As morning came over all of Translyvania, and people in Gabor manor began to wake up, no one had slept well. Everyone's thoughts immediately went to Verishka. Mental bets had taken place over whether she would last the night.
In the actual chambers of Verishka, Vladislaus snapped his head up from where it was leaning back in the chair. Immediately he looked over to Verishka. She was breathing lightly and looked peaceful. Her eyes opened; slightly more aware than they had been last night.
"Darling, thank God you've awakened," Vladislaus said, taking her hand. Turning her head to face him, she spoke,
"I can't believe you stayed there all night."
"Yes, well I could not very well leave you alone. Now, you don't seem dead, nor do you look it," he said.
"No, but I feel it," she moaned.
"Still, you were so sure you would die last night, and here you are, how do you feel?" he asked.
"I know where you're going with this, and I beg you, do not get your hopes up," she said.
"You know that reminds me, Prince Draco sends his best," Vladislaus said.
"I suppose that's rather nice of him considering that he must be very busy preparing to be king," Verishka said.
"Please tell me that by changing the subject, you're feeling better," he said.
"I'd be lying if I said I was, Vladislaus. Just because it was not my time last night, does not mean that death is not coming for me," she said.
"All right, it would seem I need to fetch a doctor to prove to you that your condition has improved," he said.
After Verishka slept most of the morning, as Vladislaus had said, a doctor was called upon. While waiting for him to arrive, Bela Gabor came in to check on his daughter and seemed to be surprised to see her alive.
"My darling, I thought you were lost to me forever," he said.
"Father, it's good to see you," Verishka said, weakly.
"Daughter, finally some hope of your recovery,"
"I hope you are right,"
"I'm going to alert the entire house," Bela said.
"Father, don't give them false hope," she began to say, but he had already left the room.
"You see my love, now if you were to die, you would disappoint all of the people praying for your life," Vladislaus said.
"Yes that would be disappointing," Verishka said, clapping her hands over her face. The doctor suddenly entered.
"Excuse me, am I interrupting you two?" he asked.
"No doctor, please come in," Vladislaus said.
"Now what am I here for?" the doctor asked.
"You've examined this woman before?" he asked.
"Yes," the doctor replied.
"And you've said that there was little chance of survival?" he asked.
"Yes," the doctor said again.
"Then, examine her again and tell me if she is going to live," he half command, half pleaded.
The man slowly approached Verishka where she lay. He looked in her eyes, ears, mouth, tested her reflexes, and spoke,
"If she survives this day, she should make a full recovery."
"Thank you doctor," Vladislaus said.
"There is one thing, her chances of making it through the day are slim unless... I bleed her," he said.
"Yes, whatever it takes," Vladislaus said.
The man then took out a bowl from his bag, and a knife. Carefully leaning over her, he made a long cut on her arm, and leaned it towards the bowl. Verishka let out a soft cry as she felt her hot blood running down her arm. After a few more moments the cut burned her as the doctor poured water on it before bandaging it.
"You have much to thank God for tonight," he began to say on his way out, "she should recover, no scaring or brain damage from fever, but you get some food and drink into her if you want to see her walk again."
"What about children, doctor?" Vladislaus asked.
"What about them?" the doctor asked.
"Can she still have them?"
"Oh yes, of course, she can still have children," the doctor said, leaving the room, sensing they needed a moment alone.
"My darling how could this be any better?" Vladislaus asked, sitting on her bedside and pulling her close.
"Well, I actually think this would have been better if I hadn't gotten sick at all," Verishka said, being crushed by Vladislaus' tight embrace.
"Yes, you're right, I'm sorry, it's just that, I'm so happy. Darling, you're going to be all right," he said, starting to lightly cry tears of joy.
"How did you know?" she asked.
"How did I know what?" he asked.
"Last night, you knew I was going to live. How?" she asked.
"I knew because, we were meant to be together. It wasn't meant to end there, we... have more time to be together," he said, searching for the right words.
Sitting very slowly upright, Verishka leaned against his shoulder and said, "Well, I'm glad we're going to be together for awhile."