Diane found herself surrounded, a quick glance around revealed the number of knights had increased. No longer her usual size, the giantess was backed into a desperate situation. Her fellow sins were engaged in their own battle and unable to aid her.
A scream of pain from a short distance away provided the opening she needed and she was able to take control of one of the swords, gaining the upper hand. She dodged the attacks, delivering a sharp kick to one of the men's ribs. By the time the last man had fallen, she was exhausted, gasping for breath.
It had happened so quickly, she had no time to react.
"Diane!" The voice was her only warning.
"Fire!" A deep male voice shouted from behind her. With no energy to fight her enemies, she readied herself, turning to them, her eyes squeezed shut, waiting for the sharp pain from the arrows to strike her.. It never came.
She opened her eyes and gasped at the sight before her. King knelt in front of her, his body trembling from the pain coursing through it. A strong sense of dread filled her as she noticed the three arrows protruding from his body. He coughed, gasping for air.
"King!" She cried out.
"G-get out of here." He said weakly. Tears filled her eyes and everything seemed to slow down around her.
"Keep firing!" The order sounded distorted to her.
"Diane, you have to go, now!"the fairy cried forcing himself to his feet, as the men took aim once beating
" No, I can't just leave you!" She shouted, shaking off the shock.
"Go, don't worry about me. I'll be fine, they're not in that deep, just go, I'll follow you soon." He said, Diane's fear got the best of her and with a short nod,she ran off in the opposite direction. Her heart beating wildly in her chest.
She could faintly hear King's words as she fled.
"I won't let you hurt her." He said defiantly. King's voice was the last sound she head before everything faded into the darkness.
Diane's eyes fluttered open and she waited for her vision to focus. Once the blurred vision disappeared, she recognized her surroundings. She was lying in her own room inside the Boar hat.
Slowly, the giant pushed herself into a sitting position.
"Take it easy," Meliodas said from beside her. "You should rest a while, you were in shock."
"I- I had the worst dream,we were fighting and-"
"Diane-" the dragon sin called.
"And I was surrounded, I couldn't get-" she was becoming more frantic with each word.
"Diane, I need you to listen for a minute." He insisted.
"And then King-" Meliodas placed his hand on her shoulder, looking into her eyes.
"Listen to me." He said seriously. "We were fighting, you were in a state of shock when we found you. It took a while to get you to tell us what happened."
Diane's heart sank into her stomach.
"But I don't remember even talking to-'
" Like I said, you were in shock. We brought you back here and you need to rest until-"
"King, where's King?" She panicked.
"Diane, King- He's not doing too good. He would've been gone already if you hadn't told us where he was. When Ban found him, he was just barely holding himself up. He'd lost a lot of blood and-"
"Where is he?" She demanded.
"Are you sure you feel okay to-"
"I have to see him." Meliodas nodded.
"Come with me then." He helped her out of bed allowing her to lean on him for support.
"You should know, he's really pale and very weak. The arrows that hit him were poisoned. I already sent Hawk and Gowther to get Merlin, she went back to King Arthur so there's a good chance they won't be back for a while. I just want you to be prepared before we go in." Meliodas pushed open the door to King and Ban's room.
"Just... Prove us wrong, that's all I want you to do. I don't ask you for much, just try." Ban requested quietly from the sleeping fairy.
'"Hey, how's he doing?" The dragon sin called, causing the man to turn.
"He's hanging on, I don't know how, but he hasn't gotten up yet." Ban replied.
" it could take time. He's definitely got some strength in him. I'll give him that. Diane's going to visit with him for a bit, let's give her some time." Ban rose from his chair beside the bed.
Diane gasped sharply seeing King lying pale and motionless on the bed.
"You sure you can handle this?"
"Yeah. I'm sure." Meliodas settled her in the chair before walking to the door.
"We'll be downstairs, yell down if you need anything." He said.
Once she was alone, she allowed her tears to flow freely. She reached out, stroking his brown hair affectionately and taking his hand with her free hand.
"King,can you hear me?" He remained still,offering no sign that he had indeed heard her tearful words.
"Y-you saved my life, I shouldn't have left you. I'm so sorry. You have to stay with me, you always look out for me. You can't give up, you made it this far, we-I need you. I won't let you die. I promise." She sobbed. "I'll stay with you until you're stronger, but you have to help me. Hold on, King...for me..just keep breathing.'
"You got any ideas on how to get King back?" Ban took a drink from his mug. Meliodas shook his head.
"A regular doctor wouldn't be able to help him, we already sent for Merlin. It's pretty much out of our hands. King has to be strong enough to stay here until they get back. It's weird though." Meliodas said thoughtfully.
"What is?"
"Three poison arrows and he's alive, I've never seen that before, especially when they strike those particular places. That one was really close to his heart."
"So you think he-"
"I think we should wait and see. Expect the worst but don't completely give up on him. That's all we can do right now"
