Chapter 23: Healing Process

The darkness soon subsided, once again replaced by light, and I was standing in the center of the Grand Ballroom of REHtoMna's palace again. Matthew was lying on his back, and instantly rolled onto his side, and vomited. I did not do so this time, as I had obviously gotten used to the strange travel method.

"Beatrice!" a voice suddenly screamed, and I was suddenly being covered in kisses by a middle-aged woman I instantly presumed to be Elaine, "Hi," I whispered, struggling out of her grasp, and gesturing towards my husband, "He needs help-- Jacqueline did something to--"

"Jacqueline? What do you--?"

"I'll explain momentarily. Just get him some help."

"I'm sorry for my sister's lack of understanding," REHtoMna suddenly said, as she made her way to the small semicircle we had formed, "She can get quite misty-eyed once her godchildren are returned safe and whole."

"Sister…?" I whispered, but then again, it all made sense; they were sisters. No wonder both seemed so similar in character…

Elaine nodded, while REHtoMna crouched low upon the ground to face Matthew as he continued to tremble and gasp for air, "He needs some serious help to heal," she whispered, and waved her hands so that his form disappeared, "I've already arranged for the finest nurse of this world to provide him with help."

"I must be with him," I whispered, and instantly turned to leave.

"Beatrice, aren't you forgetting something…?" Elaine whispered.

"Yes-- no. I don't feel like talking just now, Elaine, if you don't mind. I feel like I must be with my husband."

"Yes, of course," REHtoMna whispered, shooing her sister away, "I'll take you to him immediately."

"Thank you," I whispered, and the both of us quickly turned to leave the ballroom, and into the narrower of the two hallways that led into it, "I trust that my daughter was able to guide you to the Land of the Shaska in a successful manner?"

I nodded, "Thank you-- I'm sure that I wouldn't have made it there without her."

REHtoMna blushed a brilliant magenta color at this compliment for her daughter, "I am sure she would be quite pleased to hear that…"

"Oh," I murmured, as she quickened her pace; sensing how anxious I was to get back to Mathew.

We rounded into another hallway; a part of the palace I had never seen before, it seemed a little less grand. There was a lack of gold statues, chandeliers, and water fountains. I paid little attention to these details, however. For some strange reason, I just wanted to hold Matthew-- to help nurse him back to health.

At long last, the Queen pulled open a door, and I rushed inside to find a plump nurse woman pouring the liquid within a tall goblet into Matthew's open mouth, "I can do that," I whispered, seeing that the deed was causing the old nurse trouble, "She's his wife," REHtoMna explained, as I snatched the goblet away, and began pouring it into his mouth with a bit more success, "I'm here, my love. I'm here, and I'm going to make sure we're never separated from each other again."

He seemed to nod, ever so gently, in response, and I smiled.

"I'll leave you two alone," REHtoMna whispered, opening the door once again, "But, I'll be wanting to hear everything that's happened to you… Actually, we'll leave the two of you alone," she gestured towards the nurse, who obviously had no intention of budging, "Come on," the Queen whispered, and she pulled the nurse by the collar right out of the doorway.

The door gently slammed shut a few moments later, "It's all right, Matthew. I promise you that. From now on, we'll be together-- no one can keep us apart any longer."

He was unconscious again-- but I sensed that somehow, he could hear me. Deep down in his very soul, he could hear me. I stared at the huge feathered bed he had been lain upon, and crept under the covers, and beside him. I did not want him to be alone. Not tonight. Not ever. I found his hand under the sheets, and squeezed it gently; trying to get the message across to him that we were reunited again, "I love you," I whispered gently, and closed my eyes to sleep just as a slight evening breeze came in through the window, and blew out the light that came from the candle…

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I woke sometime the next morning, feeling my shoulder being gently shaken by the chubby hand of the plump, and easily offended nurse, "Get out of there, young miss-- out!" I immediately jumped out of bed, gently shaking it, "All right, all right," I whispered, "don't be so pushy."

She rolled her eyes in response, and went to feed Matthew another goblet of the medicinal potion that would eventually lead him to a full recovery.

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Days passed with little improvement in his health, until one day-- the seventh day to be exact, his eyes opened, and for the first time, he actually saw me, "You're here," he murmured in amazement, "We got out of that place, didn't we?"

I nodded, "And you're getting better-- in a few days, we'll be able to go back home."

He nodded, and his eyes closed, "But, before you go to sleep, Matthew, there's something you need to know."

His eyes opened again, "What's that?" he asked.

"I'm pregnant, Matthew. I'm going to have our baby."

His eyes widened in surprise-- though he was seriously pleased with that news, "Really?"

I nodded.

"Oh, Beatrice. That's wonderful-- I hope I'll be fully healed by the time you give birth," he paused to chuckle, and that sent him into a coughing fit.

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Another week passed, and Matthew was nearly entirely healed. He could walk for many feet without losing the ability to breathe, and had begun to gain weight as well. Learning that I was now carrying his child had helped along in the process; had made him stronger again.

I held his hand as he drifted off to sleep just as a knock came at the door.

Thinking it was the bitchy nurse, I called, "Come in."

Instead, the door opened to reveal Nzinga, "My mother would like to speak with you now."