You Taste It Too?

"Wake up Fern."

"Ugh no..." I whined into my pillow.

"Come on, up up up." I felt someone tugging on my wrist and I only made it halfway up before I collapsed into that sweet, sweet softness again. Soon, repeated pillow attacks were launched on my body. It's too early for this.

"What do you mean 'too early'? We're running late for our class with Hans, now get up!"

I made a mental note to be careful with what I say in a sleep ridden haze and sat up. I blinked lazily a few times at my sister, all dressed and ready for the day. She looked ready to throw a ball, maybe two. But what's she doing in my room so early?

"Quit looking at me and go get ready."

I still sat there, staring into the air and thinking about how many minutes I could still get in. It felt cold... Perfect for snuggling with blankets that would be such a warm contrast to the weather...

I saw her pinching her nose. I'm the one who was woken up so early, in my own room for that matter, I should be the one annoyed here. She stomped out of my line of vision and I couldn't care less as I began gathering the blanket to myself.

"Oh Fern..."

The second I looked up, cold wet pain splattered across my face. "Ack! Freya!" I wiped at my face and in the few seconds of temporary blindness I could feel her smiling. "Not funny! I will pay you back for that."

Once the water was out of my eyes I could see her lean forward. "How about you pay me back by getting dressed, and coming down for our lessons." She bopped my nose.

She bopped my nose!

"What am I, five?"

She shrugged and walked out, leaving the door open. Now that I was wide awake, I started to make sense of my surroundings. It was raining so that explains the cool air, and a window was open. The water that came down from the roof was close enough for someone to stick their hand out and get a handful of icy water and... Ugh. That explains it. Now for one more thing that didn't sit right. Why does my room smell so not like my room?

"You know what Fern? It was worth a shot."

"Get out!" I tossed a pillow at her head but she ducked just in time. "Don't forget to straighten the sheets!" She yelled as she left and closed the door after herself this time.

Straighten the sheets? I don't straighten my sheets, and no one ever tells me to straighten my...

I noticed the new orderliness of my room. Then the numerous paintings and books in several corners of the room and-

Oh... This is isn't my room.

°°°°°•••••°°°°°•••••°°°°°

I walked into the study room and slumped into my seat beside Freya.

"Glad you could join us Fernando."

"Good morning Hans." I smiled apologetically, but he frowned and turned back to the board. I started massaging my head, it felt like it was going to erupt any moment from now.

"Did you stick your head in a tornado?" Freya pointed at the mane of trouble on my head. I ignored her and tried to pinpoint the exact spot on my head. "Hello? Xeldia to Fern?"

I ignored her again.

"What is wrong with you?"

"That is not how you wake someone up." I snapped back. I hated this headache, but I hated being woken up rudely more, and my hatred for mornings just crowned it all.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"No sir." Freya answered and I followed her act until he faced the board to continue writing something. She turned back to me and whispered, "Who twisted your earlobes this morning?"

"No one-" I hissed at the ache that now doubled. "It's just this headache."

She touched my forehead and drew back almost immediately. "You're burning up. You shouldn't have come if you felt sick."

"I'm sick of morning lessons."

"Sir? Fern isn't feeling so good, may I escort him to his room please?"

Hans came close to examine me. "Well I have a session with the orphanage home and I'm not sure how long you will take so..." He went back to his desk and brought a huge book. "This will be your assignment. Study it and we'll discuss in our next class."

I gave the book a once-over and shook my head. "There is no way we can-"

"Understood sir, see you soon!" She pushed me out of the room, carrying the book with her.

"Freya I'm the one that's sick. You should get back to class." I complained once we reached my room. She only pushed me into my bed, then went out to tell my parents which meant a doctor would be coming soon. Might as well get comfy.

"Don't you dare use those filthy covers, young prince."

Oh no, she's here.

I didn't have the strength to protest as I watched Doctor Tonica bring out a thermometer. "Say 'ahh'"

"Bleh."

She rolled her eyes and stuck the thermometer in anyway. Freya came in as she took the thermometer out.

"Thirty-eight point five..."

"How is he Doctor Tonica?" Freya and her den mother attitude once I fall sick.

"Well he still as stubborn as ever so that's a good sign, but it looks like he might have a cold."

"Oh..." Freya's eyes narrowed at me. I hate doctor visits.

She brought about a small bottle. "A cap full of this before bed, for the next three days will get you back on your feet. Do you feel any sort of nausea?"

"You being here is a sort of-"

"Okay. Thank you so much for coming doctor! We'll call you if something comes up again. Good bye!"

Freya's face came into my line of vision, I could see the accusing look on her face. "How cold was that pond when you went in?"

I gave a weak laugh before turning to my right. "You have no idea..."

"Fern!"

"Could you please be quiet? I'm tired. Goodnight."

I heard her grumble something between 'morning' and 'can't do this by myself'.

°°°°°•••••°°°°°•••••°°°°°

I felt someone tapping me ever so gently. Definitely not Freya.

"Fernando..."

I stirred and saw my parents seated on both sides of my bed. "Hello..." I looked out and realised I had been asleep for a long time.

"How are you feeling son?" Father asked, moving closer to me.

"I'm fine father," I sat up to prove my point. "It's just a little cold." I hate this helpless feeling that comes everytime I'm sick. So maybe not trying to dry off after falling into the pond was a bad move.

"Well we hope you get better soon. Can't have you falling sick so close to your birthday." Mother ruffled my hair a bit.

"It's a week and a few days away."

"Still quite close if you think about it." Father stated and my mother elbowed him in the ribs then turned back to me with a smile. Weird.

"Maria will be right up with your supper and medicine."

Right on time, someone knocked and they exchanged greetings at the doorway before Maria came in. I ate in silence while she stared.

"What?"

"You should be more careful with your health."

I rolled my eyes at this. Everytime either me or my sister was sick, the doctor would appear quicker than a flash of lightning after being called on, and everyone in the castle would be walking on eggshells around us. While Freya is a bit okay with it, I'm not.

Maria handed me a cap of the yellow substance from the bottle. I scrunched up my face at the salty sour taste. "Blech."

"Still got three more days worth of this stuff, so I suggest you get use to it. Your sister has."

"Why? She's not sick."

"Oh you know how Doctor Tonica is. Just a precaution in case she might get it from you later."

"Okay."

Maria left, and the room, along with the whole castle grew silent. The only sound to be heard was the faint marching of guards rotating their stations. I didn't bother to turn the almost dying lantern off, but I didn't feel like sleeping anymore. Actually, I felt a little more energetic.

I started humming a song when I heard a few whispers outside my room and the door opened. I stared blankly at my late night visitor.

"I could have been in my underwear you know."

"We shared a womb for nine months and the same bathroom for seven years, and you're worried I could have seen you in your underwear? Move over."

She settled into the space beside me and brought a book over from my nightstand.

"Why is that here? And what if you get sick from me?"

"It was with me when I brought you here, and I told you that I can't study this by myself remember?"

Not at all.

"Plus I'm going to be drinking enough of that salty sour thing to keep it at bay."

"You taste it too?"

She snorted and opened the book to it's first page. "It's a book on history called... 'The Forgotten Land.'"

Normally I didn't like studying, but hearing a familiar topic got my attention. "Hey, I've heard that before. I think Maria told me a story like that."

"She told you a story, that she didn't tell me? When?"

"Uh..." I tried to recall. "Not sure really. I guess it was a long time ago. Let's read it now! I want to know if it's the same one."

"Fine fine fine." She turned the page and began reading.

"Long ago, in a world without guidance and a time of misery..."