Matthew awoke as the first ray of light touched his face. His wings then stretched, reaching for the sky, lightly flapping before he sat up and did some more stretches. Ivan, already awake, heard Matthew awaken but continued cooking quietly.
"Good morning..." The boy says in a cheerful tone.
"Hm…? Ah, good morning Matvey." Ivan says after a moment, glancing up from his cooking. "Breakfast is almost ready."
"So when am I going to cook again? You took over on the morning I nearly froze." He giggled.
Ivan blinks and then chuckles softly. "When you start waking up before I do." He replies with an amused smile. Matthew huffs and continues with stretching his wings. "You can cook for lunch and today if you really want to cook again."
"I'd like that."
Ivan smiles and hands Matthew his breakfast when it was ready.
They continued travelling for the next few days and soon were at the palace.
)*(
"So... Where should I meet you this time?" Matthew asked.
Ivan hummed in thought. "Well you may come with me if you would like. I will be here a bit longer than normal even if I am turned down; I believe someone I know well lives here."
"Oh? Who do you know?"
"A friend." He replies vaguely. "So would you like to come with me this time or would you prefer to stay out here?"
"You have never invited me in before so whom am I to deny such an honor? And I can also see your progress." The guardian grinned and gave a nod. "Should I pretend to be your servant or guide?"
Ivan chuckles. "Neither. We can say I am mentoring you. It is not true, but they will believe that easier than they will the other options. Just a tip, do not speak up unless they address you first, alright?"
"So what is it you are teaching me? If they ask, that is?"
"To be a knight." He says with a smile. "It is the only thing they would think reasonable for me to teach."
"Ah, I think I could pull that off." Matthew smiles confidently.
Ivan smiles down at him before noticing something and frowning softly. "Ah, Matvey… you need to wear your shoes while we are there."
"Um... I forgot them?" The boy says timidly, boots were going to be far too hot and nothing was going to get him to wear them in Vernal.
Ivan stared at him for a moment. "...Well then, we will just need to get you a new pair more suited for this country." He says, beckoning Matthew to follow into town to find a workshop of the shoemaker here.
"I'm sorry, it's just I've never had the need to wear shoes..."
Ivan chuckles. "Yes, yes. Come on, let us get you shoes and then we can head to the palace."
)*(
They headed into the castle, Ivan then talking with the King and Queen. He briefly explained his reason for being there and asked if he could have permission to court their daughter. They thought about it and talked to each other about it quietly for a while before saying they would allow him to meet with her and if she took a liking to him, they would consider it.
Ivan perked up, smiling and thanking them and then asking where their daughter was now. The Queen explained that her daughter was in the middle of her lessons right now and that he would have to wait a few hours before he could meet with her. Ivan nodded in understanding and then politely asked if his friend happened to live here now.
They looked surprised by his inquiry but answered yes and told Ivan where his friend worked in the palace. Ivan thanked them again with a smile and exited the room with Matthew, heading down the hallway in the direction the King and Queen had told him to go. "Ah, that went better than I was expecting it to!" He says happily, smiling at Matthew as they walked.
"You're doing very well Ivan." Matthew whispered with pride; he had no idea if it was all right to say anything yet.
"You can talk normally Matvey. We are no longer in the presence of the King and Queen." The man chuckles.
"Oh." The guardian laughed with him.
"I think they were surprised at how polite and nice I was being... Ah, I wonder what my friend will think." Ivan muses. "Probably that I am trying to cause trouble. He is grumpy sometimes, but I think Matvey will enjoy meeting with him." The prince grinned knowingly.
"You have yet to tell me who this friend of yours is Ivan... Oh, should I call you prince while I am here?"
"No and you will find out soon enough alright?" At Matthew's question he went quiet, pondering this for a moment. "Hmm… no. Just Ivan is fine for now."
"Very well, you and your surprises." Matthew smiles.
Ivan grins. "Yes! It is a good surprise. I think Matvey will like it." He stopped in front of the door before knocking on it loudly and smiling in amusement at the sound of something being dropped along with the sound of a few choice swear words before the door swung open, a very feminine and irritated looking man with long black hair tied back was standing in the doorway and scowling. Matthew flinched as he heard all of this and tried not to jump out of his shoes when the man came out.
Ivan just grinned down at the man scowling. "Hello Jao Jao!" He says cheerily.
The man only scowled more. "I have told you many times not to call me that." He scolds, shaking a finger at the taller man. "What are you doing here? You should be at home aru."
"Father disowned me until I have a wife. He made Gilbert heir. I am here to meet with the princess."
"You've come to harass me until she's done with her studies haven't you." It was a statement, not a question.
"Of course!" Ivan says, completely unashamed. "I also brought a friend to meet Jao!" He grins and moves aside a little so Yao could see past him.
"A friend…?" Yao's gaze lands on Matthew and he blinks in surprise, dropping the scowl and arching an eyebrow as he looked Matthew up and down. "Hello."
"Hello." The guardian smiled and waved a little, still unsure of what to make of the situation.
"I am Yao Wang. And you are…?"
"Oh, sorry. I'm Matthew. It's nice to meet another friend of Ivan's."
Yao's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his eyes widening. Ivan just giggled a bit at Yao's startled look, well aware of just why the man was so surprised.
"Did I say something wrong...?"
"That is an extremely informal way to address a prince." Yao says, shocked.
"But- Ivan asked me to call him by his first name!" Matthew tried to defend himself, but still looked sorry about it.
If possible, Yao's eyes went even wider as he quickly turned to look at Ivan. "You what?" He asks in disbelief.
"I did." Ivan grinned. "Matvey has been travelling with me for a little over two months. I met him in Kirkland's territory."
Yao just stared in utter disbelief for several long moments. "You did not force him to travel with you… did you?" He asks suspiciously, frowning at him a bit.
"Actually... if anything, I sort of forced myself on him. I wanted to help him find a bride." Matthew explains with an awkward giggle.
Yao's eyes could not get any wider if he tried, his mouth dropping open in shock, and an absolutely scandalized look on his face. "..."
Ivan laughed. "Matvey. Your phrasing needs work still." He says, looking greatly amused. "Forcing oneself upon another is the same as forced mating."
The young guardian squawked and quickly flushed. "I-I did not mean it in that way, I-I promise you!"
Ivan laughed some more. "I know."
Yao's scandalized expression went away after a few moments. "What did you mean then?" He questions, curious how Ivan had come about a travel companion.
"That I insisted that I come along."
Yao only stared. "You may want to start by explaining how you two met in the first place." He says after a few moments.
Matthew glanced up at Ivan, not sure if he should explain this part. He didn't want another slip up.
"Go ahead Matvey. He is talking to you, not me." Ivan says with a smile.
"I found him injured on my doorstep and I brought him into my bed, treated his wounds and... It just took off from there."
"Phrasing Matvey." Ivan chides with a soft smile.
Yao arched an eyebrow at Ivan. "You let him help?"
"I was attacked by a creature of some sort and my knives were not out. I had only been intending to briefly rest there before cleaning my wounds and leaving, but I fell asleep. I taxed my energy too much in the fight to stay awake."
"Ah. You should be more careful Vanya." Yao scolds.
"Yes, I know." Ivan says with a smile.
Yao then returned his gaze to Matthew. "Are you a healer?"
"Ah, I was an apprentice to one once, but I never got to finish my training."
Yao arched an eyebrow curiously. "Why not?"
"He passed on. My master was a very old healer."
Yao nods before turning to Ivan and arching an eyebrow questioningly at him. Ivan just grinned. "If the first meeting goes well we will be staying for a few days."
Yao turns again to Matthew. "Come inside and show me what you know and I will consider teaching you for a few days while you are here." He then turned and walked back into the room, leaving the door wide open.
"Truly!?" Matthew's eyes widened.
"Yes, yes. Come in, aru."
Ivan grinned at Matthew's expression. "Go on inside Matvey." He says, gesturing for Matthew to enter the room before him. Matthew happily entered the room, but tried to look respectful and not like some child. Ivan entered after him, closing the door behind them.
Yao was waiting near an organized array of tools, flowers, and herbs. He gestured at the items. "Show me what you know. What are each of the tools used for and what medicines can be made out of each item?"
"Um.." Matthew quickly looked over everything. It took him a moment before he started to recite all the herbs and flowers he recognized. After that, he moved onto the tools, and then what he knew about making medicines. He could not name all of the plants though, nor did he know many medicine formulas. "I'm sorry, but I believe that is all I know."
"Not too bad." Yao says with a nod.
"Oh! Matvey you know one more flower that is not here." Ivan adds, noticing one not on the table. "The one you got excited over a few days ago. The purple one."
"Hm?" Yao arched an eyebrow curiously.
"The purple lily?" Matthew asked. "I did not say anything about it because most healers don't have it. If you wait too long, the flower rots and becomes a deadly poison."
"Oh, I did not know that." Ivan says, blinking in surprise.
"You have some?" Yao asks, looking to Matthew with more surprise.
"Not exactly. I already used the flowers to make medicine." Matthew fiddled with his fingers.
"Oh?" Yao asks, clearly interested in this.
"You've never heard of the purple lily being made into a medicine?"
"I have. I have just never been able to access the purple lily to make any." Yao arched an eyebrow. "May I see the medicine?" He asks, certainly wanting to inspect Matthew's work.
"I don't have it on me. I left it with my partner." Matthew apologized.
"Partner?"
"Yes, his name is Kumajiro. He is waiting on the outskirts of the town." He paused for a moment. "People who don't know him tend to overreact."
"Why?"
"He's a hippogriff and gets easily mistaken for a gryphon. Most attack him or try to scare him off."
Yao looks surprised by Matthew's words before nodding. "I see."
"He's also very protective of Matvey." Ivan adds with a smile. "He does not like me much."
"You two are slowly getting better with each other." Matthew huffed.
"Hm?" Yao asks. "What do you mean?"
"Kuma takes a long while to warm up to someone. That's all."
"So Jao Jao, will you teach Matvey while we are here?" Ivan asks, changing the subject.
Yao scowls softly at Ivan at the use of that name before his expression evens out and he nods.
"Oh my! Thank you so much!" Matthew cheered and did a little jump.
Yao gave a small amused smile. "You are welcome."
Ivan chuckled softly at Matthew's reaction. "I said Matvey would like my surprise, didn't I?"
He laughed and gave Ivan a hug. "Yes, yes. Thank you too."
Yao almost paled in shock as he watched the two of them curiously. Ivan grinned as he returned the hug. "You are welcome Matvey."
"Now then, don't forget what you've learned when you meet the princess. But take things slow and watch for things she likes." Matthew smiles playfully up Ivan. "Afterwards, if you are up for it, you can tell me how it went."
Ivan nods. "I won't! And of course I will tell Matvey how it went. You have been helping me a lot, it only makes sense to tell you how it turns out."
"Good." Matthew released the hug. "I wish you the best of luck for when the time comes."
Ivan smiled. "Thank you Matvey!"
Yao just continued to stare at them, their actions quite questionable and a great bewilderment to the man. Speechless, he could not think of a single instance where he had seen Ivan act this way with anyone other than his siblings or Yao himself.
Matthew took notice of the silence from the other and turned to Yao. "Um... is everything all right?"
"I feel like I am missing some piece of information on the two of you." Yao says, squinting his eyes. "I have know him for many years and I have never seen him interact the way he is interacting with you right now with anyone other than myself or his sisters." He paused a moment before adding, "And it took me years to get him to trust me enough to act in such a way around me."
Matthew looked up at Ivan in surprise. "Years-? Why did it take you so long to become friends with Master... Wang, Ivan?" He decided that since Yao would be teaching him for the next while, he might as well address him properly.
"Trust issues." Yao says dryly.
Ivan frowns at Yao. "Yes, but I had good reason to not trust those who were not my sisters."
Yao nodded. "You did."
Matthew didn't like the feeling he was getting off of these two at the moment. "Ivan...?" He asked softly, but so little that if Ivan did not wish to share he could change the topic.
"…It is a long story Matvey… To make it brief; my father has never been a kind man and did not treat me kindly. Since he is king, most people followed his lead and treated me similarly."
"The nobles did at least." Yao adds. "The servants may have mocked him but none dared lay a hand on him."
"Mhmm." Ivan nods.
"I keep hearing all these things about your Father, Ivan and what he's done... I never hear any of the details, but I also fear to hear it." Matthew hangs his head a little as he looks down at the floor, one of his hands resting on his chest. It hurts to hear these things. I want... I want to cleanse away his pain.
"You are wise to fear it Matvey. It is not pleasant at all." Ivan says quietly, averting his gaze. "But I will not share any more on it until I am ready to. As you have your own secrets, I have mine."
Matthew laughed weakly and lightly placed a hand on Ivan's arm as he glanced at him. "You already know my biggest secret, but I understand your reasoning and respect that."
"Mm, true but your secret is much happier than mine is." Ivan glanced back at him and smiled weakly. "Thank you for understanding Matvey."
His hand dropped and he returned the smile. "You are welcome."
Ivan smiled back a bit more.
Yao looked over at Ivan and then back at Matthew. He was not sure what connection there was between these two but he felt certain there was more to their relationship than what he could see. With a moment of though, a slight look of understanding appeared on his face. Then, to break the silence, he started up lessons with Matthew and after a few hours, Ivan left them to continue the lesson on their own while he went and met with the princess.
"Master Wang, if I may ask, do you know any magic? If so, do you use it in your practice?" Matthew politely asked as he studied with the smaller man.
Yao shook his head. "No to both questions. Magic is not my area of expertise."
"... Are you against the use of it in healing Master Wang?"
Again he shook his head. "No, I understand it can be a very useful tool in healing."
"I can confidently say that I have skills in the art of magic." Matthew says with a small bit of pride.
Yao smiles slightly. "Then that is a great advantage both for yourself and whomever you heal in the future."
"It has come in handy over the past few years."
"I would imagine so." Yao paused for a few moments. "If you do not mind my getting off topic… why did you decide to help Ivan find a wife?"
"I just thought he seemed a little lost and I wanted to help him. When I had left with him, I had decided that I would help him find love so he could marry happily." He paused and his smile became a frown as his voice began to fill with sorrow. "After a while I found that he did not wish to find love... only a female that would be willing to marry him and give him children."
Yao nods. "Because finding one to love and having her die in childbirth would be devastating."
Matthew looked at him with wide eyes. "You know-?"
"I am older than I look. I was at that palace before he was even born." He paused for a moment before continuing. "I know quite well because I saw how devastating it was to his father when he lost Ivan's mother. So I understand why he would not want to try to find love."
His father? "Could... could that be why his father is the way he is to Ivan?"
"That is very possible." Yao says with a nod. "And if Ivan has come to a similar conclusion, it is also possible that he does not wish to find love because he may be afraid that he will turn out like his father if a similar situation were to happen to him."
"Oh Ivan..." Matthew whispered with a great deal of pain in his voice.
"You have are very kind and caring person Matthew. I think it is very good for you to have made friends with him. It is good for him." Yao could not help but smile softly at the boy.
"I- think so too. He has changed since I first met him, even if only a little."
"He has changed a lot since I have last seen him." Yao says. "I have a question though. You told him not to forget what he had learned when he was to meet the princess. What did you mean by that?" He tilted his head curiously.
"Oh that, I have been helping Ivan with courting while we travel. Even a man named Francis, if you know him, has been giving Ivan wooing lessons." Matthew smiled brightly, trying not to laugh right away.
Yao blinked in surprise before he gave a short laugh. "He let Francis help him? Oh you have been a very good influence on him then. Last I was aware of it, he didn't want Francis anywhere near him, aru."
The guardian buckled and laughed. "Oh yes, I found that out the first time I met him. Ivan was so mad."
"I can imagine. Francis didn't do anything to you did he?"
Matthew quieted little as he remembered the little incident. "N-not intentionally."
Yao arched an eyebrow but didn't question any further. "So he taught Ivan how to woo. Did he teach anything else?"
"Oh, that's right. He has been giving us waltzing lesson as well."
The older man's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Ivan's been taught to waltz? Wait, both of you?"
"Yes. It's been a lot of fun and I really like the spins. Even if it is a little odd to play the female role in the dancing." He says all too happily.
Yao smiles. "Dancing is fun." He agrees with a nod.
)*(
A few hours later, Ivan came in looking quite pleased with himself. Matthew quickly took notice and walked up to Ivan. "So, how did it go?"
"I get to meet with her again!" The man says with a grin. "She said she seems a bit unsure about this because what she has heard of me and how I acted are not matching up, but other than that I think everything went very well!"
"That's wonderful!" Though Matthew said this, it didn't feel entirely honest, but he still gave the man a hug.
"It is!" Ivan hugged back happily. "How were lessons with Jao Jao?"
Yao gave Ivan a scolding look at the name but otherwise seemed impressed it had gone so well for Ivan. "Good. I have been learning a lot."
"That's good." Ivan smiles. "Oh, we will probably be here for a few days. We should get your things from Kumajiro, yes?"
"But what about him? I can't very well ask him to wait for us..." Matthew frowned.
Ivan frowned softly in return. "Well…"
"As long as he can behave and not injure anyone here or eat any of the livestock. I may be able to get permission from the King and Queen for him to stay here for a few days." Yao says slowly.
"Kuma won't do that. He grew up in a town filled with livestock. He knows that hunting is for the forest. And as long as people don't treat him like a horse he'll be fine."
Yao nods. "Good. I should be able to convince them to agree then. If you'll excuse me for a while, I will go ask them now if they are not preoccupied."
"Thank you. Oh, but where will he be staying?" He asked in a worried tone.
"I can ask if they will allow you one of the larger rooms so he can stay with you if you would like."
"That would be very nice. But if not, Kuma will settle for the roof of a barn. That's where he stays when we're at home so..." The guardian was trying not to be too demanding of the king and queen.
Yao nods and excuses himself before leaving to speak with the King and Queen. Only to returned about half an hour saying they would permit Kumajiro to stay in one of the larger rooms with Matthew while they were here.
Matthew turned to Ivan. "I'll go get him now then, before it gets dark."
Ivan nods. "All right."
Matthew then left to go find his way out of the castle and to find his partner. While Ivan stayed behind to talk with Yao and ask how he's been doing since he left Solstice. Yao in turn, more or less interrogated Ivan about what he'd been up to lately.
)*(
Matthew explained everything that had happened when he rode on Kuma's back towards the castle. He figured that it would help keep the commoners calm if they saw him as a mount.
[You are not going to be able to mate if he is in another's nest.]
[He's not going to spend the night with the princess! And I am not mating with Ivan.]
[So you will be finding a female to mate with while you stay here?] Kuma ruffled his feathers. [Good. It will be better for you and you will at least know what you are doing with how much description Alfred put into how his first mating went.]
"Kumajiro!" Matthew hit him on the side. "I do not need a reminder of that!"
[What? He was very thorough. I have mated before and it was all around the same.]
"Enough I don't want to hear anymore!" His face felt like his face was on fire, he was full of rage and mortification.
[I am just trying to help with you with your first mating season-]
"La la la!" Matthew closed his eyes and covered his ears. No doubt everyone was watching him like some sort of mad man, if they weren't already running away from the sight of Kumajiro that is.
)*(
Once they got to the castle, it was a little hard to explain that the hippogriff would be staying inside the castle but once that was over with, he made his way back to Ivan and Yao.
"Sorry it took so long."
"Welcome back Matvey. Hello Kumajiro." Ivan says with a smile.
"Welcome back Matthew." Yao says with a nod. "And hello to you." He addresses the hippogriff, giving a respectful nod. Kuma looked down at the shorter man with a slight tilt to his head, but gave a small nod in return.
"Oh, Kumajiro, this is Master Wang. He's the one who is giving me lessons while we stay here."
Yao nods. "Shall I show you to your rooms so you can put your bags down?"
"That would be wonderful. Kuma would appreciate it." Matthew smiled and Kuma gave a chirp of acknowledgement.
Yao then showed them to their rooms; Matthew and Kumajiro had the room next to Ivan's.
[Now we will hear everything...] Kuma sighed.
"Kuma!" Matthew hissed; he didn't get that human courtship was different did he? They weren't going to be mating in the other room tonight or anytime soon.
Both Ivan and Yao arched an eyebrow questioningly. "Is something wrong Matvey?"
"Kuma is being... rude."
"Ah, that is not very nice." Ivan says
"I think that he's just a little tense from the walk though the town." Matthew looked at the floor and opened the door to his room. He couldn't wait for Kuma to go to sleep so he would shut up.
)*(
The day that came next, Yao started on more lessons with Matthew while Ivan spent time with the princess. Matthew had brought the vial of medicine he made out of the purple lily with him this time so Yao could have a look while he studied.
Yao inspected it and commented that he was impressed at how well made it was and that Matthew's previous master must have been an excellent teacher. Matthew thanked him and the lessons went on smoothly.
After five days, Matthew found that he had seen less and less of Ivan. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy having a teacher again; he was just beginning to miss having Ivan around. That, and Kuma didn't like staying cooped up in the castle. It was starting to drive the guardian crazy again.
Though today Ivan stopped by the classroom with an unhappy pout on his face, looking very much like a child who had been scolded and told to go to bed without any of his favorite dessert. "Matvey, we are leaving tomorrow afternoon." Was all that he said before he turned and retired to his room for the night.
Yao sighed. "Aiyah, things were going so well. I wonder what happened."
"E-excuse me Master Wang." Matthew then left the room with haste and went down the hallways. When he came to Ivan's door, he knocked a few times. "Ivan...?"
"…Yes Matvey?"
"May I come in?" He asked gently.
"You may."
Matthew opened the door, closing it softly behind him and walked over to the bed as he looked the prince over. Ivan was sitting on the bed, leaning up against the headboard with one of his flasks of vodka in hand. "Do you want to talk about what happened?" The boy asked gently.
"No." Ivan took a drink of his vodka. "…Yes- I do not know."
"May I sit with you?"
He nods. "You may."
With that, Matthew crawled onto the large bed and over towards the prince. He sat next to Ivan and looked up at him with a gentle look. "Can I ask what happened today?"
"Yes, you can ask."
"What went on today that had the King change his mind?"
"They said they would consider it and they did. They will not allow it. They think another suitor would be better for her."
"It is better than the other Kings; they all turn you away out of fear. This time the King decided to turn you down because he found someone else for his daughter." The guardian smiled. "This means that all these lessons and practicing paid off. Kings are willing to give you a fair chance and see if you are what they are looking for."
Ivan took another drink of his vodka and huffed softly. "No, they are still afraid. They are just more polite about saying it." His hand came up to slip under his scarf and touch the scars underneath. "She saw these yesterday. I showed her because she asked."
Matthew frowned. "Was she scared...?"
Ivan frowned and gave a short nod. Matthew carefully placed his hand on Ivan's wrist that rested at the larger man's neck. Ivan tensed at the touch for a moment or two before relaxing a little and looking away from Matthew.
The guardian then used his other arm to slowly wiggle his jacket off so that it was only hanging off the one arm, his hand still resting on Ivan's. After a moment or two of silence, one of Matthew's soft golden wings came and rested across Ivan's front. The guardian then curled up against Ivan's side comfortably. "I'm not afraid." He whispered.
Ivan gave a soft smile and nodded slightly. "Yes, I know." He whispers back. "Thank you Motya."
Having never heard that name before Matthew looked up at Ivan with a slight tilt to his head. "Motya...?"
"It is a nickname. It is similar to Matt in my language." He smiled a bit more. "I would have explained this at the hot springs but I was boring you with it."
"I'll just stop paying attention to what you call me." Matthew lazily nuzzled closer to Ivan and shut his eyes.
Ivan chuckled softly and wrapped his free arm around Matthew in a half hug. "It is a name friends and family use with each other." He says with a smile. "The one for my name would be Vanya… you may call me by that if you would like."
"I like the sound of Ivan better." The guardian mumbled. "Vanya sounds more like a name I would give to my son if I had one..."
Ivan smiled a bit more at this. "Thank you Matvey."
"You're welcome." He felt like he was falling asleep.
"You sound tired, why don't you rest for a while?"
"Oh... I guess I am." The guardian started to sit up, his wings lightly dragging along.
"You may rest here if you would like to Matvey." Ivan says after a moment.
"I don't know if that would be appropriate."
"It is fine, all right?"
Matthew thought about it for a moment before nodding and slipping out of the last little bit of his jacket. "Alright, thank you."
"It is no problem Matvey." Ivan says with a smile.
"Should I hide my wings?"
"No, it is fine. You rest better with them out, correct?"
Matthew sat there for a moment as he looked over the bed. He didn't know if he should get under the covers or lay on top of them. "..."
"You may get under them. That way others do not discover your wings if they come in looking for you."
"You are right." Matthew pulled the covers back and crawled under, the tips of his wings resting just above his shoulders as he closed his eyes.
After Matthew was asleep, Ivan stayed where he was for a good half hour or so before getting up and letting Yao and Kumajiro know that Matthew was resting. He then returned to his room and sat back down on the bed.