Pharaoh's First Love

page 22

She waited until she heard it all before stepping over the large cat and taking a seat. Her finger pressed at her lips while she tried to think of some place or something. But she was sure Helm was known. She nodded. "Thank you ..." but it still weighed heavy. He promised to be back by now. The letters had already stopped a month ago. She had yet to pull from him. Her daze in the distance even though she watched her lap.
Jin and Yun were eating and waiting on her to return.
"Is... that all you wanted to tell me?" She dared ask.
“No, there is more, but I figured I would not beat around the bush as it concerns your brother. I know my words do not comfort you, but I would have rather led with this rather than for the last thing we discuss to be something so worrisome.” He said, his fingers lightly brushing against her inner wrist, lingering for a moment before he removed his hand.
“I won’t keep you too long, but all the same I did want to thank you for your suggestion. The room looks much brighter and more inviting in my eyes with these flowers you had chosen. And for that I had wanted to give you a token of my appreciation. I made you a couple things. Whereas you are skilled in song and probably more I too have an artform… besides my techniques in bed.” He reached forward and took one of the three wrapped gifts and picked it up to place within her lap. Of course, he fashioned these to not be too obvious… simply glass trinkets he thought she might find to be pretty.
"Was the bracelet not enough of a gift?" She questions with a heavy sigh. Why was he giving her gifts anyway? Bringing her brother home would be the best gift to give her period.
"Can’t you just give it to your...concubines? I’m sure whatever it is they would have more use for it..." she continued as she opened the box and looked inside.
Confused but sure she knew the shape of this. "You...offer me a glass replica of a tentacle? For a paper weight?"

She asked confused. Preying that that is really what it was, and it wasn’t any sick perversion he decided to tease her with.
But before he could break the silence to reply two generals rushed would in with news. "Pharaoh! Please! We have just received word! The body of a white-haired male has been recovered on the outskirts of the area! They are bringing him to the medical building. It doesn’t look good. It’s like someone beat him pretty bad. He might not live." The two huffed in exhaustion from running. By the time the realized Shelyn was there it was too late.
Shelyn dropped the glass figure to the floor. Nearly shattering it before she would rush out in a hurry. It had to be Helm.
Well Calion wasn’t entirely dissatisfied with her reaction, at least she believed it to be a replica of something other than what it’s true purpose was. He was about to spin a lie of how sea creatures, especially that of the octopus were very highly regarded. Rare creatures with fabled intelligence. That being said most sea creatures were highly regarded due to the fact water was typically scarce in large quantities. Nevertheless, he didn’t get a chance before they were interrupted with grievous news.
With no time to lose Calion invited himself and followed along with Shelyn and the generals as they were led to the medical building. It should have gone without saying but if the country’s top medicine men were not already present, he would send immediately for them.
He thought it only fair that Shelyn be able to see her own brother although he would insist she leave if she got too excited, after all the doctors would need to be able to do their job, but for now the Pharaoh entered the room curious and concerned as to how badly damaged Helm had become and to try and figure out what exactly had happened to the man.
No surprise Shelyn had to fight and struggle just to get into the room. But even being denied was enough to be positive her parents were there and that was Helm on the table.
She begged to be let in. Even as tears started falling all she cried was for him.
His long white hair that rivalled fresh snow, was red and stained. A look upon his face of agony even though he was unconscious. Her heart wept.
Her parents worked tirelessly to reset legs and neck. Even fingers. Wrapping his body and head. Refusing to see their son as their son and only as a valued soldier.
All Shelyn could do was cry from the entry way even when her father demanded she return home. She couldn’t leave. She would grow roots if she had to.
Calion remained quiet for some time, his eyes downcast at what was a terribly emotional moment for her and her family, but upon her being told several more times she should leave he finally rested a hand on her shoulder and leaned in. “I know you think you owe it to him to stay here and see this through. That you feel like you’re abandoning him now if you leave. You don’t need to respond to me, but just listen for a moment and take in this perspective. Your parents right now are trying all they can to save the life of their /son/. They are likely hurting as much or more than you are right now, and your very presence… the saddened look upon your face only reminds them all the more how badly hurt he is. They’re likely on the edge of weeping themselves, but they’re trying not to. To cry… to become blurry eyed or not think clearly because of the sadness. They don’t want to think about that right now because they want to give him the care he needs and not give him something less because they have tears in their eyes. I’m asking you Shelyn, come for a walk with me. We won’t go far, if something happens someone will shout to us, just…. Give your parents a bit of space to work in peace. If everyone begins weeping, then his chances lower. Don’t think of this as abandoning him, think of it as helping him because in truth you’d be helping his doctors, your parents.”