The grip around her wrist couldn't have loosened faster.
Eli was a quite a distance away from them, down the hallway, his eyes brewing with rage the closer he got. Belladonna let out a shaky breath of relief as her gaze landed on him.
Her Eli.
"Eli." She whispered underneath her breath while she pushed forward on her wobbly legs, that were getting weaker by the second.
She didn't have to walk too far though, he was right by her side in a flashing, taking his cloak from his shoulders and wrapping it around her. It was as smooth as he had planned it though because for some reasons, she was trying to check him, as if to ensure that he was alright.
It made him wonder if she knew where he had been. Even if she did, why would she think that he had been injured. His guards were the ones that had inflicted the pain and the traitors he had confronted were in the dungeon right now, only a floor away from Pamela. By the time he would question them again, they would have no choice but to speak.
"I am alright, Donna."
Her legs buckled underneath her, making her crash into him. He picked her up without hesitation, sending Kestra a glare.
"What did you do to her?"
"Your Majesty, I would never hurt your Bride." She replied defensively, so shocked at the accusation that she couldn't even hide it.
His gaze was trained intensely on her and without a word he turned around, taking her to his room.
"Eli..."
"You are weak. Conserve your strength. Kestra, call the Physician."
"But, your Majesty, I'm of better help."
"Get me the physician. Now."
The next thing Belladonna felt was a blur. She couldn't tell if they were moving too fast or if it was just her head that was spinning from everything that had been happening to her. It made her even weaker, sick to her very core.
Her eyelids fluttered close as she tried to fight the weakness.
"I know about..." Her voice trailed into a whisper, as she felt her back sink into the bed, and her hand reached out to hold unto Eli's collar.
He went on a kneel by her bedside, his voice filled with worry.
"Tell me everything, once the Physician has had a look at you."
Belladonna could hear a smile in his voice. He was probably trying to calm her down. Everything that was happening was confusing. She didn't understand her sudden weakness, neither did she understand why she suddenly couldn't say a complete sentence.
The door swung open and she heard some hasty steps rush in. While voices tried to reach to her from the distance she was quickly falling into.
Someone was telling her to keep her eyes open.
Begging her.
She was trying to do just that.
Trying to keep her eyes open but she just couldn't. It was out of her control.
So, she became one with the darkness.
***
The Physician was puzzled.
He had never looked so conflicted before. He didn't know what he was doing, it was obvious and that was starting to irk Eli.
"What is wrong?"
"Yo-ur Ma-majesty."
His anger flared with the uncertainty in his voice and he took two steps further in his pacing before he turned around to meet the eyes of the Physician.
He fell on a knee, bowing and with a trembling voice, he confessed.
"I don't know, your Majesty."
Eli clenched his fists by his sides, he could feel Kestra's eyes darting to him from the room. His loyal servant had returned from her usual haunt for his remedy, and usually he would receive her with a warm welcome despite any situation her arrival might have met.
But tonight was different.
He was worried.
He was angry.
The fact that she was staring even made him angrier.
It was unexplainable.
"You know nothing at all?"
"She gives the signs of someone recovering from a huge fight, her breathing is laboured but the symptoms she exhibit cannot be gotten from a dream. It's impossible."
"Are you trying to say she is injured?" His voice was calm but the dread that laced it gave away his worry.
"I can't find anyt--i don't understand what is wrong with her." He cried.
"Is she in danger or not?"
"I don't know. I don't know." His sobbing increased.
"You know nothing?!"
His forehead was planted against the floor, his hands above him begging. "Spare my life, please, spare me, your Majesty."
He gritted his teeth. "Get out. You are useless."
That was the only order he needed, before he scurried out.
The room fell into silence.
"This is a job for a witch, let me, your Majesty."
Eli frowned.
How had that skipped his mind?
"Of course." He agreed, an hint of hesitation in his voice. "Do you know what is wrong with my Donna?"
Kestra nodded, taking cautious steps closer to the sleeping bride. "A terrible nightmare."
"That explains nothing of her weakness."
"The nightmare must have felt real for her. Too real."
"Is there something you can do?"
"Yes, your Majesty."
"What is it?"
"I will make her forget the nightmare."
Whatever she had seen, Kestra planned for her to forget it.
Sometimes, humans had dreams that held truth within them and Kestra would not have little Bell telling the King things that might make him question her.
"It will be never bother her again."
Eli's frown deepened.
"Isn't there some other way?"
"I can't heal her using any other means. Whatever struggles she must have been involved in must have tricked her mind into believing they are real. This is the only way I can heal her mind."
"For how long will she be bedridden for if we just wait things out."
"Too long, your Majesty. Her energy is really weak."
Eli sucked in a breath, slipping back on one knee by her bedside.
"Is it, perhaps, the Bride Thief giving her the nightmares."
"No." Kestra's have skimmed over the necklace. "Her necklace is still intact."
"Will it put her life at risk if we wait?"
Kestra bit the inside of her cheek.
He was been stubborn, he never used to get this stubborn, he never used to question her so much like this too.
She had to be careful.
"We could wait but if she has the nightmare again and get more injuries--"
Belladonna breathing got harsher and desperate, Eli reached out for her hand and grasped it.
Kestra suppressed a smile.
Just her luck.
"She is having the nightmare again, your Majesty. We don't have time."
His shoulders tensed with agitation.
"Fine. Do it. Now."
Kestra was more than happy to.
There were things that his Majesty shouldn't know.
Not now.
Not ever.