Chapter 5

Sitting in the waiting room with Allisara's Grandparents, we wait for news of how the surgery is going. Apparently the dagger did more damage then we thought and the process of removing it and restructuring an artery it hit required more focus. At one point a Nurse came out asking if anyone here matched Allisara's blood type. Luckily Eathan and Everette were both O-negative like her and were able to donate some blood. From the next report we received, their blood helped a lot.

"Maybe you should try to get some sleep, Sky." Liz softly calls out, placing her hand on mine. I look up to see her face filled with worry. She looks like she has aged a decade this morning. This morning. I close my eyes as I think about how we were all joking and laughing. How we were excited to watch Allisara take the crown for good. Now she lays on an operation table.

"Excuse me, but I have news." Standing to my feet at the sound of this voice, I notice the Nurse that has been giving us all updates on how the surgery is going. The Nurse, Jackie, smiles at all of us and relief washes over me.

"Our Queen is going to be on bed rest for a while, but she is out of surgery." She begins to explain. Liz and Lillian cry out with relief and clutch and begin to cry tears of joy into their husband's shoulders. I sink back into my chair and take a deep breath.

"Other than the blood loss, we expect Queen Allisara to make a full recovery. She is in the Royal Room if you would all like to be there with her. Just remember she is resting." With that, the Nurse returns to the front desk and I feel like the constricting grip on my heart has eased. Juden did not take her from me again. She is alive and waiting for me. A hand pats me on my shoulder and I look to see Christopher looking at me with his eyes full of unshed tears.

"She is a fighter." He mutters out through a choked sob, the tears finally falling.

"That she is." I agree, placing my hand on top of his. I have watched first hand just how much Allisara fights for her life, her friends and family. But most importantly I have witnessed how she will always fight for her Kingdom. My Queen and love of my life is not the little Princess I was training to protect.

"Let's go see her." Eathan calls out, taking the lead. Our group slowly moves towards the door to the patient wing, our steps lighter than they were hours earlier when the fate of Allisara was up in the air.

"Oh, Lord Skylard!" Jackie called out as I am about to step past the doors.

"Yes?" I turn around to face her, seeing a smile on her face.

"The staff thought you'd be staying the night and had a futon placed in the room. You can't sleep in the same bed as her Majesty due to her injuries, but we can provide a bed for you so you can be close to her." She explains. Shocked, I am taken aback at how thoughtful everyone is. Then I remember that Allisara treats everyone as equals and has won over the hearts of the Palace staff. They would do anything to help her in her time of need even if it means making space for me – her boyfriend – to be close to her.

"Thank you." My words are filled with gratitude. I thought I would be spending my days on a couch in the room until Allisara work up but it looks like I will have a bed of my own, even if it's a futon.

"Just take care of her. She needs you more than ever." With that Jackie returns to her work and I continue walking through the doors that separate the waiting area from the patient rooms. Eathan is the only one waiting for me and I am glad. I don't know if I could handle being alone right now.

Eathan walks with me in silence until we enter the room reserved for the royal family. Everyone else has gathered in the small sitting area just to the left of the bed when I walk in, a Styrofoam cup in their hands with what I can tell is coffee.

"We wanted to let you be the one to sit by her bed." Everette smiles at me, motioning to the comfortable looking recliner that sits to the right of Allisara's bed. I thank him before I take a seat and reach out to take Allisara's left hand in mine. She is so still. So pale. Her eyes tightly shut as she sleeps. If it weren't for the rise and fall of her chest I would have thought my Allisara had passed away.

Attached to her are many types of I.V., the needles in her elbows and left hand. They bring the medicine right to her veins, helping to keep the pain at bay. Other wires are connected to monitors and machines, each one making sure Allisara stays alive.

"How long do you think she will be like this?" I hear Liz asks, her voice quivering.

"We don't know yet. The Doctor who performed the surgery is washing up and will join us shortly." Christopher replies. But I was there when the dagger embedded itself into her shoulder. Was there when she fainted. My guess from watching Guards and Soldiers gain similar injuries is that Allisara will be out for at least a day needing her rest and bed rest for at least a month.

A knock on the door has everyone's attention and I look up to see a man in a lab coat walk in. His hair is damp and I ping him as the Doctor that performed the surgery.

"Sorry to interrupt but I am Doctor Trace Notch. I was the one to perform surgery on our Queen." Doctor Trace introduces himself as he walks inside and closes the door.

"It's fine. We have been waiting for you to come in and talk to us." Ron hobbles over with his cane and shakes the Doctor's hand while the rest of us stay seated.

"I am glad to hear that." Doctor Trace smiles at us but the smile doesn't hid the weariness in his eyes.

"Anyways, I just want to give you all the run down on how her Majesty's surgery went. There were some complications when we ran out of O-negative blood as we tried to stop the bleeding but thanks to the two of you donating." He waves to Eathan and Everrette.

"We were able to give her enough as we stopped the bleed. She will be fine and I expect her to wake up within twenty-four to forty-eight hours from now." I look down at Allisara and sigh. It will be a long, quiet night until she wakes up.

"Her recovery might be long. She will need to be in bed rest for minimum a month with little movement. No heavy lifting and no attending Cabinet and Military meetings." I chuckle at these instruction and look up to see the doctor looking at me with an amused smile.

"Yes, even I know this will be hard for her. Our Queen is a bit of a work-a-holic from what the gossip tells me."

"Trust me, Ellisia and I have to take her laptop from her to make her eat and sleep when she gets into a project." I chuckle out, Doctor Trace letting out a deep laugh.

"Well as her boyfriend, I am making you liable in getting our Queen to rest." Doctor Trace mock-orders, causing everyone in the room to laugh.

"Don't worry, we all will." Ellisia walks into the room with a smile on her face, sidestepping the doctor where he stands and makes his way to the side of the bed where I sit.

"Good. I have work to deal with but if anything happens, call a Nurse and they will page me." With that, Doctor Trace takes his leave, closing the door behind him once more as Ellisia kept it open. The room grows silent as we all sit here, taking in the dire state Allisara is in.

It is going to be a long month dealing with the Kingdom and the Rebellion with her unable to lead us.