a/n: last part for forever winter! i’ll start a romajuliette fic requested by @bookishivy after a few headcanons and shitposts <4
requested by the smexy @justdaphne
(tagging @luciena-of-elfhame )
Jude gets sick while Cardan is out. She hasn't told him. Cardan is about to rage Hellfire.
Jude opened her eyes. She was cold. Everything was white – pure white. She grabbed the itchy blanket that was kept next to her and tried to get up.
“Hello? Cardan? Is anyone here?” She tried, with no response.
Suddenly, she felt searing hot pain on her back. She turned around and she saw…Balekin? He was dressed in long, black robes which were torn from the ends. He had a knife. He was strangling someone.
Run. Commanded her inner voice. No. Who is it? Help them. You’re the queen. Or am I?
Jude saw a glimpse of the man Balekin was strangling. Cardan.
“Help! Please!” Cardan cried.
“I’m trying to!” Jude replied as she struggled to free Cardan from Balekin’s unforgiving arms.
She was still struggling – when she heard a sharp cry – the last cry – from Cardan. Jude witnessed the life slowly leaving his eyes, until it was just a blank stare. He was staring in her eyes.
.................
“No! No! Please! Cardan!” Jude shouted as she jolt up from her bed.
“What happened? Are you okay?” Lilliver asked. She looked tired. As if she’d been here for hours – waiting for Jude to wake up.
Her eyes were still adjusting to the bright lights when she saw Cardan – still in his travel attire; his lingering gaze on her.
“Cardan! Oh for heaven’s sake, Lilliver. I told you not to tell him.”
“I didn’t! I swear I have no idea how he got to know”
“Let’s just say – I have my sources.” Cardan said with a smirk on his face. The smirk vanished soon after. “Jude. You know I would’ve stopped all my work to look after you. I wouldn’t have gone in the first place if I knew you were sick-“
“No.” Jude interrupted him. “That’s the issue. You shouldn’t stop your work to come after me. You’re the High King. Your position must come first.”
Cardan sighed. As if he’d been in this situation multiple times before.
“I will not argue with you on this. Next time you’re unwell, I will be the first one you tell. Understood?”
Jude was surprised. Cardan never tried to overpower what Jude said. Ever.
His gaze still on her, he turned around and left the room.
Perhaps Jude should’ve been mad. Angry at how Cardan wouldn’t listen to her. But she wasn’t. She felt this wave of gratitude coming over her. The warmth of someone caring so much about her – something she had never experienced wholly before. Plus, how could one ever be mad at Cardan Greenbriar?