Raoul stood over Aleia, just watching her breathe. The doctors hadn't been able to figure out what the substance injected into her body was, nor what it was doing to her. They had decided that the reason she hadn't died yet, was likely because she did not get the full dosage of what was in the bottle. Morwenna had gotten away in the confusion following Aleia's collapse. Probably due to her shape-shifting. Raoul clenched his fists just thinking of her. He was angry. Angry that she had tried to kill Aleia, angry that she had left Aleia in this state of being: alive and yet not, completely defenseless and unable to do anything. Aleia would hate it.
Raoul moved his hand from where it rested on top of Aleia's, to smooth back her hair. He sighed. He loved her so much, more than she would ever know. Especially if she remained like this.
"How is she doing?" it was the king. The spell on the king had seemed to break with the fulfillment of Aleia's.
"Still alive. Besides that I can't really say."
The king sighed heavily. "I wish there was something more I could have done for her."
"You did all you could, Sir. And I'm sure you did help her, if we hadn't read the notes she would have been caught unaware. Then she might have gotten the full dosage of whatever that liquid was and then..." he trailed off.
"Yes, and then I would not be able to live with myself."
Raoul said nothing for a moment. "So what are you going to do, Sir?" he said after a time.
"Do?"
"About this," he waved his hand at Aleia. "We have to find Morwenna."
The king sat down in a nearby chair and groaned, placing his head in his hands. "Find Morwenna? She's extremely powerful, Boy. You said yourself it would be impossible."
Raoul looked startled.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pried so much into your conversations, but I was trying to help you."
Raoul was reminded once again that the king was a half-fairy. It was something rather difficult to comprehend. "Sir, aren't you just as powerful as she is?"
King Ardahn sighed. "I have some abilities, yes, but I haven't practiced them like she has."
"Well, you could at least try to do something."
The king agreed, though it was clear he did not like using magic. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate. After a moment he shook his head. "It's no use, she has a shield up."
Raoul nodded. "Well, then we'll have to do it the old fashioned way. Duke Conrad Kevar also disappeared along with Morwenna. His estate is the first place I would search for them. Aleia would do the same," he said glancing at her sleeping form. "Send me to find them."
The king stood up. "You won't go alone. She's my daughter, and I have a duty to save her. I tried not to be attached to her, knowing that this would probably happen, but still, I found myself growing increasingly fond of her. I love her," the king's voice was choked with emotion.
Raoul solemnly nodded.
"Hey, what about me?" a voice came from the door. It was Josh. "Aleia and I practically grew up together. I want a chance to save her, too."
The king nodded. "As my daughter's friend, you are welcome to come, but I do not ask it of you. Morwenna is very, very dangerous. All that she's done, it's just to hurt me. She would not think twice about harming you, though her quarrel is with me."
Josh nodded, wondering what exactly their quarrel was.
Within the hour, they were set to leave with horses and supplies.
"Find a way to cure Aleia, Darling, please!" the queen begged before King Ardahn set off. The queen had sat by Aleia's bedside nearly the entire time since she had fallen unconscious. She looked very tired and disheveled.
"I assure you, Lydia, I will do everything I can. In return I expect you to get some rest while I am away."
"I will try."
The king mounted his horse and the three men set off. They rode for three days and the better of three nights. They reached the duke's estate in late afternoon on a very overcast day. They rode to through the gates and right up to the cast-iron door, loudly knocking on it. A servant answered.
"We want to see the duke," the king said.
"I am sorry, Sir, but he is not here. He never came back after the Princess Aleia's ball."
The men glanced at each other.
"I wouldn't take his word on it," Josh said.
"I assure you, I am not lying!" the man said.
"Of course not," the king said, glancing at Josh. "We will leave now."
The man nodded and closed the door.
"He could have come back, just not to his house," Raoul said.
The king nodded. "I am aware of that. He has a very large amount of land. It would be an excellent hiding spot. We will search it."
They remounted their horses and started to ride through the many fields. It started to rain.
"How fitting," Josh said cynically. "It's almost cliché, really."
Raoul glanced at him, smiling slightly. Aleia would have laughed. The king just ignored him. After a time, they came into the forest. It was darker there, but it provided some shelter from the rain.
"There," the king stopped his horse and pointed.
Raoul squinted. If he looked hard enough, he could see it. A small, wooden shelter among the trees. Without the king's fairy-eyes, they certainly would have missed it.
"What? I don't see anything," Josh said.
"Just trust me, it's there," Raoul replied.
They dismounted and walked towards it.
"Oh! I see it," Josh said when they were about five feet away.
Raoul smirked.
They stood at the door, just listening.
"You promised you'd make me King!" Duke Kevar, obviously. "I did everything you asked!"
There was a very indistinct reply, then hushed silence.
"Do not hide at the door, Brother," came Morwenna's voice. "I have known you were coming for a long time. While your mind may be shielded, your friend's are not."
The men glanced at each other, opened the door and went inside. Sure enough, both Morwenna and the duke were standing inside. The duke looked very unhappy; Morwenna looked nonchalant.
"I suppose you came to me with the intention of getting a cure for your daughter?"
"Morwenna, please, this is madness! She is your family, your niece! My daughter." the king pleaded with her. "You cannot mean to kill her."
"You killed every chance I ever had for having a daughter! I was simply returning the favor."
"Morwenna, it was a mistake, an accident, and long in the past."
"In the past?" Morwenna raged at him. "And did you think I simply forget something like that? You—you killed him!"
The king hung his head. "I am sorry he died, Morwenna, I assure you it was not my intention."
"No, you were just being that overly-protective brother who had to make my sweetheart prove himself by going to war first! Which he died in! You may as well have killed him yourself!"
Raoul looked around. He was quite sure that the king and Morwenna were getting nowhere. "Madam, please, give us the cure. I—I love her."
Morwenna looked at him, her gaze softening slightly. "You love her," she repeated. She glanced at the king again. "Very well, the sins of her father were not yours. However, I cannot let you off so easily. I challenge you, to a hundred year duel! If you win, I will give you a cure, if not...I shan't make any promises for what will happen then."
"A hundred year duel! You can't be serious! That is no kind thing, Morwenna, all of her friends, all of her family will be dead when it is over!" the king said angrily.
"I can deal with that." For a moment nothing happened.
"I'm—tired," Josh said, slumping to the floor.
Duke Conrad looked at him with horror. "I don't want to sleep for a hundred years!" In a moment, though, he fell onto his face on the ground.
"Morwenna—don't," the king said, though his eyes were beginning to droop.
"I'm afraid I already have, Brother." She drew a long sword out of her pocket, Raoul wondered how in the world it had fit. The king, though he stood it longer than anyone else, was soon asleep on against the wall.
Raoul found himself, against all reason, drawing his sword and agreeing to the duel. He was a bit surprised at himself. It was ridiculous: he was dueling with a powerful fairy, and for a hundred years, no less! As if he could withstand it that long! But for Aleia, he would do anything.
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Well, this is getting rather fantastical! Fairies and all you know, it kind of has to be. But if anyone wants it to be a bit more logical I will subdue the next chapter a little. I'd have to think a bit harder then, but I probably could do it still, so if you want, tell me in your review.
