Amazion: The Battle of Fortrest [EDITING]

In the service of the King

Dalereno's Viewpoint:

My body was asleep, but my mind was fully awake. That night, I could hardly close my eyes. If my wound wasn't the only thing keeping me up, then it must be something else. And when I turned to my side, I heard her.

Aloria kept mumbling. Like me, she kept tosing and turning in her bed. I slowly stood-up and shuffled to her side. She looked so uneasy and drained. I wanted to wake her up from her continuous restlessness, but it appeared that she did that before I even got the chance. Drops of sweat trickled down her forehead and from the looks of it all, she couldn't get any rest either. As a King, I have to look after all my people and ensure their safety but as a brother, I have to take care of the ones I loved.

So finally I asked the alarmed Al: "Can't sleep as well?"

"Not at all." She replied.

"You've been mumbling stuff and tossing and turning all night. Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah. Don't worry, it's nothing. It was just a bad dream."

Pfft, nothing she says. I knew it wasn't 'nothing' before she could even say the word. She has lost some of her power. It was so obvious with that look on her face. There was only one thing I can do now.

"Well, since it's too early, you might as well continue getting some shut-eye." I answered. "I'll be outside if you need me. Get some rest Al, you- you look rather pale..."

And with that, she fell back to her bed.

Inch-by-inch, I was finally able to get outside. The fresh air was completely relaxing. Even if the whole castle is gone, I still have to attend to my kingly duties.

"AACCCK!"

My side was still hurting. It was like every time I moved, the wound might re-open again. I have to be extra careful. But just to be safe, I must first speak with Argoeux. Maybe he'll know what to do. I tried to make my way to his tent, but as soon as I was about to enter, I was greeted by no other than the physician himself.

"Good-good morning my King. You're-you're up early!!!"

"Earlier than I thought. May I have a word with you inside please?"

"Oh, but it's cooler out here. And besides, you don't want to to go in there, it's rather stuffy. It's full of blood and all my patients smells and such. Yeah.. we don't need that pesky tent..."

For the first time in ages... Argo was't acting like his... normal self. I don't know what's happening, but I intend to find out.

For the meantime, I'll let this one pass. But later on, I continued to talk with him about my scar. He eventually applied some weird slushy green-looking liquid on my side. It was rather soothing. Sooner or later, I have to solve this little mystery of his. It just didn't seem right. After our little consultation, things were beginning to look-up for me. Now might be the right time for me to go back to running my kingdom.

Tina'e's Viewpoint:

"Morning already?" I asked myself.

The night passed by too fast but nonetheless, I was grateful. I could finally go back outside to my brother. I need to check if he's alright. But before I can do any of that, where is Derek?

"Good morning sunshine! I'm glad you're up!" A familiar giddy voice caught me by surprise.

He was just there, standing near the entrance with his right eye patched-up. Whatever happened to him, I'm pretty sure he was able to handle it. He was a strong prince after all.

"Oh, hey Derek! What's up with your eye?"

"Hm, funny you should ask because I was about to ask the same thing..."

I didn't understand what he was talking about. But as soon as I got up, he handed me a bowl of water and I could finally see why. It was as if I was staring at a completely different person. It appears that I now have a long black mark running down my left eye.

"Well, that makes the both of us." Forcing a smile at him.

He smiled right back at me. It's been a while since I've last seen a happy person around this place. Unfortunately, the grin on his face didn't last very long. It was soon replaced with a disturbed look.

"You know, I have to tell you something Tina'e."

He dropped down by my side of the bed. 

"I didn't think I would ever forgive myself if anything happened to you out there. I would've failed everyone. As if I didn't fail everybody else.

He was torn.

I can't imagine what would've happened to you if he... if he... 

He could barely continue his sentence.

"All I'm trying to say is is that even if I didn't make it out alive back there, I would have died happy... knowing that you had survived; knowing that you were the only right thing I was able to do in my life....

But thanks to you, we both live to see another day! I - I don't think I'll be able to thank you enough for all the things you've already done for me and this family.... " He said, finally finishing his trail of thought.

I was speechless. This was the very first time I've ever seen him so... so serious.

"It-it was nothing, really..." I continued. "You don't have to-"

"But I do. Without you, I would've been a dead man. Thank you."

He slowly approached me and leaned in for a hug.

Well this was akward. The prince of Northria hugging a worthless repmuj, such as myself.

Unusual way to start the day.