It was a prison, but it was not as bad as other war prisoners were enduring. They had both seperate, clean beds and the chance to wash themselves once in every week. They lived comfortable - though not too comfortable as to feel actually content in their prison. This mostly was notable with the lack of servants to aid them with dressing up.

"Bandage my ribs."

Vialle frowned at his demand and kept quiet, pretending as if she hadn't heard him.

"I said-" began Random in a much more irritated tone, "Bandage my ribs. Are you deaf as well as blind?"

"I am, when you speak in such a way to me. Ask me again, instead of demanding, and then I'll consider your request." 1...2...3... Vialle didn't flinch when Random erupted in a tantrum, as she had anticipated his reaction to her response.

"How dare you talk to a prince of Amber in that way?! You have no right-"

"Aside from being your wife, I have every right to ask your respect - which isn't much I wish in return for giving up my freedom and saving your life!" bit Vialle back. "If it weren't for me, Caine would have your head."

Random huffed. "You've only lengthened my inevitable outcome."

Vialle gritted her teeth at his ungrateful response and slapped the dumbstruck prince on the cheek, the impact echoeing in the room like a whip. Perhaps she had been wrong, when it came to Caine and Random. Perhaps they were not so different after all. She hadn't wished much of this marriage to begin with, but by Ran, she wanted make this work, to make the best of it, to see the positive side like she had always done in her life. And what had it cost her? She had literally given up everything for a man who was hardly willing to do the same for her. Vialle stumbled as far away as she could from him. "I thought..." began Vialle to voice her thoughts in little gasps, "I thought you would... at least appreciate... be-"

"Be what? Happy? Ecstatic? Grateful?!"

Vialle flinched as Random finished her unsaid thought, each word seeming to burn in her mind. "Somewhat, yes." murmured Vialle with a voice that was thick and on the verge of crying.

"What, don't tell me you actually believed I'd ever be greatful because of your so called noble sacrifice?"

"You being greatful?! You wouldn't make the same choices if the roles were reversed. You don't even know the meaning of the word." She was tired and spent from arguing. Without saying another word, Vialle stormed to her bedroom and slammed the door shut with a thundering clap.

Amberites heal Incredibly fast. But with the broken rib, along with the lack of medicine made the healing process much longer than normally would. As a consequence of the slower healing process, other implications began to arise that otherwise wouldn't have shown with the prince, like respiratory problems, coughing up blood...

She may not love him, that didn't mean she wished to see him in unnecessary pain while she had the knowledge to ease it. Vialle offered to tend to his injuries, which was each met with a snapping hurtful remark from Random and a painful removal whenever she reached too close to him. "Random, let me-"

"Let me be!"

Vialle however, could be as stubborn as Random. And when her husband grew so weak that he obtained a high fever by his injury, Vialle knew things became too critical, even for a prince of Amber.

Let him be, began a dark voice to whisper in her head as she hydrated his overheated face. No one will blame you, for the way he has treated you for these past weeks. No blood will be on your hands...

I can't just let him die-

He had no guilt either to leave Morganthe. He deserves this.

Her inner voice stopped when Vialle heard Random's breathing subtly change. "Random, can you hear me?" asked Vialle loud and clear.

"Y-yes." His voice was hoarsh from battling the fever.

"Do you want some water?"

"Yes" managed Random to sigh. "Please..."

Vialle smiled and squeezed his good shoulder before reaching for the bottle and bringing it in proximity to him. Random took the bottle out of her hands and Vialle could hear him eagerly swallow the water down his throat in big takes. "You shouldn't be-" began Vialle, when Random already started a coughing fit from drinking too rapidly. The bottle was harshly put back into her hands, causing Vialle to nearly drop it. The woman didn't comment on it though, as Random not only tried to regain his breathing, but also had to cope with the additional pain that his ribs provided to his lungs. Vialle felt his hand dig into her arm, and she clasped his in return to give him the stability he sought.

"You want another drink?"

"No... just a moment..." brought Random out in little high pitched gasps. His breathing came closer by the second, and Vialle was a bit startled when Random's epicentre began to shift. The blind woman quickly recuperated though, and stopped the prince from falling out of bed. She could feel his drenched shirt and heated skin against her clothing before she even touched him. "Damn my head..." Random let out a pained growl against her ear and Vialle gently guided him back upright.

Once she was sure he would not fall apart again, Vialle reached him the bottle for the second time. "Here. Take your time." ordered Vialle gently.

This time, Random was more careful as for not to put any stress on his ribs and drank with little sips. "Here." came his stiff business-like reply after he was finished.

Vialle decided to take the opportunity and press her luck. "I could give you something for the fever if it should prove to be too painful for you." said Vialle to reach out an olive branch to him. She was met with a long silence and Vialle let the silence be as it were. She didn't want to give Random the feeling as if he didn't have any say left - she knew all too well how infuriating it felt.

"Alright"

Vialle nodded with a tiny smile and went to fetch her necessities, that she already had prepared though left out of sight for Random. When she returned, she found that Random's breathing had slowed down to the edge of being asleep. Gently, Vialle traced her fingers on his face with the concoction she had made. The smell and taste of the herbs she had found in a little drawer, were near identical to the healing herbs found in Rebma. Vialle trusted upon them to have the same pain-easing effect on Random, as not only the herbs but also the biology of Rebma and Amber were near identical.

Random tossed uneasily in his half-awake feverish state and his breathing increased as another spell came upon him. "shhh, Random... it is going to work soon." comforted Vialle. "You can rest easily." The tossing still didn't decrease, causing Vialle to turn another leaf. There was a song her mother used to sing to her whenever she was sick as a child...

"Idir ann is idir as (between the here, between the now)
Idir thuaidh is idir theas (between the north, between the south)
Idir thiar is idir thoir (between the west, between the east)
Idir am is idir áit (between the time, between the place)

Casann sí dhom (from the shell)
Amhrán na farraige (the song of the sea)
Suaimhneach nó ciúin (neither quiet nor calm)
Idir mé is idir mé féin (between belief, between the sea...)

While singing Vialle noted that Random's breathing slowed down completely, indicating to her that he was finally asleep. Quietly, Vialle left the sleeping prince be and sought up her own bed.