chap 52: Missing you

Headstrong by Trapt, Ain't no mountain high enough

Laira

Next day. I was glued to my little phone. A humble nokia but does not need touchscreen to see messages. I remembered his touch and his pain.

Nuada texted me, very short ones. I hoped he would be better. Morning! R u ok? Less pain. Thx for not minding I'm halfie. I pressed.

Yes, welcome. Just sleepy. – he replied. Luckily Nuada could use his cellphone so we could chat. I wanted to remain there. But I had promised. He also confided he was bored with nothing to do. Haha. Yea he hates being idle. Why didn't they accompany prince? Those stupid guys with such arrogant headcases. They were probably strangers.

When did u get hurt? Did you rest b4 the ceremony? I asked.

In the midday, Halfling. Thx, I slept, tk medicine. R u sad? Nuada replied hours later. Perhaps he had fallen asleep. I really wished I could hear his voice. Via text, there's no visual cues. If friends are well, texting is convenient, no need to talk and I could contact them in a flash. I just had to trust elf was not lying to me. I didn't mind if he lied to me unless he got worse. A letter assured us! I didn't expect it, until our aunt announced.

I opened it with cold hands. The scrawl on the envelope was not familiar. But inside, it was Nuada's letter to us. A sign of his recovery!

Dear Lyra and Joe,

I feel stronger now. My injuries have healed nicely. Were you very worried? A rogue group of orcs attacked us. Many of us were injured and we went to the hospital closest to the place. Fortunately no one died. I thought it was nothing much but later I felt much pain.

It is boring to lie here in the infirmary. There's nothing to do except eat and look at the ceiling. There's no scenery, or windows. Joe how're you doing? Don't hit me, I will get a relapse if you do. Haha. My back is less inflamed. The giant knocked me into a wall, crap. My allies distracted it. And I have a centipede on my stomach. The pain is mostly gone, and I am groggy from the herbs. I asked them to stop today, felt very sick from the smell. Have you fallen ill before?

Thank you, glad you got my text messages. Can understand? I miss your voice. Seems like the signal is really bad, I tried to call but failed. The doctors won't let me walk outside.

Cannot wait for the week to be up, I want to go back to the bureau. Am going to lie down now. I hate medicine! By the time you get this, I should be able to walk slowly. So you can come see me.

Yours truly with love,

Nuada

*friend found out your address so he will send this letter.

Yep that explained the foreign handwriting. We were living in our aunt's place to be close to Gary's office. Gary was our project supervisor at the moment. Elf should be back in his usual room by today, more than a week. I phoned Nuala first, didn't want to wear the elf out yet. "Hey sis is your brother awake? Is he ok?"

"Oh Laira! Yes yes he moved back two days ago. He refused to rest over at the fey hospice any longer. I scolded him initially. Shall I bring the phone to him?"

I guffawed as Nuala gave examples of the lectures. "If he's resting don't disturb him. Ok." I waited. Joe smiled at my signal and read the letter. "Hello!" I began when the phone rustled.

Nuada exclaimed, "Morning! I'm not tired anymore. Did you get my letter?"

"Yes I was shocked (he chuckled). Your texts are cute, got the short spellings already. For midday you can spell 'midd'. Are you lying down? Please don't run about yet."

"Yes I'm sitting. Lying down makes me giddy and weak. When I got up from the pallet there (the hospice) I felt like a soft bean person. Awful, I suppose too much drugs already. Don't be worried. I can eat well here."

Nuada must have been extremely fatigued resting on the pallet that long. Did the healers overdo the dosage? That is awful yuck. "Ok. Hmm, I thought all your stuff is natural. But they overdosed?"

"Gave strong doses. I couldn't taste the food. So bland. I put extra sauce this time, missed that. When can you come?" Sweet, he sounded so excited like a little elf. My heart jumped.

"Maybe afterwards. Get some sleep."

"All right. Come in the evening, I'll be awake. Sister was nagging at me. I felt miserable. No sympathy for me."

"You should have updated them." I laughed with my friend grumbling how rude I was.

"Imagine I tell her, hi sister I've just been sent flying by a giant and am in pain. What can anyone do? I was going to once I settled down. Take care," elf replied. We hung up.

Before getting the latest update, Salem knew I would try to find Nuada on my own, so he had tailed me and stopped me from being rash.

****

The prince's hair was tied back, his thin body bound with bandages. He was standing over the bed, unpacking some things. I waited at the doorway. Nuada did not notice, so engrossed he was in the task. After a while, I called him.

"Come in," he answered quietly. Some bottles were laid out, in many colors, big and little. My friend sorted out cloths and shirts.

I offered to help. "Nuada lie down. You shouldn't stand so long." He smiled. Now, I did not feel pained at his benevolent expression. I placed the bottles on the table. Elf ran his hand over his desk's stuff. Ah he missed this room! "Ok I'm done. Please rest. I want to see the centipede." I said, keeping the clothes. The unfolded ones I left hanging on a chair. Guys take time to obey instructions.

The warrior gingerly eased onto the bed. I sat beside him. He undid his robe. A long centipede stitch crawled across his abdomen on the left side. "Don't know when I can remove it. It stings." Nuada spread his legs and lay down.

I smelled one bottle of fluid. The same one that day, in the water. I took a good old whiff.

Nuada chuckled, confiscated the stuff. "What is it? I like the vanilla smell."

"This is Flemia a substance that takes away infection and fever. Yes it's a nice scent. Don't get addicted." He slipped the bottle to his side.

"Will you have fever?" I felt both his brow and chest.

"Do not fuss. No fever, Laira. Why no response, didn't write back." He closed his eyes, breathing softly.

"Sorry. I didn't have much to say." Gently, I closed the robe over his taut stomach and smoothed the creases.

Nuada

The giants attacked our small group. We were outnumbered, having set out to survey suitable lands and not fight. I managed to get under one and smash at its soft underbelly, but its mate's fist hit my back. Impact against something hard, out of breath and hurting. Then I was slashed by another orc's heavy knife. The force was so strong my spear slipped. Blade cut into my side. The rest of my comrades were wounded. An unfortunate incident.

But I would not let Laira down since I had promised to meet her. Karin, a high elf healer, was angry. I ignored his comments about how I should not ignore my health for a mortal. I must honor all promises. The weakness was bearable, but everything went smoothly.

Once the final healing was done, I slept for a long time exhausted and throbbing.

What a surprise it was to see the two companions most dear to me still lingering. They wanted to make sure I was better. Far from it, I felt decades older, cold, fatigued to the bone. My mind was foggy.

"Do you not understand English? Go back now." I summoned the strength to be assertive.

It touched a raw part of my soul. Loyalty is so rare in this era. In elven I gently chided Salem for bringing my friend here and disobeying me. I wanted to punish him. Yet there's no strength in this weak form. My girlfriend looked distraught. That was why I didn't want them to see me in this state. I made them promise to leave.

I am fine with solitude. Yet the time was so dull, I couldn't read nor look outside. The healers didn't believe in stimulation for patients. I hated the stuffy hall and could not wait to get up. I was not in a coma, damn it.

I had a brief argument (proof that I was lucid and alive) with some of them.

"I want to read something. I won't get tired, do you expect me to stare at the wall when I wake?"

Other than Karin, Nimue was also an Elder. I lost the argument, because Nimue pressed me down. I fought for a while, tiring myself. "You cannot get up prince. They will reopen your wounds. Reading will tire you. Just sleep." Her breath caused me to faint. Such rigid inflexible older generation elves! Only the maid from the first time was friendly. I asked her to stay so I could get news of the outside. Nobody would bother to speak with me, reason: you will be overstrained. Patience fled me. Was I that inflexible? No wonder others could not tolerate this behaviour.

They didn't confiscate my phone. I have sly ways. Messages were welcome. They made me happy. Liz also showed her concern and wished I would hurry up to go back. Yes I answered. The routine: waking up, look at ceiling, use the privy, eat something, take medicine, sleep.

On the third day, I had enough of lying down. The drugs took away taste and dragged my limbs down. Water and sweat purged the last of fevers and aches, so I asked for paper to pen a letter. I intended to go back to the BPRD. Such irony, I wanted to stay away from Bethmora! I like my homeland, just not confined in the stuffy medical halls. Reluctantly, these healers agreed to my orders. I proved that I could stand without help and said, "Thank you. I am lucid and fever is gone. I want to return to my sister."

But I had to ride for a while. That jarred my wounds. Time jumping is a normal custom from this secret forest to the outside. Some attendants escorted me. I managed to conceal the pain, for fear of being sent back.

The carriage back was a relief. Less bumping. On the cons side, Nuala herself met me outside Bethmora and nagged me that I didn't 'keep her updated'. For the first time, my headache was not from pain. I just wanted to sleep. My room welcomed me. Yes! Nuala talked so much but I did not hear anything, haha. Finally she stopped when Laira called and she passed me the phone.

I felt contented lying in bed. If I am bored here I can do other things, listen to music and watch some tv. I miss that, days of blankness can do wonders. My friend laughed so much. I shook my head. "Then you need to get a powerpoint thingie for our home next time. Boring not having one eh," she rubbed in.

I frowned. "I will not. It's only for now that I'm confined. We can do many other things. Watch plays, don't you like that?"

"You don't Noowa. I can't fence well. And I don't want to muck around the dirt always. Want to bring my laptop."

Muck around meaning gardening. I glared.

"Laptop? Nope also can't allow that, you will ignore me. Phase out my speech. I am your beloved mate." Inspired by the way she quoted the law of reciprocation back in our arguments. "Give me your hand."

"Why? Ok." I showed her elf homes are run by the natural forces, winds and sun. even rain. "The toilet is flushable? Or manual. It'd be gross."

"Yes. I think a visit to an elf house will clarify your doubts." I drummed my fingers on her leg. We're not backward.

She nodded. "I am concerned, how to cook things? Besides nature hikes, reading, sketching, it'll be so… different from my home, Nuada. Hurry up! Get well."

"I know. Healing takes time. Patience ascarer." Laira asked again if I was not completely recovered. "Not completely, I get tired."

She would study my 'centipede' for hours, million times. "When you inhale and exhale, it moves. See?"

Funny. I intended to remove it soon, unless I exerted myself, the twinge did not bother me. "Should I apply a cream for the wound? Let me see your back one please. Turn your back."

I grumbled no need and snored. Minutes later, her fingers applied a lotion to the cut. Nice to be pampered. The get well cards were one big stack. From Abraham, Liz, Cole and the children. I asked them to come to my room to thank them. Abraham lent me more music. We had a peaceful conversation.

"Brother in law, we couldn't feel you at all those days. It was horrible. I wanted to find you right away."

I smiled. "Don't bother, we were deep in a deserted part. I was not alone, don't know why that happened too. They sent us to the main hospital close by. It is hidden."

Fishie sighed. "Oh yes that makes sense. Could you have visitors? Was it all right?"

"No. Only two persons talked with me, the others literally put me in prison. I wanted to read but no one allowed me to do anything. fatigue was also from the drugs." Zero visitors. I remembered a friendly dryad- he supported me on the worst days.

He made sympathetic sounds and focused with his large eyes. Our hands touched at the same time. I cannot wait to go on missions again. Does HB miss me? I chuckled.

HB is another nickname for demon. I have got fond of the guy, in there I wished I could hear him shouting and talking crap. The joker said yes I was missed acutely.

I could walk without aid but had to be careful not to run or bend. Why did it take more than a week as they said? Stupid elders, they were liars. Nimue said smugly, "It's because you don't rest properly, Nuada." I held my tongue with great difficulty. As if I asked for their advice. Uriel was nagging, but he did not reprimand me as if I was a kid.

Laira arrived with more questions the next day. "Hey elf! Are you sleepy?"

I answered as tactfully and honestly as possible, meaning polishing the advantages of living in Bethmora. Haha.

The technical details were not sufficient though. "Did you have servants to dress and help you with things?" this was the most comical one. It's to do with girls' relating to things.

"Yes but I wanted to dress myself. They changed the bedsheets, washed my robes. And I cleaned my own mess, same for now. Here's the proof," I said proudly, sweeping a hand to my neatly categorized desk and wardrobe. "I'm not a pampered noble."

The girl commented, "I find it-um-abnormal. The princes on tv and movies Always have servants to help them with everything. Cliché eh? (I rolled my eyes) It's good you are independent."

"Yes they did help me adjust the necessary things. Mostly I did my own. When I left home (instead of the word exile) I couldn't depend on servants. You want a story? These are free and true. But on condition." I paused for 'dramatic effect'.

Keep it secret right? Wait! Show me what crown you wore. You did have one I'm sure.

The king wore mature tree vines for the crown, but mine was much smaller and sleeker. It's a circlet that could change colors depending on the seasons. I only wore it at the officials' insistence.

Storytime, not in order. I painted the pictures as well as I could. "First time I cooked was not palatable. Got food poisoning (Laira's concern was imminent). Haha I'm here so I survived. I was too weak to leave the mat after two days of vomiting and all that. No bed, the best was the mat. Sister came by with healers. Our link was not weak then. I learnt my lesson but refused to go home. Money went low, to earn some, I went on mercenary raids. I got some companions, cifal'hir who are pixies ankle height. They were my eyes and ears. If I was hurt or ill I sent them out."

Laira

Food poisoning? Nuada looked hesitant and shy while he was relating the account. A little pause. "I really won't tell. Swear." I held up my right hand. Gastronomical upsets are my bane too. I empathized most emphatically. It's such a shock that he made blunders like that. But Nuada was neither self-pitying nor proud. He wanted to offer advice, only if I wanted.

"Do you know why food poisoning happens?"

"Please tell me," I replied eagerly. Free advice, I don't mind. I took his hand.

Nuada's lips tipped up in a smile. "All right. It's important to make sure certain foods are washed and heated more than the dry goods. I forgot which ones exactly, but I had not prepared the raw type well. Like meat and fish. To be safe, I acquired the ready convenience items. Instead of keeping them, and risk mould, I would go to the market everyday as there was no fridge or storage in my house. That's in inverted commas."

We shared mirth. "Wink was good at selection of foods. Trolls are intelligent in that way. Their mouths and stomachs can digest the harder textures. I learnt a lot from him."

"Oh then you must have chosen wrongly, so cute!" I teased, propping myself up with elbows. The elf growled and tossed a pillow at me. I pretended to be hit.

"Yea yea very funny. Do you want me to continue? Fine, stop poking fun at me. What else you want to know?"

"Did you feel lonely? Like before they came. I want to feel too."

A subtle inclination of the blond head. Nuada said, "An elf should be resilient to danger, crisis. Strong mentally and physically. No problem for the second area, but I couldn't help weakening during the worst pains. I never got ill except for food poisoning. Sometimes I wanted to give in and see my comrades again." He waited, his breathing softening. There was a hitch in the middle 'worst pains'. "My friend, I have more advice. Do you mind?"

"Ok."

Sincerely, Elf made this priority number one. "Don't be rash and run away from home. Your dignity and pride will be tested. You will find it difficult to live on the streets. Not unless you have contacts to help. If you feel angry or conflict, talk to me. We can solve the problem. I am willing to compromise."

When I suggested Nuala or Abe, he looked hurt. I added, "Should you make me mad, I can't approach you immediately. But I won't run away, Noowa. I will let you help."

"Good. I wish to understand you more. We're friends aren't we? I was a hotheaded person then, didn't think things through. Bad example." Nuada lay down on the bed again, stroking my cheek. A brave confession.

"Yup. I get it. Besides Joe goes berserk if I run away. I got busted for it, once."

Nuada grinned, leaning closer. "Story!"

"I packed my things creeping out to escape. Then shit, he put some kind of alarm over the door. When I opened it the string woke him up. Some screech, I got heart attack. He grounded me and nagged so much. But I didn't do anything wrong!"

Elf nodded and his tone was respectful. "May I ask why?"

"I was bored. Didn't want to study and come home to an empty place. He worked fulldays only returning at midnight. My friends were gonna let me stay. So I wasn't homeless. If it's night time called sleepover with movies and food. Have you done that before?"

"Camping yes. When I come on the weekend it is sleepover."

"Um hm. Joe was so overprotective of me. The more he shouted, the more I left. The time I got busted was when we had a fight and I wanted to go outside for just a stroll. I can't see the traps! He's only easygoing with other people, so biased!" I folded my arms and scowled.

A pause. Nuada explained, "I think he was worried and sad he could not solve your problems. I feel like that with Nuala. Evidently she was angry I didn't update her this time. It is normal. Try to see it as concern. Can you?"

Phrased as such, I didn't get defensive. It emerged clearly. "But he's biased."

Nuada smiled. He wondered if I ran away to provoke Joe. I edited, "Only stayed outside with friends. Once I wanted to stay at the park but heard the news of robbers. And it's cold. I can relate to the pride issue. When my pal cancelled on me, I didn't want to go back but it was damn cold. So I had to swallow my pride and sneak in."

He was philosophical. "It is a mix of annoyance and anxiety not being able to make sure you are safe. When you become responsible for others next time, you will truly get in our shoes. Men and male elves do not show our love in hugs and kisses. For example, when you left me suddenly, I couldn't do that." He took a pillow and put it on his stomach.

"Hey you're biased coz you're a guy too. When people yell at me, I hate it. I already said I would not let it repeat again." I played with his hair tips. Nuada's tips are tinted more blond than the rest of his hair. Deep silence.

I know, I'm sorry. But it cannot be changed. Caring is not always pleasant, Halfling. My bodyguards also irritate me with their longwinded lectures. There're both bad and good methods. Sometimes, when adults scold you, they feel… wounded. And afraid.

Huh you felt wounded that time? But you also freaked me out pretending to be a hero. You shouldn't get up. I don't mind a ceremony with you lying on a bed.

Would the volatile elf shout 'stop talking back at me I'm-the-adult-here' Stoically he absorbed these words. He listened with his heart. Though Nuada did not stare at me, respect and equality were conveyed.

No, it must be done properly. I was fine. The drugs had taken the pain off. I wanted to tell you. The moment I got injured I was in a lot of pain. But it wouldn't help me. Later it was my intention to let someone know but sleep made me forget. All right, I promise to let you know if I am able. Fair enough? He suggested.

"Thank you. Well, that was really diplomatic, didn't go all shutup I'm the adult mode on me." I sat up and gazed at my soulmate. He opened his eyes and smiled. I kissed him on the lips and cheek. "Get some rest. Sorry for troubling ya. Don't give me face, just sleep."