"Alanna?" Georges voice was a hoarse rasp. Alanna dropped to her knees on the deserted battlefield, stroking his hair.
"Don't die, George," the lady knight whispered. George laughed.
"Now don't go cryin' now, lass," he warned teasingly. Alanna realized that he was being brave, just for her sake. "I'm not goin' to die so soon!" But the effort of talking made him cough. "I- I've still... got life enough...for three...people." He smiled weakly up at her, then moaned and grabbed at his stomach. Moving aside the ruined bits of shirt, Alanna saw a large, deep cut running from George's shoulder to his hip in a diagonal line. Blood was trickling out of it, and Alanna knew it must have been there for a while.
"Oh, George," she sobbed. "Why didn't you tell me?" George grinned.
"Now, If I'd told you, you'd have had me missin' out on all the fun," he joked. Alanna laughed despite herself. George smiled warmly. "See there," he said. "You're not goin' to cry over me before I'm dead, now, are you?" Alanna wiped her eyes on her sleeve. She slid one arm under George's torso, and one under his knees, twisting him so his head would rest against her shoulder. Getting up was a different matter. Her small size prevented her from getting very far off the ground. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she turned to look at who ever it was. King Jonathan smiled tiredly and slid his arms where hers were. Alanna reluctantly let go, trembling with shock and fear. Jonathan lifted the thief effortlessly, walking steadily to his mount.
He swung up onto the saddle, and positioned George in front of him so that he could hold the reins. George coughed weakly in front of Jonathan. Darkness reared and galloped towards Pirate's Swoop. George struggled to hold on, the heavy, choking fog filling his lungs and cutting off his breath. "The fog," he gasped. "Can't... breath..." Jonathan shook him sharply, trying desperately to clear his friend's lungs. Finally, both Jonathan and Alanna reached deep inside with their gifts, and saw the dark well they had seen only once before. George was falling, and the Dark god reached out and grabbed him.
"No!" The word tore from Alanna's lips. "George!" She planted herself firmly in front of the hooded figure, and felt Jonathan drop to her other side.
"Give him back, please," Jonathan said, bowing respectfully. Alanna bowed too.
"Sorry, my lord, but he must come back," Alanna said, fighting back tears. "We have children! Three…children." One tear escaped and trickled down her cheek. The Dark god reached out one hand and dropped George at her feet. Alanna took his hand and led him back up.
She gasped and jerked back into herself, fighting off fatigue. The castle of Pirates Swoop came into view, and she smiled. George coughed slightly and shifted in Jonathan's saddle. Suddenly, he fell sideways off of Darkness's back.
"Mama! Mama!" Alanna groaned and looked up. Her fear was confirmed. Her three children were running towards her. She tried to compose herself before leaping off her mount and stretching her arms wide. She hugged her three children close. Little Alan giggled as he grabbed her, and Alianne jumped up and down. Thom, the oldest, pulled away and began to walk toward his father. "Daddy?" Thom began to cry. "Papa!" He hugged George tightly.
"Thom?" George's eyes fluttered open. He took in the scene around him, smiled weakly, and fainted.
