Chapter 2: To sacrifice something or everything

pt 3

"Hal?" I asked as he escorted me back to my chambers, being uncharacteristically silent as he kept his hands clasped together to hide the underside of his hands. The more I watched his behavior, the more I believed he'd really injured himself. There wasn't a sign of a burn on my own hands so they had to been absorbed by Hal.

"Here we are," he opens my door but I pause, reaching for his arm. Flinching at my touch, Hal tucks his hands under his crossed arms. "My Lady..."

"Can I please see your hands, Hal?" I wasn't sure if he would let me or not.

Frowning, Hal extends them with the palms up to me. Those hands are both covered in painful red blisters. Those were meant for me…

Sucking in a sharp breath at the sight, tears try to prick at the back of my eyes but I refuse to let them fall. "You're burned—" (Why did I have to state the obvious? Stupid, stupid!) "You shouldn't have retracted the stone's heat onto yourself." I know my words held no merit because Hal would gladly do it again… Chivalry is not dead in this fairy world. Guys in the real world wouldn't think twice about letting someone burn… not that they had magic either.

"I regret nothing," Hal tried to curl his fingers over the burns but I kept them open. Our gazes met; his was one of surprise.

"I will heal it after I get back to my chamber."

"Please Hal, the least I can do is heal them for you in gratitude…"

"It's my duty as your butler to look after your well being, My Queen."

(His duty… oh, why is he being so formal?)

"If it would make you more at ease, you may heal me," Hal gives me a smile that sets my heart pounding.

(Down Amelia girl, squash it! Traitorous heart of mine, stop reacting to him.) Ignoring the feeling in my chest, I usher him into my room where I put good use of the practice I'd had with Albert learning healing magic.

A heavy feeling pulls at me but I ignore it, figuring I must be tired after the big day. I didn't know healing magic was so taxing… By the time I'd nearly healed Hal's burns, my body continued to tire until I felt like I weighed of lead. It was all I could do to keep standing straight.

"Miss Amelia?" Hal sounded far away from me even though he stood right in front of me. His face turned cloudy, dimming to black and coming cloudy again. I've never felt so strange before, it was like something had drained me dry of my very life force.

"Hal, I—" my legs buckled out from under me, sending down to the floor where I hit hard.

Hal had reached for me but he'd been too late. "Amelia!" in his panic he'd forgotten all formalities.

"Something is wrong. I—I can't move!" I tried to keep the hysteria in but it refused to be swallowed down. I went from feeling like lead to completely paralyzed only I could feel everything, especially the way I hit the floor so hard. I can feel Hal as he lifts me from the ground and places me on the bed.

"I've seen no one have a reaction such as this doing healing magic. Something is really wrong, Miss Amelia," Hal's tone sounds desperate. "I should leave right away to get the Physician," he backs away, preparing to leave. "I will be back as soon as pos-"

"No! Hal, please don't leave…" my voice quivers. I want to grab his arm but my body would not obey me. I know I need a doctor but I can't bear to be left alone. Not right now, I'm too terrified. I feel so vulnerable and helpless, and I hate it. (What is happening to my body? It's like it's shutting down. Is this what people feel like before they die?" A tremor makes its way through my body at the thought.

Hal's ears flop down and I can tell I didn't have to beg. His expression is relieved and I know he was worried about leaving me alone.

Sitting down on his knees by my bedside, he takes my hand. Too much of a gentleman to sit on the side of my bed. "I'm going to the Physician if anything worsens." It was more of a statement than a threat.

"Thank you," I whisper, but I know that as soon as I fall asleep he will leave for the Physician.

I'm just happy he stayed.