Chapter 9: The Hero’s festival
>>Aelin
I sat on the edge of the bed, a damp cloth pressed to my temple as the sheep doctor worked in silence. Her soft hooves clicked against the floor as she moved between her tools and the chair she'd placed beside me. Her concern was evident in her gentle hands, but her lips remained pressed in a thin, professional line. She didn't ask what had happened or how I had ended up with a gash on my head.
"There," she finally said, securing the last of the bandages. "The wound should heal in a few days, but you must be careful not to strain yourself."
I nodded weakly, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my dress. The words 'thank you' sat on the tip of my tongue, but instead, I found myself asking, "What do you mean by strain?"
The doctor, Lazelle, paused, her large eyes soft but firm. "Your body is fragile, Lady Aelin," she said. "You've been through too much, both physically and mentally. If you don't take care of yourself, the damage could become irreversible."
I bit the inside of my cheek, "I'm trying," I whispered, though it felt like a lie even as I said it. "I'm doing my best."
She tilted her head slightly, her voice gentle. "It's not just about your body. Your mind needs rest too. You've been through something... profound. The kind of loss that takes time to heal."
Her words brought a lump to my throat, but I forced it down.
Does she know how I lost the baby?
I couldn't cry, not in front of her. There had been a question I was trying to ask for a long time now but I never got the chance. "Doctor," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "About... having a baby. Is it still possible for me?" Ever since I lost my baby, I kept having this feeling of void in my womb that I couldn't quite describe.
Her hands froze mid-motion, and her expression shifted to one of careful consideration. "Lady Aelin," she began cautiously, "with your current health, the chances of conceiving are close to none. Your body is still recovering, and... it," There was a look of pitiful sorrow in her eyes, "MIGHT be possible in the future." The words struck me like a blow, my breath catching in my chest, "But not anytime soon..." She looked away, making me anxious.