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The Knight hums a soothing tune.
They have been here before, in these nerve-wracking moments where none of her skill with the blade can protect her queen. When the healers have done what they can, forced medicines down her throat, and now all anyone can do is wait.
Wait, and try to keep her comfortable.
These used to be the only times she would permit herself to sit by Her Majesty's bedside, as she does now. The Queen is drenched with sweat, freezing and burning up at the same time. She only stirs to groan and squirm under her blankets, trying to escape the soreness in her bones.
The Knight takes a cloth from a basin of cool water and wrings it out, wipes away the sweat on the Queen's face before resting it on her brow. Her Majesty relaxes slightly, stills.
The Knight continues to hum. This is how she protects her, right now.
She can see the Fool, gnawing on her thumbnail and pacing restlessly. She's never been in the room for this before, never had to watch. The dreadful waiting is torture to her.
"How do you stand it?" The Fool asks, and the Knight stops humming.
"A lifetime of practice." She says, and the Fool grumbles.
"Fat lot of good that does me. I knew she was- but looking at her-"
"I know."
"She's been like this for days!"
"I know."
"She's dying. A flu, and she's dying."
"She hasn't died yet." Says the Knight. "She has faith in us to keep her alive, you must have faith in her to live."
The Fool sits at the other side of her bed, burying her face in her hands.
"Fuck me."
"On Her Majesty's bed?" Asks the Knight, and the Fool snorts.
"Goddammit. Goddammit. What's wrong with her, anyway? Just, every time she gets sick, that might be it?"
"As I understand it, yes." The Knight says solemnly, and at that the Fool gets up and resumes pacing. "You don't have to stay."
"I'll know. I mean, I knew before, but- this bad?"
"This bad." She says, nodding.
"I hate it. I preferred the assassin."
"I know. Not all foes can be tricked, nor all battles won with ballad-worthy heroics."
"It's fucked, it's completely fucked- she doesn't deserve this."
"No one does." Says the Knight. "Why don't you get us some tea, we'll be here a while yet."
The Fool hesitates.
"What if- What if while I'm gone, she-"
"She won't." Says the Knight, dipping the cloth back into the cool water. "Not yet."
