264 RTYY 263 - Willing to Wait

Even though FeiWan was an Imperial El'Gin, he still wasn't about to steal an ill person's bed. Of course, he could have ordered the Palace servants to bring him an extra bed. But, if he could help it, he'd rather keep what he was doing a secret for as long as possible. After all, it wasn't as if forcing his way into another's bedroom was the proper thing to do. Especially if that 'another' was one of the El'Dur's honorable guests.

FeiWan was sure his mother would have a fit, if she learned of his plans for that night. CalWan, on the other hand, would most certainly start spreading the dirtiest, most shameful rumors his mind could come up with. In fact, FeiWan was pretty sure that, in his brother's shameless mind, there was only one reason one person would want to spend the night in someone else's bedroom. He was sure that,after that, even the quiet, shy NimRen would undoubtedly send a few strange looks his way.

No. It was better if no one knew of his plans for that day. And so, that being said, he had no other choice but to simply make do with the comfortable, albeit short, couch, that had been placed near a beautiful small glass table, furnishing what was supposed to be a small living area.

His legs hanging from the couch's arm, FeiWan stared up at the high ceiling. White. Everything inside that Pavilion was white. Cold and white. Empty of warmth. Completely pristine, as if untouched by any human being. Because of this, some found the White Pavilion relaxing. FeiWan had always found it lonely and depressing. Still, in the past, when he'd been a child, even though the walls and ceiling had been as white as they were now, there had always been a sweet, gentle scent, floating around the wide, empty rooms. A scent that spoke of love, care and warmth. Now even that was gone.

"Please return to your Pavilion."

FeiWan tilted his head back to look at him

He too, was all white. In fact, if not for the intensity of his gaze, FeiWan was sure he could have easily fused with the walls around them and simply disappeared.

Taking a deep breath, FeiWan crossed his legs.

"No matter how many times you repeat those words, unless you're willing to allow me to call a Hennin to check on you, I'm not leaving your side until dawn."

Still sitting on the bed exactly like he'd left him, CalRimRan had remained basically motionless, only turning his head so he could look at him.

"I'm sure the honorable El'Gin has much better, more important things to do, than keep someone like me company."

"You can talk all politely, or curse me with the foulest words you know. I really don't care. And I'm not changing my mind."

If FeiWan's persistent denials to leave were, in any way, frustrating CalRimRan, he certainly didn't show it, his expression as impassive and serene as always. Which, somehow, seemed a bit off, since he had spent the entire morning trying to convince him to return to his Household.

"Honorable El'Gin, you still haven't have anything to eat. I'm sure you must be feeling hungry."

FeiWan smiled. That one was new.

Tilting his head again, he looked back at him.

"The Honorable CalDai is most correct about that," he declared in a clear mocking tone. "In fact, I'm pretty sure we're both presently in the same unfortunate situation. So would you like to accompany me on a midday meal?"

CalRimRan averted his gaze, reinforcing FeiWan's amused smile.

"I'm afraid I must decline the honorable El'Gin's invitation. Unfortunately it would seem that today my stomach isn't agreeable with the intake of any kind of food."

Yeah, that much was probably true, FeiWan thought, his smile withering away, making way to a much more worried expression.

CalRimRan closed his eyes for a moment and his entire body wavered lightly, back and forth. Almost as if he felt dizzy, FeiWan thought. He wished he could force him to lay down. But, short of actually physically throwing him on the bed, he was sure that no amount of persuasion would be able to convince him to do so.

"Well, I do hate having to eat on my own. And people do say that fastening once in a while is good for your body. So I was just considering putting that theory to the test," he declared, forcing himself to sound nonchalant while closely observing the way CalRimRan's face seemed to grow paler by the minute.

Damn! What if he really collapsed? What should he do? Should he call the Hennin even knowing he didn't want him to? FeiWan was well aware of his practically nonexistent knowledge about healing techniques and stuff like that. All his life he had always had the best in the area to serve him and look after every aspect of his health. Maybe he should call HenWan. For all intents and purposes HenWan wasn't a healer. She was a Tien'Elhar. And everyone knew that no one, no matter how good they were, was better at healing than a Tien'Elhar. One of her golden arrays and she would probably be able to heal CalRimRan from whatever was ailing him. And yet, the mere idea of having to depend on HenWan for that, or for anything else for that matter, made him feel very uncomfortable to say the least.

FeiWan's belly growled, startling him, making him immediately wonder if CalRimRan had heard it as well. He hoped he hadn't. That would be too embarrassing. That damned CalDai! Mentioning food like that. Because he had talked about it FeiWan had become even more aware of his inevitably growing hunger.

Tilting his head back, he stole another peek at the imponent CalDai. He was still sitting in the same exact place, but he had his eyes closed, his face showing no signs of having heard that awkward sound.

Watching him closely, FeiWan saw him nod off ever so slightly, before he quickly straightened his head again.

Was he asleep?, FeiWan wondered, sitting up as silently as possible to take a better look at him. CalRimRan had told him he needed to get some rest, he considered, slowly standing up. But … really? Was he intending to sleep while sitting like that?

Releasing a deep, silent sigh, FeiWan crossed the distance between them to stand right in front of him. CalRimRan didn't even stir, his eyes closed, his breathing slow and deep.

Yup, he was definitely asleep, FeiWan concluded, a small mischievous smile touching his lips. What he wouldn't have given for an opportunity like this when he'd been younger, he sighed inwardly. Even now he could think of a thousand ways to embarrass the distinguished CalDai once he woke up. But this was a man who was clearly feeling unwell, he told himself, unable to stop himself from feeling a bit disappointed. And, of course, none of them were children anymore. He should lay down and get some proper rest. If he got worse FeiWan wouldn't hesitate to call the Hennin, now matter how hard CalRimRan opposed him.

Touching his arm, all he wanted was to help him lay down. As to be expected, however, the moment he touched him, CalRimRan's gray eyes snapped wide open, FeiWan's wrist immediately captured in another painful, ice-cold iron grip.

"Calm down. You should lay down. And try to warm yourself."

Clearly relaxing quite a bit, almost as if seeing FeiWan standing there had actually reassured him, CalRimRan looked up at him and started speaking, the words sounding warm and gentle as they left his pale lips, almost as if he were talking to a child. The problem was FeiWan couldn't understand a single word out of his mouth. He must be really sick to forget that, FeiWan thought with a worried a sigh.

"You know I don't understand any of that gibberish," he gently reminded him, and CalRimRan immediately shut his mouth, lowering his head, looking almost disappointed.

Was he running a fever?, FeiWan wondered. But the hand still wrapped around his wrist was ice cold. If anything CalRimRan's body temperature was way bellow what could be considered normal or healthy.

Taking a deep breath, FeiWan focused on trying to convince him to get a proper rest.

"Don't you want to lay down for a bit? You should really try and get some …"

His words were interrupted when, without a single word of complain, CalRimRan finally released him and silently laid down.

FeiWan couldn't help gape in astonishment when the honorable CalDai simply turned on his side, his knees slightly bent, his elegant hands resting on the bed in front of his face, and simply closed his eyes.

It took him a while, until FeiWan was finally able to snap out of it, blinking his disbelief away while swallowing dry.

What had just happened?, he blinked again, almost as if expecting to wake up from a dream. How come he had simply agreed with that? And he did look to be fast asleep again. Damn! He was definitely sick! There was no other possible explanation for what he had just whitnessed!

Hesitating quite a bit, not wanting to wake him up again, FeiWan stretched a tempting hand and touched the tips of his fingers to CalRimRan's forehead. CalRimRan didn't move, didn't even twitch. And so FeiWan actually placed his hand against the other man's forehead.

Cold. Like his hands, CalRimRan's forehead felt extremely cold.

Straightening his back, FeiWan quickly looked around, before he thought it better and decided to look inside the wardrobe.

As to be expected, even though it was mostly empty, the white wardrobe had only equally white clothes inside it. Well, that was to be expected, since CalRimRan and his people hadn't exactly packed for traveling. Those were all clothes that had been made right there, in the Palace, in order to accommodate the Imperial guest's needs. And, amongst all the plain white pants and long white tunics he had seen CalRimRan wear on a daily basis, was the formal attire FeiWan had seen the last time they'd met, the intricate embroidered beautifully crafted.

He immediately remembered that that piece of clothing had probably been a special gift from one of the other royals, CalWan most likely. And suddenly it was very hard to resist his wish to simply render the entire wardrobe to cinders and get him a new one.

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to focus on what had brought him there, and easily found a soft, white blanket.

Closing that annoying wardrobe, FeiWan made his way back to the bed and, silently hoping CalRimRan wouldn't wake up, carefully covered him with the blanket. He was sure that CalRimRan would never allow another person to take care of him like that, especially someone from outside his Clan. They were very closed, firmly denying the intrusion of outsiders in their affairs. So he couldn't help feeling a bit proud of himeself, that he had been able to secretly do that.

The more FeiWan looked at that calm, gentle face, the more worried he felt. This was something so unlike the strong, intimidating man that he knew, that FeiWan would have only expected him to behave anything like this if somehow he managed to get him dead-drunk. Which was in itself close to impossible, since CalRimRan didn't touch anything with alcohol in it. None of the Demon Clan did.

Taking a deep breath, FeiWan decided to pull the chair, that accompanied a small writing desk, closer to the bed. Sitting down, he crossed his legs and prepared himself to wait. His belly growled again. But there was no way he was going to leave that stubborn man on his own. He was more than certain that, even if he were to die, CalRimRan would never ask for help. No. He would sit there and he wasn't taking his eyes off of him for as long as needed, until CalRimRan finally woke up and went back to being himself again!

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Good doggy! Waiting for his master to wake up. LOLOLOL (evil, evil writer, I know! 😈)