After Arthur finished reading, Alfred fell asleep. I trudged back to my own room after saying goodbye to Arthur, Gilbert, and Eliza. I collapsed on the bed, so tired. Tired! That was how Alfred and other people with the Gray Death felt! I bolted up out of bed, scared.

I ran out into the hallway. I saw Eliza exit from a guest room just ahead and raced down to meet her.

"My dear, what has that look of terror on your face?" Eliza cried.

"Eliza…." I paused, nervous and afraid to ask. "Eh, I don't feel so well, I'm very tired. I wondered…um, I wondered if-"

"You don't have it, Prince Matthew," Eliza assured, smiling. "You're not sick at all."

"Then why am I so tired?"

Eliza's features grew sad and she looked away. "Illness is exhausting, even for the people who are not sick. Alfred having the…this sickness is tiring. It hits loved ones the most when the one they love is dy-"

"Alfred is not dying!" I shouted then turned and hurried down the hallway.

After wandering around the castle, I decided to go out into the garden for a bit. I found myself sitting down at the very bench where my brother proclaimed. I let out a heavy sigh and watched a red butterfly flit across the over-grown Sunflowers that Alfred had insisted on growing, after having found out that they were Ivan's favorite. A rumble sounded and I looked up at the sky that looked about to unleash a downpour. A wind blew and I shivered. Fall was nearing.

"Here!"

I gasped as I felt someone place a cloak over my shoulders, and looked up to see Gilbert grinning down at me.

I blushed and looked down and over at the Sunflowers. "Thank you."

How long has he been here? Was he watching me? No, that was silly.

"I have something to tell you." He said in a serious tone. I looked over at him as he walked around the bench to stand in front of me. "I was talking with my awesome, but stick-up-the-ass teacher, Roderich, about your brother."

"Oh?" I asked, though my nerves suddenly became strained with hope and fear.

"Yea, he doesn't know the cure or anything-" I slumped low and looked down at the ground in disappointment. "-but he said something about how the winds are changing in Russ. I asked him what the hell that meant, but he only repeated it, crazy guy. I think it's something very good though, because his lips almost came up in a smile, and he never smiles!" Gilbert finished, looking at me with a hopeful face, smile wide.

Changing winds….I looked up at the darkening sky. Maybe changing winds mean rain!

"Gilbert! Is it cloudy like this all over Russ?" I asked excited, leaning forward.

Gilbert shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Prince Mattie."

"Could you or your teacher make it rain over all of Russ?"

Gilbert chuckled. "Good idea, but no. We don't have that kind of magic. Russ is huge, Prince Mattie!"

I gave a sad sigh.

"Prince Alfred is stubborn. He won't let this beat him, Prince, I'm sure of it."

"That's what I think as well…." I looked down and became lost in thought. But I was starting to have doubts now. Is that what every loved one of the victims go through? Doubt?

I looked back up at Gilbert suddenly, to find him staring up at the clouds. "How is….how is Antonio doing?"

Gilbert didn't say anything but his face gave away his feelings. He looked back down at me, pain in his eyes.

"He didn't get the Gray Death too, did he!" I cried out in panic.

"No, of course not Prince. He's just going through a very hard time now. He's taking care of Feliciano right now." Gilbert suddenly looked a lot older that what he was (at least human wise). He tugged a hand through his white hair and looked behind him at the Sunflowers.

"You know…" Gilbert began softly. "Antonio is one of my old best friends. I know him. He's strong, he can get through this….and if he thinks to end his life, then I'll give him a good kick in the ass and a long lecture." Gilbert chuckled and looked back over at Matthew.

"I must be going now. Your father needs me at camp." Gilbert gave a bow and then vanished.

I sat for a minute before realizing I still had his cloak.

The next day was just as cloudy and gloomy as the day before. Alfred managed to do ten laps around the room but then had t lie down. At lunch he tried to go with me to the dining hall, but he collapsed a few feet from the grand staircase. After I got back, I found him attempting to lift Peresvet. He could no longer lift it with one hand, but still could with two.

It was agonizing to watch him.

Gilbert returned late afternoon to inform us that father had reached the halfway point to the Queen Elf's castle.

As night descended upon the castle, we were all in Alfred's room when Eliza spoke up and asked us if we would like to hear an elf tale about Ivan.

"Oh hell yes!" Alfred said, sitting up straighter in his bed. Arthur shot him a furious look and Alfred blushed slightly. "I mean, please?"

Eliza smiled in amusement and then got up from her chair in the corner and stood in the center of the room. "We begin all of our stories with these words: 'Good health to you,' and the same words are the refrain. Here is the tale." Eliza folded her hands over her stomach and began.

"Good health to you. It was spring time for Queen Athena and she was caretaker of the animals. One day she took her son, Prince Hercules, with her to the ancient ruins where a lot of stray cats liked to sunbathe at. Suddenly loud screeching sounded from above them. The sun had vanished. Queen Athena looked up to see hundreds of gryphon's flapping in the air."

Eliza mimicked the flapping and I heard Alfred beside me giggle. Bless you, Eliza, to tell a story that doesn't involve the Gray Death!

Eliza resumed the story again. The gryphons descended and started to snatch at and eat the sleeping cats. Queen Athena had brought a picnic basket along and a dozen or so had begun to devour the food inside.

I interrupted. "I thought they…only ate flesh!"

Alfred turned to me and rolled his eyes. "No Mattie, they eat any and everything!"

Eliza chuckled and gave a nod, then continued,

"Good health to you. The gryphons began to attack on Queen Athena. She lost one of her fingers while shielding her young son."

I gasped and covered my hands by Alfred's bed sheets.

"Good health to you. Ivan rode by. He galloped quickly to the queen's aid."

The tale went on. Ivan killed all of the gryphons while Queen Athena and her son escaped to the castle.

"Good health to you. In gratitude, Queen Athena mended his scarf that had become torn during battle and healed a headache he had."

I turned and watched Alfred, whose face was lit up in pure joy, like it always is when it comes to Ivan. The queen asked Ivan how else she might repay her debt.

"'There is no debt,' Ivan said, 'but you might nurse King Peter and his subjects when they have need.' Queen Athena and Ivan never met again, but elves have been nursing humans from that day to this. Good health to you."

Eliza curtsied. We all clapped, even Arthur.

"Did the elves really have a queen named Athena?" I asked.

Eliza walked over and filled a cup with lemonade and brought it over to Alfred. "Our queen Katyusha is descended from Queen Athena, and this tale is true. Do you think I would lie to you?"

Alfred and I looked at each other. The elves believed Ivan had lived!

"Do you think it's true, Mattie!"

"I don't know," I said. "I hope so!"

But me and my brother were both teasing each other. We believed fully that Ivan was real, not just some fables.

A knock on the door sounded and Arthur called out to come in. Gilbert entered the room, a grim look on his face.

"What's wrong?" I cried, standing up from the bed.

"Your father…he's coming home." Gilbert looked down, mouth turned down in anger.

Update! I think I'm getting my writing muse back! It's fun to write updates again instead of it feeling like a chore! Woot! Reviews are love!