A dull ache began in his temples again, and Sameth sighed. They happened nearly daily by now, and so far no cause had been found, nor any cure in sight. He reached up to massage his head underneath the dark curls and closed his eyes. The headaches weren't the worst of it, either. What accompanied it was prolonged blackouts; hours in which Sam could not remember any of the time passed. It frightened him, and he found himself withdrawing more and more into himself as the weeks passed.

It had started after the Destroyer was rebound those two months ago; he was back at the castle with his family and Nicholas, and times were peaceful. The Old Kingdom was lulled into a deep rest, in which no Dead stirred, nor any necromancer dare show his face. The kingdom rejoiced, and flourished. Sabriel spent time apprenticing Lirael, while Touchstone spent most of his days showing Ellimere the ways of the kingdom. Sam had no such important task.

The wind ruffled his curls lightly, and the cool breeze was welcome on his throbbing head. He thought distantly that he should get to his room in case he fainted, but he didn't act on such a thought. Not on a clear day like this. Not when the fresh air felt so good on the skin that had become pale from the lack of sunlight. He opened his eyes to look about on the square below, and leaned his elbows on the balcony banister.

Had he been paying closer attention, he probably would have heard a visitor step onto the balcony with him. As such, he was lost in his musings when a tall blonde man walked quietly up to him.

"Sam," the man said in greeting, and Sam was pulled quickly out of his reverie.

"Nicholas," Sam replied, forcing a smile onto his face. Yes, his headaches troubled Sam, but Nick worried too much as it was. The day was beautiful, and he didn't want to ruin it with another complaint of pain. It was most likely just a backlash of the Great Shiner's binding, he told himself.

Lost in thought once more, Sam almost missed what Nick had been saying.

"…alright? I've been looking for you all day. You haven't been around much lately, and I was just..." Nick trailed off, eyes looking everywhere but at Sam himself. Well, Sam thought, this will be easy.

"I'm fine, Nick," Sam lied. The ache was getting worse, and Sam could see the edges of his vision beginning to get fuzzy. Not now, he thought. Not when-

Whatever he thought next was lost in oblivion, as he collapsed forward in faint, just barely caught by the arms of his shocked companion.

---

Sam was awake, and yet his eyes stayed firmly shut. He knew the feeling well, and recognized it as the waking from another blackout. He sighed irritably, and forced his eyes open despite their silent protest against the action. Sitting up slowly, he was met with a firm hand on his shoulder pushing him back down against his pillows. When his vision cleared he saw it was Nicholas, and he let out a breath of relief he didn't realize he'd been holding. The young prince didn't think he could have dealt with Sabriel's worried frown, or Touchstone's furrowed brow. Not now, at the least. Nick's hesitant smile was a sight for sore eyes.

"Time's it?" asked Sam sleepily.

"Just after sunset," Nick replied, "You've been out a few hours."

Sam scowled. Awful headaches. How long could one man take the constant pain, the periods of lost time, the isolation from the world? He closed his eyes, weary of the world and his situation, and spoke to Nick softly, "Thank you for staying with me."

Even with his eyes closed, Sam could see the blush creeping up Nick's neck and settling about his cheeks and ears. It was endearing, and Sam loved being the one to cause the desired effect. He had all but memorized the way it tinted his fair skin, and remembered with a scowl that his own skin was now fairer; the result of weeks spent alone in his dark room. Now Nick had become the tan, handsome one, in a twisted parody of their younger days at Somersby.

"It was nothing," Nick replied in the same tone. "I couldn't just… you fell and I caught you. I brought you up here, but I haven't told anyone. Yet. Would you like me to go tell someone?"

Sam opened his eyes and replied firmly, "No. Don't, please. Just… stay with me? For now? I will tell someone, I will, but now I just want to… sit. Alright?" He looked pleadingly up at the blonde, already knowing the answer he was going to receive.

"Alright," Nick conceded, and Sam gave him the best smile he could muster. The silence stretched, however, and Sam reconsidered his plan for letting the two have time alone.

"Sam, I-" Nick started in a stretched voice, but Sam held up a hand. His mood darkened quickly, and soon the tension between them was almost tangible. Nick's face showed confusion at the interruption, but Sam knew he wouldn't be able to talk about it just yet.

"No, Nick. Just… don't. Maybe I was wrong about this. I think you should go." Sam turned on his side and faced the wall with closed eyes, opening them again only when he heard the loud click of the closing door echo ominously about his room.