Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Dec 3, 2014 18:23:33 GMT -5
“I am sorry,” He apologized again. “Here’s a bench, why don’t we rest a moment?” Her coughing seemed to be getting deeper and sounded worse than ever. She certainly didn’t need to be running around in the cool damp sea air right now.
She just smiled at him, letting him talk and get it all out. She knew he'd feel better once he did. She sat down next to him and frowned. his face didn't look so good she could see the bruising on his cheek and could see the gash on his forehead underneath his unruly hair. "Are you sure you're ok? You look like your in pain." She reached over and gently took his chin in her hand and looked at his face closely. She brushed the hair back from his head to get a better look at his wound, he probably had a headache she would imagine and she started worrying all over again.
“There was one good thing that came out of last night’s escapade, however,” he said gloomily. “At least I know what they were planning on with all those people. I think I do anyway.” He glanced over at Olivia. “Have you heard any of the rumors about a great arena in the Southern Cliffs? A place where they buy people and make them fight to the death?”
Olivia frowned again and leaned back dropping her hands back to her lap. "I'm not sure. I don't really pay attention to rumors all that much their mostly just inconsistencies anyway. But I think I might of heard about the Arena." she shuddered. "It's really horrible to think that someone would do that to people. To think that that stuff goes on makes me a little scared but also makes my blood boil as well. What should we do if it really does exist?" Olivia was at heart a very kind person. She also liked to solve the worlds problems or at least she liked to think she could. It was probably why she got into so much trouble all the time, but with being head of the Diplomatic Service and all she'd gotten into less trouble being so busy sending people out and making sure things were delivered and such.
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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 18, 2014 21:57:41 GMT -5
She just smiled at him, letting him talk and get it all out. She knew he'd feel better once he did. She sat down next to him and frowned. his face didn't look so good she could see the bruising on his cheek and could see the gash on his forehead underneath his unruly hair. "Are you sure you're ok? You look like your in pain." She reached over and gently took his chin in her hand and looked at his face closely. She brushed the hair back from his head to get a better look at his wound, he probably had a headache she would imagine and she started worrying all over again.
Marcus let her examine him and felt his heart beat faster at her gentle touch, in spite of his melancholy mood and throbbing head. He was glad she couldn't see his ribs and the large bruises he knew were there from being kicked by the slaver.
"It's alright," he said softly and captured her hand, "I've had worse." That was probably not the best thing to tell her, he thought belatedly. "I'll be fine. I am a quick healer and I never get sick," he assured her. He kissed her fingertips and then let her hand go. "Thanks for caring, but really, you don't need to worry about it." He looked back down on the harbor and tried to sort tha previous day and night's events out. After a few minutes of silence he decided to focus on the postive things and the information he'd gathered.
“There was one good thing that came out of last night’s escapade, however,” he said gloomily. “At least I know what they were planning on with all those people. I think I do anyway.” He glanced over at Olivia. “Have you heard any of the rumors about a great arena in the Southern Cliffs? A place where they buy people and make them fight to the death?”
Olivia frowned again and leaned back dropping her hands back to her lap. "I'm not sure. I don't really pay attention to rumors all that much their mostly just inconsistencies anyway. But I think I might of heard about the Arena." she shuddered. "It's really horrible to think that someone would do that to people. To think that that stuff goes on makes me a little scared but also makes my blood boil as well. What should we do if it really does exist?"
Marcus considered her question, "I am not sure, beyond gathering the information and getting it to the King. If it does exist and has managed to keep itself hidden for several years, it may take an army to rouste them out." He needed to get some solid proof somehow, before he went to Crowley with it. "I sure would like to find out where it is and take a look for myself though, so I have something to report other than rumors."
Something inside him warned him against that plan of action, however. Once he thought about it, he realized that others had tried to find the place, supposedely located in the southern cliffs somewhere, and they either returned empty-handed or the never returned. "Perhaps I can get one of the slavers to talk instead."
He looked at Olivia, "Shall we push on to the top of these blasted stairs then?" he asked her, unsure if she had rested enough to catch her breath.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Dec 22, 2014 18:42:56 GMT -5
He kissed her fingertips and then let her hand go. "Thanks for caring, but really, you don't need to worry about it."
She laughed a little. "Telling me not to worry is like telling a chicken to stop laying eggs. You should know that by now." She put a hand on his knee. "I will always worry about you."
Marcus considered her question, "I am not sure, beyond gathering the information and getting it to the King. If it does exist and has managed to keep itself hidden for several years, it may take an army to rouste them out." He needed to get some solid proof somehow, before he went to Crowley with it. "I sure would like to find out where it is and take a look for myself though, so I have something to report other than rumors."
She was silent as she thought about it.It did pose a sort of problem. "I suppose you could always go in undercover if needed. Sneaking in might be simple enough if you were the right kind of person anyway like a slave trader bringing people to the Arena. They don't disappear after all. Just the people they capture do." She paused not quite sure she liked the idea of Marcus going off somewhere extremely dangerous where it sounded like death was certain.
"Perhaps I can get one of the slavers to talk instead."
She nodded yes I rather like that idea actually. Perhaps if nothing else he could tell you more about it and the other ships and captains involved in this ghastly business. If nothing else its more of a lead than you have right now."
He looked at Olivia, "Shall we push on to the top of these blasted stairs then?" he asked her, unsure if she had rested enough to catch her breath.
She looked up at the long stairs a look of distaste coming to her face. "Stairs, I've never liked them. Though that is probably do to my insufferable ability to trip and fall down them. Or trip while going up them, most undignified." Lady Olivia was quite light on her feet and quite a good dancer but she did have a certain lack of balance sometimes made her trip on uneven ground such as stairs or to twist an ankle when in the field. Though she could gracefully glide into a room of shouting brawling men and make them all stare at her and then scramble to their seats and behave themselves.
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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 28, 2014 22:12:08 GMT -5
“Well then take my arm and perhaps we can keep eachother from tripping up these stairs,” Marcus suggested as he stood and then offered her his hand.
By the time they reached the Baron’s stables the throbbing in Marcus’s head had reached epic proportions. He ignored it, and his occasional sneeze that had punctuated their climb from the docks. He suggested that Olivia might be better off if she went back to her room in the castle and out of the drafty, somewhat damp stable room. He didn’t expect her to comply with his suggestion, however. Her horse was still having some problems and he knew Olivia was worried about her mare, though she was showing improvement.
He was focused on his own horse at the moment however and went straight to Spirit’s stall. The somewhat shaggy gray stallion was standing there looking at him curiously. He stroked Spirit’s neck and then glanced down to the bandaged leg.
There was no way for him to tell how bad the wound was without undoing the bandage that had obviously just been applied.
“He’ll be fine, Ranger Marcus.” The stablemaster had his head stuck in the stall door. “I see the Lady found you, a little worse for wear it seems.”
“I’m fine-Aaaachoo!” Marcus sneezed again. “Just a little disagreement with some slavers down at the docks. They are guests of the Baron now,” Marcus replied. “You are sure no permanent damage was done? His tendons are okay?”
Master Cariadoc nodded, “It was a long slice on his shoulder, but most of it is shallow. I stitched it up nice and neat, but he is going to bear a scar most likely. I suggest he spend the next few days resting here.” Cariadoc eyed Marcus critically, “that should give you plenty of time to get yourself looked at too.”
“I suppose I will, I did promise Olivia that I would have them take a look at my head.” Marcus paused and then smiled a bit ruefully, “Lord knows I need my head examined after the stupid stuff I did last night.” He sighed, a glum look on his face. “Thanks for taking care of Spirit for me.” He stroked Spirit’s neck and then rubbed around his eyes and ears while the ranger horse nuzzled him. “I will be back with some carrots for you, Boy.”
Stifling another sneeze he headed off to the castle to have one of the Baron’s doctors take a look at his head and the other bruises the slavers had inflicted from their kicks. He ached all over but it seemed to be more than what the beating accounted for. “Must be getting older,” he muttered under his breath. He felt hot and thirsty too. It didn’t occur to him he might be getting sick, because he hardly ever got sick. He sneezed again and noticed his throat was burning a little.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jan 12, 2015 12:05:20 GMT -5
Olivia was getting very concerned about Marcus. Of course what girl wouldn't be? She really hoped that he did go to the doctor. She went to the castle and to the kitchens to get him and her some food. He was bound to be hungry and she knew for a fact that she was. She took two plates of food from the kitchen staff and proceeded up to his room at the castle. She opened the door and set his food on his desk then quickly exited lest anyone come in and find her there and get any thoughts of their own. She had a reputation to protect. His as well as hers. It wouldn't be good for the ranger Corps if people thought that rangers slept around with women. She went into her room to grab a few things. Then headed back down to the stable to check on her mare. After seeing that Mara was resting she ate her food and looked in on spirit. Glad that he was all right. Then she went to the infirmary to make sure that Marcus was there getting looked at. She smiled a little glad when she saw him sitting there getting examined. She came in and went over to where he was and looked at the healer.
"How is out patient doing?" she couldn't keep the concern out of her voice. She hoped he hadn't broken anything and hoped that he was all right. He had some nasty looking bruises there.
"Marcus? Are you getting sick? You look a bit pale." Olivia had been around enough people who were sick to know the look of someone who was coming down with something or was sick. Then she remembered she;d kissed him and felt her cheek grow a little warm at the memory. Then she felt a little shameful, if he was getting sick it was her fault. She shouldn't have kissed him, it had been an awful thing to do. But in the heat of the moment she couldn't have stopped herself, she had just been so relieved that he was alive. Perhaps she needed to practice self control a little bit more.
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Post by Brandwyn on Mar 9, 2015 23:13:47 GMT -5
"How is out patient doing?" she couldn't keep the concern out of her voice. She hoped he hadn't broken anything and hoped that he was all right. He had some nasty looking bruises there.
Although Marcus felt happy to see Olivia (she always lit up the room when she entered, he thought), he wasn't exactly glad she was seeing him being prodded by the physicians. The bruises were sure to make her worry about him more and they were far worse looking than they actually were.
"No broken ribs that I can detect, My Lady" the doctor replied. "But this head wound has me concerned." He had just finished cleaning it out and was trying to decide if it needed stitches. "It's not very deep, but doesn't seem to want to stop bleeding." He pressed a cold wet cloth against Marcus's head and the ranger winced at the rather rough touch.
"Take it easy, Doc!" He batted the doctor's hand away and pressed the cloth to his forehead. "Of course it's bleeding, you've been digging around in it for the last half hour!"
"Rangers!" The doctor muttered and turned back to the basin of water where he washed his hands. He had a servent bring in a fresh pot of cold water and dampened another cloth. "They make the worst patients."
Marcus started to retort, but sneezed instead, and then winced at the throbbing in his head. "Hey, can you pour some of that water in a cup? I am a bit thirsty."
"Marcus? Are you getting sick? You look a bit pale." Olivia asked.
"I'm fine," he replied, rather unconvincingly. Truth be told, he felt terrible. He drank the water the doc handed him in two big gulps and wished he'd had more.
The doctor shook his head, "No, you are not fine, Ranger Marcus. You are ill, battered and bruised and you are going straight back to your room where I am going to give you a concoction to make you sleep." He challened Marcus to object, but the ranger didn't argue. Marcus thought sleep was a wonderful idea - right after some food. Then again, the thought of food suddenly made his stomach churn. Maybe the food could wait.
The doctor bandaged up the head wound, deciding it wasn't quite bad enough for stitches and called for an escort to ensure Marcus made it to his room. He sent one of his nurses with them to administer the medicine.
Turning to Olivia he motioned her over to the exam table, "Now let's see about that cough of yours." He rummaged around in his cabinet full of fresh and dried herbs all neatly assembled in little glass jars with cork stoppers.
"Now try not to worry about Ranger Marcus," the doctor reassured her as he poured some hot water into a mug and swirled a tea net full of his selected herbs through the hot water for a couple of minutes. "His bruises are really looking worse than they are. We need to watch his head wound though. I am going to have someone stop in on him every hour during the night."
The doctor handed her the glass of hot tea. "This will help that cough of yours, but shouldn't put you to sleep." He started to clean up his exam area, throwing blood covered bandages into the fireplace. "You need to get your rest tonight so you can help me keep him resting tomorrow. You know how rangers can be... nearly as bad as couriers when it comes to following doctor's orders." He grinned at her and though he said it in a joking manner, he hoped the point was well taken. "Now my aide, Miss Arlene, is going to escort you back to your room and fetch whatever you may need. I suggest you get some rest." he reiterated and shooed her out the door where the young girl was waiting to help her.
***
Marcus was glad Olivia hadn't accompanied him to his room, because he wouldn't have made it back if not for his escort. His head was swimming and he felt feverish. He sank gratefully onto the bed and kicked off his boots. He noticed the food on the table and considered eating some of it. He wondered who had put the food there. The thought it could have been Olivia made him smile. It was a nice gesture, but it was too bad his stomach wasn't cooperating. All he really wanted was water.
Miraculously the nurse read his mind and handed him a tall glass of cold water. That was followed but a cup of tea that tasted horrible. Marcus glared at the nurse who then threatened to pour it down his throat if he didn't drink it down. The nurse was not a small man, by any means. Marcus wondered if he was really a nurse or if he was actually the doctor's stongman. Marcus decided to gulp the lukewarm tea down as fast as he could and then drank some more water to get the awful taste out of his mouth. "You would think he could put some honey or something in that horrid stuff to make it taste better."
"Then you wouldn't think it would be medicine," replied the nurse. "Now lie back there and get some sleep. I think I am going to be here for a while tonight."
Marcus followed orders and pulled the covers up over him. "Don't worry about me, I plan on sleeping like a baby." He rolled onto his side and promptly fell asleep.
... Two hours later, when the nurse checked in on him again, he was sweating and feverish and the bandage on his forehead had bled through. The nurse changed it again and then set one of the maids to watch after him while he went to wake the doctor. Marcus seemed to be taking a turn for the worse, from what his experience told him.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Mar 13, 2015 20:47:58 GMT -5
Olivia watched the physician as he worked. She was worried about Marcus but tried not to show it. He knew what he was doing if he wasn't to worried then neither should she. But she cared about him, loved him deeply in fact and therefore she worried nonetheless.
Turning to Olivia he motioned her over to the exam table, "Now let's see about that cough of yours." He rummaged around in his cabinet full of fresh and dried herbs all neatly assembled in little glass jars with cork stoppers.
She sat on the table and shifted a little uncomfortably. She tried to pay attention to the doctor, but her eyes kept straying to the door that Marcus had disappeared through.
"Now try not to worry about Ranger Marcus," the doctor reassured her as he poured some hot water into a mug and swirled a tea net full of his selected herbs through the hot water for a couple of minutes. "His bruises are really looking worse than they are. We need to watch his head wound though. I am going to have someone stop in on him every hour during the night."
She nodded several times. "Right, besides he is a grown man and a ranger, I'm sure he can take care of himself." she said more to reassure herself than to the doctor.
"This will help that cough of yours, but shouldn't put you to sleep." He started to clean up his exam area, throwing blood covered bandages into the fireplace. "You need to get your rest tonight so you can help me keep him resting tomorrow. You know how rangers can be... nearly as bad as couriers when it comes to following doctor's orders." He grinned at her and though he said it in a joking manner, he hoped the point was well taken. "Now my aide, Miss Arlene, is going to escort you back to your room and fetch whatever you may need. I suggest you get some rest." he reiterated and shooed her out the door where the young girl was waiting to help her.
"Thank you." she said taking the mug. She yawned, she hadn't realized how tired she was until now. It had been a very long day, most of it had kept her tense. She took another sip of tea as the doctor talked. She forced her muscles to relax, she smiled a little. "No worries doctor, my pillow is calling my name. Oh he WILL be resting tomorrow if I have to sit on him to do the trick i will." Olivia was not going to let him out of her sight for a long while yet, not if she could help it. She walked out of the door feeling tired but determined to keep an eye on Marcus as much for his good as well as for her peace of mind. As they walked up the stairs she resisted the urge to peek in on Marcus. She knew he was probably sleeping and that there was someone already there. If something was wrong someone would get her, at least she hoped they would.
Two hours later, when the nurse checked in on him again, he was sweating and feverish and the bandage on his forehead had bled through. The nurse changed it again and then set one of the maids to watch after him while he went to wake the doctor. Marcus seemed to be taking a turn for the worse, from what his experience told him.
Olivia tossed and turned trying to get comfortable, every time she thought she was comfy enough to drift off something would interrupt. Either her neck was at to crooked an angle. She was to hot with the covers. To cold with them off. Her pillow had an odd lump, her arm fell asleep. She sighed heavily getting extremely annoyed with it all. Finally she gave up and got up, she opened her door and saw the nurse quickly walk down the hall. She frowned and her heart seemed to hammer in her chest, there was only one reason why he would be running down the hall. Her eyes roved to Marcus's door, fear gripped her heart she went over to the door opened it and went inside. Marcus was lying in the bed but it didn't look like he was resting peacefully like he should of been. She bent over him, her long hair falling forward covering her face. He was hot, to hot to be a good thing, he was sweating as well. With trembling fingers she gently stroked his forehead. "You can't do this to me Marcus, you are not allowed to do this to me. Do you hear me?" her voice was quivering on the verge of tears. "If you're trying to punish me for being sick then it's working. But, but you can't do this to me. You can't leave me here, you are not allowed to die on me, you have to live so I can yell at you later." she stopped she wanted to say more but couldn't, she was so very frightened she reached out and grabbed his hand and kissed his fingertips, she gripped it in her strong calloused hand and squeezed. She didn't know what to do, what was she supposed to do?
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Post by Brandwyn on May 5, 2015 20:47:26 GMT -5
The sun beat down on Marcus relentlessly and heated the sand under his bare feet until he could barely stand on them. He had to sit down, but quickly found out that was worse. His whole body was on fire. He held up his hand and watched the flames dancing across his fingers. It was whispering to him, calling him by name. The flame didn't want him to leave. He stared into its depths and focused on the voices of the flame... His fingertips felt damp and he saw Olivia's face shimmer in the flame that engulfed his hand. She started to fade into a red haze... "Olivia! No! Olivia! Don't go!" he thought he was shouting, but he couldn't even hear his voice, it sounded very far away. Why couldn't he see her? Something wasn't right. The flames were turning to ice, like little stalagmites all over his body. He was so cold and damp. The ice wouldn't let him go but it brought back Olivia's face in the glistening stalagmite on his arm. Her lips were moving but now he could not hear her. He reached out with his other hand to touch the icy vision, but he could barely move his arm. It felt like lead.
"Not right," he wheezed. "Olivia..." He tried to get up, to follow her, but he couldn't move. He felt fingertips touching his hand and he grasped them as hard as he could. They were real - they had to be real in this crazy fire ice world. Finally he realized he must be dreaming. He fought to wake himself, but the flames washed over him again like a tidal wave. He held tight to the fingertips. They were his lifeline. He knew he mustn't let them go.
___
The Doctor arrived in Marcus's room just as Marcus coughed and croaked out, 'Not right' and then Olivia's name. The lady in question was gripping his hand for dear life and looked like she was about to break down in hysteria. He quickly crushed up some fresh herbs in his mortar and added some honey to make a paste.
"You just keep holding his hand and talking to him, Lady. Don't let him go," the Doctor said as he spooned the paste into Marcus's mouth under his tongue. "This should get into his system fairly quickly, but it could take several hours to break this fever."
Marcus thrashed and seemed to be trying to roll over and then he started shivering, but all the while he gripped Olivia's hand, albiet weakly, but he was still gripping it. "Some part of him is aware that you are here and that could make all the difference."
The Doctor hadn't thought Marcus was going to take this turn for the worse, but head wounds were tricky and when you added his other injuries and a virus on top, he really shouldn't have been surprised. Somehow he needed to bring the fever down. He sent the maid for more cold water and clean cloths. When they arrived he wrapped Marcus's wrists and ankles in the cloths soaked in the cold water. He placed some under his armpits, his forehead and the back of Marcus's neck. For the next two hours he just kept swapping out the cold cloths and listening to Marcus's labored breathing and racing heartbeat.
Olivia looked exhausted and he worried she might be stretching herself too thin, afterall, she was still ill too. At least it looked like Marcus had the same cold virus and not the plague. He should recover if the head wound wasn't too severe.
Another half hour went by and the Doctor was called off for another emergency. Marcus was thrashing around now, as if fighting something in his nightmares. The nurse kept changing the compresses and gradually Marcus calmed down. The sweating stopped and Marcus opened his eyes and looked around wildly, like he didn't know where he was. His eyes rested on Olivia and he felt her holding his hand. He gave it a squeeze, wondering if she were real or a figment of his fevered imagination. "Olivia?" he whispered, "what are you doing here?" he looked round the room again quickly, "where is here?" He couldn't remember anything. His eyes were growing heavy and he couldn't fight them. "Livvy...Love you..." he whispered and his hand fell limp to the mattress.
The nurse jumped up and lay his head on Marcus's chest, listening. He straightened back up, a smile on his face. "He lives! He just fell asleep. I think the worse is over now." He sent the maid to track down the doctor and update him on Marcus's condition. Marcus coughed in his sleep, but otherwise seemed to be resting now. "Maybe you should try to get some sleep, My Lady,"suggested the nurse. "I will stay with him and fetch you if anything changes."
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on May 20, 2015 9:53:19 GMT -5
Olivia stroked his forehead chewing on her bottom lip.
"Not right," he wheezed. "Olivia..."
"Marcus, Marcus?!" she couldn't believe this, Olivia moved out of the way so that the healer could do what he needed without her being in the way.
"You just keep holding his hand and talking to him, Lady. Don't let him go," the Doctor said as he spooned the paste into Marcus's mouth under his tongue. "This should get into his system fairly quickly, but it could take several hours to break this fever."
Olivia nodded and kept holding his hand tightly. Her eyes never straying far from his face.
"Some part of him is aware that you are here and that could make all the difference."
Olivia nodded but didn't think she could speak, she really hoped that this was not how her and Marcus's life was going to be like from now on. She wasn't sure if she could handle all of this at deaths door all the time. Then she mentally shook her head life wasn't going to be like this all the time she knew that. This had just not been a typical week that was all. Soon they would both be better and everything would be fine life would return to normal. She just had to get through the night, she could do it.
Another half hour went by and the Doctor was called off for another emergency. Marcus was thrashing around now, as if fighting something in his nightmares. The nurse kept changing the compresses and gradually Marcus calmed down. The sweating stopped and Marcus opened his eyes and looked around wildly, like he didn't know where he was. His eyes rested on Olivia and he felt her holding his hand. He gave it a squeeze, wondering if she were real or a figment of his fevered imagination. "Olivia?" he whispered, "what are you doing here?" he looked round the room again quickly, "where is here?"
Olivia stood to her feet when he opened his eyes. "Marcus? What... you're at the castle in sea cliff."
"Livvy...Love you..." he whispered and his hand fell limp to the mattress.
Olivia's eyes went wide and her hand flung to her mouth, he was dead he had just died!
The nurse jumped up and lay his head on Marcus's chest, listening. He straightened back up, a smile on his face. "He lives! He just fell asleep. I think the worse is over now." He sent the maid to track down the doctor and update him on Marcus's condition. Marcus coughed in his sleep, but otherwise seemed to be resting now. "Maybe you should try to get some sleep, My Lady,"suggested the nurse. "I will stay with him and fetch you if anything changes."
Oliva's face flooded with relief and her breath whoosehed out of her, her hand went from her mouth to her heart. Which was slowly coming back under control. "Oh thank goodness I thought for sure he had died." She sat back down in her chair and scooted it a little closer to his bed and took his hand back in hers and looked at the nurse. "I'm all right, I will stay with him. After that shot of adrenaline I don't feel very tired anymore. If you want to go you can."
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 4, 2015 9:50:47 GMT -5
Everything was whirling around Marcus clockwise when he suddenly became conscious again. His head felt like there was an axe blade imbedded in it and his mouth was dryer than burnt cotton in the great desert sands of the Aridi. He tried to turn his head and open his eyes but things were spinning too quickly. He felt his stomach churning. With great difficulty he brought it under control.
What was wrong with him? He couldn’t remember anything. He tried to remember his own name and what had happened. His mind was a blank.
Yet, there was something… he could feel his hand clutching something. He squeezed it and it gave slightly under his touch. ‘Has to be human’ he thought, ‘but who?’ Very carefully he forced his left eye to open… everything was bleary and he felt the world spinning again. He opened his right eye and then blinked them both several times. They were so dry he could hardly bring things into focus. There was a beautiful woman’s face looming up in his field of vision.
‘Who is she?’ he asked himself and searched for the answer. He knew her. He could tell because his heart had skipped a beat a moment ago. He should know her name. Something wasn’t right. He tried to tell her that something wasn’t right, but his mouth was too dry. All he managed to croak out in a hoarse whisper was, “…not…right.” His stomach was fighting back, threatening to empty its contents, which he judged by the pang of hunger from his belly, would not take long to accomplish. He wasn’t about to give in to the demands of his stomach, though. He absolutely hated to vomit, and certainly wasn’t going to in front of the vision of womanly perfection before him.
“Aarrghh,” he groaned as another wave of nausea swept over him. If only the room would stop spinning. “Mint…tea.” Yes, that is what he needed. That would settle his stomach. He tried to sit up so he could get some out of his ranger pack. Ranger pack?... That’s it! He was a King’s Ranger! His name was Marcus Christopher Blackwater.
Everything came rushing back to him so quickly his head exploded with pain. He moaned and tried to clutch his head in both hands, but one of them was being held by something – someone. He remembered the face of the slaver who had kicked him repeatedly and how they had knocked him out. He remembered Olivia coming to his rescue and the thought brought a smile to his heart, “brave Olivia” he whispered with a ghost of a smile, remembering her rushing in and then giving him a royal chewing-out. A warm hand gripped his, Olivia’s hand. Olivia! “Olivia?” he focused on her face again. He squeezed her hand, yes, she was real. Then the nausea hit again and he clamped his free hand over his mouth.
After a minute he got his stomach under control again. His body was beginning to respond to the feeble commands his brain was sending out. He released her hand and tried to set up again, slowly this time, but he didn’t get very far before collapsing back into the feather pillows. He saw his ranger pack on the floor by the wall, where he had left it. He couldn’t reach it from the bed. He reached for it, but any movement sent his head spinning even more. “My ranger pack…” he panted “Please… I need to make some tea. Hot water, is there hot water?” He looked around him and saw a pot on the hearth. It looked like it might be a coffee pot. Coffee…aaaahhhhh! That would help too, but not to settle his stomach. Yes, what he needed was tea first and then maybe coffee later on after he was feeling a bit better.
As he lay there, trying to sit all the way up, he became aware that not only his head was throbbing, but also several places in his torso, and why did he feel as weak as a newborn kitten? Surely a bump on the head wouldn’t cause all of this. He felt almost as if he had been running all night long and what was this infernal tickling feeling in the back of his throat?
Marcus inhaled and started coughing. The cough was coming from deep in his lungs. For a full two minutes he couldn’t breathe. Instead he was coughing and choking down air. His whole body shuddered with each cough. Finally he managed to clear the airways enough to get oxygen in and out, but it left him weaker than before. Never in his life had he felt this bad. Something was definitely wrong with him. He closed his eyes again and lay back and tried to muster enough strength to get out of the bed.
He opened his eyes again and this time things were in focus and the room was only listing a little to the left instead of spinning wildly. It seemed as though if he kept his head level with his body things didn’t spin quite so much. It made no difference in the throbbing pain from the cut on his scalp, though.
Marc now remembered all the events of the previous two days and berated himself for being such a fool. He’d handled everything badly. “I am such a dolt,” he managed to croak out, staring at the ceiling above him. “Please forgive my stupidity, Olivia,” he didn’t dare look at her, for fear of what he would see in her eyes. His voice was weak, barely above a whisper, just like the rest of his body. He hated the feeling. How was he ever going to make all this up to her? First they had argued and then he had run off to the docks looking for trouble – and found more than he could handle. He had made her worry for him and then come looking for him, only to find him battered and bruised with a big lump on his noggin. To top it all off he had to come down with some illness so she was playing his nursemaid, causing her more worry, and preventing her from getting the sleep she needed to recover from her own cold and cough. All of this would have been prevented if he had just stayed in the castle, and never snooped at her letter. And there it was; the elephant in the room. He wished he’d never laid eyes on that letter.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jul 9, 2015 12:54:03 GMT -5
Yet, there was something… he could feel his hand clutching something. He squeezed it and it gave slightly under his touch. ‘Has to be human’ he thought, ‘but who?’ Very carefully he forced his left eye to open… everything was bleary and he felt the world spinning again. He opened his right eye and then blinked them both several times. They were so dry he could hardly bring things into focus. There was a beautiful woman’s face looming up in his field of vision.
When he felt her squeeze her hand she gently squeezed it back. She smiled at him as he pried an eye open.
“Olivia?” he focused on her face again. He squeezed her hand, yes, she was real. Then the nausea hit again and he clamped his free hand over his mouth.
"Shh, don't try to talk, here." she walked over to the fireplace and put the kettle on so the water could boil for his tea. Then she went over to the table where there was a pitcher of water and a cup. She poured the water in the cup and brought it over to him. "Here drink this dear." She leaned over and propped his up with an arm around his shoulders.
“My ranger pack…” he panted “Please… I need to make some tea. Hot water, is there hot water?” He looked around him and saw a pot on the hearth. It looked like it might be a coffee pot. Coffee…aaaahhhhh! That would help too, but not to settle his stomach. Yes, what he needed was tea first and then maybe coffee later on after he was feeling a bit better. "I'm boiling water right now, but please just drink some water." there was a single line on her forehead the only sign of worry on her face.
Marcus inhaled and started coughing. The cough was coming from deep in his lungs. For a full two minutes he couldn’t breathe. Instead he was coughing and choking down air. His whole body shuddered with each cough. Finally he managed to clear the airways enough to get oxygen in and out, but it left him weaker than before. Never in his life had he felt this bad. Something was definitely wrong with him. He closed his eyes again and lay back and tried to muster enough strength to get out of the bed.
Olivia bit her lip as he coughed but didn't relinquish her hold on his shoulders. She put a pillow behind his back to help him sit up, that would help with his cough. That was the last time she kissed a guy.
Marc now remembered all the events of the previous two days and berated himself for being such a fool. He’d handled everything badly. “I am such a dolt,” he managed to croak out, staring at the ceiling above him. “Please forgive my stupidity, Olivia,”
She put a finger to his lips. "Hush you foolish man." she put the tin cup to his lips. "Please Marcus drink some water it will help. I promise." She tipped the cup up and let the water slip by his lips and down his throat. "Don't try to think and concentrate you might injure yourself." she chided placing the cup on the floor and gently stroking the hair back on his forehead and out of his eyes. "It's fine Marcus just forget all about it. You need to rest, you have a nasty head injury and sweated out a fever." She reached over and twisted the access water out of one of the rags and dabbed at his eyes giving them a little extra moisture. Then she dabbed at his face. "You just forget everything but sleep and rest and when you are rested enough to MY satisfaction then and only then will we talk. Until then you are not allowed to say a word.Z" She put a finger to his lips. "I mean it Marcus Backwater, not one single word." Olivia's mothering instincts had taken over. She was relieved that he was ok, a little worse for wear but ok none the less. She wished she hadn't gotten so upset at him, if she had just kept her cool then none of this would have happened. But it was no use wishing to change the past because you couldn't do such things you just had to deal with what resulted of events and make the best of it. And make the best of it she would. She let her hand rest over top of his and smiled warmly at him though he couldn't see it because his head was turned away. He really was such a numbskull wasn't he? She leaned over and gently kissed his temple then seeing that his eyes were open she moved her lips to his ear and whispered. "Just so we are clear, you are an idiot for thinking that at this point in time I actually care that you read my letter. You just better pull through this and get better cause when you are I'm gunna kiss you so hard it will make you more dizzy than you are now." she pulled back with a satisfied smile, feeling that she had finally gotten back at him for his less than gentlemanly comment about keeping her in bed.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 11, 2015 21:52:30 GMT -5
She put a finger to his lips. "Hush you foolish man." she put the tin cup to his lips. "Please Marcus drink some water it will help. I promise." She tipped the cup up and let the water slip by his lips and down his throat.
The water felt so good going down the back of his raw and parched throat. However when it hit his stomach he had to fight the urge to send it right back up. He ruthlessly fought for control of his stomach.
"Don't try to think and concentrate you might injure yourself." she chided placing the cup on the floor and gently stroking the hair back on his forehead and out of his eyes. He looked askance at her out of the corner of his eye as he leaned back into the pillows but resisted the urge to rise to her bait. Or perhaps she was serious, his head hurt badly enough that thinking did actually cause more pain, he reflected. He concentrated on how nice it was to feel her hand on his forehead. She had such a gentle touch.
"It's fine Marcus just forget all about it. You need to rest, you have a nasty head injury and sweated out a fever." She reached over and twisted the access water out of one of the rags and dabbed at his eyes giving them a little extra moisture. Then she dabbed at his face. "You just forget everything but sleep and rest and when you are rested enough to MY satisfaction then and only then will we talk. Until then you are not allowed to say a word."
The cloth felt terrific on his face. He imagined that he must look pretty awful and for a moment was embarrassed to have her seeing him in such an unkempt and vulnerable position. Then he remembered that previously she had been in exactly the same place as he was now.
“But-,” he started to reply, but she stopped him with a finger on his lips.
"I mean it Marcus Backwater, not one single word."
Had he felt better, he never would have given in so easily, but the fact was he simply didn’t have the strength to argue with her. The best he could muster was a rather feeble glare as his eyes started to droop closed, and then the room started spinning again and his stomach broke their uneasy truce and started fighting him again.
He closed his eyes and turned his head away, fearing he might vomit, but the spell subsided nearly as quickly as it came. He felt her gentle kiss on his temple and opened his eyes to make sure she was really still there and he wasn’t dreaming afterall.
Seeing he was watching her, she moved her mouth down next to his ear. He could feel her light breath on his cheek and it excited him. She whispered in his ear, "Just so we are clear, you are an idiot for thinking that at this point in time I actually care that you read my letter. You just better pull through this and get better cause when you are I'm gunna kiss you so hard it will make you more dizzy than you are now." she pulled back with a satisfied smile on her face.
He couldn’t speak. A dozen feelings were rushing through his body. He wasn’t sure if he’d heard her right and he didn’t quite know how to respond at first. His head hurt so much he couldn’t think straight anyway. The feather light touch of her breath on his ear caused an immediate reaction, but he was afraid to let her know that. Perhaps bravado and levity were the best way to respond.
Marcus lifted both hands and spread his arms open. “I am feeling better already!” he gave her what he hoped was one of his most charming smiles. Then he winked at her, one of his ‘hey baby, come hither’ winks that had worked on many a maid before. ‘well, okay, at least a couple of maids gave in, and found it attractive,’ he corrected his thoughts.
Unfortunately the effort was too much for him in his feeble condition. He couldn’t hold his arms up and the fell back to the bed while he closed his eyes again. Perhaps he wasn’t feeling better, in spite of how much he wanted to feel better so she could make good on her promise.
“Not fair…” he fought to stay awake. He felt so weak and drained of energy that it actually scared him. “I am going… to remember… you said that…” he replied and almost drifted off to sleep. He jerked awake again and opened his eyes to look up at her face and smile at her. She was so beautiful he could stare at her all day and never grow tired of her face. His stomach churned again and he winced. “mint tea” He managed to get out before he drifted back to sleep. I would really like some mint tea, he thought, not sure if he’d said that out loud or not. Then sleep fully overtook him, but this time it was a restful sleep, a healing sleep.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jul 27, 2015 13:10:45 GMT -5
“I am feeling better already!” he gave her what he hoped was one of his most charming smiles. Then he winked at her, one of his ‘hey baby, come hither’ winks
Olivia rolled her eyes to heaven, and said in mock exasperation. "Oh good gracious!" But her heart felt light. if he could could joke then surely he would be all right once he had plenty of rest.
“Not fair…” he fought to stay awake. He felt so weak and drained of energy that it actually scared him. “I am going… to remember… you said that…” he replied and almost drifted off to sleep.
"I'm sure you will dear." a gentle smile forming on her lips, she fluffed his pillows a little.
“mint tea” He managed to get out before he drifted back to sleep. I would really like some mint tea, he thought, not sure if he’d said that out loud or not. Then sleep fully overtook him, but this time it was a restful sleep, a healing sleep.
She opened her mouth to respond but closed it again when she realized he'd fallen asleep. She took hold of the blankets and pulled them up around his shoulders and tucked him in gently. She leaned over and kissed his forehead. "Sleep well Marcus, I love you." She took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before leaning back and standing. She stretched her arms over her head and her back emitted a few loud pops. She twisted her torso to the right and left and a few more pops came from her spine. She drooped her head and rolled it back and forth a couple of times. That felt much better she hadn't realized how tense she had been until now. Now that she was relaxed her eyes felt tired and her eyelids heavy. She yawned and blinked sleepily, her chest she noticed started to fill with congestion again making her breath raspy she needed sleep if she was ever going to get better. She stared a little at Marcus she didn't want to leave him in case he woke up and needed something but her tired body was something she just couldn't ignore. She gave a chesty cough and decided to go back to her room to sleep so she wouldn't disturb Marcus and so she could get the rest she needed. Luckily the door opened and the nurse came back in, he smiled kindly at her.
"You should get some rest my Lady."
She nodded and stifled another yawn. "Yes I rather agree, you will wake me if something happens?"
"Of course My Lady."
"Very good then." with one last glance at the sleeping Marucs she shuffled out of the room and into her own, she collapsed onto her bed and barely got the covers over her before falling asleep. The nurse crept quietly to her room a little while later and peeked in making sure that she was in bed and resting like she should, nodding that everything was good he went back to Marcus's room to keep an eye on his charge.
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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 27, 2015 19:09:46 GMT -5
Marcus woke a good eight hours later, as nearly as he could tell from the early morning light coming in through the window. His head was pounding like someone was slamming it into a tavern bar counter with every beat of his heart. He was glad the room was rather dim because someone had only opened the curtains on the window a few inches. When he looked directly at the bright sunshine streaming in between the mostly closed curtains, he winced in pain.
The room seemed to have stopped spinning, however, so he tried to ease up into a sitting position. "So far so good," he murmured and glanced around, trying to recall exactly why his head was splitting open. With a bit of effort it all came back and he closed his eyes for a moment, wishing he could forget most of it.
The table in the middle of the room held a tray of food with steam rising from a bowl of what smelled like oatmeal and cinnamon. Another tentative sniff and he determined the steaming mug held his coveted mint tea. Cautiously he pulled the covers back and swung his feet down to the floor. He rested there for a minute, holding the headboard and the edge of the bed until he was sure his stomach wasn't going to protest. He felt terribly weak and wobbly, but managed to launch himself across the three steps to the table and collapse in the chair. Before his stomach could start in again, he took a sip of the mint tea and sighed with releaf. He sat back and closed his eyes and just let the mint steam drift up in front of his face. Hi stomach settled immediately.
And then it started growling at him. Marcus opened his eyes and glanced around the room once more to make sure no one had heard it. The oatmeal was cooked just the way he liked it - right to the point of being soft, but not yet gooey. Someone had placed a slab of butter in the center and liberally sprinkled cinnamon all over it and there was just a tiny amount of milk around the edges. It was just like the way his mother made it. The thought made him frantically look around the room again. His mother couldn't possibly be here. She was in Araluen, not Seacliff. So who knew how to make his oatmeal just this way?
'Olivia?' he asked himself mentally. Had she been communicating with his mother? He didn't think that was very likely. The only other person he knew personally that had that exact recipe was Ranger Heather. He had given it to her for her Ranger Cookbook she was working on. He doubted she would be in Seacliff either, though. 'Oh well, I will just have to ask the cook later.' he thought.
He dug into the oatmeal like he hadn't eaten for two days. It didn't take long, however, before he felt full. He drank the rest of the tea and then reached over to the hearth from where he was sitting and poured himself a half of mug of rather burnt coffee that had been left in the pot overnight. He filled the rest of the mug with cream from the small pitcher on the tray and spooned some sugar into it. The first sip made him shudder. The coffee really had set too long, but after the third sip he was used to it.
"What I really need now is a nice hot bath," he murmured to the spider hanging from the ceiling in the corner. "And you make sure you stay right up there in your corner, Miss Spider, or we are going to have a problem." Not that he could have mustered the strength to swat at the spider if it didn't keep to their bargain. He felt weaker than a newborn babe and now that his stomach was full, he looked longingly at the bed. It seemed to be miles away, rather than just three steps. "I've gotta get back to normal soon," he told the spider, "Olivia made me a promise and I am going to hold her to it!" He chuckled and then groaned in pain as the sudden movement rattled his brain. He sat the coffee on the table and grabbed his head in both his hands, hoping it wasn't going to split in half. "And I have a score to settle with that slaver captain too," he growled, his good mood drifting away.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Aug 31, 2015 13:44:58 GMT -5
Olivia having slept very solidly, woke when the sun cam streaming onto her face from the open curtain on the window. She opened her eyes lazily and stretched yawning hugely. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. she smiled, her nose didn't feel so stuffed up today, her chest seemed to be completely clear. She was officially on the mend! Good the sooner she could get cleared for duty the better. She was itching to get back to work, she also wanted to make sure that no other couriers were missing. She wondered if she could see the baron and ask him if he had heard any news. She sighed as she got up and went to the window to look out at the beautiful world with the sun shining. She probably should wait until she was ALL better, the temptation to ask if he had any messages that needed to be delivered would probably be to strong for her to resist. Besides she reminded herself she was not the courier to this fief, the baron already had his own Courier she didn't need to go raining in one someone else's parade. Olivia put a new dress on, a simple light green one with close fitting sleeves, she rummaged around in her bag until she found her comb and set to work taming the beast that was her hair. She put to french braids in it and tied each with a red ribbon, she should go check on the horses and see how they were doing.
"But first there's someone else I need to check on and possibly chide. Again." she couldn't help but smile when she thought of her and Marcus, they were so similar in some aspects it was kind of scary. They were both quite stubborn and loved their jobs hating that they were restricted from doing them. She found a clean pair of socks and put them over her boots, choosing to go barefoot at the moment, she'd put them on when she checked on the horses. Olivia walked to the door and opened it then went across the hall to Marcus's room, her bare feet barely making a sound on the floor. She hesitated unsure if she should actually go in or not, she didn't want to wake him if he was sleeping. Or, she blushed as she thought it, if he wasn't properly clothed. Then she heard him groan.
"And I have a score to settle with that slaver captain too," he growled, his good mood drifting away.
he must be in pain. she thought, she opened his door as quietly as she could and peered around the door frame she saw him at the table and decided it would be all right if she came in all the way. She looked at him with concern, he was holding his head in his hands and she went over to him.
"Marcus? Are you all right?"
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