"Try not to move, Alanna, I'm trying to access the damage."
The voice of Dr. Daws filled my ears as I struggled to regain consciousness. I tried to speak, but I couldn't seem to remember how. Through the haze I could feel someone holding my hand tightly.
"Is she going to be okay? What about the baby?"
"Like I said, I'm accessing the damage."
"E…E…Erik?" I murmured, opening my eyes. "Erik?"
"I'm here." Erik sat beside my bed, gripping my hand tightly.
"How did you know I was there?" I asked, looking up at him, my thoughts still muddled. "At the river? Have you been following me?"
"I was," he admitted. "When you're here I can keep an eye on you. I…I didn't want you to get hurt." He put a hand on my shoulder apologetically. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." I said, sitting up.
"Careful," Daws hissed from one end of my bed.
"You saved us," I murmured. "Thank you."
Pain shot through my torso, and I moaned in pain as it hit me unexpectedly.
"What's going on?" Erik demanded.
Again I was struck with pain, and I grit my teeth as I tried to bear it. I gripped Erik's hand tighter. Daws waited for the pain to subside before addressing me.
"How far along are you?" He asked.
"Four months," I muttered, speaking through gritted teeth.
"It's very possible that after what happened today you could miscarry. You'd be best to prepare yourself." He shook his head. "There is heavy bruising around your back and there is numbness in your legs. If you exercise them you should regain full use."
"Oh my god," I muttered, now gripping Erik's arm tightly in both hands. Fear struck me down to the core, my nails digging into the material of his coat. He placed a hand over mine.
"You barely escaped hypothermia and you're lucky that you were pulled out of the water when you were." Daws continued, his face placid. "Right now you need rest." As he left Erik wrapped his arms around me.
"I thought I'd lost you. When you slipped beneath the ice and I couldn't spot you again, I was so afraid."
I clung to him, shaking slightly.
"I thought I was going to drown." I muttered into his chest. "Oh my god." I breathed.
He hung onto me for a few moments longer. His presence was comforting to me. I didn't want him to let go.
After a while he said: "Do you want me to leave?"
I gripped him tighter. "No. Don't go."
He hesitated. "Does this mean you… you forgive me?"
"Yes." I looked up at him. "But if you ever do that again, I'm gone. I swear it."
"It won't. I swear to you."
"I just couldn't stand to lose one more thing that is important to me."
"What do you mean?" Erik asked softly. I wiped my eyes with a shaky hand.
"Velluae is making me resign, in a couple of months anyway, once he is able to replace me."
Erik's hands gripped my shoulders. "He can't do that." He growled.
"It's not good for the Opera's image." I murmured. "Since I am unmarried,"
"We are married," Erik said sternly, "just because we haven't had a proper ceremony, doesn't mean we aren't."
I smiled weakly. "But… I'm sure that Velluae won't let me perform now, not until I recover. He'll have to bring in a replacement."
Erik and I looked up as the door burst open and my mother stormed in.
"What happened?" She demanded.
"I forgave Amethyst, not you." I snapped. "Get out."
"I heard you were in an accident. I was worried about you." Agatha said, folding her arms. "About you and the baby. I want to help."
"How can you possibly help?"
"I have experience with midwifing." Agatha explained. "I just want to make sure you'll be alright, and that you know that you're my daughter and I still love you."
I stared up at my mother for a long time. "Fine." I said at last. "Just please… Go."
When she left I returned to Erik's arms, just letting him hold me. He stroked my hair gently.
"I'm sorry." He whispered. "And I'll never stop being sorry."
