Ponderosa drifted off to sleep soon after Prince Kelton left. She had a strange dream that Iredys kissed her, but it wasn’t really a kiss either. Iredys pressed her thumb against her chin to get her lips to part, then her lips briefly brushed against hers as Iredys exhaled in her mouth, leaving the stub of her tongue feeling a little odd. Iredys then caressed the underside of Ponderosa’s chin with her fingertips before laying down in sleep once more.

When she woke, Iredys lay with her back to Ponderosa. Her breathing was steady, but not as slow and deep as it had been after the visions had overwhelmed her. Ponderosa tucked the blanket around her as she carefully climbed off the bed. She shivered as she stoked the fire a little more. Then she started to mix a glass of meal for Iredys.

‘Only for you this morning,’ Iredys voice said softly.

‘Iredys?’ Ponderosa asked, turning.

Iredys’ breath caught in her throat. Her head tipped back and her eyelids fluttered. Her shoulders ached before she shuddered and jerked on the bed. Ponderosa tried to go to her, but found she could not move.

‘Drink,’ Iredys voice gasped.

A moan left her throat. Her body stiffened more before a whole body shudder passed through her from her head to her feet. A whine and a cry left her lips. Ponderosa tried once more to go to her, but still could not move.

‘Drink,’ Iredys said.

Ponderosa picked up the glass and emptied it. She added a little more water to get the most out of the cup. When she tried to shift to help Iredys, she still couldn’t get closer to the bed, however, when she turned to clean the cup, she found her movements unrestricted. She sighed in her heart, but could only work on making sure everything was packed and ready to go. Once that was done Ponderosa was able to approach Iredys. She lifted Iredys’ shoulders and sat so her head could lay on her lap. Iredys continued to cry, her eyes struggling to stay open.

‘What have you seen, Iredys?’ Ponderosa asked.

Iredys body shifted some as her abdomen contracted. A bucket flew over to the bed before Iredys threw up. She threw up a little more before the bucket moved away and she settled her head back onto Ponderosa’s lap. A whimper passed through her lips before her head rolled forward slightly. Iredys’ breath seemed to pause before it fell into the slow, deep, rhythm once more. Ponderosa stroked her head.

A knock sounded on the door. “Ponderosa?” Prince Kelton called.

He knocked a second time before he opened the door. His expression became puzzled. His hand came up to his face as he turned to look at the bucket of vomit.

“Is she doing alright?” he asked.

Ponderosa worried on her bottom lip a little, but nodded.

“Are you sure? We can stay another day if….”

Ponderosa shook her head.

It wouldn’t matter if they stayed or traveled. The effects the runes had on her would be the same.

“Alright. Can I take her?”

Ponderosa stroked Iredys head a couple more times before she nodded.

Prince Kelton gently lifted Iredys into his arms. He sat on one of the chairs and held her while Ponderosa found socks, shoes, and cloaks for them. Sir Hamnet and Sir Droyn stepped in to help Ponderosa carry her bags. Prince Kelton carried Iredys out and Ponderosa followed. Once Ponderosa and Iredys were settled in the carriage, their group left the inn as twilight turned to dawn.

They needed to stop a few hours out for Iredys to release the overwhelm of her visions. After that, she held tightly to Ponderosa. Prince Kelton remained attentive throughout, though his expression revealed his disappointed and troubled heart. Iredys’ visions slowed their progress, but it wasn’t until she had a much larger and longer lasting fit that Prince Kelton decided it best to stop for the night. The skin around Prince Kelton’s eyes turned red as he tried to suppress his tears.

He checked in with Ponderosa often as they sat around the fire. Ponderosa knew he was hoping for something he could do to help Iredys through this, but as with herself, there wasn’t much of anything that could be done. The herbs helped to support Iredys’ body, but did nothing to slow the visions that flooded her mind.

Ponderosa absently stroked Iredys head as they sat around the fire that night. The remnant of her tongue was tingling. It almost had an itch to it, like it did when it was healing after the majority of her tongue had been cut out. Her brow furrowed in confusion? Did that mean that Iredys really had exhaled into her mouth last night? Or was she experiencing the feeling because she was trying to process the strangeness of imagining Iredys nearly kissing her while she slept? She knew Iredys was affectionate, but not of the romantic sort when it came to other women.

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“Are you doing alright, Ponderosa?” Prince Kelton asked, as Sir Thomas handed her a warmed glass of meal.

She nodded her thanks to Sir Thomas then nodded for Prince Kelton.

“Is there something about Iredys’ condition that is troubling you?”

Ponderosa shook her head as she took a drink. As she lowered the cup, she tapped her chest.

“Something is troubling you about yourself?” he wondered.

She nodded then motioned that it would be something she would need to write out before he asked anymore questions.

“Is it something I can help with?”

Ponderosa shook her head. She could only ask Iredys about it later.

Prince Kelton nodded.

The rest of the trip passed like this as the snow storms permitted, short stops for Iredys’ shorter fits, longer or overnight stops after her longer fits. When they finally reached the castle, the courtyard was very busy. Ponderosa watched all the various servants and vendors running around. The masked ball, they had learned, was set for Prince Kelton’s birthday, which wasn’t for another week. However, it seemed that there was still a lot to do. Iredys whined and squirmed beside her a little before she stilled. Ponderosa rubbed her back as she continued to look around. Movement in one of the windows caught her attention. The Queen stood there, her gaze difficult to see with the glare on the glass panes.

Ponderosa’s gaze broke when Prince Kelton opened the door of the carriage and touched her hand so she could pass Iredys to him. She helped to carefully pass Iredys to him. Once Prince Kelton had a secure hold on her, she climbed out of the carriage and started to gather her bags. Ponderosa glanced up at the window where Queen Leona had been and noticed she no longer stood there. She followed Prince Kelton inside. They climbed several sets of stairs before Prince Kelton hollered.

“Diligens!”

A door down the hall from them opened a little and an older gentleman poked his head out.

“No!” Iredys screamed, startling Prince Kelton almost causing him to drop her.

She struggled in his arms, but Prince Kelton kept a firm hold.

“It’s alright, Iredys,” he tried. “It’s okay. It’s just....”

“No!” she wailed louder. “No. No. No. No. No.”

Ponderosa pinched her nose, forcing her to breathe through her mouth.

Iredys whined, but started to calm.

Prince Kelton furrowed his brow.

Ponderosa got his attention, not letting go of Iredys’ nose yet, and motioned with her other hand and her head to not have Diligens come out.

“You don’t want Diligens’ help?”

Ponderosa nodded.

“Why?”

She waved her hand to avoid the question then went back to gesturing for him to get rid of Diligens.

“My Lord?” Diligens asked, stepping into the hall.

“No!” Iredys cried again, pulling her nose out of Ponderosa’s fingers and fighting even harder against Prince Kelton’s hold.

“Iredys be....”

She head butted his shoulder. He loosened his hold and she managed to break free. Iredys sprinted down the hall. Ponderosa chased her, grabbing her arm and pulling her tight against her chest before she ran into the wall. Iredys buried her face in Ponderosa’s dress. She took deep breaths while Ponderosa rubbed her back. She could hear Prince Kelton’s voice as he talked with Diligens for a moment before he approached Ponderosa and Iredys.

“Iredys?” he asked.

Ponderosa waved her finger at him then pointed to the hall or stairs so she knew which way they were going.

Prince Kelton sighed. “This way.”

He led the two of them down a set of stairs and several hallways to reach Iredys’ room. The room was frigid, but a young man had built a large fire in the hearth.

“Thank you, Gailan,” Prince Kelton said.

“My pleasure, Prince Kelton,” he replied. “Welcome back, Lady Iredys.”

She acted as if she didn’t hear him as Ponderosa brought her to sit in the chair closest to the fire.

Gailan looked confused and turned to Prince Kelton.

“It’s been a long journey, Gailan. Will you excuse us for a moment? There are some things I need to talk to Ponderosa about.”

“Sure.” He bowed to Prince Kelton, bowed to Iredys, then left the room.

‘Is there anything you need right now, Iredys?’ Ponderosa thought to Iredys as she took her hands and knelt in front of her.

Iredys gripped her hands briefly and gave a slight shake of her head.

‘Okay,’ she nodded.

Ponderosa stood and set her bags on the couch for now. She pulled out her writing kit then headed over to the table so she could answer the agitated Prince Kelton’s questions. She sat and pulled out her paper, ink, and quill. Then she turned to Prince Kelton, waiting for him to ask his questions. He watched Iredys for another moment before putting the bottle Diligens had handed him on the table. Ponderosa picked up the bottle and sniffed near the stopper.

“He said it will help....”

Ponderosa set it back on the table beside Prince Kelton and shook her head. ‘There was a strong earthy undertone which Iredys would not yet accept,’ she wrote

“It won’t help?”

Ponderosa picked up her quill to clarify. ‘The combination of herbs would be helpful, if it did not have such a strong earthy undertone to it. Because of the undertone, Lady Iredys will not accept it.’

Prince Kelton furrowed his brow for several moments. “Earthy,” he said softly. “The stuff she was forced to drink.”

Ponderosa nodded.