(Twenty-two months later.)
Amaline walked into the rooms that she and Artur shared in the Palace of Shandalle. Artur looked up. Tears streaked her face.
"What is wrong, my love"
"Mother and father have both died of the Black Fever this morning. I just received a messenger this morning. They died in each other's arms. The servants who found them thought that they had fallen asleep in each other's arms, but then they saw the black blotches on their faces. Artur, they are dead…" Amaline broke down in Artur's arms, crying and screaming. Artur shed silent tears. Genara and Hertlain were two true friends of his and his parents, and they would be sorely missed. But he had to care for Amaline now. Sharing his grief with her would only burden her more. Myrdin came up into the rooms.
He was gaunt now. He eyes were sunk in, and his legs looked so feeble that they would not be able to support the great frame of his body. His voice was weaker now than it was at the wedding. He was fading. He stared at Artur.
"Is it as I fear, my son? Have my old friends finally gone to the Creator?" Amaline looked up at her father-in-law and nodded her head, then wept even more. Myrdin embraced them both.
"Hush, child. We are all shocked by their loss, none more so than me. Hertlain was one of great power; I am surprised that he hung on this long. May the Creator bless your souls, Genara and Hertlain. You are now head of House Tagora, my daughter, as well as the Princess of Shandalle. I will leave you to mourn in peace. I must break the tragedy to Mailinde.
As Myrdin left, and he closed the doors, he heard Amaline cry out her parents' names. He wept himself, a rare occurrence for the King of Shandalle. He knew that the Black Fever was rapidly spreading through the Kingdom. He knew that Shandalle was going to be weakened by this epidemic. He walked down the corridors to the rooms of his and Mailinde's. She was sitting by the window, reading a book.
"Mailinde, I come bearing tragic news"
Mailinde looked up from her book. She stared at Myrdin with her dark green eyes. "What is it"
"Genara and Hertlain. They died of the Black Fever this morn. I found Amaline crying in Artur's arms. Artur was crying as well, but he did not want Amaline to see. He wants to be there for her now"
Mailinde looked up at her husband and stood up. "Myrdin, even as we speak, the Black Fever spreads through our kingdom. It does not matter who it affects. Whether or not they are rich or poor, the lowest kitchen servant to the parents of the Princess of Shandalle. The Creator will take us all into his arms one day. The questions that we need to ask are "when?" "How?" "Why?" and "where?" I feel that the Creator will call me to him before long, and I will be ready for him." Myrdin cradled Mailinde in his arms. "Should we tell Artur that we show symptoms of the Black Fever, my love?" Mailinde shook her head. "Amaline has just lost one set of parents, Myrdin, my husband. We do not want her to know that she is going to lose another set. However, they must be prepared to rule. After we are gone, they will be King and Queen, may the Creator watch over their reign"
"May the Creator watch over them as well. We do not have the strength or the capability to watch and protect them down. It is all in his hands."