Nalsy limped beside Edmund as she grumbled under her nose ever so often, mostly making humorous comments which entertained Edmund.
She was still beyond stubborn in refusing Edmund's help, insisting that she didn't need it.
In truth, it was rather because she felt that she would rather die than admit that she needed help as that would be embarrassing in her mind. She couldn't show how much of a weakling she was!
Edmund directed Nalsy back towards the hospital, soon finding the right room. He placed himself comfortably in an armchair within the waiting room as Nalsy was called up for some tests, mostly including further blood withdrawal.
Nalsy soon came back into the waiting room and plopped on the seat beside Edmund.
"I am convinced that they must have business with vampires," Nalsy said, disgruntled.
"Vampires? How so?" Edmund asked as he raised his brows.
"The amount of blood they took out of me! Seriously, I'm surprised if there's any left!" Nalsy started to get animated.
"Ahhh…" Edmund nodded understandingly, trying not to laugh. He returned his gaze to the newspaper which was spread across his crossed leg.
Nalsy glanced at him, noticing his furrowed brows. She couldn't tell whether he was concentrating or whether something was upsetting in the news. But as she gave him a second glance, she was more surprised to find that the newspaper was written in some unfamiliar to her script, which was not anywhere close to the Latin alphabet that she knew well.
But before she could ask about it, the door to the waiting room opened, and a tall, middle-aged man walked in.
"Miss Daughterrouse", the doctor called out to her. Nalsy gave him a nod, limping towards the consultation room, Edmund walking a step behind her.
"Sir Gray, what a surprise!" The doctor said with a smile as he watched Edmund walk into the room. "What brings you here today?"
"I'm chaperoning Nalsy," Edmund said in a cold tone, sitting beside Nalsy on the opposite side of the desk to the doctor.
"I see." The doctor nodded, opening a file in front of him.
"Nalsy is under her Majesty's protection," Edmund added as an explanation.
"Well, what protection could be better than having a General as a bodyguard." Doctor chuckled. "Miss Daughterrouse, you do look much better than when I've seen you last," the doctor looked up at Nalsy, his smile still resting on his face. "That face is looking pretty again. I see that the swelling has gone down. There's no redness around the stitches on your brow. This is a good sign!" The Doctor walked around the desk and walked up to Nalsy, looking closer at her cut on the eyebrow. "Actually, I think we might be able to remove the stitches today. It seems that the wound has sealed well." The doctor returned to his chair behind the desk. "How are your ankle and wrist?"
"Sore, but manageable."
"Are the painkillers sufficient?"
"Yes."
"That's good." The Doctor started making the notes in Nalsy's files. "I recommend continuing wearing the braces at least until a two-week mark. I can give you lace-up braces which do not have rigid parts but still can provide some support to your ankle and wrist. I'd recommend wearing them for a further six weeks." The doctor passed Nalsy two packets which she quickly thanked for. "How are you managing the injections?"
"I hate them, but I'm managing just fine," Nalsy said with a smile.
"I believe you have four more days to go with them." The doctor finished writing the notes and looked up at Nalsy again. "Then, in 6 weeks, we should be able to remove your cast too. How are you feeling? How is your appetite?"
"I'm okay," Nalsy said eagerly, at which Edmund frowned silently as he knew that Nalsy hadn't been eating much.
"I do not have your medical history. But from our tests, your iron levels are lower than what we'd hope for. I don't think any treatment to be necessary for it, as you should be able to manage it with a diet, as long as you eat well."
"That's fine." Nalsy nodded in agreement.
"I do hope that everything's alright then," Edmund said in a cold tone. The doctor shifted uncomfortably in his chair, remembering Edmund's presence.
Edmund's voice had an unspoken power to it. It was authoritative and commanding. It had a noticeable effect on the doctor, but Nalsy couldn't care less for it.
"It seems like it. I still cannot say it enough, but Nalsy needs to rest. If it doesn't hurt too much, she can try to walk a bit more around. But as soon as there's any pain, she must rest. Eating well is also essential to help her body repair itself. But overall, I think that she is on her way to the full recovery."
"That's great. Thank you, doctor" Nalsy smiled kindly. She was excited that soon she might be able to do more and that Edmund might finally get off her back about the whole rest thing. Moreover, she hoped that as soon as she was better, she could find a way of not having to rely on Edmund and stop being a burden to him.
Doctor returned to scribbling things in the files before him, and then he looked up at Edmund. "Your nose seems to be getting better too".
"Yeah, it doesn't look as if I had a tomato attached to my face anymore," Edmund said with a weak smile on his face.
"Does it hurt or bleed?"
"Not anymore. Pain isn't an issue."
"That's good. I guess that you have been vigilant of that cut."
"I have plenty of experience with those"
"Of course you do. But whoever got you this time did a thorough job" the doctor laughed as Nalsy sank in her seat, filled with guilt.
"Yeah, I don't think I ever had a broken bone before. Not to mention that it is taking its time to heal."
"Doctor Stephan did a pretty good job in making sure that you still look pretty."
"He managed to reset the bone straight away." Edmund sounded impressed.
"It should be fully healed in about two weeks. If you have issues with it, you know where we are" Edmund nodded.
They both left the room, Nalsy holding a pack of painkillers and a new type of braces to wear as she heals a bit more.
"I hope that besides all that blood they've taken out of you, you are satisfied with the outcome of the appointment?" Edmund asked as they were walking through the maze of corridors towards the hospital's exit.
"I think so," Nalsy answered with hesitation.
"That's good. As promised, we can stop by the library and then we can grab something for an early lunch."
"Thank you."