Mir looked up and nodded shyly, hoping his room would be nice and underwhelming. “W-will I get to decorate my room…? L-like with things I find, I won’t ask for any money to buy stuff of course…” he asked nervously, just wanting to feel comfortable again.
(aaa I've got to head to bed, night!)
"Yes, of course! And don't worry, Dragomir. You'll be getting wages anyway, enough for whatever you'd like. It won't be much, but no one is getting an that they used to these days…" Corbin sighed softly.
"You're room will be yours, after all. Bring in more furniture, take furniture out, anything you need to be comfortable." They were close to the gates by now, Corbin finally letting his hood down.
(Night!!)
Mir relaxed a bit at that. “Could I um, bring in some planting materials into my room? Bought with my wages of course… I miss gardening and properly preparing herbs…” He figured that Corbin could put the puzzle pieces together himself to realize Mir had worked as an apothecarian at one point in his life. He fiddled with something through his shirt, a soft metal clinking noise being heard.
Corbin had, thankfully.
"Yes, of course," the king said softly. Even now, just a few yards from the palace gates, people had recognized the king, bowing low in respect. Corbin nodded to them in turn, pulling Dragomir a bit closer to himself.
"You can also visit the palace gardens whenever you like. We grow most of our own herbs there, actually."
Mir smiled nervously. “That’d be nice…” He hid further into the folds of the cloak to hide himself from all the people bowing to the king. Dragomir stared up at the looming palace gates, shivering a bit. This was were his old life officially ended and his new life as the king’s secret advisor and fake concubine began,
Corbin kept his arm securely around Dragomir, his hand taking the halfing's to once again give it a gentle squeeze. It wasn't long before the gates were opened, Corbin briskly leading Dragomir inside. The walls surrounding the castle were thick, with there actually being two, a space between to pour hot oil upon any attackers entering there.
The palace was much… shorter, than the soaring towers attached to it. The main part was much more functional, thick stone walls with thin, slit windows where they could be found at all. It looked to be self-sustaining as well, like a smaller city inside the walls for in case there was ever a siege.
"First stop, the doctor's," the king said softly. He kept the cloak on, mostly for Dragomir's sake, as they continued on.
Mir nodded, relaxing a lot more when the inside of the palace was much much less intimidating. He looked around, fascinated as they headed for the doctor’s beginning to hunch over as small waves of pain began to hit again.
Corbin looked down when he felt Dragomir hunch over. He thought a moment on what best to do, finally deciding on something rather… embarrassing, for some. He paused in his walking to reach down, practically scooping Dragomir up into his arms. The king started off again, able to go his nature gait now. He had a different air about him in the palace, even more so than when he took off the hood. He was large, intimidating with the grace one had from years of work. There was something… immense about him, not just his height anymore. Everything he did seemed to have a purpose, even the flair of his cloak when he moved so quickly to pull Dragomir up into his arms.
Dragomir gasped and squeaked as he was scooped up, clinging to the king as he was carried, now realizing how much he had been holding the king back with his shorter stature as they moved much faster. He watched the king with an even greater awe than his amazement at the inner city’s architecture as he saw Corbin’s natural confidence, and sense of purpose as they headed quickly for wherever the doctor’s was.
The king was someone that could naturally part crowds, as he did now, especially when he had a goal to fulfill, such as now. His posture naturally fell to shoulders back, head held high, and cloak flaring out behind them. This, this was the king everyone knew, the confident man who would lead them through this war.
Corbin's face was set with concern, behind the careful mask he always wore any place his court could find him. Still, his touch with Dragomir was gentle, caring even, as he walked into the doctor's rooms, guards who had fallen naturally behind him as the two had continued through the courtyard opening the doors for him.
Mir carefully buried his face into the folds of Corbin’s cloak when they walked into the doctor’s room, incredibly nervous a even as he felt the king’s gentle touch as he was carried. He clutched at Corbin as he waited for instructions for him, unsure of what was going to happen.
The doctor looked up when the two came in, offering a small bow to Corbin before the doors were closed. Both king and doctor dropped the formalities, it seemed, as soon as it was just the three of them.
"Ameil," Corbin said softly, a small enough gesture that said a lot about how close the two were.
"Corbin," the woman said with a sly grin. "Here, go ahead and set the new patient down, hm?" The doctor offered a small smile of assurance to Dragomir.
"Hello, I'm doctor Ameil Parkins, it's nice to meet you." Corbin moved over to the table he'd been motioned to, setting Dragomir down. He stayed by the halfling's side, holding onto his hand.
Mir looked at the doctor warily. “M-my name’s Dragomir son of Firth… It’s… nice to meet you too??” He was utterly confused about how civil she was being towards him. He appreciated that Corbin continued holding his hand, feeling nervous before he yelped and curled into a ball as a large amount of pain hit him.
The doctor's face set into a hard look of concern, already pulling her bag over to Mir's side.
"This looks nasty," she said softly, carefully taking Dragomir's arm in her hands. The first thing she did was pull out a bottle, taking out some medicine and hold it up to Dragomir's mouth.
"Take this, quickly," she instructed. "Corbin, go get some water for him to wash it down." Corbin nodded, hurrying off without complaint. He knew when Ameil got like this, he would do best to follow orders.
Mir obediently opened his mouth, eyes glazed with pain as he whimpered. He dry swallowed it, used to downing medicine without liquids due to having to do so on the field as he scouted. Pain flamed in his arm and tears started to slip down his cheeks.
Even though Dragomir had already swallowed the medicine, Ameil still had Corbin bring the water over. The doctor turned her attention fully to Dragomir's arm as they waited for the strong medicine to kick in, doing what she needed to the clean the wound up properly and begin her work on it.
(Sorry it's not very descriptive, I'm not in a position rn where I can look things up. Parents :( )
(It’s fine, I understand!)
Mir relaxed when the medication finally kicked in, slumping with relief before gulping down the offered water, not feeling anything as the doctor worked on his mildly infected wound, feeling numb all over. His eyes were even drooping a bit from the fact that pain was no longer keeping him awake. He was exhausted. He had worked for so long at the tavern today with very little to eat and then the long walk left him lightheaded.
Corbin lightly placed his hand on the top of Dragomir's head, his other hand still holding the halfling's. Ameil worked quietly for some time, finally pulling away.
"That should do, for now. I'll be coming up to deal with this at least twice a day. It doesn't look too good at all, but it'll heal eventually." Corbin nodded some.
"Thank you," he said softly, already moving to pick Dragomir up again.
Mir cuddled up against the king with a soft sigh, eyes closing for moment, but not falling asleep yet. He listened to the doctor’s words before murmuring, “Thank you so so much…” he felt and looked so relieved to not be in pain any longer.
Corbin's touch was gentle, arms underneath Dragomir and cradling him close.
"You're welcome, Dragomir," Ameil said softly. "And let me know if the king here gives you any trouble, kay?" The doctor laughed softly, shooing the two out now.
"Go get some rest, you obviously need it. Doctor's orders, got it?"
Mir looked confused when she said trouble. Surely he couldn’t complain about the king…? He clutched at Corbin’s cloak as they were shooed out. He looked up at Corbin. “What now?”
"Well," Corbin said softly, his public air coming back as soon as he saw the guards.
"Now we get you up to your rooms. We can worry about your clothes tomorrow, I'm sure we can find something for you to wear until we get you something fitted." Corbin started off down the halls, Dragomir tucked away securely in his arms.
Dragomir nodded, curling into his arms nervously at the sight of the guards, worried about what might happen when the king wasn’t there to ensure his safety anymore… Especially if no body really knew who he was… He was a brand new face in the court, and a concubine mutt at that…
Corbin held Dragomir close to his chest, letting his cloak fall down to shield the man as well. He carried the man through the halls, eventually stopping in front of a simple wooden door. Just down the way, a bit more… intricate setup, most likely Corbin's room, could be seen.
"Here, this is your room," Corbin said softly. He opened the door, revealing what could only be described as looking like a mini brothel, heavy and light fabrics alike draped everywhere in the royal colors. Corbin flushed some, a bit embarrassed.
"We'll be able to do redecorating in the morning," he promised softly.
((Yayyyyy y’all made another one :D))
(Yep! Enjoying the new storyline so far?)
Mir looked around, nonplussed. “Why? I don’t see much wrong with it. It suits my given station.” He didn’t look agitated at it all. Honestly, it was about what he had been expecting, just a bit more… lavish. Though he did wonder why or in had this room. From what he heard, the commanders used to make fun of the king behind backs because of his chaste nature.
(I cannot make my brain understand what you mean by looking like “a mini brothel” at ALL. My brain’s just- pfftht-)
(Oh, just a brothel, but small)
"Ah… alright then," Corbin said softly. He carried Dragomir further inside the room, laying the man down on the ornate bed.
"Well, then we can set up the room how you want, then." The king offered Dragomir a small smile, helping him for a moment. The room had been left from his… father's reign. Corbin hadn't really wanted to touch it, not at all.
((Yes it’s very nice I love it :D))
Mir nodded. “I’ll change it up after a while, but I’d like to do it myself, so it’ll take awhile…” Mir tried to shift and bury himself under the musty covers but the medication that left him numb left him clumsy as well, leaving him agitated as he couldn’t control his limbs as well as he was used to.