Chapter 14
That night Erik and Isabelle slept in Erik's room again. Both very tired they fell asleep immediately. Later that night Erik was woken by a loud cough. He glanced down at Isabelle, asleep next to him, and listened to her breathing. It sounded harsh, like she was coming down with a cold. She coughed again and it sounded very painful. Erik put a hand to her head and immediately withdrew it. She was burning with a fever. He got out of bed and stood, going to the basin.
"Erik?" She mumbled, "I don't feel very good." Erik got a cloth wet and went back to bed, climbing in and setting next to Isabelle, he put the cloth to her forehead as she curled up next to him. He felt her hand grasp his gently.
"Shh, Isabelle, you are getting sick, please just rest," he whispered. She mumbled incoherently as she drifted into a fever induced sleep.
Isabelle tossed and turned all night, Erik stayed awake in the bed with her. Not wanting to leave her side at all in case she woke up alone. Occasionally she would have nightmares and thrash about the bed, calling for help and tears would flow down her face. During that time Erik would gather her in his arms and smooth her hair, whispering comforting words to her.
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Isabelle's fever had not let up for a week. When she finally woke, Erik had fallen asleep in a chair next to the bed.
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Isabelle woke to find herself in a sweat, and her body ached all over. She felt very weak and sore for some reason. She looked around at her surroundings and found Erik in a chair next to the bed, noticing the dark circles under his unmasked eyes.
"Erik?" She whispered hoarsely. Erik's eyes snapped open immediately. The intense green eyes flew to hers, a look of relief washed over them as he sighed and grabbed her hand.
"I am so glad you are awake," he said, "I was so worried."
"How long have I been sick?" She asked.
"A week," he replied, "your fever was very strong, I had to send Maurice to get medicine for you to help break it. Now rest yourself."
"Erik will you sleep too?" She asked, her eyes pleading with him not to leave her alone.
"Of course," he replied, climbing into bed, Isabelle snuggling next to him. Erik had not slept very much, if at all, during Isabelle's illness. He had not wanted to leave her side at all. The fever had been raging her petite body, had the medicine not worked Isabelle would probably have died. Erik wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her forehead, thankful she was finally well. Both fell asleep very fitfully, sleeping the rest of the day and the entire night.