regency au } { of mistletoe and risky spells

[braveandstupid]

Elena: [it happens on their last day in Mystic Falls. Jenna throws a lovely dinner party and hires some extra staff to pick up the strain. She doesn't vet them well, doesn't realize she needs to, and all it takes is on member of the wait staff slipping a little something into Derek's food as it's being carried out, before placing it in front of her werewolf husband. The fun thing about mistletoe poisoning, however, is that it takes a while to really set in, so it leaves them with plenty of time to slip out the back before anyone's the wiser]

Derek: [and in the years now since the Argents had been a threat, Derek, like the rest of the Hales, had relaxed themselves from fears of retribution. He isn't thinking anyone would poison him, and so he eats the meal that doesn't taste any different than the rest of the people's plates. It isn't until an hour later when they are having their tea and sweet cakes that Derek starts to feel a bit off, a bit hotter than the nice weather should make him feel]

Elena: [she turns when she sees him starting to sweat, and frowns, placing a hand on his arm gently] Are you alright?

Derek: Yes, I just think it's a bit warm in the room for me. [and he will go to loosen his neckerchief]

Elena: Would you like to take a walk outside?

Derek: Yes, that would be good. [and he goes to stand up, and that's pretty much the last thing he remembers as he falls forward unconscious]

Elena: [which leads to his wife shrieking as she drops down on her knees next to him, because what is this WEREWOLVES DON'T GET SICK] Derek!

Jeremy: [who happens to be there comes rushing over] What happened?!

Elena: I don't know. He said he was feeling warm, and then he just collapsed. [and her hand goes up as though she's looking for a fever]

Jeremy: [and he will lift his head, motioning for two of the servants to come over, and orders one to get the doctor, while another to help them get Derek into a comfortable position] Roll him onto his back, Elena. Let's have the doctor look at him.

Elena: [takes a deep breath as she nods, before gently rolling Derek onto his back] I don't know what's happening. He never gets sick.

Jeremy: So he wasn't sick earlier today?

Elena: [she shakes her head] No, he was fine.

Jeremy: [and he will stand up and look around, because he's been totally taking lessons on being a Lord. He pulled one of the knights aside] Go to the kitchen and see if you and find the cook. Ask her to identify the remains of Lord Hale's plate.

Elena: [she glances up at him, because she learned how to play politics too, even if her training wasn't as obvious as Jeremy's] What are you thinking?

Jeremy: If he was not sick before dinner, something at dinner made him sick. How d you make someone sick at dinner?

Elena: You poison them.

Jeremy: I am going to contact the sheriff when the doctor gets here. Do you know what can poison someone of his kind?

Elena: Wolfsbane, I think, but that poisoning is different. [she's seen wolfsbane poisoning] Maybe you should call Shelia Bennett.

Jeremy: [nods] I will be back soon, sister. [and as the doctor arrives who thinks it's a poison and wants Derek taken to bed immediately and will try and give him something with charcoal in it to try and get the poison out]

Elena: [and she will arrange to have him taken back to their chambers and she'll sit on the edge of the bed next to him, using a cold compress to try and keep him cool]

Jeremy: [and there will be guards posted and eventually the Bennets will arrive as well as Sheriff Forbes]

Shelia: [and she will lean over him, studying him closely, before shaking her head] Has he vomited?

Elena: [shakes her head] No, he hasn't.

Doctor: I gave him a mixture of sugar and charcoal to absorb the poison.

Jeremy: [in the doorway, wincing because that sounds gross]

Shelia: [she makes a face] If it is what I think it is, it's not going to do him much good. [she sighs as she pulls back] Mistletoe.

Jeremy: Mistletoe?

Shelia: [she nods] One of the only poisons that would have caused a problem like this.

Doctor: Mistletoe is not poisonous though, Lady Bennett. Only to household pets. Someone as large as Lord Hale would need to eat an entire plant for it to even cause a stomach ache.

Shelia: Lord Hale is particularly allergic, Doctor. When it comes to allergies, even a little can go a long way.

Jeremy: What can we get then for him?

Shelia: It's harder to cure than most. I will have to look through my books. But fortunately, it's also a slow poison, so we have time.

Jeremy: [moves to his sister's side, putting a hand on her shoulder] Should I send a message to his family?

Elena: [she looks up at him, before shaking her head yet] I don't know yet. Focus on finding the one responsible.

Jeremy: Then I will go to work on that.

Elena: [nods with a small smile] Thank you.

Jeremy: [and he will kiss her cheek and head out to meet with Sheriff Forbes and his knight and the cook]

Elena: [and she will stay with her husband keeping up with the cold compresses and even more worried]

Derek: [and his healing factor is trying to fight against it, and he will wake up in the middle of the night in pain]

Elena: [hushes him softly, brushing her fingers through his hair] I know it's painful, but Shelia will have a cure for you soon.

Derek: What... what is happening?

Elena: You have mistletoe poisoning.

Derek: What? [tries to sit up] How...

Elena: [and she places a hand against his chest gently] We think someone slipped it into your food.

Derek: [groans and lays back, feeling himself shaking] But who...

Elena: We don't know yet. But Jeremy is looking into it and he will find it. You just need to rest.

Derek: [he would try, but his body is fighting and he is going to roll onto his side and hey look there's that throwing up that Shelia was waiting for...]

Elena: [and she will grab the basin nearby to try and catch it, bringing a candle closer so she can look at it once she was finished. It was a black, thick liquid with what looks like small seeds in the mix] Do you think this is from you trying to heal?

Derek: [coughs] Yes. But it's.... it means it's not healing...

Elena: [and there's her worried face, but she lets her hand rest against his chest comfortingly] Shelia will find a solution. Until then, try to rest as much as you can.

Derek: My sister... you need... Laura...

Elena: Laura? Why do we need Laura?

Derek: She... she is going to know... she can feel when we are.... [when they are dying]

Elena: [she nods] I will send a rider. [Hopefully they will reach them in time to give a warning rather than condolences]

Derek: [and he will nod, laying back and taking her hand] Elena...

Elena: [takes his hand and gives it a firm squeeze] If you are about to try and tell me goodbye I won't hear it. You are not leaving me yet.

Derek: May not.... [and he winces in pain, his hand squeezing her hard]

Elena: No. No maybes. [her free hand reaches forward, brushing against to the top of his head] You will be fine.

Derek: I love you.

Elena: I love you too. Do not give up yet. I have yet to come across an ailment that Sheila has not been able to solve.

Derek: I will... [and he will wince up in pain, and he will pass out again]

Elena: [and she will quietly worry some more, before stepping away to arrange the message sent to Hale Manor.]

Peter: [riding into Mystic Falls on a horse]

Jenna: [and she'll be at the gate to greet him should Elena know he's coming]

Peter: [and he will bow his head as he slides off the horse] Hello, Lady Jenna.

Jenna: [nods with a smile] Lord Hale. I hope your journey wasn't too grueling.

Peter: I had a lot on my mind to pass the time. How are they doing?

Jenna: [gestures for the stable boy to take care of Peter's horse, before turning to lead the way back into the house] Elena is worried but pretending not to be. She's not very good at it. Lady Bennett has been trying various cures, and some have worked better than others, but for the most part his status is still the same.

Peter: But he hasn't succumb to the poison yet. That is good.

Jenna: [she nods] I believe that Shelia is beginning to delve into some of her more ... radical cures at this point. She loves Elena like a daughter, she will not let your nephew go easily.

Peter: Well she will find that I am more than willing to join her in that fight.

Jenna: Good. [and they'll head right through to the quarters Elena usually uses when she's here. Derek is sleeping and Elena is sitting at his side, clearly tired, but keeping close all the same] Elena. Lord Hale is here.

Elena: [turns and swipes at her eyes] You made good time.

Peter: I caught a good wind.

Elena: [she nods with a small smile] There hasn't been much change.

Peter: [and he will go to take his nephew's hand, feeling the pain that Derek is in and tries not to wince] You have a strong, stubborn husband, Lady Elena. He won't let this take him from his girls.

Elena: I hope not.

Peter: I will sit with him if you wish to get some rest and check on your girls.

Elena: No, I -

Jenna: [reaches for her niece and pulls her up by the shoulders] Yes. That is a lovely idea. Thank you, Lord Hale.

Peter: [and he will slip into Elena's seat so she can't go back into it] We will both be here when you return, I promise.

Elena: [looks helplessly at them for a moment, before swallowing and nodding]

Jenna: [hands her off to Bonnie, who had been staying close, before turning back to Peter] Can I bring you anything? The kitchens are still open.

Peter: I wouldn't mind some dinner. Though it can be something simple.

Jenna: [she nods as she turns to go] I'll have something sent up.

Peter: Thank you. [and when she is gone, Peter will turn to Derek and pull on his pain] You better not turn me into a liar, nephew.

Shelia: [food will come up not long after, and a few hours into his stay, Shelia Bennett will appear in the doorway] You must be Derek's uncle.

Peter: [and he will waken from where he had drifted off] Yes, that would be me.

Shelia: [she nods as she makes her way in] Shelia Bennett. I'm Bonnie's grandmother.

Peter: [and he will stand up and bow] It is an honor to meet you. Your granddaughter speaks highly of you.

Shelia: [she waves a hand, indicating that he should sit, before moving to sit on the edge of the bed herself] She better. I essentially raised the girl.

Peter: [which he will] We have come to really enjoy her presence at the manor when she is there for Lady Elena.

Shelia: That's good to hear. She enjoys spending time there.

Peter: So tell me what I should know about Derek's condition from your expertise.

Shelia: [sighs] Mistletoe is a complicated poison. One that often goes overlooked in favor of more brutal weaknesses like wolfsbane. It's also a slow poison, where it does damage and the body still tries to heal itself, but it can't complete the process.

Peter: And so it slowly eats away at him from the inside until his body is unable to keep fighting and gives in. [he looked at his nephew and reached up to brush a hand along Derek's sweating forehead]

Shelia: [she nods] But, I do have a bit of a radical idea as a solution.

Peter: We are a pack that often go for radical ideas. Please continue.

Shelia: Wolfsbane is poisonous no matter who eats it. Its certainly more dramatic when it's a werewolf, but it will kill a human just the same. The peculiar thing about mistletoe, however, is that it only affects werewolves in this way. If he were human, he would be fine.

Peter: Which would mean it could be put into the food of everyone here and only effect him.

Shelia: And the Lockwoods. But the hunter in question made sure it was put in only his food.

Peter: Yes, my mistake. [licks his lips] As far as I am aware, there is no eclipse coming which would revert Derek to a human, and even so, it would only last a few minutes at most.

Shelia: Normally, you'd be right. [and she'll pause for a moment, reaching into the folds of her dress to pull out a cherry.] But normally, you wouldn't have me.

Peter: [and one eyebrow will go up in curiosity] A cherry?

Shelia: A spelled cherry, that will create the effects of a lunar eclipse. He eats it, and as long as the cherry is in his system, he will be human.

Peter: Is he even able to eat in this condition?

Shelia: He'll have to wake up. But hopefully he'll be able to keep it down.

Peter: [nods] I think I can help with that. You will have to explain it to him because I will be focusing on his pain.

Shelia: I can do that.

Peter: [and he is going to take Derek's hand] And this will not put Elena in danger, correct?

Shelia: [she shakes her head] No, she will be completely fine.

Peter: Good. [and he will hold Derek's hand with two hands, closing his eyes ad focusing on pulling on Derek's pain to allow him enough energy to wake up]

Shelia: [moves closer to lean over him] Derek? I need you to listen to me carefully as we don't have much time.

Derek: [his eyes flutter open, cloudy with pain] Yes...?

Shelia: I have something that will help you. But it is a very strong spell and I need you to be able to eat.

Derek: I don't know... my throat hurts.

Shelia: It will be small and quick. But this cherry will allow the mistletoe to pass through your system without causing additional harm.

Derek: [looks around, seeing Peter but not Elena] Where is my wife...?

Shelia: Bonnie took her to get some rest. But I can wake her, if you like.

Derek: Does she know?

Shelia: No. I've been discussing it with your uncle.

Derek: [and he will look at Peter, who will squeeze Derek's hand. He then looks back at Shelia] I'll try.

Shelia: [she nods, and holds out the cherry to him] This cherry is spelled to mirror the effects on you that are present during a lunar eclipse. It will last as long as the cherry is in your system, so a few days at most, but it will be long enough to flush the mistletoe out of your system harmlessly.

Derek: What of... the damage inside... it caused?

Shelia: Your body has already been trying to heal it. It won't be enough to kill you but you will be weaker than normal, so you will still likely want to sleep and stay in bed. Everything else will heal when your wolf returns.

Derek: [he will look at Peter again, but seeing his uncle sweating and focusing on taking his own pain, he will turn back to Shelia and nod] Give it to me.

Shelia: [nods and passes the cherry to him quickly, placing it between his teeth] Chew and swallow. Don't swallow it all at once.

Derek: [and he will do as he is told] How long...

Shelia: [Peter will notice it before he does, probably - the pain will lessen considerably before Derek starts to feel woozy] Not long.

Peter: [which he will, and that will make pull him out of his concentration with a gasp before looking at Derek] Derek?

Derek: I'm okay...

Shelia: [she nods with a small smile] Your senses are going to start to fade slowly, and you'll need to rest.

Peter: We've got you, nephew. Rest. Come back to us healed. [he will pat Derek's hand gently]

Derek: Tell Elena what is going on... she will feel it.

Peter: I will.

Shelia: [and she will go to tuck him in and make sure he's settled] I'll monitor him for the next hour or so if you'd like to get some rest.

Peter: [he will massage his arm, looking at Derek and feeling that pack connection becoming murky] I should check on Elena first, but I will get some rest.

Shelia: [she nods, and she will move to take his chair when he stands]

Peter: Thank you again, so much for your help caring for my nephew. You are forever in our debt.

Shelia: It was my pleasure. [but as Peter makes his way out of the room, there may be a tiny seven year-old who might have lost her babysitters and is lingering because something is going on and no one will tell her what it is]

Peter: [and he will sense that child and go to grab her.] You shouldn't be here, young one.

Patience: [frowns as she looks up at him] Is Father alright?

Peter: He is very sick, but he is making a turn for the better.

Patience: [she frowns even more] But he doesn't get sick.

Peter: Well, he did now, and he's making up for being so healthy for so long.

Patience: I could tell him a story? [it always makes her feel better when she's sick]

Peter: How about tomorrow?

Patience: [she doesn't have an argument for that so she simply nods] Alright.

Peter: If you want, you can come tell the story to me tonight and practice to make sure you have it all in your head for him.

Patience: What kind of story should it be?

Peter: A happy story, I think. [and he will hold her on his hip as he walks to find Elena] Something that ends with a happily ever after.

Patience: [nods as she turns to rest against his shoulder, trying to think of her favorite fairy tale that she knew the best]

Elena: [had been put into one of the guest bedrooms and had essentially passed out as soon as her head hit the pillow, the exhaustion with trying to take care of her husband, as well as being pregnant wearing on her]

Peter: [and he will see her sleeping and smile] And maybe we can have a sleeping princess, yes? [smiling at Patience]

Patience: [is about to make a face because she doesn't like those stories when she sees her mother and picks up on what he's putting down] Only if she's sleeping for a little while. Not like Sleeping Beauty.

Peter: Only for a little while. She has a lot of people to take care of that she can't sleep forever

Patience: Good.

Peter: Come on, you can sleep with me tonight. Do you need anything before we go get some rest?

Patience: [she shakes her head] No.

Peter: Not even a drink of water?

Patience: [she shakes her head]

Peter: Okay. Do you know where I could sleep then? I don't know the way.

Patience: [she nods again and points to where she and her sisters are sleeping, which is not necessarily meaning that there will be a bed for him, but there will be a lounge that is big enough for her uncle]

Peter: [and it's not like he wouldn't complain about being cuddled with his great nieces either]

Patience: [no it's not. but the room in question has essentially three small beds for three small girls]

Peter: [letting her down] I think we're going to need some extra pillows.

Patience: I think there's some in the closet.

Peter: Good, then let's make a little pile of pillows to snuggle into.

Patience: [And they will do that, before curling up and going back to sleep]

Peter: [and he will join her, smiling to himself]

Elena: [and they will fall asleep and eventually Elena will wake up and go to check on the girls first. something is different, but she can't really pin down what yet]

Peter: [and then the large lump in the pillows and blankets will shift]

Elena: [and she will smile a bit, but will leave him there and go to check on her husband instead]

Derek: [and he will be breathing a bit easier, looking to be less poisoned]

Elena: [which is a good sign. Shelia is asleep in the chair next to him, so she will simply sit on the edge of the bed and take his hand in hers]

Derek: [and he will stir at that, his eyes blinking open]

Elena: [and she'll smile softly, her free hand coming up to brush against the side of his face] You're looking better.

Derek: I am feeling better.

Elena: That's good. [but she frowns after a moment when he's cooler to the touch than normal] Are you cold?

Derek: Did Peter… not tell you?

Elena: [she shakes her head] I've been asleep. He's with the girls in their room sleeping himself.

Derek: Lady Bennett... gave me a spell. To help.

Elena: Is it working?

Derek: Yes. The spell... it made me human for some time.

Elena: Human? [that is ... worrisome] For how long?

Derek: A few days. It mirrors the effects of what I go through... during the eclipse.

Elena: [she nods slowly] Is there anything I can do?

Derek: ... Water?

Elena: [she nods and goes to pour him a glass from the pitcher, before moving to sit up near him so he can lean against her as he drinks] Here. Sit up.

Derek: [and he will try, but he will get a bit dizzy and stumble again]

Elena: [and she will place the glass down on the table so she can move to support him more] Slowly. It's alright.

Derek: I feel so weak. [and he will let her help him]

Elena: Well, we humans are fragile things. [she lets him settle comfortably before handing the glass to him] You'll feel better once you're back to normal.

Derek: I hope so. [and he will sip the water slowly]

Elena: At least you don't seem to be in pain.

Derek: It has gone down considerably.

Elena: Good. That's good.

Derek: How are the girls?

Elena: The little ones don't understand as much, so they simply miss you, but I think Patience is more worried since she's older.

Derek: Perhaps she can come and see me tonight? If I'm awake.

Elena: I think she would like that.

Derek: Good. [settles back, giving her back the cup] I do not envy anytime someone is sick.

Elena: [teasing] This is your first time, isn't it.

Derek: Yes. I think I had a cold as a small child, but otherwise the effects of pack immunity kept many diseases out of the manor.

Elena: Lucky you.

Derek: You may have noticed that since you came to live with me, you don't get sick as often, or the children.

Elena: It's true. And we are very grateful for it.

Derek: Though if coming to Mystic Falls makes us sick, we may have to rethink the frequency of our visits. [he gives her a small, weak smile]

Elena: [and that gets him a bit of a look] We'll discuss it when you're well.

Derek: Yes, dear.

Elena: [she smiles a bit before placing the glass down and slipping out from behind him so he could lie back down] Are you warm enough?

Derek: I could use another blanket. I feel very cold.

Elena: [she nods, before moving to the closets and fetching one of the heavier quilts they didn't normally use, since her husband is usually a space heater. She moves to drape it over him, before moving around to the other side of the bed to slide in with him. a little extra heat can't hurt]

Derek: [smiles as he feels her pressing against his side] Lady Bennett will be amused when she awakens to find you here.

Elena: Lady Bennett shouldn't be surprised to find a lady with her husband.

Derek: You were not here when she fell asleep.

Elena: No, but neither was she when I went to sleep. Turnabout is fair play.

Derek: [chuckles and will just curl into his wife more, letting her be the strong one to take care of him tonight]

Elena: [and she will curl around him, sliding her fingers through his hair to let him rest]

Derek: [which will help him drift off back to sleep quickly]

Elena: [and she will close her eyes and drift off herself, now settled into something more familiar]