Unexpected Surprises // Elias&Cady

[Cadence Black]

Once again Cadence Black found herself back in Avonderre just a few weeks after coming here for the first time. It was for the same reason that she was back in town. Queen Danielle had been so pleased with the tailor’s work during her first visit that she immediately commissioned more gowns and even some outfits for the King himself and his Council with them constantly complimenting the gowns. Her Majesty had asked the King if he wanted some outfits tailored by the women and he agreed instantly knowing how much it had meant to Queen Danielle. It had also been two months since she had arrived at Court and King Joscelin had slowly started to trust her so he had slowly lifted up the order to have her have guards accompany her wherever she went. She had nothing to hide and her loyalty would always be towards him and Queen Danielle both of whom had shown her nothing, but kindness and warmth ever since she had arrived there. She couldn’t ask for a better set of people to look up to and she could safely call Danielle her friend.
The carriage stopped suddenly lurching her forward releasing her from her thoughts as the door opened suddenly and she stood took the driver’s hand in hers and slowly stepped down from the steps.

“Thank you Malcolm.” She said with a smile as she headed inside the tailor store and Evelyn the manager stopped what she was doing and gave Cady a small hug. Having known Evelyn for over a year, she gratefully accepted the hug and gave her a smile.

“Hello my lady, it’s so wonderful to see you return back. We have Queen Danielle’s orders ready.” She told Cady with a grin motioning her workers to take them outside to the carriage and Cady smiled.

“Thank you on behalf of her Majesty, she was so in love with your dresses before. I imagine she will call on you more to design more dresses. Good day.” Cady said curtseying once more towards Evelyn and exited the shop where she saw a small stand where a gentleman was waving around some jewelry close by. She slowly raised an eyebrow and thought that maybe she could buy Queen Danielle a necklace to thank her for her friendship.

“My lady we are ready when you are.” Malcolm told her softly and she nodded.

“Thank you Malcolm, you may bring the carriage around. I shall be over there.” She replied pointing towards the stand and he nodded walking off towards the carriage. It moved and she slowly took a deep breath and walked over to the stand.

“Hello, you have beautiful jewelry.” She said with a sweet smile glancing down at the elegant huge sapphire necklace on display in front of her with the multiple diamonds surrounding it and she trailed over them with one finger. It immediately screamed the Queen’s name at her and she smiled.

“Excuse me sir, but how much is this necklace?” She asked curiously pointing towards the necklace and she was startled to hear the man whistle loudly. She stood up tall before she felt two hands grabbing a hold of her forearms and dragging her towards an alley. Her defenses were immediately raised and she opened her mouth to scream when she felt a cloth go over her mouth and she was pushed against the brick wall in the alley in broad daylight.

“Well well well look at what we’ve got here men.” One strong man said immediately snatching her pouch full of money while one man slapped her hard across the face. She let out a muffled scream against the cloth as she was forced onto the ground and was bound by her wrist using hard, stale rope that burned against her small, pale wrist. She was not surprised to see their boots connecting to her ribs pounding them hard and she was scared that they had broken one or two of them.

“Please don’t.” She begged over the cloth as she saw two pair of hands tear open her dress and her corset. She felt tears coming down her face, dampening her cheeks and she kicked one man away and soon found a knife against her throat.

“Move or we will not hesitate to cut your pretty throat my lady.” A man said snatching off her necklace and her jewelry, a gift from Queen Danielle only a few days ago. She groaned softly as the men’s hands were running up and down her body feeling every inch they could and one man even took a small dagger from his boot and slowly swiped her cheeks roughly. It also pierced her skin around her stomach and legs made her numb to everything around her. Her blood mixing in with the saltiness on her cheeks from her tears made it sting even worse and she cried out loudly before the skirts of her dress was being lifted up and her undergarments being torn off before hearing a loud noise interrupting the men. She did not even acknowledge the men hitting her once more all over the face before running off. Feeling someone else in her presence made her grateful that someone was there, however, she felt dizzy and every inch of her was in excruciating pain. What would happen next, she thought to herself before slowly closing her eyes feeling nothing

STATUS completeTAG Elias and Cady ATTIRE www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=14087037
LYRICS Moondance; Van Morrison WORD COUNT 855NOTES Richard is hot and mine lol
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Deleted]

It was overcast. The kind of overcast where neither the winds were up nor the meagre rays from the Sun particularly warm upon his brow. The exact kind where Elias was utterly puzzled as to how heavily he needed to dress. The physician only needed to collect a few foreign herbal supplies from the stalls by the dock but upon this dreary spring day he was wishing he need not even do that; the comforting seclusion of his home and practice was inviting him back to its quiet embrace already.

Alas, as Elias strode purposefully along the damp road he caught the muffled sounds of a commotion on the light breeze. He paused. As soon as it reached his ears, it had gone, however, and he continued on his way. There were always scuffles around the back alleys, even in Solraya; and Elias knew – he had been caught up in enough of them as a young boy. Heavens, he was often the one starting them, albeit innocently.

Whilst he continued on his way mentally listing what he needed in his mind the unsettling noises reached his ears again, and even more troubling still they sounded like those of a hushed woman. Normally Elias would not interfere with others’ disagreements, but a lady in distress was an altogether different matter – he would not and could not stand by whilst the fairer sex was taken advantage of, and so striding a little quicker he soon reached the source of the commotion, tucked just a little way down a backstreet alley. With a hand resting on the dagger hung at his waist just in case, he loudly cleared his throat to make his presence known. He had never been the type to scare easily – with his height and build (and penchant for dark colours) anyone could have been fooled for mistaking him a guard – but he had to admit that approaching a group (albeit a small one) of rogues was beginning to dawn on him as a foolhardy idea. What if they turned on him instead? They could easily take him down too. Morals will get you nowhere, Drogo, echoed the all-too-familiar words of his old university teacher.

“Leave her alone!” Elias intoned authoritatively, hoping it was enough. For a tense minute the thugs stared back insolently at him, but he held his nerve, and amazingly it paid off. They scarpered. Ran like the cowards they really were. A sigh of all too palpable relief escaped from his panicked lungs and he silently swore at himself for being such a gentleman. Never again. He was one of the most skilled physicians in the region but not even he would be able to patch himself up if he was set upon.

He shook his head and his eyes fell upon the woman whose aid he had come to. The sight appalled him. “M’lady!” Elias crouched down beside her, trying as professionally as possible to ignore the young woman’s distressed state of undress. Tears were flooding down her pale cheeks, as was her own blood. In fact, she appeared to be cut in numerous places, far too numerous to count. Instantly he loosed the rope that had been used to bind her delicate wrists and moved her hair from face.

“M’lady, are you well enough to walk? I am a physician.” He told her in earnest, keen that she should know he meant no harm as he slipped his coat from his shoulders and placed it around hers to cover her modesty.

[Cadence Black]

Cadence could barely feel her legs and arms right now. Every ounce of her body hurt from those horrible men and she groaned in both embarrassment and in pain. She could not believe what had happened to her and she wondered if she should even tell Queen Danielle of what happened. She hated having the guards around and now that this had happened, she knew that Her Majesty would insist on her having guards follow her around all over again. She finally had proven herself and this had only set her back. She convinced herself to stop crying ready for whatever it was worth. It would only cause more pain to her cheeks and she did not want that right now.

As someone yelled at the men they ran off suddenly leaving her alone almost dying in an alley as the same person ran over to her and asked if she was alright. Her eyes went wide at someone actually stopping to help her. What a kind person indeed, she thought to herself and he declared himself to be a physician. Her vision was blurry from the tears and she felt a bit dizzy from the wounds she had. She tried to cover herself as best as she could before she felt him unbinding the rope from her wrists. She groaned in pain trying to cover her bare chest and stomach as best as she could. She felt him shrugging off his jacket and covering herself with it. As soon as her hands were free, she tore off the cloth from her mouth.

“Thank you sir.” She said softly groaning in pain as his question from before stood out in her mind and she slowly shook her head no.

“I do not know sir, my ribs…they kept kicking me there. It hurts to breathe.” She added in softly groaning as she tried to take deep breaths, but all it did was cause tears to run down her face. Glancing up she saw him making sure she was alright and she could not help, but wonder why he seemed so familiar to her. She felt like she had seen him before, but she was not sure. Everything was blurry and dizzy with her right now so she knew she was not in the correct state of mind to make assumptions right now.

“What is your name sir?” She asked him softly more curious than anything.

STATUS completeTAG Elias ATTIRE Same
LYRICS Sputter; The Academy Is... WORD COUNT 405 NOTES RA!
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Deleted]

The state of the young woman lying in the dirt by Elias’ feet was almost stomach-turning. How could people do this to such a vulnerable, innocent girl? It deeply angered him that other men found no qualms in such abuse and he found himself gritting his teeth against the bile rising in his chest; rage and resentment were redundant now, his place was in aiding this girl before him.

He shook his head as she thanked him – there was no need – and listened carefully to her words. There would be no going to the docks today, this girl needed his undivided attention for as long as it would take. “Drogo... Elias Drogo.” He replied absently, glancing over the girl’s body; at least she did not appear to have fractured any major limbs. Her ribs would cause him trouble though. He would have to carry her, and even that would pain her, he knew.

“If you cannot walk, I am afraid I will have to carry you, madam. Is that okay? My practice is not far from here, and I daren’t leave you.” Elias told her, observing the poor girl’s skin flushing furiously as she pulled his coat tightly around her battered body. He found himself in an impossible situation with her – no matter what he did she would be in pain. There was absolutely no way that he could leave her to get the help of another though, especially as the poor girl was so vulnerable right now; both her body and her modesty were in tatters and he was far from willing to risk any further harm coming to her. A stranger though she may be, she had once been well dressed, and had thus placed herself directly in his care.

Her tears were still rolling down her torn cheeks in pain though, and beneath the depths of his coat he could see her chest struggling to breathe comfortably. He bent lower to look her closely in the eye. “Please, try to breathe slower, miss. I know it must be difficult, but it will be more comfortable.”

[Cadence Black]

Numb.

That’s the only thing Cady felt right now at this moment in time. She could not feel her body or even feel anything inside except humiliation and embarrassment. She was eternally grateful for the physician’s care even though it was indeed his profession. Her modesty and humiliation was at risk right now if anyone else say and she was also defenseless. She wanted to curse herself for being so naïve and innocent right now. She should have known better. She moaned loudly as she felt the man start to glance her over and had even tilted her head very gently to examine her cuts and bruises all over there.

She smiled the best she could do right now as he introduced himself, and for some strange reason his name was awful familiar towards her. Then it hit her as he began talking to her about having to carry her to his practice. He had taken care of her several times when she was younger in the Court of Tyrian. He had received the trust of the King and Queen and he was the court physician for the longest time. According to Charles, Cady wouldn’t let any other physician near her except him. She couldn’t believe her luck right now.

“Elias Drogo, you were the court physician of Tyrian for a few years were you not?” She asked him curiously yet softly glancing over at him. Sure he was a few years older than her, but it was him. If she trusted him back then, then she trusted him immediately now.

“You took care of me when I was a young child so I will trust in your best judgment now. I beg you please don’t tell anyone what I am about to tell you. I recognize you because you treated me as the Princess of Tyrian, Catherine Stewart. I am known here as Lady Cadence Black, Lady-in-Waiting for Her Majesty Queen Danielle of Solraya. Please I beg of you, I will do anything you ask of me, but you must never speak of this beyond this alley or your practice.” She told him softly and ignored his reaction as she groaned loudly in pain arching up as he examined her ribs.

“No that is fine if you have to carry me Sir Elias, I trust your judgment completely.” She replied back softly covering herself once more as he asked her softly not to breathe so loudly and to take slow breathes. She nodded and tried her best to do as he told her to do, but the pain was excruciating.

“It hurts so badly,” She groaned trying to hide the tears falling down her cheeks and hissing as they made contact with her scratched cheek, “Please hurry.”

STATUS complete TAG Elias ATTIRE Same
LYRICS Moondance; Van Morrison WORD COUNT 458 NOTES Happy Birthday Pippy <3 ya!
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Deleted]

Elias had judged almost instantly that this girl’s injuries were not immediately life-threatening but at this instant in time she seemed clearly in such agony that he had no wish to waste any further time, and the sooner he got her cuts cleaned up the better. There was too much dirt around for his liking.

“Okay...” He began, more to himself than anything, as he tried to formulate the best method of picking her up with minimal pain. At her words, however, he raised an eyebrow and glanced up at her. Few people remembered him from his days at the Tyrian court – within Tyrian for his services, yes, but not the court. He cleared his throat and nodded curtly, wondering who this girl actually was. It was puzzling, extremely so.

As she continued, it all suddenly became too apparent though. Elias paused and fixed her a long stare, distractedly trying to search her eyes for any sign of falseness. But there was none, all that consumed the poor girl’s eyes were stricken tears and a glimmer of – what? Hope? Trust? This could not be. The little princess who had once placed her trust in him so deeply, the Catherine of Tyrian, right here, in the backstreets of Avonderre? It made no sense. She had been missing for a couple of years now. Her father had raged and raged – Elias remembered it well, despite not frequenting the court a lot in that period of his life – and he was certain that the king would rage still if he knew that his lost daughter was practically under his very nose. But here she seemingly was, imploring with Elias not to tell a soul. He had not seen the princess for years, but it certainly looked like her now that she had told him – the pretty, rounded face was still there, despite being hidden beneath layers of blood and dirt. If it wasn’t Catherine Stewart, well, she was certainly a good pretender. It wasn’t Elias’ place to judge though, not whilst he had a duty of care – princess or vagabond, he had stepped in and she would receive his medical attention as he had promised her. He cleared his dry throat again.

“It is just Elias, I am no knight, nor do I own any land, miss– my lady.” He corrected himself. She could masquerade as she pleased – Catherine or Cadence – but he would address her as was correct for her position (likewise, he was no ‘sir’, and never would be). He was baffled as to why Catherine was telling him all of this though; why ruin her cover? She had disappeared off of the map for two years now – she had no reason to tell him who she really was; Elias doubted he would have recognised her had she not said anything. This was surely risking everything, considering she knew just how close he had once worked within her father’s kingdom.

Still, as he had told himself, it was not his concern. He would just have to accept this new information and decide how to act upon it later; he would not tell anyone, not unless necessary – a physician ought to remain as confidential as possible at all times, and Elias tried to ensure that he was no different. “My forgiveness if I seem distracted, but this is quite the revelation to me, m’lady, and certainly not one that I had expected any time soon... I am glad that you place your trust in me though, you may need it for what is to come.” He said with slight apprehension, temporarily avoiding saying anything further as he shifted his weight and slipped one arm beneath hers, encouraging her to put it around his shoulders. “I’m going to lift you up. Please, put your arms around my neck. I beg your pardon if it hurts, my lady.” He apologised pre-emptively, trying to professionally as possible slide his other arm beneath the crook of the princess’s knees. This was a surreal situation indeed.

[Cadence Black]

Cady still couldn’t quite believe that the man who used to be her physician was in front of her helping her right now. Elias was one of the only few men who treated her right around the courts when she was younger. He really took care of her whenever she was ill or to bring her certain kinds of medicine so she could not get ill. She would never tell him this, but she use to pretend to get sick sometimes so that she really could see Elias once again. She suddenly remembered the small nickname for him that she had came up with when she was four years old since she could not pronounce his Christian name at the time. She had called him Elly and he did not seem to mind whatsoever. He always called her Princess and she loved it when she was younger. Little girls always dreamed about being princesses in a fairy tale, but Cady’s life was nothing of the sort. Elias knew that too since he often saw the King’s rage. Elias had left court when she was coming into her own in her teenage years and she had been devastated and heartbroken for months.

She had finally told someone else despite Queen Danielle’s wishes to keep that information private, but she knew she could trust Elias once more and that he would not betray her. She did not regret her decision and she glanced over slightly to see his reaction. He was surprised to say the least yet he still maintained his professionalism and addressed her as a lady. She snorted a tiny bit tempted to even roll her eyes.

“Nobles and kind gentlemen no matter their rank I always call sir. I only ask your forgiveness in speaking so boldly. I did not wish to be dishonest with you. I always have and probably always will call you dear sir. I know who you are and you are one of the most kindest, loyal and respectful men around. I still trust you, even when I am in such pain that I can barely move.” She replied back groaning a bit as she moved a bit trying to move closer to him so he could lift her up easily. He was tight she would be in pain no matter what, but she did trust him. No matter what the cost was.

“Alright let’s just do this quickly so I will not keep you long.” She told him softly as she got the hint to wrap her arms around his shoulder as he carefully lifted her up. She hide her face into his strong, gentle chest groaning into it while her hands gripped onto his coat tightly covering herself once more. She leaned her head more against his chest and sighed quietly yawning a bit, fighting the temptation to close her eyes. She was now getting tired and dizzy from the day’s events.

“Remember I use to call you Elly?...Elly.” She asked him softly not able to fight her eyes and she slipped them shut as his movements and the comfort of his chest made her at ease for once.

STATUS complete TAG Elias ATTIRE Same
LYRICS Moondance; Van Morrison WORD COUNT 526NOTES Richard is still hot lol.
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Deleted]

Not for the first time in his life came a feeling that settled over Elias all too akin to that of unease, something that was equally all too intrinsically related to the Stewart family. It wasn’t particularly unsettling, just... normal. Disquiet was a sensation that had been steadily growing rather familiar in the local kingdoms and it was far from abnormal to Elias, but suddenly seeing his once favourite little princess all grown up, attacked, and in hiding from her own father sent an unpleasant shiver to his core.

He ignored Catherine’s unladylike snort – a trait that had always set her apart – and swiftly braced himself as he lifted her up within his arms; clearly she was still at least part the princess she had once been, a fact that became even more tangible when she loosely corrected him upon his formal address. The little girl always did have a lot of opinions to voice, and it didn’t surprise Elias that for one moment that she was still doing so. He was sure he must have flushed, somewhat humbled by her complimenting of him; he was no such man. There were things he had done, acts he had seen, and information he had given that could all incriminate him of that. One could argue that it was pressured from him, but still, Elias felt in no position to receive the innocent trust of such a young lady as Princess Catherine.

He nodded shortly, holding her tightly as he bore the small strain of her light body from the alley and onto the cobbled thoroughfare, weaving carefully amidst morning vendors. “You humble me, madam. I am in no such position to welcome your trust so.”

No doubt she would argue back with him, she always did. Having said that, Elias felt something soft press against his chest and, as he glanced down, he caught sight of the young princess leaning her head into his torso with a nearly invisible yawn. A crooked smile snatched at the corners of his lips in amusement – Catherine really was no different to that sweet little girl he had first laid eyes upon at fifteen years of age. He had been so nervous, so young, and barely two years into his schoolwork. It had been a trial of fire alright, but she had evidently calmed him – as he had her – and King Andrew had seemingly welcomed him back to his court with open arms upon obtaining his doctorate. It was both reassuring and terrifying.

Elias’ ears pricked when he heard a murmur gently leave from Catherine’s lips. At first the words didn’t register, but upon repeat they clicked and he nearly faltered in his stride. Elly? He hadn’t heard that name for him since... Well, since she had last called him such. His family had only ever shortened his name to Eli, even his sisters. Elly, though? That really did transport him back to the Tyrian court.

“Yeah...” He replied slowly, lost in thought as he continued to carry the young princess in his arms, “Yeah I do.” It may have been a good few years since that name had last passed anyone’s lips but it rung in his mind like a distant yet unmistakeable bell. He didn’t quite know what else to say; it was a name that brought back a lot of strangely fond yet somewhat suppressed memories. Elias had enjoyed the growing friendship that had unexpectedly blossomed between him and his patient – perhaps because she had so innocently placed her trust in him without question, like she did now – but the court Catherine belonged to had far too many unsavoury affiliations and allegiances.

[Cadence Black]

It took a lot for Cady not to instantly fall asleep in Elias’ arms right now. She had studied a bit of medicine from books and learned enough from Elias himself that she needed to stay awake in case she had a concussion or something similar like that. She had never told him that she had studied over any kind of books that she could get a hold off regarding medicine or anything that Elias enjoyed. She had always wanted to learn more about medicine anyways not that she would or could do anything like that in real life. Her father always got so annoyed when he found her in their library back in Tyrian late at night reading over books with a candle lit next to her. She was still shocked as ever to see him here. He had left the Tyrian court years ago and she did not blame him. In fact she had left the court herself and she figured he would have asked her how she ended up in Avonderre herself. She was curious about him anyways and had been so sad when she had heard that he had left Tyrian. Sad enough that she had cried herself to sleep for a few nights and that she didn’t trust any other physician besides him. Even when she had gotten sick, she wouldn’t let anyone near her except when her father ordered her to stop being stubborn and had his own physicians tend to her.

She sighed softly into his chest his scent slowly filling her nostrils as she slowly found herself fighting to stay awake.

“Elias please you must not tell anyone I’m here, my father…he…he would hurt me. I do trust you.” She said softly before groaning at what her father could do if Elias would turn her in. He would be furious and she would be under surveillance the entire time back in the court there. She would miss Queen Danielle and King Joscelin and their hospitality and friendship especially Danielle’s. And Elias. She would miss him dearly. Her father could never find out.

A few seconds later, her eyes jolted open and she groaned in pain when she shifted a bit in his arms. She would be forever grateful that Elias had been there and reacted quickly. She could have been hurt even worse or even dead with how much men could be rats sometimes. She groaned a bit more wincing at the pain as she watched him enter a building and set her down on a table. Instinctively, she wrapped his coat around her more seeing that her dress was ruined for good. Shreds of it were hanging off everywhere around her body.

“You remember that? How sweet, you were always my favorite physician. After you left I was so sad wondering if I had made you leave. I wouldn’t let anyone treat me until I was forced to, you know. Why did you leave Tyrian? Not that I blame you though.” She asked him softly watching him move around gathering tools. She was dreading what he was going to do, but she did still trust him.

STATUS complete TAG Elias ATTIRE Same
LYRICS Moondance; Van Morrison WORD COUNT 525 NOTES Still hot
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Deleted]

“I will tell no one.” Elias replied softly as he continued to stride down the street with Catherine in his arms. It was as close a promise as he could (and would) make to her; he would stay true to his word providing no extenuating circumstances arose, which he sincerely hoped they didn’t. He had no wish to betray the princess’s trust, not ever, not when she had always placed it so deeply in him; he just hoped that the time never came when he was forced to do otherwise.

Glancing down, he could tell that she was gradually drifting off and Elias was glad to reach the doorway of his home and practice. Catherine needed treating and as soon as possible – her skin had visibly paled and it worried him, as it always had when she was a little girl. He shifted her in his arms – thankfully strong even for a physician – and reached for the iron key he kept safely in the pocket of his dark breeches. After a few precarious moments of balancing Catherine, he managed to turn the key in the lock and the solid oak door clicked open with a familiar, welcoming creak, at which point he gently kicked it shut behind him as he crossed the threshold and wove through a couple of darkened doorways before reaching the better lit south-facing backroom. It was his surgery, of sorts. As a physician he never practiced the same methods as surgeons but he needed just as much room and light, not to mention shelves and cupboards to store all manners of items. Truth be told, it was organised chaos; every shelf was filled with tiny bottles and from every hook hung drying herbs. Even the cupboards were full to bursting with instruments, some of which he admittedly kept hidden there so as to cause less of a scare to his more nervy patients.

Catherine, thankfully, truly did to seem place her utmost trust in him though. That or she was too delirious from blood loss and shock to think any better. Either way, Elias carefully laid her down upon the central wooden table, a sense of relief gradually reaching his arms as he loosely shook them out and fetched a meagre excuse of a cushion to place beneath her head. Poor girl. She looked awful. As she spoke though, he nodded before feeling his mouth grow increasingly dry. The subject of his leaving the court was a little delicate and still hung on him with a shameful tinge of regret.

“You could have never caused me to leave.” Elias murmured as he walked around to the counter beneath the window, turning his back to Catherine with a quiet clear of his throat. He was touched that he had been her favourite physician – it honestly meant a lot to him – but leaving had been something of his own doing. Whilst maybe, ultimately, it had been a good thing (citizens of Tyrian seemed to have shorter lifespans on the whole...) Elias still felt shame for having left so suddenly. He had known that Catherine liked him, perhaps even considered him a friend – as he had her – but he had simply made things too difficult for himself.

He glanced over his shoulder slowly, picking up long, clean strips of linen before soaking a soft sponge beneath the basin tap. “I became entangled with a noble’s wife,” Elias admitted quietly, feeling no need to say anything further on that particular subject as he rinsed the excess cold water from the sponge and turned around to face her. “I am sorry I caused you upset, my lady. If things had been different I may not have left... In the meantime,” he addressed her, clearing his throat again, “I will see to your face first. It will be cold, and may sting.” Elias warned her as he leaned over her and gently began to press the damp sponge to her cheeks.

[Cadence Black]

Right now the only thing that could placate Cady right now were the words and trust she had in Elias right now. Surely she felt as if she could really trust him once more. He had never let her down before until he had left him abruptly leaving her without a physician. She could vaguely remember how angry her father had been and how surprised Charles and her had been. Charles had been shocked while Cady had just been sad. He wasn’t only her physician, there had been several time he had escorted her around the gardens in private when he was studying and her just wanting some fresh air. The first day they had met, he had escorted her around the gardens immediately to make sure that she was not alone since they all knew how much her father would disapprove of her going anywhere without escorts around.

Now hearing him confirm that he would never reveal who she was to anyone made her relax a bit more, “I must insist that you should call me Cadence or Cady now. So you do not raise any suspicion especially if you are questioned.” She told him softly as the door opened to his practice and she felt herself being placed gently on the table. She slowly frowned when she heard him slowly confess that it was not her that caused him to leave Tyrian in the first place. She felt a small sense of relief before it was being replaced with pain as she slowly moved shifting around on the physician’s table. Slowly glancing around as he went to grab a towel, she saw a typical physician’s office room would look like. She had never seen it before hand since most of the time he was summoned towards the palace where he would examine her there in her own bedrooms.

Hearing what exactly caused him to leave and apologizing for hurting her when she was younger, Cady couldn’t help, but smile a tiny bit. It was comforting to hear although it was unnecessary. She watched him walk over to her and warn her that it would be sting a bit before he slowly began to clean her cuts around her face. She hissed from the pain and instinctively moved away from
him, but then remembered that it was Elias not anyone else.

“Do not apologize for what happened in the past dear Elias, I beg you not to even dwell on it anymore. I was only curious before I realized that I was being too curious. I always have been and I suppose I will always be too curious. I am sorry that you were hurt from all of that. You are a good man you do not deserve that.” She told him softly staring at him wanting to reach for his hand gently, but deciding against it not wanting to startle him after all these years. She settled back down on the small pillow he had found for her and winced in pain arching up a bit more.

“It…it hurts to breathe a bit Elly.” She told him softly finding herself suddenly short of breaths before turning over and began to cough violently covering her mouth instantly. When she was done a few seconds later, she felt nauseous and gasped in shock when she saw some blood on her hand. She slowly cursed herself mentally before slowly turning back towards him holding her hand tightly enough so he could not spot the blood, but not realizing that there was still some around her mouth from it. Taking slow breaths once more remembering his words from earlier, she slowly coughed once more and wanted to fall asleep once more. Those damn men, she thought to herself with a slight scowl on her face. The only good thing from that experience was being reunited with Elias once more.

[Deleted]

Elias ever so slightly raised an eyebrow and nodded as he continued to dab at the princess’s cheeks, vainly attempting not to cause her any more pain than necessary. “If that is your wish. You’ll forgive me if it isn’t an overnight change though, my lady.”

Even when it came to the instance where he may have to address his former young friend as Cadence instead of her birth name, he doubted he would ever be able to stop considering her as Princess Catherine; after all, he had spent over a decade up until now knowing her by that very name and that very title, and she was deserving of it. She was pretty, intelligent, and even when she had had her moments of downright stubbornness she had still been full of her own grace, even for a child. Flicking his gaze at her now made him realise how that same little girl had come so far in such a short space of time.

Then he snorted quietly. And gracious, Catherine was gracious too. “You are curious, and I would never wish to change that about you, but whether I am a good man or not I deserved everything I got. Men do not interfere with married women...”

Elias dearly wished he never had. Still, it was too late for regrets now, as she said. He had put that behind him a long time ago, and even though it had somewhat discouraged him from socialising with women he still knew it was possible to enjoy their company; after all, he had always considered Catherine like a younger sister to him when he first befriended her, and in some ways she still was. It pained him to see her in agony like this and yet he was usually so detached from his emotions whilst working. It struck him as peculiar, but he simply lifted the sponge from her cheeks with concern as she told him of her struggle to breathe.

“Where? Where does it hurt the most?” He asked her directly, a niggling awareness creeping forward from the back of his mind that, in order to bind her ribs, he would no doubt have to ask her to entirely remove her already torn dress and linen shift. His brow creased at the unseemliness of it before furrowing deeply instead at Catherine’s violent coughs. Cleaning her cuts up would have to wait – they weren’t deep – because right now he was most concerned by the spots of scarlet blood suddenly around her lips. There wasn’t much he could do to stop them appearing either, not apart from tending to her ribs. One of these days, he would employ his own maidservant for precisely these incidents...

[Cadence Black]

Cady was trying to steady her breaths as Elias instructed her to obey several times and she desperately wanted to obey him, but with every single breath she took, the more her pain would ignite and she would soon forget his instructions and go off into her own little world. She knew that he was only trying to help and would not misguide her in any way, shape or form so she did try to listen to him. She was use to taking orders anyways, however, she was perfectly fine doing whatever Elias asked of her. If he said take off her clothes, she would slowly. If he said to jump off a bridge and leave him alone, she would very reluctantly because she did not want to lose his friendship or trust once again. He could easily leave once more, he did the first time. He was not married or anything so nothing kept him here in the country.

She smiled slowly at him when he agreed to call her Cady and she understood his statement of getting use to it, she had to do the same, along with Charles.

“It is fine Elly as long as you don’t call me that in front of suspicious people. I am quite content here with life in Solraya and I do not want word to get back to my father and mother back in Tyrian. Charles already knows I am here. I often communicate with him throughout letters and he helps give useful and important information to the King regarding my father’s war strategies. I must ask you not to repeat that either.” She said softly and then winced in pain once more from her stomach, chest and ribs. It seemed as if everything inside of her was hurting badly when she steadied her breathing. Something was not right with her right now.

Listening to him snort a bit and talk about being improper, she did agree with him on that, “Well you must truly cared about her otherwise you would not have placed yourself in that situation Elly. Regardless of what happened to us in the past, I still care for you and only wish for your happiness. You were really my only true friend back home besides Charles. Please do not criticize yourself like that. You deserve so much more than you know. You deserve to be happy Elias no matter what happens to you.” She admitted to him softly before rolling over on the table to cough violently finding that when she was done coughing, there was more warm, fresh blood on her hand and it was threatening to spill onto her knuckles so she knew she could not hide that anymore.

Rolling back over, she slowly showed her hand to Elias who was in deep concern asking what hurt. She was even tempted to snort a bit, but could not as her body convulsed a bit and she slowly turned her head to face him.

“Everything hurts Elias mostly my ribs and chest, please help me.” She said softly as she lowered her hand staring at the blood and then wiped it from her mouth disgusted with herself. She knew it had not been her own fault, but she mentally cursed herself once more as tears fell down her wet cheeks once more wincing in pain wanting for the pain to go away.

[Deleted]

Listening whilst he tried to focus on working, Elias nodded. It was still weird adjusting to hearing the name Elly again, but then it was just as strange to be tending to the princess of Tyrian, his young friend. He was somewhat incredulous that she should be here in Avonderre – the very same place that he had chosen to settle in whilst drifting from place to place around the neighbouring kingdoms – but it was a pleasant surprise even though it wasn’t under the best of circumstances. Maybe they could have a proper reunion of sorts once she had recovered from all of this.

He looked at her now through concerned eyes, more greatly so than before. The occasional smile crossed her features every now and then but it wasn’t enough to divert Elias from the increasing amount of blood that she seemed to be coughing up, not even given the fact that she had just admitted herself a spy to him. Had he been less concerned for Catherine’s health, he might have worried for his own skin having just effectively been implicated.

“If I truly cared, I may have stayed well away.” He mused quietly in return before thankfully finding himself distracted. Her only true friend? It touched him deeply to know that and he gave Catherine a small smile, even though he personally doubted her further thoughts. He had a good life here, a quiet and lonesome life maybe, but that was by his own doing, and all the while he was able to put food in his belly and a roof over his head he was a satisfied man. He had never asked for much in life, and he had come a long way from that weedy little blacksmith’s son he had once been.

“You humble me, madam. Truth be told though, your presence made my mornings brighter when I was nought but a boy,” he replied quietly before observing her lips again and now her hand. It was more serious than he had first thought. He turned and bent down to retrieve a long roll of coarse linen from one of his cupboards before straightening and facing Catherine again. “Did this begin today? Coughing up blood? Or has this happened before?” Elias asked, trying to keep the apprehension from his voice as he removed the pin from the end of the linen and set it down on the table, “I apologise, most deeply, but I am going to have to ask you to stand up if possible, my lady, and... remove your clothes. I must bind your ribs.” Elias finished with a steadily increasing red flush. It was embarrassing to ask of any lady – let alone a princess and a childhood friend – and his eyes suddenly became fascinated with the floor. This was the epitome of indecent.

[Cadence Black]

Cady wondered if she was pushing her boundaries too far with her calling him Elly once again. She couldn’t help herself sometimes, old habits die hard with her sometimes especially if she had gotten close to him once more. Elias was the only real person besides Charles that she could have trusted back in Tyrian. She had been devastated once he had left, but it was still a bit of a shock to her what he had actually done. He was correct in saying that no one should get tangled with a married woman, especially a noble. He was lucky he had not been caught and tortured or even died. What if he had died and Cady would have found out some other way? She could not even think about it without tears threatening to form in her eyes. Or if her father had been the one to punish him, she would have probably been in the Tower with him because of her allegiance towards Elias was more obvious than it was and her father was jealous and angry. When it came to treason, King Andrew would not hold back in punishment even sentencing people to death for it.
His words of staying away if he cared enough startled her. She knew that being a physician required being caring and patience as he told her once when she was younger. She was confident in her beliefs that Elias made a wonderful physician and that’s why she still trusted him to this day. Plus she did not want King Joscelin and Queen Danielle finding out what had happened otherwise she would not be allowed to leave when she longed for air and quietness every now and then. Hearing him state that she made his days brighter made her blush yet smile at the exact same time.

“I thank you Elias, you do not have to lie to me like that. I’m sure your other patients would agree with me that you are an amazing, kind man whom truly cares about everyone. Otherwise you would not have stopped those horrible men from beating me worse. I could be in a much worse condition if it had not been for you.” She told him softly giving him a weak smile before wincing in pain more. He then asked her worriedly about if she had been coughing up blood before now back to his duty.

Cady slowly shook her head no, “No I have not otherwise I would be scared it could be consumption. Why is this happening Elly?” She asked him softly wiping her bloody hand onto her undergarments finding no use for them anymore since his coat had been covering her almost naked body since he had found her. She then watched him get the linen and asked her softly to remove her clothing knowing that he needed to bind her ribs.

She immediately blushed and nodded slowly as she slowly scooted towards the end of the table where she slid off of it gently as she placed his coat gently over a chair that was nearby. She slowly slid the torn dress down her arms and watched them fall to the wooden floor. She glanced down facing away from him once more before slowly removing her slip that was covered with blood and let it fall to the ground leaving her in nothing but her corset and her underwear. She was glad to get rid of the corset since it always caused her to seize in her breathing and she unlaced it and shook it off letting it fall to the ground. She then placed a bruised and bloody arm over her breasts before sitting back down on the table biting down on her lip trying not to cry out loud from the pain before slowly sliding back down trying to get comfortable once more as her face was unbelievably warm knowing that she was blushing incredibly hard.

“Hurry Elly please it hurts so bad.” She said glancing down slowly to see her ribs and stomach completely black and blue. How would she ever make it through this day and even back to the castle?