Alexander

The time that it takes for us to get back up the stairs is nearly double that of what it took to get down, even with Illius' steady arms to help me as I stumble repeatedly. My feet move sluggishly, taking one step at a time as I rely heavily on my Captain for guidance in the darkened stairwell and lean into him for balance, each jar of my body threatening to knock me back into the darkness below.

 At first, I insisted that I was alright and even made it to the bottom of the steps without help, but once I was coughing too badly to verbally refuse my Captain's aid, he snakes an arm around my waist and pulls me up to the exit. Illius has to completely stop climbing several times because of the violent coughing that racks my body in order to avoid me tipping us both back down the steps. The wheezing only grows worse with the more air that I try to suck in, no matter how I attempt to suppress it, and I like I am suffocating.

Eventually, Illius realizes that the fit will only continue to worsen until I have fresh air to supply my lungs with instead of the filth inside of the passageway, so he takes the initiative and lifts my feet from the moldy stairs and hoists me onto his back, nearly falling backward in the process. He reaches for the slime-coated wall to catch us, but his hand seems to slide right over the strange substance, gaining no grip. 

Felix, who follows watchfully behind us, pushes him back to his feet, however, keeping us upright and moving towards the exit. Aside from his blatantly worried expression, he does not address the issue at hand, trusting that Illius knows how to handle it. As are all of my Guardsmen, he is aware of the possibility of one of these fits coming on in certain environments, though he has not witnessed one in progress before. I am too busy trying to breathe to notice his facial expression, keeping my attention on the stairs in front of Illius and trying to take deep, even breaths. 

Sage whimpers and pauses to turn around to check on our progress, leading us to the exit. 

Worried. 

I cannot focus enough to form a consoling message for her, as I have my attention on trying to calm myself down so I do not vomit over Illius' shoulder and ruin his superb footwear. Felix rests a hand on my back to keep us steady on the slippery steps, helping to keep us on course. 

After what seems like an eternity, we come upon the door that swings open as the Guards hears the disturbance. He peeks his head through the doorway, before stepping quickly out of the way as Illius takes the last strides to the clean air. His long legs take a few more purposeful steps to gain some distance between the dungeon doorway and us before setting me down. 

"Sit him upright," Illius commands Felix, though his voice is gentle to avoid worsening my stress. He slides me off of his back slowly, after being certain that Felix is ready to lower me to the ground. 

Felix helps to prop me up against one of the walls as I suck the air in through my mouth, the way that a fish would breathe water after being held above it for too long. I am grateful for such a calm mind as I take the proper steps to regulate my breathing back to normal, soothing myself with logical thoughts all the while. 

Illius waves Felix back as he comes to crouch in front of me, hesitant to touch me as I gasp. "Give him some air. Make sure that the dungeon door stays closed, we're still close enough to smell that filth."

I find a focal point on Illius' shoulder as I keep my inhales as steady as possible between coughs. The white tunic is splattered with saliva from my wheezing over his shoulder, but he does not seem to notice it at all as he watches me carefully with his silver gaze. 

Sage sits at my side, resting an enormous paw on my leg as she mirrors my Captains expression, still emanating the occasional whimper. Under the circumstances, they do not seem to mind the proximity to each other, though they have never been so close to one another before. If he wanted to, Illius could barely straighten out his fingers and he would be touching her ebony fur, though neither one seems to take notice. 

Worried, Sage says again, nudging my elbow with her nose. 

Now that I have my breathing nearly back to normal, I am able to respond, placing a hand on her head while the other covers a cough that comes from my mouth without permission. Better. 

This seems to relieve both of my companions, as they release a breath that they seem to have been holding in. Illis lowers his head and places a hand on my other thigh, giving it a weak pat as tension flees his shoulders.

He glances up at me with a small smile, panting as his body remembers the way he had run up the steep flight of stairs several long moments ago. "I told you it was a bad idea to go down there," His tone is not nearly as scolding as his words are meant to sound. "You are always so stubborn."  

"I must get it from my mother," I wipe the remaining spittle from my mouth, regaining the composure that I lost as Felix returns. 

"Your Highness, are you alright?" My Second inquires, his dark eyes expressing worry, even more so, than his voice allows. 

I offer a weak smile and nod in answer, making to stand from the cold floor. The hallway had been empty when we originally ascended from the darkness of the dungeon stairwell, but the racket caused by my coughing drew the attention of everyone who was nearby. Now that I look up, I notice that not all of the feet that have gathered nearby belong to servants and maids. One pair of particularly immaculate riding boots among the modest crowd of worn slippers catches my attention and I am flooded with embarrassment that I refuse to let creep past my shirt collar.

Illius helps stand me up but does not allow his hands to linger as he follows my gaze and locks eyes with Prince Bellamy. He swears under his breath and makes to stand in front of me, knowing how much a breathing attack like the one that I just had fatigues my body. My Captain tries to shield me in my weakened state, knowing how much I loathe having my strong and silent image tainted by a scene such as this. 

"Is The Prince alright?" They mutter to each other, looking around the crowd for an answer. 

"Should we fetch a doctor?" 

Another stray cough escapes my lips as I touch my Captain's elbow, making him take a compliant step back. Even though the step he allows is that of a small bird and the space that it creates between us would still be a tight fit for a house mouse to squeeze through. I do not expect him to willingly give much more distance, however, considering how much worry he still has about my health. I may have managed to get my breath back for now, but I am not necessarily safe from a relapse until several hours afterword. He is well aware of this threat.

"That was quite a display," Bellamy remarks, folding his arms. His expression is coached into something cool and nonchalant, though his blue eyes still reflect the concern he must have just been feeling. Even someone who is skilled at concealing their body language cannot help what their eyes express, though they are often unaware of what they can give away. I would assume that he has never seen a person go through a fit such as the one I am recovering from, something that is able to take even the strongest man to his knees. It is amazing how quickly anyone can be defeated if their internal organs are attacked, no matter their stature or size.

"Everyone, go about your business. The Prince is alright." Illius bellows, his voice booming throughout the hallway at a volume that makes the entranced onlookers flinch and scurry away. A few of them bow hastily to me before darting out of sight down the corridor, like the rats that were in the way of Sage.

I wait for the servants to be out of earshot before responding, unwilling to let them hear the change of my voice. I know the slight quake that will be audible, from the stress my body just underwent. I learned a long time ago that I should avoid speaking for an hour or so after an attack if I wish to pretend that I am truly unaffected by it. Avoiding it, however, seems impossible at the moment.

"What are you doing here?" As expected, my voice comes out weak, very unlike the way it sounded earlier in the Dining room. I do not sound like a Prince, though I keep my spine straight and my head held high, gaze unwavering. I always have control over my body, if nothing else.

Bellamy looks bored by the question as his striking eyes scan over my body, searching for more weaknesses. He will not find any in me. His gaze turns to Illius for a moment but flickers away before meeting his eyes. If he found anything in either of us to scrutinize, he does not mention it. "I came to find you. Jeddediah is going to depart for home. He sent me to give his farewell." 

"You will not go with him?" I ask, keeping my brow from furrowing. 

The Prince's mouth quirks up at the corners. "My sister and I will stay and offer our aid to you in the ways that we can, at least until your previsions arrive."

"There is no need for that, Bellamy," I argue, silently cursing another cough as it escapes as I say his name. I try to take a deep, steady breath, but it causes another irritating wheeze to leave my lips. 

Illius gives me a concerned look, not bothering to hide it. I feel his hand on my back, anticipating a relapse of symptoms if this conversation continues for very long. He considers the amount of stress that Bellamy brings to me, and weighs it against what would be necessary to trigger another attack. Judging by his expression, he does not care for the answer he calculates.

Sandy. He warns, expressing his worry. The pressure of his touch increases, attesting to the urgency.

"Maybe so, Alexander," Bellamy gives me an unimpressed look at my current state, and I note the hint of sarcasm in his words. I do not miss his use of my name either, mirroring the way that I spoke his, as a way to exercise authority. He reminds me that he is also a Prince, even though he is inside of my walls, and demands to be treated as such. "However, it is my father's orders, and I intend to abide by them."

 I hold up a hand, offering surrender to the impending argument. I could urge him to leave with his sister and uncle, but I have no energy to fight with him about it at the moment. Besides, I am sure that his presence will prove to be useful, yet, even if he is irritating. "As you wish. I will have rooms assigned to you and your sister. Excuse me," Another cough interrupts my statement, but I gain enough control over it before another escapes to continue my sentence. "I have more business to attend to yet, so I cannot stay to entertain you for the moment." 

I wave Felix closer, so I do not have to strain my voice to speak to him. "Have someone give our guests a tour and show them to their rooms. Then find Casimir and Suelain to switch places with you and Talon. Take the remainder of this day and the next to rest yourself." 

Felix nods, though his eyes say that he would like to argue against my decision. I am sure that he considers himself to be well enough to continue on duty, but he needs to take care of himself before he can look after me. 

"I do not require a guide..." Bellamy begins to argue, but another sudden sputter from my lips makes the words die on his tongue. He watches as Illius breaks his formal stance, stepping forward to peer into my face, checking on my status as several gasps slip past my lips, upsetting the breathing pattern that I've worked so hard to get back. My Captain keeps his hand on my back while the other rests on my forearm, ready to lead me back to the wall in case a full-blown relapse ensues. 

I cannot focus on Bellamy's expression as I fight for regulation in my lungs, though I see enough of his face to make me uncomfortable beneath the long gaze that he gives me. It is just like the ones from this morning at breakfast, though his twin is not present to share it with. I am determined to find out what it means before he leaves these grounds.

He notices that I am watching him, and scuffs a boot on the marble floor like a child. He uncrosses his arms and averts his gaze. "Fine, then. Thank you for the hospitality," Bellamy bows and follows Felix down the corridor, casting a long look over his shoulder as he goes.

I remain on my feet and gain control over my breathing in a matter of moments after he is gone. After assuring Illius that I am well enough, we begin to make our way back upstairs, slowly, to keep from triggering the third attack of the day and forcing me to my bed. I am tired and physically drained from the day's events already, and it is hardly noon. I have something to do before I can rest, however. I need to see Abigor. 

Illius pays particularly close attention to me when we come upon the flight of stairs that we have to climb in order to reach the level of the castle in which my bedchamber is located. Illius walks a pace past me when I stop at Abigor's door, hoping that I would make straight for my own bed. He sighs as he comes to stand at my shoulder as if I am a disobedient child. 

"Sandy..." He grouses, sounding defeated. He dips his head in a tired nod at the freckle-nosed Guard that stands outside of our friend's doorway. 

I cast him a look over my shoulder, feeling the weight of my eyelids increase with exhaustion from the climb of the staircase. "I will go shortly. He deserves to know first."

Illius gives an exasperated look but lets me do as I please. He knocks on the door for me, and it is opened a moment later from the inside.

Abigor's eyes light up when he sees me, but dim a little when he sees Illius standing behind my shoulder. He shrinks a little, seems to decide that he prefers looking at me instead, and redirects his attention to my tired face. "My goodness, you look horrible, Alex," He observes in bewilderment. "Are you alright?" Genuine concern laces his voice as he steps closer to inspect me.  

Illius makes a negative sounding noise in the back of his throat in response to both his question and his actions, but I ignore my Captain's disapproval and give Abby a tired smile. "I am fine. I went to see your parents this morning." 

Abigor's expression darkens at the mention of his betraying family, his eyes searching my face. "What did they say?"

I put him at ease with a gentle pat on his shoulder. "I was told everything that I need to know for now. You may rest easy, you are cleared of all suspicion." 

Abby's eyes go to Illius, suddenly filled with hope. He looks similar to a puppy who had just seen its master pick up a stick to play with. "I am? What did my father say?"

"Everything that I suspected to be true."

Abby nods then seem to realize that he is being rude. He opens the door wider and sweeps an arm inside, gesturing us for us to enter the room. "I am not surprised in the least. Your perceptiveness has never ceased to surprise me, Alex. Please, come in if you'd like."

I shake my head and hold a palm up to decline. "No, thank you. I should be getting some rest. The visit to the dungeon took my breath away, and I have not quite gotten it back yet."

"Ah, so that is why you look so exhausted. You should not have gone down, Alex," Abby scolds, shaking his head a bit. "Though, I am grateful that you did. Thank you."

I match his smile, pleased that my friend seems so relieved at the news I brought him. Judging by the dark circles beneath his eyes, he did not sleep very well last night. I hope that he will be able to rest now, knowing that my faith in him is absolute. "Of course, Abby, you are my friend," I shift my gaze to Joshiah, who has been standing as silent as the grave beside the door frame, looking straight ahead to show his lack of attention to our conversation. "Joshiah,"

His name on my lips draws his awareness towards me, and he dips his head in acknowledgment. "You have done well keeping Abigor safe. I know that you must be wary, but I will ask you to accompany the Duke for the remainder of the day, just to be certain that his life is not in any danger. After sundown, you may go home to your family and get some rest."

"Yes, Your Highness," If he would like to argue, there is no trace of it in his expression. He nods again before turning his attention back to surveillance of the area, seeing that I am finished addressing him.

Out of all of my Guardsmen, he is the most dutiful, even despite his young age. I feel bad about keeping him from his family for so long since I am well aware of his situation, and the stress that he faces because of it. He is the oldest son in his household and serves in place of his father, who was drafted into the war. In place of his father, Joshiah takes care of his mother and three younger siblings. He works very hard and performs impeccably to earn his pension, which keeps his poor family afloat. The second oldest is his twelve-year-old sister, who is in charge of cooking for the others and of caring for their sickly mother when Joshiah is away at the castle. The younger brothers, who are nine and seven years old, work the family farm instead of their absent father, with the guidance of Joshiah. 

I find my young Guardsmen to be quite inspiring, though it is not pity that earned him his position. He is skilled enough to hold his ranking in my Guard and worked hard to receive it all on his own. Unlike Abigor and Illius, he did not receive any special training prior to applying for the position. He has an Uncle who is in my Mother's ranks, who would teach him several techniques in his spare time, two or three times a year. The rest of the time, Joshiah would practice by himself. The amount of discipline he must have had from such a young age impresses me as much as his skill.

Illius places a hand on my lower back and clears his throat, hinting that he would like for me to conclude the conversation so that we may head back to my own chambers to rest. I don't look at him, but I already know what sort of face he is making by the expression on Abby's when he looks over my shoulder. 

I take note of his subtle suggestion, feeling exhaustion tugging at my eyelids and weighing my limbs down, like the anchors of a ship. I had only just begun to feel so aware of just how in need my body is of sleep, though it seems as though my Captain was able to discern it from the start. Out of even my own family, Illius truly does know me the best. 

"Now that I have notified you of the current situation involving your family, I find myself in need of a rest. I ask that you do not go to visit your parent's just yet without my permission since we are not done interrogating them. I am certain that my Uncle will be waiting for you in the Training Hall in the evening for your usual practice session. You are free to do whatever you like until then, within reason."

Aigor looks hastily away from Illius when I begin speaking, giving me his undivided attention. Once I finish, he nods his head. "Yes, of course! Thank you for telling me, Alex. Please, take your time and get some rest."  

-

Author's Note

I know that it isn't a Wednesday, but I have been traveling to visit loved ones for the holidays and was driving all day yesterday. By the time that I reached my destination, I was so exhausted that I went right to bed. I'm in a hurry to get this out to you all, so I haven't given the entire chapter a good read-through before posting it, so please let me know if there are any mistakes that you might notice in need of fixing, and I will gratefully edit them!

I hope that you all had a great holiday, and stay safe and happy. Look after yourselves, and I love you all!

XOXO, 

-A.