3

"How long must I wait till she wakes?" A voice boomed.

Frowning at the tone I tried to open my eyes, but my body wouldn't listen. The sound of rushing feet followed by hushed voices, entered the area adding to my frustration.

"My King, she has lost blood she must rest." Spoke the same girl from the morning. Taking a sharp breath, I heard the man hiss under his breath.

"Then patch her up and get her healed." Sighing, the lady moved closer to me. Placing her hand over my wound, I bit back the need to scream as a hot searing pain shot through my middle.

Taking her hand off my stomach, I heard her sigh. "We have run out of the healing water from the cave, my King."

"Then get more!" He boomed.

Groaning from the loud voice, I pulled my head to the side. All I wanted to do was sleep, was that so hard to ask for? The voices seemed to be too loud for my ears to handle, as I tried desperately to shut out the sounds. At my sudden movement, someone gently grasped my chin.

"You're awake?" The voice whispered.

Slowly opening my eyes, I blinked away the blur so I could gaze up into William's blue orbs. Smiling slightly, I gently pulled my head out of his grasp. "It's hard to sleep when the King is being loud." Speaking of the King. Looking around I tried to find him. He had been here hadn't he? I mean after all the Lady's healer had addressed the King. As if sensing my confusion, William sat on the bed.

"What's wrong?" He whispered. Looking down at my stomach he frowned. "Are you in pain?"

Shaking my head, I moved my gaze back to him. "Where is the King?" I asked. Looking at the lady's healer, I frowned. "You did address the King, did you not?"

Frowning, she looked at William. Following her gaze I noticed his eyes closed, a frown settled on his face. "William?" I whispered.

Opening his eyes he took a deep breath. "My father was killed." His voice broke as he spoke, and I could see he was struggling to breathe.

Taking a deep breath, I gazed up at him. His hands were resting on his lap, tightly balled into fists. Reaching out I placed my hand over his, hoping to calm him down. "I'm sorry, William."

Shaking his head, he smiled down at me. "It's alright. You must know what happened..." Taking a deep breath, he continued. "Shortly after the attack on the compound, we managed to get to safety. Right away I sent one of my men to see my father to make sure he knew what had happened, and to request help... when my soldier had arrived,  the kingdom had already been taken over by Toban and his rogues... My father's head placed the centre of attention at the gates."

Taking a sharp breath, I felt my eyes blur. How William would've felt... I couldn't even think of anything to say that would comfort him. Yes, I thought I had lost my father, but this was way worse. Nobody deserves to see their loved ones head the centre of attention.

Licking my bottom lip, I closed my eyes. "I'm so sorry, William."

Although he smiled, it didn't quite feel right. "You didn't know. How could you? You've been out for twelve months now."

"What?" I yelled. Frowning, finally, everything dawned on me. "That's why... everyone was shocked when they had seen me?"

Nodding, William gently gripped my hands. "Everyone thought you had died."

Confused, I asked, "But surely you would've known I was okay. I mean Aurora is still alive."

Licking his lips he turned his attention to the lady's healers. Jerking his head towards the entrance of the tent, I watched as they nodded before leaving. Turning to me with a sigh, it seemed as if he was struggling to find his words. "That's the thing, Abagail... no one knows where she is."

Shocked, I shook my head. I needed to connect with her to prove she was alive. Closing my eyes I tried to call for her, but there was nothing. I couldn't feel her in the back of my mind. Gazing up at William through my blurred vision, I shook my head. "Tell me you're lying... please just tell me you're lying to me."

"I'm sorry, we're trying to find her but no one is talking."

Pulling my hands out of his grasp, I looked away. I had been out for twelve months, I was still not healing and Aurora was missing. Placing my hand over my wound, I gently rubbed the bandage. "If I've been out for twelve months, then why haven't I healed?"

"There's a good answer for that." A voice answered.

Turning around from his position on the bed, William smiled at the elderly lady at the entrance. Wearing a long white gown, with specks of silver, was the same old lady from the castle. The symbol that was on her forehead was now gone. It looked like it had been cut out as a nasty scar was in its place. Walking closer to me, she smiled. "I'm glad you have awoken, Abagail."

Arching a brow, I stared at this woman. Again, she would have to heal me. My hate for the healers was something that stemmed back to when I was five. I had gotten cut by one of my father's daggers. I had gone crying to the healer at our village, only to receive a slap on the wrist for crying over something so minor. But that wasn't the only thing. I had seen a healer deny a mother the chance to save her baby. She had a stillborn and instead of using her magic to bring the baby back to life, the healer simply laughed and walked away. I still remember the screams of the woman at the loss of her baby.

"Hello..." I whispered.

Moving closer to the back of the bed, I sat up slightly as I ignored the burn in my middle.

Sighing, she shook her head. "I see you still don't want me around."

"Then maybe it's wise you left then." Smirking, I could just imagine Aurora scolding me for my rude behaviour.

Turning to me with a frown, William shook his head. "Abagail, if it wasn't for Healer Marry, you wouldn't be here."

"That and her father." She stated.

Turning to her with a frown, I couldn't help the harsh tone that came out. "My father died when I was young."

Placing a hand on my own, William gave them a gentle squeeze. I knew it was wrong for me to feel this way, but after what he did how could I trust him again? He had lied to not only me but my mother as well. Closing my eyes I took a deep breath before opening them once again.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lash out at you. You have done nothing wrong to me. Please, accept my apology."

Walking towards me, Mary placed her hand into her pocket before bringing out a necklace. It wasn't just any necklace, it was the one mother had given to me before I had left the Village of Knights Edge. It was the ring my father gave to her. Holding it out to me, I gazed at it for a few seconds before taking it. "Thank you."

Nodding her head, she moved to a small tray full of needles and bandages. "We need to take a look at your wound. If it hasn't healed then Robert and Talios need to go to the cave to get more healing water."

"Healing water? Is there even such a thing?" I didn't believe there was. In my eighteen years of living, no one had ever mentioned healing water. Yes, the healers had herbs and were blessed by the gods, but never was there a scroll stating such things as healing water.

Grabbing the bandage and one of the needles, she nodded towards William. Letting go of my hands, I watched as he gently pulled away the bandage from my skin. A few pieces of the old bandage had stuck to the blood, and as he fully removed it I could see why it wasn't healing.

Sitting around a long cut was an odd green colour. The veins around the wound were black, and as I breathed a horrible liquored seemed to rush out. Breathing heavily I felt my eyes water. "What's....What's wrong with it?" I stuttered. The more I gazed at it the more I feared I would truly die.

Cupping my cheeks with his hands, William moved my face so I could gaze into his blue eyes. "Focus on me, okay?"

Blinking, I shook my head. "Tell me why it hasn't healed, William."

His jaw flexed as he closed his eyes. It looked as if he was holding himself back, or trying not to get angry. Gritting his teeth, he opened his eyes once more. "The blade had poison on it, Abagail."