Anselm was riding as fast as he could on his horse. He'd spread the word to a few villages, but that was only the beginning. Of course, he was only dealing with the free realm. Matthew was going beyond those borders. Artemisia wanted Anselm closer. Anselm finally pulled aside from the road hoping to relieve himself. However, he saw the shadow move out of the corner of his eye. He drew his sword, body tense and ready to react at the slightest movement. The shadow was quick though and Anselm soon found himself facing darkness.
Remy was still unconscious. The chill fever had a strong hold on her. Artemisia pushed back Remy's sweat drenched hair. "You don't have to stay so close to her," House remarked, stepping into the room. He had gone that morning to try and find Annalie about a medicine to break the fever, but his daughter wasn't at home. Thus the Healer had returned empty handed.
"Do you understand love?" Artemisia asked. "Not superficial love, no, but something much deeper." House sighed heavily.
"Yes, I do," House replied. Artemisia looked up.
"I would say that if a certain someone in this village fell ill in the same way you would be sitting here same as I," Artemisia pointed out.
"Aren't you clever?" House mocked, pulling up a chair. "Why are you even still here? Your temple is destroyed. Why the hell do you stay here?" Artemisia glared at him, a fire in her almost black eyes that could both enchant and terrify the soul.
"Do not ever challenge my authority, Gregory House. I am the last of my kind, and I am not letting this war beat me now. This war has become personal more than you could ever imagine, and by the end of it the world will be a very different place," the High Priestess growled, her voice low and thick with anger.
"What do you mean by different?" House asked. Artemisia stood, closing the blinds and making sure the door was shut.
"Have you ever heard of the Kingdom Prophecy? It says the heir chosen will one day rule the free realms under one unified kingdom, a kingdom of dignity and honor after a war with the depths of hell is fought. It talks of the return of unicorns and dragons to the lands, and other creatures of the like. It will be a kingdom of peace," Artemisia explained. She turned to face House. "I know you do not believe in such magic, but I tell you it is true."
"Who's this heir then?" House inquired, eyebrow raised. Artemisia looked away.
"I have my thoughts, though I must hold my tongue. A High Priestess of Yar is a watcher, a protector. We make sure the prophecy runs its course, and do not point out what we believe to be true of its contents other than the clear and plain message. The Great Pool turning black was the first sign of the prophecy, and the return of shadows was the next. It is clear the words are in motion, but to all else I must keep to my vow of silence until the heir is revealed by other means," Artemisia replied. She sat back down as Remy began to tremble again.
"This one is bad," House sighed. He glanced over at the nightstand and picked up a pendant. "Where the hell did she get this?" he muttered.
"The pendant? You know of it?" Artemisia breathed. House nodded slowly.
"My parents gave it me when I was a kid, said it was a family heirloom. I gave it to Remy's mother when she got sick. I didn't need it, didn't want it. She liked it though," House explained. "Jacob always got quiet and sort of pale when he saw it."
"The sigil on it is of a sphinx," Artemisia remarked.
"That's the sigil of your temple, isn't it? The wise sphinx?" House asked, turning towards her. Artemisia stayed silent, just as Wilson walked into the room.
Annalie and Chase stood before Lisa Cuddy. "Why do you want it so soon?" Lisa asked.
"House won't want us getting married. We want it done before he can say anything about it," Annalie replied. Lisa thought for a moment.
"Alright, I'll do it, but only so that House can't fire Chase seeing as I ordained this," Lisa sighed. Annalie and Chase both lightly sighed in relief, stepping forward to her desk. The woman took out her quill and signed her place on the marriage certificate. "Sign here," she pointed. The couple followed the instruction quickly and with ease. The deed was done, and not a moment too soon before House stormed into the room.
"What the hell is going on here?" he demanded.
"You just witnessed the marriage of Robert and Annalie Chase," Lisa replied, that taunting look of authority on her face. House went silent for a moment, fire in his eyes.
"No, I won't let them. She's my kid, and he's my apprentice," House growled.
"Every other village in the free realms says that that is normal," Lisa argued.
"Cuddy, you had no right," House yelled. Cuddy raised a hand.
"I had every right, and it's done. Deal with it. You keep Chase as an apprentice, and you suck it up," the woman ordered. House glared for a moment.
"Annalie, get back to your damn job now. I need you. My special patient is in need of something to stop her chill fever," House snapped.
"You have a patient with a chill fever?" Lisa asked. House nodded stiffly.
"Remy Hadley, daughter of Jacob Hadley," House replied.
"Annalie, go do what you can," Lisa urged. The Alchemist nodded stiffly and dutifully before running out of the room.
"What should-?" Chase began.
"Shut up," House cut him off growling. He stormed back out of the room.
"He'll warm up, eventually," Lisa assured.
"Are you sure?" Chase asked.
"Yes, I am," Lisa replied.
The letter came in the evening. Written in blood was Anselm's name. With shaking hands, Artemisia held the paper. She sat in the candle light next to Remy's bed. The herb mix Annalie had brought stopped the seizing, but the fever still held strong. If it held any longer… No, Artemisia wouldn't think of it. It was enough that Anselm was taken. The High Priestess wiped away her tears. "Come back to me, my love. I need you. I'm so alone," Artemisia muttered, grabbing Remy's clammy hand, drenched in sweat but icy cold.
"How long have you been interested in women?" House suddenly asked. He sat down on the other side of the bed and began drenching a towel in some paste.
"A few decades or so," Artemisia sighed. "What paste is that?" House shrugged, placing it over Remy's face.
"Chamomile and lemon balm to help her sleep, feverfew for the fever, as well as a few others," House replied. "How old are you?"
"Older than you could imagine, yet young compared to my people," Artemisia explained. "I loved only one man, and that for a short time. After that I realized it was not that sex that I was drawn to." She stood to grab another blanket as Remy began to shiver with cold.
"She'll probably die," House remarked coldly. Artemisia bit her lip.
"I know," Artemisia breathed. She couldn't face it, but the truth was there. "Even the magic I have is not enough. There is no spell to stop this illness, and it came on so quickly." Artemisia had a sudden mind to go to the forest, but she couldn't. One last night. She would try to spend one last night with Remy before she turned her face to the darkness. Anselm was strong. He'd be alright for now. Artemisia needed just to focus and figure out exactly what her next move would be.
A/N: I was on a roll last night and I typed out most of this chapter after finishing the last one. So, Remy seems to be dying... And Anselm is taken. Annalie and Chase are married while House is upset about it. We also learn a little bit about Artemisia... This should be interesting. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and please leave a review.