Tharios hisses as he looks at Elowyn’s arm. “That’s what I was afraid of.”
“What?” Rominy asks.
“She’s in shock.” Tharios switches to rapid Elvish, and Rominy’s head spins trying to parse the Elvish words. To his relief, Arisanna quietly translates the important parts as Tharios works.
“He thinks the heartbinding saved her,” Arisanna whispers.
“Will she be all right?”
“He hasn’t said. But...he knows what he’s doing. She’s in good hands.”
It’s a small comfort, but a comfort nonetheless.
Watching Tharios work makes Rominy dizzy. The elven prince moves fast, though what exactly he’s doing remains a mystery. He occasionally holds still with his hands on Elowyn’s arm, concentrating on something. He must be scalding his hands every time he touches her.
Queen Nestraya speaks to Tharios in Elvish, and he fires back in response. When Rominy turns to Arisanna, she’s breathing rapidly, and Cerian seems to be barely holding himself together.
“Tell me,” Rominy says.
Arisanna looks at him with wide eyes as her lips move, but no sound comes out.
“Please,” he begs her.
“She said he’s working faster than Elowyn’s body can keep up, and...and...”
“And what?”
“And he said if he slows down, she won’t make it.”
Bile rises in Rominy’s throat, and his knees refuse to support his weight as he collapses against the wall, sliding to the floor.
Elowyn convulses, and Rominy can’t get enough air, no matter how hard he tries.
Is she dying? Are they both dying?
“Get his heart rate down now!” Tharios cries, and suddenly Queen Nestraya is kneeling in front of him.
“We’re going to count backward from ten, all right, my youngling?” she says softly as she puts her hands at the sides of his head and looks into his eyes. A slight tingling sensation hits his skin beneath her palms.
She starts counting, and he pushes through the panic to join her. For Elowyn. He can do this for Elowyn. He has to do this for Elowyn. By the time he gets to five, his tongue can barely form the words.
What did she do to him?
Whatever it was, it took the edge off his panic. It’s not as hard to breathe.
“Arisanna,” the queen whispers, “sit here with him, all right? Keep talking to him. He might be dizzy for a few minutes, but it should pass soon.”
Arisanna lowers herself to his side and reaches for his hand again. She keeps glancing nervously at Cerian as well.
Trying to care for everyone at once. That sounds like Sanna.
“You should see Windhaven,” she says softly. “It’s as amazing as it always sounded. Cerian and I are...we’re going to make our home there.”
Her familiar voice is calming, though it’s obvious she’s trying to distract him. At least it gives him something other than the terror filling him to focus on.
“And after Elowyn gets better, I want you to come visit,” Arisanna says. “You have to meet Cook. Cook loves me.”
He chuckles weakly at that.
