Chapter 212 TEIGEN XXVI
ELARA
My vision began to blur and my head feel light. Winnie, Camilla and Philippa hurry to my side, holding onto me.
"My lady, you do not look well either" Winnie's worrisome voice felt like piercing needles in my head.
Camilla agrees, "You need to be attended to as well"
The fall may have shaken me up, but the reason for my light head and dizziness was from loosing control of my powers. Causing the ground to cave was an extreme exertion, I had only ever been able to make the floor rumble but this was a lot worse than I had experienced.
My body was not reacting well to my over use of my powers. Thankfully, it did not seem like anyone suspected anything.
I felt drained, my eyes weakening and my gaze distorted.
"I, I just need to lay down.." Without warning I felt my energy drain from my legs and my knees buckle beneath me. Lord Sawyer catches me, lifting me into his arms. I slump against him, much too tired to protest against his hold. Being this close to him was the opposite of what I needed. But I could not complain as black spots filled my vision and I passed out.
~
As I slowly wake from the tangled web of my dreams, I feel the weight of my own exhaustion. My eyelids, heavy as stone, struggle to lift. The air is thick and cold, clinging to my skin like a damp shroud. I shiver, despite the warmth of my velvet bed.
Sweat coated my forehead, my cheeks hot. I slowly look around, trying to take in my environment. Yes I sat in bed, but I was not in my bed, not my room. This room was nothing like mine. Where was I? And what happened?
My head throbbed, making me hiss in pain.
My thoughts are foggy, as if shrouded in a mist that refuses to lift. I try to recall the details of my dream, but they slip through my fingers like sand. Fragments remain: the sound of hooves on the ground, the feel of rough hands around me, safety, comfort surrounding me. The whispered words of a person.
But the meaning, the thread that weaves it all together, remains unknown.
I sit up, my head spins, and I had to grasp the bedpost to steady myself. The room, once a warm and cozy sanctuary, now feels cold and unforgiving. This room lacked the warmth and familiarity that mine inhabited.
I must find Augustine. Ryker, anybody. With a faint mission in mind I toss the comforters off my form, noticing the dress I wore. I frown, another odd thing to note. My night gown, so had it just been a long night's sleep? But in whose house was I? Whose room?
Inhaling a deep breath I brace myself, pushing my weight onto my feet. Not long after I regret the action, my knees giving way beneath me. My knees collide with the ground, causing pain to shoot up my already shaken body.
Grimacing I try to push myself up but I settle for dropping my butt down on the floor, deciding that standing was too much of a task at the moment.
The white doors open and in walks Augustine, folds of clothes in her hands. She steps in, her gaze casted low, her entire countenance saddened. She gazes up, her eyes finding my new dwelling spot. She gasps, her lids widening a fraction.
She abandons the clothes on the floor and rushes over to me, tears staining her vision. Poor clothes, why did she get to leave clothes on the floor but always scolded me when I did it?
She drops to her knees before me, her hands going every which way, her eyes frantically running about myself.
"M-my Elara!" She pulls me into a hug, sobbing into my neck. Confused and lost I run my hand over her back, trying to soothe her.
She pulls back, "Are you alright? Why are you on the floor? Please get on the bed, you are not to leave this bed"
Hoisting me up she helps me back into the bed, guiding the pillows so I could sit up. She swipes at her tears, more coming. I blink up at her, "Why are you crying, Augustine?"
A confused expression overshadows her face, "Do you not remember, my lady?"
"Remember what?"
"The accident at the tournament, using your powers. Sir Ryker saving you before the bull could-"
In a flash everything came back to me, causing another wave of pain to crawl under my skull. I moaned in pain, holding onto my head. It felt like my head was being split in two. Breadcrumbs of what happened were all I could recollect. The worst of it. A bitter taste filled my mouth as I remembered what Lord Sawyer tried to do, the rest was a blur.
"Please, do not stress yourself out my lady. The physician said you had lost so much energy, we were all terrified"
"Where am i?" I inquire
Augustine purses her lips, "You are at Lord Sawyer's holiday estate"
My blood ran cold. Of all places to be. Waking up in a forest would have been much better than here, the bull can have me now.
I bit my tongue, Augustine was not in the mood for any of my snarky remarks.
"Why?"
"After Ryker had saved you, you passed out and Lord Sawyer was so kind to carry you to get checked by the physician. He told us you had a serious concussion, and you had likely fainted from shock. The Grand Duke sent me to you, once we had gotten the news. One day after I arrived and you were still unconscious"
"We were all so scared for you"
I stopped her, "I was unconscious for one day?"
She gazes at me sympathetically, like she was about to unleash something on me.
"No, dear. You were unconscious for three days"
My heartbeat faltered, "what?" My voice was barely audible.
"Yes, everyone thought you were suffering from the concussion but I knew it was your powers. Other times when your powers would act out you would only cause the ground to shake, things would fall off the walls and that was it. What did your powers do at the tournament?"