It started as a tickle.
Irritating, but easy enough to ignore as she worked to measure the Queen’s throne room in preparation for the coronation. There was so much work to be done- a theme to be chosen, color schemes, taking stock of what they had and what would need to be gathered and assembled before the ceremony. Which meats to serve with which drinks, names of guests to be memorized-
“ACHOOOOOO!”
Frozen. Mortified. Gods please let no one have heard!
There’s a puddle of spittle on the Queen's very own dais in front of her. She panics to clean it up but not before being rocked with a second sneeze that echoes through the hollowed palace halls.
I know they have one but I couldn't resist <3
She would never admit it even to herself, but Melody had been looking for Eset. It was the sound of her sneezes that ultimately tipped her off to the Fellahin's location, and awakened in her a surge of protective feeling she hadn't thought herself capable of. The priestess was swift in coming to her side, touching her arm lightly.
Are you sick?
Melody worried aloud. Of the mess;
Let me help you.
She reached to help without waiting for an answer, unperturbed by the mess at least for the moment.
it was the loudness of the sneeze that alarmed Toula, who entered her throne room with a look of concern. she saw the
Hemet, and then the
fellahin who looked unwell.
take some time to yourself and rest,
she said to Eset.
with Tavina unwell, Toula took to the healers role.
come with me, both of you—I will need your help, Hemet,
comes her gentle voice. she saw that Melody cared, which warmed the Queen to her.
should be a two-three post cameo from me where T gives what’s needed to help ♡
Hurried footsteps- beneath her sniffles and spinning vision she could only hope it was Tuna.
It was not, Melody’s concerned auburn face appears in front of her. Oh, sweet girl- “My lady, please don’t-” she protests…
“ACHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
Her entire body is racked! More furiously than the firsts! There’s a spray that lands near the Hemet’s feet! Could the Gods and Goddesses just smite her right there?! A paw raises to her eyes, her mind is full of congestion and she can’t think clearly.
That is when the worst happened, and it was suddenly Queen Toula’s face before her.
“Your Holi-” She begins. It’s cut short.
“ACHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
A sneeze to match the width of Akashingo that delivered a massive mix of spit and mucus right to the Queen’s pristine chest.
Eset was very sick! Melody's concern only grew as the Fellahin protested and continued to sneeze. She paid no mind to the new mess near her feet, but spared a sympathetic glance for Toula. Sucks to be you.
She's right, you should rest,
She said quietly, then fell to silently helping Toula lead her away. Melody was uncertain she could help. She knew nothing about medicine! But she trusted Toula, so she followed.
oh, no! Toula gasped at the feeling upon her chest and closed her eyes tightly for a beat. though she was repulsed, it was not by Eset and only of the feeling of it—and, she supposed, the idea as well! it is nothing a bath will not remove,
she said, as much for herself as it was for the fellahin.
another nearby did not wait to use their own wrist to remove it from her, even though she did not ask. how they anticipated her every need, she did not know—but Toula would think of a way to thank them. a grateful look passed between them for now, before she looked to Melody knowingly. and then, the Queen whisked through the hallways, leading the way with a quick step. Melody was there for moral support, an important element here.
and then they were in Tavina’s quarters. Tavina, who now rested, healing her own hurts. Toula could handle this; she knew the medicines well now, well enough to handle whatever might be bothering those she ruled over.
entering the medicine woman’s room, Toula gestured to the stone plinth in the center of the room. you are sneezing—what are you feeling, otherwise?
cold? hot? was there itchiness, exhaustion?
Aside from the sneezing there is not much wrong with her- if she could discount the radical affront to her Queen! Which Eset cannot! Her face is so screwed up in utter humiliation that she cannot see anything but the darkness of her own cheek-fur.
“Oh please- your Holiness- my Lady- I’m perfectly-” she holds back a sneeze, eyes watering. Gods this is not the proper order of things!
She has the constitution of an ox having been exposed to virtually every illness in the bowels of her native Shuyet. She knows she is not sick. It must be something else.
“I am quite well, I assure you, it’s just a tiny scratch in my… my….... ACHOOOO!”
“My nose.”