As they emerged from the forest, Arthur glanced around at the small farming village, which was basked in the warm morning glow at the base of the mountains to the north. They had ridden through the night, and Arthur was surprised to find that this did not tire him at all. Perhaps he would've been exhausted in his own world from the lack of practice with all-nighters, but he clearly had a few advantages being in a dream world here. A brief glance showed that the others were slightly tired, but still well-practiced from being at war the last few years.
Feliks and Antonio were leading the group at the moment, trying to figure out which path to take through the village, as a familiar raven swooped down from the sky to join them.
"Naktakė, there you are," Feliks greeted her, "Can you lead us to Tolys?"
The raven cawed at them, swooping around in a circle before flying above the road they needed to take around the side of the village. The group promptly followed the raven's path through the valley roads, and Arthur noted how healthy the crops in the adjacent farms were after being frozen for five years. It was another trend that Arthur kept noticing: whatever type of magic was used to cast the spell in the first place managed to also protect all of Prathage's agriculture.
Naktakė took them down one more turn, which ended shortly ahead at the front of a cottage and barn. The raven quickly approached the house, and began circling in the air as she cawed for whoever was inside.
"I can feel it from here," Feliks announced as they rode down the path to the house, "The young woman barely has any life left to her, she won't survive if we can't help her ourselves."
"So we just barely made it in time," Alfred realized, "Lovino, Feliciano, you'll need to get in there as quickly as you can, and see what can be done."
As they approached the clearing in front of the house, the door opened to reveal the familiar Lithuanian, followed by the older farmer who owned the land. The pair immediately came out to greet the group, with Tolys reaching for the reins of the horses for Antonio and Feliks to dismount.
"Thank you for coming," Tolys greeted, "She is not responding to warmth at all, she's still barely alive."
"I could feel it from the end of the path there," Feliks replied as he dismounted and went to help with Alfred's horse.
The farmer approached as Arthur and Lovino rode up, and grabbed the reins of their horses to allow them to dismount.
"Thank you, sir," Arthur showed courtesy as he dismounted.
As Lovino rushed off towards the house, Arthur went to grab the reins of Feliciano's horse, allowing him to quickly dismount as well.
"Feliks, can you handle the horses?" Alfred ordered as he dismounted, "Arthur, get in there with the twins, see if you can help them out."
"Let's go, Arthur," Feliciano led once he was on the ground.
Arthur followed Feliciano towards the house, where Lovino was already going through the door. While walking towards the door, he glanced back briefly to see that Tolys and Feliks were handling the horses, while Antonio and Alfred spoke to the farmer. Arthur then looked forward again to see the farmer's wife waiting for them with the door open, and he briefly nodded at her as he entered the house.
Lovino was already speaking with the farmer's daughter at the back of the main room, where a cot had been put as close to the fire as safely as possible. The mystery woman lay on the cot, covered in several home-made quilts, but Arthur could not see her head past where Lovino and Feliciano now stood at her side, the farmer's daughter backing away. Noting the foot of the bed was open, Arthur went around that side to observe, only for his gut to drop when he finally saw her.
If they were in Arthur's world, she could be mistaken for a frozen corpse lost in the Arctic tundra of her northern territories. Despite that, Arthur still recognized the familiar face of the darling Canadian.
"Madeline," Arthur gasped in worry, prompting a look from Feliciano who was holding her arm to scan her for magic.
"Madeline?" Feliciano checked, "Did you just call her Madeline?"
"That's definitely Madeline," Arthur confirmed, "I know her too well in my world to not recognize her now."
"It was her own magic," Lovino added, his hands placed on her head, "She was reversing her own powerful spell."
"How is she?" Alfred suddenly demanded, having entered the house behind them with the rest of the group in tow, "Can you find anything?"
"Your Highness, we have a development," Arthur revealed, "I believe she is your sister."
"What?" Tolys gasped, "She's the Princess?"
Alfred and Antonio rushed towards the bed, where Felciano allowed them both to look upon the woman. Feliks and Tolys came around to join Arthur at the foot of the bed, observing in surprise.
"Arthur's right," Antonio verified, "This is definitely Madeline."
"What can you find, Lovino?" Alfred inquired, "Can we save her?"
"You're not going to believe this, Your Highness," Lovino explained, "but you're the only one who can save her. As twins, your magics are connected and rooted in the same type of magic, just like me and Feliciano. As such, your fire magic can melt her before her heart freezes."
"I can save her?" Alfred uttered, "What do I do?"
"You'll need to slowly warm her body back up," Lovino instructed, "Her heart, lungs and head all need immediate attention."
"Alfred, grab that chair and sit directly by her head," Arthur recommended, "I can help you position your hands."
The others backed away as Alfred grabbed the nearby chair and moved it directly beside the head of the bed.
"Right here?" Alfred checked as he sat down.
"Yes, perfect," Arthur guided, pointing down to Madeline's neck, "Place your palms at the very top of her chest, just below the collarbone. Try to point your fingers down towards her heart, make sure you're using your full hands to touch as much of her upper chest as possible."
"You're not going straight for the heart?" Feliciano inquired, "Or her head?"
"When Alfred channels his magic, he can direct it to the tips of his fingers," Arthur explained, "They're pointed in that direction to be as close as possible to her heart without compromising anyone's dignity. Her heart will be warmed first, followed quickly by her lungs, which will restart her heart and her breathing. Once those are going again, her heart can channel the warmed blood through her body, which will defrost the rest of her body."
"That makes sense," Alfred supported, "Just a gentle touch of magic, right?"
"Yes please," Arthur said, "There's no need to burn your sister, even if you haven't spoken to her in seven years."
"Who exactly are you, sir?" Tolys asked, "Are you a healer?"
"His name is Arthur Kirkland," Feliks answered, "There's a lot to explain about who he is."