Apologies for the absence. Life got in the way for a few months and I had to focus my attention on other things.

This idea has been sitting in my head for a while. I'm glad I could finally write it out and post it for you guys.

I hope you enjoy it!

PRACTICE

ELIZABETH

"What happened? Where is she?" Elizabeth called to anyone who was listening as she rushed into the Healing Room. Panic welled inside her as she caught sight of her daughter being wheeled through a set of doors. Fear gripped her heart as she noticed how still she was.

Elizabeth took a step forward, but spotted her husband entering the same through, following behind their daughter.

"Roy!" she called over the din and commotion in the room. Healers rushed around her as they prepared to care for her daughter and Havoc, who was wheeled through the doors on a bed in a similar state.

Roy's eyes met her instantly, as she watched as they widened in panic, showing a hint of fear.

"What happened?" she asked as she approached. "Why is Riza unconscious?" Elizabeth watched as he swallowed, clearly choosing his next words carefully. "Roy," she begged, grasping his hands tightly. "Please, tell me."

"I… I don't know what happened."

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Elizabeth frowned.

"I don't know," he shrugged helplessly. "She went off on her own and –"

Anger flashed through her. "You were supposed to watch her!"

Roy's gaze hardened after Elizabeth's outburst. "I did watch her," he replied defensively. "I awoke one morning to a powerful surge in magical energy. I noticed both she and Havoc were gone from our camp and ran to find her. They were both lying unconscious, but unharmed a few hundred feet away from the camp."

"What –"

"Your Highness," a Healer interrupted them. "I apologise for the interruption. We have taken your daughter and Lord Havoc to perform a few tests. From our primary observations it appears they are completely unharmed. It is as if they are simply asleep. We will keep a close eye on them and report any news back to you."

"Thank you," Roy replied. The Healer nodded and left them in the middle of the busy room.

"You said there was a surge in magical energy," Elizabeth began as she walked towards the room Riza occupied. She knew the rules. She knew that she should remain in the waiting room while the Healers worked with their daughter, but she doubted anyone would dare stop her. "Was it Riza?"

"I think so," Roy replied, falling into step beside her. "Havoc isn't that skilled in magic to create such a burst of energy. She has come a long way in her training, but she has never created a wave so strong before."

Elizabeth nodded, processing this information. The pair slowed as they reached their daughter's room. Through the small window in the door she could make out activity as the Healers moved around the room, but she made no move to go inside. That wouldn't help her daughter right now. Instead, she leaned heavily against the wall opposite. Elizabeth ran her hands over her face. She tried to wipe away her worry and fear. Once news of Riza's state had reached her, her first thought had been that Father had finally returned to seek revenge. She had almost had a panic attack in front of the messenger.

Roy had taken Riza out into the forest for some training. Both Fuery and Havoc had accompanied them, acting as bodyguards for both the King and his daughter.

Riza had shown a certain affinity for water magic. The fountains within the castle were becoming too small for her to practice spells which would do damage and also help her defend herself. Roy had suggested taking her out into the forests to the lakes so she could truly work with the water. Elizabeth hadn't liked the idea at first, but Riza had been so excited by the idea, it wouldn't be fair for her to hold Riza back due to her own fear. She knew Roy could protect her himself, but she ordered Fuery and Havoc to go with them to ease her own mind.

Now, two members of the party had returned unconscious, with the other two not knowing why or how it happened.

"Why weren't you with her?" Elizabeth muttered quietly. As the words left her mouth, she realised she had said them out loud. Before she could apologise, Roy interjected.

"I was asleep!" he snapped. "She went off on her own. You know what she is like."

"Sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out that way," she replied miserably, closing her eyes. If I wish hard enough, this can all be a dream.

She heard Roy sigh next to her as he too leaned against the wall. She shuffled closer to him, needing his comfort more than ever. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, kissing the top of her head as she leaned it against his shoulder.

"The Healers say she will be all right. She had no injuries, I checked myself. She is simply… Asleep."

"Is Havoc the same?"

Roy nodded. "Yes."

"Your Highness," Maes greeted apologetically as he approached them.

"Maes, you know not to call us that," Elizabeth replied wearily.

"I'm sorry, but I am coming on an official capacity." Both Roy and Elizabeth straightened, standing to listen to their advisor. "The Lords and Ladies are demanding an audience about the land issues that were discussed yesterday. I tried to hold them off, but they are refusing to be put off any longer."

Elizabeth sighed heavily, straightening her clothes. She really did not have the energy for this right now. The Lords and Ladies can shove their petty issues up their –

"I'll go," Roy told her. "You stay here with Riza. Just… Tell me when she wakes up?"

Elizabeth nodded, kissing him quickly as a thank you before he left.

"Sorry to drag you away," Maes apologised again as the pair retreated from view.

"Don't worry about it Maes, it is not your fault. I just wish I could go out there and tell them where they can shoe their land issues…"

Elizabeth felt a laugh bubble in her chest as Roy's reply echoed her earlier thoughts. But it never reached the surface.

She didn't want him to leave. She needed him for support. If the Healers came out that door and told her something terrible she would need him. She would just have to hope and pray to the Gods for good news.

When the Healers had finally left Riza's room they hadn't offered her any new information. She was completely injury free and was simply unconscious. She was sleeping, likely the result of a spell that had been cast. Elizabeth just hoped the person casting the spell had no malicious intent. Havoc was in the same boat. Totally fine, he was just sleeping. They would have to wait until they both awoke to find out what had happened.

She crept into her daughter's room and felt tears well in her eyes at the sight of her daughter in an infirmary bed. She had hoped this would never be the case. She had sworn she would protect her at all costs so this would never happen.

But no, she had elected to remain at the castle to attempt to resolve a land dispute between the Lords and Ladies of the kingdom.

If only she had been there…

Elizabeth shook the thought from her head. She pulled a chair quietly over to Riza's bedside, grasping her hand.

No, Roy was more than capable of protecting Riza. So were Fuery and Havoc. She wouldn't have let them leave if she hadn't thought so. Roy was her Father and Elizabeth knew if there had been a serious incident, he would have fought to protect her.

"Mother?" Riza asked sleepily. Elizabeth had been so lost in thought she didn't notice her daughter stir. Relief surged through her at seeing her awake. A smile graced her lips as she squeezed Riza's hand.

"Oh, thank goodness your awake." She stood from her chair, enveloping Riza in a hug.

"Mother, what –?" Elizabeth felt Riza freeze in her arms.

"Riza?" she asked worriedly, pulling away to examine her face. "What is it? What's wrong?"

She sat up in her bed, wringing her hands together. "Where's Dad?"

"He had to leave to attend to proceedings in the Main Hall. Why?" Riza bit her lip, a sign she was worried.

"Okay, please don't be mad at him," she gushed suddenly. "None of this was his fault. I went off on my own. We had been training hard and Dad looked exhausted. I wanted to surprise him with breakfast so I left the camp early one morning to find some food. I had searched for ages but turned up nothing. Every time I made a move they all seemed to run –"

"Riza." Elizabeth tried to stop her daughter babbling. She could see Riza getting more and more worked up as she continued to speak.

"So I thought I would try out a new spell Fuery had taught me. It was a sleeping spell. I concentrated but couldn't get it to work like I had before. In fact, I couldn't cast any spell for a short time."

"Riza."

"I got more and more frustrated and finally let all the frustration out in a final attempt to cast the sleeping spell. It finally worked, and I was happy. I turned to look for any game and saw Havoc, then felt extremely tired. That's the last think I remember. Wait!" she cried suddenly, her eyes finally meeting her mother's. "Where is Havoc? Is he okay?"

"Riza," Elizabeth spoke firmly, resting her hands on her shoulders in an effort to grab her attention. Finally, Riza stopped talking and looked at her mother.

"Havoc is all right. No injuries, just asleep. I am not mad at your Father. I was to begin with, but that was due to my worry. I know he would never intentionally let you get hurt."

Riza's body sagged under Elizabeth's hands and she flopped back down on to the bed.

"Thank goodness they are both okay."

"Riza, you know you shouldn't practice new spells without supervision." Elizabeth loathed to lecture her daughter, so soften her tone. That wouldn't help at a time like this.

"I know, I just… I wanted to do something nice for him. He worried about me a lot. I know you both do." She matched Elizabeth's gaze, daring her to deny her claim. "I can see it when you watch me train. I know why Dad pushes m so hard in training. You are both afraid of something that is coming, aren't you?"

Elizabeth was initially too shocked to reply. She hadn't realised how perceptive her daughter had become. Elizabeth didn't know why. Riza was sixteen now and was able to pick up on things easily.

They had both agreed not to tell Riza about everything that had happened with Father. They would wait until she was old enough, not wanting to scare her while she was young. Elizabeth feared now was the time to tell her. Feared it, because it was a dark time in both their lives, but the threat still remained. They had yet to bring Father to justice. The team had hoped Riza would be left out of this fight, it wasn't hers after all, but the older she got, they all knew she would demand to fight alongside them. Just like Elicia did now, much to her Father's dismay.

"Yes, we do fear something." Elizabeth replied after some time. Riza's eyebrows shot up in surprise, not expecting the answer. "But now is not the time for that story."

"But –" Riza began to protest.

"We will tell you, I promise. But your Father and I will do it together."

Riza nodded, picking up on the seriousness of her Mother's tone. She knew not to push the subject any further.

"I will go and send for your Father. He was worried sick when he brought you in."

"Sorry," Riza replied sheepishly. "It was an accident."

"I know, dear. Just hang tight. I will be back soon." Riza nodded and lay back in her bed.

Elizabeth closed the door, closing her eyes to collect her thoughts. She couldn't believe her daughter was old enough that they would need to discuss everything that had happened with Father. She didn't want to revisit it. She wanted the whole thing forgotten. For Roy's sake, more than anything. He was strong now, and had been for many years, but he didn't need reminded of that time. However, for long as Father was out there hiding, it would continue to return to haunt them both.

She released her grip on the door handle and made her way to the Main Hall.