"Hah!" My eyes flashed open.

"Xemein. Is something wrong?" I heard Regalis ask, as he roused from sleep.

Quickly, before he could light the candle on our bedside table, I jumped from our bed and sped into the restroom. Breathing heavily. As I removed my hand from my neck wound, and noticed the profuse amount of blood I was losing.

"Xemein! Xemein! Open this door now!" Regalis shrieked from the other side of the restroom's door, in fear.

It was locked. So, he couldn't come in.
I panted. I couldn't heal myself, why? Never before, have I desperately wished that my Gift could work on me, like this moment.

"Xemein! Xemein!" Regalis banged the locked door.

"Xemein!" His voice, drowned in trepidation.

He couldn't even see my injury, only heard the pain in my voice, when I howled, yet, he was in torment already, just from that. How could he care so much this deeply just for me? I felt unworthy. Like I had lied my way through, to his heart. A tear slid from my eyes.

"Please, call a healer, Regalis" I said.

"For what? Where are you injured? Does it hurt badly?"

So many questions.

"Get a healer" I said.

Even if it was an unGifted one, at least let my wound be disinfected and bandaged, before Regalis sees me. Again.

An hour later, after my wound had been dressed and the healer, gone, Regalis dashed into the restroom, where I was, sitting in silence. And he hugged me. Instantly. His body, like a warm blanket, round my cold flesh.
He looked at the huge bandage on my neck.

Randall had truly not meant to spare me.

No mercy. He went all out to inflict a pain I'd remember each time I looked at my reflection.

He touched my neck. So softly. And gently. "What happened?" He said.

For a while, I didn't speak and finally, I responded, "a nail at the edge of the headboard. It pierced me".

He took my hands, kissed it "I wish I could bear the pain for you".

But, I won't let you do that anymore, I thought. This is not your battle, it's mine.

For years, I've hidden from Randall. Hiding like a mouse, from the big bad housecat. Well, I won't take it anymore.

I was no mouse! And he was no cat, that could gobble me.

I was the Princess of Marjol! Heir to the throne! This was my battle. And it had no concern with Regalis. Perhaps, it was time, I faced my fear.

And if my death, would be the price I had to pay, to free both Armalith and Marjol, from a tyrant, such as Randall, then let it be so.

So far as, when death takes my life, I cross the Great Beyond, knowing that, I slayed my greatest oppressor, before drawing in my last breath.