Three days.

Three long, weary days.

It had taken over a day to find a blacksmith to try to remove the band around her neck. The material it was made from had never been seen before, and neither Darrow nor Halasaa could touch it for long periods of time without experiencing pain, nausea, and an excruciating headache to follow.

They had no idea what effect it would have on Calwyn, and whenever he thought about it Darrow had a gut-clenching sense of dread.

Trout and Heben had taken over the mediation between the displaced courtiers and the disgruntled sorcerers. At first, Trout had tried to join the two men in their vigil, but the thought of losing Calwyn so soon after losing Mica was too much for him to bear, and he preferred to help Heben in whatever small way he could to sitting and waiting in a dark sickroom with more blood and more pain. The one time Heben had dared disturb Darrow on some matter of state, he left the room whiter than new snow on the wall of Antaris. Neither the fair-haired lord nor her dark-skinned brother would leave her, nor would Darrow allow Merithurian politics to distract them from her care.

Finally a blacksmith was able to bring a special jewel-tipped tool that cut her free, and only then was Halasaa able to help some of her deepest cuts. Whatever metal it had been, it hindered his ability to fully heal her – even after it was cut away – by creating what he called "a dam in the river" in his croaking voice.

"A small stream is able to get by," he continued, gently fingering a small lock of her hair away from the chaffed band around her neck. "She will live, she will heal. But it will take time."

Darrow wrung out a rag in a basin of cool water and silently sponged her pale face. She had developed a fever, and he stubbornly fought to break it.

Halasaa regarded his sister. The worst of the cuts were closed, though scarred. He had managed that much at least, though it had taken great effort. Around her slim wrists the burn from the ropes still blazed bright red, as did the band around her pale neck. Small beads of sweat stood on her flushed face, and she made small movements of discomfort, small whimpers that cut through him to hear. No matter how desperately he tried to reach her, to help her, even with the collar gone, it had left its mark upon her still.

She did not open her eyes.

Glancing up, he scrutinized his sister's intended. The man was a wreck. Dark circles under his eyes, gaunt, haggard features. He had not slept in four days, had barely eaten. At least Halasaa – anxious as he was – knew he was no good to Calwyn starved and exhausted.

The price of a vigil…

Darrow looked up at him.

Oh. Sorry.

He had forgotten that Darrow could hear him. At least, he could now, this close, with Calwyn lying between them. Darrow dipped the rag again. Every cry Calwyn made, every movement of pain, brought more anguish into his gray eyes.

Suddenly, her whimpers increased, her breathing erratic. She began to thrash weakly in the bed, mumbling, "Don't… don't please… not him…"

Halasaa put his hands on her head and tried to reach her within her mind to calm her.

Darrow whispered in her ear, "Shh," dropping the rag so that he could gently stroke her hair and take one of her grasping hands. "Calwyn," he soothed, pushing his fear down so she would not hear it in his voice. "My love, it's all right. I'm here."

It didn't help.

She tossed and turned all night, alternating between searing sweats and bone-rattling chills. Halasaa and Darrow cooled her brow, replaced her covers, coaxed water between her chapped lips, and prayed to whatever power was listening that her fever would break before it killed her.

That power granted their wish just before dawn.

She took a ragged breath and went very still, and for a moment both feared the worst. But then sweat began to run in rivers from her listless body, her breathing eased, and her brow felt cool for the first time since they had found her in the desert. Both men took up dry rags in an attempt to sponge the sweat away, and Darrow supported her head as he held yet another cup to her lips.

This time, she took a small sip.

A curved smile as wide as an ocean sunrise spread across Darrow's sharp face, his breath expelled in a long sigh of relief. Halasaa smiled also, placing his hand on her forehead as Darrow gently lowered her down to the sodden pillow.

Halasaa…

His dark eyes widened. Had he truly heard her??

Her eyes opened into small slits, and her hands reached out. Both men snatched them up.

You are safe, my sister. Her brother poured all his love for her into his gentle words, not bothering to hide his relief at her ability to speak to him. It was a small sign that the effects of the collar may not be permanent. But now was not the time to think of that. Sleep now. It will heal you.

"Calwyn?" Darrow asked, willing her to look at him, to see him, to know that he was there.

She turned, her eyes fluttering as she beheld his exhausted, anxious face. "D-Darrow…" she tried. "I…"

"Shh," he raised her hand to his lips, kissing it gently. "Sleep. I will not leave you." Her eyes slid shut, her breathing soft and even.

"I will go find Heben," Halasaa whispered to Darrow, wishing his sister to rest. "We will bring fresh linens, water for bathing…" He rose and silently withdrew.

Darrow stayed by the bed, holding her hand in both his own, watching her slow breathing. In. Out. In. Out.

After a long while in silence, when he was sure she was deeply asleep, he began to whisper, so low she would have had to read his lips to understand what he said.

"Oh, Calwyn," he breathed. "I thought I would never see you again." He huffed a silent laugh. "As many dangers as we have faced, as much as we have risked…"

He was silent again, thinking. She did not stir, continued to sleep, to heal. It would cost him nothing to speak now, to… rehearse, perhaps…

"In Antaris," he began, then stopped again, chewing his lip. "In the infirmary… as I lay there dying…" his throat began to tighten, his fear rising in a black wave, but he forced himself to continue, his voice growing stronger. "All I could think was that I would never be able to say to you the things you deserve to hear, that my breath would be stolen before there was a chance." His fist roughly wiped an escaping tear from his cheek. "I would never be parted from you again," he breathed, and began to tremble. "I would have you stand beside me, as my equal."

He paused.

"As my wife." Another tear fell. This time, he did not wipe it away.

"I love you."

I… love you… too.

He started, eyes wide. Her eyes opened a fraction, and she gave him a brief, weary smile before they slid shut once more.

He let out one broken sob before clamping down, refusing to break when she needed him to be strong. But she opened her eyes again, though it cost her great effort.

Don't… Darrow. Don't.

Her hand slid and weakly tugged his arm until he crawled beside her in the bed, and somehow she managed to wrap an arm around him, holding him close. He buried his face in her dark hair, and let the tears fall.

He wept for the child who had been stolen away from love, and he wept for the woman who could not help but give him her heart. Even now, wracked with pain and spent from fever, she reached out to offer him comfort.

I will tell her, he vowed as his heart broke within his chest. I will tell her everything she has asked and I have not answered. Together we will find my parents, so that they can know what has become of their son. So that they can know this woman who saved him, and who may be able to save us all. He took a deep breath, trying to get himself under control. They may not be proud of who I have been, he thought. But I will make sure that they are proud of who I shall become.

He squeezed her hand, quieting his breathing and feeling hers deepen beneath him as she succumbed to the siren call of sleep.

She deserves nothing less… he trailed off, exhaustion and relief pulling him down into the warm, slumbering depths.

But even in sleep, he would not let her go.

-Finis-

XXX

Perhaps there will be a sequel. I'm a teacher who began this story last year on summer vacation, and it took until Spring Break before I had time to write it again. I will promise that – if there is a sequel – it will be completed before the end of this year's summer vacation. Thanks to everyone who R&Rs!!