The Forgotten Zodiac

Obelisk moved forward at once, taking Lexi up into his arms and cradling her there. He had no more words to offer, no more feeble phrases or stories. He could only sit there with her in his arms and send a prayer to the Goddess that things would somehow work out. For both her and Werr.

He was quite surprised when Cern pushed past the guards at the gate below, carrying none other than his wife (and his son on the scarecrow's back). "He's fine," Obelisk called to the guards. "Cern, what are you...Fawn?" Obelisk blinked in surprise. Fawn was flushed and sweating, and coughed weakly in her sleep.

"She has scarlet fever, sir," Cern said softly. "I brought her here at her request. I'm sorry."

"No, it's not...it's fine. Take her up to my room. You should be able to find it. Then fetch one of the nurses from the infirmary to check for any medications for it." Obelisk said, and Cern moved away to obey at once.

Lexi watched quietly, then slowly pulled away from Obelisk and stood up, brushing herself off. "I'll see if I can help her," she murmured, wiping tears from her eyes. "Thank you for talking to me, Obelisk. I...I really appreciate it..." She gently kissed his forehead, exhaling her soft breath over his skin, then pulled back and walking haltingly after Cern, her expression crestfallen.

Obelisk stood and immediately started after Lexi. "I would give more if I could, Lexi...I would give a hand, an arm, a leg, just for you." He smiled softly, then pulled Malice off of Cern's back. "It was good of you to come along, little one. I wouldn't have wanted you home by yourself. You look hungry. Let's go to the kitchen and get something for you while I make some food for mom, alright?"

Lexi watched as Malice nodded, clinging to his father's arms like a small bear. He peered over at Lexi as the girl turned, heading inside to see after Fawn. After a moment, Malice gave a light blink of his dark-rimmed eyes and snuggled closer into his father, giving a shiver. "Will mommy be okay?" he asked in his timid, slightly-scratchy voice.

"I don't know. Your mother gets ill often, as you know...but Scarlet Fever can be dangerous. It's contageous...I need you to stick close to me, okay? If you start showing symptoms, I want to know as soon as possible." Obelisk hugged his son. "It's been a good long while since I saw you last, though. What have you been up to?" He carried Malice to the kitchens, off to prepare a meal and talk.

Lexi, meanwhile, headed off after Cern, her expression downcast. She wandered the halls, finally locating the medical bay almost on accident. She walked in, immediately siging. Seria, as the head healer, had left many notes and mentions scattered about the room, along with a few stray strands of gleaming, bright-red hair. It was a sad sight, but Lexi hoped the half-cat returned soon.

"Hello, Lexanna." Ophile was stretched out on one of the beds. He wasn't really hurt, but he didn't have a room of his own. He took his naps wherever he wanted to, really. "What goes on today? You look miserable..." He fixed her with his wise gaze, unblinkingly sizing up her misery. He had never seen her this upset...something awful must have happened.

Lexi looked up slowly at him, blinking once or twice as if trying to concentrate on his form, then walked over and laid her hand on his head without hesitating. She was too drained to speak and explain her woes, so she simply used his ability to garner memories to tell the tale for her. When she lifted her hand, she didn't say anything. She just turned and set to work, slowly clearing old potions and bottles Seria had never gotten a chance to do herself.

"I see..." Ophile sighed, sliding out of bed and stood beside her, rubbing the side of his head against Lexi's side. He didn't have much to say. He just wanted to comfort Lexi...but there wasn't much he could do in that regard.

Lexi exhaled heavily, closing her eyes and scratching the top of his head, his shoulders shaking slightly. She didn't want to talk at all right now, so she settled for organizing the room, being careful not to move anything Seria had specifically placed somewhere. Finally, she approached where Cern had laid Fawn, on a bed away from the others.

Cern was standing next to her, watching her sleep. She looked more frail and weak than ever; her happy smile was nothing but a memory now. She coughed as Lexi approached; it was the painful sounding sort of cough, at that. Viciously deep and rasping. The coughing itself woke her up; she looked painfully up at Cern, who took her hand at once.

"We are in Alastor now. Obelisk is with Malice...I believe his intention is to keep Malice's distance from you, so he does not catch your illness..." He said softly. Fawn nodded. It was a good thing.

Lexi stared down at the woman sadly, then very carefully placed her hand over her chest, feeling the extent of the sickness. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, Lexi pulled her hands back. Now, more than ever, she wished Seria were here, with her knowledge of healing and alchemy. She was afraid she wouldn't be able to help Fawn at all, what with her lesser healing abilities.

((Healers can't do anything for illness, anyway. xD))

Fawn reached out with her other hand and gently took Lexi's. She slowly fell asleep again, still coughing weakly in her unconsciousness. Cern moved off for a moment, and returned with a towel and a bucket of cold water. He placed it on Fawn's forehead, trying to bring down the fever and redness.

"It's not your fault." Cern said softly. "I know you're blaming yourself, Lexanna. Do no such thing."

((I knooooow.))

She sighed, wringing her hands slightly, then said "I...I know, but...I wish I could do more." She sniffed once, wiping the tears from her eyes, then said "I'll try to help however I can, though. My knowledge of potions is limited, but I'll still try my hardest." She moved over to the cabinets and began going through them, searching for the potions she wanted.

"You'll need one for the fever, and one for the cough..." Cern said quietly. "Potions aren't too hard, but I understand how one could get confused."

Ophile stuck by Lexi's side, watching curiously. He still didn't say much, and without warning, he turned and padded off. He needed to see Werr's side of things. With his head high and his mood quite serious, he made his way to the throne room.

"I heard that King Werr was stepping down from the throne," A breathless young woman who appeared to have eaten more than her fill along the days, giggled. "I heard that one of the advisors would be taking his place."

"Don't be ridiculous." Marion snorted. "If I know that boy, he'd die before handing over the throne to anyone he didn't trust."

"Werr doesn't trust his advisors?"

"That's not what I said," Marion hissed. "Stop being ridiculous, Marie, just give me the price for the dress." She held up the dark green, slim dress she had been holding. A few modifications would have to be made to it for it to be exactly what she wanted, but it was close enough.

"Sure, sure." Marie chortled as Marion payed. "You best keep an eye on that man of yours, though. I heard he was seeing someone else, you know."

"Someone else?" Marion raised a brow.

"Yes, yes, my friend saw him in the town square the other day with a beautiful young woman. Can't have been you, she was much prettier--"

"As if," Marion rolled her eyes, leaving the store. Such baseless rumors! Marie was such a filthy liar. But...it did worry her, slightly. But no. Dmitry wasn't the kind of man to do such a thing to her. He would never! ...Right? Marion shook the tears from her eyes and held her head high as she stormed back home, trying to control the color in her cheeks. She didn't like looking angry, it scared her neighbors, those poor elderly folk.

((Alrighty. Should they already be married or not, and who was the girl?))

Dmitry was curled up in wyvern form in the large manor home that they had settled down in. It wasn't a castle like the prince was used to living in, but he had settled in quite well to it nevertheless. On the contrary, he seemed to really enjoy living in less pampered, more down-to-earth conditions. Luckily, the house was build to accomidate both of his forms, as he wasn't really able to simply walk out of the house as a wyvern. Oh, the panic that would ensue if that happened.

He blinked awake and lifted his head sleepily as Marion stormed into the house. "Welcome back," he said, perking up as soon as he realized who it was. "How did it go?" His eyes narrowed into a frown on his reptilian face as he followed her emotions with his unique power. "...Why are you so upset?"

((Your pick. I was thinking someone selling him wedding bands, but it could be a tailor for a suit. xD))

"Oh, it was just Marie the blabbermouth again," Marion snorted, setting the dress on her workbench. She had very few dresses; each of them had been modified to her liking, along with pretty much all of her outfits. It wasn't that she disliked the storebought clothing, she just felt most of it needed a personal touch. She was quite happy with working on it herself; if she didn't have something to do with her hands, she got fidgity anyway.

"You know, she once told the whole town I had Scarlet Fever when I had nothing but a cold. Everyone avoided me for two weeks! Remember, I had you go and buy food instead of me? The butcher locked his door whenever I came around, so it's not like I could have gotten it myself." She huffed. "And then she said..." She hesitated. How would Dmitry react? There was always some truth to Marie's lies; she had been sick, but it hadn't been Scarlet Fever. Werr had stepped down from the throne for a time, but he wasn't giving it to his advisors. Had Dmitry really been with another woman...? Marion snorted. "She said that...you were with another woman. Someone prettier than me. I...don't believe her, but I need to know." She fixed Dmitry with her puzzled gaze, frowning slightly.

((Aww, how cute~))

The wyvern blinked his bright blue eyes at her, cocking his head and flicking up his long (but smaller than a normal dragon's) ears at her. "Another woman?" he said, sounding truly puzzled. "Who could she-...oh! Oh, Marion, I was seeing Jagat's wife Lily about some new wedding bands! Jag is an exellant metalsmith, after all, and his work is extremely popular." He bent his head and touched his gray-and-black nose to her, shifting his wings with a soft rustle. "Marion, I could never love another as I love you. And in my eyes, you are the most beautiful one of all."

Marion immediately relaxed and let out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad. That's fine." She shook her head. "I shouldn't have listened to Marie. She's always making things up..." She moved foward and wrapped her arms around the wyvern's head, stroking his leathery scales. "I'm sorry for doubting you, even for only a moment..." She laid her head against his, closing her eyes.

"It's alright," he crooned, closing his eyes as well and flicking his ears back. He curled a wing-bound arm around her, his claws pressing lightly against her back as he lifted her, cradling her against his warm chest. A light hum was eminating from his throat and chest, filled her with the delightful sensation of floating. His tongue moved past his lips, planting a delicate lick against her cheek.