Disclaimer: Artemis Fowl and all his associates are property of the en-genius Mr. Eion Colfer. Therefore I only own Miss. Katherine.

A/N: Okay, so the story is wrapping up. So you guys are getting a two-chapter update! Yay! It takes me so long to update because I re-read the chapters like 20 times to make sure there are no grammatical errors but I always miss some. At any rate I hope you enjoy these chapters, I tried intertwining some mythology in this chapter... we will see how that goes.

The next thing Katherine knew was the feeling a warm hand gently pressed against her face. Something inside Katherine wanted to believe that it was Artemis' hand but she knew better; and besides, weren't his hands cold and icy like a vampire's… well that is what everyone said. Katherine knew they were wrong, she had learned so this afternoon when Artemis had taken her hand in his. The thought woke the butterflies in her stomach as she drifted in that weird place between dreams and reality. Katherine tried to open her eyes; her eyelids were heavy and her eyes were sensitive to the light. As Katherine squinted into reality, a shadowy figure came into focus.

"Holly?" The little elf was bent over Katherine feeling her forehead.

"Katherine? How are you feeling?"

"Like all my muscles died." Katherine groaned, she was starting to feel the ache and pain from the hospital escape. "How did I get here?" She was obviously somewhere in Haven city, she could tell by the unusual setting she found herself in.

"Well, after some fanangling Artemis managed to convince us to bring you down here. Though it didn't take too much," Holly winked. "After he told us you were sick and that he suspected it to be a 'magical sickness' of some sort Foaly's interest got the best of him." She laughed, "He never could turn down a challenge."

Katherine smiled; it was nice to see Holly again. "So, Artemis thinks I have magical disease?"

"Well, he called it a magical sickness, but yeah he thinks that you somehow are under some sort of spell. Which I could understand since your symptoms are really unusual but I honestly do not think you are under a "spell"." Holly rolled her eyes, it was funny that even after all his time spent with the People he still inadvertently believed in fairy tales. Honestly, magic spells cast on humans, that has not happened since well, Holly could not even remember when.

Katherine sighed, "You know I'm starting to doubt his genius sometimes. I mean really. Does he think this is some sort of fairy tale?"

"You'd think. Of course we both know better, as much as I hate to admit it sometimes, Artemis is usual partly correct if not completely."

"I suppose so."

"The warlock will be here soon to examine you. Hopefully it won't take that long." Holly sat back in her chair and stretched.

Katherine sat up on the medical bed and looked around. No sight of Artemis or any one else, "Holly, where is Artemis and everybody?"

"They are with Foaly; he's showing them the latest in nerd gear." Holly laughed; Katherine and she had always poked fun at Artemis and Foaly when they talked about technology. It was like two little boys at Christmas, "Seriously though he's showing them his latest invention."

Just then, Artemis, Butler and Foaly walked in followed by a small fairy that Katherine assumed was the warlock.

"Katherine, I'd like you to meet Dr. Jubal Boreal. He was kind enough to come and examine you." Foaly was introducing the grumpy looking fairy.

"More like I owed you one for that emergency job you did on my home security system." An awkward silence followed. "Well, I need you all to leave me with the patient so I can examine her undisturbed."

"Um, if it's alright with you Dr. Boreal. I'd like Holly to stay with me."

Dr. Boreal frowned, "Fine, just as long as she stays out of the way." Artemis, Butler and Foaly were shooed out of the medical bay, and into the lobby area leaving Katherine and Holly alone with the warlock.

. . . .

"Artemis, do you honestly believe that she has some sort of magical sickness?" Those words sounded weird coming from the large Eurasian man. It was like hearing 'Yucky ducky' come out of his mouth.

Artemis sighed, "What else could it be, Butler? There is no logical, humanly, explanation. So I assume that it has something to do with magic, if only a little something." It bothered him that they did not seem to trust him on this, though he could see how it would be hard. It was practically something straight out of a fairy tale.

. . . .

Butler knew better than to question Artemis on issues of this type, most often he was right. Never the less Butler was still worried about Katherine, even if her health was suffering because of some magical spell of sorts he was worried about the consequences it could have on her permanent state of health.

He glanced over at Artemis, calm as usual. He wondered if Artemis even knew how Katherine felt about him. Surely, a mind as brilliant as Artemis' would have some clue. Then again, Artemis' sense of women's emotions was a little off kilter; even the great Artemis Fowl could not escape the incurable disease of man. Butler quietly chuckled to his self; maybe Artemis suffered more from that than any man did, since he was always thinking about data rather than human emotions.

. . . .

Artemis was beginning to worry now; the warlock had been in the medical bay with Katherine for several hours now and not a sound. He was careful not to let the silence eat away at him, though he was not even sure why it would "eat away at him" in the first place. There was this deep-seated fear that Katherine would be incurable, and it really bothered him. He knew he should be worried but this was more worry than one typically has for a close friend. Artemis could not for the life of him figure out why he had become so emotional, especially when it came to Katherine. Maybe it was left over from his experience in the time/dimension jump.

Artemis had tried meditating several times only to find that he could not empty his mind of Katherine, whether it was worry or just things about her he admired in her character. This was the first time that he was having trouble concentrating on one thing, well at least trouble concentrating on something that he wanted to. Artemis felt that it was rather bothersome but he found himself unable to do anything about it.

Finally, the door opened and Holly poked her head out, "Hey, where's Foaly?"

"He had to step out and make a call to Caballine. He should be back any minute. How is Katherine? Is she doing better?"

Holly briefly chewed her lip, "Oh, well she's going to be fine." She gave Artemis a weak smile, "Send Foaly in when he gets back." With that, Holly ducked back into the medical bay.

Artemis frowned, "I do not like that reply. Holly seems to be hiding something."

Butler grimaced. Katherine's problem seemed to be getting more and more complicated.

Just then Foaly returned, "I need to leave soon, Caballine, says she needs me at home."

"Well, Foaly, Holly actually requested that you go into the medical bay. She said to send you in when you got back." Artemis was cool and calm as usual, "Could you please let me know what's going on as soon as you can?" If he were a normal person, his emotions would have shown through. He was anxious. Artemis felt strange being anxious like this, it had never really happened like this before. It was new and unwelcomed.

Artemis was not sure why everybody made such a huge deal of emotions. They were unpleasant, Artemis felt absolutely miserable and for what? The sake of another person. However, Artemis knew better. Katherine was not just "another person", she was Katherine. She was special, there was something different about her and he liked it. Artemis sighed mentally, for some reason his mind played back several memories of Katherine. Like the time she had baked him cookies for his birthday and he told her he did not care for sweets. She looked so broken hearted that he ate them anyways. His mind flashed to more recent memories, like her hand in his at the hospital, remembering it sent shivers down his spin. There was something missing, he just could not pin point what it was. He had all this information but it seemed useless with out the missing piece, as if it was the key to everything.

. . . .

"Well, it looks like this is not caused by any magic of the People." Dr. Boreal scratched his chin, "It appears to be ancient magic."

Foaly nodded, "I see what you mean, you don't think this is—"

"I do. I am nearly sure that this is human magic."

"Human?" Katherine was befuddled, "But, humans don't have magic."

"Well, humans don't have magic any more." Foaly took on the air of a teacher, "You see, many, many centuries ago, humans possessed magical capabilities. However, one man's actions ruined it for all of you."

"Thank goodness—no offense Katherine." Holly looked a bit sheepish; she had meant to say that under her breath. She did not like the thought of greedy Mud Men with magic.

"None taken. Keep going Foaly, if you would."

"Anyways, Katherine have you ever heard the tale of Tristan and Isolde?"

"I've heard of it before." Katherine shrugged, "Why?"

"Well, the way it is told now of days is mostly wrong but the important part is that Tristan and Isolde did in fact have a—err …relationship. Basically, they committed treason against their king. King Mark had been given a love potion of sorts on their wedding day, which made him desperately in love with his wife, Isolde. Now, the Kings heart was so broken by the actions of his dear nephew and beloved wife that nothing could console him. As a result, he cursed Tristan and Isolde to suffer hardship their whole lives, King Mark's curse went much deeper than he had meant it too. Leave it to a human to do things with out thinking."

Foaly whinnied; Katherine assumed that he was laughing at his own humor. "And this has to do with humans having magic how?"

Foaly frowned, "I'm getting there. Because the King's heart was so broken, it had tainted his curse on the couple and the hardship that Tristan and Isolde ended up enduring was the loss of magic in their love. Sounds corny I know, but the source of human magic was love."

Katherine stared at Foaly for a minute, "So you want me to believe that humans had magic at one time but the actions of a heart broken king ruined it for us all. And on top of it you expect me to believe your fruity claim that, 'the source of human magic was love'." She was mocking him. "Come on Foaly, I'm all for fairy tales but this is beyond that."

Holly sighed, "As stupid as it sounds, Katherine, the source of human magic was love. Unbelievably, that used to be the strongest type of magic on the planet. Every kind of magic has its source, the People's magic comes from nature, and human magic came from love. Once love was so betrayed the Mud Men lost their abilities."

"Seriously guys—"

"Mud Child! If you choose not to believe us that is your own fault. I have done everything I can for you so I am going to leave." Dr. Boreal started gathering up his things.

"No, wait!" Dr. Boreal paused. "Say I believe you guys. Isn't there anyway you guys can heal me? If you haven't noticed you have only diagnosed me after all this time."

Dr. Boreal sighed, "I have done everything I can, and there is no healing that I can do to reverse this spell."

Katherine's shoulders slumped; she was going to have to live with this forever? "B-but how did this happen?"

Foaly chimed in, "Katherine it's no secret to any of us hear that you kind of have a thing for Artemis. Why? I doubt any of us will ever know. Regardless, you apparently loved him enough that you over came the curse. You have what is otherwise known as "true love"." Foaly was even doing the air quotes now. "Quite honestly, I find it kind of disgusting to think that anyone could ever truly love that Mud Boy but hey, there's somebody for everyone."

"Yeah, just look at you. You found Caballine." Katherine smirked. She couldn't resist the pot shot since he was ragging on her for being in love with Artemis.

Foaly frowned and stamped his hoof, "Do you want me to finish telling you what happened or would you just like to live with the mystery?"

Katherine sighed and grumbled an apology.

"Anyways, from what Holly told me you were watching them as they started plummeting to their death. My guess is that the person you love with all your heart was in mortal danger and you were helpless. Therefore, your heart reacted and on top of that, you throw in the time/dimension jump and you get the reactivation of your magic. Only a slight activation though, it would seem that it was only for that brief second when the time portal was open, it was just long enough to allow for your heart to transfer to Artemis."

"So, I literally gave my heart away?"

"Looks like it."

"So, all this happened because I—"Katherine turned bright red, "L-love Artemis." She knew she liked him, but love him? Had she really been so blind to her own feelings?

"Yeah."

Dr. Boreal interrupted, "The only thing you can do is tell that Mud Boy you love him and see what happens."

"You're kidding me right?"

Dr. Boreal frowned, "Does this look like the face of a kidder? I am not joking with you. The only thing you can do to try and alleviate this illness is try and reverse the process."

Katherine couldn't believe this, not only was this fairy trying to tell her she had to tell Artemis she loved him, that in itself was a daunting enough task, but he also assumed she would get her heart handed back to her. In other words broken. "You have got to be kidding me. I can't do that, I just have to live with this. There is so no way on this flat earth that I'm going to tell Artemis I love him."

Holly frowned, "Katherine it's the only way."

"No. I will find another way or I will make due. But I will not tell him."

Dr. Boreal shrugged, "Fine, it's your life kid."

Holly was not okay with this. "Katherine if you don't tell him I will."

Katherine's head was spinning her world was starting to crumble around her. Artemis had just come back to her and now she was at the risk of losing him forever over her emotions.