Tigris snapped awake to someone in her chambers. A dark silhouette stood over her bedside, staring down at her with dark eyes that glinted brightly, like stars in a night sky. Her heart launched up her throat, and her hand darted for her gun. Inexplicably, the weapon moved out of her reach, as if possessed. Tigris gasped and opened her mouth to call for the guards when a voice pierced through the silence of night.

"Your Majesty."

Tigris fell still, her fumbling with her sheets stilling. She knew that voice. Relief bloomed in her so fiercely that it wiped away any lingering fatigue from her mind.

"Roche," Tigris breathed in relief, laughing slightly, "You're back! You're alright."

Roche didn't speak. A sense of wrongness crept into Tigris' chest, pervasive and powerful. She squinted, trying to get a better view of the maid's face in the darkness. After a moment, she managed to reach over to her nightstand and find a match. With a few hissed curses, she lit her lamp, watching the warm light bathe over Roche's face.

The woman looked leagues better than she'd been in the forest, but her skin was still pale and sweaty. Her short hair stuck out in a million directions, and dark shadows stained the space beneath her doe eyes. But what worried Tigris the most was the flat, emotionless line of her lips and the empty look in her eyes. A strange substance was painted over her skin, a mix of rustic copper and a dark sludge. It took Tigris a moment to realise that it was blood and inkblood.

Alarm shot through her, and she sat up straight, throwing off her blankets.

"Roche," she said quietly, her words failing her, "Are you alright?"

Roche blinked at her dazedly like the words took a moment to register. Her golden hands reached out. Her palm cradled Tigris' cheek, her thumb sweeping across the queen's cheekbone. A shiver rolled over Tigris at that moment, a strange stirring beginning in the depths of her stomach. All of it was overshadowed by the concern roiling within her that only intensified as Roche's eyes bloomed with a strange, fervent light.

"You're okay," Roche breathed. Her breath shuddered ever so slightly. Her fingers trembled against Tigris' skin, burning with the fading vestiges of a fever.

Tigris furrowed a brow, confusion melding with her concern. "Of course I'm okay," she said slowly. "Roche, what's going on? Why are you here? It's the middle of the night!"

Roche's lips trembled ever so slightly. Wetness pooled in her eyes, glowing as bright as diamonds.

Tigris realised, with no small amount of panic, that Roche was on the verge of tears. She hadn't seen the maid cry ever since the death of the whisper Ikaros. Something terrible must have happened.

"Roche, what happened?" Tigris whispered again, trying to soften her voice. The edge of her mattress bit into her knees.

"I'm alive. You're alive. Everything's fine," Roche replied quietly, but her voice was still flat and monotone in a way that made it clear that everything was not fine. The maid's chest heaved, and a single tear carved down her cheek, gleaming golden in the lamplight. "Everything's fine."

Tigris stood then, roughly grabbing the woman by the shoulders. Warmth bled through the thin fabric of Roche's dress like there was nothing between their skin at all.

"No you're not," Tigris murmured, "You're still sick. What happened with the librarians? Can Leinos help?"

Roche shuddered, swaying slightly. Her hands came up to grip Tigris' forearms. A desperation filled her eyes, one that Tigris couldn't understand.

"They're gone, Tigris," Roche whispered, "They're all gone and it's my fault."

"What are you talking about?" Tigris tightened her grip when Roche fell silent, her pupils dilating. More blood flaked off her skin. "Roche, what the hell happened to you?"

A strangled sound escaped Roche's lips. The maid's nails bit into Tigris' arms. "They're dead," Roche gasped, her eyes widening, "Even the children. And you... you're going to..."

A chill slid down Tigris' back like someone had slipped ice down her nightgown. She couldn't stand the helpless feeling that bloomed in her chest at Roche's haunted face. She couldn't bear to see the woman in so much pain any longer. She had to get her to Leinos. The physician would know what to do.

Roche's fingers slid down Tigris' arm, leaving trails of warmth behind. After a beat, the tension slid out of Roche's frame like all of her anxiety and fear had drained from her body, leaving only weariness behind. It took Tigris a moment to realise that Roche's fingers were pressed against the underside of her wrist, feeling the steady beat of Tigris' pulse.

"You're alive," Roche whispered, her voice as soft as spirit's voice, "You're alive. I won't let anything happen to you, do you hear me?"

"Alright, Roche," Tigris glanced at the door, contemplating calling the guards to help her escort the frantic woman to the infirmary.

Oddly enough, the feeling of Tigris' pulse seemed to calm Roche further. She relaxed into Tigris' grip, and Tigris shifted to bear the extra weight.

"Come on," Tigris pleaded, "Let's go to Leinos."

Roche didn't seem to hear her. The inkblood lifted her gaze, her hair falling around her face in thick locks.

"I need you to promise me something," Roche said quietly as her breath evened out. She seemed to steel herself as she dragged her eyes up to Tigris', heaving a deep breath. "I need you to promise me that you will never agree to battle at Moiris."

Tigris blinked, the name startling her. Moiris was the name of a small, abandoned village near the edge of the Faultless Kingdom. She hadn't heard of it in years. No one travelled there except for a few merchants and wayward travellers with nowhere else to go.

Tigris blinked in surprise as Roche's gaze sharpened. Her throat suddenly dried at the maid's intensity. "I don't understand, why-"

"Please," Roche begged, a desperate edge to her voice. She grew frantic, beginning to twist out of Tigris' grasp, "Please, Tigris, you don't understand. You'll die. You'll die if you fight there and I wasn't there to save you."

"What-"

"Promise me!" Roche's voice turned thunderous, and Tigris flinched. She expected a deluge of inkblood to echo the strong words, but Roche's breath merely quavered. Another tear dripped down the woman's cheek.

"Please, Tigris," Roche whispered plaintively, "Please don't leave me."

Tigris' heart shattered in her chest. She pulled Roche tight to her body, holding them both up.

"Alright. I won't. I won't fight at Moiris. Now will you please let me take you to Leinos?" Tigris asked, feeling terribly out of her depth. She pressed a hand against the back of her friend's head, her fingers trembling as she held Roche close, trying to calm them both. She felt Roche smile against her shoulder and then the maid was dropping like a stone, like she'd been waiting for Tigris' words before she could relinquish her hold on lucidity.

"Roche!" Tigris cried out, scrambling to grab the woman before she could hit the floor. At the sound of her yelp, the doors burst open.

That's how the guards found her. On the ground, cradling her maid with a million thoughts warring in her mind as she wondered what on earth Roche had been through.

-------

Tigris waited by Roche's cot in the infirmary for the entire night, watching Leinos methodically scrub the runes from the maid's skin. His face was grim, growing darker when Verita entered and confirmed that the strange, inkblooded symbols were one of concealment. Someone had hidden Roche from sight to keep her alive.

They're dead.

Even the children.

When it became clear that it would be many hours until Roche would awaken again, Leinos insisted that Tigris return to her chambers to rest until the afternoon. It had been a trying few days for them all, and if Roche brought ill tidings then they had a grim future to prepare for. Leinos reasoned that she needed the rest and effectively shooed the queen out of the infirmary. Tigris knew she should have gone back to bed, as ordered.

Instead, she found herself wandering through the halls of the castle. Her thoughts were consumed with Roche. Her mind was latched on the moment Roche had leaned into her, nails biting into Tigris's soft flesh. She looked down, finding soft, red crescents where Roche's nails had been. She traced the marks, her breath hitching at the horrified look she remembered from Roche's eyes.

What could have shaken the woman so terribly?

Tigris found herself drawn to Verita's words from days ago.

You'll find that there's very little Roche wouldn't do to protect you, my lady.

That was Roche's greatest fear, wasn't it? That something would happen to Tigris, something she couldn't protect her from. Tigris recalled the frantic quaver of Roche's breath, the way her pupils had expanded to cover her irises like black holes consuming everything in their path.

Please, Tigris. Please don't leave me.

Tigris felt a chasm yawn within her, a sorrow at the sheer desperation that had haunted Roche's voice. Roche was convinced that something would happen to her if she battled at Moiris. She wondered what Roche had seen. Morbid curiosity gnawed at Tigris, and she wandered back to the royal wing. To her surprise, she saw a flicker of movement in one of the deserted rooms. Eris' old room.

Tigris peeked in, stilling when she found Kai standing there. Had Roche spoken to him? Did he know what she'd seen?

"Kai," Tigris said as she walked into the room. Her betrothed spun around, a startled expression flashing across his face before it melted into a grin.

"Tigris," Kai's warm, reassuring voice bled through the air, washing away some of her worries. "You're back. How's Roche?"

"She's resting now," she tugged her gaze up, and Kai peered at her sympathetically as she sighed, "I haven't ever seen her like that before."

"I'm sure it was frightening," Kai mused, "Roche is one of the bravest among us. I wonder what shook her."

"I don't know," Tigris sighed, "I was hoping you would know. She was convinced that something would befall me at Moiris."

Kai stiffened. Tigris' stomach curled slightly as an odd detachedness filled his eyes. She leaned closer, unease filling her.

"Has she told you something?" she pressed.

Kai blinked like he was coming back to reality. His broad lips twisted with a mix of thoughtfulness and discomfort.

"I don't think so, but the name of that place sounds familiar," Curiosity shone bright across his face. "Perhaps it's something to do with the Ala." He peered at her like he was gauging her reaction.

Tigris blinked. Roche didn't know that she knew of her alter ego. And yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that Roche's fear was from something more significant than her elderly woman disguise.

"I don't think so," Tigris murmured, "She seemed convinced I would die. That's not something the Ala be responsible for."

"How do you know?" Kai pressed, biting his lip, "Tigris, what if the Ala isn't as benevolent as you thought?"

Tigris huffed a life. "I don't think that'll be a problem, Kai. You've spent the past few days defending her innocence."

Kai leaned back, blinking in confusion. "I have?" he asked, sounding confused. Had Roche not told him either?

"It's her, Kai," Tigris informed him, purely to settle the worry that made his features stiff with tension. "Roche is the Ala. She doesn't know that I know yet, so don't mention it to her, alright? I just want you to know that she's on our side."

Kai's jaw had dropped slightly. "You're certain?"

Tigris nodded, her mind still racing. "I'm mostly sure. I always thought that crone looked familiar. Imagine my surprise when I realised she had Roche's eyes."

Kai didn't laugh. He didn't even smile. He looked stunned. "She... never told me," he said after a beat, sounding a bit disappointed and uncharacteristically annoyed. Tigris laid a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"She didn't tell me, or anyone by the looks of it. I'm starting to think that she can't live without at least one secret to keep us on our toes."

Kai didn't laugh at the teasing tone in her voice. His silence grated on her, as did the tense, almost betrayed gleam of his eyes. She shook him slightly by the shoulder.

"We've always known that Roche has a lot to answer for," she reminded Kai, "You're the one who told me to look past all the secrets, remember?"

"I know," Kai sounded dazed. His brow wrinkled. "But she's the Ala. She watched your father die and then reappeared like she wasn't involved at all..."

"She wasn't to blame," Tigris said, trying to blink away the foul memory. "Eris was. Finn told me as much."

Kai still looked unconvinced. The shift in his perspective baffled her. "Kai, I thought you wanted me to be supportive of Roche. This information changes nothing." Tigris reminded him.

He sucked in a steadying breath, lifting his gaze in a way that seemed almost strained. He leaned closer, pressing a chaste kiss to Tigris' cheek that felt a bit awkward.

"I know," Kai murmured, backing away towards the door, "I just... I didn't think that would be one of her secrets. I'm a bit surprised, is all."

"It was shocking to me too," Tigris watched him relax with her words, and she lightly added, "It helps to know that she's still the same Roche, underneath it all. Someone wise once told me that it's better to discuss these secrets with Roche rather than without her."

Kai flashed her the tiniest of grins. "That person sounds pretty smart. Maybe you should listen to him more."

Tigris laughed openly at the brazen jest. She leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I should. He's always right."

"That I am," Kai replied. His smile faded as a thoughtful silence bloomed between them. "I should probably go find Roche and see if she's awake. Do you need anything from me?"

Tigris waved her hand dismissively. "No, I'm alright. Are you sure you don't remember anything about Moiris?"

"Nothing," Kai answered quickly, "But I'll let you know if I do."

Tigris watched him go, letting her thoughts drift back to her secretive maid as the sun crawled across the sky. She prayed that when Roche awoke, she wouldn't hide this trouble from the rest of them. She hoped that for once, the maid wouldn't have to bear her fears in secret.

A/N: Woo, and here is the end of yet another arc. I believe there are two more arcs left, and they're going to be pretty long :)

This chapter also feels a bit like a filler chapter, but hopefully the Roche whump and hurt/comfort made up for it :D

As always, happy reading!