Chapter Text
“Jude?” A familiar voice speaks into her ear.
Jude peels her eyelids open to find the sun has already set some time ago. Sitting next to her on the bed is Cardan, his black eyes staring at her. “Are you interested in joining us today?” He said with a classic smirk.
Jude flips onto her stomach, pushing her head into the pillow with a flair of dramatics usually claimed by Cardan himself. She groaned into the fabric, before deciding to push herself up from her horizontal position. Now sitting up, Jude slid herself closer to the edge and eagerly found her way into his inviting arms.
While she normally found his warm skin to be a comfort, today Jude found the heat almost unbearable against her already warm skin. She makes a note to ask one of the servants for a lighter blanket for the next evening. Although, the idea of going back to sleep still seemed ideal, especially if she was not alone.
Cardan pulls her in close to him so that Jude is almost sitting on his lap. “Are you feeling okay? I can tell the counsel you are unable to attend the meeting today if you wish?” Even without looking up from the cradle of his neck, Jude could feel his protective glaze staring at her.
“No, no. I am fine. I have just been tired lately. It must just be from the extra training sessions I have been doing with Ghost.” Cardan rolls his eyes but knows better than to tell his wife not to do something. If anything, she might push herself harder just to spite him.
“If that is the case, then I will see you at the meeting.” He gives her a soft kiss on her temple. The electricity of his touch lingers even after he gets up to leave. Once the door shuts behind him, Jude suddenly feels the urge to relieve her “human needs” and runs to the bathroom of the royal chambers. When she reemerges, Tatterfell is there waiting to dress her for the day.
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At the end of the week, there would be a grand revel taking place in honor of a newly succeeded ruler of one of the lower courts. The new king would be coming to re-pledge the court’s loyalty to the crown. Jude was assured that it was more of a formality, that conveniently called for a celebration to take place. Cardan, wanting to showcase the crown’s hospitality, and not wanting to miss an opportunity for a party, had servants running around busy preparing every detail according to his instructions.
While Jude did not care much for the celebration which would likely last well into the sunlight the following day, Taryn was going to be visiting before the revel, giving the sisters time to catch up.
It had been over a year since Jude’s official crowning as High Queen of Elfhame. During that time, she and her sister had been able to come to terms with much of what had happened between them. Of course, Jude could not help but feel the occasional pang of betrayal when reminded that Taryn had on several occasions chosen to side with someone other than her. Yet, Jude was not entirely innocent herself.
It turns out being in charge of Elfhame could be exhausting work and Taryn was busy running her household. Taryn and Jude had not been able to see each other in over a month. Jude was happily anticipating her twin’s arrival. Despite the excitement, Jude could not ignore that sour feeling in her stomach as she sat in the Living Council meeting.
Randalin is explaining the possible concerns relating to the transition of power, but the council is in agreement that the event should go as intended. Cardan confirms that the Court of Shadows has not found anything that raises concerns either.
Once they began discussing strategy for the day of, Jude felt herself uncharacteristically tuning out the council members and focusing on taking shallow breaths to prevent herself from showing everyone her breakfast. Cardan peered over at her as she sunk into her seat, noticing her rigidness.
“Everyone, let us continue this conversation at a later date. I am no longer willing to be present and wish that my dear wife join me.” Some members looked to Jude to see if she would intervene, as she normally was attentive in meetings, but soon realized it was no use. There was some muttering among the council, but everyone had grown to accept the high king’s dismissals.
The second that every councilor had left the room, Jude shot up and ran to the far corner of the room where she had been eyeing a bucket for the last minute.
Having used all her energy to make it to the bucket, Jude found that she could not make it out of the room with the bucket before dropping to the ground and throwing up.
Cardan had crossed the room in a second and was pulling back Jude’s hair before she could begin to tell him off.
“Please leave me. I don’t want you to see me like this.” Jude groaned before becoming sick again. Cardan used one hand to hold the part of her hair that was not pinned up with the other resting on her now trembling back.
“If I recall, this makes us even for the time you saw me while I was poisoned the day of our wedding night.” Cardan teases quietly. “If I had known this is what you were going to do, I might have allowed the meeting to continue. I am sure the council would have postponed any meetings we had for several days after seeing this.”
Jude rests her head in her hands and groans again. This was already embarrassing, if she had thrown up during the meeting she might never be able to look at any of the councilors again. After a minute, she summoned all of her strength to stand up and began to make her way to the door. Cardan’s hand steadying her as they went.
Without a word, the pair lead their way back to the royal chambers. Jude kept her head down to avoid eye contact with anyone and hoped no one noticed her pale clammy skin. Thankfully, with a single look, Cardan could strike fear into anyone who starred a little too long.
While their chambers were only a short walk from the meeting room, it felt like an eternity of endless hallways to Jude who was still unsure if she would be brought to her lowest again.
As they entered the threshold of their room, Jude heard Cardan ask the guards to send for The Bomb, who had the most human-illness knowledge and used to treating his wife. Jude did not linger to listen and went to the bed to lie down.
Thoughts of her breakfast came to mind. It was a standard spread of fruits, cheese, and cakes. None of the food stood out to her as possibly causing food poisoning. Poison? She thought about it for a moment but concluded it couldn’t have been. She was well versed with the effects of commonly used poisons from her time using mithridatism. Yet, it was possible it was a poison she was unfamiliar with.
The Bomb comes into the room without so much as a knock. Jude feels too sick to care and Cardan who is standing to the side of the room barely acknowledged the noise as his eyes focused on Jude lying on their bed.
“Listen, I am going to look at you, but try not to yak on me.” The Bomb chuckled.
Once The Bomb looked Jude over, she came to the same conclusion as Jude had earlier; it was not poison. Jude felt relieved and had begun to feel better through the check-up and was now sitting upright in bed. Cardan sat inhumanly still in a nearby chair, no longer looking at her, but rather he looked intensely focused on the floor.
“You are not in danger of dying. I would just take it easy and see if you feel better soon. Your skin already looks better, so I think you’ll be fine.” The Bomb stood up and exited herself from the room. As the door shut, Cardan appeared as though the sound had shocked him from his thoughts. He then walked over to the bed and looked longingly at Jude, taking his hand and gently caressing her cheek.
Jude couldn’t help but blush from the intimate stare and the softness of his touch. Cardan’s mouth parts as though he is about to speak, but he quickly presses them back together as though rethinking it. At last, he shakes his head smiling and sighed, “Let’s get you into a more comfortable dress.”
Jude tried insisting she was feeling better, but Cardan refused to hear it. “Enjoy your day off. You deserve a rest,” he said with total sincerity. He began to untie the back of her dress, his fingertips sending waves of electricity as they brushed ever so lightly on her skin. The dress fell to the ground, leaving Jude with only a thin slip covering her body. The slip was still clinging to her skin from the thin layer of perspiration that had accumulated over her from being sick. Jude took the slip off and let it fall to the ground next to the wardrobe, not worrying about modesty in her current state.
Normally, the sight of her standing naked before him might have caused the two of them to quickly find themselves twisted on the bed, but Jude did not trust her stomach, nor did Cardan make any moves besides walking with her to the bathroom. Cardan drew her a bath and helped her in. The warm water felt nice on her skin.
Carden leaned down and said, “I have to take care of some time-sensitive matters, but I will be back soon to check on you.” Jude nodded, torn between wanting him to stay and fearing he might witness her getting sick again. He pressed his forehead to hers, resting it there for a moment, before quickly exiting the room, leaving Jude to remember the events of the day.
She wished she had just stayed in bed today.