Silence

Nurlan paced the floor of the newly designated waiting room—it had previously been an antechamber to a storeroom—trying his best to put on a brave face.

Although his burly build and stoic expression were all that most people saw, the General had a soft spot for the Empress.

Like a father or older brother, he had looked over her since she was sixteen, even protecting her from Devrim when he found that they were not actually married. Although Junayd had retired from his military duty and moved onto the next phase of his life, Nurlan could not picture an instance where he would be happy anywhere except protecting the ruler of the world until the day he died.

When Aurora was attacked, the general felt like he himself had failed. He was in charge of the Empress's security; the wolves should not have gotten anywhere near the rulers.

It did not matter that he had followed every rule to the letter before he went to bed. Nor did he care that he had left capable people in charge.

If only he never needed to rest, the general could have been there and fought the ferocious monsters. Then Nurlan would not have had to see the Empress suffer this past week, eventually needing the treatment going on in the next room.

No, he wouldn't have had to see it, he realized, because he would likely be dead like so many of the other guards. But at least he would have died doing what he loved: keeping Aurora safe. Instead he was stuck worrying all over again, feeling helpless. It was not a good feeling, especially for a warrior.

"You keep pacing like that and you will make a rut in the floor. Do you want to create hostility between the elves and humans for destruction of property in the royal palace?" Brinn scolded the general.

In truth, the redhead was just as worried as the man, but she saw no point in letting him know it. Poking, prodding and pestering were all forms of affection in her eyes, and she gave them out most liberally.

Nurlan stopped pacing for a moment and spread his stance to be more at ease. "My apologies, Princess Brinn."

"No sarcastic quip back? You are no fun, General." Brinn pouted.

Alvar, who was sitting next to Brinn on an ornate metal bench, pulled the lady into his embrace. "If you want some witty repartee, I will be happy to oblige."

"Bickering with you is not special; it is as common as breathing!" The princess sighed and rested her head against her husband's shoulder. She drummed her fingers against his arm in frustration. "I was hoping for some fresh blood…"

"I am sorry I cannot support your vampiric nature just now," Nurlan answered absentmindedly.

Brinn chuckled softly, "You are forgiven, but only because you managed to insult me without even meaning to. That is a special talent."

Nurlan cocked his head to one side. "Quite a strange reason to forgive someone, but considering the alternative, I shall take it."

They fell into a sullen silence. Brinn's tapping became harder and more impatient until Alvar pulled his arm away.

Brinn scowled. "What is taking so long?! The doctor is surely taking his sweet time. If only the little prince had been entrusted to us instead of mother and Zan, at least we would have something to do instead of staring at each other like toys on a shelf!"

The doctor rushed into the waiting room, and the prince and princess rose to their feet. Nurlan rushed forward, nearly knocking Phileas back through the doorway.

The doctor held up his hands defensively, the golden Fate's chain catching the lamplight. The General came to a screeching halt. "What news?" he demanded.

"We are almost ready to begin…"

"Begin?!" Three mouths hung open in shock.

The doctor misunderstood their surprise. "Would you prefer I wait until Their Majesties arrive? I believe we must move quickly."

Shaking her head, Brinn spoke quickly, hoping to hurry him along. "The rest of my family, Zan and Prince Colvyr are waiting nearby. This room was not big enough for all of us."

Phineas held out his hand and pressed the chain into the general's hands. "Her Majesty asks if you would hold this for her. She may suddenly need it if things do not go according to plan…" the doctor's voice trailed off as his mind worked through the myriad of possibilities.

Nurlan wrapped his hands around the chain and clutched it against his chest. "I will guard it with my life," he said, relieved to have a task at last.

Phileas dipped his head politely. "If you will excuse me…"

Turning to leave, the doctor paused as Brinn reached out and touched his shoulder. "Doctor, everything will be alright, right?"

With his best bedside manner, Phileas placed his hand on top of the she-elf's. "As Fate Hanna said, it is just healing water. We are just trying to be extra careful." He removed the elf's delicate fingers from his arm. Then, without another word, he went back to complete his work.

The wait that followed felt like an eternity. When the doctor said he would begin, they did not realize he meant beginning their examinations. When the immediate results that the trio expected did not come, they each dug deep into the well of their patience so as not to lose their minds.

With no other recourse, Nurlan returned to pacing despite Brinn's prior warning. Only now, he had the Fate's chain as his stalwart companion. It clinked softly with each step, almost making a metallic melody.

The princess watched his cadenced movement for a while before laying down on the iron bench with her head in the he-elf's lap. Taking the cue, Alvar teased his wife's hair as the metronomic motion of Nurlan kept them company. The massage to her scalp and the soothing sound nearly lulled the elf to sleep.

Nearly. Her worry nagged at her, keeping her conscious. Grunting, Brinn sat up from her elven pillow, much to the latter's disappointment.

"I can't take this anymore! I will volunteer myself as a nurse. I am sure it is nothing I haven't seen." Brinn remembered the revolting purple puss. It had looked so wrong. Her stomach tightened. "Or at least nothing I cannot handle," she added less confidently.

"You can't!" Alvar reached out, but Brinn swatted his hand away.

"She's my best friend!" The princess crossed the small chamber and pressed her hand up to the door and rapt twice. "I'm coming in," she announced.

The two males looked away, hoping to avoid an uncomfortable sight. Brinn shoved her way in the room amidst a shout from the perturbed doctor.

That was the moment it all went wrong.

—————-

Aurora felt the doctor release her. She gasped. Somehow she thought he would set her down gently, but she realized too late that the doctor did not want to contaminate the water in any way with his own body. As such, she fell through the air with an unanticipated whoosh.

The water enveloped her body and, very quickly, her head as well. She struggled not to release the air trapped in her lungs as the warmth of the liquid caressed her skin.

It felt like any other a bath for a moment, with the dirt and grime of days being swept from her body in the cleansing flood. But then…

At first it was a tingle on her cheek. Then her arm began to throb. Searing pain stung her leg like she was being gouged all over again by the hideous wolf.

Aurora tried to swim upwards, but her body would not comply. It began to convulse, shaking so violently that her teeth chattered even with her lips sealed. She whimpered, sending precious bubbles from her nose toward the surface she was unable to reach.

The Empress could feel her body pulsing. An internal battle was going over which she had no control. Something felt very wrong. First her limbs, then all of her began to burn like the sun.

That's when she realized that she was glowing. Dimly at first, beginning with her injuries, but then more and more of her shone like a star. Her mind, deprived of oxygen, began to become fuzzy and unfocused, but she struggled against it.

After all she had been through, drowning would not be how she left this world. Yet, the doctor did not seem to notice her battle. Surely he must see that she was glowing brighter than a Fate!

His distorted image stood above her, speaking to her. However she could not understand him nor could she possibly answer. She was paralyzed by the luminescent war.

Another sound made its way through to her ear. It was a familiar voice, but the Empress had no way to process it. With her last conscious moments, she heard screaming, so much screaming. She saw light, blinding light.

And then

Only darkness

And quiet, deafening silence.