LARA’S POV
The war is over but the battle has not been won.
The palace has been quiet, dead silent, worse than a graveyard like a place with no soul in it since after the war.
We lost none of our men but now it seems the Chamlee is about to elude us.
The Chamlar might not say it, she might not want to admit it, but she would have surrendered to Diamond Cut Pack than have her Chamlee in this precarious state.
If only she had known that this was going to be the outcome of the war, if only she had given a hint then she would have willingly given up her position, she would have done away with the crown and surrendered to alpha Fred and beta Tim. But now, even that is not possible.
But she tries to put up a tough face when she is outside, she tries to be strong. But I know that deep down she would not last another second without her Chamlee by her side.
Theirs is a love that was never spoken.
Even though she has Lord Nathan, the Chamlee is the only man who has truly loved her for who she is, defeating all odds to give his life in her stead and none can compare to him.
Now he is lying almost lifeless, more like a vegetable, a yellow piece of leaf.
However, the Chamlar would never want anyone to talk about how helpless her Chamlee had become, she held her hopes high, strong for the two of them.
She will never give up.
To her, everything should go on just as they have always been and nothing should be put on hold.
But how would that be possible when she spends countless hours in the Chamlee’s chamber, refusing none other to attend to him but herself?
Nothing is still the same with her not even when she tried not to neglect her duties as the queen.
She has done everything, all she could think of. She has called foreign doctors, seers, and even herbalists but none could be able to restore Chamlee’s failing health. Even the Chamlar’s powers were nothing compared to the terrible fate that had befallen her Chamlee.
Now she who healed others by mere touch cannot save her own.
“Go to my Chamlee’s Chamber, find out if he has eaten this afternoon. I have something urgent to take care of right now” Scarlet instructed me in a cold voice.
“My… my Cham… lar” I stammered.
I was startled. She had never left the Chamlee to anyone before.
She has been cold since her return. Cold to everyone. She always wore a stern face and never had any time for frivolities. Her look was always emotionless and never betrayed her emotions.
She is completely withdrawn and is beginning to look emaciated. But why won’t she when she barely has any time for herself and would not welcome any suggestion either?
These days, she barely takes her meals and is more focused on the Chamlee. Nothing else mattered to her.
I could see the hurt that had been registered on her face. She could not come to terms with the fact that she is helpless towards Chamlee’s predicament, she could not accept the situation of things.
“I made him eat a little this morning, but I am afraid that since I am not there now, no one would be able to get him to take anything. Please go to him and plead with him to eat for my sake. I will be with him once I am done with my engagement” she pleaded and her eyes flickered all over my face in a state of helplessness.
“Come off it, my Chamlar, you don’t have to beg me to do that for you. See I will be on my way already and I will see to it that the Chamlee eats as much as he should” I replied.
She had been in her shell for too long and had never spoken in anything beyond a monosyllable. So it was a positive development to hear her say more than a sentence to me. I know it was because it had to do with her Chamlee, but then it is still something to look up to.
Her face beamed at my response but it was soon followed by fear.
I hated to see her this way and so I got up to leave but she held my hands and drew me back.
Looking into my eyes, she said in a whisper. It sounded as though she was entrusting her life to my care. “You know why I had to get you to do this, right? Left for me I would have rather taken care of this myself but right now I cannot help it. Please take care of him, he is very vulnerable right now” she urged.
No, the Chamlee is not as vulnerable as she is. Right now, she looks so pitiful and derailed and it hurts me to accept that I can do virtually nothing to aid her out of this. The already formed dark circle under her eyes sent cold shivers all through my body, I hated to see her in such a state of helplessness.
“I know, Chamlar. I know just how much this means to you” I replied with a bow.
She released me from her grip and watched me leave as if her life depended on the outcome of my mission. But it was just to go make the Chamlee take something, it is not like I am going off to battle.
I could feel the trail of her dull eyes even after I was long gone. I know she relied so much on me and I would not disappoint her. I will do my best to help.
*
“Has the Chamlee eaten, Mia?” I asked as soon as I stepped feet into his chambers.
“No, I fear that he wouldn’t take anything. He kept on mentioning the name of the queen” Mia replied in a distressed state.
She was standing close to the Chamlee’s bed, and could not take her frightened eyes away from his frail frame. He has become so lean that one would not be able to recognize him at a glance.
I know just how she was feeling, she was given the task to watch over the Chamlee this afternoon, and she would not want to report some unwelcoming news to the Chamlar. No one would willingly accept the task of giving a piece of bad news to the Chamlar at such a time.
“It is alright, Mia, I am here now. Please make some hot soup immediately” I ordered.
“Okay, Lara. But remember that the Chamlar directed that his food should not be hot and no spices” she replied.
“Sure, don’t make it spicy, but bring it hot. I will make sure that he takes it at the right temperature” I ordered and she left.
“Where is Scarlet?” Chamlee asked me in a very low tone.
It is a good thing to see that he recognizes me today. In the past, he could only see Scarlet and no other.
“My Chamlee…” I smiled and walked closer to him. “The Chamlar is not very happy, you would refuse to take anything and she would only see you after you eat” I replied.
This is my little trick, and I hope that it has some positive effect on him. Since he could think of Scarlet so much, he might agree to eat just to see her.
With an answer that gladdened my spirit, he said. “Get my meal now, Lara, I don’t want to make Scarlet angry”
I was overjoyed. Maybe he might agree to eat the right quantity of food now, this would please Scarlet.
Mia soon returned with a golden bowl of steaming soup and handed it to me.
“It is hot, Chamlee, so we must be very careful. Chamlar would not hear of your tongue getting burned” I said calmly with a smile.
“Then… you… have to be careful, Lara, if not I will not… hesitate to point at you the first chance I get once… she asks about it” he replied, and I felt I just saw a smile on his face.
He is very lively today, and he ate his meal obediently, taking each spoon at a time. He was dried up as a result of starvation, but I know that if he should continue this way, he would soon garner some flesh and maybe recover pretty soon too.