The Cycles of Revelation Series

Artifact of the Dawn: Healing (A Queer Sci-Fi Adventure)

Episode 70: Now that Jevan has a healing bed large enough to accommodate his tall frame, Ardyn remains steadfast at his side.

Ardyn paced the length of the corridor outside of the hospital room where they brought Jevan. Jevan’s family was still making their way on foot, and it would take them another day or two to arrive. For now, Ardyn was alone.

As soon as they told him that Jevan was in the hospital wing, he ran through the corridors, only to be told he had to wait. They needed to get Jevan properly set up in the medical bed and monitor his condition to make sure he remained stable before anyone could see him. So, now all Ardyn could do was pace, until finally a medical tech peeked his head out from Jevan’s room.

“Hey, Ardyn! You can come in now.”

His heart skipped a beat when he approached the door of Jevan’s room, afraid of what he might see. In his mind’s eye, Ardyn still saw Jevan on that too-small bed with all those wires and tubes attached to him, encased in that awful body cast. As he walked in, what Ardyn saw amazed him. The room was stark white, but lit warmly. Across from the door was the bed, more than large enough for a man Jevan’s size.

Jevan was now dressed in white, loose fitted clothes, and there were no wires or tubes attached to him. His face was no longer ashen, and he looked peacefully asleep. “Is he… healed already?”

The medical tech who had called him in gave him a sad smile and shook his head. “No, he’s only just begun the healing process. He will remain unconscious for a while yet, but you may sit with him as long as you need to.”

There was a chair positioned next to the bed and as he approached, Ardyn noticed a faint blue forcefield surrounding Jevan. “Will I be able to hold his hand?”

“Yes, of course,” another medical tech replied. “You may feel a slight tingle when you reach inside the healing field, but it won’t do you any harm. Just make sure that Jevan’s hands always remain inside the field.”

“Okay, I can do that,” Ardyn said. “Thank you.”

After the techs left, Ardyn sat and took Jevan’s hand into his. “Jevan? It’s me… Ardyn. I don’t know if you can hear me or not, but… I’ve missed you. I hope it’s okay I talk to you for a while.”

Ardyn wasn’t sure if he’d imagined it or not, but he could swear Jevan’s hand moved, just a little. He smiled and continued, telling Jevan everything that had happened since the last time they’d seen each other.

***

A few hours later, Keryth and Aramys came in. “We wanted to see how he’s doing,” Keryth explained. “He saved my life.”

“I still don’t understand why Jevan risked his life for you. You could have been healed much faster because you would have fit on the healing bed,” Ardyn said, while he continued to clutch Jevan’s hand.

“I’m sure he acted on instinct. However, the way the bulkhead came down, it would have struck me worse than it hit Jevan,” Keryth said. “Besides, Jevan is also larger and stronger, and I would probably have been killed instantly. I truly owe Jevan my life.”

Ardyn looked at Jevan with a bemused smile. “He has a habit of saving people, doesn’t he? Jevan will be happy to know he helped.”

“How are you doing?” Aramys asked. “You look like you need some rest.”

Flattening his hears, Ardyn shook his head. “I can’t rest. Not until I know Jevan is okay. Not until he wakes.” Unable to look at Aramys, he ducked his head and continued. “I must apologize, Commander Aramys. I had some unkind thoughts about you when we first met.”

Ardyn heard a knowing chuckle that made him look up.

“I had a feeling something was going on when you wouldn’t speak to me during the tour, and then disappeared, leaving me alone with Jevan. He was very informative and… I will admit he is quite easy on the eyes,” she teased.

A flush of anger rose as he shot her a look, making Aramys laugh. “Sorry, I shouldn’t tease. I have no plans to steal this Medellan from you. I am happily mated.”

The sudden flush of anger turned to embarrassment upon hearing that. “I… I am sorry. I was jealous of the attention he gave you. Before the attack began, I almost walked out on Jevan, determined to sulk in the woods for a few days. You must think me very foolish.”

“Not foolish, no. It’s a natural reaction when you’re deeply in love,” Aramys said. “Please be sure to thank him for that tour he gave.”

Love? Ardyn knew he cared deeply for Jevan, but love? That hadn’t crossed his mind until now. I am not ready to explore that. Not until I know Jevan is okay. Annoyed at Aramys for complicating his feelings again, he brushed it off. “You can thank him yourself when he wakes. I promise I won’t be jealous.”

“Unfortunately, I won’t be here. I am taking most of the battalion and going after the rest of the Maara’dahl,” she said. “We need to prevent another attack like this from ever happening again.”

Looking up at Aramys, he felt a mix of relief and regret. “That’s… that’s good to hear. Good luck. I hope we never have to face something like that again, either.”

“Take care of yourself, Ardyn, and know this. Jevan cares for you as much as you care for him. He wouldn’t stop talking about you during the tour,” she said with a wink, before turning to leave.

Ardyn’s face heated as his ears lowered again, making Keryth laugh.

“I’ll talk to Amyra on my way out,” Keryth said, becoming more serious again. “You really need to rest. I’m sure they can fit a small bed in here for you to sleep on. Jevan will stay in a coma for a few days until his worst injuries are healed.”

Before he could disagree, Keryth held up a hand. “Don’t argue. You will be no good to Jevan if you pass out from exhaustion.”

Ardyn remained at Jevan’s side, stubbornly refusing to leave. Eventually, they brought in a small bed, so he could get some sleep. They already equipped the room with a small food replicator and an adjoining bathroom, so Ardyn had everything else he needed. The medical techs came in to check on them regularly, monitoring Jevan’s condition and admonishing Ardyn gently for neglecting himself.

Because of how extensive Jevan’s injuries were, the fact he was a member of a completely different species, and the delay in getting him inside the healing stasis field of the medical bed, the process to heal him was taking longer than it normally would. Ardyn focused on Jevan’s slow, steady breathing to reassure himself that he hadn’t lost him.

Eventually Ardyn would have to share his time with Jevan’s family, so he kept mulling over in his head a confession he’d held back for months. Finally, he worked up enough courage. “Jevan, if you can hear me in there, please do not laugh when I tell you this. I have something to confess. I should have told you sooner, but we’ve been so busy, and I nearly forgot about it until now.”

Ardyn took a breath before he continued. “I’m sure you remember the day you saved me from the sar’ora. What you don’t know is… that… that wasn’t the first time I ever saw you. I first spotted you in the woods about a year before. I heard you and that noisy pack of yours from a mile away, and I hid up in the trees.”

Ardyn ducked his head, flattening his ears as he felt his face flush hot. “I felt an inexplicable attraction to you, despite my fear of your people. So, I followed you and watched you. I often listened for the clank of your pack, and the sound of it made me smile. Was that silly? Jevan… please… wake up and forgive this silly old elf. Please.”