I gathered up all my strength and heaved a deep breath before going out of our room. I walked past the silent halms before I was able to spot father, standing in front of the last door in the corridor. The exact door in which we have made an emergency room and is the exact location where we brought Fergus in for treatment. I mustered up my courage and went near my father.
"Father, how is he? Is the professional that we called able to diagnose Fergus? Is he fine now? Can I see him?" I asked my father anxiously while trying to look for answers in his eyes.
He laughed a little and held both of my shoulders. "My child, slow down with your questions. You need not to worry because your husband is fine. He has been given the first treatment earlier and he survived it. Although he barely handled the pain, but he did well. The practitioner is still in the room, monitoring him for a while before letting him rest for a second treatment later on."
As he was telling me all the past events that have happened during my short absence, we heard the creaking of the door in which Fergus is currently residing. We both looked at the professional who just went out of the room.
"Good day, your highnesses. His grace is already fine. His vital signs have stabilised and his wounds have been treated. The pain also has subsided according to him. He also requested the presence of her grace in the room, a reason as to why I went out. You can go inside, but please be careful especially when touching him. All of the wounds are fresh and the treatment given is only a first application, thus it does not guarantee that the wounds would heal faster. Please do call me if anything happens."
I nodded at the medical practitioner and murmured my thanks before slowly opening the door. I even heard my father talking to the professional, asking him further about Fergus' condition and offered to walk the practitioner out.
I gave a wry smile at Fergus who was looking at me expectantly. I approached his bed and sat on his side, making sure that I was not hitting his arm that had been severely injured. I looked at him intently, "how are you?"
"Fine, I guess." He chuckled lightly. "It's unbearable but I made it through. Just like what I have promised you."
I almost rolled my eyes at his remark. With a tinge of frustration I spoke. "Indeed, you have fulfilled your promise to be back in whole. Yet you have also promised me another thing, that is to come back without a scratch. Look at your state now, you came back with not just a single scratch but a body filled with injuries."
He tried to reach for my hand. Feeling remorseful from seeing his deep cuts, I moved my hand closer to him. "At least I came back alive, haven't I?"
"Indeed, but you had me worried. Terribly worried. Oh, I don't know what to do if I lost you. Everything is hard and it feels like everything is catching up on me. Pressure is being pressed, and the worry consumes me every hour. I do not know if I can bear the fact of losing you, if I should've known about my feelings I—" I stopped at my sentence midway. I mentally calculated all the words that I am supposed to say in my head, unfortunately, due to extreme emotions, I slipped my tongue and exposed myself.
Fergus seemed to sense my hesitation and words. Seeing that he was trying to sit down, I pinned my hands lightly on his shoulders giving an indication that he can't sit yet. He sighed and let me be.
"You what, Elizabeth? What were you trying to say to me? Can you continue it please?" He asked me when he saw that all he could do was to lie down.
"Well, I shouldn't say this to you, yet the queen mother made me realise things. Realisations that happened while you were away, chasing down Edward."
I looked at him seriously while watching his careful gaze on me. "Well, I do not know how and when it started but I kind of like you. No, it's not like, it's deeper than that. The thing which gives you butterflies and fleeting moments. A kind of feeling that one would wish to experience for an eternity."
He smiled brightly although some scars on his face hindered his smile from reaching his eyes. "It's a relief to know what you truly feel about me. Although it is a bit unromantic in this room while I am lying, full of scars and blood, I also do not know when, but I just did. I was hesitating to tell it to you for fear or rejection as you always made clear that our marriage is a cooperation to save the motherland. Yet, I have fallen in love with your grace, your smile, your comfort, and your warmth."
"I couldn't say any more words of flattery for you, but all I could give you is an assurance of my love in its purest form."
Tears started to form in my eyes. I never expected things to turn out this way. Indeed it was not normal for both confessions given the circumstance and the place that it happened, yet it was extremely blissful. Like a dew, a drop of water fresh from a sprout that just grew for the spring.
"Then you must take care of yourself and be better immediately. I do not want a weak husband who cannot even catch cattle. With your state, I am afraid that you really cannot do it."
My remark earned a laugh from him. "Until then, you must take care of me. I promise I will get better in no time if you'll perfectly make sure that all my needs are catered. Just like a loving wife to his injured husband."
I laughed at his silly remark."worry not, your highness. I will do everything as instructed. No further harm will be done to you."
We exchanged witty remarks and laughed at each other. With the confession that happened a while ago, the tension and emotions are finally out. This makes the atmosphere between us lighter. Hopefully, it won't stop. It was the exact moment that I have dreamed of. a moment of warmth, emitting a radiance of love, purity, and sincerity