Over the coming days, Chamberlain's condition didn't appear to be improving.

He was still up and around, but he would get sick first thing after getting up in the mornings and after he would eat anything. It happened several times a day. He often found himself running out of any room in the castle to a window and getting rid of all the food he would eat. He was lucky if he was keeping anything at all in his stomach.

Some of the Gelfling that were still serving the Skeksis did happen to see a few times what was happening with him. One day, one of the Gelfling guards came up to question him out of concern.

Sil had just tossed his dinner and the male Gelfling came up behind him. "Uh, Lord Chamberlain? I couldn't help but notice what was happening just now. Are you alright?" he asked.

Sil turned around. "Nothing that concerns Gelfling. I'm fine."

"That didn't seem like fine to me. You should be seen by the one of you, the Scientist, to get it treated." the soldier suggested. "Or one of the females might know what's causing it."

"I have seen the Scientist! Getting treated. Nothing! Go back to post, Gelfling. Now!" Sil snapped at him.

"I'm just concerned, my Lord. It's been going on for days."

"I order you to leave me alone! Go, now!" Sil began to step toward him angrily.

"Sorry!" The guard ran off to avoid getting in trouble.

Sil was angry that the Gelfling couldn't mind his own business. But, even if he knew something, it was none of his business what was going on with him. Skeksis kept to themselves about their health from Gelflings.

The guard got to a good distance and stopped, noticing the sick Skeksis was not coming after him, at least he hoped not. But nothing happened further from that moment.

A female guard was passing through soon after, and the male Gelfling went up to her. "Hey, Spriton female? Wait!" the male called out.

"Yes?" she asked.

"I noticed that the Lord Chamberlain has been getting sick lately. I was deeply concerned for him and tried to talk to him. I said that maybe any female might know what's going on with him. He's been getting sick every time he eats and first thing in the mornings. Would you know what's going on?" he explained. "He just brushed me off like it was nothing."

"I wouldn't have a clue. If he said to leave him alone, it might be best to do that. They can be rather strict." the female said.

"I know, but if he's sick, Lord SkekTek should be told."

"Yes. If you're that concerned..." she replied. "Just be careful."

The Gelflings usually avoided the Skeksis gathering places unless they had something important to talk about with the Lords of the Crystal.

Chamberlain had gone down to talk to La. The other Skeksis were in the throne room when the male Gelfling came in to talk to them. "My Lords, I need to talk to you." he began.

The Skeksis turned angrily to him. "Should we drain him, my Emperor?" the General whispered.

"No." the Emperor said, then he replied, "Let him speak."

"Thank you. My Lords, I have noticed that Lord Chamberlain is very sick. He said he's being treated, but nothing is working. Is there something more that is going on with him? I'm just concerned." the guard explained.

"He is being treated. This is none of your concern, Gelfling." the Scientist warned him angrily.

"I just wanted you to make sure you knew about it. Thank you for hearing me out." the guard said.

"Get back to your post, or there will be consequences for it!" the General ordered.

The guard did as requested. He didn't get why his clan wasn't more concerned.

After he left, the others turned to the Scientist. "Is there something else going on, Scientist?" the Emperor asked.

"I keep giving him my special herbs every day, several times a day, my Emperor. Nothing seems to be helping at all. I don't know what's going on with him." Tek explained. "I've never seen this before."

"Maybe it's a condition that can't be helped. The Chamberlain might be dying." SkekZok advised.

"If he is, it'd be a good riddance!" the General scoffed.

"Enough, General. Scientist, you need to get to the bottom of the Chamberlain's problem." SkekSo ordered.

"Yes, Sire." Tek replied.

The Scientist wished he had more tools or the brains to figure out what was actually going on with the Chamberlain. Sil was seen as a not so important figure within the court right now, but it did concern the Emperor and the others should any of them catch what Sil had, since they didn't know if it was contagious. He was hoping what was going on would never spread among the rest of the Skeksis.

If he had to take to keeping the Chamberlain quarantined for awhile, he would do it. It just wasn't worth the others getting sick too. He talked privately to the Emperor about it.

"If you are sure that the sickness is something to worry about, do what you have to do to keep it from spreading to the rest of us, and keep an eye on SkekSil's condition." the Emperor ordered.

"Yes, my Emperor." Tek replied with a bow.

….

Chamberlain had gone to bed again when the nausea came back. He wished it would end. He didn't want to die, no Skeksis wanted that, but nothing was working to control the sickness.

He was about to drift off when the Scientist came into his room. "Lord Chamberlain, the Emperor has ordered for me to take you to my lab for a quarantine."

Sil knew what that was. "For how long?"

"I don't know. But this sickness you have might be contagious and you might infect other Skeksis if you keep just walking among them like nothing's happening! Make haste. We can't have you getting the others sick!" Tek got onto his case rather hurriedly. He made him get out of bed just as he was.

"Not dressed." Sil said.

"Leave the robes. They will have to be destroyed anyway. SkekEkt can make you some new ones. There's just too much going on with you right now, you can't risk making the others sick." Tek said.

Sil was only in his bedtime gown as they made their way to the lab. He felt rather embarrassed about his situation. He still had no idea what was going on. Neither did Tek.

Tek took Sil to a separate room with a bed and other supplies in it.

"This will be your bed chamber until further notice, SkekSil. Until I see signs that your health is improving, or you are getting worse." Tek explained.

"What about Crystal energy every day?" Sil asked.

"The Emperor doesn't want you anywhere near the others right now, until this passes. If it does at all." Tek stated.

Chamberlain couldn't believe this. "But I need the Crystal's energy too."

"I'll give you essence as needed. And your food. You are not to leave this room." Tek ordered. "Sorry, SkekSil. We just can't take this chance."

Sil was extremely angry at this order. It wasn't fair. He crossed his arms. "I demand to see Emperor. Now!" he shouted.

"Fine! But stay here." Tek demanded and left.

Chamberlain sat on the bed, waiting. It wasn't too long before the Emperor returned, with the General in tow. He would make sure that Sil would stay if he tried to fight the order.

"Chamberlain." The Emperor said grumpily.

Sil looked up from the bed. "My sire. Is it true I must be in here?" he asked cautiously.

"Yes, Chamberlain. Until further notice, you are to remain in this room. You are not to come out unless we have notice from the Scientist that you are not sick anymore. This is a grave risk we can't take. Stay in here." the Emperor ordered.

Sil hated to hear this, but he bowed. "Yes, my Emperor. I don't know what is making me sick."

"Just stay in there, or I will make sure that your misery is ended sooner!" the General warned sternly.

Sil growled back in response at the General. He really hated him.

"And he has permission to do so if he has to. So obey me, SkekSil." SkekSo ordered.

"Yes, my Sire." Sil replied.

There was a cage door on the inside of the entrance. Tek then pulled it closed. Why hadn't he done it before now? It had slipped his mind.

Chamberlain had never had to be caged by his clan before. He felt like a prisoner.

"Can I see SkekLa?" he asked.

"No. You are not going to see any of the others for some time. Until we hear otherwise, Chamberlain. You are to report to skekTek only until this passes. Or if it doesn't." So said. "Now, follow me, General."

The two of them left. Sil and Tek watched them go.

"You don't need to lock door, Scientist." Sil said.

"Too bad. It's to make sure you don't leave the room." Tek replied. "Enjoy." He left with a bit of mockery in his voice.

Chamberlain felt ashamed and humiliated. He couldn't help it that his eyes filled with tears. He wouldn't even be able to see his mate because of this sickness. He looked down at his stomach angrily. 'What is wrong with you?!' He thought angrily. Sil was both scared and embarrassed by his condition, whatever it was.

He could only hope that his sickness would go away soon. Little did he know that he was only at the end of the 7th week mark.

The Emperor informed the other Skeksis when they were all together in the throne room later, even La, that SkekSil would not be joining them for anything anymore, at least not too soon. Not until his sickness passed.

"Whatever is making him sick, we cannot take any chances that he might pass it to us." the Emperor declared.

"Is he going to get better?" La asked.

"We don't know. Only time will tell." Tek replied. "This is for our own good. I'll see to his needs daily."

The others didn't really care that much about Sil not joining them, but did care about their health and felt relieved to know he wasn't going to pass his ailment to them. La was the only one who really did care. She wanted to see him, to make sure he was safe.

"No one but the Scientist is going anywhere near the Chamberlain until we hear otherwise." the Emperor ordered. "Anyone who does will be punished! And punished severely."

"Yes, Emperor." The others bowed respectively. They knew better than to disobey their leader.

La could only wait to hear of any news about her love. She would risk anything, even sickness to see him, if she could. However, she knew the lab would be watched like a hawk from this point onward, until further notice.