Of Witches and Wolves

The Sickness

The Queen Mother paced the room as the light of the moon finally faded from the chamber. She held herself tall as she walked, despite the red hair that hadn't been properly combed in days and the crumpled dress that sat askew on her regal form. Six nights she had paced the elegant room, praying to the Moon Goddess for help as the moon rose and fell. The Moon Goddess watched but did nothing. Surrounded by the tapestries telling the stories of generations of victory and conquest, her son lay dying.

A man sat in the corner; the youth sapped out of him. He had stopped pacing long before, choosing instead to occupy the chair next to the bed. He tore his gaze from his best friend's body to the Queen Mother.

"It's been a week. We need to make the preparations," he whispered, fearing to incur a mother's grief and rage. Gunnar and Aric had been friends since they were born. The next in line as the King and King's Hand created an unbreakable bond between them. It broke his heart to watch his friend wither away. He searched day and night for healers to help but none had succeeded. It was time he faced his failure.

The Queen Mother's eyes snapped to him, blazing bright, her wolf wanting to come forward, "Absolutely not. He will not die. I won't have it."

Her son managed to take up the majority of the bed, but it was clear his health was declining fast. He was pale, a once strong and powerful man starting to wither away. His eyes were closed, but the bluish shadow under them clear. His hair stuck out from his head, remnants from his mother stroking it. His skin was sticky with sweat.

"Ursa, look at him--"

She whipped around, her normally blue eyes now molten gold. Crossing the room in fast strides, she lifted him from his chair by the throat with her claw-like hand. "My son will live," she spat. A single tear fell, breaking the otherwise hard façade, "You promised me."

Dropping him back into his chair, she returned to her place by the window to look back out at the moon. Gunnar wasn't phased by the Queen's outbursts. They had been coming and going all week. Last night it has been a few broken pieces of furniture. Another night she may have tried to kill a physician by throwing him out the window. She didn't take bad news well. At that point, he rather absorb her wrath then some other unsuspecting wolf trying to do their job.

He sighed, running his fingers through his hair as the scratch marks on his neck quickly faded away. Considering the options, he finally spoke "I... know someone. She could help. It could be risky. She's not fond of wolves"

"Gunnar. Why didn't you tell me this first! What are you waiting for! Go!"

Ursa watched from the window of her room as the cart with her son and heir rode off into the night. Gunnar had insisted they rode under the eye of the Moon Goddess and that they travel alone. Guards would not do on this trip. She fell to her knees, reciting her prayer as she had every night for the past week. "Moon Goddess, save my son."