Sorry for the delay, I had to take care of my mental health. I've gone through all of the previous chapters and corrected names and such since Winterlight came out. If you guys go through it and catch something I missed, let me know.

Zachary felt soft cushions beneath him, and he was vaguely aware of him lying down. His head pounded and he was nauseous, but someone seemed to be caring for him. He thought he felt a damp rag lain upon his forehead. He felt hot, and yet shivers racked his body. A fever. He didn't move; maybe if he didn't, he would fall blessedly back to sleep. He could still hear the wind and rain pounding upon the manse's walls and occasionally, he would hear a thud of debris hitting the home. If anything, it sounded worse than he remembered it being before.

Then he heard a shuffling of feet and the sound of water sloshing. The steps were light on the floorboards as they carefully approached him. And then he felt the rag on his head lift, only to be replaced by a blessedly wetter and colder rag. The footsteps carefully retreated, and the room fell quiet.

He was just about to doze off again when he heard footsteps again, but they were behind him. They sounded purposeful and sure, yet still quiet. He kept his eyes shut to the others in the room and he heard a voice ask, "Are you ready to talk about what happened?" It was Laren.

It was silent for a moment. He heard Laren's footsteps stop on the other side of him. Then, "What's there to talk about?" Zachary's heart skipped a beat upon hearing Karigan's voice. She was the one watching after him? New hope blossomed in him.

"It's clear that you're upset with this, Karigan. Just come out with it. How did you know before? Because I didn't tell you," Laren said.

"You knew?!" Karigan hissed. "You knew what he was doing and you didn't stop him?"

"For god's sake Karigan, of course I knew. But if you just hear him out, then you'll–"

"I don't want to hear what he has to say! He's put the kingdom in danger! And for what? For me?! For-" Karigan argued.

"For him," Laren butted in, "He did it for him. And he's not an idiot, he has not jeopardized Sacoridia. Estora is the High Queen now and the prince and princess are still the heirs to the throne. Sacoridia is in good hands and you know it."

Zachary fought back a wave of nausea and shifted. He still shook violently and he tossed his head to lay on the other side. The room grew quiet and he wondered if both pairs of eyes had fallen on him. When he settled, he heard Karigan's footsteps again and more sloshing of water. Then Karigan gently replaced his rag again. This time, however, he sensed her presence linger. He felt her hand clasp his and gently squeezed, "It's okay. You're okay. I'm here," she whispered. Tears threatened to build behind his closed eyes. And then he heard her leave, going back to where she was before.

"Karigan," Laren said, "do you still love him?"

There was a pause and the only sound in the room was the shaking windows and driving rain outside. There was a sniffle, which Zachary assumed was Karigan, and then, "Of course I do. I love him, I always will."

He heard Laren again, "Then why are you so upset, Karigan?" He heard more sniffling again and this time, Zachary chanced it by slowly opening his eyes into slits. Karigan sat hunched forward, sitting in an armchair close to him. She was shaking her head and he could see her shoulders shake. Laren moved to kneel before her and take Karigan's hands into hers. They stayed like that for a while, until Laren said, "You need to tell him. Before you leave. He deserves to know, and we don't know how long you'll be gone."

"You're . . . leaving?" he croaked. He hadn't meant to speak out loud, but it slipped out. Both Karigan and Laren turned to look at him.

Karigan sat up and swiped at the tears that had fallen and visibly put the barriers up around her. "How much did you hear?" she asked, not looking at him.

Zachary licked his lips, "All of it."

Karigan's eyes went to the ceiling, and she suddenly stood, mumbling, "Perfect." Then, without another word, she left the room.

Zachary groaned as he tried to get his arms under him to sit up, "Kari . . . wait." The thundering of feet on the steps and the resulting slamming of an upstairs door was his only answer.

He managed to slowly slide his legs over the edge and sit up and then stopped as a wave of violent shivers, dizziness, and nausea assaulted him. Zachary closed his eyes and he felt Laren's hand rest upon his shoulder. "Don't move, you've a fever and likely concussed," she said, sitting beside him. A brief moment passed and he heard her say, "Here."

He opened his eyes to look over and see she was offering a cup of water for him. He smiled in thanks and took the offered cup. He took a sip of the water, letting it soothe his dry mouth and lips. When he felt slightly better for the moment, he said, trying to scoot to stand, "I need to talk to Karigan."

Laren stopped him, grabbing his arm and pulling him back down to the couch. "No no," she said.

"But-"

"No," Laren soothed, "she needs some time. Just give her some time, Zachary."

Zachary sighed and fell back into the cushions. "I was afraid of this, I didn't want this to happen."

Laren watched him silently for a moment, "It's Karigan." Zachary nodded. She sighed, "She's been through a lot. She's suffered so much. . . She just needs time, Zachary."

All Zachary listened to for what felt like hours, was the rattling of the windows, the slams on the outside walls, and the driving rain that pounded the windows and threatened to seep through the doors. Then he asked, "Where is she going? When?"

Laren didn't reply for a moment, and it was only after he looked up at her that she answered, "Eletia. They've asked for her. They wanted her to come soon after we got here, but she's held them off so that she can be here for Stevic and I's wedding."

"Eletia? What do they want?" he asked.

Laren shook her head, "It's the Eletians."

I know it's shorter but it's all I got right now. I hope you guys enjoy! Like/review/favorite. Love you all!