Eyes of Fire

Tears of a Father

  Walking toward the bed, I held my head while feeling nauseous. My stomach wouldn't settle no matter what I tried. Had I eaten something bad? It was unlikely, but I wasn't sure.

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, I rested my elbows on my knees. My head hung from my shoulders as I closed my eyes in the hopes the room would stop spinning. Taking in slow breaths, I felt my stomach churn more and groaned. Garmr whined out of concern and licked my cheek.

  "Hel? Are you all right?" Ivar asked from the doorway. I swallowed, but when I opened my mouth to answer, I vomited on the floor. "Hel!" Ivar rushed over as I groaned again, and I held my upset stomach.

  "I think something I ate is fighting back." I grumbled, but Ivar didn't seem to appreciate my joke.

  "We've eaten the same foods, Hel." He stated, and I threw up again. "Call for a healer!" Ivar roared, and then I heard running footsteps from the next room. He looked terrified and as if he didn't know what to do. "Garmr, move." He waved the animal back, and Garmr obeyed.

~

  The healer had me sipping on some hot broth as Ivar stood close by. He still looked scared while having one hand on his hip and the other over his mouth.

  "Well? What's wrong with her?"

  "The Queen will be fine." The healer stated while sitting back to look at Ivar. "But she will need some rest." She then turned to me with a gentle smile. "I will be back later to check on you."

  "You didn't answer me. What's wrong with Hel?"

  "I'm not yet certain, but she has no fever which is a good sign. I will need to do a few tests." Ivar opened his mouth to no doubt say something unwarranted, so I cut in.

  "Ivar, let the woman do her job. I'm already starting to feel less nauseous." I drank some more broth, and the healer began to gather her supplies.

  "But-"

  "She can't tell you what's wrong without knowing the answer herself. And yelling at her won't do you any good." I gave him a look, and when the healer moved away from the bed, Ivar got closer. I nodded to the healer, and she nodded back before leaving. She knew this was her chance to get out while Ivar was distracted.

  "You were fine, and then you suddenly came rushing into here." Ivar waved his hand as he sat down, and I gently grabbed his arm.

  "It's going to be okay. It could be that I just drank too much." I knew that wasn't true, but I hoped it would help Ivar relax. He was more frightened than I'd ever seen him, and he was the man who had stared down a rain of arrows without flinching.

  "But what if you were poisoned?"

  "Then I wouldn't be feeling better, now, would I?" I raised my eyebrows at him. He hesitated before seeming to calm down a bit. "Come." I set the broth down before scooting over. Lifting the blanket, I gestured for him to lie next to me.

  Ivar crawled beneath the blanket while pulling his legs after him, and I held him close as his head rested on my chest. His grip on the back of my shirt was tight, and I softly sighed through my nose.

  "Just listen to my heart beating, Ivar. I'm okay." I muttered while closing my eyes. He held me even closer, and I kissed the top of his head.

  He said nothing else as we just laid there. Perhaps that was for the better to not agitate his fears even further. Closing my eyes, I tried to relax and get the rest the healer had wanted me to.

~

  As I dreamed, I saw my father. It was dark wherever he was with only a torch lighting his face. He looked haggard with a long beard as he wailed without making a sound. I could see the pain in his eyes and the tears streaming down his cheeks.