Loving One's Spouse

Even though they were exhausted, the group began to run toward the source of the screaming. Renat's words were unintelligible, but he sounded like he was in great distress.

Because of the combination of debris and people, it was not a quick journey through the camp. Aurora's heart knotted further each time Renat cried out. There were few things that could cause a man to cry out like that.

One of them was the loss of his wife. Another, which was almost just as frightening, was that Renat had not returned to his right mind.

Only a few of the former abominations had returned in body only. When coming across these anomalies, Dania had stopped to check their vitals and see if there was anything she could do. But she was met with only blank, vacant stares.

There was no rhyme or reason that she could tell behind the ones who had become a shell of their former selves. It did not seem to have to do with length of time or type of creature.

Perhaps it had to do with the level of atrocities they had committed or how fully they had given themselves over to their feral nature. Or maybe they just had no desire to return.

In the end, the effect was the same: a hollow vessel was left behind.

What if Renat had gone one step beyond being empty and retained his feral side instead of his human one?

Aurora quickened her pace, tripping on a rope, but managing not to fall to the ground.

"Your Majesty," Alaron called gently. "I think everything is fine."

The Guardian's superior hearing allowed him to make out the words of his brother-in-law long before his mother. As the Empress neared, she began to comprehend why Alaron had relaxed.

"Stop it! I just survived a war. I have a hole in my shoulder from an arrowhead, for Fate's sake! Why are you trying to kill me?!" Renat squealed. "Get that device of torture away from meeee!"

Finally the source of the commotion was visible to the Empress and her company. What had filled them with horror now brought them amusement.

A canvas had been stretched over a makeshift table and the prince was lying stomach down on it. Two soldiers were laying across his legs and upper torso as he flailed about.

"Don't be a baby; I'm almost done!" Between the two warriors, Mairwen was conducting surgery, or at least that is what those two watching thought at first. Really, she was just removing splinters from her husband's back.

While the lanky scientist had not actually been impaled on the tent pole as the blue-eyed princess had feared, he had come dangerously close to that very fate. As a lovely parting gift, the pole had graced him with a porcupine's back worth of tiny wooden quills.

"This is worse than when I transformed!" the man complained. "At least then I had some control over--OUCH!--over what was happening, or I was--OOF--unconscious." Renat's wailing fell on deaf ears.

Mairwen clicked her tongue dismissively. "If I don't get them out, this will get infected. I did not just get you back from that monstrous curse just to lose you from a fever. Now, hold still!"

The soldiers redoubled their efforts to stop the squirming royal when they noticed the Empress and her entourage. They were unsure whether to let go and salute or hold on to their slippery patient, so they landed somewhere in between with giving a quick bow of their head in acknowledgement.

The sudden change in pressure made the screaming man take notice. When he saw the Empress and the others, he paled even more.

"Your Majesty!" Renat did not mind being petulant in front of the soldiers or even his wife, but he did care what Aurora, Alaron and his colleague Dania thought of him.

Straining not to look up, for nothing would have brought her more joy right that minute than to lay eyes on her mother, Mairwen seized the moment to finish her task while her patient was distracted.

"You've drawn an audience, my love," the princess teased gently. "Don't you want to give them an encore?"

Renat wrested one of his arms free and picked up part of the canvas below him. He desperately shoved the cloth into his mouth and bit down on it for dear life.

"Allow me to assist," Dania came forward and received a second set of pinchers--the female scientist wondered if they had been found scattered on the ground or somewhere else--and together the women made quick work of the final offenders.

When it was done, the soldiers were directed to release the unwilling patient. Mairwen offered her husband her cloak as he stood. While not a good fit, that and the canvas cloth around his waist were better than nothing.

"Dania!" At last Mairwen gave into the joy she was feeling. She hugged the woman beside her. "You are alright!"

"Yes, thanks to the Guardian." Dania wasn't sure what Taran would have done if he had gotten a hold of her, but she was certain it would not have been a happy fate.

Mairwen ran to her brother and embraced him next. "Thank you," she whispered through his hood and into his ear. "For everything. I am not sure how I would have made it through without you."

Finally the princess turned her gaze to the powerful woman with the blue-flecked eyes. The two women collided as their arms wrapped around each other.

"I thought for sure we had lost you in that fall," the princess cried. "I've been terrified to ask and have it confirmed." Tears streamed down Mairwen's face as the rush of emotion finally found its way to the surface.

Aurora patted her daughter's back gently. "I suppose that unconventional shaft that landed in Taran's wing was your doing?"

Mairwen blushed slightly. "It was Brinn's as well. I wouldn't have been strong enough without her and her wind magic."

"I owe you both my life. And Reyan too!" Aurora looked over her shoulder.

The fairy was hovering with his back to the group. "Is it over?"

Cocking her head to one side, Aurora guffawed softly. "Don't tell me you are bothered by a little blood and skin! After we have been through two wars together?!"

"Don't be silly. It's those blasted splinters. I've had my fair share and I'd just as soon not be reminded." The old curmudgeon looked slightly green in the face.

"I appreciate your solidarity," Renat called in between greeting all the members of the group. "It is nice to know someone sympathizes with my pain."

The princess rolled her eyes. "It is over, Reyan. You can look."

Aurora double checked to make sure none of those around were those she sought. Pulling away from her daughter, the Empress's face was tense.

"Brinn?"

Mairwen nodded at the question. "She is with Father, Nurlan and Zan. A small group of the enemy awoke from being turned back into humans and made a break down the coast. They should be back soon."

"You are wrong as usual, princess. We are back now!" Brinn appeared out of nowhere. "The escaped enemy is secured and tucked in with the others now. Good to see you standing, Renat! You're not as much of a baby as I thought!"

The elf patted the lanky man on the shoulder, nearly crumpling him to the ground. "You'll be fine."

"Brinn!" Aurora's and Alvar's voices overlapped.

But of course it was Alvar's that won in its intensity. Brinn's face beamed as she strode forward. "Good to see you Rory, and no offense, but..."

The elf pressed her lips up against her husband's. Though she wasn't usually one to show it, she had clearly been worried about the he-elf's safety, especially after seeing the Empress dangling in the air. Alvar had been supposed to be protecting her, and thankfully for Brinn his failure was not at the cost of his life.

She ran her fingers through his silky hair and he winced. "You're hurt!" the she-elf gasped. Alvar not only had cuts on his chiseled face, but also a large knot forming on his head."

"I'll be fine." Alvar took her hand gently and pressed it against his chest.

"You bet you will be." She moved away from her husband and gave the Empress a quick hug. "I am going to be like the other princess and tend to my husband's wounds. If you'll excuse me."

"Brinn?" Aurora touched her arm before the elf could get too far.

"Don't worry. I already sent a message ball to the elves. Help in sorting these miscreants should arrive by morning. Sooner if Polymedes cooperates." Brinn gave the Empress a firm nod.

"That's nice, and I am most grateful, but that wasn't the question I was going to ask." Aurora looked down sheepishly. "I was going to ask where my own husband is."

Brinn gave a lopsided grin. "Oh, lover-boy? He stayed to make sure everything was in order. He is an arrow shot or two that way. If you hurry, you can probably..."

Aurora didn't ear the end of her statement. She was already running.