One Warm Winter V.2

Kallias- Part 1

I wrapped my arms around Viviane's heaving body, her silk nightgown rubbing against my bare chest. Silent tears flowed down our faces, melting together as we sat on the cold bathroom floor, the night's darkness wrapped around us. Viviane's hand clenched in mine, the other clutching the paper that the nurse, Naime, had given us. She sobbed against my neck, crumpling the leaflet of paper.

"I-I'm s-sorry Kallias. I-I can't bear your child-" another heavy sob cut off her words. "This-This is the third time the I got n-negative. I'm infertile...I-I just can't seem to get pregnant." I squeezed her tighter, tears still shining in my eyes. I ran my fingers through Viv's long hair.

"Shhhh. It's okay, it's not your fault, it's not your fault. Hope is not lost. Naime said we still had a 2% percent chance of conceiving naturally. It may not be much, but hope is still there. We can try again tomorrow, any time." She quieted slightly at my words, but once again burst into sobs. Her small figure rattled with every heave as I carried her to our bed, our tears sharing the same pain, the same loss. I laid her down, tucking her under the thick down quilt. I lay down next to her, folding her shaking body into my arms as I whispered the same sentence over and over again. "It's going to be okay, it's not your fault. It's going to be okay, it's not your fault..." Her sobs slowly faded away, replaced by shaky breaths as Viv slowly surrendered to the call of sleep.

I sat at my desk, the large room seemingly devoid of life. Leaning forward against the cold wood, I signed a contract, purchasing a large piece of land in western Rosalyn with a modest mansion. My mind wandered off. A beautiful, peaceful home for our future children, the laughter and chatter of small voices floating around our home...a burst of longing reverberated through me. My mind shot to Viviane's heartbroken face, the hollow echo of her sobs. I stood up. I couldn't concentrate. I hadn't slept last night, opting to hold and comfort Viv's shattered figure, but I missed her more. I strode to the heavy door, pushing it open. The whole world outside seemed bustling and full of life, but I was oblivious to all of it. Servants and nobles moved through the hallways, waving and greeting me, smiles bright on their faces. I forced my lips into a slight curve, nodding halfheartedly. I pulled aside Willa, Viviane's companion and maid.

"Do you know where my love is?" She nodded, pointing to the gardens. My brow wrinkled in concern. The garden, though bathed in sunlight, was covered in intricate patterns of deep snow and ice. I thanked her quickly, slung on a coat, and hurried to the snow-covered gardens.

Viviane was seated on a stone bench, legs covered up to mid-shin with snow. She was crafting a small figure of translucent blue ice. Her platinum hair was swept up into a crown, studded with yellow topaz, like rays of sun burning through smoggy mist. I sprinted over to her, immediately taking her cold, pink-tinged face in my hands, our lips meeting gently. Placing a kiss on her warm forehead, I noticed she wasn't wearing a coat. I immediately wrapped my coat around her. She was wearing a sleeveless dress, no coat in sight.

"Love, where's your coat? You'll catch a cold!" Viviane leaned forward and kissed my cheek.

"It's okay Kal. I was going to go in in a second." Resting her head on my shoulder, I could see that her deep blue eyes were swollen and red, dark bags hanging below them. Her eyelashes were frosted with snow and frost. Taking her hand, I was shocked at how frigid it was. Concern immediately creased my brow. Her fingertips were pink, nails a pale purple.

"Viv, how long have you been out here. Without a coat." I sternly demanded, eyes steely on hers. Viv gazed up into my eyes, one hand still laid over her stomach.

"For two hours. Ever since I woke up. I was only going to step out for a few seconds to admire the ice crystals, but my mind wandered off," she whispered, squeezing my hand, eyes pleading. "Kal, please don't be mad, I didn't know that I was out here that long!" I sighed, worry still eating at my nerves as I hurriedly pulled off my shirt and scarf. I swept up Viv's shivering body in my arms, bundling her as tight as I could, wrapping the woolen garment around her long neck. I quickly discarded her soaked boots and tucked her ice-cold feet into my shirt. She burrowed deeper into me, as if searching for warmth. I kissed her forehead, pressing her frigid, shivering body closer to mine. Viv's eyes slowly closed, her breathing shallow. I winnowed into our room, duties abandoned. As I set her down on the bed, her eyelids floated open, revealing her gorgeous blue-marbled eyes. Flecked with gold, the were shining with tears.

"I love you more than anything, Kal. I wanted you to know that."

"I know, love. I love you too." Her eyes drifted closed once again. As I pulled off her icy dress, my hand brushed her forehead, fingers still grappling with the heavy, waterlogged dress. It was burning, hot like a cast-iron on a stove with fever. I drew a shaky breath, panic, worry and concern shooting through my veins. I needed to stay calm.

"Willa! Call Naime immediately! Viviane is-" I didn't get to finish my sentence as Naime burst in, flanked by two attendants and Willa. Without glancing in my direction, she clunked down her bag, pulling out a thermometer. I stood up from the bed, rushing to Naime with questions bursting out of me.

"Will she be okay?"

"It's too early to tell."

"When will she wake up?'

"I don't know."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Stop bothering me for the sake of your mate. And put a shirt on, dear Mother." She turned back to Viviane, focused. The attendants circled around my mate, who was tossing, the fever consuming her, her soft cries the evidence of the unconscious pain she was in. Her condition plummeted quickly, as sudden as a spring rainstorm. I fought the urge to rush up to her side. No. The attendants needed room to work, space to help Viviane. I dropped to my knees, shaking hands clasped. Great Mother, let my mate pass through this. Let her make it through. She is my heart and soul, I would gladly sacrifice myself. Just, please. Save her. Please. I will give you anything. Anything in this vast universe, I will sacrifice to you. I'm begging. Please. I was jolted out of my pleading by a tug on my shoulder.

"High Lord, we have a report." I took a deep breath, glancing towards our bed. Viviane lay asleep, face ashen, hair brushed into a neat braid. Sweat trickled down my mate's burning forehead, breath coming in shallow pants between her jewel-colored lips. My beautiful wife, my love and life filled mate, so near to the gates of the Mother- tears threatened behind my eyelids, filled me with undying anxiety, the need to be with her. An attendant, a young man with deep brown hair, pulled me up to my feet. "Lady Viviane-is in a critical condition. She has the strong symptoms of Thyroid. It's a type of fever, that strips the immune system, leaving the body undefended. While it is not contagious-"

"Will Viv be okay." My voice came out steely, cracking slightly at the end.

"Sir, If I'm being honest, one out of twenty people ever make it out of Thyroid alive. I'm sorry."I felt at that moment, my whole body caving in, giving up. One out of twenty. One out of twenty. Five percent. The attendant, glancing at me, quickly continued. "That doesn't mean Lady Viviane won't survive. She is a strong woman. This strain of Thyroid takes weeks to develop, leading to a quick plummet in health. It usually starts with headaches, vomiting, lethargy, the symptoms of a common cold." Fuck. I cursed myself, head in my hands. Viv's constant headaches in these last three weeks. The vomiting every night. The tiredness that we thought was due to dehydration. If only I had known, if only I had called a doctor, if only I could protect my mate from this pain, this torture- Vivi cried out, whimpering as an attendant rushed forward, the bright glow of healing magic balling up in her hands. I kneeled by the bed, no one stopping me. I picked up her hand, so fragile, so weak, frigid despite her scorching fever. I squeezed her hand lightly, caressing her fingers with my thumb.