"Wait, your highness!"

"!" Benedikta runs up and yanks my plate from me, in the process relieving me of my fork. I put my hands up in shock.

"What is going on?" I inquire as calmly as possible.

"The cake, it was poisoned! I saw someone douse that cake in poison." She explains sharply as she starts checking me over.

"What?!" Basil blurts, grabbing my hand.

"Princess, do you feel the least bit off? Woozy, nauseated?" I shake my head, "Then it must not have taken affect yet. Or I-"

"I trust you, Benedikta." I state firmly, knowing she would not do this without being positively certain it is in my best interest. Inside the dry chill of fear courses through my veins. Could the poison affect the baby? I exchange a worried glance with Basil, my palms not the only thing becoming damp with sweat.

A medical team is on the scene immediately. I'm set on a gurney and rolled to an ambulance faster than I can blink. Basil keeps pace and never lets go of my hand. He gushes words of encouragement and love to me, distracting me from the medical equipment and personnel which I fear so much.

After being wheeled to the ER, I'm given a thorough examination and then hooked up to a machine. A tube is slipped down my throat to my stomach, to pump everything out. I'm also fitted with a nasal air supply to breathe. I struggle to keep still, fighting my instincts to pull both tubes out and away from my body. The fear for my son's well being keeps me from doing so.

After my stomach has been sucked clean, Basil braces me so they can remove the throat tube, then stays sitting by my bedside, stroking my arm and hand, "I hope the baby will be okay." My voice is uncomfortably raspy. I mentally groan.

"Zipporah, I can't see why someone would go so far. Poison? That's cruel to you and our child." Basil starts to rant and I reach out to stroke his hair, threading my fingers through and reaping a sense of comfort. He continues rambling and my fatigue and stress lulls me into a dark world of sleep.

"Prinzessin Zipporah, it's time to wake up." My eyes flick open and my body jolts against the bed. Doctor Forst's friendly face comes into focus and I puff.

"Doctor Forst..," I numbly greet, "Did they get the poison out? Is anything wrong with the baby?" She comes up and sits on the side of the bed, taking my hands in hers.

"You never ingested any poison, Zipporah. Not anything remotely detectable, at least. You and the baby are perfectly fine." I lift my hands to my face whilst hot, briny tears create a sticky film over my cheeks, lips and chin. Tears of relief, soon over. I turn, expecting to see Basil rejoicing with me, to find he is not there.

"Basil..?" Doctor Forst clears her throat.

..

..

..

"Zipporah, Basil ingested the poison..."

"Nein!" I recall this afternoon's memories, sinking onto the bed as I recall how he started his dessert before me. He had nearly finished his slice when Benedikta swooped in, "Nein, nein... Basil, nein!"

"He ingested the poison. We figured it out an hour after you fell asleep. He was looking for extra blankets and a few snacks for you when he collapsed in the corridor seizing and vomiting. We got him into the ICU and hooked him up, but until he wakes up we won't know the extent of the damage."

"... Will he be okay?"

"He should be. We sucked out everything and are monitoring the poison concentration in his blood."

I start sobbing and my hormones flare, increasing the release. My arms cradle my abdomen. I can't decide whether to be relieved, afraid or angry.

~Uilosris