(Here's the next chapter! Enjoy! Reviews are appreciated!)
Arianna and Idunn fell asleep against each other. Idunn snuggled up against the warmth of her sister, the sound her sister's ordinary heartbeat thumping against her ear
"I want to recover." Idunn mumbled. "I want to go outside… free of tubes."
"You will, my love. In time. Sleep now." Arianna said back.
The only sound that could be heard now in the infirmary was Idunn's and Arianna's synchronised breathing, and the soft beeping of Idunn's heart monitor.
Rapunzel sat quietly in the chair next to the bed, painting in her journal on the table in front of her. She was relieved that her aunt was finally resting, but she longed to know more about her and especially about her children.
King Fredric re-entered the room. Seeing his wife and his sister in law peacefully resting washed a sense of relief over him. He gently planted a kiss on his wife's cheek and took a seat next to Rapunzel.
"What a day, hm?" Fredric said to his daughter, leaning back in the chair. He placed his hand over her hand.
Rapunzel looked up at him, worry in her eyes. "It breaks my heart to see Mama so upset. She's done nothing today but cry or comforting her sobbing sister." She turned to Idunn, who was finally peacefully sleeping.
"Do you think she'll be alright?" Rapunzel sighed heavily.
"Arianna and Harold will help her, I'm sure." The king replied.
"I've been back for such a short time I feel like I barely know Aunt Idunn. She's almost like a stranger to me."
Rapunzel looked down at her painting of her mother and Idunn. She tried to imagine what Idunn looked like when she was healthy. Less pale and more colour to her skin, most definitely, and of course without any tubes or wires attached.
"Harold said her recovery period would be around three years, so that's plenty of time to get to know her and even ask about your cousins. She won't be in bed for three years straight, so you'll be able to go to the village with her. Maybe even paint with her. She'll get her strength soon, I'm sure. She seems like a strong, young woman like her sister."
Idunn shifted in her sleep, moaning out Adgar's name, over and over.
"Mmmmmmm…Adgar, Adgar, Adgar." She moaned out mournfully,
Arianna rubbed her sister's back, gently pulling Idunn closer, careful not to dislodge any tubes attached to her poor sister. "It's alright. You're safe, my love. Everything will be alright." Arianna caressed her sister's cheek and rocked her gently back and forth, just like their mother used to.
Idunn screamed, holding onto her sister tightly. The events of the day were very fresh in her head, and still very traumatising.
"Boat….boat…boat! BOAT!" Idunn stammered, terrified and shaking. The monitor began to beep rapidly above them.
Arianna kissed Idunn's forehead. "Calm down, my love. You're not on a boat anymore. You're not even near the docks. You're here, and nothing can hurt you. Everyone here just wants you better. I won't leave you for a moment, and you won't wake up on a boat. You'll wake up in my arms, just as I like it. You don't need to worry about a thing, my love."
Idunn yawned and she buried her head in Arianna's chest. "Mm…"
Arianna reached into her dress pocket and pulled out a chocolate bar.
"Chocolate?" She offered to Idunn.
Idunn took the chocolate graciously and broke it in half, handing the other half to Arianna. Arianna helped Idunn take off her oxygen mask so she could eat the chocolate, then placed it back on her sister's face.
"You know, you still look beautiful, even with an oxygen mask on." Arianna smiled.
Idunn giggled behind the mask. "I love you, a lot. Thank you for taking me in…even if I was unconscious at the time."
Arianna hugged Idunn. "Of course, my love. I was hysterical with worry when the fishermen brought you to the castle. I was screaming for Harold, following the gurney as they raced you down the hall. I didn't realise how injured you were until I pulled opened the curtain and saw the doctors working on you. Oh Idunn, you wouldn't believe how worried I was." Tears formed in Arianna's eyes. "I couldn't imagine a life without you. I love you so much. You look better now than before the operation. I spent most of the time that you were in the operating room sitting in the chair Fredric is in right now hysterically sobbing. I couldn't bear to lose you, and I was so worried watching you unable to breathe."
"I can breathe much better now, and I'm here to stay." Idunn pressed Arianna's head to her chest and inhaled.
Arianna breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness."
(That's it for this chapter! Thanks for reading!)
