Joseph
Angelica Stafford
Zahrada Astoria

She'd wasn't exactly thrilled to be knocking on the door of Dayveths office either, but she didn't really have a choice. When he opened the door she gave him a quick once over, then shifted Marcus in her arms. 

"I was supposed to see Mara this morning, to have her check on Marcus. But things ran late and she's not here now. So can you check on his cough?" She explained with a careful tone, not wanting to sound rude but also not begging. 

"It's been a couple of days now, I just want to make sure he's okay, it's not like I'm home with our physician."
Irene
Dayveth Coren, 
Zahrada, Astoria

Dayveth resisted the urge and opened his door fully. "Of course, come on in." Dayveth glanced at the child for a second before flashing a smile. He moved to one of the wide tables that dominated one side of his room. "How have you and Marcus been, aside from the cough?"
Joseph
Angelica Stafford
Zahrada Astoria

She let out a thankful sigh, and her shoulders dropped a bit. He moved to the examination tables, and she moved to take a seat, unsure where he wanted Marcus and therefore where she needed to be. "Fine. It's strange being back after almost a year away. But I suppose that's something you can relate to as well." It wasn't said with any cruelty, but she wasn't oblivious to the fact Anya had lost the majority of her team at home and they'd now suddenly all reappeared. 

"How was your urgent mission?"
Irene
Dayveth Coren, 
Zahrada Astoria

Dayveth laid out a fresh linen on one of the tables before moving to Angelica. He felt that her words were stabbing at him, though he had heard rumors of a similar departure of her's. As Angelica asked about his adventure, he cringed slightly. 

"Awful, really. I should never have gone, though I suppose I would agree with the same statement had the voyage gone well." Dayveth walked to the sitting mother and held out his arms for Marcus.
Joseph
Angelica Stafford
Zahrada Astoria

Angelica released the infant, who immediately went into a fit of coughs. It didn't sit well in her chest to hear him sick, and she moved forward on the edge of her seat. 

"Things certainly would have turned out differently for you if you'd stayed." She agreed. "But it seems a Anya has let you back into her life without much hesitation, and I suppose at the end of the day that's all that matters."
Irene
Dayveth Coren,
Zahrada, Astoria

Dayveth frowned as he took the child from Angelica. He focused on cradling it gently, hoping the mother wouldn't pick up on how uncomfortable he was. Dayveth rarely interacted with children, and he felt that the baby was just a very fragile child. "Well of course it is, it's a baby," He thought. 

Dayveth placed Marcus on the table before placing his hand on the child's forehead to check for a high temperature before gently prodding him in other places. Dayveth wondered if Marcus' mother knew of Dayveth's abilities. He assumed so, given her relationship with the queen. Dayveth wasn't quite ready to show them yet, deciding to let her speak more. 

"Let's be honest, you believe she shouldn't have."
Joseph
Angelica Stafford
Zahrada Astoria

"I believe Anyanka falls in love easily. And I believe she's quick to forgive and puts herself in positions that leave her compromised." Angelica retorted, though it wasn't harsh. 

"I think she cares for you, and that's why she's given you back everything any other man would have lost the moment they even thought of leaving her in Azarya." She paused, her eyes moving to Marcus. 

"So I guess I'm curious what you intend to do with your second chance, more than anything."
Irene
Dayveth Coren,
Zahrada, Astoria

Dayveth turned to look at Angelica from over his shoulder. "To satiate your curiosity, I'll inform you that I plan on staying. That is, unless, Our Highness deems my services unnecessary or otherwise unwanted."

Dayveth turned his attention back to Marcus before clearing his throat and picking up the child, once again cradling him carefully. "I assume Anyanka has told you about the magic I possess?"
Joseph
Angelica Stafford
Zahrada Astoria

The blonde nodded once, but pressed on. "Do you intend to meet her? Give her children? _ Rule _?" She paused, watching him pick up Marcus "What happens if she decides to marry someone else for the sake of the kingdom?" 

He turned and commented on magic, making her brow raised. 

"No."
Irene
Dayveth Coren
Zahrada, Astoria

"If she wants my children she'll have them. If she decides my place is on the throne, then I'll sit there. I'd just like to stay." When Angelica asked about the queen marrying someone else, he stopped for a second and looked down at the squirming child within his arms. "If Anyanka decides to marry someone else, whether for her kingdom or herself, I suppose I'd stay as long as I could." Dayveth wasn't sure if he meant that by how long he could tolerate such an experience or simply being replaced, and he hoped he wouldn't have to find out. 

"I have experience with several different cultures of medicine, one of which is magical. Using it would be the best way to cure young Marcus, but I understand if you would prefer traditional methods."
Joseph
Angelica Stafford
Zahrada Astoria

She was quiet for a moment, before nodding. "That's a really good answer, Dayveth. And the one I hoped you'd give." Her attention dropped to her son, who was squirming in the doctors arms. 

"Will it hurt him? If it helps him and doesn't hurt him, I don't care what you do, I'm not fearful of magic."
Irene
Dayveth Coren,
Zahrada, Astoria.

Dayveth gently placed one of his palms onto Marcus' forehead after Angelica cleared him. In a similar fashion to how the doctor aided Anyanka, Dayeth pulled out the sickness within Marcus. The infant seemed confused at the sensation, still seeming irritated when he was returned to his mother. 

"He is no longer sick, though he may need a day or two for recovery."
Joseph
Angelica Stafford
Zahrada Astoria

Marcus squirmed, and it took everything in her power not to pull him away from the doctor. When he finished and passed her the child, she took him carefully. The child cried, and she layed him against her shoulder, rubbing small circles on his back.

"That's it?" She asked, and looked over him.
Irene
Dayveth Coren,
Zahrada, Astoria

"That's it," Dayveth confirmed. "You may bring him back in several days and I'll see how he is doing." The doctor forced a smile, knowing that Angelica wasn't a huge fan of his. However, he wouldn't let that interfere with his work, even for those who liked him far less than Angelica did.
Joseph
Angelica Stafford
Zahrada Astoria

Angelica gave a small smile. "Well thank you." She waited a moment, then continued. "So is that why Anya defended you so firmly? The magic thing?"
Irene
Dayveth Coren,
Zahrada, Astoria

"I should hope it's because she loves me at least half as much as I do her, but I can't say for sure." Dayveth maintained the smile on his lips. "I am curious, however, as to what it'll take for you to not stare daggers into my back."
Joseph
Angelica Stafford
Zahrada, Astoria

Her gaze dipped, but only for a second. "I don't have a reason to stare daggers into your back. You know my.Distrust, but it's waning." She told him truthfully. 

"Give her everything she's ever wanted, all the things she deserves, and maybe one day we'll be friends."
Irene
Dayveth Coren,
Zahrada, Astoria

"I'm trying to do that to the best of my abilities. I feel that I'm succeeding, most of the time."
Joseph
Angelica Stafford
Zahrada Astoria

She shifted Marcus, and took a look around the infirmary. It was empty besides themselves, and she nodded her head towards the doors. 

"I'm supposed to meet her for lunch, would you like to accompany us?"
Irene
Dayveth Coren
Zahrada, Astoria

Dayveth paused at Angelica's invitation. He felt weird that we would join them. The doctor then found he had no reason to find it weird, other than his relationship with Angelica. "Why not. I'd enjoy it."
Joseph
Angelica Stafford
Zahrada Astoria

Angelica nodded, and turned to lead him away from the infirmary. They were taking their lunch out in the gardens, with the intention of enjoying the sunshine after so many nights of summer storms lately. Eric had disappeared, losing himself in something to do with the guard. Angelica had been listening, or trying to at least, but it seemed he always told her where he was headed when she had a crying infant to handle or was half asleep. 

Anyanka was already waiting, sitting in the full sun with her head tilted back and eyes closed. She leaned back on her palms, the blanket beneath her dipping into the soft earth's slope. Lunch was being brought out still, with a few servants bringing bottles of wine and water, as well as a few plates of summer fruits and sandwiches. 

"I brought a guest." Angelica announced, and Anya turned slowly, clearly enjoying her time outside the castle walls. 

"Well, what a pleasure." She smiled warmly at Dayveth, though when she sat up fully she reached for Marcus. "And this little fellow as well? Is this heaven?" She teased, and the baby giggled as she peppered kisses on his cheeks.