General Nadero stood at the end of the bed with a look of puzzlement tinged with concern on his face as he stared down at the still figure resting on the bed before him.
"I don't understand doctor it's been almost two weeks since the battle! His injuries have healed! Even his shoulder bruising has gone down. Why is he still not stirring?"
The bent over doctor tried to straighten up, but gave up on the attempt with a grimace of pain on his face and sighed loudly.
Turning to the General he asked, "General have you ever had a bad fever that lasted for days?"
"Yes."
"How did you feel after it broke?"
"Like I'd just fought a war." General Nadero said clearly still not understanding what the doctor was getting at.
"Well that's exactly what Roric's going through. Not only did he exhaust himself physically, but his mind too I think. There may be damage done inside his head that we can't see. Shutting down like this is the body's way of taking the time to heal itself. He'll come out of it when he's ready. What he needs now is rest."
The General still looked puzzled, but less concerned. He nodded and then left the room.
The doctor stared at the closed door for a moment and then turned back to the patient lying still in the bed and Thaddeus, who was sitting in a chair beside the bed.
"Thaddeus I didn't want to tell the General, but I am growing concerned. Two weeks is a long time."
"I know." Thaddeus said softly, as he stared at his grandson lying so still on the bed.
Roric's chest was barely moving as he breathed shallowly.
"Thaddeus I know something like this happened to you when you were a young man. What brought you out of it?"
A slow tear slid down Thaddeus's old weathered cheek, "My wife. She brought me out of it."
"Is there anything strong and focal in Roric's life that would inspire him to keep living?" The doctor asked.
"I don't know! I've sat here racking my brain about it! I thought bringing him home to Thunder Ridge would help. He loves it here. He could be and do almost anything he wanted too. Everyone adores him. He has the little girl he brought back with him from the forests to raise. I don't know what to do to motivate him to come back to us Orlanin."
"Thaddeus isn't there a woman in his life? Someone he cares a great deal for like you did for your wife?"
"No I …." Thaddeus paused mid sentence as if pondering on something, "Where's Zarsha?" Thaddeus asked abruptly.