Gwenn Pov
Yesterday was the first night in a long time that I didn’t sleep in the same room with Arius but it was understandable because yesterday was busy for the both of us. He was busy with planning and the rest and when it got to sleeping time, he sent me on my way to bed since he decided that he was not going to go to bed until he was done with the preparation with his council. After he had forced me to leave, I went to my room and search through the golden queen journals, I didn’t have enough time to read everything but what I did read was that something like this had happened before and although I didn’t get majority of her writing but I had enough to make the scroll which told majority of the story and another problem of mine was that it was told from her perspective and she didn’t view it as much trouble, she was more concerned about a council member who was ‘tainting’ everybody.
I slept with mixed message and incomplete stories only to wake up with the intense need to see my husband. I took it as just my longing for him and took my time in going about getting dressed and having my meal, vowing not to look through the scrolls that were only going to serve to confuse me more.
After that was when I set out to see Arius. The few Nisses I saw on the way, nodded and gave me a wobbly smile. Something was wrong and they knew it, the news of commander Isolde’s death and her legion has spread around.
What can kill a legion? People who were not at the same place? That was the big question now. I wish to know the answer too so I can try to solve it.
On getting to Arius room, I saw his door shut without lock which was strange for Arius or maybe he was waiting for me, thinking that I would want entry into his room at night.
With a smile, I crept up on him, hoping to give him a fright but when I got to him and shouted, not movement with supernatural speed came from Arius, In fact, he didn’t make a move.
“You win.” I sighed. “I cannot scare you, you probably knew I was coming from the minute I stepped out of my room.” I grumbled but Arius still didn’t move. I don’t think Arius sleeps deep the way he was pretending to.
“Enough playing around Arius, I said you win, stop acting like you can’t feel my presence.”
When a single budge didn’t come from Arius, I grew worried and shook him but it was like he was lifeless.
I turned Arius over to see his eyes were shut and his face smoothed, he was sleeping, his chest was moving but he was also unresponsive to my actions.
“Arius, Stop playing. This isn’t funny.” I shook him with enough force that should have jerked him awake but he didn’t wake up.
He was still sleeping… No this was more than a sleep. With that thought and with hysteria climbing my throat, I opened my mouth and gave a loud scream that was not entirely human.
******************
My brain was shut in panic, I was unaware of anything other than the tight grip of the person who was holding my hand and my husband who was lying on his bead and the healer who was assessing him.
My scream brought people to Arius room and most of them were still here but I couldn’t not focus on them.
I kept praying in my mind. Arius had to be okay. Maybe he was overstressed yesterday, they are going to give him something and he would wake up and be irritated at the amount of people who were in his private chamber.
“What is your diagnoses?” Orel asked the healer who turned to face the room, there was sweat on his face even though no other person was sweating in the room.
“I am sorry Alal but there is nothing I can do.”
“What do you mean by there is nothing you can do?” Vala yells at him.
“Exactly, my brother employed you to be doing something not nothing and you better get to it.” Catia threatened, this time, I was in full support of their words.
“There is nothing I can do…” He started again and I got angry, the first emotion that penetrated my numbness apart from the worry I was feeling.
Standing up so quickly the room went deathly silent.
“Finding me the best medicine man or healer in this empire.” I said to the room at large but nobody moved. “Well?” I snapped.
“I am the best.” The healer said like he would rather not be the center of my focus right now.
“What do you mean that there is nothing you can do then?” I snapped at him. “Arius is not awake, you have to do everything possible.”
“According to my diagnoses, he is just sleeping and…”
“Sleeping in this ruckus? That’s not Arius.” Silana yelled. She was the other person whom had to be held although it was by one of her other brothers.
“Tell me what is wrong with my husband.” I ordered.
“I don’t know I have not seen anything like this in all my years as a healer. He will wake up when he wants to...”
“But if he doesn’t?” Vastae asked and everybody threw glares her way, she shrank into herself.
“He will have to because if he does not, he might slip into an everlasting sleep from there…”
“Stop talking.” I screamed at him as tears fell from my eyes.
“Gwenn.” Themis sounded alarm and Orel too it seems because Orel arms wrapped around me.
“Everybody out.” Themis ordered and her words were met with hisses from Arius sisters.
“Now.” I shouted and soon the room was empty with me, Orel, Themis and Arius.
“He cannot be Orel, he cannot be.” I said as the tears fall faster.
“Breathe Gwenn, you need to Breathe.” Themis orders and I raised my head to look at her to see through my blurry vision that she was taking deep obvious breaths and I followed her action. “Good.”
“Arius…” I started.
“Yes, he needs you to be strong and take care of his kingdom for him until he wakes up…”
“He will wake up?” I demanded, jumping on that word from Themis who looked away uncomfortably.
“The future is not set in stone Gwenn, I don’t know if he will but the one thing which I do know is that, Northshore fate lies on your shoulders now Gwenn.”
“What does that mean?” I snapped at Themis, this was not the time for her to be speaking in riddles.
“It means that you are a queen without a king. You have a hard journey ahead of you, people don’t need to see you weak. Orel and I will leave you to co0llect your thoughts while you are with Arius.” Themis added.
Orel arms squeezed me but he didn’t let go.
“Orel.” Themis called by the door. “Trust me.”
Only then did Orel let go and he did as he whispered his words to me. “You will be Fine Gwenn.”
He was wrong, I was not fine and I was not sure I will ever be fine if something happened to Arius.