The night had been long, the day even longer. Tigris was kept busy by her father's orders, organising repairs and barricading rooms in the castle for nobles to hide in at midnight. Now that the creature had tasted flesh within the building, it would most likely return for easy targets.

Tigris spent the day, ordering scores of knights, teaching them the swing of her sword that had pierced the monster's scales and left a mark. She spoke to nobles, assuring them of safety that she couldn't promise. She spoke to Aodh, recovering in his patient cot and too weak to fight. She even spoke to Sir Harold, who was slowly coming around from his injuries. But the only person who she really wanted to speak to was unconscious.

Tigris sat in the seat next to Kai's cot, watching the weak rise and fall of his chest.

"Leinos says you need anti-venom to survive," Tigris said, holding his hand tightly. His fingers were limp and clammy in her grip, but she let herself pretend that they were warm and strong, just like him. She swallowed. It felt strange talking to him like this, but if there was any chance that he could hear her, she wouldn't squander this chance.

"That means I need to slice off one of those ugly snake heads to bring to Leinos. He'll use it to brew the antivenom and then you'll be as right as rain, won't you?"

His silence choked her, but she pretended he replied with his usual, Kai-like response: something concerned and gentle.

"Don't you worry. I'll be careful," she promised, patting her sword with her free hand, "But maybe you could wake up and tell me that yourself, eh?"

Kai remained stubbornly unconscious. Tigris sighed, her breath burning against the walls of her throat like the tears she'd spent hours swallowing back. Her fingers twitched, a desperate longing to caress the man's grey cheek overwhelming her. Her hand paused a hairbreadth away from his usually rich skin, a flash of green eyes filling her mind.

Her fingers faltered. She settled for gripping his hand tightly, all that she was allowed to do. It wasn't just Finn holding her back.

"My father would have both of our heads if he knew the truth of what I felt for you," she murmured, comforted by the emptiness of the infirmary. She squeezed his hand hard. "Yet I can't stop myself from feeling. I don't think Finn can either."

A lump formed in her throat, momentarily stopping her ability to speak. She swallowed it away, tracing Kai's still form.

"You need to wake up," she whispered, leaning closer just to feel the waning heat of his skin, "There's so much we need to talk about.You and me. Finn and you. You, me, and Finn. We can't do this without you, Kai. You can't die, not yet."

Her hair tickled his cheek. He didn't stir, not even a little bit.

"He won't," a soft voice filtered through the still air of the empty infirmary. Tigris leapt to her feet, fearing that her father had found her for a moment before she saw Roche leaning against the doorway with a sad smile. Her hands were stained grey with flecks of stone from the dead, undoubtedly from the clean up effort she'd been a part of.

Tigris stood, her cheeks flooding with heat. "What are you doing here?" she asked. The words were meant to have more bite, but they fell flat.

Roche's face softened. She shrugged off the wall and padded into the room. "I came to check on my best friend," she said quietly. It was then that Tigris noticed that her eyes were puffy and red.

"Were you in the tavern again?" she asked, dumbfounded. Roche chuckled, sitting on the edge of Kai's cot.

"Nope. Just tired," Roche tilted her head, eyes glinting with a knowing kind of light. "You look like you could use some rest too."

"I'm not tired," Tigris retorted instantly, hackles rising.

Roche raised a brow. "Have you looked in the mirror?"

"I'll have you in the dungeons for that insul-"

"Princess!"

Roche's raised voice took her so off guard that Tigris actually paused. Roche's face didn't betray any anger, but she looked incredibly weary. She pinned Tigris with melancholic eyes that only saddened as they drifted to Kai.

"You need to be at your best tonight," Roche said after a beat. Tigris had a feeling, from her clipped words, that there was something the maid was holding back.

"I will be," Tigris replied coolly. Roche looked unaffected by the icy tone.

"You will be," she agreed, "Once you've taken a bath, a nap, and gotten into some quality, polished armour."

Tigris scowled, feeling a flare of indignance. "I can take care of myself!"

"I know."

The words weren't biting or even teasing. Roche looked deadly serious and a little sad. Tigris' ire faded at the reaction. Roche had many faults, mainly being a clumsy oaf, but when she actually was serious, she usually had something useful to say.

Roche sighed, scooting closer. She turned her gaze to Kai.

"I know," Roche repeated, "That you can take care of yourself. I wouldn't doubt you about that. But I also know that the man you care about is ill and that you're going to face a fearsome beast. That's a recipe for stress, which spells disaster in battle. And Kai wouldn't want you going into that battle in such a state. He'd want you to be rested."

The words whirred in Tigris' mind, delayed by a fatigued fogginess she didn't want to admit was there.

Roche nodded, as if sensing the tiredness descending on Tigris. She swept forward, her arm slipping beneath Tigris' shoulders.

"I have a bath ready for you in your chambers with your favourite oils, and your bed is all made." Roche murmured, "Let me sit with Kai for a bit. Oh, and leave me your sword. It needs polishing."

Tigris shook her head, Kai's name breaking through her haze as she fumbled with her sword belt. "But Kai-"

"Just... let me spend some time with him. I swear he'll be alright." Roche said, her voice muted and almost resigned. Tigris realised, with startling clarity, that Roche didn't look hopeful at all. She looked grim and weary.

"You know I'll get the antivenom, right?" Tigris muttered, feeling more and more concerned by the second. If Roche, her strangely cheerful, optimistic maid, didn't believe in her ability to save Kai's life, then no one would.

Roche looked up, almost startled. She smiled tightly at Tigris. "Oh, I know you'll get it, princess. There was never any doubt." Roche assured her. The words sounded genuine. Then why did Roche seem so off kilter?

"Is something the matter?" Tigris asked as Roche helped her to her feet. She felt Roche smile against her shoulders, and her stomach fluttered at the sensation, as if it were Kai pressing his lips against her. They both had the same uncanny wisdom. She saw a lot of Kai in Roche.

"Everything's as it should be, Tigris. I'm just worried about you. And Kai. And Finn. I shouldn't be. I... I know you'll be the greatest queen these lands have ever known one day. You know that, right? I believe in you."

The words sounded almost urgent. Tigris turned to Roche, finding the maid's eyes wide and shining strangely with a fervent light.

"I... thank you?" Tigris replied uncertainly. Roche looked away, cheeks flushing darkly.

"You'll be fine," she murmured again, "Both you and Kai will be fine. You just need rest."

"I do," Tigris said slowly. She hadn't seen Roche like this ever in the three years they'd known one another. She seemed bouncy with energy, but her eyes were doubtful, almost frantic. "Have you gotten in trouble with someone, Roche?"

Roche chuckled at that, and a more genuine smile flashed across her face. "No. What, do you think I got into a tavern brawl?"

"You?" Tigris replied, smirking a little, "It wouldn't be much of a brawl. You're piss poor in a fight."

"Don't I know it," Roche grumbled, shoving Tigris out of the infirmary doors with little fanfare, "Now go bath, you royal heathen!"

Tigris squawked indignantly, but Roche was already slamming the doors to the infirmary shut. When the doors were almost shut, Tigris could have sworn she saw Roche's face crumple, but the moment passed by too quickly to tell. Tigris trudged off to her room, her thoughts consumed by Kai's body on the infirmary cot.

Roche is right, Tigris thought to herself, fighting back a yawn, I'll get Kai his antivenom. I'll do fine. I just need a nap first.

-------

Roche sat next to Kai's bed, feeling a swell of emotion as she looked at him.

"Hello, old friend," Roche whispered, sitting in the chair Tigris had vacated. The princess' sword was balanced on her lap. "I know you can't hear me, but I couldn't leave without telling you goodbye."

Kai was motionless, his normally rich skin grey and wan, coated in a sheen of sweat. The venom was heating him up, ever so slowly, the makings of a fever beginning. Roche dabbed away the sweat with a cool cloth Leinos had left on a side table.

"I'll miss you," Roche said, feeling a swell of tears, "Finn seems to think I've abandoned you. But I won't. You, Tigris, and our royal friends will always have my protection and love. You know that, right?"

She swept his hair off his brows before she laid the sword down on the edge of the bed.

"I need to go. I've found someone. Someone I love more than anything who deserves better than what I can give her here. One day, you and the royal you pick will have that, Kai. You'll have a love you're ready to do anything for." she spoke slowly as her hands moved through the motions of polishing the sword. She drew the polishing cloth in tight circles, leaving the metal gleaming.

"But I still love you all. And I remember my duties. I won't leave you defenseless."

Roche summoned her inkblood slowly, laying a wordless, protective enchantment over the metal, the one she usually did. She knew she was on the right track with the enchantment. Reports from the surviving knights had mentioned that no one's sword except Tigris' had managed to pierce the beast for longer a moment.

The wound had healed quickly on the creature eventually, though. Roche would need to make the enchantment a bit more potent for the wounds to stick around long enough to kill it.

"Mon kleio xeosure blantros mordere theribel," she hissed, feeling the invisible, inky substance coat the blade thinly, settling over the sharp edges. The sword gleamed brightly, as if it had been polished by someone far more experienced than Roche. The enchantment was powerful, capable of killing a strong beast of inkblood. Roche sagged back, her strength waning.

"I haven't forgotten you, Kai," Roche murmured, laying a burning hand against her friend's brow, "You're going to be fine. I gave Tigris my word, and I'd hate to disappoint."

With that, inkblood seeped from her fingers, and she began to list off every healing enchantment she knew.

-------

It took a long time before Kai's skin had warmed from its deathly grey hue. Roche sank back, exhausted from her efforts. At the very least, she knew Kai would survive until Tigris could get the snake head and Leinos could make the necessary antivenom.

The air was thick with the heady, wild scent of inkblood as Roche wobbled to her feet, taking one last look at Kai.

"Goodbye, Kai," Roche whispered, rolling her shoulders. She let the sound of Kai's relaxed breathing soothe her as she walked out of the infirmary. The halls glowed with the evening sun, settling onto the opulent walls in thick beams. Roche knew she was running out of daylight. She needed to get some more materials for Medea and herself, not to mention seeing Verita and Leinos.

She wanted to make time to see Finn and Tigris, but she wasn't sure what to say to either of them. Finn wouldn't want to see her and Tigris... what could she say to Tigris to explain her departure?

Roche shook off the jarring thought, feeling a twist of sadness override her joy for all but one moment. It felt akin to the moment she'd left Brikui, the feeling of leaving a place she'd never been herself in, at least not completely. At least this time, she didn't feel nearly as ashamed.

No, this time she felt happy. This felt right. She would be content to live with Medea, far, far away from the city that would burn them both. For the first time in a while, Roche looked forward to the future.

-------

"What are you doing?"

Roche dropped the bundle in her hands in surprise at the voice. One of Tigris' gowns muted the thud of several dried strips of meat, nuts, and bread. She tugged her face up, trying not to look guilty as she met the accusatory prince's eyes.

"Cleaning."

"Really?" Aodh raised a brow at the dropped pile of goods, "You looked like you were stealing from the crown princess."

A thrill of fear ran through Roche, but she kept her usual, playful grin on her face.

"The food is for me. But this gown of Tigris' needs to be fixed." she explained.

"It looks perfectly fine. And why do you need so much food?" Aodh pressed, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorway of Tigris' chambers. Roche dropped her grin, scowling.

"I like jerky, is that so hard to believe?"

"Well, Tigris tells me you hate roast pheasant, so somehow I expect jerky not to be on your menu."

Roche fluttered her lashes in a way she knew would get on his nerves. "Aww, you two talk about me? That's so adorable!"

Aodh's cheeks flushed an indignant red. He sputtered. "If I talk about you, it's to call you a fool!"

"Whatever you say!" Roche singsonged, "Call me a fool anytime, in that case."

She fought back a smile as Aodh's spluttering turned into indignant choking. After a few moments of gibberish, he shot her a loathing look. "Just... stop being so shifty, would you?" he muttered, "Now get out of my sight!"

"As you wish, my lord." Roche replied with an exaggerated bow. She would have enjoyed getting a rise out of the prince more if it weren't for all that she had to do. She'd acquired the right clothes for Medea so that she wouldn't look suspicious as she left the castle. They had food, and once Roche picked up some waterskins from her chambers, they'd be able to find a creek for water.

Now all that was left was to find Verita and Leinos to explain herself. Roche sucked in a steadying breath, and headed for the library.

A/N: This is a bit of a filler chapter but a necessary one, I think. What do you think about Roche's divided priorities? Like, I know she fell hard for Medea, but I don't think she'd just leave her friends defenseless.

Imagine if she did tho, LOL.

Roche: I'm tired of protecting all of you! I'm leaving!

Circe: But your desti-

Roche: Nuh uh, I've had enough!

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! As always, happy reading!