I sat at the table feeling miserable. "I hate the cold." I groaned. I was having a hard time breathing with a stuffy nose. Not even the warm water from my bath Abelard made for me helped. "Actually I love the cold, I just hate it when it affects me." I felt a hand placed on top of my head and knew Fritz was there.
"Why don't you take breakfast in your room? I shall have Abelard fetch you some warm beer and some coca leaves to go with your breakfast." I whined.
"I need my daily dosage of you, Your Majesty Fritz. I can't imagine a day when I don't get to spend time with you."
"I shall be checking on you in regular intervals, don't you worry my child." I gave another sound of displeasure but as I thought about it he was right, despite how much I would prefer to be with him.
"Poor Gil." I looked up, shocked by George's presence. "Dad's right. You can spend time with him later." I glowered at being told what to do by the prince.
"Henry, take Gilbert back to his room and fetch Abelard. I feel his presence will be required today."
"Yes Your Majesty." Henry helped me to my feet by my arm. I allowed him to guide me away from the dining table and back to my room. There he tried to put me back to bed. I put up a struggle, feeble as it might be.
"Nooo. I'm good. I don't need my bed. I'm the Awesome Prussia, I shan't be defeated by enemies and nor shall I be defeated by the weather."
"You need rest. I thought you would like extra time in bed?" He said, using my usual attempt for more sleep against me.
"No."
"Into bed with you." He managed to get me into bed against my will and I rolled over, away from him. I'll just get up when he's gone. "Now stay there while I go inform Abelard that he's needed." He waited a second. "There's no need to act like a petulant child. It won't get you anywhere." I scoffed.
"Petulant child. You haven't seen petulant child yet." I snapped but he didn't reply. I looked over my shoulder to see he was gone. I smirked before immediately getting out of bed. Before I could leave the room Abelard came in.
"I thought Henry said you were in bed." I noticed he held a tray of food. Nice, hot, steamy food. Along with it was a stein of beer, a small pile of coca leaves, and some medicine. Steam also rose from the beer.
"He did. I got up. I'll take all but that." I pointed at the medicine.
"You'll take all of it. This is to help you feel better, and by order of His Majesty the King." I rolled my eyes at him.
"I'd like to see you try." I said as he set the tray down. I licked my lips at the sight of the food. Breakfast. I went to dig in but he put a hand on my chest to keep me back.
"You'll take the medicine first. Then you can have the good tasting stuff." I immediately glared at him before heading for the door.
"If there's a catch then I don't want any. I'll go fetch my own food, thank you very much." I snapped. He grabbed my wrist. I yanked away. "Unhand me."
"Please don't make this harder than it has to be." Meaning don't make me have to tell the King. I stopped in my tracks and bit my lip as I looked at the door, the way to freedom and food but also a sure fire way to have Abelard tell him of my actions. Then I looked at the tray, specifically the medicine. The deal breaker. Finally I looked back to my bed. The only safe place it seemed. I sighed and went to my bed. I got under the covers and put my head on the fluffy pillows. It felt nice. "Thank you." I scoffed, irritated.
"Shut it loser. Go away. I wish to be left in peace." I immediately felt bad for calling him a loser but I chalked it up to doing something nice for him when I was better. Then I heard him walking over.
"You'll have to sit up for breakfast. Or I can bring it back later." I quickly sat up and reached out for it.
"Nein. I'll take it now." He set it down and then picked up the spoon with medicine in it. I scowled. He never gives up does he? I removed my scowl and just watched with narrowed eyes as he carefully brought it to my mouth level with his other hand underneath it.
"Here. Take this first." I stared at it for a second before knocking it out of his hands. It went flying across my room as he yelled my name in surprise and displeasure. "Gilbert!" I moved my gaze from his hands to his face. We stared at each other for a minute before, unable to do anything, he backed down with a sigh. With my decided victory I picked up my utensils and began to eat, just as I had wanted to in the first place. He put a hand to his face and sighed again. "Very well. Have it your way then. Eat while I pick up your mess."
"You mean your mess. If it hadn't been for you that never would have happened."
"You knocked it from my hand."
"You tried to feed it to me after I said no."
"Perhaps you should learn to control that temper of yours."
"Perhaps you should learn to do what you're told." I ate my food in silence as he cleaned up. I was just eating my coca leaves when it got worse. I was dizzy and it was hot. "Abelard. Abelard." He was by my side in a second, hand to my forehead. I leaned into his cold hand with a sigh of relief, despite my hard breathing. "That feels nice." I said, eyes closed. Feeling tired.
"Gilbert? Gilbert, you need to eat those coca leaves and drink your beer. I'll get you a wet rag for your forehead when you finish eating." I moaned.
"Abelard. I don't know if I can. I don't feel well."
"If you do, I'll reward you."
"Really?"
"Yes." I felt a kiss on my forehead. I started chewing on the leaves he brought me and swallowed once I could. Then I quickly chugged my beer. Then I felt his cold hand leave. I reached out for it but he pushed me back onto my pillows. "I'll get that rag. I'll bring you that bird as well. I'll be back soon as possible."
With that I was left alone in the room. Thankfully not for long because I heard Gilbird speak. "Gilbert? What's wrong?" I gave a forced smile.
"Nothing. I can't be beat." I removed my covers and stood up. Suddenly I felt worse, dizzier. I grimaced and gathered my strength. I made it to my doorway before leaning against the frame.
"Gilbert?"
"I'm fine. Let's go see Fritz." I refuse to surrender, no matter how much I want to. I made my way down the hall only to be yelled at by Henry.
"Child, you should be in bed!"
"I want Fritz." He helped me back to my room, back to my bed.
"I'll inform His Majesty that you wish to see him but you must stay in bed until you feel better."
"No. I refuse to let it win. I have work to do, places to be, games to play."
"It can wait. Where's Abelard? He should be watching you."
"Abelard. He went to get a bird." I went to remove the covers again but Henry stopped me. He pushed down on my chest after I tried again. I struggled futilely before giving up. "Damn it. You guys are the worst. You want me to fight, no you want me to surrender." I turned my head to the side, feeling sleepy. Then I heard the door open.
"Gilbert I- oh. Your Highness."
"Gilbert got out of bed. Don't take your eye off him. Thankfully, at the moment, he seems out of energy."
"Yes, Your Highness." Abelard put something in the bed with me before walking away. Henry was right. I'm exhausted. I opened my eyes to see what he'd put in my bed before quickly hugging Cocoa to me. I curled up, happy to have my childhood companion. Something to love on. Be comforted by. Abelard was back. He brushed my hair off my forehead as he put a cold and wet rag on me. It felt great, even better than his hand on my head. "You can sleep if you want." I smiled.
"I think I will. When I wake up, I won't give a damn, I'm going to go see Fritz." I heard Gilbird tweet, felt him land on me, and heard him begin to sing.
When I woke up I had a headache, sore throat, and was thirsty. I could hear muffled voices. I sat up and slowly opened my eyes. My bed was a mess. Cocoa was on top of the covers between me and the wall and a wet rag fell from my head to my lap.
"Gilbert! Your fever broke. Now you need to drink lots of water."
"Water? If you really want to be useful, get me beer."
"You may have one cold beer. The rest must be warm. Leave your drinking habits for tomorrow." I knew that voice. My eyes widened in surprise as I turned my head to see Fritz who, just as I turned my head, put a hand to my forehead. "Yes, your fever seems to be gone. How are you feeling, my child?"
"Honestly? I've got a headache, my throat hurts, and I'm thirsty. I could use beer."
"As I said, only one cold beer." I gave a smirk.
"I suppose that's an order then." He raised a brow as he removed his hand.
"Does it need to be?"
"No, Your Majesty Fritz, I suppose it doesn't." He ruffled my hair, with as bright a smile as ever.
"I'm happy you're feeling better than you were. Once you're healthy again why don't you come listen to me play?" I beamed.
"I would like nothing better." Fritz turned and headed for the door.
"So a cold beer, one or two more coca leaves, and water. If he requests more beer, warm it for him as you did before. Other than that you are to stay with him for any relapses." Abelard bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty." When he was out of earshot for sure I complained.
"I hate it when he does that."
"If you really want it you could sneak into the kitchen." Gilbird said, brushing his soft feathers against my skin.
"His Majesty is only trying to take care of you to the best of his ability. Beer is known to make you thirsty and with all the sweating and the fever you need to drink lots of water." Abelard replied.
"It's like you don't even listen. If I can't have beer then can I at least have a cigar?"
"That would irritate your sore throat. I need to get you fresh bed sheets, some coca leaves, and a cup of water before I set you another bath. If I leave to get help will you stay in bed?" I smirked.
"You and I both know the answer to that."
"Let me think." He started pacing.
"Or perhaps I would. He just told you to stay with me and I would love to see what happens if you don't." He stopped. "Go ahead. Do what you must. I'll stay here like a good boy."
"You have a point, and you're being quite mean."
"Mean? You haven't seen mean. I can be much worse, but Fritz says I should behave like a proper gentleman in the palace. You know those courts he sometimes holds." I'm rambling. I didn't have to say anything about Fritz. I looked at the door as it opened. In came George. I grinned.
"They still have you under bed rest? Wow. I'm surprised you haven't rebelled yet. You seem better."
"I've a headache, sore throat, and I'm thirsty. Abelard was ordered to stay at my bedside."
"I can get you a drink if you want. Anything to make you better so we can be together again."
"How's Louise?"
"She's fine. She's worried about you. She sent a list of French remedies, things Francis used to do when she was sick, and Francis sent the same. Along with a cookbook." I grinned.
"Sounds like France is worried. Tell him that if I can't be bested by an enemy then I certainly can't be bested by sickness. I utterly refuse to hear of it."
"Henry said he found you stumbling out of your room."
"Stumbling? I wasn't-"
"Yeah, I know. The point remains. He brought you back and told Dad."
"Oh well. I'm known to be stubborn. And run my mouth. Therefore I'm not responsible for what comes out." He smirked.
"If I didn't know any better I'd say that you were all better."
"What does your mother think?"
"Mother? She's worried, but when isn't she when something happens to us?"
"She worries too much. If she's not careful she'll get sick. What is it that the doctors say? Her humours will get out of balance? Then what will happen? Tell her I'm fine."
"Got it." He turned to Abelard who had been quiet while we talked. "I'll send you some of the maids so you can take care of him. What does he need?"
"Fresh bed sheets, some coca leaves, and some water. The rest can wait until after his bath."
"Got it. Thank you for everything you've done today to help Gilbert." He grinned at me. "Despite how much a pain it is."
"Not at all. It's my pleasure." He answered. George turned and left to go get Abelard some help. "Would you like me to read you a story?" My face softened at that.
"You haven't done that since I was a child."
"I know. What story would you like?"
"... I love you, Abel."
"I love you as well."
"Uh mm… how about some of aesop's fables? Or perhaps a few fairy tales. But none of that princess stuff. I don't want a love story."
"Are you sure? Most of those have knights in shining armor and dragon fights." I smirked.
"If I wanted a story about a knight, I'd be the one telling the story, and there wouldn't be any princesses."
"Very well." He looked to the door as it opened. "Oh! I should have started your bath!" He hurried into the bathroom as servants came into my room, carrying new sheets and pillows. I got up out of bed and started to remove the sheets and started folding until I was ushered away as they began to do what I was doing. Soon my bed had clean, fresh sheets and pillows. Abelard came back and started leading me to the bathroom, trying to take most of my weight.
"I'm fine, Abelard." I said as a tray was brought in. Lunch. It was soup with coca leaves, warm beer, and ice cream. With more medicine.
"I'll help you take a quick bath and then you can eat." I rolled my eyes and started removing my clothes, pulling my shirt off first. I was now wearing a white shirt and tan pants.
"Fine, I'll do it without complaint." I got into the tub and he immediately started on my hair as I started on everything else. My bath was indeed quick and he helped me to dress even quicker. I went back to my tray and began to eat the ice cream, worried it might have melted by now. Then I ate my soup and followed up with the coca leaves. I was just finishing up my leaves when I was brought a stein filled with water. I rose a brow, shrugged, and took it before chugging it down. I handed it back and wiped my mouth on my sleeve only to be reprimanded verbally by Abelard. I was scolded, about how I might have choked and that my clothes were not to be used as a napkin. I dumped the medicine in one of the cups I'd been brought when they had their backs turned.
"Do you think you can find those two books in the library?" Abelard was asking one of the servants. I smirked. I turned to face them.
"Actually, we can go there ourselves." I put an arm around his shoulders and leaned toward the girl, giving her a nice smile.
"Gilbert, do up your shirt."
"If I do up my shirt, the girls won't have anything awesome to gawk at other than me." I retorted playfully. He rolled his eyes before doing it himself.
"You are not a cur, you are not to strut around women dressed as so. You are one of the most important men to the king of Prussia. You should dress and act as such."
"Etiquette? I don't know the meaning of the word." He was finished and turned back to the girl who was blushing. "I'm going to the library. If you want to obey His Majesty Fritz, then come along." I left my room and headed for the library. Abelard hurrying after. "You'll read to me as you please, but if you change your mind then I'll go to his music room."
On our way into the library we came across the queen leaving it. "Gilbert? How are you feeling?" She put her hand on my forehead and then my cheek. I relaxed at her touch on my cheek.
"I'm well again, Your Majesty." She removed her hand and smiled.
"I'll make sure to have many desserts served after dinner. You will be attending?"
"Yes, of course. I wouldn't dream of missing meals with the royal family."
"You mean your family. You're one of us."
"Yes. I know. Hey, if you stay, you can hear Abelard read."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Since I wasn't feeling well, he wanted to read me a story."
"Well that's very nice of him. Did you tell him thank you?" I narrowed my eyes, hearing a command to do so. I opened my mouth to retort but Abelard beat me to it.
"Actually, Your Majesty, he did so in his own way." I smiled at him.
"Yes, but she's right. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Would you like to join, my queen?"
"Maybe next time."
"A shame but I assume you have your womanly duties to attend to." With that I sidestepped her and went into the library to be read to.