Chapter Text
Emmrich had seen it coming.
The long nights Rook spent with Lucanis, the hours they sat together in closed quarters, going over plans to free Treviso from the Antaam and the Venatori. Sitting next to each other, leaning over papers, knees touching, shoulders touching, hands brushing against each other, barely any distance between them.
It had been only a matter of time until the inevitable happened. He had noticed the signs. The glossy eyes and the sweaty faces. The blushing and the trembling.
So, when Rook showed up in his laboratory, teary eyed and sniffling, he was not surprised. Saddened, of course, but not surprised.
"Emmrich," she said, her voice muffled by her stuffy nose. "I'm dying."
"Oh, Rook." Her dramatics made him chuckle softly, but the amusement soon got crushed by sympathy. "You are not dying, darling."
He walked up to her and put his arm around her shoulder. Knowing full well it wasn't the reasonable thing to do. Knowing full well, where this might end. But Rook leaning against his side, resting her head against his chest, made it worth it.
"I warned you, that this would happen, Lucanis has been showing symptoms for days."
"Seriously?" Rook groaned. "I'm dying and you told me so?"
"You are not dying," he repeated gently and walked her over to his armchair with the ottoman and had her sit down. "Sit, darling, and breathe."
"I can't," she whined, sniffled, then blew her nose.
"You can," Emmrich insisted and helped her put her legs up on the ottoman. "And you will. I won't let you slip away."
Rook's respond was a deep hum that could have meant anything, from an expression of her unbound will to live to her communicating which arrangements she wished for her funeral.
"Stay right where you are," Emmrich asked her and walked over to his desk where the tea he had prepared for himself earlier was still waiting to be consumed. It wasn't the perfect blend for Rook's condition but he'd prepare some of that later. For now, it would do to have her drink something hot.
"Manfred!" he called out as he poured her a cup. "Could you bring a blanket and two pillows down here?"
His ward answered with a friendly hiss and soon after came downstairs, bedding in his arms, eyes sparkling as he looked around before shuffling over towards Rook.
"Manfred," she hummed. "Good to see you one last time before I go."
Manfred turned around to Emmrich, his hiss no longer friendly but worried. He shifted his weight from one foot onto another and looked from Emmrich to Rook, hissing, as if he expected Emmrich to do something.
"It's alright, Manfred," Emmrich assured him. "Rook is not feeling well but she will make it."
Manfred hissed, relaxed, this time.
"Would you be a dear and fetch me some herbs for tea from the dining hall," Emmrich asked. "Something to fight a cold, something that helps with inflammation." He handed Rook the mug and watched her wrinkle her nose over the smell. "Maybe add something fruity so Rook might enjoy it a little."
"That's too kind," she mumbled and took a sip of tea, making a face upon the taste. "How can someone as sweet as you drink something that bitter?"
"I need to counterbalance the sweetness, else you would dote on me, completely blind to all my flaws." Emmrich spread out the blanket over her and carefully tucked it around her torso and hips and under her feet.
"Not, that I'm complaining," he added while he stuffed a pillow behind her back, one behind her head. "I bask in your affection, dearest." He kissed her forehead and Rook hummed in contentment. "Now, tell me, Rook, if I asked you to go to bed and rest, would you do it?"
He was sure he knew the answer, because he knew her, but he needed to hear it coming from her. He didn't like just making assumptions.
"I can't, there is so much to do, I'll be out of your hair as soon as I finish my tea."
She shook her head, than made a face, put her hand on her forehead and groaned slightly.
"I see." Emmrich sat down on the outer edge of the ottoman and put his hand on her shins. "And if I asked you to come to bed with me, would you agree to that?"
Rook squinted at him and frowned, probably trying to figure out what exactly he had in mind and Emmrich, with a conscience as clean as freshly fallen snow, had no difficulties to hold up eye contact while she was thinking. There was no way he would do anything more than making sure she got some rest.
"I could do that," she said after a while.
"Splendid!" Emmrich gave her leg a light squeeze and stood up. "Then I will just finish my correspondence, make you some more tea and then we shall go upstairs."
Rook nodded and leaned her head back. Her breath came with a soft whistling noise and she mumbled something inaudible before wiping her nose with a tissue that had seen better times. She closed her eyes and groaned quietly.
Emmrich watched her for a moment before returning to the letter he had been writing, answering his student's questions as best as he could and he was just wrapping it up when Manfred returned, a tray in his hands with cups and a teapot. He sat it down on Emmrich's desk and took the cup over to Rook, placing it on the side table.
Emmrich noticed the small pot of honey Manfred had added to the tray.
"That is very thoughtful of you, Manfred, thank you!"
"Did he bring a coffin?" Rook asked.
"Darling, stop," Emmrich asked when Manfred gave another worried hiss. "She does not need a coffin, Manfred. Thank you for the tea. We are not doing any more work today, would you like to go play with Assan?" Manfred turned his head to look at Rook. "Don't worry, Rook will still be here tomorrow. And very much alive."
Manfred hissed yet again and Emmrich's heart ached with adoration for his ward.
"I promise you, I will take care of her."
Manfred nodded and left, closed the door quietly behind him. Emmrich stared at the door for a moment before turning back to his letter. He added the last few lines, signed the letter and then sprinkled it with fine sand for the ink to dry.
"I have finished my task," he informed Rook and pushed back his chair. "Would you join me upstairs, now, dearest?"
Rook hummed in response and, withouth moving her head or even opening her eyes, reached her arms out to him.
"Can you carry me?"
Emmrich frowned upon this request. He had seen her trip over a root in Arlathan forest, fall and roll down a hill, twisting her ankle and getting bruises and scratches all over her body in the progress and just get up and laugh it off.
He had mended her broken bones or sealed up wounds in her flesh, witnessed her getting pushed off a roof in Dock Town and dance around raging darkspawn as if it was nothing. All of these incidents had been much harder on him. Whatever challenge her gods had thrown at her, she had powered through and oftentimes, Emmrich had wondered what it would take to bring her down.
The answer was, apparently: a stuffy nose.
Of course, he'd carry her. He'd do almost anything for Rook, who was he to deny her that little comfort. It wasn't the first time he carried her — and it wouldn't be the last time, if he had anything to say in the matter — but it was the first time she was dead weight in his arms, she usually wrapped her arms or legs or both around him. When he had carried her into the warm waters of the Rivaini Coast, the first time they had sneaked away from the team and their responsibilities for a little time alone, she had kicked her feet in excitement and laughed.
There was no laughter today, though.
Emmrich carried her upstairs and in the small chamber he slept in. The room was just big enough to fit his bed, a chest with his personal belongings inside and a candle to read with on top and a washing table. There were no windows to let in the everlasting twilight of the Fade. He lied Rook down on the bed and took off her boots and vest before tucking her in again. Afterwards, he returned downstairs to get both their teapots and a book to read.
Rook rolled over and cuddled up to him as soon as he had settled down next to her, after lighting the candle and closing the door and taking off some of his clothes. She buried her face against his side and put an arm around his chest.
"Get some sleep, darling," he whispered, gently brushing over her hair. "You'll feel better after waking up."
Emmrich knew how to admit when he was wrong — not that it happened that often — so when he sat in bed next to her, rubbing her back while she coughed violently, reminding him of his hollow words with hoarse voice, there was only one thing to say.
"I was wrong, darling, and I apologize for that."
He couldn't help but feel sorry for her, every cough sounded as if it was coming from deeper down in her lungs and oh, how she ached.
"Told you I'm dying," she said, her speech slightly slurred, her voice rasp, when the cough had finally stopped.
"And I told you, I won't let you slip away," he hummed and kissed her temple. "Have some tea, the honey will help."
"Can't you just make it go away?" Rook wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffed.
"I'm afraid I cannot do that. I can mend bones and heal open wounds." Emmrich handed her a cup of tea and a clean tissue. "But I cannot cure a cold, unfortunately."
She groaned but drank her tea before sinking back on the pillow. Emmrich put the cup aside and lied down and when he put his arms around her and pulled her close, he felt the heat she was radiating and in the silence of his chamber he could hear her breath rustle in her lungs.
"Can you at least tell me how brave I am and how good I am doing? Like you usually do when patching me up?"
"Ah, but darling, I could never lie to you." He chuckled softly and kissed her neck. Her skin was too warm and her hairline damp.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing." Emmrich gave her a gentle squeeze. "Go back to sleep, dearest."
It took her a while to fall back asleep and when she did, Emmrich heart the most adorable soft snoring coming from her. He chuckled against her neck and placed another kiss on her skin.
"Lovely," he whispered and closed his eyes, let the feeling of her body close to his and the noises coming from her lull him back to sleep.
Rook didn't wake up again for the remainder of Emmrich's night and when he was rested and ready to start the day he moved as slowly and carefully as he could as to not disturb her sleep. He lit the candle with a wave of his hand and got dressed in the flickering orange light before leaving the room quickly and quietly.
Emmrich descended the stairs down to the laboratory, rubbing sleep out of his eyes. Manfred was nowhere to be seen but the fresh pot of tea on the desk made it apparent that he had been here not long ago. Emmrich poured himself a cup and took a sip. As always with tea prepared by Manfred, it was perfect.
Emmrich took the tea with him as he left the laboratory. He might not be able to cure a cold with his magic but he still wanted to check on Lucanis, find out if there was something he could do for him.