Mature: Desert Moon

[Soran Nightblade]

"Atul, I need you to trust me. I've checked things out, and there's nothing there. The sword was bloody from our most recent battle." The vampire lifted the rag and sniffed it. "This is so old, it barely has its own scent. She got spooked; that's all. I'll spend some more time with her tomorrow, and she'll be fine. You haven't seen her like this because you've only known her for a short time, but I promise you, she is safe."

[Emora Deen]

Atul didn't reply to him. The fury he felt burning in his chest hadn't subsided enough for him to trust Vlad's words. He relaxed back in bed, but all he could think about was Tenara and something happening to her and her mother because no one was there with them.

But, she had been sleeping when they returned. Why would she be sleeping if something that frightening had happened? No, that didn't make much sense.

And then, he suddenly felt his rage divert and fixate on her. He was angry that she would make up such stories and get them worried. He found it hard to believe, but if Vlad had checked it out, and he said the blood was old, and she had been sleeping when they returned.

He felt his teeth clench so hard they hurt. "What childishness," he spat. "To get us worried over nothing. Grrr... I can't hit a woman, but Gods do I want to hit something now."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad set his gaze on the ground. Even pretending to fight with Tenele was exhausting, and deceiving Atul left him close to miserable. But if there was one thing he could do, it was keep up an act when he had to. "I would send Stalker to you and stay with her if that were possible. Truthfully, I want to have everyone within reach. But when Tenele wants me out of her sight, she truly wants me out of her sight. We have no reason to think she'll be in any unusual danger tonight, especially since you and I are the only ones who know she's not here."

[Emora Deen]

Atul nodded, but his brain was already churning with too many thoughts. What would bring someone to make up something like that? And why would she be so persistent about it? Had he truly never noticed it before? Was it some sort of mental illness that he'd been blinded too? Was Vlad that loving that he could look past such lies and deceit? What was true, and what wasn't?

But, more importantly, was Tenara safe with someone like that? He loved Tenele, Gods did he love her, so it hurt him to think this way about her. But, the idea of his child, their child, placed in danger by her actions, made him think in a completely new light.

"I'm going to sleep," he whispered, sinking into the pillows. "Good night. You should rest. Court starts early in the morning."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad knew all too well how early court started. He looked at the king's exhausted shape on the bed. "Can I sleep with you?" he asked quietly.

[Emora Deen]

Atul thought for a moment and nodded very slowly. "Yes," he whispered wearily. Now that he shut his eyes he was almost to tired to notice Vlad speaking to him.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad made his way to Atul's bedside and stripped to his underwear before settling in against his back. He wasn't terribly proud of it, considering how he'd just deceived the man. But lately, the hyperprotective vampire had a constant need to feel his family safe in his arms at all times. After what happened to Atul, Vlad had acted normally enough, but truly the vampire had been terrified by it. He put his arm around the king so lightly that his weight didn't even actually rest against Atul's badly wounded torso. "I am sorry, Atul," the vampire murmured into his back.

[Emora Deen]

Atul was out, sleeping soundly thanks to his over exertion and emotional state. He slept so deeply he snored.

* * *

Tenele had quietly searched the entire room over, and blocked the one area she knew they could see through, but she hadn't found anything else. It didn't stop her from being worried that there were still other places for them to be watching.

In the end she was too exhausted to keep looking, but just as she settled into bed to sleep, Tenara woke crying and she did that every hour until morning.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad didn't get to sleep, but the steady rhythm of Atul's lightly snoring breath was calming. He thought about Tenele on and off - okay, constantly. He couldn't see the sun from the infirmary, but he was certain it was dawn. As Old as he was, his body still sensed daytime like a survival instinct. Why hadn't she come back, if it was morning? He pushed his face between Atul's shoulderblades, struggling to keep his mind off of it.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele covered her own head with a pillow now that it was dawn so she could manage a few minutes of sleep. Tenara seemed so uneasy, and she'd never cried so much at night before. The Queen's Maiden was so sleep deprived she bordered on bursting into tears.

Stalker nuzzled his cold muzzle against her cheek.

* * *

"Lord Dracul!" Doctor Borat called. He rushed into the infirmary and through the flap. "The scribe was wondering if you could begin...." He trailed off when he saw the vampire in bed with the King. He looked around for Tenele, unable to find her. "He... eh, he said that the people were growing restless and was wondering if you could start a little early today?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad raised his head to look at the doctor. He sat up edgily and glanced around the room like Tenele and Tenara might appear from the woodwork. The vampire rose and dressed quickly, ignoring Borat. "Have this room guarded today. Two men. No one enters and leaves unless I know about it. The lady Tenele and Tenara are, of course, exceptions," he muttered as he threw on his court face. "My papers are on my desk. I will be there in five minutes."

With that, he was gone from the ward.

He reappeared in his quarters and looked around immediately for Tenele. Spotting her on the bed, safe and sound, with Stalker resting quietly beside her, the vampire let something inside him unclench. He needed to collect his work and report to the throne room, but he couldn't resist the urge to 'brighten' his wife's morning. The vampire popped into the bathroom and swiped the pitcher that had been set aside for washing. He came to Tenele's side, but found her head safely buried under a pillow. "A challenge," he admired.

Instead of his intended game, he poured a glass of water, stole an orchid bloom from the arrangement the maids had left in the corner, and floated the small purple blossom in the fresh water. He set the glass at her bedside with a warm smile, then took his things and was gone.

[Emora Deen]

Atul woke as Vlad was leaving, blinking weary eyes open. The doctor came to him and began checking his bandages quietly. Atul was compliant, his mind on other things. But, after a few minutes the King sighed. "What would you make of someone who would lie for attention... Or someone who believes something happened when it didn't?" he asked the man.

Borat blinked. "I'm not sure if I understand what you are saying... But, I would say it seems that person has a mental instability. It would be best if that person sought some help, as the problem could get worse."

Atul frowned, throwing his head back and looking at the ceiling.

"Is something wrong my King?" Borat asked quietly.

"Do you know how to help someone like that?" he asked, his voice cracking.

"Yes, but not directly. I know someone, a colleague, who could help someone like that. Who are we talking about, my King?" Borat glanced over his shoulder. "Is it someone close to you?"

Atul covered his face with his hands and wiped his eyes. "Tenele."

* * *

A few hours later, after Tenele managed to catch a few minutes sleep she couldn't really stay in bed any more. She promised she would see Atul and let him hold his daughter. Tenele let Stalker watch Tenara while she showered and then dressed.

It was then, as she made her way back to her bed, that she noticed the flower. She paused, smiling as she lifted it and smelled its sweet spell. She placed the flower back in the glass slowly, staring at it for a little while longer.

She collected her sleeping daughter in her arms and headed for the door, Stalker trailing her heals.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad had more trouble than usual getting through Atul's duties at court that morning. He kept thinking of how and when it would be safe to explain to Atul what was going on. And just how long did he have to pretend to be at odds with his wife. He had a newborn. He wasn't willing to be parted from her much longer.

He really shouldn't have let the blame fall on Tenele the way he had. What if Atul resented her for it? But if he'd given no justification for his behavior, Atul would have truly injured himself worse fighting against it. He cast his eyes periodically to the sundial at the center of the throne room, and waited for midday to arrive so he could make his lunchtime visit to the infirmary.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele greeted the guards as she entered the infirmary and went to Atul. The king was sitting up in bed, which was a relief. Tenele wasn't sure if he would manage that after how he'd pushed himself the day before. He was getting stronger.

"Good morning, well... not too morning," Tenele mused as she pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Tenara kept me up all night. I'm not sure why she was so upset. She just cried, and cried... I'm so tired." She pressed her forehead to his. "Would you hold her for a little while?"

Atul nodded slowly. "Of course," he whispered, looking down at the child.

Tenele sat on the foot of the bed with a heavy sigh.

"Why did you lie?" Atul asked quietly, glancing up at her.

"What?" Tenele asked, smiling. "What did I lie about?"

"The blood, the wall, the attacker. You were sleeping Tenele. Why would you sleep after something like that?" His eyes narrowed on her accusingly. "That's sick."

"Atul," Tenele breathed. "I wasn't lying. The blood was on my sword, you saw it. Please don't believe Vlad, its not how this seems."

"It is exactly as it seems. Vlad said the blood was old. He said you did this often. Its not right, and its not healthy. I'm worried about you. I'm afraid for you, Tenele. But, I'm more afraid for our daughter."

"Atul, I swear, its not how this looks...." She faded off as Merida came wandering in, followed by Doctor Borat, and another man she didn't recognise.

Merida collected Tenara in her arms and ushered the baby a safe distance away. "What's going on?" Tenele asked Atul, confusion creasing her brow. "Atul, you need to trust me."

"I want to trust you Tenele. You have no idea how much I want to trust you. But, lying about something like that... even imagining it."

"I wasn't!"

"Denial is common," the stranger sighed. "She may believe with all her heart it happened, but... that's just her mind."

"Its not! I'm not crazy!" Tenele stood up. "Atul, look at me. Its me. Its Tenele. I don't lie, I don't imagine things. I really need you to trust me."

"I love you," he whispered. "That's why I'm doing this. You need help. If you are breaking apart inside you need help, Tenele. Tenara could be in danger. Vlad loves you too, but he is too in love with you to get you the help you need. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." The king cried.

"Sorry?"

"Your escorts will take you. We're just going a short distance for an evaluation, you'll be back to normal before you know it," the stranger mused with a dark smile.

"You're not taking me anywhere!" Tenele barked, snatching away from the guard. "Give me my child, I'm going to find my husband and we are going to explain this."

Tenele stepped towards Tenara, but the soldier grabbed her harder by the arm and Merida stepped away, holding the baby tighter. "Let go of me," she warned the man. When he didn't, she started to fight him. "Let go of me!"

"Atul, please!" she kicked. "I'm not imagining this. I'm not lying. Give me my daughter!" The soldier wrapped an arm around her waist, clenching around the bruised ribs. She cried out, knees buckling.

"Don't hurt her!" Atul cried, standing up.

"No, we won't hurt her," the stranger moved in and pricked her skin with a dart. "We'll take good care of her. We'll return her to you with her mind right and the demons gone." Tenele crumpled.

"No, I don't want her to go... I don't think this is a good idea anymore." Atul shook his head.

"This is the right thing, my king." the man replied as the guard hoisted Tenele over his shoulder.

"Vlad won't like this. He won't like this, I don't like this... Tenele, I'm sorry... Put her down, let her wake up." Atul was dizzy on his feet as the man and his escort disappeared from the tent. "Stop him," he told Borat. "I don't want this."

"You want her healthy, don't you?"

"She needs to be with Tenara..."

"My king, you are feverish. Lie down. Drink this, and lie down." The doctor pressed a glass to the kings lips and made him drink, then he helped Atul back to his bed. The king felt black pull him under, even as he fought it to get Tenele back.

[Soran Nightblade]

Stalker trotted after Tenele, snarling at the men who were taking her. Vlad had been very strict about snapping at doctors. Last time, he'd literally been banished. This seemed different, but he couldn't be certain. He growled low in his throat as he trotted alongside Tenele's captors.