Something is Wrong

“YORRO!” Elene would yell, pushing her hands into his chest and prying free of his arms. She’d grin some at him despite sounding and initially looking offended by his words, and as quickly as she broke their hug, she’d turn to run off into the gardens like a fleeing deer. Her fiance would initially wait a moment, mostly to ensure no strange visions swept him up before he started after her. He didn’t like running, but chasing after one’s interests was another thing, and Elene was at the top of the list. Unfortunately for him, she was fast, even with her shorter stature. She also knew the gardens better than he did and after a few minutes he’d entirely lost her. Not even a trail or a hint to guide him along.

He’d spin around to consider a few branching paths, a pathway arched over by an iron trellis, covered in vining and sweet smelling jade, another with the bows of trees above, white flowers sprinkled below, and the last with  smaller flowers and beds, surrounded by butterflies and other pollinators. Elene kept a small vegetable garden that way, using the flowers to attract the insects to it. He’d choose that path, walking along slowly as he occasionally stood on his tiptoes to look over the hedges. Elene’s colorful dress wasn’t visible, but she could verily hide in plain sight while in the garden, choosing patterns and colors that fit with the colors. 

He’d turn at the end of the hedges, a path to the left and her favorite place to be, yet instead of his fiance he’d find someone dreadful.

Kerrigan stood like a dead tree in the path, unmoving, as Yorro slowed his pace and attempted to hide his disdain. He did a poor job, yet surprisingly his dour and hateful father didn’t comment on it. Instead he’d glance over at the movement and would not speak for what seemed like an eternity. When he finally did, it wasn’t anything to be relieved about.

“You’re love-thing isn’t here.”

“Oh.” He’d reply flatly, plainly. Yorro didn’t know what to say, but that probably wasn’t the correct response. Not to his father of all people.

“Since you are, what are you up to?” The man would turn his cold eyes Yorro’s way, nearly the same dark voids as his own, smothering any happiness the young man felt at the look.

“We were going for a walk, she..Elene,  ran off somewhere.. For some reason.. You know she’s flighty like a deer, just randomly gets these ideas and springs off-.” Yorro followed with a nervous laugh, cursing himself for not making it sound like a joke as intended. He’d expect the man to pry further or insinuate something else with Yorro’s stupid running about and avoidant activity, but instead he’d nod and look back to the patch of tended soil. Various vegetables were growing steadily, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, whatnot, and Yorro found it odd that Kerrigan would take even a moment’s interest. He’d interrupt the man, despite his better thinking, “Er, sir?”

“What?” The man sounded tired of hearing Yorro’s voice already, laced with irritation, but he didn’t turn from his critical inspection of green leaves and potato stalks.

“What are you doing out here?”

“Doesn’t matter.” He’d answer, quickly and harshly, before following with an additional tidbit, “Your fiance went off past me, towards the ponds.” He’d gesture with a quick flick of his arm down the path, past him. Then surprisingly, he’d step towards the garden and out of Yorro’s way. Not calling her a love-thing or some other objectifying word repeatedly had caught his son by surprise, but he’d take the offering.
 
As Yorro passed, Kerrigan looked slightly his way, the younger mage tensing his shoulders in anticipation of some assumed fist meeting his hide or a dark abyss swallowing him on his next step. It never did, and as the distance grew he’d squint back, unsure if that was actually a real interaction as well. Kerrigan was watching him, but he’d not stop his son from following Elene and once he was safely out of view and hearing he’d let out a nervous sigh.

“Gods- what the fu-aaAAAH!” He’d have a time talking to himself he supposed, but as he was speaking his curse turned into an unflattering scream. Elene tackled him into a bush with no warning. He’d not even seen her, and now he wondered if his father would come to spy on them. Yet at the same time, she came out of the shadows and plants like a damned panther, and after gathering his senses and pulling a thorn from his backside he’d stare at her like she was the devil and note they were pretty well hidden in a shrub. She was effective to say the least. Terrifying as well.

“WHY?!” he'd whisper as loudly yet quietly as he could. She was pregnant and just full body checking him into thorn filled bushes.

“Your dad’s awfully nice today, ain’t he?”

“You should not be tackling me! You’re what.. Three months pregnant!?”

“Almost five. Anyways~” She’d sit up, putting a hand over his mouth to silence his exclamation that that wasn’t ANY better. “Babe, I’ll tell you about the book, you want to hear?”

Yorro would squint at her, licking her hand so she retracted it with a repulsed look, freeing his mouth for talking. “Eww- The book though?” He knew she wasn't actually bothered by how quickly she went back to the topic. She helped animals birth, dug around in mud, played with bugs as a kid, it was a ruse hed not fall for.

“My dad is nice today.. Something feel weird to you?”

“Yeah, you do.”

He’d squint at his lap and then her, her weight pinning his legs. From what he could see one of his boots was visible from the path but they were otherwise concealed in the shade of the shrub.

“Well sit higher!”

She’d laugh and not entertain his request. Instead she’d shift her weight and move to sit on a cloth settled just shy of where he fell. She saved the dirt for him. With an indignant frown, he’d pull his boot fully into the bush, brushing off some leaves that clung to his legs. She was not humoring him in the least today.

“With seriousness.” He’d sigh, scooting over to sit on the cloth with her, “He let me by without any scathing words? Didn’t even care that he knew we were being.. flirty.” Or childish.

“I don’t think that’s a problem.” Elene seemed to take victories where she could get them, suspecting Kerrigan did want them to be flirty by the mere idea of their marriage arrangement. Whether they did so after she was already pregnant didn’t seem to matter in his eyes, as long as they held that desire for heirs for a while. In the event that Konnwyn never had his own sons, or that Eozon never found the nerve to speak to a woman, Kerrigan needed someone to continue the family line. “What’s actually bothering you though?”

Elene was ever perceptive even if she acted like her head was in the clouds thinking of plants, puppies and kittens all day. She’d place her hand over Yorro’s and keep her attention on him. He couldn’t lie to her, she was the only person he felt comfortable with speaking in length about any matter. Both friends and lovers.

“I just started feeling off during lunch, not sick or anything, but I felt this pain in my head, a sharp one, and I saw these visions.”

Elene would reach out with her free hand to feel at his temple where the scar from his father remained, his illusions not hiding it from her, she knew it was there. “From this?”

“No, maybe starting there, but I don’t think it’s from that, it’s healed.”

“And it just began today? Nothing from before?”

“No.”

“What did you see?”

“You were on the ground, both of us were, on a street in Mead I think.. You weren’t awake and.. I think it’s not real, but also..”

“It’s not normal for you to have nightmares while you’re awake. Did you see that when I touched you at the fountain?”

“Yes. It’s like I'm in an illusion. I’m here, but I’m also there-” he tried to remember what came first, did he remember something from there, how could he tell what was real, and why would a nightmare plague him as he was awake. He couldn’t affect himself normally with his own illusions, and he doubted there was anyone at the manor who could. They held different, more useful magics, and he wasn't exactly a cheap illusionist either. At the same time, something here seemed off, not with Elene or his mother. They were the same.. But his brothers? Where were they still? He’d found his father who’s own lack of agitation was concerning, but besides that?

Maybe it was the poison from the scourge, maybe he imagined going to Mead again, maybe he was dreaming of both things and would awake from some fever in his bed. Maybe he’d see Elene’s concerned face leaning over him as he came to. She squeezed his hand, drawing him from his thoughts.

“It might be the mercury, I can call the doctor, you haven’t been checked on in a while.”

“Squeeze my arm.”

“What?” She’d look confused and concerned of his request, just as Yorro lifted his bandaged arm towards her.

“Do it, please.”

“That will hurt you.”

“Please.”

Elene didn’t appear to want to but Yorro’s determined face told her he’d try something else to harm himself if she didn’t do such a minor thing. So with a sigh she’d pull her hand from his and then wrap both around his forearm. She’d apply pressure to where she knew pieces of shrapnel hid, some of the smaller fragments less likely to lame his arm for days. Near instantly the mage would feel a sharp burning and pain in his arm, jerking away from her  and curling it protectively into his side.

“I told you.” She’d offer quietly, letting him have a moment to compose himself from the pain.
“How does that show you anything? You’re here with me, you can see that already.”

“What I see.. Doesn’t matter with illusions.”

“Yorro,” She’d say with disappointment clear in her voice, “ I’ll call the doctor. Come with me back to the manor.”

“Please go ahead, I need to think for a moment. I’ll be fine, I promise.” He’d muster a smile despite his will to grimace. His arm throbbed severely and it took his concentration to not show more of the pain he felt. He didn’t think his illusions were that convincing, so this must be the reality, and if that was the case, why was he seeing anything now of all days.

“I think I just need to rest, I’ll take a nap and then we can talk about the book.” 

“Okay. Don’t stay out here long. I’ll get you if it gets dark.” She’d pat his uninjured shoulder, getting up to head back. 

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