The fever overtook my body so fast. I didn't get to see my children for long. I felt so weak and tired, the only thing that seemed logical was to sleep. I couldn't wake up though. Part of my mind didn't want to. As a queen, I did what I was supposed to. I gave the king his heir. James never left my side. At least I don't think he did. From somewhere far away I did hear a man weeping. The man sounded like James, but it was such a distant cry I couldn't be sure. Mixed in were the high pitched wails of infants. My infants. My little prince and princess.

What had I named them? Did I name them? Yes. Elizabeth. Connall. Yes! My children.

***

"Charlene, is she alright?" James asked, looking down at his wife.

Her frail body, a body that held the lives of their children no more than a day before, was pale and her brow beaded with sweat despite the castle being so very cold.

"I don't know, majesty. I really don't know. The physicians should be able to help."

"She is so very hot to the touch." He ran his hand through her hair as she lay there lost in her sleep.

"There is nothing anyone can do now," her mother whispered, dabbing at her dying daughters sweaty brow.

"Someone has to be able to help," her father said, pacing about the chamber in angst.

"Draco!" Charlene shouted, standing up so fast she knocked her chair over and in turn disturbed the newborn prince and princess.

The soft wails echoed about the room as Charlene began to rock them back to slumber.

"The dragon?" the elder king asked, stopping near his daughters bed. "What can he do?"

"They are bonded. He can save her."

"Perhaps. Where is he?"

"You don't suppose he's sick?" Mother asked, walking to the window and staring out over the starless night.

Charlene shrugged her shoulders and left the room. Hoping that the old dragon was in the barn or somewhere near, she did find it odd that he hadn't been to the room yet. She broke out in a run once she reached the stairs, holding her skirts up and taking the steps two at a time. At the bottom, she slid on the shiny floor and landed on her knees hard. A sharp pain shot up through her body as she clambered to stand.

"Madame!" a guard shouted, running to the injured noblewoman.

"No! I'm fine."

She ran down the length of the hallway toward the kitchen at the back of the castle. The candles were out, leaving the smoldering fire as the only light to guide her way. The heavy wooden door creaked under her weight as she flung herself against it in a hurry to get out.

The barn that the ancient dragon stayed in was at the far end of the darkened court. She stopped halfway at the sound of heavy breathing from the side of the castle. Looking, she saw a large form laying on the ground, directly below the dying queen's window.

"Draco!" she shouted, running to his side. "Wh-what happened?"

"Evelyn. She's. Dying," he managed to get out between labored breaths.

"I know. What's happening to you?"

"We're bonded. She dies. I die."

"But you can't. You can't die!"

"I'm. Sorry."

"What can we do? What can we do to save her? To save you?"

"The witch," he said, closing his eyes.

"What witch? Where?"

"James. He knows. He has to go."

"James? The king? He can't leave in the middle of the night."

"He must," the dragon urged, looking up to his riders room. "I want to be with her."

"I know. We can't move her."

He nodded. "Send James."

Charlene nodded and ran back to the castle. The halls seemed to go on forever and she cursed the ego of the men who built the place.

"James!" she shouted, rushing through the door. "It's you. You can save them."

"What are you going on about woman?" Evelyn's older father, King Cassius asked.

"James can save them both!"

"Both?" the young queen's mother, Joselyn asked.

"Yes. Evelyn and Draco."

"What's wrong with the dragon?" James asked, standing from his wife's side.

"Below the window," she said still out of breath. "He's dying. She's dying."

"How can I save them?" he asked her.

"The witch. There's a witch."

"Witch? What wit..." he stood and ran for the door.

"Where are you going?" Cassius called after him.

"I know where I have to go."

"I'm going!" Charlene called after him, following through the door.

The stable hand sat up in startled disbelief as the young king and the queen's handmaiden burst through the barn doors.

"Horses!" the king commanded.

"My lord?"

"Now, man!"

"Uhm, right away, majesty."

The young man jumped out of his bed and fetched the two best horses the king had, saddling them as quickly as he could. Which wasn't all that fast or satisfactory considering his king watched with a tapping foot.

"Hurry, boy!"

"Right away, majesty. Sorry, majesty."

"Be easy on him, James."

"He's taking entirely too long."

"Shush."

The stable hand handed over the reins to the king and lady and watched as they rode at full gallop out of the barn. Scratching his head, he shrugged and went back to sleep as James and Charlene rode into the forest. In the middle of the night.

The branches of the trees reached out with spindly bark arms, grabbing at the fabric of her gown. They couldn't see even a hand in front of their faces to the extreme darkness. The rather uneasy darkness. James's horse's hooves thudded dully on the soft earth beneath. Charlene realized those were the only sounds. The horses' hooves. Her heart pounded in her chest, almost matching the thud of the horses as they galloped through the thick forest.

"James, where are we going?" she called out to the king.

"It's not much further. The clearing should be beyond the trees."

"Beyond the trees? The trees never end!"

No sooner did the words leave her mouth, the horses slowed and a small hut glowed in the distance.

James slid from his saddle and ran to the small abode.

"Witch! Open up!" He pounded on the door, desperation filled his voice. "Please!"

"Ahh, if it isn't none other but the young king. I see your station in life has changed quite drastically since we last met."

"That is neither here nor there, I need your help."

She motioned for the two young people to follow her inside. "Yes, I know. The young dragon rider and her dragon are dying. Or should I call her queen? That poor prince and princess will be growing up without their mother."

"No! No, they won't. Draco said you can help her. You can help them. I'm desperate. Please."

"Desperate? What are you willing to give an old woman?" the witch asked.

"What does an ancient witch want? Or need?"

Her cackle filled the small house, the fire roared up and a crow that seemed to come to life in the corner matched her laugh. Charlene shuddered, how had she never run into such a place in all the time she spent riding horses about the countryside.

"I will come calling for what I am owed when the time is right." She hurried to her cauldron and began dumping various things into it.

A puff of blue smoke, followed by red, green, and finally purple shot up through the chimney. Charlene's breath caught in her throat as the glow of the red embers faded to a brilliant shade of green.

"There is one thing I am missing."

"What?" James asked, stepping forward.

"The blood of a bonded rider."

"What?"

"I need the blood of a bonded rider. The strength of the dragon courses through your veins. I need it."

James's brow furrowed as he stepped forward.

"Sire, don't..." Charlene started.

"It's fine. If it will help Evelyn, I will do it. I will do anything for her."

"So good of you to say that. Now hold your arm over the pot."

He nodded and did as he was bid. The witch pulled a rather crooked, shiny dagger from within the folds of her dress and cut the fabric of James's clothing up to his elbow. His perfectly pale skin shone in the glow of the green fire. The witch whispered a few words as she pierced his arm, allowing the blood to drip down into the concoction. The liquid bubbled and changed various colors before everything slowed down. The witch ladled it into a small vial and held it out.

"That's it?" James asked.

"That's it. Be sure Evelyn drinks every last drop."

He nodded and turned toward the door.

"I will come to collect what I am owed at the right time."

"Of course."

The ride back to the palace felt to take twice as long to Charlene. The sky had cleared and the stars shone brightly. It seemed almost like an omen. A good omen. James didn't bother to wait and make sure that she made it alright. He slid from his steed and ran to Evelyn's chambers. A bit of relief flooded over the girl as she walked both horses back to the barn. Handing the reigns over to the stable hand, she snuck to the side of the castle where Draco lay.

"Did he go?" the old dragon asked.

"Yes."

"Very well."

Charlene made her way back inside, through the darkened kitchen, and up to Evelyn. The light of the fire cast shadows in the hallway as the sounds of people bustling about filled the air.

"You can't give that to her!" Queen Joselyn shouted.

Charlene sighed heavily and strode into the room.

"She must drink it."

"How can you trust some witch?" King Cassius asked.

"I've seen her power work. I trust her. She wouldn't do wrong by us."

"What if it's poison?" Joselyn asked again, standing near Evelyn's bed.

Charlene saw her friend. The look of death about her. The babies lay in their cots, crying. Crying for their mother.

"I'm sorry, I can't let this go on." Charlene walked forward and took the vial from James. "No matter what, if this is poison or no, we have to do something or she will die. Draco will die."

Tears streamed down the elder king and queen's faces as Charlene knelt beside her dying friend. Gently lifting Evelyn's head, she pulled the cork out with her teeth.

"You must drink. Please drink it. I can't lose you. You can't die. Your children need you. I need you. You're my best friend, Evelyn. Please live!" she held the glass bottle to her lips and tipped it so the contents vanished.

The seconds ticked by to minutes as everyone waited with bated breath. Their hope slowly fading with time.

"I tol..."

As Joselyn began to speak Evelyn's body changed from the ashen color of death to a brilliant, shimmering gold. Her entire body was encompassed in the light. A gust of wind blew open the window, knocking everyone down, as it swirled about the bed. The heavy blankets that covered Evelyn's delicate body were strewn about the room. Her body lifted from the bed for only a few moments as her skin seemed to absorb the shimmering light. Once she returned to the soft mattress below, the look of death vanished. All stood about watching in wonder if the young woman would awaken.

Gasps went up amongst everyone as her eyes fluttered open.