All The Little Pieces

The Gift Of Lightning

Elizabeth stared at the ceiling and sighed loudly in bored frustration. She thought she was recovering well, until she had come back from the library to a very irritated Elora.

Elora told her she should not be climbing stairs and reading, especially having injured her head, and ordered her to rest in bed for the remainder of the day and next morning.

Elizabeth had eaten lunch and flopped down morosely on top of the coverlet, staring around the room. The room was completely silent, and even the garden outside her windows seemed hushed and sleepy. The only sound was a bee buzzing lazily about a flower. The normally pleasant afternoon air seemed stuffy and confining.

She reached toward her bedside table to pick up her cup of water, but it slipped from her fingers and crashed to the floor. At least cleaning it up was something to do. Elizabeth swung her feet over the side of the bed and padded barefoot to the bathroom to get a towel. Bending down, she began wiping up the puddle.

"Are you supposed to be out of bed?"

Elizabeth whirled at the sound of Loki's voice behind her, slipped in the water, and sat down hard on the marble floor. The sore muscles in her body clenched painfully.

She looked up at him. "Not really, but I spilled my drink, so..."

Loki shook his head reprovingly, but his lips quirked in a smile. "Lie back down. I'll take care of this." He held out his hand for the towel.

With a sigh, Elizabeth handed it to him and climbed onto the bed. She sat, tucking her legs under her. "You're much earlier than normal."

Loki glanced up from wiping the floor. "Is that bad? I thought you might like some company." He straightened. "Also, aren't you supposed to actually lie down and rest?"

"Uggghhh, fine." Elizabeth stacked several pillows behind her. "I will if you insist, but it's so dull lying here. Normally I'd read, but Elora banned me from reading until tomorrow afternoon."

Loki sat down on the edge of the bed. "Do you want to hear something? I can go grab a book and read to you, if you like."

"Sure!" Elizabeth sat up. "They should all be in the usual place by the table."

"Hold on." Loki returned a moment later with several books in hand. He chuckled. "Lie down. You're supposed to be resting." His eyes twinkled. "You know, for as smart as you are, you don't listen well at all."

"Fine." Elizabeth rolled her eyes in mock exasperation and relaxed back against the pillows. She patted the bed beside her. "Climb up here and have a seat by me. I'll give you a couple of pillows."

Loki met her eyes uncertainly. "You're sure?"

She propped herself up on her elbows. "Loki, you slept by me all last night, and apparently carried me up here and tucked me in at some point. I'm fine with you sitting next to me on the bed."

He grinned and slid off his boots, then hopped onto the bed next to her. "Fair enough. What do you want to hear first?"

"Surprise me."

Loki settled back and opened the first book. "Hail Earendel, brightest of angels above middle earth, sent unto men..."

Elizabeth smiled widely and settled back, gazing at the ceiling and letting the poetry of the words paint pictures. As Loki read, clouds began building outside and the breeze blew cool through the open windows. Elizabeth turned to look out and sat up in surprise at the sight of dark clouds replacing the usual sunny brightness. The drapes billowed inward with a sudden gust of chilly air. Loki broke off his reading and followed her gaze.