Yami awoke to find himself in a white tent, lying on a large put-up bed. He groaned in pain as he tried to sit up. Sparks of agony raced up and down his right arm as he put weight on it. Hearing movement from within the tent Serenity walked in. She crossed to Yami's side as gently but forcefully pushed him back down onto the bed.

"Please sire, you must rest. You are very weak and your arm is badly hurt." She said as she wrote down something on her clipboard.

"What? Where am I?" Asked Yami dazedly.

"In the hospital tent. We are still in the grounds of Dark Rock Castle." She replied, taking his temperature with an ancient thermometer and recording it.

"I think you should explain some things to me." Said Yami weakly, rubbing his throbbing head.

"I can not explain everything." Sighed Serenity, taking his pulse and frowning.

"Then call Seto in and let him do the talking." Said Yami impatiently.

"Hmm." Muttered Serenity. "I'm not sure that are well enough to have visitors yet. But I can tell that you won't rest until you know what has happened, so0 on this occasion I will allow it." She shook her head as she walked out of the tent. A few minutes later she returned with Seto Kaiba, who was sporting a few small bandages around his head and wrist.

"However, I insist on staying gentleman." Said Serenity. "I will not have my patient over excited Mr. Kaiba." She warned. "You can trust that I will not pass on any restricted information."

"Nothing is restricted or a secret my lady." Said Kaiba, taking a seat on Yami's bed and surveying the Pharaoh. "You had to be the most seriously injured, didn't you Yami?" He mocked.

"Will you please explain what happened, slowly." Said Yami as he allowed Serenity to help to prop him up on some pillows.

"Well, we broke into the castle and you immediately disappeared into the inner sanctum. Outside we fought Marik's mediocre army. Unfortunately many on his side were slain and a few soldiers on our side did not make it out alive." Said Seto solemnly, bowing his head. "However we won easily and took many prisoners. When Ryou and your small army returned a group of us headed back inside. We were met with more resistance, which is the reason that it took us so long to get back to you. When we finally made it through you had already killed Marik and Bakura. In killing Marik you broke his enchantment over his army. They were under a spell to serve him. By free choice they chose to join our side. We brought you outside and you passed out, through exhaustion or loss of blood. You have been unconscious for two days. During that time we have been rebuilding the castle, holding services for the dead and healing the injured. Castle Dark Rock is now part of your country King Yami, and you have liberated Marik's people. They are all extremely happy."

"Thank you Seto." Said Yami. "You have done well. I shall see that everyone who fought shall be rewarded for his or her bravery and valour. Those who died shall be given my highest accolade for their sacrifice."

Seto nodded and caught Serenity's eye. "I think this has been enough excitement for one day, sire. Would you please leave Mr. Kaiba? Once King Yami has rested more you may hold conference again." She said, shooing him out of the tent.

"How many were injured?" Asked Yami when she returned.

"Too many!" She answered as she began to change the bandages on his arm. They were bloodstained and exposure to the open air made Yami wince, especially when he saw the state of his wound. "However if you want figures and facts then I can give them to you. Five men on our side were killed, thirty-six on Marik's side. I have treated one ninety four serious injuries, including you, and five hundred and twenty one minor injuries, not including people with small cuts and bruises. I don't think that one person left that battle without something to show for it."

"War is a messy affair." Winced Yami as Serenity bathed his arm and redressed in with fresh bandages.

"Luckily most of the most seriously injured people have been transported to the palace hospital for treatment by other professionals, as I have limited resources here. However the two of you that were most seriously injured remained here, as the journey could have killed you."

"Who are these two?" Asked Yami as she finished with her work and handed him a glass of water containing painkilling drugs.

"Yourself of course. You were quite seriously hurt. You lost a lot of blood through that cut on you arm, Marik nearly splintered bone with that spear. Plus the hundreds of small cuts and bruises that I had to contend with!"

"And the other person?" Asked Yami impatiently.

Serenity looked at him sadly and replied, "Lara."

"Lara!" Exclaimed Yami. "She slipped my mind completely. Is she all right? What was wrong with her? Where is she now? Will be all right?"

"Calm down my Pharaoh." Soothed Serenity. "Lara is in another tent sleeping. She will be all right but she is very weak. As for what is wrong with her.well. Firstly she was extremely weak from lack of food or water for two, nearly three days. I have given her some fluids which she took OK, so she is on the med in that respect. Secondly she had several nasty cuts inflicted by Marik in order to clone her that had become infected. I cleaned those up and she will recover. Thirdly she was suffering from concussion, undoubtedly from when Marik and Bakura abducted her. From the amount of bruises on the body I have a feeling she did not go without a fight. Anyway when someone has concussion they should not be allowed to sleep for a long while, it is very dangerous. Unfortunately Marik was not kind enough to keep her wake, which is the reason why she drifted in and out of consciousness so freely. Luckily she did not slip into a coma or she could have died. And lastly she had many small cuts and bruises, but these were not serious."

Yami looked shaken at this news and he sat back in shock. "I have to see her!" He said, throwing the covers off of himself and getting up. As the blood rushed to his head he staggered and almost feel. With surprising strength Serenity caught him and forced back into bed, tucking him in.

"You are too weak, and anyway she is asleep at the moment. When she is fit to have visitors I will let you know. Now don't make me call a guard to restrain you!" She scolded as he tried to get up. Resignedly he lay down and accepted another drink of water from Serenity. He drank it in one gulp, but it tasted strange.

"What is this?" He asked, noticing a powdery residue in the bottom of the chalice.

"A simple sleeping draught!" Said Serenity as Yami's vision clouded. "You need to rest and this will help you."

"Evil, scheming, manipulating.woman." Murmured Yami as he fell asleep.

"That is the nicest thing you have ever said to me." Joked Serenity as she left Yami to sleep in peace.

Two days later Yami walked with Serenity towards a white tent on the far side of the encampment. The campsite was almost deserted now, with most of the soldiers having returned to Yami's palace. Only a few guards and the sickest soldiers had remained, due to return home that afternoon. Yami had remained at Dark Rock Castle, although he had renamed it 'White Stone Castle' as his leading carpenters had rebuilt the old, dilapidated ruin into a beautiful monument to the bloody war. Yami had also remained because Serenity had told him that Lara was now accepting visitors, and Yami wanted to be the first to see her again. Now he walked across the hard, sun baked ground. The only sign that he had fought in the war was that his right arm remained in a sling.

Serenity stopped at the tents entrance and poked her head inside. She then held open the flap for Yami and said, "You have ten minutes. After that I have to change her bandages in preparation for the journey home."

Yami nodded as he entered the cool, peaceful tent. At the far end lay a figure on a white bed. Yami approached cautiously and saw that she was awake. Her head was wrapped in a large bandage and here and there on her body were long strips of sticking plaster that covered the cuts, cuts made by Marik when he cloned her. Fading bruises over her body were now turning a yellowish green colour, but the bags under her eyes stood out in stark contrast to her pale face. She looked a state, but being polite Yami didn't say this. She looked up and smiled when she saw him.

"Good morning." She said weakly, managing to sound cheerful.

"Afternoon." Corrected Yami as he kissed her forehead lightly and settled himself on a chair.

"You are hurt." She said, looking at the sling on his arm and frowning with concern.

"It is nothing." Said Yami. "Nothing, compared to what you went through. One of Marik's guards who was under the spell of enchantment explained what happened. You have been through a lot."

"Judging by what Serenity told me about the actions of my clone, so have you." She said.

"Yes, well it isn't everyday that you girlfriend tries to kill you." Laughed Yami.

"Is that what I am?" Asked Lara.

Yami leaned over and took her small, bruised hand in his good one. "If you weren't I wouldn't have rescued you." He said quietly.

"Yes you would." She argued. "You would have saved anyone, even Mai!"

"Alright, you've got me there." Smiled Yami. "But you are spoiling the moment." He complained. "I thought that that would be a really romantic way of asking you to be my girlfriend!"

"I'm sorry." Said Lara, "I just."

"Shush!" Said Yami, placing his finger over her lips to make her be quiet. "You are doing it again." Lara smiled at his words. He always knew how to make her happy again. "As I was saying." He continued. "It isn't everyday that your girlfriend tries to kill you. But then again I like a woman who can surprise me. A dangerous nature. Some one to keep me on my toes. I think that I will have to look out for you in future."

"In what way do you mean?" Asked Lara. "Someone to look after, or someone to be wary of?"

"Both." Replied Yami. "I think that you will have to get used to the fact that I am the protective and possessive type. I have to have you all to myself!"

"I think I can manage that!" Said Lara. "Except next time another man tries to get my attention, don't skewer them on a sword before asking questions, it might be a friend!"

Yami laughed as he leaned forwards to kiss her. "Next time? If I have my way there won't be a next time."

"I can live with that." Replied Lara.

"I hope so. Because I couldn't live without you!" Said Yami.

"Ahem!" Coughed Serenity from the tent entrance.

"She is lucky she isn't a man, or she might find herself the wrong end of my sword!" Joked Yami as he stood up. Lara laughed at his joke as Serenity came over.

"Right then. The carriages are waiting for their passengers. Are you ready to go home?" Asked Serenity to Lara.

"Yes I am." Said Lara, as Yami picked her up gently and carried her out to the waiting carriage that would take them back to the palace. Yami laid her tenderly onto the small bed inside the carriage and then sat next to her as the driver let the horse move off. When they pulled up outside Yami carried Lara up the steps to take her to the hospital wing, where she would stay for a few days for observation.

"Now don't get any ideas!" Warned Lara as Yami carried her through the entrance. "You may be carrying me over the threshold but that doesn't mean anything."

"Of course not." Agreed Yami. "Although maybe one day we will do this again, only then I would have to call you Mrs. Pharaoh!" Lara laughed and hit Yami lightly on the cheek as a way of punishment for his cheekiness as they ascended the flight of stairs laughing.

AN - Ohhhhh, such a sweet ending. Does anyone want an epilogue or should I leave it there? I can't decide!