Valtare's concern grew all the more as Serena replied, voice halting with her eyes covered. To see her so weak, it was too much for the dragon to bear. Call it a fault of his species, but when he got attached, he really got attached, and now that showed more than ever. How could he have not noticed this was going on? Was he willfully that blind, that ignorant? What kind of a friend was he?

"Serena," he said softly, doing his best to comfort her. "You should have told me sooner. If this whole thing is driving you to the point where you're collapsing from exhaustion, then we have to do something about it. As much as your father may want you to get married for the good of the realm, he is still your father, and he's not going to place marriage above the health of his own daughter." He rose then and said, "Hold on, I'll be right back. Don't move." At a near run, he departed, and quickly returned with some ice and a cup of water. The bag of ice was placed on her forehead while the cup held at her side so he could help her drink if she wanted some.

Serena looked at him when he came back and said "what can be done? Time is running out and there's nothing I've done that can change his mind..." She tried to sit up, her head swimming as she did. "I must return to my lessons....and my studies....before I lose them too..."

Valtare's frown deepened, and he kept her down again as he glared at her. "No Serena. Today you're going to rest, even if I have to strap you down to do it. You're more important than any of those things, and they can wait. I'm not going to just sit by and watch you slowly kill yourself." His voice dropped to a near growl, to get across the message that he wasn't going to accept any argument on her part. He was serious about this, and he'd make her understand that, one way or another.

She looked at him, really looked at him then nodded slowly. "At least...help me to the throne room so I can...talk to father...tell him what's going on..." She sat up slowly, using Valtare to support her weight.

Bane was in front of the king and queen, waiting for them to answer his message.

Valtare shook his head yet again, wondering how much he might seem like a broken record. "Don't worry. Master Bane is going to tell them. You just stay here and rest." He stood up and got some blankets, laying them over her so she could rest and relax.

The two parents turned from the business that had been at hand to the sudden intrusion by Bane. Concern shone through on the King's face as Bane panted in front of him. "Yes, what about my daughter? Has she gotten in trouble again?"

She sighed then nodded, laying back as he covered her with the blankets. "I'm sorry Val...I hate to worry everyone...its why I didn't say anything before..."

Bane shook his head and said "The princess collapsed after her riding lesson...Valtare took her to the private study..."

Valtare nodded, patting her shoulder as he stayed kneeling beside her. "We're a lot more worried when you nearly pass out. Just telling someone, like me, would save a lot more worry in the long run." He chuckled a bit. "I thought you'd have figured it out by now that it's my job to watch out for you and make sure you don't do too much stupid stuff."

There was some shock, shared glances between the King and Queen. "Is she alright," the King asked worriedly. "Do you know the cause of this?"

Serena smiled and said "I try not to worry those around me...it hurts the ones I love too much..."

Bane shook his head and said "I do not know...but she wishes to see you...she's worried and scared my lord..."

It seemed Valtare was having difficulty in stopping his frown at this point, his concern still pre eminent. "Serena, we care about you. How do you think I felt, seeing you so beat up and drained, heck, even carrying you back here after you collapsed. Telling me there was a problem is a lot easier than just watching and not knowing what's wrong." He smiled a bit as he reached over to brush her hair back from her face a bit. "You could never hurt me." No, only he could hurt himself.

The King sat back, some of his worry seeming to leak away with the news that his daughter was conscious for the moment. He nodded then, to Bane and himself. "Very well. I will dispense with what I am doing now as rapidly as possible, and will be to see Serena soon. This will not take more than a few minutes."

Bane nodded and left the room. He walked into the study and said "your parents will be here soon" Serena looked up and nodded, sighing. "I didn't want to worry them..."

Valtare grinned, straightening up as Bane entered the room to report that the Royal Couple would be there soon. "They're your parents. I think it's their job to worry about you." He could only go off what he had observed, given that they were the closest things he had to parents himself.

She smiled and nodded as Bane leaned against the wall and sighed. "Should I stay or go? I have a meeting with the border patrol this afternoon to see threat levels..."

Valtare looked over to Bane, not straying far from Serena. "You can leave. I've got this under control."

Bane nodded and said "feel better my lady" then he turned and left. Serena frowned and said "father has been worried about the border patrols...like he feels something is about to hit us"

Valtare nodded in understanding, having heard much the same discussions of the border and kingdom affairs himself. It came with the territory of hanging around Serena so much, not that he minded much. Some would say he was obsessive even past the scope of his orders, which might be true, but it didn't seem to bother her that much, and it put himself at ease to see her and know she was safe. If he had one flaw, it was that he cared too much.

"You shouldn't think about that right now," he said calmly as he sat beside her, waiting for the king to show up, though that wouldn't be much longer, he was sure. "I'm sure tyhey have it under control. Just rest. I don't want you getting sick or anything."

She shook her head and said "I'll be fine....I'm worried about bane. He looks stressed. And tired...." She rubbed her eyes then looked at her hands, feeling her hands getting hot. "Oh no...."

Her concern for Bane was touching, but at the moment Valtare thought that she should be worrying more about herself. After all, Bane wasn't at the point of passing out from exhaustion, malnutrition, or lack of sleep. Her worry at the end though drew his attention, as he took on a worried expression. "What is it," he asked, concern all too evident in his tone. Not that he could help it. That would be like changing his nature, and it just wasn't possible.

She moved back, trying to calm her breathing. "I feel heat in my hands....mother says thats a sign of magic energy over load...I haven't been keeping it in check like I should have been...." She looked around, trying to remember what her mother said to do in moments like this