𝕲𝖗𝖎𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖊 𝕺𝖓𝖊 𝕾𝖍𝖔𝖙𝖘

𝒩𝒾𝓀𝑜𝓁𝒶𝒾 𝓍 𝒵𝑜𝓎𝒶

MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH - KING OF SCARS TIMELINE

Zoya, Tolya and Tamar were riding after their escaped King once again, luckily it is night time, as it usually is. Zoya some times curses his nightly escapes, but on the other hand is glad that it doesn't happen during the day. If any of the Ravkan citizens were to learn of the monster inside Nikolai all hell would break lose, they can't have that happening. Zoya finds herself yawning for what seems to be the twentieth time this night.

They arrived quickly at where Nikolai landed, the edge of a forest near multiple farm lands. "Probably the smell of the livestock that made him come here." Zoya mutters under her breath as she dismounts her horse and looks around, she'd call for her King if only she knew he'd answer, on the other hand calling for him might wake the people living here too. The three of them heard rustling coming from one of the small huts and nodded to each other. Zoya dismounts her horse and goes in first, having the most experience with their Monster King.

The general told the two soldiers to stay back and slowly opened the door to the small hut. Zoya tensed when she saw Nikolai sitting in the corner of the hut with two dead sheep in front of him, he must've dragged the poor things into the hut with him. "The monster seems to get smarter." Zoya snarled and walked towards him, "You're coming with me." She said and got the handcuffs out of her bag and stalked towards him as if he is her prey.

Nikolai snarled and moved further into the corner, only then did Zoya get suspicious of him. The monster never reacted so vulnerable and it wouldn't be the first time for Zoya to get attacked by him, but for some reason he seemed afraid. Zoya put the handcuffs back into her bag and crouched down near Nikolai, holding her hand up in a peace offering. "I'm not going to hurt you." She said calmly, she hates having to handle her King like this, Nikolai is supposed to tease her so much that she wants to slap the handsome smirk off his face.

Nikolai stood up straight and looked curiously at Zoya, she'd lie if she would say his black eyes didn't make her shiver. However what horrified her was his side which happened to be bleeding badly, "Can I take a look at that?" Zoya questioned whilst moving closer, luckily the monster let her and with a groan she had to admit it was a rather deep wound, she just didn't know how he managed to get hurt like this. "We need to leave, he's injured!" Zoya called to Tolya and Tamar, quickly handcuffed Nikolai for their safety and then lead him outside, he is being surprisingly obedient.

On their way back to Os Alta Zoya did her best to bandage the wound after Tamar had made it stop bleeding, she wasn't a good healer, but it has to be enough for the time being. They'd have to find someone that won't question this injury and just do their job as healer.

Despite her never admitting to it, she has grown fond of Nikolai and the severity of the wound worries her. They arrived in Os Alta and the Grand Palace quick enough, Nikolai hadn't gotten that far this time and Zoya made it clear to get Nikolai into his quarters quickly. Whilst Zoya stayed with the King, Tolya and Tamar went to the medical district, looking for medicine and fresh bandages. They figured they can't get a healer to tend to Nikolai's wounds since it'd raise unnecessary suspicion, aside from that, there is no healer available at this hour anyway.

"Goodness, what happened?" Nikolai groaned and Zoya put the cork back into the vial and pocketed it again. "I was hoping you'd tell me." She remarked and forced Nikolai to lay down. The King didn't look so well, he was paler than usual and despite him trying to hide the pain from Zoya he failed miserably. "You'll be fine." She tried reassuring him, causing him to laugh "Oh? It's not every day a man gets your reassuring, Nazyalensky." Zoya would've slapped him if he wasn't already injured.

For the night she made use of the medicine and bandages Tolya and Tamar had brought her and then went to her own quarters for the rest of the night, knowing she'll need a bit of sleep to function properly the next day when she was certain things would get even more complicated.

As always, though she wished she wasn't, Zoya had been right. She walked into Nikolai's quarters the next morning and when she woke him up she noticed the bloodied bandages, immediately grabbing new ones and slapping Nikolai awake. "How do you feel?" She asked, the worry clear in her voice since she didn't bother hiding it. "Honestly? Miserable." He admitted which made Zoya frown, she had expected him to wave it off, dismiss it as nothing or tease her about her concern, but he said the truth. That she wasn't prepared for.

Due to Nikolai's honesty Zoya had forced him to agree to rest for the day, they just claimed that Nikolai had come down with a cold and was taking a day or two to rest. That's the time Zoya estimated he'd need until he is able to walk and present himself properly even with the injury. The only thing that kept gnawing at the back of her head is where the damned injury even came from. Perhaps someone shot him, thinking he's a bird or something? Perhaps a wild animal bit him, though it didn't look like a bite, it's not that brutal of a wound.

Somewhere near evening Genya took a look at the wound along with David, Zoya thought it a good idea since Genya is a Corporalki and David is pretty smart. Zoya waited outside the Kings quarters whilst Genya and David did their work, she nervously tapped her foot against the floor, glaring at everyone that passed. Fifteen minutes later Genya and David left the room, David left immediately probably off to the workshops, Genya stood herself in front of Zoya with a pitying look. "Poison." Genya whispered, "He's poisoned, whatever or whoever injured him had a poisoned weapon or something similar to that."

Zoya froze at the revelation, how come Nikolai out of everyone gets poisoned? She swallowed and nodded, thanking Genya quietly. When Genya finally left she immediately flung Nikolai's door open and rushed inside, to his side. "Poisoned she says?" Zoya questions despite knowing Genya wouldn't have lied to her, not about this. "I figured something like that, not a single wound hurts like this." Nikolai chuckled, Zoya swears he'll be the end of her. How dare he laugh in a situation like this?

"I'll be fine, you said it yourself." Nikolai says, taking Zoya's hand into his own and caressing her palm as if she's the one injured, the one who needs the comfort. "I wouldn't leave you, Nazyalensky." He whispers and something inside her flipped, something inside her was so happy at these words and his rough hand in hers that she momentarily forget the seriousness of the situation.

Zoya visited Nikolai every day, watched over him and made sure he's as fine as he can be, though it was painfully obvious the poison was eating him up. He grew more pale and less confident, he would never admit it, but slowly they both lost hope in his survival. Currently Zoya sat at his bedside after Genya called her with the message that his condition worsened.

"Nikolai." Zoya spoke his name softly, he looked up at her with a smile, his hair clinging to his forehead with sweat, his face as pale as his bed sheets. She held his hand tightly, fighting back the tears, "You can't leave me." She sniffled, "I hate to admit it, but I need you. Ravka needs you." She added the last part to make it seem less awkward, not right now, she couldn't act like this now out of all times.

"Zoya," Nikolai whispered, giving her hand a squeeze, "I'm sorry." She frowns at his words, "Don't say that." She warned, Nikolai was not one to apologize so easily and if he does, not like this. "I'm sure you'll make a great queen." He chuckled, she shook her hand, "Nikolai, no." She warned again, but as she looked at his face again she noticed his labored breathing and his closed eyes, "Nikolai?" Silence. "Nikolai!" She called out to him desperately. "You idiot." She cursed, why does everything in her life have to be miserable? Everyone she loves leaves her. Why? Why her? "Why take him?" She sobs quietly, not letting go of Nikolai's hand even after she stopped feeling his breath or his pulse beneath her fingers.