*Lordaeron, Woodbury Estate, Pre-Plague*
"This is it, I'm dying. Dying of plague," Beckyann moaned pitifully. The remark was immediately met with stifled laughter as she lay a hand on her own forehead and sighed.
"A bit dramatic, wouldn't you say, Miss Eastberg?" came the reply. Beckyann opened one bloodshot eye to stare accusingly at the woman who was speaking. She was in her mid-thirties and wore the uniform of one of the Woodbury Family's maids. A friend for some time now, Jenna had been tending to Beckyann while she was ill and confined to bed.
"I don't think so, I'm sure this is the end, my friend," Beckyann replied with an equal level of drama and woe in her voice, her sore throat making it difficult to speak.
"You should listen to your friend, Miss Eastberg," the second person in the room replied. He smiled at her as he slipped some vials from an open-topped bag, arranging them on the nightstand beside her bed. The Woodbury Estate's healer, Doctor Rosen had been overseeing several cases of the flu that had spread throughout the household. "After a few more days I'm sure you'll be fine. In fact, you already look to have regained some of your color. Take three spoonfuls of this three times a day for the next five days if you will."
"Ugh...but that stuff tastes awful...don't you have anything else? Maybe just some honey would do the trick?" Beckyann continued to complain.
This was met by more stifled laughter from Jenna and a disapproving frown from the Doctor. Beckyann steeled herself to receive a lecture on properly caring for herself but was spared the ordeal when a knock came on her door. The Doctor frowned at her and shook his head before beginning to pack up his bag while Jenna went to answer the door.
When Jenna cracked the door opened to see who it was, Beckyann heard Fred's familiar voice come through the space, "And how is the patient today?"
Doctor Rosen turned, scowling at the now fully opened door and Frederick as he picked up his bag, "It is quite unusual for the Captain of the Guard to visit ill patients, is it not?"
Frederick smiled, shaking his head, "Why not at all, Doctor. If there is a fearsome plague loose in the House I should know about it, shouldn't I? Threats to security and all of that."
The Doctor sighed, shaking his head, "I assure you that is not the case. If you wish to visit everyone who has contracted this season's flu, do so at your own risk, Captain. Good day to you."
Frederick stepped aside, letting the Doctor pass and shooting Jenna a quick wink before stepping into the room and closing the door. He walked over to Beckyann's bedside, smiling down at her. From behind his back he produced a bouquet of flowers, setting them on the nightstand beside her bed.
"And how are you, Becky?" he asked, his voice kind. "Feeling any better?"
"I feel awful, and I look worse," Beckyann complained, a pout on her lips.
Fred laughed, shaking his head and kneeling at the bedside. He smiled at her for a moment, reaching out to push some of her tangled and matted hair from her face. "Beckyann Eastberg, even when you're a disheveled mess and have been vomiting into a pail I still think you're the prettiest thing I've ever laid eyes on. Don't be silly now."
In the background the comment elicited an 'awwww' from Jenna as the maid continued her work cleaning up Beckyann's quarters. Beckyann smiled despite herself, her facade of self-pity fading as she looked into Fred's eyes. "Do you really mean that, or are you just trying to make me feel better?"
Fred smiled, rising to look down at her, his tone soft, "I both mean it and want you to feel better. We can't have the Woodbury Family's heirs roaming around without their tutor now can we? Besides, it's been almost a week and...well, I miss you Becky."
Beckyann smiled despite herself, ignoring the second 'awwww' coming from Jenna's direction. When she spoke her voice was stronger, and she'd stopped pretending to be sicker than she was, which was admittedly pretty sick still, "Well, I will try my best to get better for them then. We can't have them trying elementary spells without my oversight, you're right. Also, I've missed you too, Fred. A lot."
He grinned, nodding at her before leaning forward to give her a kiss on the forehead, completely ignoring the dangers of contracting the flu from her, "Well then, you work on getting better. Happily, there has been a fortunate circumstance that will aid you with this. It seems that the kitchen has decided that today would be the perfect day to cook up your favorite vegetable soup. It wasn't on the menu but it seems there's been a change after some persuasive words were dropped in the cook's ear. Strange, that."
Beckyann beamed happily as Fred turned to go, watching him as he nodded politely to Jenna and exited, pulling the door closed behind him. Sometimes it was the little things, the little signs of affection that made every day worthwhile, even when you felt terrible.
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