Major wounds were treated. Minor wounds went without treatment due to their limited amount of supplies. Around one in the morning, his exhausted soldiers abandoned the healing effort. James felt helpless. Half of his army wounded, the other half exhausted from fighting then having to aid their companions, and their enemy would come again on the morrow. Come until they were slaughtered, or had killed enough of them to make them retreat. A warmth filled his chest and James fell asleep.

James woke before the sun rose to see how many of his troops had died during the night. To his astonishment, all were almost completely well. How was this possible? The wounded soldiers spoke of other people, who seemed Human, that had come to them and healed their wounds. There wasn't time to do much before the Gerrabellas came again. James' troops hadn't completely recovered from the long night and had to be creative in their groups to overpower the enemy.

Despite their best efforts to protect their prince, James was cut down. Those who had been fighting around him, had seen him fall and fought harder to protect him long enough for some of the men to remove him from danger. His medic worked to bind his wounds while the others picked their companions out from among the dead, sending the wounded back to camp to be treated and burying the rest. The medic in his army had done what he could for James and left to attend the others.

The medic hoped that the Prince's wounds weren't enough to kill him. Carthago received word of his brother's wounds and wondered if his brother would pull through. A few of the soldiers didn't think so, due to how deep and serious his wounds were. James was left to suffer in his tent alone, and only a single guard stood outside his tent, who soon fell asleep. James fought to live. He wanted to see Lilly at least once more before he died—if only to thank her for the Adremedians' help. As if to answer his unspoken plea, he heard someone come in.

"Who's there?"

There was no response, but the figure moved closer. James reached for his sword, but a small gentle hand held it before he could reach it. He felt them check his wounds. The minor ones were healed, but only a small amount of healing could be done for his more serious wounds. If no more healing could be done, he would slowly bleed to death.

'Lilly, are you here?'

'Yes, James,' came her soft reply.

'You cannot heal me...can you?' he gasped.

'I cannot. I gave too much aid last night and haven't recovered enough to do more.'

'Then will you grant me...one last...request?'

'And that is?'

His hand moved to her face. 'Smile for me?'

She did then his hand fell away.

To say he was confused to wake in the morning was an understatement. To feel as if he hadn't been wounded at all was another. But the roaring of the Ferrabellas was closer this morning. They were nearly to their camp. James sounded the alarm and returned to the fight. For four days they fought. For four days they had the aid of several Adremedians, but not once did James see Lilly among them. Even after the fighting ended and they could return to their homes.

The king died a few weeks after the war ended and Carthago was crowned king in his place. James was finally free to do as he wished. But he didn't travel as he had desired to. He spent most of his time tottering about the forest, looking for Lilly. He searched for her. He called for her, but she never replied. Still, he doubted that something had happened to her. There was no other Adremedians in or near the forest as he searched. She had to be alive. He wanted her to be alive. He needed her to be alive.

Finally, after nearly a year of searching, he found her.

'Lilly!' he called running up to her.

She turned to see who was approaching. She studied his face for some time. It couldn't be. He didn't survive. He… Pain punched through her chest. She gasped. James held her, supported her as she knelt.

'Lilly? What's wrong?'

She didn't respond. Her breath hard to draw in. Then she screamed.

'Don't leave me Lilly! I need you!' James cried.

Tears slipped from her eyes and trailed down the black grooves that had burned her skin from eye to ear. She closed her eyes and her body relaxed.

'Lilly?' James asked softly.

'Never fall in....' She cried all out now. Her shoulders shaking. Slowly her arms moved around him and held him close. 'James. I'm...sorry I couldn't heal you. I'm so sorry.'

'The other Adremedians did. That's all that matters.'

Lilly cried in his arms.

He finally released his grip when her crying had stopped. Her head remained lowered. When he tried to lift it, she turned it aside. James tried once more, but again she turned.

'James if you kiss me, you will die.'

'Look at me?'

Slowly she raised her eyes to look at him.

He looked deeply into her green eyes. He read pain there. Leaning closer he kissed her cheek then pulled her close again. 'Lilly, will you stay with me?'

'I can as your friend.'

'No!' he said, pulling away. 'I want you closer to me than that. I want to be with you forever.'

'That is not possible, James,' she replied, head bowed.

'And why not?!'

She looked at him, eyes filled with regret. The sunlight made her poisoned lips s.h.i.+mmer and the black grooves cast shadows across her cheeks. The grooves looked darker, the poison s.h.i.+mmer on her lips more vibrant. He stared at her, sorrow filling his heart.

'Lilly, don't do this, please!' he said softly.

Her hand brushed against his cheek. 'We can spend time together, but we will have no children, no connection past an embrace. Can you accept that?'

'As long as I'm with you that will be enough.'

'Okay.' Then she stood.

James stood as well. 'Where are you going?'

'There are some things that need to be taken care of. You can come if you'd like.'

Then she turned and walked away. James followed her and watched her work. He was amazed at all she did. It wasn't until early in the evening that James noticed they had entered the mountains. They walked for a while before they stopped. He was about to ask why when Korah stepped out of the shadows. He still looked ill despite it having been over a year since he had forced the forbidden on Lilly.

'Korah?' James asked. 'Lilly, what...?' He stopped when she pulled out her knife and approached Korah.

Korah watched her approached with indifference. He let her knife bury itself as deeply as possible into his stomach. His arms moved around her and his head rested on her shoulder. After a moment, James watched as another Adremedian came to help Korah, but not before saying something to Lilly. The other Adremedian gave Lilly a hug then saw James. Her head jerked in his direction and he saw Lilly nod. Lilly wrapped her arms around both of them before they parted. Lilly's knife was returned to her belt, clean. Her hand touched his arm as she walked past.

'Lilly?' James turned, but didn't follow.

'We'll talk in a moment, James. Come.'

'No. What did you do to Korah?'

Lilly kept walking. She was almost out of sight when James finally followed her. They walked back to the forest and James felt his stomach growl. It was dark and he didn't think he could find anything in the dark. Glancing away, he wondered where Torta was and b.u.mped into Lilly.

'Sorry, I...'

Lilly took his hand and placed something in it. 'Eat.'

James smelled it and tentatively tasted it. It had no flavor to it, or did it? He put the whole thing in his mouth and ate it. After he swallowed it, he felt he was going to be sick. The feeling pa.s.sed and his hunger was gone. James looked at her, but couldn't see her face because of the shadows that covered her face.

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'Why did you stab Korah?' he asked her.

She sighed. 'Korah has become increasingly sick of late, because of the forbidden, instead of healing like he should have. By stabbing him, I have relieved that suffering.'

'That makes no sense. Blades kills.'

'Adremedian blades are different, James. I can't explain it any better than that.'

'The blade you stabbed me with after I kissed your poisoned lips.'

'Yes.'

'I don't understand. How is that possible?'

'It's a healer's blade. Every Adremedian carries one.'

'Then why didn't that other Adremedian do it?'

'Because the responsibility was mine. Forgiveness plays a large role in healing.'

'Do you use it all the time?' James asked.

He watched as Lilly entered a moonlit area and sat on the ground. 'No. It is only used for healing that needs another's help.'

'Have you been stabbed?'

'More than once.'

'How many times?' he asked, sitting where he could see her face.

She just shrugged her shoulders then held out her hand towards the trees on her left.

James saw a she wolf come out and sit beside her.

All of Lilly's attention s.h.i.+fted to the wolf. Soon the wolf lay down and Lilly beside her.

'Lilly?'

'Try and sleep James. We'll talk more tomorrow.'

James laid down across from her and fell asleep.