A Prince in Need

Life soothed his pain, filled the void. Slowly he calmed, his fevered body relaxing under gentle strokes. A voice he could not recognize was gently murmuring his name. Two voices he did recognize talked softly behind it, but did not interfere.

The first thing Prince Kael'thas noticed was the scent of flowers…earth…and…wet cat? The second thing Prince Kael'thas noticed was the drumming of rain on the roof of his palace. But wet cats…why did…?

Kael'thas cracked open his eyes and saw a woman wringing out her hair. She was an elf…but something wasn't right…

"Kaldorei!" Kael rasped before going into a series of coughing fits.

The woman turned and began to approach him.

"Come no closer druid!" the prince said between coughs.

Katerine just pouted and moved closer. She pressed a glass of cool water to his lips and tilted his head back, letting it trickle down his throat.

"Hush now, that's no way to treat your healer."

Kael choked.

"Healer?!" he breathed.

Katerine nodded smugly.

"Yes your highness. My name is Katerine and your emissaries asked for my assistance, they say that their healing methods have no effect upon you."

Kael shivered as fresh chills swept through his system. He desperately wanted to climb back under the warmth and safety of his blankets but his pride wouldn't allow it, not in front of this one.

"How did they find you? Are you a traveler or are you so feral that you have exiled yourself?"

Katerine frowned.

"My father is Ralish, a naga." she said, her eyes narrowed.

"Adoptive, of course…" Kael mused.

Suddenly, he felt himself being shoved back down into the bed, the covers wrapping snugly around him.

"You need to rest, Prince, you are still feverish from the wound and rest is always the best medicine."

"Keep your hands off of me!" Kael snarled.

Suddenly, his side spasmed and he grabbed at the wound, gritting his teeth in an effort not to scream out in pain. The girl was instantly at his side.

"Hush, hush, I know it hurts. Shh…" Katerine said.

She cast her healing touch on his side and Kael instantly felt the cool relief of the earthen magic flow through his veins. He let out a small sigh and loosed his grip on the bandages.

"We need to change those. Here, take off your shirt." Katerine said as she stroked his hair.

Kael'thas snorted.

"I will do no such thing." He snarled.

Katerine gave him the same look she had before she had shoved him back into bed. Kael considered holding his ground but he was just too exhausted. He sat back up and began unbuttoning his bedshirt. Katerine sat next to him on the bed and, using a small knife she had in her boot, she snipped away the bandages. Kael'thas suddenly felt sick, the wound was clearly infected, he didn't need to see it, he could smell it. Katerine must have sensed his discomfort because the next thing she said was:

"I know it's not the most pleasant thing in the world but your wound is actually healing." She said as she picked up a jar of healing ointment and began to apply it.

Kael'thas tensed at the sudden contact and, for the first time, Katerine noticed how fit he was. She caught herself eyeing how the lean muscles on his back and chest looked as he breathed deeply. He may have been a bad patient, but he was certainly good looking.

And Kael'thas was also admiring his healer, how delicate and smooth her fingers were on his skin, how cool she felt against his fevered flesh. He started, suddenly realizing what he was doing.

"What the hell is going on?" He thought.