A/N: When I first went to update, it kept coming up with errors, so I gave up and actually forgot to update in the end XD so sorry for the delay but hey, I usually update quickly on AO3! (I'm under the same name, btw, but I also write under my tumblr username 'natasi') Anyway short chapter, another update soon once I finish the copdoc update over on AO3

Ciara opened her eyes. The red flickered, blurred before she her eyes focused on the flame. She could see the silver lid over the jar, trapping the fire inside. She knew there were holes in the top, allowing oxygen to feed to light. The magic.

"Hey." Ciara blinked at the voice, rolling her head to look up. The woman's features shifted, strange before she saw the familiar smile.

"Bo?" her throat crackled at the name. Smiling, she reached up to touch her face. Pain shuddered through her arm, stunning her before she dropped it helpless against her body. Ciara's eyes squeezed shut, breaths shortening as she willed for the painful throbs to disappear.

"Ciara?"

"Okay," she nodded, opening her eyes again. Bo looked down at her, brow furrowed over glistening eyes. "Hello."

"You were attacked, remember?"

Ciara looked away, taking a breath as the images washed over her. The arrow, the archer, and Bo. Bo who couldn't heal. Bo who's magic laid with manipulation and destruction. "You...burnt...me." Her tongue fumbled over the sentence, hissing in pain.

"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do." Bo reached for the water skin, pressing it to Ciara's lips, "here, you need to drink." It took a moment for Ciara to realize that her head was resting in the elf's lap. Bo seemed to have cradled her there for however long she'd been out for. "How long?" she asked, coughing as the water was placed down beside her.

"A few days."

"The...drag…n"

"I know. I couldn't leave you."

"Have to." Her throat was raw, eyes bleary. Gods, she just wanted to sleep.

"I can't leave you here, you'll die."

Ciara smiled, touched by the words. "More will if-"

"Well I don't care," Bo snapped back childishly, sticking out her bottom lip.

Ciara looked her, wanting to chuckle as saw the stubborn expression. Bo was nothing if petulant in these moments. Yes you do, she thought fondly. You care more than anyone else about what happens to us all. "Bo," was all Ciara managed, but the name carried weight.

"I don't want to leave you," she said softly. "I won't. Please."

Ciara reached with her good hand, to Bo's. Lifting it, she carefully placed it on her damaged shoulder. "Think of the earth," she told her, voice crackling. "Of...skin. Grow." She shut her eyes, sending a shock through Bo's hand to her skin. Her jaw clenched at the shock before she relaxed into the spell woven between them. It wasn't difficult, a simple spell, but it bound the wound.

Easily, she breathed out, smiling. "Did you…?" Bo asked.

"Iron," Ciara murmured. "It will…" she cough, clearing her throat before smiling, "take time."

"I know. I...I tried to find something, but there's no honey, Ciara. There's no honey and I couldn't find any bees or flowers or… anything. I'm sorry. Gods, I'm so sorry, Ciara."

Ciara chuckled then, turning her head away as she shut her eyes. "S all good. Will..." she laughed, regretting it as she slapped her hand lazily over Bo skin. "Will just...heal...slow." Bo pulled her closer, careful to not disturb the wound. "You. Have to…"

"I will, but not until you're well."

"No," she murmured. "They'll...burn."

"I know, I know. But…" she let out a sigh. She needed to know Ciara was okay. She'd spent days holding her, looking after her. The woman pulled away now, still in pain, but already Bo could see an improvement.

Handing her the water, she moved beside her, dragging fingers through Ciara's hair fondly. "Please don't make me go."

Ciara looked at her, taking the water with shaking hands. Carefully, Bo helped her. After she had drank, she pressed her head against the elf's legs. Taking a breath. Time was short. She might want Bo to stay, but there were more important things. Lives, kingdoms, war. They all depended on this. "There's a dragon, Bo."

"You need to heal."

"I will. I can do it."

"I need to make sure you're-"

"Give me the dust. You can go off, return to camp and I'll stay here. When I heal, I…" she breathed out, touching the wound softly. She was out of magic, Bo wasn't. Bo would never be out of magic. Where she spindled the magic through her, Bo created it naturally, like a gland. There was of course, a down time. But not like her. "I will return. I promise."

"You're a terrible liar," Bo whispered. "You'll go off to find the dragon, I know it. I can't let you. I'll carry you out of here if I have to."

"Bo."

"No."

"Bo."

"No."

She paused, looking up at her. This time, she just lightly touched the woman's hand. Smiling. "Bo…" That did it.

The woman shook her head, jaw clenching. Ciara watched her blink, the eyelashes become wet with sparkling drops before she looked away. She could feel her own throat swelling up in reaction to Bo's despair. "Fine," she spat, shaking her head. "But tomorrow. Please, just...let me go tomorrow."

"Swear it."

"I-"

"Swear it," she urged. Coughing viciously, Ciara curled up around herself. The iron was still rotting her insides. Before Bo could comfort her, Ciara glared up at her, demanding an answer. She didn't want to be rude, to hurt her, but this was more important that the both of them.

"I...I swear it." Bo nodded, her throat catching. Ciara nodded, lying her self down on the ground. "Ciara…?"

"Sleep," she said. Then, as Bo shuffled awkwardly, she turned her head and smiled at her. "You too."

Bo nodded, biting her lip before she moved to lie down beside her. Her hand slid over the woman's waist, forehead pressed against the side of her Ciara's shoulder. She tried not to cling, to pull her too close, but if she did, Ciara didn't say so. The touch was warm, comforting. Elves, Ciara noted, always seem to runner warmer than their fae brethren.

Bo's breath brushed against her bare arm, shaking as she admitted, "I'm scared." The words nearly teared Ciara apart.

Settling her hand over Bo's, she shut her eyes and focused her emotions. Bo was the strongest person she knew, if she was afraid... Tightening her hand briefly before her weakened muscles relaxed, she forced her own voice to be steady. "It'll be okay," she promised. Bo laughed, hearing the lie.

"No it won't."

"No it won't," she agreed. "We're at war. We swore an oath."

"I didn't!" Bo sat up, hovering over her, "I'm here as a favor. I don't have a kingdom, Ciara. I don't belong here. I should just leave and take you-"

"Kenzi."

Bo stopped, settling. The word tasted horrible in her mouth as she remembered her best friend. Kenzi. Kenzi who was sitting back in a castle, pouring over books and probably frustrated more than anyone else because she wasn't allowed to fight. Kenzi who would find a way, someway, somehow, because that's who she was, who she always would be. And if she had to threaten some mage to teach her, she would.

Kenzi. The reason she was here in the first place.

"If you can't fight for the kingdoms, Bo. Fight for Kenzi."

Yeah. That's what she'd been trying to do. It didn't seem fair to choose between Ciara and Kenzi, and the fairy knew it. She knew who Bo would choose. Everyone did.

Bo left in the morning. There was no kiss this time, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She grabbed her supplies, left the dust beside Ciara and left. Outside it was cold. Dew was melting over the grass as her breath came out frosted and her skin tingled from the barrier.

She had a long walk ahead. She really should learn that teleportation spell. It wasn't even that difficult, but teleporting had always been one of those 'get around to it' spells.

Lifting her hand, she lit a ball of elf light. The silver sphere, made up of magic, flew into the air and hurdled into the direction of the camp. Within a matter of minutes it would break up in front of Hale and re-tell the message. She couldn't go and tell them dragon, any spy could hear it. She had to send a coded message.

Plus, she didn't trust the queen. There was something about Evony that made the hair on the back of Bo's neck rise and she was sure it wasn't due to Evony's methods.

Light flashed moments before the ground shook. Then, a loud rumble could be heard. Bo looked to where the explosion had happened and grimaced. Something was happening over behind the forest. It was far away, but close enough that Bo felt the aftershock.

Magical explosion. She needed Lauren, Lauren knew all about those things. And Ciara. Maybe she should go back to Ciara.

Bo turned, preparing to return when a witch light fell in front of her face. Grabbing it, she felt it explode in her hands as the magic unwound up her arms. "Return now. Leave Ciara."Hale's warlock-messenger spoke. Bo cast a look back to their hovel, where the flowers stood marking the area and then turned away.

Something was happening. Something big.