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[travelingprince]

I had not expected, when I woke that morning, to find this.

It was clear nearly from the moment I woke that something was amiss; there were shouts, strange noises, sounds of fighting and misery and fear. My first thoughts were for Phedre and Joscelin, and I went to their treehouse to be certain they were unharmed, but it was empty. Had they been

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[loveasthouwilt]

I could not see who it was he held, only his posture of grief, a sorrow clear as day that made me suddenly, deeply fearful. After Sergeant Angua had calmed me down and convinced me to find safety, I had decided once more to make my way to Serenity, and obviously had heard nothing of the outcome of Joscelin's battle with Selig.

Slowly, so slowly, I approached Hyacinthe, my eyes glued to his face, not letting myself look at who it was he held. When I finally stood before him I put out my hand and laid it on his shoulder. "Hyacinthe," I said, my voice quiet and hoarse. "What-- what has happened?"

[travelingprince]

It took half a heartbeat to register that the voice I heard belonged to the woman whose body I held in my arms, and I am ashamed to admit that I shouted aloud. I swore with Elua's name and half his Companions, for there stood Phedre -- a ghost? spirit of some kind? I knew not, but felt as though I had gone mad, for I could not reconcile the image of a living, breathing Phedre with the one cold and lifeless in my arms.

[loveasthouwilt]

His shout made me start like a fractious horse, and he jerked away from my touch as if from a snake; and then, oh, then I had to look.

It was not at all what I thought. It was me-- but it was not, could not, for I was here-- and my next thought was for the woman who had my face, the blacksmith named Kate-- but no, for this woman's eyes were open, and they were twin to my own, down to the red spot of Kushiel's favor in the left.

I knew not what to say, what to do, and so my mouth hung open like a fish and I stood agape for several seconds, looking back and forth between Hyacinthe and the body he held, wondering how by all the gods this had come to pass.

[travelingprince]

Phedre seemed even more shocked than I, and I could not wrap my mind around it. "You're alive," I said softly, looking from her to the body I still held. "What sort of sorcery is this?"

[queenysandre]

Ysandre had woken to the sounds of screaming, and after dressing hastily had found nothing but utter chaos wherever she went. It seemed nowhere was safe; everywhere there lurked all manner of strange, terrifying being, and Ysandre was at a loss, experiencing true danger for the first time without her Cassiline guards or even her Champion there to protect her.

Once outside, she spotted Hyacinthe on the path, holding a lifeless body in his arms. She could not see the woman's face at first, but the dark hair was quite familiar, and as she drew nearer, her suspicions were confirmed.

"Phedre!" she cried, dropping to Hyacinthe's side, still utterly graceful even in her horror. "How did this come to pass?" she asked Hyacinthe, tears filling her violet eyes as she reached a hand to Phedre's hair.

[travelingprince]

"Your Majesty," I said softly, my voice at the point of breaking. "I have no idea..." I found I could say no more without giving in to the grief that overwhelmed me, and I lowered my head, cursing my loss of the dromonde that could have given some warning, something...

[queenysandre]

"Elua, no," Ysandre whispered, her voice much shakier than she'd ever allowed it to be, abandoning all show of control and propriety as the tears spilled down her sun-kissed cheeks, blurring her vision. "No."

It was all she could say, all she could think to say at the sight of her near-cousin, one who had grown so very dear to her over the years, and one hand went to Hyacinthe's shoulder as she bent to press a kiss to Phedre's temple.

[travelingprince]

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," I said, when I finally found voice to speak. "I have no answers." I got slowly to my feet, holding Phedre's body close. "But I must get her out of here." I had to find Joscelin and tell him -- unless somewhat had happened to him as well, something I did not wish to contemplate but found very likely given his oath to protect her.