Okay, so this is my gift to my readers. I stayed up until two-thirty am last night to finish it before I go to Florida for two weeks. This is my new favorite chapter, it's like twice as long as the other two and it's much better. Even though I wrote it while half asleep. Enjoy.

I've been in bed for a day and a half now. Rhys said I should keep out of the cold for a little while longer to make sure the pneumonia stays away. Mia visits a lot, always bursting into the tent to tell me about her last training session with Shinon, or how she and Boyd nearly reduced Brom to tears by holding a hammer over his rocks. Soren actually came to visit once as well, but only to complain that I was offsetting his plan to continue marching ASAP, and how he hoped I actually do get sick so I might not eat as much. That went on until Ike calmed him down and got him to leave. Other than them, it's just been me and Rhys, occasionally Mist.

I think Rhys knows how I feel about Zihark. When I woke up today, Zihark wasn't there, but Rhys told me how he wouldn't leave until he was sure I was okay.

"It was really cute," Rhys had said. Cute?

I'm thinking of sneaking out to go find Zihark. Mia says he hasn't visited yet because Lethe's been training him like crazy. Besides, I haven't gotten to thank him properly yet.

Ilyana shut her diary and tucked the pencil into her belt. Pulling off the blanket and silently getting to her feet, she almost made it out of the tent before she was caught.

"Where are you going?" Rhys asked without looking up from the book he was reading.

Ilyana froze. "There's someone I need to talk to. Besides, I'm feeling fine and I don't have a temperature and –"

Rhys cut her off. "You're fine, go," he said gently. Ilyana could tell just from those three words that he knew where she was going.

Ilyana smiled gratefully and headed out of the tent. Night had fallen and the sky was dotted with stars. She could see her breath, but couldn't see any people out. She headed to Lethe's tent, distinguishable by the stink of wet fur. She asked politely where Zihark had gotten to, and Lethe told her he said he was going to the woods to get some air. Ilyana thanked the cat, who didn't feel the need to say 'You're welcome' to a beorc.

Ilyana still had her diary in her arms. She thought about getting a thunder tome, just in case, but decided against it.

The light from the moon shone brightly enough for the sage to see as she traveled into the woods. She couldn't help but feel somewhat safe; she was snapping every twig she came across, and the noise would have alerted any Daein soldier in the area. But none came.

She came into a clearing and finally spotted Zihark, lying on his back with his head on a rock, staring at the sky. He looked so peaceful, Ilyana considered not letting her presence be known so she could just watch him.

Of course, as she leaned on a tree, another branch snapped and Zihark sat up, on edge. He wrapped his fingers around the hilt of his sword, and his eyes darted around until they landed on Ilyana. His body relaxed and he smiled.

"Ilyana!" He said happily, motioning with his hand for her to come closer. She obeyed and walked over, sitting down on the ground next to him. "It's great to see you're feeling better."

Ilyana couldn't help but to smile along with him. He just had such a contagious smile. "A lot better, thanks. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that."

Zihark sat up straighter. "Go right ahead," he said.

Ilyana took a deep breath. "Well, Rhys told me that you carried me all the way back to his tent after I fainted. He said you stayed at my side all night, even though he kept telling you I was okay." Zihark was blushing at this point but Ilyana continued. "I just wanted to tell you that was really sweet. Thank you." Ilyana looked hopefully for a response.

Zihark was silent for a moment, but then cleared his throat to speak. "You're welcome. I was worried sick, I didn't want to leave until I was sure you were all right. It's a relief to see you; you had been in that tent so long I thought you actually did get sick."

"I'm sorry I worried you. Rhys wouldn't let me leave." Ilyana looked to the ground, kicking a rock near her foot. "Nice night, huh?"

"Full moon," Zihark added pointing to the giant orb in the sky. "Think something bad is going to happen?"

Ilyana laughed softly. "I don't believe in superstition."

The winter air grew colder as the pair sat in silence. "I just wish it wasn't so cold," Ilyana mumbled.

She didn't think Zihark had heard her, but surprisingly he put his arm around her shoulders and let her lean her head on his shoulder.

"Better?" He asked gently.

Ilyana blushed. "Thank you."

The moment seemed perfect. Ilyana and Zihark, together in the moonlight, all alone. It was silent, except for the chirping of crickets and the occasional growl of Ilyana's stomach. The pair would laugh whenever it growled. If time froze right now, Ilyana couldn't be happier.

A wolf howled in the distance, and that was when the night took a turn for the worst.

"Well, well, what have we here?" A husky voice called out from behind the pair. Ilyana and Zihark snapped to attention.

"It looks like we've interrupted a date, boys!" The voice seemed to be coming from the left now. Ilyana's breath hitched in her throat and Zihark wrapped his fingers around the hilt of his sword.

"At least a dozen Daein soldiers emerged from the trees, surrounding the pair. One soldier snuck up behind them and grabbed Ilyana by a pigtail. She gasped out in pain as he lifted her by her hair. "I've seen you before; you're with the Crimean army!"

Zihark flew to his feet, poised to attack. His face had instantly changed from a contented half-smile to a vicious snarl. "You are going to put her down right now, or I swear I'll cut you up so badly, your grandchildren will be born with scars!" Ilyana had never seen him like this before, it was frightening.

Zihark was about to slash at the soldier when two others restrained him from behind. The soldier holding Ilyana laughed. "Oh my, I'm so frightened. Just for that, I think we'll kill your little girlfriend here while you watch." Zihark's eyes widened in horror.

Ilyana thrashed and kicked at the soldier until he loosened his grip enough for her to get to her feet.

Zihark angled his sword and stabbed behind himself, jabbing one of the soldiers in the stomach. The soldier fell to his knees and held the wound, and Zihark pulled out of the other's hold.

He and Ilyana stood back-to-back, watching the soldiers. "Stay behind me. Get out of here if you can." Zihark whispered. A daring soldier ran at Zihark, barely grazing his arm with his lance before Zihark slashed at his neck, watching his lifeless form fall to the ground.

"I'm not leaving." Ilyana stated simply. She flipped frantically through her diary, she remembered ripping out a few Elthunder pages and folding them into her book for emergencies. She muttered the spell, and a pillar of lightning fell on the soldier who had threatened her, killing him on the spot.

"Just keep yourself safe, I couldn't bear to watch you get hurt!" Zihark cried out, which earned a few sarcastic 'awww's from the surrounding soldiers.

A few more lunged for the pair. They all seemed to be aiming at Zihark. The swordmaster's blade was flying around in an attempt to shield both him and Ilyana, but he was taking heavy blows. An axe-wielder swung at him, cutting a large gash in his side. Ziharkf ell to his knees clenching the wound, Ilyana gasped. She was practically shouting the spells now, electrocuting the last few soldiers. She crumpled up the page she had just read from and was horrified to find out it was the last one.

A single bloody soldier stood before her, ready to drive his metallic lance into her. She clenched her eyes shut, preparing for impact.

But death never came. She heard the soldier lunge at her, and she heard cries of pain. She could feel blood splatter on her body. But if it wasn't her blood…

"Zihark!" She cried out.

There in front of her was Zihark, a lance sticking out of his stomach. He had managed to jump in front of Ilyana before the lance hit her, and somehow he got his sword into the soldier's neck, killing him. Zihark was panting, barely managing to pull the lance out.

Ilyana dropped to her knees instantly. "Zihark!" she cried again, feeling a tear fall. She maneuvered him onto his back and held his head up. This gave her a clear view of the gaping hole in his stomach, blood staining his clothes. Ilyana felt sick.

She frantically felt around her own figure for the clasp of her cloak, unhooked it, and pressed it to his wounds to stem the flow of blood. "Zihark, don't die, please, please don't die!" Her voice was shaky as she spoke.

Zihark opened his eyes a bit. "Ilyana…" he choked out. Ilyana's heart raced. "Ilyana, your head…" Zihark tried to point to the gash on Ilyana's forehead, but could barely lift his arm up. Ilyana reached up and felt blood, but her attention was solely on Zihark.

"I'm going to get you back to Rhys, don't worry!" This was more to reassure herself than anything.

Zihark smiled a bit, his eyes sliding shut. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get words out, he blacked out from blood loss. Ilyana was frantic. She put his arm around her shoulder and stood him up with difficulty.

"Come on, Zihark, walk for me!" He seemed to regain enough consciousness to slowly put one foot in front of the other. The pair slowly made their way around the corpses that were once Daein soldiers, and out of the woods. Along the way, Zihark occasionally coughed up a little blood before continuing on.

By the time they made it back to camp, Ilyana had resorted to dragging Zihark, as he had blacked out again. Panting, she fell to the ground, Zihark at her side. "Rhys!" she managed to call out before beginning to lose consciousness. Puzzled members of the army emerged from their tents. The last thing Ilyana remembered before blacking out was frantic cries and a glowing blue staff.

Ilyana's head was throbbing when she woke up. Her hand felt the spot on her head that was bleeding, someone had bandaged it. Her vision was foggy, but she could tell she was back in Rhys' tent.

That was when the events of that night hit her like a freight train. She frantically glanced around the tent until she spotted Zihark, and she dashed to his side.

His chest was slowly, painfully slowly, rising and falling. His face was paler than normal, and there were bandages wrapped all around his torso. She began to tremble as Rhys put a warm hand on her shoulder.

She snapped her head around to look at the priest, eyes wide. There were so many things she needed to ask him, but no words came out.

"Ilyana…" Rhys began softly. "I don't know how to put this. He had already lost so much blood when we found you. I'm not sure if he's going to make it."

Ilyana felt ice encircle her heart at Rhys' words. Her entire body was still; her eyes looked like they could see into your soul.

Rhys reached up to soothingly stroke her arm, but Ilyana lifted her own hand to stop him. Rhys got the hint and left the tent silently. Ilyana dropped to her knees and took Zihark's hand.

"This is my fault. All of it. If I hadn't made so much noise when I was looking for you, none of this would have happened!" Ilyana was angry at herself. Tears were spilling from her eyes and down her face like small rivers. "Or if I had brought a tome, I wouldn't have been so useless! Now you're lying here dying because you tried to protect me!"

She leaned over his chest and cried her eyes out. His face seemed lifeless, but his chest was still rising and falling. Ilyana started at his face, his beautiful, perfect face, and wished he would just open those dazzling green eyes of his and tell her it would be all right. She leaned down, her face millimeters from his, and gently pressed her lips to his.

And for a moment, she felt him kiss back.

Dang it, I keep writing stories where poor Zihark gets hurt. Hopefully he doesn't get mad.

I hope this holds you over for two weeks, because I'll likely have something ready when I get back.