Chapter 46.
Floria walked with her new husband into the Gardens, her hand so warm in his as they found themselves standing near the roses and Loki cradled her cheek in one hand. She looked up at him, a small smile on her face and she let him kiss her softly. The day was theirs, and people watched as he doted upon her with happiness.
"I have good news for us." He said and she blinked up at him in question. The Late Spring day was so warm suddenly, and she felt odd, like a cold blast of air passed through her with no warning. She ignored the feeling and looked into his eyes, the question on her lips filled with curiousity.
"What is it?" She asked and giggled. "Please don't make me wait."
"Our audience will not bother us anymore, we are eachother's alone. No one will make us perform like trained horses, we are free to love as we wish." Loki said and Floria smiled softly, she looked pale then and her hand absently traveled to her forehead and she wiped away a bead of sweat. Her body swayed, but she kept her footing and she managed with a thick tounge to form words.
"That is wonderful news, I hope that we may join eachother alone soon." She said and she saw spots in her vision form. Loki noticed her faltering, and turned her chin to him. Something moved over her like a haze, and Loki could feel it. It was slightly electrical, and his fingers picked up a barely perceptible hum on her skin.
"Nightengale, is there something wrong?" He asked her and she cleared her vision by shaking her head.
"I... I feel strange." She replied, her fingers grabbed his tunic suddenly and her legs gave way. To his horror, she began to convulse and his arms were the only things holding her from supporting her as she fell. She shivered, her eyes rolling back in her head and he screamed.
"Guards! I need help! Help my Wife!" He shouted, afraid to let go of Floria and easing her to the grass. Her fingers were still clutching his shirt, and he pried them off carefully as her body began to relax. The Guards ran forward, both of them standing over her and checking her for wounds.
"She needs a Healer!" One shouted and the other began running to find a way to move her. Thor ran toward them, Sif and Frigga following and trying to offer help.
What is wrong with her?" Frigga asked, placing the girls head in her lap. Thor crouched down next to them, his face full of worry and the Guards returned with a litter to carry the stricken Princess to be examined. Floria relaxed, her body going limp as suddenly as she began to convulse and Loki watched her breathe silently. His heart pounded in fear, worried that this was the last he would ever see her again.
"We need to take her." The Guard said and they carefully lifted her to lay on the pallet. Two men lifted her and Loki followed them, the only view he had was the limp hand that dangled over the side of the litter as the two men walked quickly. Thor and Frigga followed, offering words of kindness and comfort but he did not hear them.
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Odin entered, finding Loki pacing and worrying at his thumbnail with his teeth. He turned at the wall and walked the other way, Frigga standing silently with Thor and he cleared his throat for attention. He walked toward Loki, placing a hand on his son's shoulder and saw, for the first time in years, despair on his face. The man he knew as being too cunning and controlled was reduced to base fear, and he knew well the source of that fear.
"Do they know what caused the illness?" Odin asked him and Loki shook his head.
"No. They are still with her, and still examining her for the cause." He replied and Odin pressed his lips together and nodded.
"Fear not, she is young, and very strong. She will recover, and this will only be a terrible memory." Odin said and Loki gave the old man a thin smile.
"Thank you." Loki said and the doors opened, two Healers walked with Floria and supported her. She looked pale and Loki ran to her, wrapping his arms around her. Eir approached, her dark hair tied up in a severe bun, her dark blue uniform neat, and she lowered her eyes in respect. Despite her severe appearance, she was very compassionate and caring, her eyes giving away her demeanor.
"She needs rest My Prince." Eir said, giving him a curtsy. "We could not find any toxin in her blood, nor any virus, her body is in working order, and there is no injury. She has a vial of potion to calm her so she may rest, two drops in the mornings and nothing to cause her upset. Should she convulse again, bring her back immediately."
"I shall, Thank you." He said and lifted Floria off her feet gently. "To bed then? Perhaps a cup of tea? Allow me to serve you my beautiful Lady."
"Tea sounds lovely, could you read to me as well?" She asked him and the two girls with her blushed and giggled. One whispered to the other how wonderful a husband Loki was, the other smiled and nodded her agreement.
"I will pray she recovers Brother." Thor said and Frigga smiled at her sons. Loki held Floria, looking up at the doors and he carried her through them as Frigga opened them. He took her to his Chambers, Sari waiting and opening the doors for him and he nodded to her.
"I prepared everything Sir, her shift is on the bed and I can help her change. Is there anything she would need later?" The girl asked and Loki sat her on his bed. Floria looked up at him and he held her as she sat, her arms circling his waist and her forehead against his stomach.
"Tea, could you bring Floria some tea after you get her settled? She is ordered to rest, and to take no strain." Loki said and stepped away from his Wife. She looked around the chambers and Sari walked to her, She started helping Floria undress and gasped as she removed the overskirt. Her arms, once pale and unmarked, were covered in bruises the size of coins and she had a particularly dark one on her shoulder. Loki stepped over, seeing Floria look up at him in worry, and her eyes filled with tears.
"They occurred during the fit. I convulsed so terribly that I did all this to myself." Floria said and Loki pressed his lips together, he used some magic to heal them. They faded away, leaving smooth, pale skin and he looked worried at her.
"They are gone now, I will give you some privacy to change and get settled." He said and walked into the sitting room. He sat, staring into the fire and thought a long time about everything. The odd sensation before the convulsions, the bruises, her exhaustion now, his lack of desire to lay with her, and her complaints on the Wedding Night of feeling unwell. He began to wonder, his mind taking dark turns and he pushed his thoughts aside when the doors from the bedroom opened and Sari curtsied to him.
"Is she ready?" Loki asked and the girl nodded.
"Yes My Prince, she is asking for you as well. I will fetch her tea." She replied and he smiled at her, dismissing her with a gesture. He stood as the girl left, walking to the bed and saw Floria laying on the pillows. Her face was drawn, but she was still so beautiful to him. He sat next to her hip, taking her hand and holding it as she looked up at him.
"I am sorry." Floria said, her voice soft and he smiled at her.
"For what?" He asked, kissing her hand and gently tracing circles over the back of it. "You did nothing wrong, it was a sudden illness, and you will recover."
"I pray that I do, I should hate to leave you without me." She said and he stiffened at those words, the awful finality of them making him flinch.
"You will not die, I will not allow that Nightengale. It pains me now to think of it." He said and she held tighter to his hand and smiled. Her eyes looked heavy, and he kissed her hands.
"I am so tired now." She said, her voice fading and he caressed her cheek with his fingertips.
"Go on and sleep then, I will be here when you wake to serve you." He said and she smiled, her eyes closing and she drifting to sleep. He looked at his shy violet with nothing but adoration, Sari returning with the tea tray and finding him sitting and holding her hand as she slept. She set it down, excusing herself silently, and left through the Bathing Chambers to tidy her Mistress's.