Charmed

Chapter Eight

Darius spent a full two days in the infirmary recovering from the attack of the polar bear, and he hated every single second of it. I spent the day at his bedside talking to him and fetching him food and water when he needed it. I knew I had a pile of chores that had to be done but for some reason I couldn't bring myself to leave his side. I had to know he was okay.

"Finally," Darius grumbled as the nurses allowed him to walk out of the infirmary with me. He was still wobbly as he walked but he could do it alone now. "I was getting so bored of seeing those walls."

"Feel sorry for me," I joked, walking slowly beside him. "I had the ability to leave and chose to stay."

Darius fake-laughed at me as I rolled my eyes. "Thank you for staying."

"Of course," I smiled.

"Darius!"

Mine and Darius' heads both turned to see Taylor charging down the hallway towards us. I knew what she was going to do before even she did, I think. I stepped in front of Darius before I could stop myself and held my hand up.

"Don't," I told her. Shock was not the right emotion to describe what happened to her face. "He can barely stand."

"I don't believe you know your place, servant," Taylor sneered.

Darius' eyes narrowed and he placed a hand on my bare shoulder. I had to refrain from shivering at the delight of the skin on skin contact. "It's fine, Taylor. What did you want?"

Taylor's face hardened even more at the tone of Darius' voice and his hand on my shoulder. "I'm glad to see you've recovered. My father wanted to see you in the council hall."

Any feelings Taylor may have had for Darius before now seemed to evaporate like steam directly before my eyes. She turned on her heel and stomped off in the direction of the council hall. After a beat and a smirk towards each other, Darius and I followed her.

I had to help him a little in the end. Even though the wound was practically healed, it was still a little swollen and painful. King Otis was waiting for us in the council hall just as Taylor said, decked in blue robes and a fur cloak. He looked like he'd aged in the past few days, although a spark of the joyous man swam through his eyes when he saw Darius up on his feet.

"Darius," Otis sighed as they hugged each other. "I'm glad you've recovered."

"As am I," Darius chuckled, glancing down at me. From the corner of my eye I spotted Taylor slouched on her throne, rolling her crown over her finger.

"I'd like to spend this morning going over the peace treaty," Otis said, suddenly all business-like, "seeing as that was what you originally came here for. But after that, I'd like you to spend the remainder of your time here as my guests. Roam the castle and the grounds. Or you are free to return to Glydale earlier than planned."

Darius bowed his head. "Thank you, your majesty."

"The pleasure is all mine," Otis said, clapping Darius on the shoulder. "Guinevere." He smiled at me and I curtseyed, returning the smile.

"Will you be okay for a few hours?" I asked as Darius and I turned into our own small bubble, blocking everything else out.

He nodded. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Discussing the peace treaty requires sitting, not standing."

I giggled. "The list of things I haven't done is piling up, so I'll leave you –"

"Hey, no, go and get some sleep." His voice sounded like an order, and I blinked. "I'm serious. You stayed in the hospital for three nights without a real bed. Go and sleep in mine and I'll come back up once we're done here."