The stress of the situation they had been thrust into was doing more harm than the good of having a talented healer to help their son was. Eulalie laid beside Regist, whose health seemed to change from moment to moment as she watched. She worried that each time she blinked she might miss something, might lose him. But the prince was as brave and strong as ever, holding on through it all.
He’d been awake for awhile now, long enough to see his father off as Somnus took a day to himself to hopefully unwind. But Eulalie could see the sheen of sweat on her son’s skin, the tired shadow in his eyes. So she’d gotten him to lay down so that she might read him a story. Her words weaved a world full of fantasy. Dangers abound, brave knights, powerful heroes. A world in which, like most tales, good won out over evil and everybody lived happily ever after.
The ivory woman smiled wistfully as she read, watching as slowly Regis was lulled to sleep. When at last his breathing was steady Eulalie set the book aside and, gently pressing a kiss to his cheek, stood to leave. Alba had remained behind Somnus, a connection to him should they need it, and the barn owl dutifully watched over the sleeping boy as she often did these days.
As she made her way to the door she asked Tabbriss to remain as well, and to not allow anyone that he did not trust into the room. She knew he would stand guard outside the doors as long as was asked of him. She also knew that the list of who he trusted was very short and consisted of, at most, around three individuals.
Eulalie’s steps traced an invisible path through the citadel halls, past staff and various other citizens of the court. Many, she was sure, looked on at her with pity. The mother with an ailing son. She did not meet their eyes however, her dark gaze looking straight ahead and yet at nothing. There was a weary set to her shoulders, a concerned crease to her brow.
Her meandering ended her in the great hall, quiet on a summer day when most were enjoying the time outside. She settled in at a table and her eyes occupied themselves in the grain of the wood, following the patterns it made. At some point a cup of tea, warm and relaxing, was placed before her and she gave a fleeting but grateful smile to the woman who set it down.
Eulalie was still lost in her mind when a shadow fell over her. She didn’t know how long they had been standing their for, hadn’t even heard them arrive in her trance, but the ivory woman glanced up to face the intruder on her thoughts, speaking before really looking, “Can I do something for you?”
He’d been awake for awhile now, long enough to see his father off as Somnus took a day to himself to hopefully unwind. But Eulalie could see the sheen of sweat on her son’s skin, the tired shadow in his eyes. So she’d gotten him to lay down so that she might read him a story. Her words weaved a world full of fantasy. Dangers abound, brave knights, powerful heroes. A world in which, like most tales, good won out over evil and everybody lived happily ever after.
The ivory woman smiled wistfully as she read, watching as slowly Regis was lulled to sleep. When at last his breathing was steady Eulalie set the book aside and, gently pressing a kiss to his cheek, stood to leave. Alba had remained behind Somnus, a connection to him should they need it, and the barn owl dutifully watched over the sleeping boy as she often did these days.
As she made her way to the door she asked Tabbriss to remain as well, and to not allow anyone that he did not trust into the room. She knew he would stand guard outside the doors as long as was asked of him. She also knew that the list of who he trusted was very short and consisted of, at most, around three individuals.
Eulalie’s steps traced an invisible path through the citadel halls, past staff and various other citizens of the court. Many, she was sure, looked on at her with pity. The mother with an ailing son. She did not meet their eyes however, her dark gaze looking straight ahead and yet at nothing. There was a weary set to her shoulders, a concerned crease to her brow.
Her meandering ended her in the great hall, quiet on a summer day when most were enjoying the time outside. She settled in at a table and her eyes occupied themselves in the grain of the wood, following the patterns it made. At some point a cup of tea, warm and relaxing, was placed before her and she gave a fleeting but grateful smile to the woman who set it down.
Eulalie was still lost in her mind when a shadow fell over her. She didn’t know how long they had been standing their for, hadn’t even heard them arrive in her trance, but the ivory woman glanced up to face the intruder on her thoughts, speaking before really looking, “Can I do something for you?”
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