Perseus opened his eyes and saw a tent flap above him. The scent of incense filled his nose, and his arm burned as if consumed by fire. He cried out and closed his eyes again in pain. He heard someone enter the tent, and opened his eyes to see Io. She kneeled at his side and poured water over the wound on his arm. Perseus hissed as the cool liquid stung his skin. Io moved to his other side, and disappeared from his sight, he turned to see her and caught his breath. Thea lay beside him, her armor gone and replaced by blood soaked bandages. She was laying on her stomach, blonde hair pushed off her back. The only clothing she had remaining was her skirt, her bandages spread across her back, the worst grouped right over her heart. Io was pulling her up, making her face away from Perseus as she replaced the bandages. Thea cried out as Io pulled at her wound. Perseus could see the venom spreading through her body, the black poison filling her veins. Thea lay back down whimpering. Io brushed her hair back gently and left the tent.
Perseus reached for Thea with his good arm, his hand finding her limp arm at her side.
"Why didn't you leave me?" Thea asked, her voice strained. Perseus laced their fingers together gently, the feeling of someone beside him strangely comforting when in pain.
"You saved me. I couldn't just leave you there." Perseus asked gripping her hand tightly as the pain in his arm worsened. Thea's eyes flashed in the dim light of the tent.
"I was supposed to die out there. Die protecting you. It was my destiny." She said weakly, moaning as the poison spread through her body.
"Your prophecy also said our fates are intertwined. I couldn't leave you after you saved my life Thea." Perseus said. Thea looked into his eyes. She opened her mouth, but ended up groaning and grasping Perseus's hand in a vice like grip. The tent flap opened, revealing one of the Dijnn Perseus had seen earlier. His skin looked like the bark of a petrified tree, his eyes glowed with a blue fire. He walked past Perseus and knelt at Thea's side. His eyes glowed brighter as he placed his hand over Thea's wound. The air in the tent sizzled with energy, and Thea's grip tightened on Perseus's hand. She screamed into the pillow she was laying on. Perseus tried to sit up and push the Dijnn away, but he was to weak.
"Stop! Leave her alone!" Perseus yelled. Suddenly, the energy in the room was gone, and Thea was left gasping on the floor. She let go of Perseus's hand and sat up, reaching for her back. She untied the bandages and exposed her back to Perseus.
"Is it healed?" she asked, pressing the bloody cloth to her chest. Thea's back was unmarked, clean of blood and any sign of injury. Perseus was about to answer when his arm flared up in pain again. He cried out and fell back on the floor. The Dijnn went to him, and the feeling of energy filled the tent once more. Thea moved to Perseus's side, holding her bandages to her breasts, and took his hand. Perseus felt heat flow from the Dijnn through his body, and then it was replaced by a cold sensation. As the last of the poison left his body, Perseus cried out again. As the Dijnn moved away, Draco rushed into the tent, sword drawn. He took one look at Perseus's crumpled form and advanced on the Dijnn.
"Draco wait!" Thea cried moving in front of the Dijnn. Io entered the tent, looking alarmed and grabbed onto Draco's arm.
"He saved them." Io said trying to pull the sword down. Thea showed him her back, and Perseus raised his arm weakly.
"Oh. I see. Thank you." Draco said embarrassed, putting away his sword. Thea sighed heavily and dropped to the floor. Io went to her and tied up her bandages so that her chest was covered. She helped Thea to the spot she was laying earlier.
"You will be weak until the magic wears off." the Dijnn said. He left the tent quickly. Draco followed after him apologizing.
"I will keep watch outside." Io said after Thea was decent, and she left.
"Warrior?" Thea whispered, turning towards him.
"Yeah." Perseus answered looking at her. She had a hesitant look on her face, so he moved.
"I don't know what will happen now. I saved you, but I didn't die. I don't know if this will affect Greece's fate." she whispered, worry etched in her face. Perseus gazed at her. He was amazed by how much this woman was willing to sacrifice for people she didn't even know, for people who didn't even care. His thoughts went to Argos, and the king and queen. How they had acted was disgusting and wrong, calling themselves gods, not caring about their people. They didn't deserve to be saved by Thea. He took Thea's hand again. They lay on the ground, lost in their own thoughts . Thea's heart was pounding in her chest. She remembered the feeling of Perseus's arms around her. She could feel herself losing an internal battle. She was supposed to keep this man alive, not fall in love with him. He was the son of a god, off-limits, but just holding his hand sent shivers down her spine. She closed her eyes and rolled away from him, onto her now healed back.
"Did I do something?" Perseus asked, confused by her action.
"I don't know what to do anymore." Thea said, not facing him. Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion hit her, making her mind hazy.
"Any time you start to feel any kind of emotion, you turn away and hide." Perseus said moving closer, the realization dawning upon him.
"You don't know what I feel." Thea said trying to make her voice sound menacing , but she just sounded weak. Perseus tried not to smile.
"You're right, I don't know what you feel, because you never let me get close to you. But I know how I feel. I care about you Thea. You're good and beautiful and the bravest person I've ever met. You have a strong heart, and you're willing to give up everything for nothing in return."
"Warrior…" Thea began. Perseus was leaning over her now, gazing into her eyes. The heat and weight of his body over hers had her wide awake. The feeling of his bare skin was like an electric shock the pulsed through her body. Suddenly, the tent flap opened, and Io walked in with a pitcher of water. She had been watching her footing, so she didn't see the two quickly scoot away from each other.
"It's almost daybreak, and the soldiers are saying they want to leave soon. There is not much time left Perseus." Io said, wiping his brow with the cool cloth. Thea turned onto her side and closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted.
"The captain has convinced the Dijnn to come with us, so that we can travel on the tame Scorpiox's. They will cover more ground in less time." Io chattered on as she helped Perseus get ready.
"The two of you can rest in the caravan. You will need your strength if you are to see the Fates." With that, she left the tent. Thea rolled onto her back.
"I think she likes you." she mumbled sitting up. She stood up quickly, but regretted it. Her vision swam, and her body went numb. As she started to fall, Perseus grabbed her and held her up gently.
"Easy, take it slow. You're still weak." he said softly, leaning her body against his.
"Lets get you cleaned up." he said sitting her back down. Thea was to lightheaded to protest. Perseus retrieved the water and cloth that Io had left. He soaked the cloth and pressed it to Thea's face lightly. The cool water gradually brought her back from the haze before her eyes. Draco came into the tent, dressed in his uniform.
"We are ready to leave Perseus." he said. Perseus looked up at him and nodded. He put the water bowl on the ground at and helped Thea to her feet.
"Are you well Thea?" Draco asked looking her over.
"Just peachy." Thea said trying not to grimace in pain. She moved stiffly, her skin was cold and pale. Thea's blonde hair clung to her skin, the bloody bandages still her only coverage.
"I'm fine. I can walk by myself." Thea said stubbornly, trying to push away from Perseus, but her knees collapsed, and he had to grab her quickly so that she didn't fall. He pulled her into his arms, and rested her head against his shoulder.
"We'll be fine after we get some rest." Perseus said to the Captain. The older man nodded and opened the tent flap for them.