Episode 177 Try Not to Look Too Happy
Try Not to Look Too Happy
Tharios opens his mouth to explain to Grandmera everything that led to Viala being unconscious while Rafelis pursues the elf responsible, but the sound of people running in the corridor reaches him, and he flies to the door.
Mother and Father rush from one direction, and Rominy hurries from the other with Elowyn in his arms as Jonas and Taliel surround them both.
“What’s wrong with her?” Cerian asks before Tharios can find his tongue.
“Her water magic,” Rominy says. “She used it to help Rafelis cross the river.”
“Bring her in here,” Tharios says as he opens the door next to Viala’s.
“I’m fine,” Elowyn rasps. “Just a little thirsty. You’re all overreacting.”
Tharios presses his hand to her forehead as Rominy lowers her to the bed. “You’re dehydrated. Let’s get some fluids in you.”
“I just need to drink something,” Elowyn insists.
“Just do what he tells you, love,” Rominy says, and she huffs before nodding.
“Why is it always you?” Father asks as he ruffles Elowyn’s hair.
“It was Tharios last time!”
Tharios smiles at that, and Father laughs.
When Tharios steps toward Elowyn with a needle, she scrambles back on the bed.
“No. No more needles.”
“It’s just to access your vein. Nothing more. I’m not in the habit of mending patients like a tailor mends clothes.”
She shakes her head.
“Elowyn—”
“I said no!”
Rominy looks up at Tharios. “Can we do this another way?”
Tharios breathes out slowly. “I’ll see if we have a water wielder on duty.”
“I’ll do it,” Mother says.
With a grateful nod, Tharios reaches for the privacy curtain around Elowyn’s bed. Then he finds the fluid patches, pressing one to Elowyn’s abdomen near her navel before handing Mother the hydrating solution to soak through the patch into the capillaries within Elowyn’s skin.
“Thank you,” Elowyn says softly to Mother.
“Of course, my darling,” Mother says. “Just relax.”
“Oh, that’s salty.” Elowyn makes a face.
“It’s from the patch,” Tharios says. “It should pass quickly.”
“While they do that, fill us in,” Father says. “The messengers you sent said Rafelis is tracking someone west of the river and that we were needed here. I sent Corivos with warriors to help Rafelis.”
With Rominy and Taliel adding their accounts to the story, Tharios quickly catches everyone up, though he leaves out the part about Viala being pregnant. Grandmera keeps his secret, as he knew she would.
“But Viala is all right?” Father asks.
“Yes. I should check on her again. Are you all right here?” Tharios asks Mother.
“We’re fine. Go.”
Tharios squeezes past everyone gathered in the small room and the corridor. Father must have brought a band of warriors with him. Hopefully, they don’t alarm any other patients.
When Tharios slips back through Viala’s door, she still slumbers. He lowers himself to the edge of the bed beside her and grasps her hand.
She moans lightly at the touch. She must be coming out of it.
“Hey, faerie,” he says softly.
“Tharios?”
“I’m here.”
“My eyes...so heavy.”
“It’s all right. It will pass soon.”
“What...what—”
“What happened? Valethan induced a magic sleep in you so I couldn’t chase after him. Taliel believes she incapacitated him. Rafelis probably has him in custody by now.”
Viala nods. “Good.”
Soon, her eyes blink open, and Tharios leans closer to brush back her blonde hair.
“Have I told you lately how much I adore those blue eyes of yours?” he asks. “And your golden hair and rounded ears.”
A weak smile fills her at his words. “What about the rest of me?”
“You know exactly how I feel about the rest of you.” He lies on the bed and draws her close as he finds her lips in a tender kiss.
“Your kisses are more tentative than usual, elf prince.”
“Are they?” He wraps his arm around her and gently tucks her against his side, where she fits so perfectly.
“You said I’m all right. Yet you hold me as if you fear you might break me.”
He laughs. How many fathers-to-be has he assured that they needn’t treat their binding partners like they’re made of glass? Yet here he is, doing the same. He can’t seem to help it.
“Perhaps it isn’t you I fear breaking,” he whispers near her ear.
Her brows wrinkle as she considers his words. “My head may be too muddled for this conversation, elf prince.”
He runs a finger along her ear. “Perhaps you can answer a simple question for me instead. Are you hoping for rounded ears or pointed ears? I believe I’d prefer sweet little rounded ears with the tiniest of points right at the tips.
A little of you and a little of me in a whole new person entirely their own. ”
Viala goes still in his arms. Then she turns to face him with wide eyes. “Are you trying to tell me that...that—”
“That what?” He offers her a look of feigned confusion.
“Tharios!”
He breaks into a smile. “Yes. Yes, I’m trying to tell you that—” A knock interrupts him, and he groans. “Come in!”
Perhaps he should have gotten off the bed first. The door opens before he can move, but it’s just Father, and Tharios relaxes again.
“I hope you don’t do this with all your patients,” Father says with a teasing glint in his eyes as he gestures to Tharios on the bed.
“Very funny.”
Viala looks dazed. That was poor timing.
“I wanted to check on you and let you know Rafelis apprehended Valethan,” Father says. “He’s under heavy guard at the barracks on charges of aiding a fugitive, misuse of healing abilities, and assault. So far, he’s refused to cooperate.”
Tharios sighs.
“He also needs a healer. Taliel’s arrow pierced his leg, and he’s in too rough of shape to manage for himself.”
Tharios looks from Father to Viala and back again. “If you’re asking me to—”
“No. I’m sure you’d rather strangle him than heal him. I’ll send Healer Cadowyn.”
Tharios nods as relief fills him. He’d do it if he had to. It’s the oath he took as a healer. But it would be better if someone else did it.
“And how are you?” Father asks Viala.
“I believe I’m well, though Tharios was about to give me a more thorough assessment of my health.”
“Is that what you’re calling it?” Father grins as he glances away. “Perhaps I should leave you to your assessment, Healer Tharios.”
Tharios rolls his eyes. “We were talking.”
Mostly.
Father turns serious again. “Are you certain you’re both all right? You’ve been through a lot the past few days.”
“I think perhaps we might take some time to ourselves tonight,” Tharios says as he kisses Viala’s hair. “Process everything that’s happened this week.”
Especially everything that happened today.
Father nods. “It would be good for us all to rest and refocus before we face whatever awaits us in Celesta. I’ve sent for Nebula to carry you home whenever you’re ready.”
“A carriage might be better,” Tharios says.
“Don’t be ridiculous, elf prince,” Viala says. “I can ride.”
Tharios stares at her, and she meets his gaze head-on.
Then she shakes her head. “Don’t you dare turn into one of those—”
“Oh, you know exactly how I’m going to be.”
Her eyes narrow. “Yes. That’s what I’m afraid of. You remember I have to ride to Celesta, right?”
“Perhaps we should stay here.”
“You are beyond ridiculous. Are you planning to wrap me in your air currents to protect me for the next nine months?”
“That can be arranged.”
“This is a fascinating conversation,” Father says as he crosses his arms. “It reminds me of a similar conversation your mother and I had, Tharios. That must have been, oh, about thirty-three years ago now? Do you have something to tell me?”
When Tharios looks up again, Father’s trying not to smile and failing horribly.
Tharios grabs the pillow from under his head and covers his face. So much for secrets.
“Grandpera,” Father says. “It has a nice ring to it. I’m curious how you managed to squeeze that in with everything else keeping you busy lately.”
Tharios throws the pillow at him, and he easily catches it.
“Could you grin any bigger?” Tharios struggles not to smile too widely himself.
“It’s doubtful. Come here, and let me give you a proper hug.”
Tharios pushes himself up, and Father draws him close.
“May the stars shine ever on this gift of new life, Tharios. And let Viala ride the horse for now.”
Tharios chuckles. “Are you telling me I’m being ridiculous, too?”
“I refuse to answer that.”
“That sounds like a yes to me,” Viala says. “We love you for it, elf prince.”
“But you’re still planning to ride?” Tharios asks.
“Of course I’m still planning to ride. For now.”
“For now,” he says sternly, though the smile he can’t seem to wipe off his face probably ruins the effect.
Father lets Tharios go and pulls Viala close. “Your turn. I am certain that the fates brought you into our lives and our family. Thank you for loving my son with your entire heart.”
Tears pool in her eyes, but she simply nods.
“Now,” Father says when he lets Viala go. “Please do not inflict the torture on me of keeping this from your mother. I doubt I’d succeed.”
Tharios lets out an exaggerated sigh. “You’d better get her in here.”
“Thank you. And the two of you had better watch what you say around others if you don’t wish for all of Lostariel to know within a month.”
Tharios looks sheepishly at Viala, and she leans her cheek on his shoulder.
“Are you as happy as I am?” Tharios asks her when Father slips away to find Mother.
“Happy to have your elfling growing inside me? Do you even need to ask?” She draws him into another kiss as the door opens again.
“I don’t believe I learned this healing technique during my healer training,” Mother teases. “Are you all right, Viala?”
Viala trails her hand along Tharios’s cheek. “I am. I have the best healer.”
“Please tell her before I burst.” Father laces his hands behind his head and paces at the foot of the bed.
“Yes, I am wondering why your father dragged me in here while attempting not to drown in his own grin.”
Father’s brows wrinkle. “I’m not—”
“Hush.” Mother waves him off.
Tharios finds Viala’s radiant face before looking back at Mother. “We’d always planned to wait for you to get better before—”
“You really don’t waste time, do you?” Father asks.
“Whistling wind.” Tharios rolls his eyes. “Are you planning to keep this up forever? I thought it would take longer.”
Mother looks from Tharios to Father in confusion before her eyes widen, and she turns back to Tharios. “Are you saying...an elfling?”
Tharios doesn’t even bother hiding his smile as he nods, and Mother wraps her arms around him.
“Oh, my little love. No wonder your father is about to burst.”
“Please don’t tell anyone else. It’s still very early,” Tharios says.
“Our lips are sealed,” Father says. “I’ll try not to look too happy.”
Tharios laughs as Mother holds him close. She seems to be in no hurry to let him go.
Then her breath catches.
“Nestraya,” Father says softly as he rubs her back.
Is she crying?
“Mother? I thought you’d be happy.”
“Forgive me. These are happy tears. I promise. I’m just eager to be a part of this little one’s life.” She gives Tharios one more squeeze and presses her forehead to his before pulling Viala close. Then Father draws her into his own arms.
“Elowyn is feeling more like herself again,” Father says. “Are we ready to go home?”
Tharios glances at Viala and nods. “I believe we are.”