Chapter 13 13
Odette's Pov
With Caesar's help, we moved Aaron to the healer's clinic and since then, I haven't moved from his side.
I didn't even get up when the healers stitched his wound or when they laid him on his bed or when they said he should've woken up by now. I stayed by his side. I held his hand through all of it.
“Please, wake up, Aaron,” I whispered for the umpteenth time that day.
My only reply was the rise and fall of his chest. He didn't open his eyes. He didn't say a word. He was just… asleep.
Tears prickled my eyes as he took in a very slow, painful breath. Why is this happening to him?
“My lady,” A hand fell on my shoulder. It was Clarisse. “You need to sleep. You've been awake for 3 days now.”
“It doesn't matter.” I shook my head.
“Yes, it does.” She countered.
“I'll sleep when he wakes up,” I said, brushing hair back from his forehead.
Knowing I wouldn't move from where I sat, she sighed. “Alright. But if you need anything, don't hesitate to call me.”
Minutes bled into hours till I couldn't tell if a day had passed or not. Everything outside this room didn't feel important at that moment. Only he did.
While waiting for him, I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep and it worried Clarisse.
One night, she knelt beside me and held my hands with tears in her eyes.
“Odette, please... you have to keep your strength. You haven't eaten in days and Aaron will not be happy if he finds out you were starving.” Her voice cracked at the end.
I swallowed hard. She was right. Aaron wouldn't be happy if he knew I was starving myself. So finally, and after a while, I stood up but only to get something to eat, then I would run back to him. I didn't want him to wake up alone.
Clarisse helped me with my bath and a change of clothes before she ushered me downstairs. To my surprise, when I entered the dining hall, I saw Leila at the table.
Her head turned and when her eyes landed on me, she offered me a small smile.
I was completely stunned. The last time we spoke, she had warned me coldly, to stay away from Aaron. And now, she was here? Who keeps letting her in?
She stood and approached me. “Odette…”
“What are you doing here?” I asked in a clipped voice.
She flashed me a watery smile. “I heard what happened.”
I took a step back. “What did you hear?”
She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Odette.”
“He's not dead!” I yelled, hearing the crack in my voice. She was the last person I wanted to see me cry but I couldn't stop myself.
“I know he isn't,” she whispered softly. “I'm sorry for what I said earlier. Everything must be so hard on you.”
I should've found her voice hostile but it wasn't. Instead, it was gentle, far too gentle that it caught me off guard.
“You care about Aaron and it was completely foolish of me to say those things. Is he okay?”
I didn't know what to say at that moment. What do I even say? I believe you? It's okay? I'm okay?
She stepped closer and laid a hand on my shoulder. “Everything will be fine, Odette. Aaron is strong. He will come back to you.”
Suddenly, something inside me broke and the tears I'd been holding back, spilled over.
“But I'm scared,” I sobbed.
Leila pulled me into her arms.
“It's going to be okay, Odette.” She whispered, rubbing soothing circles on my back. “You're not alone. You have me.”
I stiffened at first but then the weight of everything hit me again. I melted in her embrace and let out hours of stress and anxiety until I ran dry. It wasn’t just fear, though that had been the tipping point. It was Aaron. The fear that he wouldn't wake up again. The fear that I might lose him.
Leila didn’t say a word as I sobbed out my fears on her. She just held me like a mother would her child until my tears dried enough.
“I’m sorry.” I lifted my head and swiped the back of my hand against my damp cheeks.
Of all the ways I’d pictured the night ending, having a mini meltdown in Leila's arms wasn’t one of them.
She smiled. “It’s alright, love. We're girls so we've got to look out for each other.”
I blinked the fresh tears away. I’d embarrassed myself enough already.
“Why don't we have dinner? I hear chicken's your favourite.” She smiled.
For some reason, I kept smiling at everything Liela said.
She was a good conversationalist and even a greater listener. But by the time we were done, I had finished two plates of food.
“How do you feel?” She asked kindly.
My cheeks heated and I smiled. “Good. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” She rose to her feet. “If you need me, I'll be in my room.”
“Okay.” I pushed back my seat and went back to Aaron.
He was as I left him — still, pale and peaceful in the most frightening way.
I sank into the chair beside his bed and took his hand in mine. “I'm here, Aaron. Won't you open your eyes?”
I waited for his fingers to curl around mine but it didn't. I exhaled softly, convincing myself that everything would be fine.
I took the fairytale book Clarisse had picked out for me from the library and began to read it. After reading it, I planted a soft kiss on his forehead. Exhaustion racked through my body and I closed my eyes to sleep.
I was barely a few minutes into my slumber when I heard someone call my name.
At first, I thought it was Clarisse but… since when did Clarisse have a masculine voice?
I threw my eyes to see Aaron tossing his head from side to side.
“Aaron!” I grabbed his hand to steady him. “Hey, it's okay.”
His hand gripped mine and even though it made me gasp because of how tight his grip was, I didn't dare away.
“Odette,” he said in a soft sob.
“I'm here,” I was fighting back tears at this point. “I'm here, Aaron.”
He dragged me closer this time and his arms wrapped around me desperately. And he did all this while unconsciously. It was almost like his body recognized mine before his mind did.
“Odette…” his breath shook against my neck.
“I'm here, Aaron.” I stroked his hair gently. Then I held him and sang lullabies to him until his breathing steadied and he fell asleep again.
I smiled when he mumbled something under his breath and relaxed. He was back. Aaron was back.
“Thank you for coming back to me.” I planted a soft kiss on his forehead before I drifted to sleep for the first time in four days.
By the time I woke up, the sun was already up.
Warm light brushed my cheek and I blinked. When I pressed my hand on the bed beside me, I felt… nothing. The bed was cold and empty.
I jolted upright. “Aaron?”
There was no answer.
I jumped out of bed, nearly tripping as I looked for my slippers.
“Aaron?” I called for him again but there was no response.
Was he… was he gone?
My heart slammed into my ribcage. “No. No, no. It can't be.”
I ran out of the room and down the hall. I asked the passing guards and every maid I saw if they had seen Aaron but none of them had.
My throat tightened painfully and tears blurred my vision.
I reached the garden, not caring if I was barefoot or if my gown was too thin. I had to see him.
“Aaron!” My voice broke.
I got an answer this time.
Technically, it wasn't an answer but… I found him.
He was standing alone in the middle of the field, surrounded by flowers. He looked so… peaceful.
As if sensing my presence, he turned.
I ran to him as fast as I could.
He blinked in surprise, taking a step back as I crashed into him.
“Aaron!” I cried, my arms wrapped around his neck. “I thought… I thought you left. I thought you were…”
His arms came up around me. Then his grip tightened until he was holding me like he was afraid I would vanish.
“I couldn't leave even if I tried,” he whispered into my hair.
A sigh of relief escaped me and I curled my fingers into his chest. “Don't scare me like that…”
He lowered his head and pressed his forehead against mine. “I won't ever. I promise.”
When I nodded into his chest, he just wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me off the ground.
I buried my face in his neck, breathing him in.
Aaron was back.
My Aaron is back.