Chapter 13: Déjà vu

The next morning when Adalia woke up her whole body was throbbing in steady pain. Eyes still shut; she tried to think why she was in pain. Where was she?

Enlightenment hit as she heard the voice of Kula's father, Sir Neal of Queenscove trying to get someone who had apparently been pacing all night to stop.

"Stop it!" He almost yelled with exasperation. "She will wake up soon."

Adalia heard the pacing stop, and felt someone sit down by her side. Now that she was listening, she heard a few other people talking. I must have been pretty sick…

Realising, (with disappointment) that she could not pretend to be unconscious any longer, she repressed a sigh and cracked an eyelid. She saw Kula sitting on her father's lap, Kaden, Daniel, Nathan, Dameon and Charlie sitting on the floor, and Rye sitting in a chair next to her bed.

The others hadn't noticed she had opened her eyes. As she tried to tell them, she only emitted a strangled croak. She really needed water.

She tried again, "Have I seen this somewhere before recently? I think I've got déjà vu."

Everyone was brought out of their thoughts to gaze at her in shock, and then laughed and gathered around her bed. All except for Rye that is, who went to get her water, and then helped her drink it.

From the others, she found out that she had suffered from a moderate bout of hypothermia. After she had assured them that she didn't blame them for her getting hypothermia, Neal made everyone exit the room. Rye asked if he could talk to her, and Neal nodded then left for his office, warning the boy that she needed more rest.

As the others exited, Adalia was nervous at what Rye would say. After getting her water, he had kept back, seeming to be brooding.

As Neal shut his door Rye got up to continue his pacing.

After a few moments, it seemed that he had decided on the words that eloquently articulated his thoughts.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING? WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST COME INSIDE?"

Adalia was too weak to look ashamed, in any case she didn't feel like playing the part. She simply said, "I didn't want to wear a dress."

Rye just stood there, staring at her as if she was an idiot. "So. You would rather have hypothermia than wear a dress. Who would rather have hypothermia than wear a dress?!" Rye was slightly hysterical when he said that. He scrutinised her, waiting for answer with his arms crossed.

Adalia decided not to respond, but gave him a look that clearly said that she would.

Rye went red and exploded in anger. All Adalia could do was lie there listening to his squawks of disbelief. When he was becoming repetitive, she sighed.

"Can I go back to sleep now?"

Rye was brought out of his tirade and looked at her, noticing that she was grey. She gave an impish smile, and he lost track of the direction of his thoughts. Distracted, he sighed and plopped into the chair next to her bed.

"Done now?" Adalia asked sweetly.

Rye gave a dramatic sigh, and then gazed into her purple eyes. "I was worried about you."

Adalia looked into his stormy grey eyes and saw the truth in his words. She also couldn't place something else that she heard in his voice, and it discomforted her. "Sorry." She whispered back.

He saw that she meant this, then nodded and tweaked her nose. "Well, I better let you get some rest, or Sir Meathead will fry me. See ya later."

As Adalia watched him go, she couldn't help but marvel that the nickname Charlie's father had concocted years ago had spread throughout the palace. Almost everyone called him that now.

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Next Chapter: Shang Falcon

Disclaimer: I am Tamora Pierce…. Oh, and pigs fly, the sky is purple, kangaroos hop backwards, koalas are bears… need I go on?

(I was bored of the old disclaimer. If you are in any way confused by this one, do your research. Oh, or you could just refer to the previous 12 chapters and check out the disclaimer.)

P.S: for everyone who did not know, koalas are not bears, they are marsupials. I should know, living in Australia and all. And if you still wish to remain ignorant, then you can carry on with your delusions.

P.P.S: I am sorry if this upsets people, I was REALLY bored. I also swear the next chapter will be longer.