Time seemed to slow as the scene unfolded before Nikolai, a nightmare given life. Vadik's sword cleaved through Nastasia's stomach in a spray of crimson and the shield that had been forming before her, forming to protect him, shattered as her concentration was broken. Her lips parted in a scream as her knees crunched against the ground, but it soon became rasping gasps for air.

    Vadik stared in silent shock while Nastasia keeled over, her fingers clasping at her riven stomach. Blood gushed from the wound, already forming a muddy puddle in the dirt beneath her. Nikolai couldn't move. His limbs were held fast, as if frozen in ice. Her gurgling gasps echoed in his ears, deafening and horrible. And she was crying.

    He could hear her broken sobs amidst her gasps. Her scarf was stained by the tears falling beneath it. Nastasia's moonlight gaze found his, and the ice holding him thawed. Nikolai ripped his helmet off and scrambled towards her, fear locking his heart in a sickening grip.

    "Nasi," he breathed, covering her gaping wound with one of his hands. "By the Goddess... No, no, please." A shudder wracked her body and Nastasia threw one of her hands over his, clutching it fearfully. 

    The crowd blurred as his gaze swept over it, searching for any sign of help. He couldn't make out any familiar faces. "Don't just stand there," he pleaded. "Do something! Please!" He bent over Nastasia and pulled her scarf off. Her gaze remained fixed on his, distraught with fear and pain. "She's the Princess!" Nikolai shouted. "Help her, please!"

    "The Princess? Princess Nastasia? Is it her? It can't be. Summon a healer! Where are the King and Queen?" Shouts and screams jumbled together, pounding against Nikolai's temples.

    Nastasia's hand squeezed his, coaxing his attention back to her. "It's all right," Nikolai choked out, smoothing hair back from her forehead. "It'll be all right. There's a healer coming." At least, he prayed there was.

    His heart lurched as Nastasia's lashes fluttered and her breath became a sigh. "Hey, hey, no! Keep your eyes on me, Moonlight. Keep watching me. Stay with me, Nasi. Please, you have to stay with me!"

    Her eyes opened again, but just barely, and her gaze stared past him, unfocused and vacant. Her skin was pale. Too pale, even for her, and still, blood was gushing from her wound. Nikolai grabbed her scarf and pressed it over her wound, but it was instantly drenched in blood. A few tears dripped down his cheeks and he shook his head furiously.

    "What were you thinking?" He spat, the words more aimed at himself than her.

    "Go," Nastasia whispered in between rapid, shallow pants. "Go. They'll...they'll arrest you."

    "No." He shook his head again. "No, I'm not leaving you."

    "Nikolai, please." Her voice was barely audible.

    "No." His voice broke and his shoulders shook with a sob. He clutched her hand fiercely and raised her bloodstained fingers to his lips. "Just hold on. Help is coming. I promise, my love. Please, just hold on."

    The corners of her mouth lifted and she began to speak, but hands grabbed Nikolai by the shoulders and dragged him backwards before the words could come. "No!" He screamed, jerking against their grasp. "Let me go!"

    From across the ring, King Gavriil and Queen Serafima came running with Alexei on their heels. The three Royal Mages weren't far behind. "Nastasia!" The Queen exclaimed, as Gavriil fell to his knees at his daughter's side.

    "Let me go!" Nikolai screamed again, wrestling one arm loose from his captors. He flung his hand towards Nastasia, but an armored fist grabbed his wrist and wrangled his arm behind his back. "No! No, please! Nastasia!" She was shrouded from view now, surrounded by the three Mages, her parents, and a host of guards. Nikolai strained harder, but it was no use.

    "Hold still," a familiar voice thundered. Nikolai went rigid and lifted his gaze. Volya glared down at him, rage turning the copper of his eyes into pure fire. "I should've known."

    "Let me go, please," Nikolai pleaded. "I have to know if she's all right. And...and..." His heart broke at the thought and he sagged under the weight of his sobs. "Volya, please. I have to be with her...in case she...if she..."

    "It's because of you that she's here in the first place! The last thing she needs is to be around you!"

    "Please!" Nikolai wept harder as the guards began dragging him away. "Volya, please!"

    His brother was deaf to his pleas. Nikolai began to struggle anew as he was pulled farther away from the ring, but it was no use. He couldn't break free, and as he was dragged away, the crowd closed in, cutting off his view of Nastasia completely.

    He barely registered a familiar group of voices calling after him and saw Mischa and Yuri pushing their way through the crowd. Josephine, Elise, Danitza, and Daryn weren't far behind, but there was nothing they could do either. Still, Nikolai kept fighting, even as he was dragged further and further away.

•༻᯽༺•

    Alexei stared down at his sister, scarcely aware of the commotion around him. All he could see was her. The blood gushing from her abdomen. The tears streaking her face. Her features twisted with pain, though her eyes were now closed in unconsciousness. The three Mages sat around her, their fingers clasped above her wound as they chanted in a language unknown to him.

    Alexei blinked some of his shock away as a set of hands gripped his shoulders and his father stood before him. Brown eyes met his blue ones, and it took every ounce of will he possessed not to break his father's gaze. "Alexei," Gavriil began, his voice low and faint, "did you know about any of this?"

    "I..." The word was little more than a breathless whisper. Tears welled up, blurring Alexei's vision. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, refusing to speak.

    "It was that worthless stableboy," someone hissed nearby. Alexei swiped a hand across his eyes and caught sight of Andrey. The Stablemaster was storming towards Nikolai's two friends, who hovered near the edge of the crowd along with three women and another unfamiliar man. "You! What do you know about..."

    "Andrey!" Gavriil barked, halting the man in his tracks. "This matter is no concern of yours. Guards, have the premises cleared. I want everyone to return to their quarters and wait there until the Queen and I say otherwise. And bring me anyone who might have information on this ordeal. Those who traveled with Nikolai, and those who traveled with...the Silent Knight."

    Alexei watched his father in silent shock. How was it possible for him to sound so calm right now? How was he able to think so rationally and give these orders when Nastasia was bleeding out in front of them? They didn't even know if she would live yet! His breath caught when Gavriil spoke again.

    "And Volya..." The Captain of the Guard paused, meeting the King's gaze. "No one is to speak with your brother until I've had a chance to myself," Gavriil said. "Keep him somewhere secure." Volya gave a curt nod and turned again, but Gavriil caught him by the shoulder. "He is not a prisoner, Captain. Not yet." Gavriil released him as Volya nodded again and set off.

    "Such a pity," Emperor Kazimir crooned, coming to stand beside them. "I don't imagine it will end well for anyone if the Princess dies." His gaze dipped to Nastasia's limp body and the Mages gathered around it. "Perhaps I should've brought my own Mages. I could force them to work faster, and..."

    "You would be wise to remain silent and see to your men," Gavriil interrupted with a growl. "And keep Sir Kamenev close. If my daughter dies, his head will be the first to roll."

    Kazimir inclined his head, offering half a bow. "Your Majesty, as a show of my unwavering support to your family, I offer Sir Kamenev as a prisoner now. He entered the tournament unworthily and attempted to kill someone believed to be one of your trusted Knights. It was he who dealt the blow that struck the Moon Blessed Saint. If the Princess dies, do with him what you will."

    "Take my guards and arrest him yourself," Gavriil snapped. "I see he's already made himself scarce."

    The Emperor bowed once more and retreated, with four Nyctolian Guards on his heels. Alexei drew a trembling breath while Gavriil turned back to Nastasia. Serafima knelt beside her now, holding one of her pale hands in her own. "Will she live?" Gavriil asked the Mages.

    "She is safe for now," one answered. "We've managed to bind her wound long enough to move her somewhere we can work in privacy, but we must do so quickly. The wound is deep and must be healed as soon as possible. We should take her inside."

    Gavriil nodded as the Mages backed away. Serafima released Nastasia's hand while he slipped his arms beneath her. Alexei watched as his sister was carefully lifted off the ground.

    Gavriil started towards the palace with Serafima at his side, while the Mages hovered around them and Guards encircled the entire group. Their voices drifted back to Alexei, listing off preparations to be made and people to retrieve. The Dwarf Queen and Maria Yensev were listed among them.

    Alexei didn't move until the group had vanished into the walls of the palace. Then, he slowly made his way towards Nikolai's friends. The entire group was arguing amongst themselves, oblivious to his approach. Only one woman noticed him. Her eyes, as dark as freshly tilled soil, shimmered with sorrow while she watched him approach.

    "Will she be all right?" The woman asked, catching the attention of her companions.

    Alexei swallowed, his throat constricting almost painfully. "I don't know. They said it was safe to move her so they took her inside, but her wound isn't healed. Who are you?"

    "I'm Elise Anselm and this is Lady Josephine Dahl," she replied, gesturing to the other woman at her side. "We're friends of...Nastasia's."

    "You didn't know?" He asked quietly.

    "We suspected," Josephine answered, "but we didn't know for certain. Not until now."

    "Father wants all of you questioned. If you have something to hide, you'll want to leave now," Alexei murmured. "He's not going to be in a forgiving mood."

    He turned away, but paused when Yuri called after him. "What are they going to do to Nikolai?"

    "I don't know. Father said he's not a prisoner yet, but he'll be kept somewhere secure and no one will be allowed to see him until Father has questioned him." Alexei glanced back, meeting his gaze. "I'll try to speak with him when I know what's going to happen to Nastasia."

    "Don't let Volya near him," Yuri warned with a scowl. "He'll just make this worse."

    I don't see how he can, Alexei thought, but he gave no reply. No one stopped him as he made his way back to the palace and slipped inside.