Heirot

Tenele's heart raced. "I don't like this question," she barked at him, struggling more forcefully to get up. The people in the hospital wing were beginning to stare at them. Tenele felt dizzy. So many faces. She didn't recognise any of them. All staring at her. All waiting for an answer.

"No," she finally replied, staring at the marble floor. "He didn't. But, now that you've thoroughly embarrassed me, would you mind helping me back to my bed?" She did not meet his gaze.

Vlad bristled. He scooped her into his arms and lifted her like she were made of cotton, but he didn't look at her as he took her back to her bed and deposited her there without ceremony.

She'd almost realized who he was. The idea had horrified him, but now that she seemed certain it wasn't him, he felt stung. He knew it wasn't fair to be upset with her. None of this was her fault.

He drew back to the wall like a newblood escaping sunlight. "Shall I bring her here, then?" he asked without looking at her. He couldn't right now. How long was this going to last?

Tenele was confused by his sudden coldness. After recovering for the uncomfortable deposit onto the bed she looked at him. Was he disappointed she wasn't raped? Would it please him if she told him? Tenele clenched her teeth tightly. "Please," she whispered, looking away. "No... wait."

Tenele fiddled with her blanket. "I'm... What's her name?" she whispered to him. She turned a teary gaze back on him. "I can remember her face and all these other things about her... but her name. I don't remember her name."

Vlad met her eyes then. "Tenara," he said with an aching smile.

Tenele smiled. "Tenara," she sighed. "That's a pretty name..." Tenele met his eyes. "Thank you for helping me."

"Always, Maiden Girl," he said quietly. "Excuse me."

He turned and left the room with unnatural grace. The rest of the world was a blur as he made his way through the corridors. Many stopped him to ask after the queen, and he answered them with measured, calm words, shocking many of the other nobles with his formality. He didn't have the energy to mess with them or put up his dukes. When he finally made it to Tenara's room, he gave a firm knock to let them know he was coming in, and let himself through.

Tenara jumped up from her toys on the floor and ran across the room to her father. She threw her arms around his legs. "Daddy, daddy, daddy!" she proclaimed merrily. A three year old didn't understand the gravity of the Queen's near death experience. As soon as Talon told her that her grandmother was feeling better, the world immediately brightened.

Tenara peeked around her father, brow scrunching when she saw no sign of her mother. "Mommy?"

Vlad bent down and swept her up in his arms. "We'll go see her. Have you been a good snack?" he teased, pressing his nose to hers.

"Yes," Tenara proclaimed. "I only tied Uncle Talon up once."

"Twice," Talon growled as he pulled the last bit of rope off and stood up. "You have a devious devil in your arms, Vlad."

Tenara giggled. "I'm not devi...devi...I'm good!"

Talon smirked. "If you weren't so damn cute..."

"Mommy!" Tenara threw her hands into the air.

"Alright, we'll go see her. Tenara, do you know how you sometimes forget where you put your shoes?" Vlad asked.

Tenara nodded. "I forgot right now," she replied, lifting her legs and wiggling her toes.

Vlad smirked. "That is because Talon is a shoe goblin in his spare time," he said, raising a hand and summoning her shoes from the floor under the bed. "Mommy is having a bad day. She's having trouble remembering things, so you may have to remind her."

Tenara nodded as her father put the shoes on her feet. "Okay," she smiled.

"Alright." Vlad paused, hesitating. "Snack...one of the things she can't remember is me. It's hard for her. So let's not rub it in, okay?"

Tenara looked confused at first and then nodded. "Okay," she replied. "To mommy!"