Of magic and blood

Chapter Forty-One

The hours following Morgana's defeat were hazy and chaotic in my mind, with only a few defining moments amidst the panic and fear and relief.

I remember crawling towards Lilac's fallen body as her agonizing screams ripped through the otherwise silent throne room. She convulsed and twitched, screaming in pain until her voice gave out. Her eyes fluttered shut and she went limp.

"Lilac! Lilac! Please wake up!" I pleaded with her, shaking her body, tears streaming down my face.

There was a pulse of magic transferred between the point of contact I had with her and a piercing pain, one I had never experienced, drilled into my head. I cried out, clutching at my hair, pleading for the pain to end.

As I closed my eyes, a vision of Lilac appeared, clear as day, in my head. She looked as shocked as I felt to see me.

"L-Lilac!" I whispered, wincing when another sharp pain shot through my head.

"L-Lily?" I didn't understand what was going on, but I knew that I had to tell her.

"Lilac, you have to fight, please. Just hold on a little longer—!" The vision disappeared, leaving only a lasting pain.

Something warm and thick joined the flood tears dripping down my face. Blood. I touched it, unable to comprehend.

I wasn't quite sure what happened after that. Morgana was apprehended, even though she was in much of the same state as Lilac. At some unknown point, Lilac's body was removed by the healers and Yuna herself, while I was removed from the throne room with instructions from the healers to find a room for me to stay.

I knew that Lilac's screams would haunt my dreams for many, many years to come. The way she had laid on the ground, broken and in pain, screaming out her agony...

I was given a sleeping draft by one of the guards in charge of me. As soon as my head touched the bed I had been given, I was lost to world in deep, dreamless sleep for an unknown amount of time. I was sure the no dreams was also a work of the draft.

When I awoke some time later, groggy and confused and still in my regular clothes, the only clear thought I had in my head was find Lilac. I had to know she was all right.

Stumbling and still half asleep, I made my way out of the room I had been in. The hallways beyond were dark and quiet. It was well into the evening, whether it was the same day or the next, I did not know.

"Whoa there, Your Highness." A guard stationed at my door caught me just in time to stop me from toppling to the floor.

"Lilac, where is she?" I murmured, "I have to find her. Where is she?"

"I wouldn't think that wise, Your Highness. You are in no state of mind to see the princess."

"I have to see her. Where is she?" I demanded again, voice becoming shrill as panic overtook my mind. I had to find her. I had to make sure she was all right.