual- with dark circles under his eyes, but he smiled and held out his arms, and she gratefully melted into the hug, careful not to put too much weight on the injured elf king.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She whispered into his hair, holding him close, feeling him gently stroke her back with trembling fingers.
He turned his face, nuzzling the soft skin of her neck. "Don't be." He murmured. "I didn't really mind."
Then he was laughing merrily as Shayleigh pulled back, regarding him incredulously.
oOo
Ok, slightly corny ending, but I'll try harder next time. And I know it wasn't really surprising- at least for anyone who's read the book- that the whole thing was due to a vampire attack, but I liked the plot line anyway. So, review, and tell me what you think! Please?