Chapter Two

Solaris was resting now. Ignis had removed the remaining shrapnel and the wounds were sewn, cleaned, and dressed with potions cracked over them, but to little effect. By this time, it was only to be expected. Potions had a short window, and that window was obviously passed. They had ruined a fair number of towels and Ignis knew Sol needed blood. She needed it badly, but he wanted to wait until the Marshal came. He just didn't have the tools necessary to extract blood from Noctis and then administer it to Sola. So, they waited. What else could they do?

The marshal was running late. It had been over two and a half hours since Gladio had spoken with him. Gladio was currently trying to get a hold of him now.

"What do we do, Specs?" Noctis asked, looking over at Sola's still form. She was breathing, but it was shallow and uneven. And she had taken up coughing at random times, which were sounding wet again. Ignis was trying not to think of the implications of this new development.

"We wait as long as she can."

"And how long is that exactly?"
Ignis pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm aware that you have feelings for Miss Solaris, your Highness, but I'm not a soothsayer. She needs blood, but more than that, she needs fluids, and we need to manage her hypovolemic shock before it begins to affect her organs."

Noctis looked at Ignis, horrified. "What does she need?"
"She needs the marshal-" Ignis started when there was a knock at the door of their motel room.

"Oh, thank the gods," Prompto said, skipping up from the couch and pulling open the door.

"The night is foul, I apologize," the Marshal said as soon as the door was open.

"Hello to you too, Cor," Noctis said. Cor just gave him a stern look and then entered the room.

"I brought what you asked, Ignis," Cor said. Monica stepped in behind him with her medical field kit and immediately headed to Solaris' side. "What is the status?"

"Not good, Marshal," Ignis admitted. "She's in shock, and she's lost a fair amount of blood. She needs a transfusion."

The Marshal looked at Solaris then back at Ignis. "Do we know her blood type?"

"We do," Ignis said.

"You're not going to like it, sir," Gladio spoke up.

They explained the only matching blood type in the room to Solaris. "It's part of the reason she was accepted as a Crownsguard, sir," Ignis explained.

"I know," Cor said. "I was the one who came up with that very reason when I hit resistance to her instatement from some of the higher ups."

"I'm giving her my blood," Noctis said without hesitation. "It's an order, Cor."

The Marshal nodded. "So long as only the correct amount is extracted, I'll allow it."

"You'll allow it?" Noctis stepped forward.

"In this case, Highness," Cor said. "It's your safety over anyone's. The King must continue his quest. But I see no reason against it."

"Monica," Cor asked. "Would you be willing to get His Highness ready to donate?"

Monica nodded and then began setting up a spot on the bed next to Solaris for Noctis to sit. She began moving through the items in her kit and removing various instruments.

"If you'd allow me to finish with the patient," Ignis bowed at Cor and then went over to assist Monica and prepare Solaris as well.

"Perhaps we should step out, gentlemen," Cor stated to the other two men standing with naught to do. "I'd like a word."

Gladio and Prompto looked at one another then nodded and followed Cor out the door.

Once the hotel room door was shut, Cor turned to the other two, eyeing them warily. "What exactly is His Highness's relationship with Solaris?"

Cor the Immortal was intimidating at the best of times. But when he chose to, he could turn any situation into the feeling that one was facing the death penalty should they answer him in a way he did not like. Prompto swallowed hard and Gladio rubbed his face, already hating this line of questioning.

He waited, his arms folded, staring at the two men, boys really, in his eyes. Barely men. He knew what Noctis' confidence in them meant for them, but he needed to know.

"Uh . . . she and Noct . . .uh, I mean, no-" Prompto was not good under pressure.

"Noctis and Solaris have a complicated relationship," Gladio interrupted him. "They both have feelings for each other, that is obvious, but-"

Cor waited, but the two seemed to clam up at this.

"But-?" Cor urged them on.

"But, see, with the engagement and everything, they haven't - I mean, they've wanted to but they haven't-" Prompto stalled again.

"- they haven't pursued a relationship like they've wanted." Gladio finished.

Cor sighed. "I think it's clear we need to make it easier on them both. This incident makes it easier to do so."

"Come again?" Gladio asked, looking at Cor now with widened eyes. He knew what he was suggesting but –

"If she's a temptation, then we remove the temptation," Cor said simply. "Monica and I will continue to monitor her progress. You four should get ready to move out come morning."

"Noct will never-" Prompto stuttered under Cor's hard gaze, but he ploughed forward now, trying to protect his friends. "I mean, I doubt very much that His Highness," the words sounded foreign in his mouth, "would allow that."

"I will help him see that his mission comes first."

"With all do respect, Marshal," Gladio was shaking now. He'd never dared to stand up to the Marshal before. It was like Gladio trying to stand up to the Astrals. But he'd been doing that with Noct for the last several weeks. They all had. Solaris included. "She's part of the King's retinue. Sworn an oath, like the rest of us to protect the King and to see him through his mission. Including delivering Noctis to Altissia and Lady Lunafreya. She has not wavered, once."

"And she's shown she can do her job admirably," Cor nodded. "But the fact remains that she is heavily injured and at this point will slow down your entourage. And can still possibly jeopardize the alliance."

"Excuse me, sir," Prompto cut in. Cor turned to him, his eyebrow raised. "What alliance? The treaty is void, isn't it? It was never signed and Niflheim is trying to kill Noct. I mean, does he really still have to marry her?"

Cor nodded thoughtfully. "You're correct, Prompto. But the presence of the King and the Oracle together and dutifully fulfilling their roles side by side will only give hope to Lucis and to those pliant to our cause."

"While that may be," Gladio said. "It doesn't have to mean marriage."

"No, but I don't want the King distracted from his calling. This is his calling."

"Please don't separate them," Prompto cut in. "Please, sir. You will break both of them."

"The King is stronger than that."

"And Solaris is expendable, sir?"

"This is my final word on the topic. I will take Solaris under my care until she is fully healed. That much, the King should allow."

"And once she is healed?"

"I will talk to His Highness," Cor finally spoke after a long minute. "We will ensure that Solaris receives the best care and once she is healed, she will be free to do as she chooses."

Prompto and Gladio looked at each other. What did that mean, exactly?