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Chapter Fifteen: Healers

“What do you mean; you don’t know what’s wrong?” Helca demanded the poor, frightened Healer’s apprentice harshly. The boy couldn’t have been a day over 250; with shoulder length white hair and dark blue tips. If he wasn’t worried about his husband, who just randomly passed out for no reason and was having strange pains, he would have commented on how exotic-y it looked. Of course, he would have found another word for ‘exotic-y’ when he spoke out loud.

“Y-your Highness,” the apprentice stuttered fearfully, scared for his life. “I-I apologize, but I’m only the apprentice! Master Elijah only said the prince isn’t doing too well,” he stopped suddenly, placing his hands over his mouth. “Oh… I wasn’t supposed to say that, was I? You’re not supposed to say that unless you know what’s wrong! I-“

“Just refrain from talking!” the angry Crown Prince yelled. “Does Elijah know what’s wrong?”

The young elf nodded unsurely. Was he allowed to talk now? “But he would not tell me,” he started unsurely. “He said if news of this got around, we would be in a lot of trouble. And by we, I think he meant the castle occupants in general…. Oh I do hope Prince Adiel is going to be okay. I never talked to him; but I thought about it because he’s so nice and I’ve never met a W-“

Before the apprentice was through, Helca pushed his way into the healing room; ignoring the other’s feeble attempts to get him to stop. “ELIJAH!!”

“Shh, shh,” the healer hushed, reprehending the other with his eyes. The elf was a very old on, though his face was still smooth and youthful you could see the years in his wise light blue eyes. “Your Highness, the Prince needs his rest. Roji, close the door- with you on the outside.” The apprentice nodded obediently and did what he was told quickly. Helca could see admiration for the old healer in his eyes. “Now, where is your father?”

“He has to deal with the rumors and the servants,” the elf said, waving his hands. “What is wrong with Adiel?” he demanded, glancing at the pale brunette sleeping in the bed.

“You said he muttered something about ‘bitter water’?” the older elf asked and received a quick nod. “I found traces of deadly plant in his blood stream. But-“he held up his hand, stopping the elf’s inflow of questions, “-Prince Adiel isn’t going to die. Something about water stops the effect of this plant. And since who ever did this mixed it in water, it only put the Prince through severe pain.”

“Only?” he growled angrily. He walked over to his husband’s bedside and began stroking his hair gently.

“It’s better than death,” the healer said. “He’ll be up and about by tomorrow. Just be grateful of the assassin’s stupidity, and don’t count on it next time. Be prepared,” he warned. “For now, though, I’ll go talk to your father. If anything seems wrong with the Prince, tell Roji and he’ll come get me right away.” Helca nodded, not taking his eyes off the Wood Elf. “Let him sleep, he needs his rest.”

When the healer left Helca kissed Adiel’s head. “I’ll find out who did this. And they will pay,” he muttered and leaned down to kiss the younger elf’s face.

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