Hansry: Henry Sickfic
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āHow is he?ā Hans asked as he rushed to the bottom of the stairs. āAny better?ā He impatiently waited for Katherine to descend, fidgeting with the decorative leaves of his hood. A pang of dread twisted his guts at her somber look.
āNo,ā She shook her head as she walked by him. āHe canāt keep anything down, and I canāt keep him warm.ā The lack of a fireplace in their room didnāt help. āThe best we can do right now is wait for Musa to return from Kuttengberg.ā But that was days ago, and nobody knew when he would be back. Until then, Katherine was doing her best.
āBut-ā Hans stammered, following her into the kitchen.
Three days prior, Henry returned to the Den from an errand Zizka had sent him on. This, on its own, was not unusual, but the way Henry rode in half slumped and looking like a corpse was. He didnāt acknowledge anybody as he rode by, which was also unusual since he was rather a social creature. Instead, his focus remained ahead of him, as if all his energy was being directed to getting to where he was going.Ā
Upon bringing Pebbles to a stop in front of the hay trough, he dismounted, his feet hitting the ground, but his legs giving out from his weight. Heād fallen backwards onto his arse, armor clanking, the visor to his helmet coming down and snapping shut.
Hans had been sitting at one of the tables outside, lazily nursing stale ale, when he saw his squire ride in. At first, he was excited, but it flipped to confusion when he watched Henry fall.
āAlready ten pints deep? Eh?ā Hans laughed as he stood, sauntering his way over to Henry, who still hadnāt gotten up. āOr are you becoming a lightweight on m-ā Hans cut himself off when he saw Henry lean forward and slide his helmet off.Ā
Henry, as pale as a corpse, looked up at his Lord with dark sunken eyes. His hair was damp and sticking to his forehead in every direction.Ā
āChrist, Hal,ā Hans grabbed Henryās arm and helped haul him to his feet. āYou look awful.ā
āIām⦠Iām alright.ā Henry tried to smile, but it looked weak and half-hearted. āJust need to sleep is all.ā It had been a long journey, and heād been rained on twice. He was soaked and cold. For several days.
āCome on, Iāll help you get your armor off.ā Hans tugged Henryās arm, and obediently, he followed. His steps were sluggish, and the stairs seemed daunting when every joint in his body ached.
With effort, Hans helped Henry up each step, one by one, until they reached their shared room. From there, Hans stripped off his armor to reveal the soaked gambeson beneath. He pulled the ties that held the fabric closed and helped Henry slide it off his shoulders. It hit the floor with a heavy, wet plop.
Visibly, Henry shivered in place, his white undershirt clinging to him as it, too, was soaked through. The same went for the rest of his clothing.
āHere,ā Hans offered Henry a fresh, dry set of clothing, āput these on and Iāll be right back.ā
āWhere are you going?ā Henry asked as he pulled the fresh shirt over his head, lethargically.
āTo get you something to eat,ā Hans said as he spun and walked to the door.
āItās alright,ā Henry shook his head, āIām not hungry.ā
That had Hans pausing by the doorās threshold. Not hungry? He was always hungry. Surely after such a long ride and getting drenched in the cold rain, a hot meal should have sounded wonderful. No?
āHenry,ā Hans moved back to Henryās side of the room, āare you sure?ā Hansā voice was soft as he reached up and cupped one of Henryās cheeks. It was warm to the touch and rather clammy.
āAye,ā Henry responded, reaching his own hand up to place it over Hansā, but it felt weak. āJust need to lie down, is all.ā Turning away from Hans, Henry went to his bed and did just that. Kneeling onto the lumpy mattress, he slowly brought himself down until his head hit the pillow. Meekly, he tugged the scratchy blanket up to his shoulder and sighed.
āAlright, but when you wake, you need to eat.ā Hans rubbed at the back of his neck and chewed his lip anxiously.Ā
Now, here they were, days later, and Henry had not eaten nor gotten up. Heād turned away from any spoon offered to him, grimacing. The only thing he could keep down was a few sips of water now and again.
āWe just have to be patient,ā Katherine attempted to reassure Hans. If it had been anybody else at the Den laid up, Hans wouldnāt have paid too much mind to it, but it was Henry. Heād done his best to stay out of Katherineās way most of the time, but heād pace outside of their shared room, listening to Henryās stifled coughs. Every time he asked for an update, it was always the same: they had to wait. Except that Hans was sick of waiting.Ā
Heād left the Denās tavern when things were getting loud, using the opportunity to head upstairs without too much attention. Not that he was barred from visiting Henry, but Katherine insisted he rest undisturbed to save what little energy he had.
Hans grabbed the latch to their room and gently pushed the door open. He quietly let it click shut behind him before he turned and looked into the dim room.Ā
āHenry?ā Hans heard the faint sound of blankets rustling from the other side of the room.
āSirā¦ā Henryās voice was hoarse and barely audible,
Moving his way towards Henryās side of the room, Hans grabbed a stool and sat by Henryās bedside. He noticed the small table next to Henryās bed, a bowl of broth, still full, abandoned, and several washcloths Katherine must have been using to dab his sweaty forehead.
Lying on his back, arms under the covers, Henry stared at Hans with half-lidded eyes. His cheeks were a dark tinge of pink, and a now dry cloth lay on his forehead.
āSlacking on your duties, I see.ā Hans tone was light as he reached over and grabbed the cloth off of Henryās head.Ā
āHeh-ā Henry tried to laugh, but it came out as a soft wheeze instead. āItās nothing, Sir. Iāllā¦,ā Henry had to take in a shallow breath, ābe on my feet in no time.ā His teeth chattered as he shivered.
āYouāre a good liar, Henry, but not to me.ā Hans tutted as he dipped the cloth into a basin and wrung it out. He folded it neatly into a new shape and draped it back over Henryās forehead. āYou still look like hell.ā
āAye, I feel like it too.ā Again, Henryās body trembled as she shivered, teeth clicking together.
Hans looked from Henryās pale face to the sad excuse of a blanket draped over him. A second one had been added, but it didnāt seem to be enough.
Standing abruptly, Hans rushed to his side of the room and yanked the covers off his own bed. He rushed back, flapping them open and draping them over Henry.
āW-what are you doing?ā Henry asked as he watched Hans pull his pourpoint off through one open eye.
āTaking care of my squire.ā Hans draped his pourpoint over Henry next, kicked off his shoes, and pulled off his hose.Ā
āMove over.ā Hans motioned as he lifted the edge of Henryās blanket.
āWhat?ā Henryās brows furrowed together.
āI said move over,ā Hans started to climb into bed, ādo I have to order you?ā He gently nudged Henry over, not that it left much more room on the twin bed.
Getting himself under the covers, Hans lay on his side and pulled Henry against him. He pressed his nose into Henryās cheek and draped an arm over his chest. Under the covers, Hans shifted his leg over Henryās, cradling him the best he could.
A protest was building in Henryās chest, but it fizzled out when Hansā body heat began to seep into him. A welcome warmth that silenced the chattering of his teeth.
āHans,ā Henry said softly, āYou shouldnāt be this close, you could get-ā
āShut up, Henry.ā Reaching his hand up, Hans cupped Henryās damp cheek, pulling him even closer.Ā
He knew better than to argue with his Lord when his mind was made up. Instead, he took in a deep, wheezy breath and sighed contentedly.Ā
āYes, Sir.ā Closing his eyes, a small smile curved his dry lips as he listened to the soft sound of Hansā breathing.Ā
Already, he was feeling better.











