Heirot

Vlad's crimson eyes followed them unnervingly and the tiptoed and whispered around the room. He eyed the blue vial as the nurse approached with it. It was odd; he'd been thinking the exact same thing a moment ago, and suddenly he was uncomfortable. It wasn't because he had any moral qualms...more because he sensed Tenele might.

His eyes caught the nurse's with that fierce alertness, and it was as good as grabbing the woman's arm. She stopped in place, frozen and wary. "She's asleep," he said, his low voice gliding like silk. It was both smooth and impossibly dangerous. "It can wait."

The nurse looked at Vlad for a moment and then at Tenele. "M'lord... The doctor thinks that it is best she take this medication immediatly... and her food will get cold if she doesn't eat it now. I'm sure she needs to eat, anyway." She didn't budge, not sure if he would allow her to wake Tenele.

The nurse from the cabinet turned coming forward with two small pills. "Something to help the pain," the plump woman said, smiling softly.

"Please, m'lord... we are only trying to do our job..."

Vlad narrowed his eyes at the plump one, who seemed to be the superior among the two. He didn't want them to wake her. She was lying soundly, finally really resting. He finally settled into a feral, mildly crazed grin. "Upset her, and I'll test your commitment to that pretty job of yours," he warned in a voice too mild for the expression he was wearing. He waved out one hand gracefully as if to say "she's all yours".

Flora moved slowly as if attempting to pet some feirce wild creature. She gentle nudge Tenele who at first didn't wake. Then slowly her eyes flickered open and she glanced around, groaning. She was sleeping so wonderfully.

"We have food, m'lady," she pushed the tray infront of Tenele. Tenele shifted for a moment, trying to bring herself more awake.

She glanced up at Vlad and then back at the food. "Thank you," she said tiredly and moved to take the spoon to sip the food. Before her hand had touched the silver the nurse moved forward with the vile. "Here, take this first. It will help you sleep. As soon as you are done eating you should rest again."

Tenele eyed the vile for a moment. "It looks strange," she said softly.

"Its powerful, you need you rest, m'lady," the nurse said, glancing at Vlad.

Tenele took the vile reluctantly. "What does it taste like?"

"Oh, I haven't the slightest idea," the nurse suddenly grew very uncomfortable. She wondered if this followed under the category of upsetting. "Just hold your breath and swallow it quickly."

"Is it supposed to glow?" Tenele asked, still wary of putting the foreign materail... that glowed... into her body.

"Yes, its the special chemistry used to make it," the nurse said, clearly growing slightly aggitated.

Tenele sighed and with one gulp swallowed the vile of liquid. "Oh, Gods... it tastes absuletly horrible..." She cough and sputtered, quickly dropping the vile on the tray and grabbing the tea to help wash it down. She took the two pills that the plump woman handed her and began to eat.

Vlad turned his head sideways as she took the vial, breaking his harsh stare on the nurses for the first time. It was done. He was feeling overwhelmed, and it was an odd feeling to him. He kept wondering when Sinead was coming, and it suddenly struck him that he wanted her to come. A dog seeking out its master for guidance, how utterly nauseating. His pale gaze flattened and for a few too-still moments you could believe he was actually a corpse, propped up behind the injured maiden. Then his lips twisted up in a bitter smirk. He looked deviously back up at the nurses, more fluent and comfortable in his role as terrorizer than as protector.

The women were thankful that Tenele had eaten her meal fast. Flora pushed the tray out of the way, both the women moving uncomfortably under Vlad's stare.

"Alright, we'll be going," the nurses said in unison and walked unusually fast towards the door.

Tenele sighed and leaned comfortably back against Vlad, tilting her head up at him with a smile. "I don't think that medicine is working," she said softly. "Looks like I'll have to ask for extra-extra-strength medicine. I'm not the least bit tired..."

Vlad raised his hands in a shrug. "You still need the rest, maiden girl." He leaned his head back against the wall so his throat stretched in a pale line. The door opened again, and he lowered his gaze to see which nurse had the guts to come back in.

"The nurses are too nervous to do their jobs. Good to hear you're 'helping' my maiden with her recovery," Sinead said sternly, crossing her arms.

Vlad's eyes blurred out of pure surprise and he had to blink hard to bring his queen into focus. "Queeny," he said in displeasure. However, his voice also held a measure of relief.

"You seem happy to see me. Do you mind explaining why you are sharing Tenele's bed?"

Vlad's eyes narrowed. He made up his mind, he was definitely not happy to see her. "Guess I just can't resist a pretty face," he said flatly.

"The last time I checked, you needed more incentive than that to disobey my orders," Sinead challenged, the beginnings of anger showing in her eyes.

"The other one has too many CHAINS for my taste," he said, the remark cutting into Sinead's firm composure. "This one was more comfortable. Equal treatment, share and share alike."

"You will stop your jesting and answer my question!" Sinead nearly yelled.

"They were being too rough!" Vlad snarled back, then quickly stiffened. Sinead had gone quiet as well. She looked at him like she'd bit into an apple, and discovered it was a grape.

"And so you climbed into her bed half naked?" she proceeded, but cautiously this time, like she didn't quite know what he'd say any more.

"It had the desired effect," Vlad answered.

"Are you in love with my maiden. Yes, or no, answer me seriously, Vladimir Dracul."

"You're ordering me to tell you?" he challenged quietly.

"Yes, I am."

"I don't remember selling you my soul, Queen Sinead," he said, his voice tight with anger.

Tenele remembered the words he had breathed out against her shoulder when trying to restrain himself from killing her. She remembered that he had told her, after all this time, that he loved her. Then he had reminded her that he had meant it. She knew that for Vlad to even admit it back then was a stretch on his pride. He wasn't used to admitting such things. She hadn't realized that fact until now. He didn't want to say it, because he didn't want to be viewed as a person, that as of yet, he didn't see himself as.

She didn't know if she should answer for him. She thought that he should be the one that told Sinead, or maybe he was thinking the opposite right now. She glanced up at him for a moment and then back at Sinead.

Both of them seemed stiff and quiet and Tenele was really just barely there. She wasn't unnerved by the arguing, she wasn't bothered by what the Queen was thinking. She didn't care. She was comfortable at the moment, and after a week of torture, molestation, and mental abuse, she figured she deserved to be comfortable. Who should question the ways in which she was made so?

Maybe she could trick him into saying it? Maybe if he was telling he he loved her, that would make it easier for him to admit it to Sinead. She glanced at the queen and then tilted her head up to looked at Vlad's handsome face. "Vlad..." she said softly. Then she thought for a moment about how to put in a way that wouldn't be so bluntly displayed. However, the more she thought the more she realized that there was only one way to tell someone that... No, two. That was either show them or just come out and say it. At the moment she wasn't in the physical condition to show Vlad, and didn't think that Sinead would particularly want to watch. So she just said it. Softly, sweetly, her pericing green eyes looking directly into his red orbs, "I love you." She smiled softly, a dull pain coming into existance where the bruises were.

Vlad's fingers tightened around Tenele's arms where he held them. Afraid of his feelings, who, him?

He wished Sinead would stop looking at him that way.

"It's just a question, Vlad," Sinead said quietly. She couldn't believe she was actually holding her breath over this...she was actually considering that Vlad might love Tenele. But if he couldn't say it, then he'd only end up hurting her.

Vlad closed his eyes. He tried to remember how he'd been able to say it before. What had made up his mind? He brought up the memory of Tenele holding him, her neck smooth and pulsing inches away. His entire body hammered with pain and hunger...and him wishing he could somehow die before he attacked her.

"I love this maiden, and I wish you to permit it," he said earnestly, the words finding their place on his tongue before he could spoil them by recalculating. He opened his eyes and stared at Sinead, searching. His red eyes stared straight into her like they could come out the other side, glowing slightly with the intensity of his feeling. Oh, god, he thought, knowing he'd be going pale if he weren't dead already. He tried for a blank stare as he held Sinead's gaze and waited.

Tenele looked back at Sinead after Vlad had spoke. That was good enough for her. She smiled back up at Vlad, moving her hand to squeaze his hand that held her arm.

"Please?" she asked the Queen, looking back at her. Tenele felt a little nauseated suddenly, though it wasn't from what was going on. It was this odd feeling in her belly. Tingling. She ignored it, but it was clear from the expression on her face that she was concerned about something.

She had no idea what the Queen would say, but hoped it would be good news. She did not want to be kept away from Vlad. She loved him.

"Besides, its not like I have any virtue left to protect, anyway," she said and as soon as the words left her lips she wished she would have kept them to herself. She wished nothing more than to melt away. Her hand tightened around Vlad's arm, longing for him to hold her tighter. Pull her into him and let her disappear. Her gaze lowered and she said no more.

Sinead's eyes widened, and she didn't know which of them to address first. She was equally astonished by both their words. She looked firmly at her maiden. "Tenele," she said sternly, and she could see Vlad's fingers close around her arms for a more secure grip. Was he thinking she'd hit her? Would he intercede if she tried?

"You can not be robbed of 'virtue'. No one can take it from you. You will always have it as long as you wish to keep it." She looked briefly into Vlad's eyes, which were staring at her with an unnerving focus. "But there will come a time in your life, and I sense it is coming soon, when your goals may change. If you take a lover, there are standards to meet as a Maid of my court. I know you understand that an undead creature lies outside of those standards. It will not be accepted by the people here. Furthermore, the moral standard is to marry before beginning intimate relations. Tenele, I have known Vlad a long time, and I care about him as well, but if you choose him, you will be giving up many of the joys others find in romance. The church will not marry an undead. The public will neither celebrate nor accept your union. It will be difficult for me to protect you from their scorn. You will never bear children, and there will always be the risk of... infection." She frowned as she spoke solemnly to her maiden. She couldn't afford to attend to the Vampire's feelings at the moment, but she could feel his eyes burning into her.

Tenele did not look at Sinead as she spoke, she kept her eyes downcast like a scolded child. She wanted to stand on her feet before the Queen, not lie in bed looking pathetic. She wanted to look strong.

"They will already look at me with scorn," Tenele said, glancing up at Sinead. "I went to battle and was the only one brought back alive. Though, alive they look at me as a traitor. They see a woman and think that I must have told Arken all our secrets. They will look at me and judge and decide for themselves what happened to me. I am a woman who was captured, a Queen's Maiden who was captured. They will look at me as they look at a common whore, considering me just as filthy and used up as them." Her voice cracked. "And if by some chance Shea attacks this palace, the people of this kingdom would have me hanged for treason."

She looked back at Sinead. "But, I don't care what they think. I don't care anymore. These people will never understand what I went through. They will never know what I did to protect them. They will never know because they don't care about me. So why should I care what they think?"

Tenele looked down. "My Queen... you are the only mother I have ever known. You care for me as your daughter. If you take this one thing that will make me happy. Then you might as well have left me in that cave to remain that Arken General's whore."

Sinead sighed gently and knelt at the foot of the bed, seeming much less intimidating with her arms crossed on the sheets near Laya's feet. "You express yourself well, my child. I will not deny you this...joy, as long as you know what it is you are choosing. My greatest fear is that you are still too young to understand the compromise you make.

"Vlad, If you are truly in love with Tenele, I permit you to share your time and your..self with her in whatever she willingly chooses. I expect you to treat her well. Better than well. And there is one condition."

The no life king looked at her, eyes dark with suspicion. The entire conversation was unflattering, but this last catch seemed almost like a humiliation. But if the alternative was to leave Tenele here alone after what she'd just said, he would agree to whatever Sinead asked. "What condition," he said dryly.

"If Tenele ever changes her mind - chooses to pursue a human lover, or none at all, you will abide by her wish without argument or question, and step back from her life. And when the day comes that her mortal life should end, you are not to turn her."

"I am not so selfish as that," Vlad hissed at her last words. "And that was not one condition, but two." He and Sinead locked eyes for a long moment. They had known each other so long, neither blinked under the other's stare. "I agree."

"Good. Take care of one another," she said, addressing both of them as she rose to her feet. "You've chosen a hard path, but I suspect there is still a great deal of happiness along it. I would not permit it if I thought otherwise," she said, finally dropping her fearsome sternness and giving them a small smile.

Tenele could have clapped her hands with happiness if one of her arms would have let her. Instead she grinned and the grin was truely happy. She even seemed to glow, as if shackles had fallen from her and she was free. Carefully she leaned her head upwards to look at Vlad, smiling at him as well. For a moment she had feared that Sinead would not allow it.

The slight numbing pain in her belly seemed to increase slowly, however she ignored it like the rest of the pain that still wracked her battered body. She was too happy to think about pain, however.

"Thank you, my Queen. Thank you." She smiled at her mother, though not biologically Sinead was the only woman Tenele could have put as a mother figure. Her fingers lightly ran side to side on Vlad's arm.

"My Queen if you would be so kind as-"

"I heard you were here!" The all too familiar voice of her brother came echoing off the hospital ward walls. He paused at the door, find in the room in the most peculiar position. "Eh.... am I interupting?"

"As usual," Tenele said, her smile fading. Then, it came swiftly back. "You look as bad as I do."

Talon opened his mouth to speak, but felt it was probably the wrong thing to say. The words that had wanted to leave his mouth were, "No one could look as bad as you do right now." However, the half-elf held his tongue. "Geeze..." he said as he grew closer to see the full extent of the damage and the rest was hidden by a cotton gown and blanket. He didn't want to know the rest, but could guess.

Tenele could read it on his expression. She knew what he was thinking with that look of pitty on his handsome features. She sighed, knowing that she would have to endure that look until everyone forgot what had happened and it was old news. She decided to change the subject by finishing her sentence.

"My Queen I was wondering if you wouldn't mind taking care of my broken leg and arm? The rest can heal over time. Its just rather annoying not being able to walk or use this arm," she said softly.

"The broken bones and bruises will be the only thing able to heal with magic. Everything else will take time. They radiate unholy magic." Talon said, glancing at his queen then back at Tenele. His eyes widened for a moment and he quickly hid his expression. "Uh... Magic won't be able to heal the cuts or burns, but it will help with the most annoying things. I could do it if you want." Talon glanced at Vlad, who until now he had ignored. He really didn't like the idea of his sister and the No Life King, however he had lost too many annoying arguments to the willful Half-Elf sister. He wasn't about to start another one. He glanced from Tenele to Vlad, and again his expression faltured, however he forced himself to change it.

Tenele knew that he could, and she guessed it was best if her brother did that for her. "It doesn't matter, whatever the Queen wishes."

Sinead stood. "I am sorry, my dear, but I will be conserving all of my power in case of an emergency situation with the war. I may be our main trump card until Vlad fully recovers, and the troops require more preparation before they will be ready to fight. Talon, I encourage you to do whatever is in your power to help your sister." She came up to the side of the bed and laid a soft kiss on top of Tenele's head.

Vlad froze as she touched his cheek next. He peered up at her in astonishment as she placed a kiss on his forehead. "I have been very hard on you," she whispered, and he wasn't even sure if it had been out loud or through his mind.

'Quit that. If you go soft, we'll all be in trouble.' he thought back at her with a smirk.

Sinead straightened up and returned his smirk with one of her own, then left the room.