by Jones, Sarah
Louise could not avoid the bad feeling in her chest and the absurd to cry for that man. She crossed her arms over her chest and bit her lip, trying to keep herself in check because she was not alone in the room and could not let that man see her crying.
She stepped closer, just enough to get a good view of the wound on Said's arm. She felt a strong surge of nausea and she had to close her eyes so she would not succumb.
"Will he be all right?" She asked the man.
She heard him sighing, then her steps as she walked through the room.
The dagger was poisoned and hit the muscle. If I do not administer the correct remedy, the venom will cause an infection that can lead to death - he said.
Louise turned quickly to the man.
"And why are not you doing this right now?" Her voice sounded so sharp and accusing that it startled her.
The master of healing turned his gaze to the window and took a deep breath.
"I need an oil that is found only in the city." Without it I can not prepare the medicine properly, "he explained.
The lady looked at the Sheikh and thought for a moment.
"Send a guard to find what you need," she suggested.
"No one could find the oil without my help, foreigner. It is something precious and difficult to be found. But I have an acquaintance who could give me enough to heal Sheik.
With each passing minute, Said was getting worse, and Louise was beginning to suffer with him. He could not imagine the pain he felt and feared for what would happen if they did not treat the infection. And there she was, in the face of yet another great decision, the worst of them all. Could help save the life of Sheikh Hamed, his captor, the man who imprisoned her there.
"Go to town and get enough to heal him." I'll take care of Sheikh, "she said, looking at Said and then at the man.
"But ... It's a two-day trip if we continue through the night. I'm not sure Sheik will be able to survive by then, "said the healing master, visibly worried.
Louise looked back at Said, this time feeling that she was doing the right thing and that, yes, she would help keep him alive.
"Leave now, and I promise I will do everything in my power”
The man left without saying anything, leaving her finally alone with Said. Seeing herself alone, Louise gave in to the desire to sit on the bed next to the Sheikh and gently touch her hand on the side that was not injured.
He sighed as his skin felt so cold against hers and she could no longer control his tears when she saw the purple spots on Said's bare chest. She wanted to touch him there, so that his touch would help to heal the bruises. What else could she do but try to lower the fever and ask the heavens to spare the man's life?
Worst of all, Louise had no idea why she wanted to save Said's life. Why, she should want to see him dead! You should be happy, on your way to England. But instead she was sitting beside him, shedding tears of pity and looking desperate. What was wrong with her? Why did not she hate him as she wished?
She had had a great chance very close to his hands, but he had lost her!
"When I'm better, I'll make you reward me for being by your side." Realizing what she had just said, Louise rolled her eyes irritably. "It's so hard to see you like this, in silence, without issuing orders, or without trying to intimidate me," she said absently.
She put her hand on the bed and stood up, walking to the large window. She felt the warm desert air reaching her face and she sat up thinking about what she would do to keep Said alive.
"If you did not treat me so rudely, I think I could have affection for you," she said, unblinking, since she knew she could not hear her because of his unconsciousness. She leaned against the window and looked at the bed where he lay. "I'll never understand why you kidnapped me."
They had never met before, and Louise did not understand his sense of ownership of her. It seemed so strong that he would bring her to his palace. She knew Said did not do such a thing to the other women, which made her even more intrigued.
As she returned to the bed and lightly touched Said's face, Louise noticed him warm and her skin moistened. Nervously, she ran to the door, ready to call Karida, when she was surprised by a guard who was watching the room closely. Yes, she should have guessed they would not let her be totally alone with Sheik. Did they think she would kill him?
Ignoring the menacing sword, the man tried to use a friendly tone as she spoke.
"I need fresh water to reduce Sheik's fever," she explained, trying to use her best Arabic tone.
The guard looked at her suspiciously but then gave in. He pointed to the hallway, allowing her to follow.
With a shake of her head, Louise ran toward the kitchen, caring little about having a large, armed man following her carefully through each corner, after all, it was an old habit.
To the lady's happiness, the first person she encountered as she entered the kitchen was Karida, who gave the women orders, something about cleaning the floor.
"What are you doing here, miss?" She asked without understanding.
All the other women stopped working to pay attention to both.
- Sheikh has a fever again. Fresh water, Karida. Quick, "she said, panting, tired from running through so many corridors. It was a good thing she wore those light clothes that allowed her mobility.
The woman ordered one of the servants to go to the well to fetch the water, while holding Louise's hands and leading her to a corner to talk privately.
"Why are you taking care of our master?" Karida wanted to know.
Louise met the woman's shrewd gaze and shrugged.
"I do not know," she said honestly.
Karida touched Louise's chin, making her pay attention to her.
"It was your heart that made you go to him, did not you?" She smiled in complacency.
"I promised to take care of him, Karida. And I will, "Louise said, pulling away from her.
The woman arrived with a bowl of water and placed it in the hands of the lady, who soon went to the room, not noticing the resplendent smile on Karida's face.
***
All that day, Louise set out to watch over the Sheikh, using damp cloths to lessen the fever that insisted on punishing him, and when she saw him shaking, he held her hand carefully, whispering in Arabic words of courage. Karida served her meals and helped to moisten Said's lips so they would not dry out, as well as make him drink from a leather canteen.
When night fell, bringing the typical desert cold, she wore thick blankets to warm Said's body, always being careful not to touch the injured side, and still worried about the purple spots on his chest.
"You need sleep, miss. I'll take care of him, "Najila said, touching Louise's shoulder as she settled into a wooden chair beside the bed.
"It is not necessary, Najila. I am fine. Once more she checked the temperature of Said's body and sighed with relief that the fever had not returned.
Without questioning her, the servant left the room, taking with her the tray that had been left over from Louise's dinner.
The lady, on the other hand, decided, after much reflection, that the bed occupied by the Sheikh was large enough, as was the whole bedroom, which had a connection to a private bathroom. So, she had no problem resting for a few minutes beside Said without causing him any harm, of course.
She removed her sandals and climbed slowly onto the bed, careful not to touch Said's body. She used one of the cushions on the floor to support her head and sighed with pleasure as she relished the softness of the bed.
Perfect. Now, besides relaxing a little, it would be easier to watch over Sheik.
She covered herself with one of the blankets and positioned herself so that she could stare into Said's face. He seemed calm now, without the traces of pain she'd seen before.
Louise smiled, thinking how beautiful he really was.
Probably the most handsome man I've ever met.
She spent more than an hour that way, concentrating on the details of the Sheik's face, al
most decorating the firm strokes, the outline of her full lips ... until she fell into a deep sleep.
***
Not all the swearing she knew would be enough at that moment to ease Said's feeling when he woke up. It was completely dark and, although warm, he was far from comfortable, the pain he felt was indefinable.
Obviously, he had already hurt himself many times during combat, but absolutely no pain compared to what he was feeling at that moment.
He tried to move his body, but his left arm burned like hell, and he cursed loudly, wondering how he would quench the thirst he felt. He noticed something moving beside him, touching his right arm. Someone was there!
Said? A small voice came up.
- Louise? He asked suspiciously. What was she doing there?
He felt the Englishwoman move beside him, coming down from the bed, and then he heard her footsteps hurrying through the room.
- What are you doing? "Was she running away from him?"
A candle was lit, and he noticed Louise approaching. The first thing he saw was his big eyes, peering at him with concern. Then Said felt something. It was a sense of relief to see her there and, it seemed, taking care of him.
- Are you thirsty?
The Sheik only shook his head, watching her fill a glass with water and lead him to him, holding him to drink. When he was satisfied, she tried to pull away, but Said grabbed her by the clothes, forcing her good arm.
Louise looked at him in alarm.
"Thank you." He thanked her and it was as if the young lady had been thrown to the floor.
It was the first time he had said that word to her, and even though it seemed meaningless, she made her feel happy for a moment. So much so that, unconsciously, Louise set the glass down and climbed back onto the bed, putting herself again beside him.
- Do you feel a lot of pain? She asked as she covered herself with the blanket again.
"It hurts like hell," he said, moaning.
- What happened? Louise stared at him, half-light giving him some protection.
He did not answer, just continued to stare. Then he surprised her as he took her by the hand, sliding his thumb across the palm, making sweet circles that left her breathless.
"I was attacked by robbers when I left a market," he explained. "I thought I could defend myself, but I did not anticipate a blow and I was wounded.
"You'll be fine," Louise assured him.
Said smiled slightly. His gaze was misty, lost.
"You do not have to lie to me, gazelle," he continued to stroke her hand, now more slowly. "I know the blade that struck me was poisoned, I can feel how bad I am. I am quite sure what will happen to me.
- No! She protested, squeezing his hand into hers. - The master of healing has gone in search of the missing oil for the remedy that will fight the infection. You'll be all right, Said. I'm sure - but I had no more. If he himself believed he could not bear it, how would she believe it?
Said closed his eyes as a wave of pain tore at him. She clenched her teeth, trying not to scream. I knew he did not have many chances. He had seen that happen to other men. It took a few hours for the infection to lead to a slow death, causing delusions and terrible pain.
- Can I do something to help? Louise asked, waking him to reality again.
Lie down next to me. Only that. "What else could it require?" Apparently, there was no one else to be by his side like that.
Silently, Louise did as he pleaded, leaning against his chest, being surrounded by his arm. He avoided the bruised area and, even in an uncomfortable position, remained there until he noticed that he had fallen asleep.
The light of the candle was extinguished, and Louise used the darkness to no longer reject the fear she was feeling.
Oh God ... Said was dying in his arms.
Chapter Fourteen
"I fear I can do nothing more, miss," Karida said, lowering her head, her eyes watering.
Louise controlled the tears and took a deep breath, searching for strength. She rinsed the cloth in a basin of water, turning it red, and then pressed it back on Said's arm.
It was dawn and in the last hours the Sheik had only gotten worse. Nothing that was done was enough to control the fever, let alone the delusions, which now became more frequent.
It was the poison acting on his body.
The lady had awakened during the night to feel that something was wrong and then she saw Said burning with fever. Desperate, she had sought help, but even soaking the man's body with cloth soaked in fresh water, the temperature did not subside. It all got worse when he started issuing disconnected phrases, asking for help. Probably dreamed of the attack.
- I need more water. Louise pointed to the basin, and Karida left the room to answer her.
As soon as she saw that she was alone, Louise locked the door and returned to Said. She removed the covers and found that he was dressed in a pair of pants. She did not hesitate even a moment when she decided to remove the piece from his body, let alone contain the blush when she saw him naked and memorized his virile body.
"England would all kick me out if saw me in this situation," she whispered as she doused the cloth once more and bathed the man's body.
Her hands trembled as they slid the cloth across Said's abdomen, because it was impossible not to be aware of the masculinity of that body and the attraction it wore to it.
It was all for his good, she told herself mentally.
She caught her breath by skirting her strong legs, since the angle at which she was positioned left her exactly close to a certain organ, which turned all her self-confidence into nothingness.
"Why do you always put me in difficult situations?" She asked, raising her eyes to Said, who was still asleep.
Already satisfied to be able to bathe the Sheikh, Louise covered it again, this time with only a thin sheet, because she knew he needed as much air as possible. When Louise was small, her mother would put her in a bathtub full of cold water to ease the fever, which she would have done for Said with great esteem if she could move him to the bathroom, of course.
Karida returned soon after, weary of having crossed the corridors balancing the basin in the arms.
"You must rest, miss." I'll stay with him, "she said, touching Louise's shoulder, which looked visibly tired.
I'm staying here. Let me take care of him, Karida, "she said, looking at the woman in concern.
The servant stared at her for a moment, then nodded and left the room again.
Louise breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your people do not trust me" she said as she got up and went to the other side of the bed where she sat next to Said. "Outside the bedroom, there's a guard who's aware of everything going on in here." They're probably afraid I'll kill him.
He did not move. He continued inert, now with a calmer breath.
Louise laid a hand on his face and, taken by a strange emotion, caressed it on the chin, feeling the beard tickling her skin.
"Why does it have to be like this?" I wish I had met you on another occasion. She knelt on the bed and approached the Sheik's face, still stroking it.
"I can not understand why you're so cold." She traced his lip with her thumb, fascinated by the softness. "God, I must be freaking out," and with a last trace of conscience she turned away from him, leaving the bed and going to the window.
She closed her eyes trying to find that hatred she felt so much for the man and fed with thirst for revenge. What was wrong with her? Why did she become so vulnerable to Said? Now more than ever she was sure she had to get out of there. She no longer felt the same fear and despair as before, for she knew the faces of the Sheikh, knew his people, and knew that when she gained his confidence, she would finally be free. Her plan continued despite everything. Louise had also decided that she would take all her time there to learn more about the legend of the lost city she sought.
More confident, she looked back at Said and decided that he would rest for a few hours. Beside him, of course.
***
In the morning, when she woke up, Louise faced the worst possible scenario. Said had not sketched improvement and now all the skin around the wound was purplish, which she knew meant the infection was spreading, and quickly.
"Any news from the healing master?" She asked Najila as she went into the kitchen to feed herself.
"If all goes well, he should arrive tomorrow at dawn," she explained, visibly worried.
Louise did not feel hungry, but she had to swallow a lot of figs, bread and some tea. She had to stay healthy to take care of Said.
She did everything she could, though she could not help thinking she could do more than that. But what? Everything was in the hands of the healer of the tribe, and that made Louise feel bounded hands, suffering each time she saw Said moan in pain.
The afternoon passed slowly as she stood beside him, always holding his hand and cooling his skin. The room was morbidly quiet, and she admitted that she did, she missed hearing Said's voice and even his screams.
She smiled, remembering the moment, where he had taken care of her hands with extreme delicacy.
"You're not as bad as you say, Mighty Sheik," she whispered, squeezing his hand.
No, he was not. Of course, she had feared him at first, for she truly believed that he would kill her, but little by little she realized that the man was less threatening than he was. Louise also understood that the fear she felt was nothing more than respect. She even understood the fascination of that people for Said. The man had a frightening power of attraction. It even affected her.
"The London ladies would lose all composure in front of you." She frowned, thinking of the possibility. "Possibly he would have several mistresses." He would find one every night, as he did in his kingdom. Why did you do this, Said?