Dastan Woke Up

Azorius's eyes were a testament to the pain and joy he felt simultaneously. The ache of not seeing his son look at him like this and the elation of finally being able to do so were evident in his gaze. His crown gleamed brighter today, and his face was illuminated with happiness. His hand trembled with joy as he reached out to Dastan's face, cradling it in his palm and pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"My son!" he breathed out with joy, his voice filled with emotion.

Fleur had received the news a while ago, and with a heavy push on the door, she barged into the room. Her eyes were drenched with tears, and she gasped the moment her gaze met Dastan's. Her hands reached out to her mouth in disbelief. "Dastan!" she exclaimed, staggering backward, unable to believe what she saw before her. Seeing her son awake after four long years had made her lose hope, but now that he was awake, she couldn't believe it.

"Mother?" he uttered, confused. Nothing made sense to him, nor their reaction. He spoke with a weak tone, as it was not easy for him to find his voice.

Fleur held out her hands and quickly reached up to Dastan as he sat up slowly. "My son! You woke up at last!" she wailed and threw her arms around his neck.

"Why are you acting like this? What has happened?" he spoke, trying to extricate himself from Fleur's tight hug, which was beginning to feel suffocating. "Mother, what is all this about?" he insisted, needing someone to explain things to him. But amidst the overwhelming relief of his awakening, they had forgotten that Dastan was seeking clarification.

"My child, you were under a curse! You never woke up. I thought I would never hear you call me again." Fleur's hand possessively tightened around him as she hugged him tightly. He saw Azorius looking at him from a distance, giving Fleur the stage to express her sorrow. His eyes were tearful, but as a man, he couldn't shed tears so openly.

"What are you talking about, Mother? I am alright! See," he said, pulling himself out of the hug and pointing to himself. "Nothing happened to me," he insisted.

"Nothing happened?!" Fleur's frustration brewed up, and she scolded Dastan. "You have been unconscious for the past four years, and you are saying nothing happened? What do you take your mother's heart for? It has been aching for the past four years, and you are treating me like this," she exclaimed, her anguish palpable as she wished to tear her heart out of her chest to show him how hurt she was, or how horrified she was at the thought of Dastan never waking up.

"Huh? Four years?" he said, his breath catching in his throat when he heard her. "It can't be true, can it?" He glanced up at Azorius, who stood beside her. "Your mother is telling the truth; it has been four years already," he said in his deep voice, sending goosebumps all over Dastan's body, and he felt a surge of cold run up his spine.

"Four years? I–I had been unconscious for four years!" The heaviness of the revelation pressed on his shoulders, and his heart sank. "What happened to me? Why?" He was baffled, his gaze looking up at them for an explanation, only to pause on a distant figure seated in a chair playing with her fingers, completely detached from everything. "And who is she?" he hissed at the sight of Noori in the distance, his gaze clearly filled with loathing and disgust, making Noori instantly turn her head towards him with a raised brow.

Azorius's face stiffened as he heard his son's tone and turned around to look at Noori, who was clearly offended. "She has red hair and red eyes? I have never seen anyone with those traits in Solyria!" Dastan exclaimed, clenching the sheet of his bed. Noori stood up and walked up to Azorius before anyone replied to Dastan's questions.

"I understand this was all done without him knowing it, but the treatment I was receiving as a part of the family makes me wonder how you people treat your family members. First, your physician orders your soldiers to drag me out, and they oblige to it, and now this," she pointed at Dastan's gaze that was filled with contempt. "I am sorry, but I don't think I accept this sort of welcoming behaviour. I must leave," she said in a stern tone, leaving Azorius's brows creased. "How dare they!" he growled.

"That is the question you must ask the physician, not me. I owe you no explanation," she spat and walked out of the room after giving Dastan one serious look.

Azorius's teeth minced together, and Dastan found it very annoying when he saw someone speak to his father in that tone. He got out of the bed almost instantly and followed Noori, catching up to her before she reached the door. He pinned her hand above her head against the wall and looked at her with a serious gaze. Noori's brow lifted once more, and she slightly tilted her head, as if complementing his audacity to touch her.

"How dare you speak to the King like that? Do you wish to die?" he hissed.

Azorius's gaze stiffened, and he marched up to him to stop him before he did something stupid enough to ruin all the efforts to keep him alive.

Noori, rather than getting worked up, looked into Dastan's eyes before lifting her hand and placing it over his cheek. "The last man who did this to me is dead. I don't mind adding to that list," her lip lifted up in a playful manner, like a predator giving his prey a chance to reflect. Dastan's hand that held hers felt like it had started to burn, and her words sent a weird sort of sensation through him. He instantly let go of her hand.

"Dastan! Back off! This is no way of speaking to your wife!" Azorius broke their moment of false intimacy, and Dastan's frown fell into surprise. "Wife? Who? She? Why?" he said each word with utter surprise, and the glint in Noori's eye made it clear that she was having fun seeing the distressed man who had just gotten up from his slumber and couldn't wrap his head around so much change in such a short time.

Azorius's face then turned to Noori, and he spoke. "I understand that it is hard for you, and I will make sure that whoever bore ill intentions towards you is met with strict actions. It is my promise to you." He paused before reaching out to her hand and lifting it before placing it against Dastan's chest. "In return, I wish you keep your promise," he said in a serious tone.