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Zen woke up sore. But, then again, that wasn’t anything new. After nearly a month of sleeping on cots or the ground, rising stiff and aching was not a surprise. The prince simply groaned softly and dragged himself from bed, his shoulders aching in protest.
“Morning master,” Obi mumbled, rubbing his eyes and slowly rising from the arm chair he’d fallen asleep on. His sharp eyes narrowing a little.
“You alright? Sleep a little funny or something?” The man asked, stretching his arms above his head and standing.
“Probably,” Zen admitted, standing and pulling on his discarded tunic. “Where’s Mitsuhide?”
“Dunno. Making the rounds with the guards if I had to guess,” the messenger got a wicked grin and added “or maybe he went to find lady Kiki.”
“Hmm,” Zen just hummed and rolled his eyes. Obi snickered and stalked his way to the fire, one that Mitsuhide must’ve rekindled in the early morning.
The guest chambers of this particular guard post were small, the room the three men shared had two cots and a fireplace. Kiki’s was worse, barely more than a closet.
“It has a door. That’s all I need,” Kiki had said simply to the apologetic guardsman. The small group posted to protect the northern boarder here had all been a little abashed at their run-down fortress. Zen had tried to explain that they didn’t expect the lavish rooms of the palace, but they seemed not to understand.
“Hello? Earth to Master Zen?” The prince blinked, turning the scrawny man, only to find him holding a handkerchief. “It’s no remedy like the little Miss can make but heat helps.”
Zen blinked for a moment more before taking the hot, damp cloth. As he did he distantly wondered why exactly Obi seemed to be an expert in this. He pressed the handkerchief to his aching shoulder and felt the tension ease away.
“It, uh, you can unfold it, it’ll cling a little. If I did it right,” Obi said, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. Zen unfolded it before trying again. He rolled his shoulders and the fabric stayed put.
“It works for now. Thank you. It will do me at least some good. Hopefully my neck and shoulders will be better before we depart,” Zen said. “Oh, and we should probably keep this to ourselves.”
“Of course Master. We wouldn’t want Mitsuhide fretting over you,” Obi said with a grin.
——
It was, admittedly, a little better. But only a little. The hours of riding only made his poor muscles worse. But, this was the day Zen would finally return to Lilias and Shirayuki’s side. He would manage, for her sake.
——
They were an hour away when the shivering started. The wind bit into Zen and he felt his fingers tremble. His teeth chattered slightly and he was glad for once that Mitsuhide and Kiki insisted on riding behind him.
Obi had vanished, far ahead or far behind Zen wasn’t sure. The man had muttered something about bandits and left before the trio. Zen envied his friend’s freedom, especially during those few long hours that morning when the fortress captain insisted on eating with him and talking his ear off.
On the other hand he was glad to be away from the man’s perceptive gaze. Obi wasn’t one to make a fuss, but he would have certainly notice Zen’s discomfort if this morning was anything to go by. Then they would be forced to stop, and Zen’s long awaited reunion with Shirayuki would be postponed.
——
They were less than half an hour away when breathing began to really hurt. A thousand tiny icicles stabbed his lungs with each breath and the wind now clawed at him as it went through his body, causing shivers he failed to hide.
Behind him he heard quiet voices, and he knew his aides well enough to know they were sharing a worried look. The sound of hooves and reins clinking followed.
“Zen,” he blinked, a little surprised to find Kiki at his side. “I know you are in a rush to return to Shirayuki, but do not push yourself. It is very cold today, and I don’t think she would appreciate you getting yourself sick.”
“We’re so close Kiki,” Zen told her with a long sigh, his breath puffing in front of him. “Are you formally recommending we stop?” He asked. If Kiki was telling him to stop, he would.
“Your highness, if you order us to continue, we will,” she shot back. Zen stared up at the gray sky for a moment before turning back to her.
“I’m not. But we’re twenty minute’s ride and I doubt there’s an inn to stop at. We keep going.”
Kiki gave a nod, and he could feel her disappointment in him. Then she was slowing, returning to her place beside Mitsuhide.
——
“Zen!”
“Shirayuki!” Zen called, grinning. He threw his other leg over the side of his horse and jumped from her back. His limbs didn’t quite cooperate and he stumbled. Mitsuhide’s firm hands landed on his shoulders before he could fall.
“S’rry,” he mumbled. “‘m okay.”
“No you’re not,” Mitsuhide replied.
“What happened? How long was the ride? Never mind it doesn’t matter, we need to get Zen inside, now.”
“I’m alright r’lly,” Zen tried to insist, straightening a little.
“Slurred speech, shallow breathing, clumsiness, shivering,” she rattled off “Mitsuhide, it he won’t go you’re carrying him, Riu would you-“ the boy who had been at her side a moment before was already hurrying off.
“I’ll walk,” Zen grumbled before Mitsuhide could attempt to scoop him up. “Lead the way.”
——
“What the hell happened to the master?” Obi entered less than half an hour later, his eyes wide and nose red from cold. He looked between Kiki and Mitsuhide who sat side by side outside of the prince’s room.
“Hypotermia. He was about to pass out when we arrived,” Mitsuhide said, not looking up.
“He’ll be alright. Shirayuki is with him now,” Kiki said softly, her hand coming to rest on Mitsuhide’s shoulder. Obi sunk onto the floor, letting out a small breath.
“Shit. I shouldn’t have left.”
“What would you have done?”
“Noticed?” Obi bit back. Mitsuhide glared back.
“Stop, both of you. Blaming each other won’t help-“ Kiki seemed like she was about to say more, but she cut herself off as Shirayuki slipped out.
“How is he? I need you to tell me he’s okay,” Mitsuhide breathed immediately.
“He will be okay. There was no frostbite, which is good. He’s resting, he seemed exhausted. Has he been sleeping okay recently?”
“Not really, little Miss. I think the weeks of sleeping on thin mattresses were catching up to him. Seemed especially bad today.”
“Why didn’t he say anything?” Mitsuhide asked, hurt in his voice.
“He can tell us all himself once he wakes. But for now, I think we need to find all of you warmer clothes. Let’s let him rest, my friends will keep an eye on him.”