30. Hurt

"MARTH!"

Roy couldn't believe it. Marth turned to face his enemy too late, and he was hit by a powerful Fire spell. The blue-haired prince fell to the ground, burns all over his body.

"NO!" Roy screamed as he rushed in front of him, stabbing the Mage to death. Once the Mage fell, Roy ran to Marth's side, kneeling down beside his charred body and holding him. "Marth! MARTH!"

My Gods…please be okay…please oh please!

Roy shook him, trying to get him to wake up. "Marth! Please…please stay alive!"

Wrys ran to their side. "Sire!" He cried, kneeling down to the hurt prince. He grabbed his wrist, checking his pulse.

"Is he—" Roy asked.

Wrys nodded. "He's fine. But he's unconscious. Roy, bring him back to camp. Take him to the infirmary."

Roy didn't think twice. Placing Marth on his back, he rushed back in the camp. He ran inside a tent, and he placed Marth on a bed.

"My Gods…" Roy gasped, trying to hold back tears. Burns were all over Marth's body, blackness nearly covering him. He was quite lucky to be alive.

Roy's heart jumped when he heard Marth's voice.

"R-R-R-" Marth tried to say Roy's name, but Roy held his hand gently.

"Don't speak, Marth. I'll take care of you…like you did with me all those years." Roy whispered.

He looked around the tent, and he spotted an Elixer. He grabbed it and opened it.

This'll take more than just an Elixer… Roy thought, but he knew that he had to try.

"Marth, open wide." Roy spoke in a soft voice.

Marth slowly opened his mouth, albeit with difficulty due to the burns around his jaw.

Roy slowly poured the Elixer's contents in his mouth, and the prince gulped it down.

The burns slowly healed, but it wasn't enough.

Roy glanced around, and he spotted a Staff.

"How can I even use this?" He asked, picking it up.

"Roy?"

Roy gasped and he turned to see Wrys.

"Wrys!" Roy said, holding the Staff.

"What are you doing with my Staff?" the old man asked.

"I-I wanted to heal him, but…" Roy sighed.

"I'll give it a try." Wrys motioned for Roy to give him the Staff, and Roy gave it to him. Wrys turned to the prince, and he closed his eyes. A light appeared from the Staff's tip, and sparkles were around Marth.

However, Marth was crying out in pain.

"STOP!" Roy gasped.

Wrys stopped his Staff, and he turned. "What is wrong?"

"You're hurting him. Please be more careful, Wrys."

Wrys gave him a stare. "It will hurt when he's healing up. If I don't use it…"

Roy looked down, a tint of red on his face. "I-I'm sorry…"

Wrys smiled. "It's quite fine." With another glow from the Staff's tip, Marth's wounds were almost healed. However, the burns remained.

"Ah…it'll take a few days before he fully recovers…" Wrys spoke. "I'll watch over him—"

"I'll do it."

Wrys stared at Roy. "Roy? Are you sure?"

Roy nodded. "He was always there for me when I needed him. He needs me, and I can't let him stay like this…"

Wrys sighed. "All right, all right…" With that, he left.

Roy breathed a sigh as he sat on a chair near Marth's bed. Holding Marth's black hand, Roy stared down at him. "It's my turn to be the protective one…"

During the road to recovery, Roy went overboard with his protectiveness. Whenever Marth screams in pain, Roy's heart beats as fast as a horse, concerned that he was dying. The other people in the army attempted to get inside the infirmary, but Roy had his sword out, ready to attack until they said that they were here to visit Marth.

After five days, Marth was fully healed. While Roy was in his tent, reading a book, he heard someone get inside.

He turned to see Marth, whose skin was pale and fleshy again.

"Oh, Marth!" Roy smiled at his friend.

"Hello Roy," Marth smiled back, "I just wanted to tell you something."

"Hm?"

"Thank you for taking care of me when I was hurt, and for protecting me back in that fight."

Roy nodded and his smile grew wider. "I'm glad to help you, Marth."

"But I have one thing to tell you." Marth spoke in a stern voice.

Roy stared at him. What did he do?

"Some of the people were saying that you were too protective of me. You nearly attacked them, and you almost cut Wolt's head off!"

Roy's eyes widened, realizing his mistake. "Ah! I'm so sorry, Marth! I—"

To his surprise, Marth chuckled.

"Don't worry, Roy. I guess my overprotectiveness rubbed off on you." He joked.

Roy laughed. "I guess so!"

"Well…" Marth looked down at his feet. "Thank you again…"

"It's nothing. You had saved me many times, and I felt that returning the favor would do."

Marth smiled.

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