Page 39 of Bloom
Jaime slept fitfully on the couch that night and kept getting up to check on Aleric. Lord Monet had pulled in the otherarmchair, and with the one in the corner, he’d made himself a bed by the window. It didn’t look very comfortable since he was half sitting up against the decorative pillows he’d borrowed, and armchairs don’t make good beds to start with.
Aleric looked worse in Jaime’s opinion. He kept that to himself since no one seemed to have any new concerns. Lord Monet fell asleep around midnight. By one, Aleric was still asleep and quite pale. Shouldn’t his color be a little better? Olivier hadn’t seemed to think Aleric was in true danger. Medicine and rest would help. Jaime told himself he was worrying too much because he didn’t know shit about how to deal with the aftermath of a serious injury when so much blood was lost.
Around three, Lord Monet was snoring gently, and Aleric seemed partly awake when Jaime shuffled in to check on him again. In the dim light of the lantern, he caught the sheen of sweat on Aleric’s forehead. His lips moved slightly, and fear flashed in his eyes as Jaime came around the bed.
“What?” Jaime whispered so as to not bother Lord Monet. “Are you too hot?” The blanket was pulled up to his neck, and Jaime tugged it down just a little to give him some air, but not enough to chill him.
Aleric didn’t say anything, and it was hard to tell if he was truly seeing Jaime. What if something else was wrong?
Jaime crouched and brought his face closer. “Do you want me to get the physician?”
Aleric’s eyes stared ahead for several seconds before his lips moved again. Jaime was pretty sure he meant to say no.
“Do you want me to get Olivier?” Jaime asked again.
He heard it that time. The faint “no.”
“Do you want me to help you drink some water? I think you should.”
“No.”
Jaime bit his tongue. Some people grew cranky as fuck when they were ill or injured. His earlier refusal of medicine and now water was likely because of his condition, and the sedative had to be making him feel out of it. He’d also been through something quite terrifying. If Jaime forced him, he’d end up more stressed and angry. In a few hours, he’d hopefully be a little better and ready to have a drink. More sleep might do him good, and he could have a small meal in the morning.
Jaime hunched down by the side of the bed and slipped a hand underneath the blanket. It was a bit forward, but he remembered someone holding his hand after…he didn’t want to think about that. It had helped even though it had been quite furry and unusual to him.
He found Aleric’s limp hand to hold. Even pricks need comfort once in a while. He could pretend it never happened later, and if he wanted to yell at Jaime…whatever. Aleric didn’t move as Jaime rested his head on the mattress, although he intended to stay awake and ask again in a few minutes if Aleric would drink water.
Chapter Nine
He snapped awake and jerked his head up. Why was Aleric’s breathing so fast? The curtains were drawn shut across the window, and the faint glow around their edges said morning had barely arrived.
“Aleric?” Jaime pulled his hand from Aleric’s hot one and stiffly stood to tap the crystal lantern brighter.
Aleric was sweating and deathly pale with a faint pinkish tint to his skin.
“Father?” He didn’t open his eyes, and he sounded weaker and far worse than yesterday.
Jaime touched his forehead to find him burning hot. “Lord Monet!” He practically tripped as he rushed around the bed.
“Eh?” Lord Monet lifted his head and jerked when Jaime grabbed his arm. “What?”
“Aleric’s worse.”
Lord Monet grunted as he threw off the blanket and reached for his cane. “Son?”
“I’ll get Olivier.”
Thankfully, Jaime remembered where his rooms were, and it didn’t take much pounding before the door opened to reveal the physician in his sleep clothes.
“Aleric looks fevered, he’s gasping, and he’s really pale, and his breathing is fast,” Jaime babbled in a rush. “I woke up, and he's worse!”
“Fuck. He might have an infection.” Olivier left his door open as he turned away.
“You healed him! That prevents infection.”
“Usually, but not always. Have you ever been seriously injured?”
“Er, no, but-”
