The Lycan's Bite

Serena woke, startled in her sleep, by a bad dream. She had seen Ivar in her dream, he was hurt and deathly pale, and there had been blood everywhere around him, soaking into the snow. Something was wrong, she could feel it, feel his pain, as if she were wounded along with him. She sat up and got out of bed, pulling on her cloak and boots as she walked quickly outside on to the balcony.

He had left in the middle of the night, saying only that he needed to talk to Rathgar and nothing more. She tried to sense his presence inside the Royal Palace but she knew, in her heart, that he wasn't there. She paced the length of the balcony, chewing on her bottom lip, as a gnawing feeling of unease settled in the pit of her stomach.

She suddenly stopped pacing and stood, leaning on the balustrade and peered out into the darkness. The moon had momentarily ducked behind the clouds, plunging the landscape below into darkness, making it impossible for her to see. She strained her eyes, searching for something, anything, that would tell her that Ivar had returned.

The clouds swept noiselessly across the night sky and as the moon came into view, it's pale, silver light revealed a figure flying rapidly towards her. It was Rathgar, his silver hair streaming out behind him, and as his cloak billowed out, she saw that he was carrying someone in his arms. She stood looking up at the sky, until he reached her and floated down on to the balcony, his boots landing with a soft thud in the snow.

Seeing Ivar, barely conscious and bleeding, she rushed towards them, and touched his face, instantly feeling how ice cold and clammy his skin was. She gasped and pulled back her hand, looking up at Rathgar, with a questioning look.

"What happened?"

"He's been bitten...by a Lycan", he answered, looking past her through the open balcony doors.

"Bring him inside. Quickly! His skin is colder than the ice outside", she said, and turned to lead the way.

Once inside, Serena securely locked the doors as Rathgar laid Ivar down on the bed and moved aside for Serena to arrange the covers around him. She was shaking as she stepped back and turned to Rathgar, her lips twisted into a frown.

"How did this happen?"

"We were attacked by Lycans"

"Where?"

"Just west of Garenthal"

Unaware that she was going to do it, Serena's hand snaked out and slapped the vampire hard, across his face. Rathgar winced, more in shock than pain, unable to believe that she had actually slapped him.

"You are supposed to keep him safe! How could you allow this to happen?", she hissed angrily.

Rathgar hung his head, hiding his shame, and unable to look at her.

"Forgive me Your Majesty, it is my fault. I have failed my King"

"Never mind that! Fetch the Royal Physician at once, I do not intend to become a widow this night!"

"I will fetch him immediately but you will not be a widow Your Majesty. The King is a thousand year old pureblood, he cannot die from a Lycan's bite", Rathgar replied, attempting to reassure her.

"I hope that what you say is true. For your sake!", she retorted sharply, before turning away to sit beside Ivar on the bed.

As soon as Rathgar left the room, she hurried into the bathroom to fetch some warm water and a wash cloth with which to sponge Ivar. She tried cleaning his wound and cursed herself for not having the foresight to ask Rathgar to help her remove Ivar's clothes. Now she would have to wait until the vampire returned with the physician.

She didn't have long to wait before Rathgar entered the room again with the Royal Physician. She was surprised by the physician's appearance, he was younger than she had expected, with dark blonde hair and warm chocolate brown eyes. He bowed before raising his head and offering her a friendly smile.

"Your Majesty, this is Dr Reeve Aylard, the Royal Physician"

"Call me Reeve please", he said politely, with a slight bow.

"Please attend to my husband doctor, he is in need of your urgent attention", Serena gestured toward the bed, standing aside.

"Of course Your Majesty", the physician moved to the bed and leaned down to examine the wound.

Straightening up, he turned to Rathgar and beckoning him to the bed, he asked the Commander General to help him remove Ivar's shirt and coat. Serena moved to stand at the foot of the bed, watching as they undressed Ivar. She was unable to prevent the gasp of horror that escaped her upon seeing his wound for the first time.

The flesh on his lower arm was ripped open and the evidence of teeth marks, clearly visible from the two long gashes across his arm. The blood had long since dried, leaving behind only congealed patches of dark maroon. The surrounding flesh had turned purple and blue while his veins pressed against the surface of his pale, translucent skin.

Reeve glanced at her with concern, "Your Majesty, you can wait outside if you don't wish to see this"

"No! I will not leave him!", she answered vehemently, while shaking her head.

The physician studied her for a moment before turning back to Ivar as he proceeded to clean and dress the Lycan's bite with a herbal disinfectant. He was meticulous and thorough, cleaning the wound with great care before covering it with a large piece of soft gauze. Once that was done, Reeve administered two little vials of medicine into Ivar's mouth while both Serena and Rathgar watched him closely.

"Keep a close watch on him tonight. He should be recovered by the morning", Reeve uttered these last words before he left.

Serena rushed to the bed and sitting beside Ivar, continued sponging his face and chest, while he slept. Rathgar stood quietly in the background, giving some privacy to the Royal couple. He watched and waited for Serena to fall asleep, but the young, human Queen, remained stoic, in maintaining her vigil beside her husband.

But as the first rays of sunlight, gradually rose on the horizon, sending radiant beams of orange and gold light through the windows, Ivar's condition had worsened. His skin had turned a sickly ashen gray and his veins were black and swollen, standing out prominently beneath his skin.

Serena looked up at Rathgar, as he stood at the foot of the bed, her eyes shining with tears.

"Please do something Rathgar, he's getting worse", she begged.

"As you wish, I shall return shortly with someone who can help", Rathgar told her before leaving.

When he returned a short while later with Mikhail, Serena was pleasantly surprised. The older vampire approached the bed and stood looking down at Ivar with curiosity.

"This is poison. The Lycan must have had it on his fangs when he bit him", Mikhail observed with interest.

"Someone meant to kill him?", Serena asked.

"It would seem so", Mikhail murmured his agreement.

"But he will be alright, won't he?", Serena glanced at Mikhail and then to Rathgar.

"Perhaps", Mikhail answered.

"Rathgar you told me that he wouldn't die", she accused him.

"Before I knew that he was poisoned" Rathgar replied softly.

"But there must be something we can do to save him", she insisted, refusing to accept that Ivar was dying.

"Your Majesty, the King has been bitten by a Lycan with poisoned fangs and unless we can identify the poison and obtain the antidote, there is nothing to be done", Rathgar shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

"No! I don't believe you! Find out the poison and get the antidote. Now!", she ordered, turning back to Ivar so they wouldn't see her tears.

"Your Majesty.....", Rathgar's voice was cautious, not wanting a repeat of her earlier slap.

"Do you dare to question me?", she demanded without turning around.

"No Your Majesty"

"Good then why are you still here?"

Before Rathgar could depart once more, a soft, familiar voice spoke up.

"There is a way, Your Majesty"

Serena whipped around to look at Mikhail, hope dawning on her face.

"What way?"

"Mikhail no", Rathgar interrupted.

"It is the only way", Mikhail disagreed.

"The risks are too high"

"They always are"

"I will do it. Whatever it is. I will do it", Serena's voice brought them back to reality.

Rathgar knew that it was useless to argue with her, when she had already made up her mind. He knew from Ivar that she could be stubborn when she decided on something. He glared across the room at Mikhail, who pointedly ignored him.

"What do you need from me?", Serena asked, looking at Mikhail.

"Only what you can give", came Mikhail's response.

"And what might that be?"

A long pause followed, in which the two vampires exchanged a look between them, but neither one of them spoke. Eventually, it was Mikhail who spoke first, breaking the silence.

"Your blood, Your Majesty. He needs your blood"