The Royal Contract

"I found this in the medicine cabinet. It should help with the cold and the pain." He decided to give her the medicine tablet he found in the first aid kit. It would help prevent her condition from worsening.

"Thanks. Yes, I better drink one to be on the safe side." She took one tablet while he grabbed a bottle of water on the cabinet. 

He was thankful that at least some necessities were available in the shed. The caretaker must be restocking the shed for his needs. However, he made a mental note to have the shed repaired and stocked with additional supplies.

"Time for you to go to bed." He told her, noticing that she looked like she was about to fall to sleep on the chair. 

That was a bit of an exaggeration. Alex concluded that she might get drowsy with the medication she just consumed.

"What about you? Do you need a bed sheet and blanket for your bed? I'll look for another one." She remembered that she only took care of her room, where she would be sleeping. She forgot to bother helping him with his room.

"There is no need. I already took care of it, and I already have a blanket." He did not want to lie to her, but he did not want to bother her anymore. He only wanted her to rest. He would manage to find a comfortable place to sleep. The wooden floor in front of the fireplace seemed ideal for tonight.

"Ok. I better go to bed then." She could not stay and chat with him. She felt like a lead was placed on her eyelids, making her eyes droopy. But when she walked towards the room, she felt her muscles and joints protesting in every movement it made. 

"Do you need help?" He asked, but he did not wait for an answer when he saw her struggling in her every step. He immediately went to her side and placed his arm around her waist to support her.

"I think I can manage to go to the room on my own." She tried to wiggle her body away from him, but it was too much of an effort. 

She did not want to bother him. She was sure that he was as tired as she was. And she did not want to worry him. Whatever she felt would be cured by a good night's sleep, she thought.

"Please, I just want to help." He told her, but he already felt a slight fever as her body leaned against him. He knew that he had to watch her tonight in case that it turned into the full-blown flu.

She would not like it for sure, but he was not giving her a choice. As long as she was her fiancé, he had to protect and take care of her.

"I'm sorry. I don't want to be a burden to you." She still tried to stand up straight, but it was starting to be too much effort on her part.

"Please, don't force yourself. You are not a burden to me. It is my fault that you are sick." He was sorry that his wrong decision led them to this situation. He had to learn to be more mindful when it came to her safety.

"No. It was nobody's fault." She did not want him to blame himself. "Ok. You can help me, and then you can leave and rest too." She placed her hands on his arms to support herself.

"Ok." He answered so they would stop arguing.

Finally, she stopped protesting. Alex figured that it was already an effort for her to take another step. He decided to carry her instead to the bed. This time, she did not stop him anymore.

He placed the blanket on her, securing it around her body so that she would be warm enough. The room was warm enough because of the insulations, so it was good for her to sleep in it.

He was glad to see that she immediately closed her eyes when her head touched the pillow. And then fell asleep after a few minutes of steady breathing. She must be exhausted or very sick to fell into a deep slumber that easily.

He decided to take one of the chairs outside and placed it near her bed. He planned to watch her for a few hours until he was confident that her fever had subsided.

After an hour, he noticed that she was restless in her sleep. He moved closer to her and found out that her fever did get worse. He had to do something to lower it down. Then, she was starting to shake. She must be cold again.

He immediately went outside and took his blanket to use on her as additional cover. He also took a small cloth he found in the cabinet. He would wet the piece of clothing so he could use it to cool her fever down. 

"I'm sorry, but I need to wipe your body so that the fever would not go higher." He was uncertain of what he was doing, but he remembered watching this in a movie about first aid when no other resources were available to them.

He started wiping her face first, gently dabbing the wet cloth on her skin. Then he touched her forehead, testing if the cold towel was helping. When he felt that the heat toned down a little, he repeated the action. Then, he started wiping her neck, arms, and the things that the cloth could reach without taking her clothes off.

He did not want her to think that he was taking advantage of her in this situation. He might have seen her naked before, but that was with her consent. This time, he was making sure that he gave her the respect that she deserved.

It would seem to relieve some of the discomforts she felt as she calmed down and even her breathing. As soon as Alex finished, he stroked her skin again, and it would seem that the fever was not that hot as before. It appeared that it was not enough. 

Dani was still visibly shaking from the cold. The two blankets were not enough to keep her warm. He could not give her another medicine when she only took it more than an hour ago. There was only one more thing he could think of to warm her up.

"I'm sorry. I know you won't like this if ever you find out about it, but I have no options left." He spoke softly near her ears, hoping that she would hear his apology.

He then laid his body beside her in the small cot. It could barely accommodate his big body and hers, but he had to do it. He decided to hug her tightly, even putting half of her body on top of his. That was the only way that both of them would fit and be comfortable.

It would seem that she did not mind since she was unconscious from the fever. She even tightened her hold on Alex as the warmth coming from his body comforted her.

He believed that she was trying to appear strong, but she was aching inside. He admired her more because she was not like most of the women he knew. With slight pain, they felt like they were dying. 

Not only was Dani beautiful, kind, intelligent, but she was one of the strongest women he knew. She possessed all the traits in a woman he wanted in a wife. Then, he realized just where his thoughts went.

What was he thinking? Was he ready to commit to her? Was he falling in love with the woman in his arms?