Chapter Ten: Sunset and Sunrise

Nightfall found Sydney Fox sat quiet and alone at Nigel's beside. Her friend was caught in the throngs of a vigorous fever, his sweat-dripping chest heaving with each laboured breath. A light breeze gently billowed the thin drapes drawn back from the open balcony doors, but nothing, not even the poison's antidote, seemed able to quench the scorching heat that burned through him.

Sydney's eyes ached and the stars promised to watch over him, yet still she fought against her exhaustion. She couldn't give in to sleep when she willed Nigel to overcome the fatal clutches of kytesh, a much tougher feat. So, she would stay awake and with him until the fever passed and she saw his hazel eyes in the dawn light.

Unless he died…

But that wasn't an option. Not in Sydney's mind. There was no way she could lose him, not now, not ever. Though, still she inwardly trembled with fear.

The soft creaking of the floorboards announced the otherwise silent arrival. Sydney's first thought was of Preston or Karen unable to sleep in their nearby rooms. However, she soon realised that the soft footsteps she heard were too light for an adult.

She turned to see little Nicole's face cast with a halo by the candle she held before her. The de la Piedra child smiled slightly and continued her approach, the night wind playing with the flowing skirts of her white nightdress and gown.

Sydney watched as the girl went around the bed and set her candle down on the bedside cabinet, then gracefully got up onto the sweat-dampened sheets and sat next to Nigel's chest. Nicole sighed, softly and sadly, and stoked his burning cheek with her small hand. She then reached down for his hand and held it in both of hers. With her beautiful voice, the girl quietly sung a prayer:

"Let these dark hours pass, my Lord. Let the sun dry our tears, my Lord. Let him live. Permita que él viva."

She turned an intense, yet distant gaze towards the stars.

"A stone, a pretty little gem…" she whispered. "Powers? Yes. Needed? No. A worthless amber jewel to us… Oh, Papa, Papa, how you have believed, how you have sought, how you have battled… Yet, for what, Papa? Why have you searched for this little gem that we do not need? Now you have it, it does not seem so important, does it? Oh, Papa, Papa…"

She looked down and was silent.

After a few moments, she slid down from the bed and picked up her candle. Sydney saw tears glistening in her blue eyes.

"Nicole?"

"He spoke of you often," the girl said, turning her gaze back to Nigel. Suddenly, she smiled, meeting Sydney's eyes. "Do you know he can play the piano?"

"Yes."

"He is very good."

"I know." Sydney smiled, sadly.

"We are going to perform to the village. When he is well, of course." Then her face darkened. "Unless…unless…" She choked on a sob. "But we won't talk of that." A tear trickled down her cheek.

"No."

"He told me of your relic hunts, the dangers you faced and the wonders you found. And he cares for you very much, Sydney. He worried about you all the time."

"He worried about me?"

"Yes. Always. We knew that D'orage was having you followed and we saw what his mercenaries were capable of here." Her eyes went back to Nigel again. "When he first awoke and we didn't know where you were, he was very distressed. Then when Papa told him that you might have drowned, he had to hold him down or else he would have reopened his wound."

"Oh, Nigel…"

"He is strong. Maman and the doctor weren't sure if he would survive the gun wound, but he did." Nicole's expression settled into determination. "There is still hope now."

"I'm not giving up on him," Sydney assured her.

"And nor am I. Good night, Sydney."

"Good night, Nicole."

The girl left as quietly as she had come.

Sydney was left alone again with her haunted thoughts. Leaning forward, she rested her arms on the bed and her cheek on her arms. She shut her eyes to trap the tears inside.

.

"Please forgive me, mon ami."

Opening her eyes at the sound of the deep and sorrowful voice, Sydney was surprised to see Francesco de la Piedra standing on the threshold of the balcony. She wondered how long he had been out there.

"This is all because of me and my hunt for a pointless stone," he continued, not noticing that Sydney was looking at him. "I am a fool. The worst of fools, for my stupidity and selfishness are costing you your life. I should die for my actions, not you."

Francesco stepped further into the room and threw the Guardian Stone down onto the foot of the bed. The moonlight revealed the tracks of dried tears on his face.

"If you die, Nigel, I shall never forgive myself."

"He isn't going to die," Sydney said, the certainty in her voice surprising herself.

Francesco looked dazed with shock for a moment, dumbly watching Sydney sit up.

"What were you going to do with the Stone?" he asked, eventually. "I never thought to ask Nigel…"

"L'université de Paris has just opened a museum. I was going to give it to them."

"Then do. I don't want it and the village has no need for it."

Sydney's eyes followed Francesco as he left, holding no hatred for the distraught man herself and sure that Nigel didn't either.

.

.

The sun was up when Sydney awoke. She cursed herself for having fallen asleep and worked the crick out of her neck.

Nigel was lying still on the bed, peaceful and breathing easily. Her heart leapt and she reached for his hand at once. Then she wiped away the stuck dry hair and gently pressed her palm against his forehead. His skin was cool.

Dr Santino's words came back to her:

"Only if the fever breaks, will he live."

His fever had broken.

Nigel muttered something unintelligible in his sleep and his eyelids fluttered. Sydney softly called his name, drawing him closer to consciousness.

"Nigel, wake up. Come back to me…"

He obeyed, his hazel eyes opening and slowing focusing on her. He smiled.

"Syd…" His voice was hoarse and frail, but that of a living man.

Sydney clutched Nigel's hand, her eyes bright and lips smiling with heartfelt joy.

~ Fin ~

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Author's Ending Note: Thank you very much for the reviews! This is the first long, chaptered fanfic (i.e. fic with a proper plot!) that I've completed and receiving positive feedback has made me a very, very happy writer!