A Knick In Time

Burn the Ice

When I wake up the next morning, I don't feel so good. As I start getting out of bed, I recognize the steely heaviness in my limbs and the foggy heat that seems to envelop my whole body. I know what this means. I have a fever.

Not sure how to handle this, I pull Tatia aside. In a quiet voice, making sure Niklaus and Haakon can't hear me, I explain to her what's wrong with me.
"What do people do about that in these times?"

With a worried expression on her face, my sister feels my forehead with her hand. "We call for the healer. Go lay down, Elena. You're sick. This could kill you."

"It probably won't. I've had fever before, I know what to do. It'll go away in a few days." I mumble.

Tatia leads me back to my sleeping place. "That was back in your time. We don't have your healing supplies here, remember that."

"Is something wrong, love?" Niklaus asks when he sees me laying down again.

His wife informs him about my illness. He seems concerned, just like Tatia. "Rest for now, Elena. Save your strength. I shall go and get the water instead of you. And while I'm at it, I'll tell Elijah about your condition."

"Elijah? Why would you..."

Niklaus smirks. "Because my brother cares for you, obviously."

I say nothing to that. Silently, I let myself smile at the thought. My sister gives me a knowing glance accompanied by a smirk.

***

Tatia follows my instructions for the fever treatment, even though she clearly isn't familiar with the methods. She tells me that Ayana will be coming over later too, because that's what she does in this village.

That's why, when we hear someone knocking on the door a while later, shortly after Niklaus returns from the quarry with the water, we expect Ayana. But as it turns out, the person at the door is not the viking Bennett witch. It's Elijah.

"How is she?" he asks, his voice sounding concerned.

I smile. "Not so bad, actually."

Turning his head, the noble Mikaelson sees me and strides over to me with long steps. He kneels down next to me. "Elena. I came as fast as I could."

"Elijah. I would've been glad to see you no matter how long it might have taken you to come." I smile at him through the feverish haze and reach out to take his hand.

Elijah takes my hand in both of his. "Oh Elena. Of course I came. I could not stay away."

"That means a lot." I whisper, "But I'm really not that ill. Just need a bit of rest."

"I knew you would say that. You are a fighter when it comes to everyone else's well-being but your own seems less important to you. Which is why I'm here. To inform you that your well-being is very much important to me. I shall do whatever I can to help you get through this." he says, his deep baritone voice smooth and pleasant to my senses.

The day goes by. Ayana pays a visit and leaves a small wooden bowl with a mixture of herbs. It's what vikings use as medicine in these times. Elijah steps out one or two times to do some chores. But otherwise, he doesn't leave my side for even a minute. I am happy with him sitting beside me holding my hand. When I walked away from him yesterday, I was a little nervous about what would happen when we'd next meet. I was worried it would be awkward, after what I said to him. But it isn't, not at all. It's nice.

When the night falls, Tatia asks Elijah to go home again. He refuses.

"Let him be." Niklaus says, taking his wife's hand. He whispers something in her ear that I can't hear. Tatia looks back and forth between Elijah and me, then exchanges a conspiratory glance with her husband. A smirk grows on both of their lips. They bid us good night and go to bring Haakon to bed before retiring to their sleeping place themselves.