Pagan was looking at his wife, firmly holding her hand. Eli was talking to him with some papers in his hand.
-Even though your coming on the battlefield was dangerous, we can say it's been determinant. The syringes you administered to her contributed to "stabilize" her state. Thank god I could take care of her immediately…she underwent a head trauma, surely due to a violent shock on a window or a piece of furniture…
He raised his head and sadly watched the scene: the tyrant had his head on his wife's hand, trying not to cry. He told himself he would let him and talk to him later, and rejoined Jay, Yuma and all the soldiers alive, who were also waiting for his verdict.
-The queen is alive…but she is in a coma, stage three…her recovering will be difficult…she was really injured.
Everybody lowered their head or expressed their frustration. Although they succeeded and brought peace to Kyrat once and for all, they just could not rejoice, because their queen was not here. Still they took time to take care of their dead colleagues.
Jay was particularly wrathful. He went in his office to try to calm down but ended fluttering all that came in his hands about. Eli entered.
-Jay…that's not your fault…
-She said it to me, Eli…she told me she knew that she could count on me! I betrayed her trust by failing to help her!
He violently hit his desk with his fist.
-We came back without her…coma or not…she…
Eli looked at his friend and then walked quickly toward the soldiers who were still moaning.
-Stop that…stop behaving like that! We're all worried about Aliya, but to see us in that state is the last thing she would want! Pull yourselves together, for Christ's sake! Be glad to be alive as she wished to, and move forward! For your queen! Despite all happened, the king managed to bring her back alive! Even if she is in coma, she's still breathing and has a chance to pull through, and this is what you must keep in your minds! The queen in not dead! Pray for her and hope an efficient healing! I'll do everything for this, but don't forget that she also needs your support right now!
Everyone was astonished to see the mercenary so angry. It was extremely rare. While he was returning in the room where she was, the soldiers got a grip on themselves by following the positive way their queen showed them before going to the battlefield.
When he entered the room, he found the tyrant, who was still looking at his beloved and stroking her hair now short. Eli took again the young woman's folder to examine it closer.
-…She told me…that her hair was a pride for her. She's always wanted to keep them long to look like her mother. It pains me to know she had to cut them…
-It's a proof of what she is ready to do for you and the country.
-Eli…when do you think she will open her eyes?
-Unfortunately, I can't give you any answer, majesty.
-…I want to watch over her.
-You can't stay here 24/7, majesty. I'll cure her and try to quicken her wake date by giving her the best cure possible. Meanwhile, and even if I conceive it'll be difficult, you will have to watch over Kyrat…I think this is what she would want.
-It's what she told me…before closing her eyes…
-So you have to honor her request.
The men looked at one another. Eli smiled.
-You can do it, majesty. Aliya gave you enough strength for that. But right now, she must keep her strength for herself. She is fighting to reopen her eyes. Be strong for her by then. You know you have her support as she knows she has yours.
Pagan took a deep breath and stood up, thanking the mercenary for what he just said. He kissed his queen on her forehead and asked for visit her every day. The mercenary accepted and observed him walking up to his helicopter.
As he was reading the folder, Eli was surprised of some numbers…if he wasn't mistaking, the consequences of his discover could be serious if the state of his pupil wouldn't get better…so he decided to reinforce the cure.
When Pagan arrived to the palace, Sati was waiting for him. She took him in her arms and was really sad to see him so depressed.
During two weeks, the tyrant refused to eat correctly and spent his nights doing nightmares or unable to close a single eye. He visited his wife twice a day; often with his friend the mornings.
As Sati was planning to clean the dining room, she caught the dictator to his mini bar with an almost empty bottle. She ran to him and snatched his glass from his hand.
-What are you doing?!
-Sati…please…
-I won't let you fall in alcohol and depression again!
He looked at her. His gaze was lifeless and wet. When he tried to stand up, he fell. Sati had lots of difficulties to bear what she was seeing, as it reminded her of the accursed period of the past. She wanted to help him to stand up but he grabbed her by her waist and let his tears fall.
-Shit, Sati, I miss her so much…I miss her so much!
The old lady sighed and stroked his face joining her tears to his.
An evening, when he came back from his daily visit, Sati went to have dinner with him, but he still was not hungry.
-Pagan, please eat, you are losing weight at sight of eye!
-Hm…
She looked at him playing with his crab rangoons.
-…I wonder what Aliya would have said if she could see you…she would obviously be very angry…but what would she tell you exactly?
The tyrant raised his head toward his friend who was staring at him smiling.
-…"Pagan, you have to eat!", "Stop doing like you're in diet tonight! These are crab rangoons, everybody know you love that dish!", "I warn you, if you don't eat right now, I won't talk to you anymore!"…
Sati chortled and relished of those precious seconds when the tyrant had a little smile on his lips.
-Sati…you can't imagine how afraid I am…
-We are all afraid, but we must not lose hope. Remind of what you said to me that day: Eli told you that she would be dead if you were not here to administer her syringes. It is a sign. I don't know how long it will be, but I am sure she will wake up. Be strong, sweety!
He nodded. Even if he knew after that she didn't passed away in his arms, the shock was still intense. But he said to himself he will do everything to be a good king, waiting for her reawakening.
-Thank you to be there, Sati.
-It is normal, sweety.
The day after, he went to supervise the works and went to the villages to give the people news about the queen, news that sensibly stayed the same during a month. To see the people by his side and joining their positive thoughts for his wife really made him glad.
The more time passed, the more he was able to hold the tears he felt arriving when he was talking to her. He sat next to her like usual, took her hand, and began to speak like a chatterbox; most of them were about the works.
"Today, you car center opened…and it's already full of pieces! Some inhabitants discover a new passion, others are happy to find something useful to do with what they found…I wish you could say that…"
"A school has opened its doors, today. The children were so happy in the playground! But to see their sulking faces when they were entering the classroom was priceless! My favorite moment was when they sang a little song for you…I had tears in my eyes, and they all came to me and gave me hugs to comfort me…"
"The tea factory's been reopened, making the joy of all those who worked in it…I must confess it's a while since I didn't have pleasure to drink tea…I just couldn't see Earl Grey anymore…I'm eager to make you taste it…"
"All the poppy fields were moved near Shanath…but a little part was lost because of a bunch of stupid monkeys who put fire in the truck. I wanted to kill them, but Yuma had already dealt with it…well, she just threw them in Durgesh, so we can say they're dead…"
"You know, my dove, I terribly miss you…the facts that I can't hear you laugh or not being able to tease you so you try to hit me just make me sick…I beg you, my love, wake up…we all need you here…me first."
One day, when he arrived to the camp with Sati, he fell on Jay.
-Ah, good morning, majesty…you came particularly early today.
-Hm…
-…May I join you this morning?
The mercenary looked at the tyrant, who nodded and headed to the room. Sati came to him.
-Today is Aliya's birthday…he is extremely chagrined.
-I doubt so…
-Let's join him.
They entered the room. Eli was taking some samples after he studied his pupil cerebral activity.
-I have good news, today: she is officially in stage 2; her chances to wake up increased. Her stimulus is also more active: when we touch her or inflict her a little pain, she reacts a bit. Majesty, pinch her softly.
He slowly executed and jumped when she moved her arm a bit a few seconds later. All were glad to see more shine in his eyes. He took her hand and stroked her head, praying that she wakes up as soon as possible.
He felt a movement on his hand. The young queen's fingers bended a bit on his. He had tears in his eyes facing that.
-Happy birthday, my precious…this is the second time I can't celebrate it with you…I wish you could open your eyes now…
To the tyrant's request, they toasted for her with Yuma and DePleur the evening.
Days passed and Eli noted Aliya's fairly fast progress. Her stimulus was peacefully recovering a normal activity, for his utter enjoyment…but he had to tell someone about what he found…
-Jay…have you got a minute?
-Yeah, what's happening?
He nodded at him to make him come in the room and gave him an envelope. Jay took the papers that were in it and almost made them drop.
-Are you fucking serious?!
-I spent four hours on it…I doubt I mistook.
-I can't believe it…shit, but how can that be?!
-I can't answer you…but this is definitely what's happening…
-Oh shit…you gonna tell Min?
-Are you crazy; I can't do that…not now…it would break him…
