"You really didn't need to come and get me, Leovold. It's just a cold." I heard a woman sigh as I struggled to open my eyes. Failing that I groaned instead the heat radiating from my forehead making it difficult to concentrate on the conversation. Nearly a minute later I could feel myself growing sleepy and after a few seconds of fighting it I passed out.
Leovold's point of view:
As Serla lay unconscious in her bed I stared at her then the healer, a fellow elf by the name of Ayse who gazed at her patient. "I didn't know that when I called for you, Ayse. If I had I wouldn't have bothered." I replied, unable to believe I had worried about a simple cold.
"Serla will be fine in a few days. When she wakes make sure she drinks a tea with these leaves." Ayse told me as she handed over a small pouch. "Now I should be going." She added and I showed her to the door, closing it behind her just as Serla groaned again.
"You should have stayed inside and not spent so much of your energy trying to beat me." I told her sleeping form. Why I bothered talking to the human who clearly could not answer or even hear me for that matter I didn't know. Until the next morning when I decided on a whim to check on her progress seeing as I had the time spare.
Just as I reached her door I heard loud coughing and then someone muttering to themselves. Shaking my head I reached for the doorknob and as I turned it the coughing weakened, the occupant calling out. "Who's there?"
Back to Serla:
"It's Leovold of course." A familar voice answered and I looked up from my bed to find Leovold with his head poking through the now open doorway. Sighing I pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders as he stepped through the open doorway, closing the door quietly behind him.
"What are you doing here? In case you can't tell I'm sick and contagious." I muttered, grimacing as my throat throbbed. Swallowing only made it hurt more and I sniffed my nose stuffy.
"Yes that did cross my mind but Ayse asked me to give this to you and I couldn't while you were passed out." Leovold answered, producing a small pouch from one of his jacket pockets. "She said to brew a tea with these leaves mixed it." He added as he handed it to me. When I glanced at the pouch still trying to unclog my nose he raised an eyebrow at me.
"Yeah I have the flu in case that fact escapes you. Now you should leave before you catch it from me." I whispered not expecting Leovold to take the pouch from my fingers moving towards the small table I had. "Now what are you doing?"
"Since you're incapable of making tea I will." Leovold informed me and I narrowed my eyes, rising from the bed only to stumble backwards the room tilting. "You can't even stand." He muttered, an amused smirk on his lips as he picked up my teapot. I managed to sit before I collapsed, holding my head between my palms as Leovold set about making tea.
He returned to find me barely conscious and my head jerked up once he sat beside me, holding a cup in front of my face. "What is that?"I asked and he rolled his eyes practically pushing the cup into my hands.
"It's tea." Leovold answered as I blew on the cup, cooling it somewhat before I took a careful sip. I grimaced and he chuckled drinking his without any expression making me wonder what he'd put in my drink and not his. Staring at my cup for a few minutes I found myself wondering just how long I'd been ill. "In case you're wondering you've been asleep for one full day."
"A day?! Then Hanna..." I trailed off with a groan as he shook his head, his smile barely hidden by his own cup. "God what am I going to do now?"
"Don't worry about Hanna. I explained that while you were finishing work by delivering my letter you were caught in the rain and developed a nasty cold. She told me that Refia can fill in for you, just this once until you're well again." Leovold said and I blinked, taken aback by his kindness. "But you'll need to make it up to me." He added and I stared as he rose from the bed.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, attempting to rise until he waved his hand. Crossing the room he set down his cup. "Wait is this about the contest?"
"Of course, Serla. Since I won I get to decide how you can assist me." Leovold said and I coughed nearly spilling the tea down my shirt. After I righted the cup I snorted and Leovold frowned at me, arms crossed against his chest. "We did shake on it."
"You never said that that was a rule. Anyway I know you didn't keep your end of the bargain. Why else did everyone I asked about you run away?" I shot back and his eyes widened briefly, leaving me grinning despite feeling very under the weather. "You cheated to win while I played by the rules so..." I trailed off as a coughing fit hit me, leaving me with red cheeks and an aching throat.
"Serla, I never cheated. I just used my own contacts to hinder you progress. Are you feeling alright?" Leovold answered, moving to my right side as I rubbed my throat with an open palm. Taking the cup from my shaking fingers he set it down before I felt his palm move towards my face and I flinched back. "I'm only trying to check if you still have a fever. Now hold still."
I did as he asked for reasons not clear to me, my hands shaking. As Leovold moved his hand from my forehead I closed my eyes, vision blurred. "Feel terrible." I mumbled wanting to curl up in bed again.
"You still have a fever, Serla." Leovold pointed out only to freeze when I shifted until my head was resting on his shoulder. "Now what are you doing?" He asked as I sighed, too exhausted to notice I was using the elf as a makeshift cushion.
After a struggle Leovold managed to move me onto the bed and I sighed, eyes opening halfway as he rose from the bed. "Still...feeling sleepy." I mumbled more to myself as Leovold stared down at me. "Night." I added as I curled into myself, my eyes drifting closed.
I woke to find the blankets on my bed now neatly pulled over me, only my head exposed. This time when I yawned my throat didn't hurt and I sighed shivering a little from the cold air in the room. Which made me wish once again I could have afforded a room with a fireplace. Snuggling into the blankets I let my eyes drift shut just as there was a light knock at the door.
"Come...in." I called out as loudly as I could manage, clearing my throat as the door slowly opened. "Hey." I coughed, pulling the blankets tighter around me to keep the cold out.
"Good morning, Serla." Leovold answered, moving into the room before he gently shut the door behind him. "How are you feeling?"
"You don't want to know, elf. Anyway I can't work right now if you couldn't guess. I'm still feeling awful." I told him, covering my face with a blanket when he walked over to my bed.
"I actually came by to give you this. Ayse told me this would make you feel better." Levold explained and I groaned as he sat on the blanket inches from my body.
"If you spend anymore time here you'll catch my cold." I mumbled, emerging from my cocoon to find him peering down at me with that same smile on his face. "Alright I'll take it." I sighed, reaching for the pouch sitting in his hand only to have him grab my wrist. "Hey!"
"Just stay still would you? I'm checking your pulse." Leovold explained and I frowned, eyes on his face as he hummed. "It's very fast." He finally spoke not relaxing his grip and I rolled my eyes at the elf.
"Of course it is, Leovold. I'm sick remember?" I complained and he just chuckled, removing his hand before he dropped the pouch into my hand. "You really don't need to be here. I can take care of myself and the last time I checked you're not a healer."
"I doubt that very much, Serla. The last time I came by you could barely stay awake." Leovold said and I snorted, mostly as an attempt to clear my nose. "Please don't do that near me. These clothes are very expensive and difficult to clean." He asked and I grinned, grabbing his sleeve before he could move to a safe distance.
"How about I use this as a handkerchief?" I teased and he growled, eyes narrowed at me. "So you don't like it when someone teases you huh?" I asked and he leant on close, his nose nearly brushing mine.
As my heartbeat sped up Leovold lightly kissed the tip of my nose, achieving the effect he wanted as I relaxed my grip on his jacket sleeve. "That's better." He grinned as I blinked back at him, completely focused on the kiss alone. "Serla, why are you staring at me?" He asked, curious as I quickly shook my head.
"You just kissed me and you're wondering why I'm staring at you?" I answered, cheeks flushed as the elf raised his eyebrows at me. After a pause he grinned and without answering he leant in, his soft warm lips lightly brushing mine before he sat back.