Chapter 10

Shirayuki finished applying the medicine on her arms and then she left to go to her workplace. She talked mostly about the city and herself in consideration of Althea's condition. Althea appreciates the gesture.

The physicians arrived a little later. The older doctor, Doctor Thorace, is expressing unusual glee upon seeing her fully awake. The younger one, Doctor Vacus, remained frozen at the side of the bed, gaping at her.

"Uhm, is something wrong?" Althea asked them.

"No, no. There's nothing wrong. I am just happy that I prescribed a scar-removing cream on you. A beautiful lady like you should not have scars."

The compliment fell into deaf ears. She knows how the war affected her physically and the word beautiful couldn't possibly apply to her anymore. She just smiled at them.

"Well, let's start the check-up." Doctor Thorace said.

The doctors carefully started removing the bandage around her neck. Doctor Thorace was talking about how deadly the wound was and it could have killed her had not it dried up and prevented the blood loss. He surmised about how it closed up like that. He also mentioned the bruise on her face which he was assuming came from a fist. He was trying to pry out some information how she could have gotten it but Althea decided that it's easier to feign ignorance.

"I'm sorry Doctor, I really couldn't remember what happened." Althea said.

"Don't fret about it, it's not like its important right now." Doctor Vacus assured her.

"It's alright if you can't tell us about it." Doctor Thorace said. "What I'm curious about though, and this is a valid concern as a doctor, is the thing your body is wearing here…"

He pointed at the middle of her torso.

"Doctor Thorace!" Doctor Vacus gasped.

Althea put her hand on the stone. It was covered by her blouse, but they all knew it was there. Touching it was somehow reassuring. Althea smiled at Doctor Thorace.

"That is what I can't tell you, Doctor, but rest assured, as your patient, I can say that it's not killing me. On the contrary, its actually keeping me alive."

"Okay, but may you answer this question?"

Althea nodded.

"Is it poison?"

Althea looked at the curious doctor and figured it wouldn't hurt to answer.

"Yes, its poison."

Doctor Thorace chuckled. Doctor Vacus gasped again.

The doctors are in the middle of applying the ointment around her neck wound, when another person showed up in the room. This time, it was a beautiful woman. She was accompanied by a maid. She has a light- blonde hair that she keeps in a low bun. She was obviously the Lady of the House.

"I greet you, Lady Scholar, in behalf of the Arleon House. My name is Haki Arleon."

If there's an epitome of grace and dignity, then Althea thought it's the woman in front of her.

"I apologize for my current state, Lady Arleon. I wish I could greet you properly, but I'm afraid I couldn't trust my knees yet. My name is Althea Fanell. I would also like to express my gratitude in saving and nursing me."

"It's His Majesty, with his knights, that found you at the foot of the mountain. You should thank him later when he arrives." She said. The familiarity with the way she speaks about him struck Althea for a second.

Instead of answering though, Althea smiled. She's not ready in seeing him or talking to him yet.

"How are your injuries?" Lady Arleon asked.

Althea looked at Doctor Thorace to explain her condition to Lady Arleon. Overall, she had completely recovered. All she needed to do was to get her energy back by eating nutritious foods.

"Can I ask what happened? Those wounds are not simple injuries." Lady Arleon said.

"I'm sorry. All I could remember is a big bright light enveloping me." Althea lied. It was actually the last thing she remember.

"Is that the only thing you can't remember?"

"I'm not sure my Lady, my memories right now are fuzzy especially about what happened to me. I'm sorry." An inconvenient lie. She wondered if she caught it.

"Oh, you don't need to apologize! There's no rush. His Majesty told us that you are a Scholar and a personal friend and I just wanted to tell you that you can stay in our city however long you like. We have an academy and during your recuperation, perhaps you will somehow enjoy your stay here."

"I appreciate your kindness very much."

They made small talks. Althea found out that Lady Arleon has a brother, Lord Makiri Arleon, who is actually the one in charge with the city. He was with King Izana when he found her. Lady Arleon also explained that Lilias is a city situated in a mountain pass which acts as one of the two major checkpoints in northern Kingdom of Clarines. The town hosts the kingdom's most famous research facilities and scholars. She's actually the head of the academy and another scholar is very welcome. Althea was grateful for the hospitality.

Lady Arleon left a little later followed by the Doctors.

…

Day turned into night, and three days of being comatose deprive Althea of sleep. She started to walk around the room. It was a strange thing that she slept only for three days, yet it felt like months. Her knees were weak. Her body was aching. It seems that all the fatigue she endured for the past months finally manifested itself except its several times worse.

She was about to reach the balcony when the door opened. She turned and saw him. She realized nothing could prepare seeing him in the flesh. It sent waves of longing she couldn't explain well. He still wears his hair in a pony tail, albeit shorter. His eyes still sport the intelligence and sharpness she was familiar with, but it was much more intense now. These are little changes, but changes nonetheless. Althea wondered if something more fundamental changed. After all they knew each other only for a short period of time. When she left, she was sure he will move forward. She, alone, would hold a torch to that something that never happen for the rest of her life.

The next thing she knew, he was embracing her.

The act told her nothing changed. The understanding overwhelmed her. She did not realize how she truly wanted to see him until this moment. Tears started welling up her eyes, she looked down before he could see it.

Without saying anything, he carried her to the bed and let her sit at the edge. Althea still refused to see him.

Crouching down, he took her hands, turning it upside down, inspecting every little corner. He started touching several deep wounds on her arms. Still without speaking, he took her cheeks with both hands and made her look up to him. Althea's eyes were blurry with tears but he didn't make any comment. Instead, he started caressing the bruise below her left eye where Althea remembered Moria struck her. And then his eyes lingered on the wound on her neck.

He took a breath and laid his head on her shoulders. It was all the actions that made it intimate. They stayed like that for a minute. The time allowed Althea to have control over her feelings.

"You cut your hair." Izana said, still his head on her shoulders.

For the first time in a long time, Althea let out a chuckle. "Is that really the words you're going to tell me after a long time, Your Majesty?"

She could tell he let out a smile.

"I did. Long hair isn't really ideal when fighting." She said

"Five months is a long time."

"It is."

"You said I could never see you again."

"I did."

"You went through a lot."

"I did." Her voiced cracked.

This time he looked at her.

"I'm just so glad you are alive." Relief and pain crossed his face. He was usually not this expressive. She knew he was as vulnerable as she is at this moment. Maybe, it's the only time and place they were allowed to be vulnerable. It's always a wonder how they both understood it, how they can show each other what they felt and not worry. The emotions he showed affected Althea more than it should. She bit her lower lip.

"It's so hard…" She choked.

"You fought hard."

"I did." Tears fell like a waterfall. The memories of the war flooded her again.

"You did your best."

"It wasn't enough." She started sobbing. Izana pulled her to another embrace. She put her arms around him like he is her lifeline.

"I still failed. My feelings to protect my people wasn't enough. It's so hard." Althea cried her eyes out. Everything was pouring out of her. "I saw them die. I heard their scream. I couldn't save them. I thought I could but I couldn't... He took everything from me. I got so angry. The rage I felt was maddening, it scared me. And I fought. I had to. I have to be strong. But it seems to be endless. Every single day I fought and fought… And then I got so tired. I couldn't do anything anymore. I don't know what to do anymore."

"It hurts so much… it's destroying every part of me."

…

She cried herself to sleep.

Izana carefully laid her to bed. She was so thin and frail, broken even, unlike the woman he met five months ago. He couldn't imagine what she's been through but he can feel the pain she's in. As a King, he's probably the only one who could empathize with her right now. Its destroying him as much as its destroying her. Every word that she told him carried a weight he knew she will carry for the rest of her life. Her eyes showed the pride and strength befitting of a queen but it was slowly fading.

Looking at her, he felt the compulsion to make her happy. Not because some old man told him to, but because he wanted to. He needed to.

The problem is would she allow him?

She refused to ask for help. For some reason, she's set to not ask him for help. Giving aid to the Kingdom of Florin isn't impossible now that the criminals are terrorizing every country.

Would she allow herself to be his responsibility?

Izana thought of possibilities how he could help Althea but he decided to fixed his end first. Her willingness will not matter if, on his part, he couldn't act freely.

Izana sighed.

And it will be very difficult.

He remained by her side for another hour before he retired to his quarters.