Shrouded Royalty

Resting at the Crossroads

  The borderlands, where ice met crystal, had always been Merric's refuge. Amid the quiet expanse of frost and stone, he found peace. But tonight, that peace was broken. Aeliana, fevered and fading in his arms, needed him more than ever.

  Merric crossed the threshold of his safe house, the stone walls glistening in the dim light. Inside, the warmth wrapped around them, but it did little to lift the weight in his chest. He laid her gently on the bed, pulling thick blankets over her trembling body. Her skin burned beneath his fingers, her breath shallow and uneven.

"Stay with me, Aeliana," he murmured, his voice low but steady. "You're safe now."

  He knelt beside the bed, his eyes never leaving her face. Hours passed, each breath a reminder of how fragile she was. He fought sleep, but exhaustion crept in, pulling him into a light, restless slumber.

A sudden, sharp cry jolted him awake.

  Aeliana's body arched off the bed, her skin glowing as golden tattoos flared to life, burning bright like molten metal. Her eyes were wide with panic, and her voice shook as she cried out.

"Merric! It's burning! Please... make it stop!"

  Her voice was raw with fear, and Merric was at her side in an instant, pulling her into his arms, his heart racing.

"I'm here," he said, holding her close. "Breathe. You can get through this."

The tattoos pulsed, the heat from her body almost unbearable. But Merric held her tighter, his words a firm anchor in the storm of her pain.

"Don't give up. You're stronger than this."

  Slowly, the light from the tattoos began to dim, the heat easing as her body collapsed against him. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and when the worst of it passed, she looked up at him with confusion in her eyes.

"Merric... what's happening to me?"

He brushed a damp curl away from her forehead, his relief tempered by concern.

"You survived," he said softly. "Those marks... they're part of you now. I don't know what they mean, but we'll figure it out. You're still here—that's what matters."

   With care, he lifted her in his arms, cradling her gently as he carried her to the adjoining chamber. The large crystal bath shimmered with warm, herb-infused water from Devonium. He had prepared it earlier, pouring in a mixture of rare herbs gathered from the frozen fields surrounding his homeland. Goldenroot to draw out fevers, frostmoss to soothe the body's aches, and shadowvine, a plant known for its potent ability to cleanse the blood of toxins. The steam from the bath carried the faintest scent of pine and earth, grounding them in the natural magic of his people.

The water glowed faintly, its surface rippling with an iridescent sheen as the herbs worked their magic.

"This will help," Merric said, his tone gruff but caring. "It'll draw out the fever and heal your body."

  He lowered her into the water, the warmth immediately easing the tension in her muscles. Aeliana's eyelids fluttered as she sank deeper into the bath, the steam caressing her skin. The soft glow of the herbs enveloped her, soothing her, while the remaining traces of heat began to fade from her body.

"You need rest," Merric said, stepping back. "I'll hunt and bring food."

Aeliana nodded weakly, her eyes closing as the water worked its healing magic. Merric left the room quietly, grabbing his bow and quiver before stepping out into the cold night air.