"Eona! You're awake!" exclaimed a tall figure.

"Dela, careful." Kygo said, sounding more like a command than a warning. I blushed at the thought of him being protective of me. But then he swayed, and I could see how tired he was. I'm protective of him, too.

"Kygo, you should rest. I'm fine." I said, gently smiling at him.

"No. You can't even walk on your own. I will stay with you." his face held determination. I knew that determination. No one would make him sleep unless their point was proven right in front of him. So that is what I did. Or tried to do. I slowly slid out of his grasp and tried to step on my right leg. It sent stabbing pain through my leg and up my spine. As soon as I had my full weight on that leg, it gave out. Kygo's lightning fast movements caught me by my waist and upper back. He was right, I couldn't walk on my own. He was also wrong; He could go no longer without sleep.

"I told you, I'm not leaving your side. You can't walk yet, therefore, I can't leave yet. Eona, I won't leave you. There could still be assassins coming for you. I can't risk losing you again." his face was sincere. I knew that pain. He was definitely .not. leaving, at all. I gave a silent laugh. I still had one trick up my sleeve. I pulled Kygo aside and started my plan.

"I'm tired." I said and faked a sway. He picked me up and carried me to my tent. He He had blindly fallen into my trap, and used the last of his strength to carry me. I hated having to do this, but he left me no choice. He laid on the bed, next to me. His eyelids were slowly closing, sleep welcoming him. At last he let go and slept silently. I pulled a soft fur blanket over him and painfully hopped over to the chair, watching him sleep. Then I saw my ancestor's swords. I reached over, barely far enough to grab them, and pulled them close. Right before dawn, a soldier named Tanj came to the door of my tent.

"Kygo is sleeping." I said, using my swords to walk. "What do you want? And be quiet about it." The soldier told me about a meeting with others in the council. I dismissed Tanj and retreated to Kygo. His servant came in carrying his wear for the day.

"Lady Dragoneye," I winced as she said that title. "This is His Majesty's robes for today. He should wake now to get ready, my lady." she said looking across the tent at Kygo.

"I need you to do something." I said, hoping Kygo wouldn't get mad at me.

"Anything, my lady."

"Please fetch Tozay, Ryko, and Dela and have them meet me just outside." after I gave her my orders, she dashed off, following them. In little time they were here. Dela on Ryko's right, Tozay on his left. "You should know that His Majesty has stayed awake for almost five days, catching three hours of rest and has finally welcomed sleep. I suggest we postpone the meeting until he has woken. He is too stubborn and I know that he will not let himself fall asleep again for a while."

"I saw him earlier, and I agree, Lady Eona." Dela looked at Ryko.

"I agree with my beloved." He said. He had been calling her that ever since he was healed, still making heat rise in her cheeks. Tozay nodded his agreement. I would get them when Kygo woke up. He slept for hours. When he woke, it was already sunset. I had passed the day learning Woman Script, Dela teaching me. I had learned very little, but could still decipher some. Lillia also tried to teach me, but to no avail. As they left Kygo started to stir. Soon he was awake.

"Eona?" he looked around.

"I'm here, Kygo. Did you sleep good?"

"I shouldn't have slept. How are you? I should have stayed up to help you. How did I even fall asleep?" his eyes showed regret. He didn't remember anything that happened outside the medicinal tent.

"Well, will this remind you?" I leaned over and kissed him. When we broke apart, he understood what happened.

"Dammit, Eona. I can't believe I fell for that. I'm such an idiot." Kygo said laughing.

"You're not and idiot, you were tired. In fact you are very smart."

"I must be smart and lucky if you fell for me." he smiled the smile I loved. But I had no royal bloodline. I broke out of his arms and turned away. "What's wrong, Eona?" he asked, walking over to me, putting his hands on my shoulders.

"We can't be together, Kygo." my eyes were filled with tears. Some fell and he wiped them away with his thumb. "I'm not royal. We can't be together and it's my fault." I let the tears come as I buried my face in his chest. I heard his heartbeat, and felt it against my cheek. For a moment I wished he wasn't the Pearl Emperor, but he was, and there was nothing I could do.

"Eona, it's all right. I will fix this. No, you don't have royal blood, but I do. I can change laws, and I will change this one. Don't worry, I'll change it at the council meeting today. When is the meeting?"

"I had Dela, Ryko, and Tozay come here, and we all agreed to postpone the meeting until you got up. So, I'll let you get ready and get them. See you soon." I smiled at him, wiping the last of my tears, and took both swords in one hand.

"You can't travel, you need help. I carried and helped you walk before, so I suggest you stay and I can help you around when I'm ready." I forgot he was asleep when I used the swords to get around.

"No, I can get around on my own, Kygo." he gave me a doubtful look, I gave him my you-underestimate-me smile, and used the swords to walk out. When I walked down the paths to Dela's tent, so many people bowed. Many had not seen that I was awake, so they were shocked to see me walking. I had so many people offer to help me walk, but I politely declined them all. I was fine and could walk on my own. Well, fine was stretching it. My abdomen was covered in bandages, with quite a bit of blood on them. I could not bend my right arm, and it was covered in bandages, with only a little blood showing at the wrist, and hurt very little. My leg was less serious than my abdomen, but still very serious. I couldn't walk on it at all, without overwhelming pain, and it too was covered in bandages. The blood flow had slowed but was far from stopping, and when I did step on it, the blood flow quickened.

"My lady." Ryko bowed, followed by Tozay and Dela. I told them to rise, then to meet Kygo and I at the meeting tent.