NationStates Jolt Archive

24 July 16 R.A.

Fairies had been pouring into Garmar over the past several years. Immigration from the other Danaan states was enormous. Garmar herself had been experiencing population pressures of all sorts, although there was no right to regulate the movement of people between states which Grand Duchess Beatrice and her Parliament could resort to. Settlement was pressing well beyond the borders to the Far and even the Deep Dreaming. Areas near the raths and trods grew denser and denser in population, almost like a continuous urban mass along the border.

The line leading up to the trod at Caralon, Shieldcrest was not unusual. It consisted of fairies of all types on foot or in horsedrawn carts, their belongings packed away. Many of them looked worried or overjoyed, driven by the strange fears and longings that had slowly filled all their hearts over the last several years. Eyes widened as the storn arch of the rath burst from the ground, the view of Garmar being replaced by the other side of the rock. The ground shuddered as the people fell, turning to run. The rock tumbled forward, crumbling as pieces struck down a number of travelers. The same thing was happening at trods all across the nation, though not all of them.
...
Countess Marian ni Eiluned thought she was recovering from her attack of illness. At the least, she was getting used to the cold. Although she felt like she was freezing, she was out in the gardens today in New Constantinople. Then it hit her. It felt like a great, insurmountable weight falling upon her very being. She screamed but her scream came out a gurgle. The girl, her aura darkening and fading, hit the ground hard, blood spilling onto the path. She couldn't breath, couldn't think, couldn't move. "Helen...Helen..." she managed to barely mumble. The girl had been with her in the garden.

"Mari!" Helen shrieked, kneeling down next to Marian on the garden path. She gently rolled her onto her back, and laid her head on her knees and began wiping away the blood with her hankerchief. Marian opened her mouth as if to speak and then shut it again, whimpering in misery. Blood dripped down Marian's chin, trickling out of her mouth. Smaller streams flowed from her elegantly tapered ears and her small, perfect nose.

"Mother of God!" Helen exclaimed. She looked across to a pageboy who was rushing across the garden towards the pair. "Go get a doctor! Hurry!"

The pageboy nodded, and spun around to run back the other way. Helen dabbed up more blood, and craddled Marian's head. She gently kissed her forehead a few times, as frightened tears ran down her cheeks.

"Mari, can you hear me?" she asked.

Marian lifted one hand, stroking Helen's cheek gently.

"What happened, Mari?" Helen asked, taking a hold of Marian's hand with a soft, gentle hand of her own.

Marian coughed several times, spitting blood from her mouth. "It's so cold, Helen. It's so cold."

Helen started weeping, confused and scared for her friend.

"Hold onto my hand, Mari." Helen told her through tears. "Hold on tight, don't let go! A doctor's coming!"

Marian squeezed tight. "I love you, Helen. You know that, right?"

"Yes, I know." Helen nodded frantically, squeezing Marian's hand back. "A doctor's coming!"

Marian smiled weakly, looking up into Helen's eyes. "I don't want to go yet."

"You're not going anywhere, Mari, a doctor's coming! You'll be fine!" Helen cooed, although she was clearly frightened.

"Promise you won't forget me." Marian said feebly.

"Forget you? Mari I'll never forget you!" Helen cried. "Don't talk like that! You're not going to die, you'll be fine!"

She looked up about the garden and screamed for a doctor at the top of her lungs.

"Do you love me?" she asked.

"Yes! I love you, Mari, please don't die!" Helen sobbed.

The pageboy emerged from the palace with the doctor in the distance. Marian shut her eyes heavily, her breathing deep and slow.

"Open your eyes!" Helen screamed. "You need to stay awake! Please, Mari, please don't shut your eyes!"

She squeezed Marian's hand tightly. Marian didn't seem to hear her. She turned her head as though hearing something in the distance, a sound that wasn't there. The doctor dropped down to the ground next to Helen, dropping his medical bag next to the women, and pulling out a little flashlight.

"What happened?" he asked.

"She just fell over!" Helen sobbed. "Mari! Open your eyes, please!"

The doctor pulled up one of Marian's eyelids and shone the flashlight into her eye, examining her reaction. Marian's eye seemed to be looking somewhere far away, focused on a distant realm.

"When did she start bleeding?" the doctor asked, setting the light aside to retrieve his stethoscope.

"I don't know... as soon as she fell over..." Helen cried. "She'll be OK, won't she?"

"I'm don't know yet, Your Highness." the doctor replied. "She didn't hit her head or hurt her neck did she?"

"I... I don't think so." Helen replied.

"Then let's move her inside..." the doctor mumbled.

Marian woke up in her bed, with the doctor, a nurse, and Helen all looking over her. Helen looked like she had been crying constantly.

"Mademoiselle la Comtesse?" the nurse asked.

"Your Excellency?" the doctor asked.

Marian looked at the nurse and the doctor with wide eyes. She wriggled a little, almost panicked. "Where am I?"

"You're in your bedroom, Mari." Helen answered her.

"How are you feeling, Your Excellency?" the doctor asked.

Marian smiled faintly as she looked over at Helen. "It's so heavy though. Everything is so heavy."

Helen smiled with relief, and sat down on the edge of Marian's bed catching her breath. She had clearly been very stressed.

"Do you mean that you feel weak, mademoiselle?" the doctor pressed.

"It's all earthy and heavy. It's like lead." she said irritably.

"Mademoiselle, how do you feel?" the doctor insisted. He had a stern look of concern about him.

"I just told you!" Marian snapped.

"You feel like your limbs are made of lead?" the doctor clarified.

"I feel like the air is made of lead." Marian clarified.

"Any pain?" the doctor inquired.

Marian shut her eyes heavily. She heard Helen draw a sharp breath and felt the princess' hands reach around one of her own.

"Nausea, dizz... mademoiselle?" the doctor asked, leaning in to check her in concern.

Marian smiled faintly at the contact before looking to the doctor. "You can't help." she said calmly.

"Leave the diagnoses to me, if you please." the doctor bristled. He looked at the nurse. "She seems OK for now. If anything changes, call me at once."

"What happened?" Helen asked.

"I don't know, Your Highness." the doctor confessed. He looked down at Marian again. "Get plenty of rest, and if you feel at all unwell, send for me at once. Good day, mesdemoiselles."

Marian just shook her head with a bemused grin, like someone listening to a small child carry on about something where he had no knowledge. The doctor got up, took his bag, and left Marian's apartments. The nurse pottered about but then left Helen and Marian alone after a little while.

"Mari, you frightened me!" Helen told her, still on the verge of tears.

"What a frustrating man..." Marian said off-handedly.

"He was just trying to help!" Helen replied, stroking the hair off Marian's forehead.

"He can't. He should know that." Marian said matter-of-factly.

"Mari, what happened, tell me!" Helen begged. "You frightened me awfully!"

Marian coughed a little and pulled Helen's hand to her lips, kissing it lightly. "I feel like I'm in a heavy sludge. Everything is cold and heavy and colourless. It hurts to exist."

"What?" Helen gasped. "I don't understand! That's horrible!"

"Everything is painful to look at...except you."

"Mari, what's wrong with you?" she sobbed. "Please, tell me!"

"I don't know!" Marian sobbed.

"Should I call the doctor again?" Helen asked, trying to stop herself crying, but failing miserably.

"He doesn't know anything that can help. I'm not human." Marian sighed a little.

"This is awful!" Helen cried, lying next to the sidhe on the bed. "You're not going to die, are you?"

"Bring in a doctor from overseas?" she asked hopefully.

"A sidhe doctor?" Helen asked. "Yes, of course we can do that! Nurse!"

The nurse re-entered the room, scampering over to the bed urgently.

"Yes, Your Highness?" she asked, immediately looking to Marian to see how she was doing. "Shall I call the doctor?"

"Yes, but not the same one." Helen told her. "We need a sidhe doctor, from the Resurgent Dream. Get the doctor to call the embassy or something!"

"Yes, Your Highness." the nurse replied, leaving the room again just as quickly as she had entered it.

Marian kissed Helen's hand again. "Is he going to be upset he can't help?"

"No." Helen shook her head. "Doctors refer people to specialists all the time. He'll get over it."

"He seemed moody." Marian said.

"He was just trying to help." Helen told her. "He just didn't know how."

"I just don't want to hurt anyone." Marian said. "I'm sorry I snapped at him."

Helen felt so helpless that she started weeping afresh, crying into her shoulder.

"It hurts to exist, Helen. You're the only thing making me fight to live." Marian said softly. "It's not the first time I've choosen life just for you."

"I don't want you to die!" Helen sobbed piteously. Marian pulled Helen closer. "Please don't die, Mari!"

Marian pulled her gently. Helen hugged her tightly, and kissed her cheek.

"Please, promise me you won't die!" she pleaded.

Marian kissed Helen lightly on the lips. "You're so wonderful, Helen."

"Please! Promise me!" Helen insisted urgently.

"Helen, it hurts so much..."

"No!" Helen cried, kissing Marian's mouth to cut her off. It wasn't a little peck on the lips, but an open mouthed, passionate kiss, like she had given her when the two had first met. She pulled back, her face still wet with tears, looking confused and strained. "Please, Mari, promise me..."

Marian gasped a little, kissing back fiercely. "I won't die until you're ready for me to." Marian answered.

"I'll never be ready for you to die!" Helen cried. "We'll get you a doctor who can help..."

"If the pain gets bad enough..." Marian argued.

"No!" Helen wept, looking totally distraught. "No, you can't die!"

Marian just held Helen tight, running her hands through her hair. Helen hugged her and cried on her shoulder, letting Marian run her hands through her hair. She kissed the sidhe's mouth again, her tears falling onto Marian's cheeks as she did so.

"Stay with me, Helen." Marian sobbed.

"I'm not going anywhere!" Helen promised through tears. "Don't you leave me!"

The Danaan doctor finished his examination. Helen was nervously wringing her hands, standing next to Marian's bed. She looked expectantly at the doctor for an explanation.

The Troll looked down at Marian, shaking his head. "She needs to get to Garmar."

"Can they treat her there?" Helen blubbered, unable to hold back her tears any longer after managing to suppress them throughout the examination.

"She needs to go there to live." he said.

"What?" Helen gasped. "What's going on? What's wrong with her?"

"She needs to go now." he said.

"Why are you Danaans always so resistant to any sort of elaboration or explanation?" Helen replied with unseemly impatience. "What's wrong with my friend?"

"Because there is not time." he said. "Make arrangements for her travel. We will likely have to fight our way in."

Helen stomped her foot.

"Doctor, I am a Princess of the House of Bourbon! I command you to answer me!" she insisted, trying to look firm through her tears.

"If you want her to live, make arrangements this instant and stop wasting time. She has a few hours at the most." he said.

Helen squealed, and turned to the staff. She yelled something incoherent, which they interpreted as meaning that they should start packing and preparing her things. One of the maids ran off to see to the arrangements.

"Please, what's going on! Why is she dying? Tell me!" Helen bawled.

"Her existence is fading."

"What? Why?" Helen gasped, rushing over to the bed as the bedroom doors opened. Two nurses wheeled in a hospital bed. Helen grabbed a hold of Marian's hand. Marian closed her eyes.

The doctor shook his head. "I do not know."

Helen squealed in a most unprincesslike manner, and the nurses liftened Marian out of her bed and into the hospital bed. The doctor walked along briskly.

"Get people you trust to help you fight your way in, Your Highness." he said.

"Fight my way in?" Helen mumbled. "What do you mean?"

"What I said, Your Highness."

"Damn you! Give me a full answer for a change!" Helen shrieked. "I haven't the slightest idea what you mean!"

"Do you want her to live or not?" he asked simply, a bit annoyed by Helen's denseness.

"Of course I do!" Helen bawled. "Please tell me what you mean!"

"Get people who can fight." he said again.

"Fight?" Helen repeated, totally at a loss. "I don't understand..."

As they wheeled Marian out through the halls in her hospital bed, the little entourage ran into the elderly Duc d'Adrienople, Helen's maternal grandfather, who was standing in for Prince Andreus as the master of the court while he was away.

"Good heavens, what is going on?" he demanded to know.

"Grandfather!" Helen exclaimed through the tears. "We need to take Marian to Garmar, right now, or she'll die!"

"What?" Monsieur d'Adrienople asked, arching an eyebrow. "What do you mean, petite?"

"No time to explain, we have to go right away!" Helen repeated. "And I need people who can fight to come with me."

"What?" he asked, frowning in concern now for his grand daughter's safety. "What do you mean people who can fight?"

"My personal bodyguard and some guardsmen, I don't know..." Helen shook her head, blubbering. They wheeled Marian around a corner towards a balcony doubling as a temporary helipad.

"Helen!" the Duke insisted, grabbing the Princess by her upper arm. "Explain what's going on! You're not going anywhere dangerous!"

The doctor kept walking with the hospital bed.

"Please, grandfather, I don't know... but I have to go." Helen offered simply as the bed was wheeled out onto the temporary helipad.

"No." the Duke replied firmly. "I refuse to grant you leave to go."

"Have my bodyguard get some men together and meet us at the airport straight away!" Helen told one of the maids, who was no longer required as Marian was lifted onto the helicopter. The maid nodded and ran off. Helen turned to her grandfather, and told him firmly. "I'm going with or without your leave. Please don't be mad. I don't have a choice."

"You're not making sense!" the Duke exclaimed.

"Goodbye, grandfather." Helen said, her chin wobbling as she climbed into the helicopter after Marian. The doctor looked down at Helen's frustrated grandfather as they lifted off.

"What do you mean by fighting my way in?" Helen asked the doctor, having to shout over the noise of the helicopter as it flew across the city to the airport.

"I mean there are mobs at all the raths into Garmar." he said.

"Mobs? Raths?" Helen asked.

"Raths are the means of entering the dreaming."

"Entering the Dreaming..." Helen murmured. "Marian talked about the Dreaming... doctor, please, why is this happening to her?"

"I do not know."

Troops lined the paths leading to the raths, struggling desperately to keep order. Of course, desertion rates were massive as well. Everywhere there was the impression of social collapse on an unprecedented scale. Looting had been reported more than once and the congested paths into the raths were filled with violent struggle for place.
...
Empress Aiwyn ni Gwydion of Akaton was stepping down from her throne. Courtiers smiled for a moment before she collapsed. It was like tons of ice had fallen on her. Aiwyn let out a cry, blood leaking from her ears, nose, and mouth.

Helen's bodyguard, Lieutenant Stig Johansson, a giant Varangian with blonde hair and steely blue eyes, had brought two particularly fierce members of the Despotic Legion along with him on his mistress' request, and joined Helen, Marian, the doctor and the other staff as they had boarded the plane to the Resurgent Dream. Johansson wasn't impressed that even while the plane was landing at its final destination, he had no idea what it was that he and the two soldiers were expected to fight. He glanced over at his charge, who was standing next to Marian's bed, as they were preparing to wheel it off the aircraft. He had been her bodyguard for five years now, and couldn't help but feel protective of her. It was more than his duty - it was impossible to be around Helen every day for five years, to be so close to her, to watch her grow from a girl into a young woman, without feeling affection for her. He worried about whatever it was she was getting herself into - he didn't trust her sidhe friend, and didn't understand what was going on.

"Mari?" Helen asked, leaning over the bed and whispering sweetly. "We've arrived. Can you hear me?"

Marian didn't stir at all. The airport seemed calm, nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first. It looked like any airport one might see in Excalbia or Lavenrunz or Pantocratoria. For that matter, so did the passengers. They wheeled her bed out of the plane and into the airport. Johansson and his men glanced around, keeping a careful watch for anybody who took an undue interest in Princess Helen, or who seemed to pose a threat.

"Where do we need to take her now, doctor?" Helen asked the troll.

"The nearest rath." the doctor said. "I have made arrangements for a van."

He walked towards the airport exits, standing head and shoulders above anyone else there. One of the soldiers was the first out of the exit, checking that the way seemed safe. The rest of the entourage then emerged.

"That your van?" Johansson asked the doctor, pointing the vehicle out.

"Yes." the doctor said, walking them over to a smallish white van. They were soon on their way, driving through the streets.

"Is she going to wake up?" Helen asked the doctor, holding the unconscious Marian's hand tightly.

"When she is through the rath."

"What's a rath?" asked Helen.

"You will see if shortly." the doctor said.

"Is it dangerous, doctor?" Johansson asked.

"Yes."

"Then you'll have to tell us what to expect before anybody gets off this van." the bodyguard insisted.

"A panicked mob."

Johansson suppressed the urge to curse loudly, and glanced at the other two soldiers.

"If you hadn't been so vague back in New Constantinople, doctor, I might have actually brought along several more men, and some riot gear." he muttered, shaking his head angrily and loading his rifle.

The van stopped at the base of a hill. The doctor, ignoring the soldier, helped carry Marian up to the crest of the hill. Below was a great sea of fairies, moving towards a large stone gateway which seemed to open into some kind of valley with brightly colored vegetation. Except the Trolls and some of the Sidhe, the crowd was fighting violently for the entrance. Some of the Redcaps, for all the alleged civilization of Danaan Redcaps, were fighting with true viciousness. Everyone acted as though they were fighting for their lives.

"This is no ordinary mob." Johansson observed. He turned to Helen. "Your Highness, I must advise you to stay back. This is too dangerous."

"I want to be with her when she wakes up." Helen insisted, only turning away from Marian to the sound of her bodyguard's voice for a second.

"Your Highness, I cannot allow you to endanger yourself like this." Johansson declared. "You must stay here."

"Lieutenant..." Helen said, gritting her teeth. "Stig, I know you're only doing your job. But I'm going with her."

"I'll do everything I can to keep you safe..." Johansson sighed, knowing that if Helen's own grandfather couldn't deter her, he stood no chance.

"Thank you, lieutenant." Helen said. She took a few deep breaths. "Let's go, everybody."

The mob was on them and they had to fight their way hard to pass through it. People were slamming against them on every side, trying for the gateway. It wasn't long before the soldiers resorted to discharging their weapons, first into the air, and then into the mob, trying to force their way through the press of the crowd. Helen shrieked as hands reached for her, tearing at her clothes, pulling at her hair, and just tried to hold onto Marian as tightly as possible until they were through.

FInally, they did break through. It was quite possibly a transforming moment. The air was fresher, the sunshine more radiant without being too bright, the smell of fresh life clearer, than anywhere on earth. It felt like a paradise. Marian smiled, her eyes shooting open.

"Mari!" Helen exclaimed, throwing her arms around the sidhe, beginning to cry in relief.

Marian wrapped her arms around Helen, smiling warmly as she rose. Helen's mouth moved, but she couldn't say anything coherent, and so she just smiled and cried in happiness and relief as she hugged Marian tightly. Marian laughed merrily, stepped down from her cart and kissing Helen lightly on the cheeks. The doctor put a hand on Helen's shoulder.

"We have to go. It is not safe for humans to stay here more than a brief time." he said.

Helen turned around, surprised at the breach of protocol even through the tears, but nodded.

"Do we have to go out the same way we came, back through that mob?" Johansson asked.

"Yes."

Johansson suppressed the urge to yell again, instead looking wordlessly to the two soldiers. The three men reloaded the rifles. Helen took Marian's hand and squeezed it very tightly.

"OK." Helen finally said, and they moved.

Marian squeezed back. "Farewell, princess." she said, releasing it as they pushed back through the rath.

"Mari!" Helen exclaimed, struggling to grab a hold on Marian's hand again, but she couldn't escape Johansson's firm grip on her other arm, and was pulled through the rath with him and the others. The crowd was too thick to go in again.

"Stop! Stop!" Helen screamed at her bodyguard. "Mari's still in there!"

"It's too late now!" Johansson replied, pushing forward.

"No!" Helen insisted. "We have to go back! We have to get her! We have to go back!"

The crowd was just too thick, Helen's efforts were all in vain.

By the time Helen and her guards were clear, they noticed the doctor had joined the mob. From their vantage, they could safely see the rock begin to crack. The cracks widened but the mob didn't flee. They pushed more and more savagely to get through the portal before it collapsed. Civilization and even morality seemed largely stripped from the mob, as it often seems to be with the desperate, especially in a crowd. Even Boggans were gouging eyes and kicking ribs to get at the gate. Countless people lay trampled beneath the crowd, those too weak or too tired to hold their own. The rock creaked again, large fractures growing on both sides of the portal. Finally, it collapsed entirely, crushing screaming and squirming bodies beneath it. Even as the shocked crowd largely came out of it, wandering away dazed and sunk into self-loathing horror and disbelief, a few people clawed with bloody nails at the very fallen stones, now useless, as though they could tear the rath back open.
...
All over the Resurgent Dream the same thing was happening as millions of fairies tried to make their way through the few remaining trods. There couldn't have been more than a dozen still standing in the whole country. The death toll was mounting though no one had an estimate. The authorities were largely helpless to alleviate the crisis. Suffering massive desertion, the armed forced tried futiley to control the crowds. Even firing directly into them rarely had an effect, and they tried to avoid that except when absolutely necessary. All international travel except for emergency aid, including military aid, was suspended until further notice. Martial law had been declared.
...
Tasha Norland woke up next to her husband, putting a hand to her head. She looked over at her husband with a heavy grown as she dragged herself out of bed. Pausing and teetering a moment, Tasha fell to her knees and vomited blood.

Prince Andreus struggled with his last repetition in the gym at the Palace of the Moon and Stars, lifting the weights up onto the bars with the help of his spotter. He wordlessly motioned for his towel, which he was handed by the spotter and used to wipe the sweat from his brow.

"Your Highness," said a servant dressed in a formal uniform wearing a white powdered wig. He bowed and approached the Despot as he sat up on the weight bench. "A message from New Constantinople."

"Hmmph..." Andreus mumbled, reaching out his hand to accept the letter.

"It's from His Grace the Duke of Adrienople, and was marked most urgent." the servant bowed.

Andreus' eyes passed over it.

To: His Imperial Highness the Most Pious Prince Andreus, Despot of New Constantinople, Dauphin of Viennois, Crown Prince of Lavenrunz
From: His Grace Duke Mathieu d'Adrienople

Your Highness,

It is my melancholy duty to inform you that Mademoiselle la Comtesse d'Armenstar was taken ill with a most severe ailment, which our own doctors here in the Despotic Court of New Constantinople were unable to diagnose or treat. Her Highness Princess Helen insisted that a doctor from the Resurgent Dream be brought to court to examine Mlle d'Armenstar, and he advised that Mlle d'Armenstar's illness could only be treated by her return to Garmar, in the Resurgent Dream. The doctor warned that the journey would be perilous in the extreme.

At Her Highness' insistence, and despite all advice and protestations on my account, Mlle d'Armenstar was taken to Garmar, and despite my explicit forbidding Her Highness leave, Her Highness accompanied Mlle d'Armenstar to Garmar with only a light escort. I have had no further contact with Mesdemoiselles les Comtesses, or any member of their party.

I have the privilege to be, monsieur, Your Highness' humble servant,

Adrienople

Andreus frowned with concern, incensed that the one time his ordinarily submissive and obedient cousin put her foot down on an issue and defied instructions it was to put herself in danger, and worried for Marian's health. The letter was fairly sparse on specifics. He got up to his feet, and addressed the servant who had brought him the letter.

"Get me the Pantocratorian Ambassador to the Resurgent Dream on the telephone at once. I need to know what her sister has got herself into." Andreus ordered.

"Yes, sir." nodded the servant, before rushing off to get Princess Marie on the line.

"I'll leave the rest of the workout for later..." Andreus murmured to his spotter. "I'll do extra tomorrow or something... I'm getting changed."

The spotter nodded silently and Andreus walked off to the change room.

"Marie?" Andreus asked when the servant handed him the phone.

"André!" Marie replied, her voice sounding a little strained, but happy to hear her cousin's voice.

"Hello, how are you?" Andreus inquired.

"Oh, I'm holding up." Marie replied. "Things are... things are pretty bad here in Tarana."

"Yes, that's what I was calling about, Marie. What's going on in the Resurgent Dream? Why would it be dangerous to go to Garmar?" he asked, without explaining why he was asking.

"It's awful, André, the fae have all been developing this awful illness, it's like a plague. They've been collapsing left and right, screaming in pain, fainting... I saw a sidhe duchess drop to her knees and begin vomiting blood right in front of me this morning... it's so awful!" Marie told, her voice dripping with fear and concern.

"Good God..." Andreus mumbled, figuring that he was hearing the sort of symptoms Marian was suffering from.

"They're all trying to get back into the Dreaming, through these things called raths. They're rushing to Garmar. It's chaos here, André. Martial law has been declared. And the raths are beginning to collapse, so these people are... well they're rioting, they're out of control, they're so desperate to get through... I've heard that soldiers have had to shoot into the crowds to control them, and that even that isn't working. Regular travel in and out of the country has been prohibited... it's like the whole Danaan society is imploding... it's just terrible." Marie raved. "After this morning's incidents in the palace, I've locked myself in my apartments here with my guards... I'm scared, but I think I'm safe. Thank God I'm not in Garmar."

Andreus listened in silence. When she had finished, he took a deep breath.

"Marie... Helen's in Garmar." he told her gently.

"What?" Marie practically shrieked into the phone. "What's she doing there?"

"She was taking a sidhe there, Marian d'Armenstar. I..." Andreus started.

"André! She shouldn't have gone! It's chaos! She's in terrible danger!" Marie gasped. "I'm going to call the embassy at once, get them to look for her... oh God... if anything has happened to her..."

VADM Tucker Norland lay sleeping next to his trollish wife. He had just returned from a deployment with the Fleet and greatly enjoyed his reunion with Tasha. He had drifted to sleep thinking of his plans to have more time with his uniquely fascinating bride.

He awoke suddenly to the sound of Tasha groaning and crawling from the bed. He was about to ask what was wrong when he saw her collapse to her knees vomiting blood.

He jumped from the bed and put his arm around his wife. He laid her gently lowered her to a sitting position. “Tasha!” He cried, rubbing her shoulders. “Tasha, what’s wrong?”

Tucker looked frantically towards the phone, not wanting to leave his wife’s side. Gently, he laid her on the floor and stretched awkwardly for the phone. He dialed the base emergency number. “This is Vice Admiral Norland,” he barked into the phone. “I need an ambulance now. My wife is very ill.”

Within minutes, an ambulance sat outside the Norlands’ home, its blue and red lights casting a frantic and fateful light about the wakening neighborhood. A double crew of paramedics struggled to get Tasha down the steps and into the ambulance on a specially designed oversized gurney. Tucker shoved his way into the ambulance and held his wife’s hand. “Tasha,” he said trying to sound reassuring, “everything will be alright. We’ll be at the hospital soon.”

As the ambulance pulled into the Naval Hospital, Dr. Stefan Brinkman waited nervously for his patient. The paramedics struggled to get the gurney out of the ambulance, then rushed it and Tasha towards the emergency entrance. “Tasha,” the doctor said calmly, “it’s Dr. Brinkman. We’ll do everything we can.” The doctor looked up at VADM Norland. “What happened, sir?”

“We were asleep,” Tucker said, struggling to keep his composure, “Tasha woke up groaning. She fell to her knees and vomited blood.” Tucker shook his head. “She was fine earlier this evening…”

Brinkman placed a comforting hand on the admiral’s shoulder. “You know I did special training in the High Kingdom just to accommodate the exchange officers, and you know I’ll do everything possible.”

Tucker nodded his head.

“But,” Brinkman leaned close, “I’ve been reading reports coming from our Embassy in Tarana – they’re being routed through NavMed – and they’re having some kind of epidemic there among the non-human population.”

“How are they treating it?”

“The only treatment seems to be for the victim to return to the Dreaming through portals in Garmar.”

Tucker’s face fell and the color drained from his hands. “We’ll do whatever we have to do, Doctor.”

Brinkman nodded. “Let me rule out anything else. I’ve put a request in for a plane, just in case.” The doctor then turned back to his patient. “Tasha, can you tell me what happened?”

Tucker slumped against a wall and began to fish around his coat pocket. He pulled out his mobile. If Tasha needed a plane, he would not wait for normal channels. He dialed a number and waited. A deep baritone, though groggy, voice answered. “Sir Derek?” Tucker asked.

“Yes,” the Chief of Imperial Naval Operations answered. “Norland? Is that you?”

“Yes, sir. I need a favor, sir…”

"I do not know." Tasha answered her husband, standing back up. "It is troubling." She walked over to the window, still holding her head in her hand and staring off for a long moment. She frowned a little when he called the hospital. "I can deal with it. It is what my people do."

When Tucker called the hospital anyway, Tasha pulled away from his help on the steps. "You are overreacting, love. I am capable of walking."

Grudgingly, she let them place her on a gurney and drive her to the hospital in the ambulance. She did grow even more annoyed when her husband and the doctor spoke of her as though she were not there.

She frowned as she lay in her hospital bed. "I am not going anywhere. My husband is here. I am staying here."
...
As the last of the raths collapsed, those Fae who had not managed to get through remained. Reactions to being left behind were rather mixed. Some became even iller, proceeding deeper into an illness that could only lead to death. Others flocked to a few places where the old links remained strong, their exact wherabouts mysterious. Some found a way to become true changelings, shielding themselves in human form. Others seemed to be alright. Most, however, seemed to still be waiting, searching for some other way into the dreaming. It wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
...
Prime Minister Lacau stood quietly at the front of the half-empty Parliament. During a state of emergency, he had the power to declare an emergency session without a quorum, although doing so automatically resulted in new elections at the end of the state of emergency. Sighing, he began to read into the record the bills being proposed, emergency bills to deal with recent events. As each was read, it received an almost perfunctory approval.

"The Diplomatic Recall Act..."

"The Repeal of the Metallurgical Regulation Act..."

"The National Religious Disestablishment Act..."

"The Act to Summon a Convention of Constitutional Review...."

"The Homestead Act..."

"The Abandoned Property Act..."

"The Mists Absorption Act...."

"The Emergency Immigration Act...."

"The Expedited Naturalization Act..."

And so on through the night.

Tucker finished his call and put away his phone. He walked over to where Tasha lay on a gurney attended Dr. Brinkman. He laid a hand on Tasha’s shoulder.

“Brigadier,” Dr. Brinkman said, shifting to a more formal tone, “based on my examination I see no underlying cause for your illness. I can treat the symptoms, but everything I’ve read about the current crisis leads me to believe that the only course of treatment is for you to go to Garmar and pass through one of the portals into the Dreaming.” Brinkman looked hopefully towards VADM Norland. “And I know your husband will be going with …” Brinkman swallowed the last word as he saw Norland slowly shaking his head. “Admiral?”

Tucker Norland looked down at his wife and held her hand. “Tasha, my dear, I just got off the phone with Sir Derek. I was trying to arrange an urgent flight for us to the High Kingdom.” Tucker glanced away for a moment, then turned back to his wife. “He told me that…,” he swallowed hard. “He told me that he just received word from the Ops Center. It seems all the portals have collapsed. No one, including it seems the government in Tarana, quite knows quite what to do…”

Brinkman’s face fell. He had studied the basics of caring for the Fae, but whatever this was certainly was beyond him. He had counted on sending any Danaans in Excalbia to Garmar and through the raths to the Dreaming. Now, he had to find something else to do.

The physician looked down at Tasha. “Brigadier, we’ll do everything we can to treat you. We can certainly relieve the symptoms.” Brinkman turned to the nurse beside him. “Lieutenant, let’s get started.” The nurse nodded and began moving to administer something through the IV she had just hooked up to Tasha’s arm.

Tucker grabbed Tasha’s hand tighter and leaned close. “I’m sorry I panicked, my love,” he whispered. “It’s just that you’ve always been so… strong, so healthy. Seeing you… like that… frightened me.” He smiled thinly. “But, I’m here for you no matter what. We’ll do whatever you need – whatever you want.” Tucker glanced towards the doctor and the nurses, then back to Tasha. “Do you have any idea on what to do to treat this? I’m not sure Dr. Brinkman does…”

"No." Tasha answered. "It will either kill me or it will not. In either event, I believe I simply must wait. If there is nothing they can do here, I would like to wait at our own home." She smiled wanly, turning to the doctor. "Thank you for your help. You certainly did your best."
...
In accordance with the recent emergency acts, a message was dispatched to all governments hosting Danaan embassies.

In accordance with with the will of the people expressed through Parliament with the consent of their Sovereign, the Danaan High Kingdom will be temporarily recalling all diplomatic personnel without prejudice. This in no way indicates any change on the part of the High Kingdom towards your government and people, with whom we deeply value our relationship, but is caused solely by the necessities of domestic circumstances. You can count on the resumption of relations as they previously were following the crisis. Please note that the Resurgent Dream maintains its territorial claims to all countries recognizing the extraterritoriality of embassies and its occupational claim to all other embassies and all consulates unless these should be terminated according to the usual process in the host country concerned and that the Danaan government plans to return to all such facilities in short order.

((OOC: Hello all, one last time. I'm afraid this will be Akaton's final thread before it falls into anarchy and is no more. My apologies regarding the lateness of my arrival, but it has been some weeks since I could visit the forums.))


...
Empress Aiwyn ni Gwydion of Akaton was stepping down from her throne. Courtiers smiled for a moment before she collapsed. It was like tons of ice had fallen on her. Aiwyn let out a cry, blood leaking from her ears, nose, and mouth.

As Empress Aiwyn fell, a courtier was at her side her side in an instant, a look of horror on his face. He turned and shouted across the room to a guard who was running towards them.

"Summon a doctor at once," the courtier paused a moment, "and find the Emperor!"

In the anxious minutes that followed, the courtier did what he could for the Empress, gently wiping the blood from her face as they awaited the doctor's arrival. In truth, it was only a matter of minutes before the guard returned with the doctor in tow, but every second was as a lifetime. The doctor rushed to her side, checking for a pulse, sighing in relief at finding her still alive.

"How did this happen," he asked. The courtier responded in a shaky voice. "I, I do not know. She just collapsed here."

The doctor turned back to Aiwyn, removing a scanning device from his bag. He checked for a wound, a broken bone, anything to explain what was she was suffering from, but found none.

Presently, Emperor Phaeton Draconis entered form a side passage.

"What is happen..."

His voice trailed off as he caught sight of Aiwyn, sprawled on the floor soaked in blood. The doctor rose approaching the Emperor. Draconis looked to him with pleading eyes.

"She is alive, my lord, but there is nothing I can do for her. I have never seen any illness like this."

The Emperor walked past the doctor, kneeling beside his wife and taking her hand in his.

"Please Aiwyn, if you can hear my voice, stay with me."

Dr. Stefan Brinkman looked down at his patient and frowned. “When there is nothing we can do, it hardly feels we have done our best, Brigadier,” he said solemnly. He looked to VADM Norland, then back at Tasha. “I certainly urge you to remain here, Brigadier; that way we could at least treat the symptoms as they arise…”

“No, Doctor,” Tucker said, still holding his wife’s hand. “Tasha wants to go home and face whatever this is on her own terms. So, that is just what we will do.” He looked down at his wife and smiled weakly. “Whatever happens, we’ll face it together, won’t we, Tasha.”

“If your minds are made up,” Brinkman said slowly. He looked at the IV. “At least give us half an hour to finish administering fluids and some meds to treat the nausea and fever.”

He looked back to Tasha. “Just because I’m letting you go home, Ma’am, doesn’t mean that you can try to follow a normal routine. Take it easy. Rest. Get plenty of fluids and nourishment. I’ll give you medicine for nausea, fever and pain. If there is any change in your condition, call me.”

The doctor raised his hand as Tucker and Tasha started to object. “Now, you won’t necessarily have to come back here in an ambulance; I can come to you. We’ll abide by your wishes and do our best to treat you at home.”

Aiwyn opened her eyes a little. "It hurts, love. It really hurts."
...
Tasha took her husband's hand as they returned home. "Whatever happens Tucker, I love you."

((Sorry for the short post. Nothing else to put right now.))

A group of courtiers were in an antechamber of the Autumn Palace, standing and waiting. They were mostly focused on a particular door, but another one opened, and a man in a black and silver uniform marched in bearing a stylized lovely object on a tray. With sweeping bows, the courtiers made obeisance as the under chamberlain at the door declared "Her Majesty's phone!"

Entering through the other door, he knelt and proffered the tray. "The phone, Your Majesty."

Empress Aurora nodded and said to Baron Ehrfurt "Please make a note to the Imperial Grand Chamberlain: I would like a phone installed in this room." the Baron bowed. She picked it up and dialled a number, believing it to connect her with the personal line of Queen Agwene of the Kingdom of the Resurgent Dream.

Agwene was standing on her balcony in full armor, looking out over the people below. They had been coming the last few days just to see that she was alright. Correspondingly, she wasn't showing any sign of weakness, even though she felt it. A courtier in green and gold walked up, bowing. "Your High Majesty, your personal line."

Ordinarily, anyone who had that number was a call she would take without much thought. Now, her time was rather scarce. "Who is it?"

"Her Imperial Majesty of Lavenrunz."

Agwene nodded. "I'll take it in my private study."

A few moments later, Agwene's voice, sounding inevitably pained and exhausted, answered. "Good even, Your Imperial Majesty. Thank you for calling."

"Greetings, Queen Agwene. You don't sound very good. How are you?" said Aurora quietly.

"Are many people in the room with you, Empress Aurora?" Agwene asked in the same tone.

"Just a couple...why?" asked Aurora.

"I don't want many people overhearing that I'm ill. People need to see their queen strong. But, if it's only a few, then I am as sick as most of the Fae around here. I'm sure you've heard accounts of the sickness from your distinguished ambassador to my court."

"Yes. I've also heard about a rising state of anarchy. Is there anything I can do to help?" asked Aurora.

"Not...materially." Agwene said, sounding thoughtful.

"Anything else I can do?"

"After this is over, my people will want to be reassured about their situation in the world. A gesture from Lavenrunz...something symbolic....would go a long way."

"Was there anything you had in mind?" Aurora asked her.

"I didn't want to ask for anything too specific. I wouldn't want you to do anything that didn't suite the interests and character of Lavenrunz. But, if you want a specific request, I'd like you to bring a high level entourage to the wedding of my successor, as I did to yours."

"Oh, it would be my pleasure. Agwene..." Aurora began hesitantly. "I think that you really misunderstood me the other day, and that I lost my temper because it was so hard to get things across. I apologize for that. But I think the best way to explain what I was trying to say is...I don't much trust anyone. I don't mean that you have not done enough to win my trust, I mean that it is hard for me to fully trust any person. But insofar as I can, I do trust you."

"You have nothing to apologize for, Aurora. My behavior was unfit for the situation and beneath my station."

Aurora was a bit taken aback, and paused. "Oh." she said. "Well...um...what else did you have to tell me then?"

"I was going to tell you that you that soon to be High King Owain has my full confidence and that I hope you will place what confidence you have in me in him."

"I will. Agwene, what is going to happen to you?" Aurora inquired.

"I'm not sure. I will be alive but...elsewhere. I might be able to visit this world sometimes. If I can, I shall be sure to pay a call on Your Imperial Majesty's Court sometime."

"If not...then I want you to know that it has been an honor working with you."

"Agwene, you have been a good friend. I will make sure that the world knows it. It will be...a little darker when you leave." Aurora's voice was muffled with sadness as she said this.

Agwene could be heard breathing in, more sad than pained now. "I will always be your friend, Aurora. You know that, right?"

"Yes, Agwene, and I will always be yours. I hope you will come back, but I promise to be an ally to King Owain as well." Aurora vowed.

"Thank you." Agwene paused a moment. "When I spoke to Owain about Lavenrunz....I told him that he should not expect to agree with your policy on everything, that there would be some times when he would need to compromise or simply pursue a policy different than that being pursued by our allies. We're both heads of state. We know it sometimes works that way even between allies. But I did tell him there was one thing he could count on. That he could always count on Lavenrunz acting from duty and conviction...not from the ulterior motives pursued by many nations."

As long as we don't have another Mirbach in charge. thought Aurora. "Thank you Agwene. And it is true. "

"You can count on the same thing from Owain. I wouldn't be yielding the throne to him if I had any doubt of that."

"Of course." Aurora said, hesitating only a moment, "Oh Agwene, I'm sorry my last words face to face were angry ones. Can you forgive me?"

"I already have. Can you forgive me?"

"Willingly and gladly." said Aurora warmly.

Agwene spoke warmly, the tiredness disappearing for a moment. "Then I am glad we spoke. I would speak longer but...these are not days when my duties can spare me for any length of time."

"Take care, Aurora."

"Be well, and Blessings go with you, Agwene, my friend." said Aurora.

"You as well." Agwene said, hanging up.

Marie put her arm around her elder sister's shoulder as Helen cried, having just told her the whole story about how she had come to be sitting in the Pantocratorian embassy to the Resurgent Dream.

"Helen, that's a terrible story..." Marie told her. "I'm so sorry your friend died. Whatever is going on here, affecting all the fae, is truly terrible."

As the two royals spoke, the Danaan Lieutenant guarding the entrace to Aaron Blvd., which constained the Pantocratorian, Lavenrunzian, and Excalbian Embassies, got on the radio with the Pantocratorian guards at the embassy. "This is Lieutenant Swift. I have a young lady here who claims she needs emergency admittance to your embassy. She doesn't have a pass but she claims the ambassador will recognize her name."

The intercom on Marie's desk buzzed, and she got up from the couch next to her sister to go over to answer it.

"Mademoiselle, there is a young lady who claims she needs emergency access to the embassy. She has no pass, but says you will recognise the name." Marie's secretary relayed.

"What's her name?" Marie asked.

"Countess Marian ni Eiluned." the secretary said. Marie frowned and looked at Helen, who hadn't heard the intercom because she was too busy sobbing and wiping away her tears.

"Send her in." Marie scowled, believing this person to be some imposter here to play a cruel joke on Helen. Once Helen said it wasn't the Countess, Marie intended to have her arrested. Wearing a firm frown on her pretty face, she turned to the door and waited to greet the imposter.

A human woman of about eighteen entered, dressed in torn and bloody rags. There was still dried blood on her face and her limbs were visible through tears in her gown. All that aside, she carried herself with the bearing of a noble who happened to be messy at the moment. It might be hard to recognize Marian in her current appearance, but the eyes, the face, something in the walk....something in the way she looked at Helen, like no one else ever could....were distinctly Marian. Briefly courtseying to Marie, she proceeded to race towards Helen with her arms wide. "Helen!" Her voice was unchanged.

"Pfft! You're not even a sidhe!" Marie scowled. "What kind of sick..."

"Mari!" Helen exclaimed in shock. "Mari, it's really you?"

She leapt up from the couch and embraced her, ignoring the blood and Marian's disshevelled appearance.

"Yes, yes, it's me!" Marian yelled, hugging Helen tightly to her and not letting go. She kissed her massively on each cheek.

"What happened to you? I thought you were killed!" Helen cried, sobbing with relief.

"Wait... this is Countess Marian?" Marie asked.

"No! No! I wasn't killed." Marian said, grinning. "You saved my life!"

"But the rath collapsed... and you were inside..." Helen said. "I thought you were dead!"

"Not inside." Marian corrected. "On the other side."

"Mari, what happened to you?" Helen asked, stepping back for a moment, and realising that Marian had changed dramatically.

"It's a long story." she said. Marian then blushed, turning to Marie. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I shouldn't have just brushed past you like that in your own embassy."

"Marie, this is Mademoiselle la Comtesse Marian ni Eiluned." Helen said, grinning through her tears. "Mari, this is my sister, Princess Marie."

"It is an honour to meet you, Your Highness." Marian said politely.

"Erm..." Marie started, blushing a little at her outburst. "The honour is mine, Your Excellency."

"Would you mind if I spoke to your sister alone for a few minutes?"

"No, of course not..." Marie replied, biting her lower lip ever so lightly. She looked very much like Helen, especially when she did that. She then slipped out of her own office as unobstrusively as possible.

Marian turned to Helen. "I made it through the rath. Things were....well, you felt what they were like on the other side. Eternal spring, eternal youth, immortality..."

"Why didn't you come back with us?" Helen asked her.

"It was eternal spring there, the natural home of a fairy. It's hard for anyone to leave, much less a sidhe." Marian said quietly. "Hardly any Fae can exist as themselves on Earth anymore anyway. I couldn't have come back and lived as I was at the time."

"You're here now though..." Helen mumbled, hugging Marian again.

"Yeah...I gave all that up..." Marian said very softly. "Eternal spring without you would always feel like winter to me."

"Wait, what do you mean you gave that up?" Helen asked her.

"I mean I can't go to the Dreaming anymore. I meant I'm going to age and eventually die." Marian said, still softly. "I mean I'd rather get old and fat and wrinkly with you and eventually die with you than live forever in youth and beauty alone."

"I..." Helen mumbled, stepping back from Marian in some alarm. "I don't understand... what did you do?"

"I just told you." Marian said. "I choose this world with all it entails. Are you angry?"

"You gave up immortality for me?" Helen asked, her eyes going wide, her tone shocked, frightened.

"Yes." Marian said quietly, looking down.

Helen's mouth trembled and fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Mari..." she murmured. "I can't believe you'd do that for me... I can't believe I'm responsible for you giving up immortality! Oh God, Mari!"

"I love you." she said quietly, still looking down. "I really love you."

Helen reached her soft hand to Marian's cheek, and gently guided her gaze back up. She leant in and kissed her, slowly, tenderly. Marian kissed back, a tear rolling down her cheek as she wrapped her hands around Helen.

"I don't think..." Helen whispered breathlessly between kisses. "...I don't think I'll ever be able to earn that much love... ever... but I'll try, I promise I'll try... I love you Mari... I'll try..."

"You don't need to worry about earning it, Helen. You have it." Marian said happily as she kissed Helen back.

"I don't deserve that much love... I'm not worth giving up immortality for..." Helen cried.

"You are to me." Marian said, giving her a reassuring kiss on the nose and a little, playful squeeze on the rump as she stepped back for a moment. Marian looked off thoughtfully and then blushed, giving a half-nervous giggle. Helen blushed as well, but didn't say anything about it.

"You've been hurt..." she said with concern, reaching towards the dried blood on Marian's face.

"Does this make us dykes?" Marian asked nervously. "I know it's a silly thing to ask with the world falling apart around us but...I don't know."

Helen bit her lower lip, and turned bright scarlet. She backed away and sat back down on the couch, looking at her feet.

"Don't talk like that Mari." she mumbled.

"Well, we need to deal with it." Marian said. "I'm in love with you. I'm happy being in love with you and...I can live with whatever that means."

"I love you too Mari but..." Helen blanched. "I..."

"Go on." Marian said.

Helen looked up at her and met her gaze with pleading eyes, still red from crying.

"I'm not ready... not ready for that." Helen told her, terrified that her fear would somehow make Marian's decision to give up her immortality the wrong decision.

Marian nodded. "Helen, it's already final. I couldn't go back now, even if I wanted to, which I don't and never will."

"Mari," Helen told her. "I love you. I'm... I'm in love with you."

Marian took Helen in her arms and kissed her softly.

The aircraft seemed to be gliding painfully slow through the skies as Vethara bit her lower lip, clutching the skirt of her robe anxiously, her eyes fixed on the sight of the ground beneath them. It was hard to describe her feelings, ever since she learned what was happening systematically to the Fae population of the country she was heading to, and even if at first she consoled herself with thoughts that Vicotira would not be touched, her hopes just faded away in the days that followed the beginning of the drama. And now there was Vethara, speeding to the Resurgent Dream to see one of the very, very few persons she could call friend. She did not know what she would be able to do to help, she actually felt there was nothing she could do, yet she cared not. “This is why you will not become a good ruler, Your Highness. You act impulsively, despite your Curare training.” The words of the High Coordinator rang in her head and she did not care for them. Her emerald eyes dashed up to look at the eternally calm face of the High Coordinator, that man who knew so much, yet who never revealed anything.

“Why are we going so slowly?” Vethara said with a frown, as if the man would be able to make her appear in Tanara by magic. But then again, he could do so much, nothing was impossible to him.

“Slowly? I believe we have outdistanced our escort, Your Highness. And I am sure the pilots of this aircraft will quit their job after today’s flight.”

“It is not the right time for your cynical humour.” The young Archduchess looked back into the glass, sighing deeply as finally the ground began to grow closer with each passing second, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. Finally, the vertical landing and take-off aircraft came to a standstill in the airs and touched down upon a landing pad, with Vethara already by the doors as they opened, caring not for a ladder and jumping off on the tarmac, her eyes immediately fixing upon a man in some sort of Danaan uniform.

“Ah, Your Highness, we have been warned you would come…” The man smiled as he gave a glance over the Taraskovyan lady, his eyes quickly switching to the High Coordinator that was by that time already a step behind Vethara, to her right.

“Vic-…” Vethara bit her tongue and breathed deeply to calm down. “Grand Duchess Vicotira ni Gwydion, I need to see her.”

“Yes, as I have said, we have been warned…”

“Then why are you wasting time?” Vethara frowned as the Danaan man blinked in confusion and invited the two Taraskovyans to follow him.

[OOC: I hope you don't mind me claiming some license there... ]

((OOC: I'll go with it. In the future, though, when a post would be too short without one of my people talking in it, best to just do a co-write on IRC))

Colonel Horatio Gladstone frowned slightly. "Your Highness will please remember that we are currently under a state of martial law." His tone was polite and deferential though his words were a subtle reminder that, titles aside, on Danaan shore, at this time, he was in charge. "Her Royal Highness is being moved to a special location kept in reserve by the royal family. She was being prepared for travel to the Dreaming before she was informed you were coming. Against the advice of her doctors, she is now waiting to say good bye to Your Highness. If you will please follow me..."

The colonel walked towards a waiting military vehicle in a small motorcade of similar armed vehicles and troops. The army was taking no chances with the safety of a visiting royal. A sergeant opened the door for Vethara to step into the vehicle.

It was then Vethara’s turn to blink confusedly as she followed the Danaan officer, the High Coordinator always a step behind her. “I am sorry…” The Archduchess said quietly. “It is just that I do not clearly understand what is happening.” She smiled a little, her frustration wearing off now that she was close to her goal; the words that Vicotira wished to see her were also quite reassuring.

Vethara got into the vehicle put at her disposal, followed by the High Coordinator. “Quite efficient they are.” The man said to himself. “Despite martial law and apparent chaos, they swiftly organize an impressive escort.” Vethara blinked at the man, failing to understand what he meant.

“Your Highness, when the country is under martial law and its military is facing a high rate of decrease in personnel numbers, each professional soldier still in service is worth his weight in gold. And I doubt the men ensuring your safety are fresh recruits.” The man smiled as the Archduchess sighed and looked away, to avoid his gaze, the gaze of a mentor explaining the same lesson to his student over and over again.

“So you mean that my coming causes more harm than good?” The man only shrugged as he looked out of the window, leaving Vethara without an answer.

The vehicles drove in silence for some miles. Things were no longer chaotic but eerily calm. It seemed like the Shattering was over and the world, for the people here at least, had been changed forever. The people they passed were not frantic or scared or even sad. They simply seemed dazed. So much of what they had thought they'd known had simply gone.

The soldiers pulled up outside a small house in the country. They walked Vethara inside and let her into a room where Vicotira lay in bed. She was bleeding slightly and looked pallid and faint. She smiled slightly, looking up at Vethara. "Thanks for coming." she murmured in a cracked voice.

As Gladstone left the two royals in the room, he turned and spoke to Vicotira. "Your Royal Highness, the High Queen is supposed to arrive in another hour."

Vicotira nodded. "Thank you, Colonel." She then looked weakly at Vethara. "I have to leave when my sister gets here. I'm glad to have a chance to say good-bye first though."
...
Meanwhile, a ship was dispatched to pick up Aiwyn and bring her with her family, to the only thing that could save them.

New Boston, Excalbia

VADM Tucker Norland finished up in the kitchen, placing the last of the food on the tray. He picked up the tray and carried it to the enclosed sun porch where his wife, BRIG Tasha Norland, laid – somewhat reluctantly – on an oversized daybed.

Tasha, he knew, did not like being off her feet this way, but Tucker insisted. He was going to take care of her and see her through this. One way or another.

“Tasha,” he said, laying the tray on a table, “do you feel like a little breakfast?”

A Village in Shieldcrest, Danaan High Kingdom

Dr. Amber Kule dismounted her horse and tied it to a rail outside the stables of the rural inn. She had been in the countryside for weeks doing research. While she could have used an SUV, a horse had always proven far more practical. With chaos engulfing the High Kingdom, that was even truer now. The highways and roads were jammed.

While she had been in a remote area, she was aware of what was happening. The messages on her phone from Ambassador Taurins had been filled with panicked details of the growing problem. Although she had left the Embassy’s employ years ago, the Ambassador had turned to her for advice as soon as the extent of the illness had become apparent. He had implored her to come back to Tarana to advise the Embassy, yet she couldn’t. At least not until she knew whether Amir had made it through the raths or if he was still on this side. And if he was, she needed to see him. Be with him. And take care of him.

Amber shook her head as she walked into the inn. She had wanted Amir to come with her on her trip, but he – for reasons he couldn’t seem to explain at the time – needed to undertake another journey. They had agreed to meet her, at this inn, on this day. If Amir was on this side and still able to, she knew he would be here. If not, he would have found some way to get a message here.

She didn’t see anyone inside the inn, so she rang the bell laying on the table.

As Draconis knelt beside Aiwyn, a palace guard entered the chamber. He stopped a few feet from the Emperor, bowing before addressing the elf.

"A report for you my lord."

Draconis rose, the guard hurriedly continuing.

"We have detected an approaching ship of Danaan origin. However, it appears that the High Kingdom has fallen into a state of chaos. Riots have broken out around the raths. Information is limited, but before we lost communications with these areas, we picked up scattered transmissions regarding some sort of strange affliction striking the Fae population."

The Emperor anxiously ran a hand through his raven black hair, murmuring more to himself than the guard.

"By the gods, what is happening to this world?"

“What are your orders my lord?”

Draconis brought his thoughts back to the present, quickly answering the guard.

“Grant the ship clearance to dock at the palace immediately and inform them that the Empress is in dire need of medical attention.”

The Emperor returned to Aiwyn’s side, bringing a pillow from a side chamber. He gently lifted her head, placing the pillow between her head and the cold stone floor where she had fallen. Once more, he took her hand in his, speaking softly.

“Is there anything that can be done to help you, love?”

Vethara bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears that came to her as she saw her dear friend in such a state, a sharp contrast with the joyful Vicotira that she had known. She kneeled down by the bed, so that her face was aligned with the Sidhe’s, and reached out with a hand to stroke Vicotira’s hair gently.

“I couldn’t just let you go without saying buh bye.” Vethara smiled sadly. “Will everything be alright once you get… there?” She sighed deeply as she remained calm, at least appeared so, even if her emerald eyes were sparkling more than usual because of the few tears that managed to get through.

“Will you come visit me in my dreams? They are always so boring…” She smiled. “Maybe bring some handsome blokes over. The ones around here are a tad… disappointing.” She chuckled and smiled again, her eyes never leaving the face of her friend.

Vicotira smiled weakly at Vethara. "I'm glad you came, Vethara. It will be a good last memory of Earth. And, yes, I'll visit your dreams as often as I can and I will bring the most beautiful dreamlords imaginable. Just you wait and see!"
...
Aiwyn whimpered, blood dripping down her chin as she looked up at the Elf. "I...I don't want to leave you. I never want to leave you!" she exclaimed.

Meanwhile, the ship was docking. Captain Jerry Hammond rushed onto the dock in person. "Where is the Empress?" he asked swiftly, a team with a stretcher following.
...
Tasha nodded a little. "I do. I am hungry...hungrier than I can remember being in years."
...
Amir answered the door. He looked very ill but he seemed to almost forget his suffering as he took Amber in his arms and kissed her. "Amber! You came!"

Captain Hammond was met by Commissar Luther Harkon, commander of the palace guard. The Commissar gestured to the stretcher team to follow him as he turned to lead them inside.

"Her majesty is in the main audience chamber."

_______________

Aiwyn's words brought tears to the Emperor's eyes. It was the anguish of helplessly watching her slip away, of seeing her blood on his hands as he cradled her head. Draconis held her close, choking back tears as he spoke.

"Don't say that, you're not going to die, you can't..."

Tucker smiled and squeezed Tasha’s hand. He took her appetite as a positive sign. He released it with a kiss. “Here, why don’t we get you elevated a little to make it easier to eat.”

With effort, Tucker helped Tasha into sitting position and piled more pillows onto the daybead behind her, propping her up. “How’s that?” He asked.

“We have, eggs, blueberry muffins, sausage and juice this morning. And if you want more, I can make more,” he added as he handed his wife her plate.

He sat down in a chair beside her and waited for her to eat.

* * *

“Amir!” Amber exclaimed throwing her arms around the eshu. “Of course I came,” she said between kisses. She was thrilled to be in Amir’s arms again, but she could sense his weakness. She reached her hands up and held his face. “Amir, how are you, my love?”

Tasha nodded. "You are so good to me, Tucker. I do not think I deserve you." She ate eagerly when food was put in front of her, devouring it in a few minutes. "I feel like I am going to make it. They said on the news that some people who stayed on Earth just...got better with time. I want to be one of those."
...
Amir shook his head. "I can't stay, Amber. I'm going to have to go with the others. However...I can take you with me. I'm not going to pressure you. You'd be leaving behind everything you've known. But you have always been interested in this stuff and I really don't want to leave you. You're the most beautiful sight my eyes have ever seen. It's up to you. You should understand that, if you come, there's no going back."
...
Hammond approached the Emperor and the Empress, bowing. "Your Majesties...I'm Captain Jerry Hammond. High Queen Agwene wants Her Majesty to join her in departing for the Dreaming." He paused, looking up at Draconis. "I know it means separation, but it is likely the only way Her Imperial Majesty can live."

Draconis looked to Aiwyn for a moment. There was sadness in his eyes, accompanied by a distant glimmer of hope. At once the fear of her death was gone, and though its place was taken by a different kind of loss, she would live, and he knew that was all that truly mattered.

Turning back to Hammond, he fought the emotion from his voice.

"I... I understand. Empress Aiwyn's safety is paramount to any other concerns. Do what must be done. I will accompany my wife until such time as she departs this world."

Tucker shook off his wife’s praise. “No, Tasha, you deserve better than me.” He smiled. “I’m just happy you settled for me.”

He felt relieved as he watched Tasha eat. She did, in fact, look a little a better; her color was returning and she sounded stronger.

“Would you like some more?” He asked as she finished her plate.

He held her hand and felt his heart pound when she talked of “making it.” Tucker Norland had never been a religious man, not even in a casual sense – a bit of an anomaly among the upper reaches of Excalbian society. However, he had prayed a lot during Tasha’s illness. He didn’t know if anyone was there to hear him, but it made him feel better. And now, just maybe, those prayers were being answered.

“I’ve heard the same reports, my love,” he said hopefully. “And you’re the strongest person I’ve ever known.” He kissed his wife gently. “I always knew this wouldn’t keep you down.” He looked down at the empty plates. “Should I get something else now?”

* * *

Amber’s eyes widened. “Go with you…” she said slowly. Tears welled up in her eyes and she stroked the side of Amir’s face. “Of course I’ll go with you. I don’t ever want to be separated from you.”

She leaned into Amir and held him tight. “You are the most beautiful, fascinating person I’ve ever met. I could spend a lifetime just listening to your tales! To join you on this journey…” She pulled away and flashed a bittersweet smile. “It's more than I could have hoped for.”

She looked away for a moment. “I know time is of the essence. I guess there’s no time to go to the Embassy…” She smiled the bittersweet smile again. “But I would like to send some messages… some farewells…”

Tasha kissed her husband back equally gently. Then she pulled him closer and kissed him more passionately. "I just want you, Tucker."
...
Amir nodded. "You have time for that. I'll be standing right here. Be back soon."
...
The captain nodded as a medical team put Aiwyn on a stretcher and carried her to the ship's medical bay. They lay her down and then left her with a doctor and her husband. The ship began to move towards the Resurgent Dream.

Tucker Norland smiled and returned his wife’s kiss with equal passion. “You are feeling better,” he murmured between kisses.

* * *

With tears in her eyes and smile on her face, Amber let go of Amir and stepped back through the door of inn. She pulled out her phone and dialed the direct number for her old boss, the Excalbian ambassador to the High Kingdom.

“Hello. Taurins speaking,” the ambassador’s voice answered from the phone.

“Sir Adam. This is Amber. Dr. Amber Kule.”

“My God, Amber!” She could hear the surprise and relief in the ambassador’s voice. “We’ve been trying to get in touch with you. Something dreadful is happening or has happened to the Fae. Our science people don’t know what to make of it. The country seems to be slipping into chaos. Do you have any idea what is going on? And how soon can you get to Tarana?”

“Sir Adam,” Amber swallowed hard, “I do know what is happening but not why. In any case, I’m afraid I’d be of no help; this has to run its course. And…,” she paused and sighed heavily, “I’m not coming back to Tarana.”

“Amber, now see here, the Empire needs you. We need you. I know your field research is important, but…”

“No, sir,” Amber interjected, “you don’t understand. It’s Amir. He needs to go. And I’m going with him. We’re leaving this world. For good I’m afraid.”

“Amber, no,” the ambassador said excitedly, “you can’t…”

“I must. Now, please, Sir Adam,” her tone was pleading and the ambassador fell silent to listen, “I need a favor. I haven’t time to call my family and friends. My family’s contact information is still on file at the Embassy. You and the Consul General know my friends here and my family knows my friends back in Excalbia,” the analytical part of her mind, working even at such an emotional time noted that she did not refer to Excalbia as home, nor did she feel it as such, “please tell them all that I love them and will miss but that I need to do this. This will be the grandest adventure of all and there is no one I’d rather take it with than Amir.”

“Understood, Amber,” the ambassador said solemnly.

“Thank you, sir.” Amber sobbed quietly. “I have to go now. Farewell, sir.”

She hung up the phone and walked back into the inn. She threw her arms around Amir, pulled him close and kissed him. Then, pulling back just a bit, she asked, “Where to from here?”

As the ship departed, Draconis settled near Aiwyn. He spent the first minutes of the journey in solemn silence, with thoughts of what could have been. It was, perhaps, the first time he wished not to be an emperor, to be able to just give up life on the mortal plane and follow his wife into the Dreaming. But, of course, it was hope in vain, for there was nothing to change what duty required of him. He breathed a sigh of regret, giving voice to his thought.

"I'm so sorry things had to end this way."

Aiwyn reached up her hand and gently squeezed his, bringing it to her lips and kissing it. She got a little blood on his hand. "I'll try to find you again, Phaeton, somehow. There'll never be anyone else. I'll fight to get back to you."
...
A few hours later, Tasha woke up again and reached for the remote control. She flipped on the television. "I wonder if Excalbian news has any more about the crisis."
...
Amir took Amber's hand and walked with her into the countryside until they came to a large rock. He took out a piece of chalk and scrawled a door on the rock...a door which then really opened into a strange and beautiful field. He took Amber's hand and together they stepped through.

Vethara smiled as she kept on stroking Vicotira’s hair. “I am already impatient.” She leant forward and kissed Vicotira on the forehead, as a sister would kiss a sister, before straightening her back again. “I’ll be missing you.” The young Archduchess smiled again as she looked into her friend’s eyes, lingering for a moment, as she made sure to remember them forevermore. “And thank you for everything.”

Vicotira smiled up at Vethara a little. "I didn't really do anything." she said softly. She rolled over a little in the bed, making a small involuntary groan as she shifted her weight around. "I should be the one thanking you."
...
Aiwyn's ship was now beginning its descent over the Resurgent Dream. The difference between the Danaan mainland and Akaton was very small indeed. Aiwyn's mind went back to when she first met Phaeton so many years ago. Her mother was throwing a ball, essentially to marry her off. Aiwyn had been told she could choose any respectable royal at the ball but it had still felt like a forced marriage at first. She had to marry someone and she hadn't had the chance to meet any of them beforehand. Still, Phaeton had been so...well, considerate of her. She had gone from being anxious to being content in just a few hours. Since then they'd shared so much. She remembered the Valentine's Day when she arranged to have flowers showered down upon the capital in his name. She remembered when they went for a swim out on an isolated coast and spoke with a mermaid. But most of all, she remembered knowing each night when she went to bed that she would wake up by his side in the morning. She thought she would every morning for the rest of her life. How could she go on? How could she live without that?

Draconis had known, from the very moment he met Aiwyn at that fateful courtship ball so long ago, that he wished to spend all eternity by her side. He remembered all the time they had spent together. They were happy memories, not because of what they had done or where they had been, but simply because it was time spent with someone he loved and who he knew loved him in return. The thought of being apart was like a crushing weight upon his soul, for what was left of life without her?

He smiled weakly as Aiwyn kissed his hand. If he noticed the blood, it didn't matter to him.

"We'll be together again, Aiwyn, in this life or the next. So long as you have hope, I will as well."