Daniel opened the large black iron gate and let her go first. She nodded to him as they walked up to the castle door, together. He knocked twice and after a few minutes, it opened. Stergis stood there, eyes widened in suprise.

"Thank the gods you're here, I thought it would take longer for you to get here.' He said, then stepped to the side to let them in.\

"I wasn't too busy and i care for her, too." The empress said.

"I appriciate it, I've tried and I don't know how to help her." He admitted.

"Perhaps you should stop trying to fix her..Just be here when she needs you.' She said to him.

"Come, she's in my work-room." 

"The one with the fireplace?" She asked.

"Yes, why?" 

"It's my favorite room of your castle," Ralvania told him.

"It's ours as well." 

"What's she doing now?" Daniel asked.

"Drinking wine," He said.

"This early?' 

"Uh huh." Stergis replied with worry in his voice.

"Why so much?" Daniel asked as they walked down the hall, slowly.

"I assume she's trying to drink away the pain." 

"I don't believe that's working for her." The empress commented.

"I know that, but until she realizes it, she won't stop." Stergis told her.

"Don't buy it for her." She said.

"I tried that. She left and went to the pub." 

"I will try to help but there may not be an instant fix." She informed him.

He nodded then led him into the room with the fireplace.

         Ravenessa looked horribly thin and pale. As if she'd stopped....everything.Taking a sip she looked up to see the empress and warlock standing there.

"Empress, what are you doing here?" She shrieked then ran over to hug her.

"I haven't seen you in a few moons, that's all."  She said.

"You dropped everything and came all this way to see me?" She said after letting go of the empress.

"Yes, how are you?" She said.

"Okay, I guess. Would you like a glass?" She offered.

"Sure." She responded.

Stergis looked at her as if she were insane.

"You two go on. I need to talk to her alone." She commanded.

"What are you doing?" He whispered.

"You'll see in a few hours." 

"Just trust her." Daniel interupted.

After a moment's hesitation, stergis glared at her. "Okay, fine." The two warlocks left them to it.

"Thank you. Those two have been watching me as if I were a child." 

The empress giggled. "They're worried about you." 

"I know but i can't breathe without one of them hovering over me." She explained and poured two glasses of the dark liquid.