Everyone headed home after dinner at the tavern but Alice left earlier than the rest. She wasn't feeling well and Julius mentioned that she looked tired. She wanted to stay so as not to be rude but once her mother chimed in and agreed with Julius she decided they might be right. The matter of where to go on their journey was settled at least and she was happy that they were taking a longer, more convoluted path. It would take longer but it would confuse anyone trailing them and they could help others along the way.
Alice was tired by the time she got home and felt hot, like she was coming down with something. She hoped that wasn't the case so she changed into her pajamas and got into bed. It was a cold, snowy night so she lit the wood in her room's fireplace with a short burst of fire magic, roaring the fire to life. It warmed up her bed and her jammies quickly and felt wonderful when she climbed into them and zipped them up. She curled up under her thick, warm covers and fell right asleep. All she needed was a good night's rest and she'd be right as rain in the morning.
Unfortunately, when morning she did come, she was very much the opposite. She felt both cold and clammy under her covers and footy pajamas, she was sore all over, her eyes, nose and mouth were crusty, her throat and nose felt like they were clogged with mud and her she was so dizzy and her vision so spotty she was convinced her head was replaced with a giant stone. As much as she wanted to deny it, refuse it or will it away she knew what all this meant. On this morning of mornings, the day of their grand adventure, she was sick.
"Julius...?" She mumbled hoarsely. It hurt to talk and she was too weak to move her head. "Julius? Julius, where are you?" She turned her head while still keeping it on her pillow and her covers up to her chin and saw that Julius wasn't in bed. She didn't remember him coming to bed, if he ever came at all. Where was he? She needed to tell him about this. She had to find a way to get better in the next hour so she could get ready. She had to protect Cilla. "Julius! Julius, are you in the bathroom!?"
Her door squeaked opened and Cilla softly walked in, still in her own footy pink footy pajamas. The pitter-patter of her covered feet announced her approach without Alice having to see her but she looked over anyway. The light of the hallway hurt her eyes and she was relieved when Cilla closed the door, returning the comfortable darkness to her room.
"Alice?" Cilla asked, walking over to her sister's bed and sitting on it by her side. "Are you okay?"
"I'm sick Cilla." Alice mumbled. "Where's Julius?"
"He's in the guest bedroom. You were snoring and he couldn't sleep and that's usually when you're sick so he got up to let you rest. Don't you remember? You were really loud!"
"No. I'm sorry. I don't feel good. Can you get mom? What time is it?"
"It's about 6:30. We're supposed to meet Salthar in about an hour. Mama invited everybody over for breakfast after you left. She and papa are getting up now. I'll go get her."
"Thanks." Alice dozed off after Cilla left but was roused again when she came back with Carlotta a few minutes later.
"Alice? Honey? Are you okay? Cilla said you were sick?"
"Yeah." Alice said weakly. "I think I'm sick." Carlotta lit Alice's bedside lamp to get back better look. She also opened the windows and saw that the sun was just peeking its head out from behind the horizon. The first fingers of dawn to light the fresh-fallen snow of the cold morning. And the snow kept falling. Bad weather for traveling today.
"Oooh, you don't look good. C'mere, let me see your head." She put a hand to Alice's forehead and she was burning up. She was also shivering despite her footy pajamas and ample warm blankets. It was difficult for Alice to get up on cold, snowy mornings like this when she was healthy and well-rested. Under these circumstances it was impossible. Never mind how early it was. Alice couldn't fight evil with a fever however, so she would stay here today and get some rest.
"Oh sweetheart, you're burning up. No wonder you weren't feeling good last night. Were you feeling this way before we left for supper?" She asked as she stroked her baby's hair.
"I don't know." Alice mumbled. "I was tired last night. That's why I left early and went to bed but you already knew that. I woke up about 11 and felt a little hot but I just went back to bed and didn't worry about it. I guess Julius crashed somewhere else when I started...snoring?"
"Ah yes, that. Well, he was having trouble sleeping anyway and was worried about you and Cilla. He and I talked for a while and by the time we were done you were curled up in bed asleep. He didn't want to wake you up so he took the guest bedroom. Elizabeth is also here. She and I tucked Cilla into bed and Elizabeth was tired enough to where I just gave her a pair of footies and prepped the leather couch downstairs for her. Maybe she can give you something to make you feel better. What other symptoms do you have?"
"Aside from my forehead burning up? I'm shivering under my covers, I'm sore all over, I feel exhausted, my throat's sore and it hurts to swallow and my head's throbbing. It was really nice of you to take Elizabeth in. She's so adorable. I need to get up though. I have to be ready for Salthar!"
She tried to sit up but as soon as she did so she got dizzy and big spots appeared in front of her eyes. She lied back down with a frustrated moan.
"You've got the flu sweetheart. You need to stay in bed and get some rest. The world won't stop without you."
"But why not?!" Alice whined. "I can't get sick! I'm too busy!" Carlotta smiled and ran her fingers through Alice's hair. Alice got a little dramatic when she was sick, upset or tired but it was never for a needless reason. Part of it was simply her age and most of the time Carlotta thought it was cute. She gave Alice a motherly smile and ran her fingers through Alice's hair again. "Because you're sick sweetheart. You need rest. If you try to travel today you'll be a burden to the rest of the group. The best thing you can do to help is rest and concentrate on getting better. Now, I'm gonna get you a healing potion. It'll help bring your fever down and you should feel better in a couple of hours. In the meantime, you go back to sleep and stop fretting. You hungry?"
"No."
"Thirsty?"
"Mmm Mmm."
"Okay. I'm gonna go tell Elizabeth you're sick. She might wanna check up on you. I'll be right back okay?"
"Mhmm...Tell her to come in with her footies still on. She's really cute in them. Just like you Cilla." Alice said, barely staying awake.
"Thanks Alice. Are you gonna be okay?"
"Yeah, probably, but I can't go with you guys. Not today. I'm sorry." Cill was very sad to hear this and Alice gave her sister a weak hug, to try and make her feel better. Then Carlotta gently turned Cilla towards the doorway and pushed on her covered behind, ushering her out of the room. After a dry coughing fit, she dozed off as Carlotta and Cilla left to get everyone else up. Cilla went to get Elizabeth on the couch, who was just waking up. Their two year old tuxedo cat Mira thought it was also a good time to get Elizabeth up. She jumped on the young healer's chest while she was still wrapped in her covers up to her chin and tried to move them away while getting close enough to where Elizabeth could feel her breath on her nose. Mira gave a soft meow to get Elizabeth's attention and started purring loudly just in case resting on her chest and being an inch from her face didn't work. Cilla watched and giggled at the scene before walking to Elizabeth's side.
"Good morning Elizabeth. Mira says good morning too. Mama says breakfast is ready in half an hour and...well...I think Alice is sick. She was hoping to see you. Um....once you wake up a little of course. And deal with the...cat on your chest. You're really cute in those new footy pajamas by the way! I like how they're like mine but blue instead of pink! Alice wants to see you in them!"
Cilla was nervous about the situation and unsure of what was going to happen today now that her sister was sick. Would she still get to go without Cilla? Could someone else take care of her on the trip? Would mama even allow it? All these questions played in her mind and it all showed on the little girl's round, innocent face.
Meanwhile, Carlotta had spotted Salthar waiting by the gate. His black robes were bespeckled with snow but the elven vampire didn't seem to mind in the slightest. He would need to know about this and he should come inside so Carlotta pulled her long fur boots and heavy gray coat over her long white nightgown and wrapped her hair and head in a warm hood to keep the snow off. The blast of freezing air hit her as soon as she opened the door and left the warm house. There was at least four inches of snow on the ground. This mission of theirs, whatever it was, must have been dire.
"Salthar?" Carlotta said, shivering. "Good morning. I know the girls were supposed to go with you and the others on this trip you have planned. Alice is sick and unless someone agrees to look after her Cilla won't be going either. I'm sorry. Everyone's still welcome for breakfast though. It'll be ready within the hour."