A King's Love

7

"You highness," he heard as he groaned from his bed. Trying his best to wake up he didn't have the strength as he fell off the bed. His nightwear soaked with sweat as he crawled towards the door. Supporting himself against the door he struggled unlocking the door as his vision blurred.

"Sire the cooks apprentice is no mo...," John stopped talking as Munyaradzi hit the ground falling unconscious.
Sending one of the guards to fetch Gareth he was assisted by another to ensure their ruler was in bed by the time they arrived.

"What did he eat!" Gareth stated looking worried for by the time he arrived the man was drenched in sweat, uttering gibberish and completely burning up. Carefully examining him even a fool could tell he had been poisoned.

"The signs point to a rare poison. A very potent herb found only in the deepest parts of the forbidden forest," he murmured.
Gareth was not the normal physician everyone believed him to be but a skilled herbalist. Though they lived in modern times they still clung onto the old ways. Tradition was tradition.
"Bring me hot water now," he spat as he got to work mixing the roots and herbs he had
"He last had a sample of the girls porridge."
"You said the other boy is dead. Send men for the cook and the girl!" He said in a voice laced with utter fear.

Two men breathlessly arrived at the room entrance stating his fears before the other men left. Gareth greatly feared for the girl in her weak state the drug could work faster. The cook could be replaced, but not the girl. He knew the king would have his head if anything happened to her. Preparing more of the concoction he helped the king drink some before he left for the girl.
It seemed she was experiencing different side effects as she looked frightened clearly from hallucinations. Perspiration drenched her skin, her breathing was rapid and if not for her already weakened state she would have run away from whoever or whatever she was facing in her mind.

Slowly sinking into slumber after taking the herbs Gareth went to see about the cook but found him outside, dead.
"What happened!"
"We tried to stop him but he jumped out through the window," one of the servants said as he looked up the building that was the man's staff quarters.

Silence fell upon the house as they waited for their kings' recovery.

-----

"How are you feeling my king?" He heard making him open his eyes to find his wife sitting beside him.
"What are you doing here? Who gave you permission to enter this room!" He said quickly moving away from her.
"I gave myself permission after hearing of your illness."
"I told you Edith. Keep an eye on that girl, now look he almost killed my son," his mother said storming into his room.
"Both of you must leave, I need to get dressed," he said ignoring the words they had expressed earlier.

Both women did not yield his warming as he pulled the sheet down his torso before they finally reacted the way he expected.
Once the door closed he let out a long sigh as he got off the bed removing his pants as he proceeded to the bathroom. He still felt weak but chose to push his body setting his weakness aside.

After bathing and dressing he decided to take a stroll out in the gardens in order to relax enjoying the cool night air but was stopped by a shrill cry in the silence of the night. The guards stood on high alert as several moved towards the direction of the noise whilst others moved closer to him to protect him if any harm came his way.

"What are you doing here go find out what is the matter?" He growled at the men near him.
He continued to walk reaching the gazebo only to stop when the same cry from earlier broke the silence.
"What is going on?" He asked angrily as he started making his way to where the fuss was originating from.