New chap: Time off With the prince

Am having another story of Nuala and Abe's princess. Will be out soon. seeking freedom from noise.

AC- airconditioner. Classical music and Nemesea

Laira

I shushed Simon up so he wouldn't provoke the Elf any longer. I showed Nuada some soothing images for him to rest well on trees and lake pictures. He did not sink into a deep sleep though, because of his cold. Elves never get ill… what happened?

Argh, I'm angry with my body. I shouldn't get sick, just had some more cases and it got a little colder, now I'm sick. Great! He sulked, brow knitted.

No, he shouldn't be frustrated. I was sorry and tried my best to reassure him. The car journey took about an hour and a half. Unfortunately Simon was still jabbering about his fae allies, how he did them favors and met with stony silence. We walked to my apartment. "Uriel, I happen to know him too….."

Finally as the elevator door closed, Nuada snapped, "I have a headache, can you be silent?"

Simon flushed looking on the floor. I said, "He's being friendly, um forgive him? After all he's being the pack mule." The Amber eyes simply bored once through Simon and then Nuada folded his arms and strode out when it came to our floor. I unlocked the door. He immediately fell on the sofa. That was really uncharacteristic of my soulmate.

Simon carried in his luggage. "Thanks for helping." I apologized to him softly, after all he was Joe's buddy and I didn't want his experience marred by our prince's bad temper. I was sure his ego must be damaged. "I'll get going now. Get better soon, bye!" Simon called out as he went off. I didn't miss his hurt look.

The most important thing was a glass of ice water first, then cloth with a basin to sponge him. Nuada groaned, rubbing his temples. Finally, I can be left in silence! Did he have to keep speaking?

I smiled. "Hehe, yea I told him to reduce the words but sorry. Here." Nuada drank the glass, sighed and I patted his forehead with cool water. He grunted no need and took my hand. His grip was firm but not bonecrushing.

"No fever, just sleepy."

"When did this start?" I wondered.

He lay down on his side. Hm, should be few days ago… perhaps the AC* was too strong. I took a chair to watch over him. Throughout the edginess of rest, Nuada didn't cease coughing. When it was temporarily ended, he scowled. He drank some water and tried to lie still. Then, he elevated himself with one arm and didn't budge. His pale skin was rather warm. For now, there was no perspiration which meant Nuada was stable.

If he got feverish….

Uriel told me that he had prescribed him medication. Prince was punctual to see them as his body hurt a lot on Monday. They should be in small blue vials. Hm, right now Nuada's breathing was peaceful and waking him would be a disaster. "I'll check later. Thank you."

"Welcome. Yes he was rather disoriented and confused. I have written down the instructions. Don't let him skip meals. Call me again if you're unsure, Laira," he replied.

I cooked some food, did the chores, washing up, showering and so on. Soon as I was done, I sat on the floor to read. My book this time was about detachment.

A whisper of cloth and then fingers touched my cheek. I leaned back. "Hm? Hey."

Nuada surprised me by his words. "Will that boy be…. Affected?" With pesky humans, the elf didn't usually worry about them.

Uh, you care? Noowa… Yea, Simon was hurt. He was so keen to meet you, though I told him to be down to earth and hope too much. I Showed him what transpired, and turned to face him.

Nuada smiled. Ah wrong day, he shouldn't have talked so much. I have a terrible.. migraine. No, I don't care. Haha.

"Oh! Doc said he gave you some meds. Where are they?" I pulled the bag over.

Nuada shrugged. We unpacked the stuff as I searched for the medicine. Mostly there were clothing, underwear, dried foods. Oh cool, it was in a side compartment, an entire container of those! He scowled. "Yes that's it. I have to take it after meals. But I'm not hungry."

He certainly looked unwell, eartips almost drooping and pale lips. I offered him a box of tissues. They were needed, other than coughs, Nuada also sneezed a few times.

Tissues and piles later, Nuada recovered and whispered, "Hope you won't be infected. Didn't expect to get worse."

"Nah, I'm not that weak. Still, you have to eat. At least something, can't take medicine on empty."

I said maybe he should change his clothes then lie down in his bed. The elf wore a cotton shirt. He really did not have appetite though I made his favorite food and mince pie. I had even bought Stewark apple tarts, a fae market stall. The place was near where we had gone in, and I was familiar. He ate some of it, and measuring a quarter cup, ingested the blue liquid.

"Sorry I can barely eat. How's the garden?"

Our garden was actually a porch on the balcony extension. Small green area. I knew Nuada adored it, whenever he was most angry and troubled, he always sought peace there.

I admitted we hardly took care of the plants so some were yellowing but now I was home, I would do better. "Don't be mad please." I smiled.

He blinked without comment. As he stood on the grass, I was reminded of how we tried to cure him, since we couldn't bring him to the hospital. Seeing that the place refreshed his energy, I left him awhile to see to the oven.

Then, oh god! The elf was down, unmoving. My heart stopped in beats. My heart stopped in beats. I called him, kneeling beside him, patting his face and yelling his name. He had to repeat several times and grasped my shoulders firmly. "No no I didn't collapse. I wanted to lie down. See?" I looked down at the prince and stopped panicking.

Scared the hell outta me! I groused. Nuada stifled a yawn, and we held hands.

The wind was quite chilly. "Why not go inside? Don't catch another chill, your shirt is so thin," I reminded. The elf sighed.

"I like it here." He almost whined. A dignified whine, anyway.

I retrieved a blanket and his pillow. "Lie facing in, ok? It's cold. Come to bed soon." Nuada complied. He seemed small and vulnerable.

"It is quite chilly. Face inwards. Rest." I retrieved a blanket and his pillow. Nuada seemed like a little boy lying on the grass. I draped the blanket. He moved so I could put the pillow under his head. Occasional coughs were audible. I remained nearby for as long as 11pm.

The next day, I stretched, hearing the sound of running water. The events of the previous day came to me. Oh man! Nuada came out in a bathrobe. "Morning. Um…" I glanced outside, had he slept all night at the balcony? I intended to remind him to come in, but must have slept through the alarm. Damn. "Came to lie down in bed?"

He pointed to the rumpled blanket. "I'm fine, elendil. Came in halfway. Had a better rest than other days. Though my throat is sore." Nuada took a seat on his bed. I helped dry his hair.

"Okay. I'll brew some honey. Got any herbal drinks?" I only knew he preferred au naturele stuff. Usually, the elf stubbornly wanted to do things on his own.

He said no, forgot to take them. "Hm, so tired I forgot a lot of things…. Yes, honey would be nice." He rested while I made some food and cereal.

"Aw wanted to spend time playing," I joked. The prince opened his eyes as I rubbed his sore arm.

"Not too vigorously. What game?" He was propped up on the pillow. I took out some cards, a card game was less stimulating.

Nuada did not complain of aches and pains. I hoped he would recover fast. A little guilty that I looked upon my elf's holiday with me as playmate. Haha. This was not to be. Nuada dozed off every few minutes. By lunch, I found it more challenging to wake him. He pushed me away. How could the medicine by consumed if there was no food? Then he was angry and irritable as he got up to relieve himself. This would happen over the next few days.

"I've kept some food warm. Want to eat a little?"

"No." Elf shut the door. I was concerned he might feel dizzy. Joe still wasn't back.

"Let me help." Nuada scowled when I held his arm. I led him to the table outside. "Have a bit then you can sleep again. It's your favorite corn soup." He did not speak to me. I tried not to be upset. The thermometer almost went flying, good I had a firm grip on as the patient jerked several times before I could stick one end into his ear.

The warrior did not want to move after that. Time to consult the friends. He had missed some doses, though his coughs were less. "May I speak to Uriel please? Or any healer."

"Yes it's me. What's wrong?" the jovial guy answered.

"Nuada seems better, but now he's unwilling to do anything but sleep. He refuses to eat and is angry. I tried to take his temperature, I got 45 degrees. Is that very high?" I said. My pity returned as another wave of coughing arrested Silverlance. Cursing, he sat up and drew up his knees, rested his brow on them.

"Nope that is good news. I will come afterwards to see how he's doing. Has he taken the three dosages yesterday?"

"Hm yea. He just ate a little bit, and when I came with the med, he didn't. He gets so angry." I looked mournfully at the bag of vials, wishing there were a way to forcefeed the medicine. Would Nuada hit me if he was really mad?

Uriel told me not to worry. The visit next day was a firm talking-to. This was the second visit my friend came to take care of patients. The healer asserted full rights to command that he must be an obedient patient and listen to instructions. Nuada was silent, not fuming. His expression was gentle when I came in with a tray of food, porridge and soup. "I heard of the non cooperation. Try to be good. Elf flu will go fast." Uriel repeated.

"Not fast enough to me. Thank you." Dutifully my friend cleaned the bowls. Uriel's examination showed that he would recover in a few days but perhaps he had to take more off-time. The rest was in gaelic, spoken very fast. The healer said he wished to stay for dinner, then he would leave the next day. No problem.

Later Nuada was at the living room, for fresh air. I startled when I saw his white hair.

"Come, sit with me." He wore a soft blue jacket. These days I had not turned on the AC and only had the fan running. I awoke in a sweat. "I was not good to you eh?" He was honest and upright about it.

"Nope. You didn't want to eat or drink anything. Only water and toilet. But I guess it's because of this." I shrugged, gestured to his entire condition.

Nuada glanced at me with a piercing expression. "I won't be like that anymore. Take this." A toy hammer. I laughed uncontrollably, and elf smiled a bit. "Hit me if I am bad."

"Where- where did you get this?"

"From a friend. Hm now I faintly recall, that boy. But… I didn't like him then, too. He stinks." I saw the image of Simon in his mind.

I took the hammer. "Nah he doesn't. Simon's good, he takes care of the fae. Don't be prejudiced. He was gonna cry."

Nuada raised a brow, rested his hand on my shoulder. "Oh. I will make it up. What is the… the" He mimed typing.

"Aha, email. I have it, aw that's nice. Sure. I'll type." We made out a sorry message to send to the guy. Nuada actually wanted to write a letter,but it was going to take weeks.

Why must he cry? I didn't reject him outright. Ergh. Nuada commented inside.

His real speech was always funny. I laughed again.

Hey I am not joking. Still nursing a cold. I wonder why I get sick? It's strange. I've never got ill before, except when I got food poisoning. He continued, using the toy hammer to feign hitting me. I made a 'nooo I'm dying' face. Yes Nuada kept his promise not to be grouchy, obediently eating as much as he could manage. When he felt stronger, voice less rough, he called the Bureau. Despite recovery, the healers had advised a necessary recuperation leave.

"Can stay longer?" I asked when he hung up. Nuada smiled, crossing over to the porch and holding me from behind. I squealed. "Coool."

Simon had replied with a really long letter back and first part was: oh my! You can use email?

We shared mirth on that. I had logged in with his password so that it would be more sincere. Nuada wanted to respond to it.

Hello, yes I can. But I don't do it often. Good u are not upset anymore. Which of my people have u taken care of?

He said he had planned to give me a present to make up for not seeing me. But being unwell and all, the elf had left out so many things. "Aw it's ok. Having you here to hold is good enough."

"Ah I'm glad. Maybe I can ask one friend to bring it along, it was on my table I think. Now I'm better, let's go outside. I need fresh air." I was skeptical, yet he was adamant that he stood by the front door.

The weather was awesome, so I agreed. We were soon at the junction where the glamour for the secret garden was found. He looked up to invisible stuff and said the codewords. Weaving a pattern, he led me through. Memories. We had come here when we first talked and bonded….

I was worried he would feel weak, for his hand was cold and perspiration beaded his face.

He took a drink of water. We were on the grass under a gigantic tree. I said, "It's ok not to do magic."

It was not magic, I have been in bed too long, always get weak when I initially move. It is the flaw of being my kind. As we are under harsh conditions, will fall ill. Nuada passed his arm to wipe off his sweat. I closed my eyes and visualized his healthy self. That is nice. Don't worry, should I faint just don't call the hospital. Lying down will suffice.

I made a face. He said he was grateful that he did not have to suffer alone. I took out my mp3 and plugged into his ear. Nuada smiled. He was more tolerant, perhaps because he had been naughty these days. I pointed out some interesting sceneries.