My head was throbbing when I regained consciousness. Hastily I looked for Ykril, whom I found just a few feet away from me, crawled to his side and found a crossbow bolt pierced in his side. He was losing a lot of blood and his veins turned to a dark green which seemed to move slowly but steadily towards his heart.
»Stay with us!« I begged, while desperately trying to stop the bleeding.

After barely managing to stop the bleeding, I tugged him with tears in my eyes further into the direction we were originally flying.
›I really need to learn how to cook. He's gained a good amount of weight‹ I thought to myself, and after only a couple of minutes I made a short rest to check on his condition. His heart rate was weak, but seemed stable. I inspected the bolt, which I left in place to keep him from bleeding out faster, more closely. It appeared to be a small bolt, which could fit a one-handed crossbow, whose entry point was beginning to turn greenish. As if it had been poisoned. I wonder if this was that Vero. But what would it profit her to kill the man she was planning to marry? Or was the bolt aimed at me, and she just missed? Her look at me, as well as her words, seemed to make it more than clear that she hates me. Whether it was because I was a Drow, or because I had won all of Ykril's heart. But to blow Ykril out of the sky because of that, seems to me to be an exaggeration. Exhausted, I buried my face in his chest and gently stroked his belly.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps not too far away and a commanding voice that seemed to be coming toward us. Restless, I looked around for a hiding place, but could not find one. So, I threw myself on Ykril, pulled the hood of my Piwafwi over my head and hoped that it would hide us both under the protection of the night.
Shortly after, the first boots became visible next to us. Cautiously, I raised my head slightly and tried to get a complete view. They seemed to be soldiers. Soldiers who wore armor similar to those I saw on Vero.
»They must be around here somewhere!« came a gruff command, and it sounded like half a dozen men were searching the forest.
»We need the Aasimar alive! You can do whatever you want with the Drow! Admiral's orders!« the commander roared into the forest.
»Yes, commander!« several deep voices confirmed in chord.

I waited a few more minutes until the footsteps and voices became quieter before I got off Ykril again and lifted him onto my back. My progress was sparse, as I was cautious to be as quiet as possible. Just before an upcoming clearing, from which I hoped to find a shrine of Eilistraee, I sank exhausted to my knees.
»Leave me behind.« sounded weakly from Ykril.
»No way!« I grumbled firmly towards him, »We'll get through this together, like we do all the rest!«
So, I grabbed him under the arms again and dragged him further towards the clearing, which was getting brighter and brighter illuminated by the moonlight.
The closer we came to the clearing, the clearer a small pool became, revealing a Moonspring portal by a soft glow, to which I instantly dragged Ykril.

»I hope your faith in Eilistraee is honest. Otherwise, not only our wedding ceremony will become a disaster.« I muttered and tried to pull him into the portal. Just a few feet before, a small bolt hit me in my thigh, however, forcing me to the ground.
»Fuck« I cursed loudly and tried to stand up again, but the bolt caused more pain than expected and threw me to the ground once more.
I sat down by Ykril so that I could rest his head in my lap. Meanwhile, he had lost consciousness and seemed to have got a fever.
»I'm sorry!« I cried quietly to him, gently stroking his chest, over which I could perceive only very shallow breathing from him, and faced Vero, who sprinted towards us with her dagger drawn.
When she was close enough, she leaped into the air and, blade first, rushed at me. But still in her jump, she was stopped by a fireball and thrown down to the ground. Surprised, I saw how the soldiers, who appeared behind Vero from the forest, remained rooted to the spot. Some even ran away. When someone tapped me on the shoulder, my paralysis began to dissolve, and I looked up at the charming face of a Drow, who rested her hand on my shoulder and encouraged me simply by looking at me.
»We are in urgent need of a medic. Both of them have been poisoned!« she shouted towards the portal, from where two mages made their way to us and immediately examined us, while others formed a shield around us and blocked the attacks.
»We need to get them to the Promenade. She is pregnant, and the child could suffer from the poison when we don't act immediately.« the mage who examined me said to her companion, and put my arm, around her neck, to help me up.
»Now« she demanded, and one of the soldiers helped the other mage, who was trying to nurse Ykril, to lift him.

It was just as hectic in the temple as it was at the clearing. Where my wound could be treated quickly, and the accelerated healing caused an astonishment and slight panic with the doctor, there were many complications regarding Ykril. They were unable to remove all the toxins, but they were able to stabilize him.
I lay down beside him in the bed where they had moved him, took his hand and put it on my belly. For a fleeting moment, it felt as if he had gently pressed his fingers into my belly to feel if our child was doing well.
»Our child is doing well, and its heartbeat is strong. So is yours. I bet it's going to be a boy.« I brought out in a low voice, trembling with a tear.
»The healers have no idea when you'll recover. They said it could be days or even weeks.« I struggled hard not to burst out crying and lose my composure.
I remained lying next to him for several hours, enjoying his hand on my belly and having a monologue about our child, our wedding, and many other positive topics.
»I will head to Luskan, collect the others and return here with them.« I explained. »We will then continue searching for a home where we can establish our family, together.«

With a heavy heart, I packed up a few things and, after giving him a soft kiss, set off in the direction of Luskan.