Simina followed Matilda to the King. He eyed them both with a dangerous expression.
“What is the matter, ladies?” the King asked them. Simina spoke hurriedly.
“Your majesty, I fear Prince Nar is in danger, I fear he is hurt. He might die, please is there anything you can do to help?” Simina pleaded, on the brink of tears.
“How do you know this?” The King too looked worried.
“He gave me an enchanted flower that will never wilt until he starts dying. It started wilting and a petal fell.” Simina's voice turned into a high-pitched whine. The King nodded and stood.
“Follow me, please. I know how you can find him,” the King said. The King took them up some stairs and into a long hallway. The hallway ended in a single door, which entered into a room. When Simina entered, it looked to be a study. A tall bookshelf was on each wall, left and right, and in the middle of the room was a desk. On the desk was many things. There were papers scattered about, pens and notebooks and books and strangely, a crystal ball. The King went to it and told Simina and Matilda to gather around to look in the ball. Simina didn't know what this was going to do, but listened anyways.
The King placed his hand on the ball and poured what little magic he had left into it. It glowed purple.
“Show me Prince Nar,” the King boomed and removed his hand from the crystal ball. Simina and Matilda leaned closer to gaze into it. Simina saw the Dark Castle and then the image moved a little way away from the castle to the Snowy Hills. Lying in the middle of the snow was Nar, passed out. He looked pale, paler than usual and his lips were turning slightly blue. Simina flipped.
“Nar!” she shrieked, voice cracking up. She didn't see the blood staining his shirt. Slowly, the image faded, and the crystal ball went dark.
“I'll send out a search party. You can come with,” the King said. Simina didn't wait for anybody else. She ran back the way they came, Matilda trailing along behind her, and into the snow. Simina ran, the cold wind biting her skin, whipping through her clothes, sprouting goosebumps all across her skin. The cold snow pressed against her bare ankles, getting into her shoes. She shivered, but continued onward.
“Nar!” she called. “Nar!” Simina didn't want him to die. She felt guilty now for not telling him how she felt. If he died, he'd never know how she felt and she'd never get the chance to love him. She wanted that chance. Simina's chest began to ache. Matilda ran behind her, searching too. Simina ran a good little way until she finally found his limp form lying in the snow.
“Nar!” Simina cried and knelt down in the cold snow, shivering. A terrible, strange choking sound burst from her chest as she looked at him. Blood stained the snow around him, fresh, raw and red. His shirt was torn and a deep red gash cut sharply into his side. Simina gasped, tears streaming down her face.
“No...Nar...” she whimpered. Blood still leaked from his wound. Immediately she checked him for a pulse. Her hands ran over his cold skin that was still slightly warm. She placed two shaky fingers on his neck. She felt for a pulse. Simina felt a slight flutter against her fingers. She breathed out with relief, feeling hope arise within her.
“He's still alive,” she told Matilda. Simina took his face in her hands, caressing his face. He looked to be sleeping, but his face was too pale and his lips were blue. Simina heard the sound of horses and the murmur of shouting guards and soldiers in the distance.
“Over here!” Matilda shouted to them, standing up and waving her arms about wildly in the air. Simina held his head in her lap. He felt so cold. In a jiffy, soldiers rushed to his aid and shoved Simina out of the way.
“Outta the way!” they shouted and shoved her. Two soldiers picked Nar up off the ground.
“Get a horse!” Another soldier brought a horse and they helped Nar on top of it. Simina followed them into the castle as they rushed him up the stairs and into a room. Simina pushed her way through the soldiers to get to Nar, wanting to make sure he was going to be okay. Soldiers yelled at her, telling her to get back.
“Get that girl!” one yelled. But Simina kept running. She wouldn't let anyone get her.
“Simina! Come back!” Matilda called to her. Simina didn't listen. She followed the soldiers carrying him into the room. She saw them lay him on the bed. Through all the chaos, Simina heard his voice.
“Ugh...what's going on?” Nar groaned, in pain. He growled. Someone removed his coat and shirt to inspect his wound. Heart aching, Simina pushed forward until she got to his side.
“Nar!” Simina screamed out. Nar heard her and turned his head in the direction of her voice.
“What?” He thought he was hallucinating or hearing things. She knelt down at his bedside.
“Nar, Nar, I'm here. It's me,” she cooed. Nar turned his head to look at her. His eyes looked glazed.
“Simina?” he croaked out weakly. Simina took his face in her hands. Some color had returned to Nar's face.
“I'm here, Nar,” she assured him.
“We need a doctor here!” Matilda yelled. She was trying to attend to his wound. Nar breathed out. He brought up a hand and brushed a gentle finger along her jawline. Simina leaned into his touch.
“I'm so glad to see you,” Nar whispered hoarsely. Simina smiled sadly, stroking his cheek. He placed a hand over hers. Nar's dimming purple eyes fluttered to a close. He passed out again. A soldier grabbed Simina and shoved her.
“Get the girl out of here! She doesn't need to see this!” a soldier said. Simina spun her head wildly.
“What?” she squeaked. Two soldiers hoisted her up onto her feet and started dragging her away. Nar started to get farther and farther away from her.
“Wait! No! No! Let me go!” She fought against the soldiers restraining her. Simina was shoved out of the room and handed over to two guards. Simina kicked her legs.
“No! No! Take me back!” She wanted to stay with Nar.
“Take her home, there's a carriage waiting outside. Make sure that horse she borrowed gets back to where it belongs,” one soldier barked at the guards. They saluted and drug Simina out of the castle. She was thrown into a waiting carriage and taken away back home. Simina banged on the windows.
“No! No! Driver! Turn back around!” she shrilled. The driver didn't listen. He just went faster.