Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia or any characters you may recognize from the books or the movies, I wish I did but I don't... I also don't own the Narnian Calendar. It belongs to Elecktrum who was kind enough to let me borrow it for my story. Her own stories are awesome and you should go read them too.
Summary: Stitches... And the worst patients the healers of Cair Paravel have ever dealt with are... Part One-Part of the 24 in 24 Authors' Challenge.
A/N: Short story requested/suggested by Lady Firewing. Hope you enjoy it! This is part of my A Light in the Darkness universe but can be read as a standalone.
Part Three
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Three days had passed since Katerina Alambiel had collapsed on the training grounds. I tended to my duties, but I also took care to check on her condition every night. Pale and still, that is how she looked every time I came to see her. It was alarming that she had lost enough blood that she remained unconscious. But, she still breathed, thank Aslan.
I had set scouts to searching for signs of the Manticore's passage to join the Fell in the clearing where Alambiel had been attacked. But, somehow the Manticore had slipped past the patrols and most of the citizens of Narnia reported nothing out of the ordinary that they had noticed. I feared the Manticore was somehow connected with the Calormene threat harassing our southern border.
Stepping inside the privacy drapes, I searched Alambiel's face for some sign that she had woken since I had last checked on her, but there was none. She remained still and pale, only the slightest rise and fall of her chest testified that she still lived. I shook my head before grasping her hand, "How is it that you, Katerina Alambiel, manage to find the most trouble?"
I paused, half-expecting, half-hoping that she would make some cheeky protest blaming either Fell or that Murphy of hers for the trouble as she usually did. But, she said nothing. She didn't even move. I brushed some strands of hair out of her face then leaned close and whispered a command, "Dame Sepphora, you will keep fighting and you will awaken. And, when you wake, you will listen to the healers for once." I squeezed her hand then left.
Alithia followed me to my study, "Is there any word of the Valiant Queen's return?"
I frowned slightly then gestured at the rain beating against the window, "The storm blowing in has prevented any departure and no other messengers have been able to reach the Lone Islands, all being forced back by this storm." I met Alithia's concerned gaze, "Is she worsening?"
Alithia shrugged, "It is difficult to tell, but I am concerned that she has not woken. I had hoped she would at least briefly. I have asked Tuulea to help me treat her. For now, all we can do is continue to wait for either Queen Lucy to return with her cordial or Katerina Alambiel to awaken."
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A message came the next day for the troops to be assembled. The Calormene troops harassing our border had finally made an appearance. As the troops assembled in the courtyard, I paid one last visit to the healers' wing. Tuulea was sitting by Alambiel's cot when I stepped inside the privacy drapes. "Any change?"
"No, young one, there are no changes. But, do not give up hope. This one enjoys harassing you too much to quietly slip away from us. But, you came here to talk to her, not to me, correct? Of course, you did. I will be outside if she needs me."
Tuulea left me standing there. I shook my head slightly then stepped closer to Katerina Alambiel. Taking her hand, I let my fingers rest on her wrist, feeling the faint beat of her pulse. "Listen to the healers. And, do not try to go south if you wake before we return. You are not allowed to do so." Feeling a little awkward and somewhat useless, I let go of her hand and quickly left, barely sparing Tuulea a glance. Joining the troops as the rain softly fell, I focused on the task at hand, the task where I would actually be of use.
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A/N: Please Read and Review! Okay, this one is short, but the next chapter will be longer. Do y'all want to see the skirmish with the Calormene soldiers? Leave a review and tell me what y'all thought about this one.
