"I was supposed to do that," I say, voice breaking. I clear my throat. "Before the medallion was destroyed."
"Sire!" Westley calls softly from the top of the stairs. "Come quickly!"
"What? Is he hurt?" I demand.
"Nay, witch. The Shadow Knight's sword has broken."
I wrench away from the Red Knight and start running. Take me to him! I scream at the magic of the castle. Torches flicker and I trail them down a set of stairs and to a hallway wide enough for two buses to drive through. Two wide wooden doors lead into the banquet hall and I stop before them, pounding on one.
"Open!" I give a frustrated yell.
There's a creak and then one of them obeys, deliberately swinging open towards me. I don't wait for it and squeeze through the opening, running into the hall.
I see neither of them and pause to listen for the sounds of swords. It, too, is gone.
"Don't mess with me!" I cry at the castle, eyes blurring with tears. My heart is near the point of combustion.
A groan.
Uncertain what I heard, I hold my breath, willing my thoughts quiet, too.
It's coming from the other side of the hall.
Skirting the tables, I slow long enough at each break between rows to look between them.
And then I see them. Both men are on the ground, blood pooling around their bodies.
"Atreyu!" I gasp and dash towards him. Dropping to my knees, I don't notice the blood that splashes up and instead, shakily reach to take his pulse.
It's there - but weak, shallow and slow.
"You can't leave me," I whisper, gaze roving over his sculpted lips to the hard planes of his face and his dark hair. His scent is thick in the air. Leaning over him, I can smell our lovemaking on his skin. A pang of pure agony hits me hard in the gut. "Oh, god. Please, no!" I can't lose him so soon after finding him!
A tiny voice tells me to stop the bleeding. I walk forward on my knees. He's unconscious and covered in blood, his muscular physique still.
Blood pumps from a huge gash in his side, from his thigh, from both shoulders, the side of his neck . . .
There's no stopping or replacing that much blood without a legit hospital, which this world doesn't have. I sit back, stricken by helplessness and horror, unable to believe the only man I've ever wanted is dying before me.
I'm becoming numb, my surroundings taking on a surreal feel. My ears buzz and I try to distance my feelings from here, try to convince myself it's not real.