Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

'We wouldn't technically be going outside the city limits,' Gladiolus pointed out.

'Close enough,' Ignis said with a huff. 'If King Regis found out-'

That interested Noctis. The young boy looked up with a smirk. 'We have to do it.'

'Prince,' Ignis began, feeling a headache building. 'You'll get to see them anyway, when they come to the palace. Why do you want to go now?'

'We can spy on them,' Noctis pointed out, warming to the idea as it became more dangerous and daring. 'We can pretend to be normal kids and sneak around their camp and get intel.'

Gladiolus grinned and nodded. 'Yeah, sounds good to me. And if they sound like they're going to try and murder the king or anything we can take them down!' He slashed his training sword down hard so that it bounced off the concrete.

Ignis adjusted his glasses, and turned to Prompto. 'I'm going to assume you won't take my side?'

'Nope,' Prompto said. 'Their plan sounds way more fun than sitting around here studying.'

'You will need to do your maths homework at some point,' Ignis pointed out. 'Why not now while I'm here to help you?'

'Because foreign royalty is coming?' Prompto said. 'Way more fun sneaking around their camp and causing trouble.'

'Come on, Ignis,' Noctis said, nudging his friend with his elbow. 'You coming?'

'No, I'm going to stay here and not get myself into trouble, thank you very much.'

Another nudge from Noctis. 'But then who'll keep us under control? And fix things when we screw up?'

'I'm not your mo-' Ignis caught himself, but he saw the flash of sadness pass over Noctis's eyes. The queen had passed away not even a month ago, and the wounds were still fresh. Feeling terrible for the reminder, Ignis nudged Noctis back and relented. 'Fine. Let's go and intrude on the privacy of our guests from Tenebrae.'

'Yay!' Prompto said. 'Death and destruction.'

'No death or destruction,' Ignis called, but Prompto had already hurried ahead with Gladiolus.

In the wake of the death of the queen of Lucis, Tenebrae had sent representatives to offer official condolences to the king and prince. It had been planned for weeks, and now the queen and prince of Tenebrae, along with several wealthy and influential families, had just arrived at the gates. It was a slight that the king himself hadn't attended, and Noctis knew his father had been muttering to his advisors about it. Noctis didn't care; he didn't like the king of Tenebrae anyway. As far as he was concerned the king could go to hell. He hated all these people coming to him and apologising for his mother's death, and assuming that they knew how he was feeling and that it would be alright in the end. How did they know it would be alright? How could they be sure? The only people that hadn't patronised him like that were his three best friends, who had simply acknowledged that it sucked, held him while he'd cried, then distracted him as best they could to keep his mind from dwelling on what had happened.

There were about thirty people in the royal caravan, and officials were talking hurriedly with the kingdom guards. The four boys sneaked quietly into the open courtyard where several cars had parked and people had got out to stretch their legs.

'So many suits,' Prompto said with a snicker of laughter. He nudged a bony elbow into Noctis's ribs. 'Hey, that'll be you one day. You'll look as grumpy as they are when you're king and you won't be allowed to wear what you want anymore, you'll have to look like a penguin every day of your life.'

'If I'm king then nobody can tell me how to dress,' Noctis pointed out. 'I'll do what I want.'

They stepped back when another car door opened, and a tall, beautiful woman stepped out. She rose gracefully, her blue eyes scanning the area until she noticed a man hurrying about. She snapped her fingers and he hurried over.

'What's taking so long?' she demanded in a shrill voice.

'Nothing to worry about, Lady Fleuret. You know how paranoid these Lucians are now that they have the last crystal. So many checks, it's taking a while I'm afraid. There's a hotel adjourning the gates if you'd like to freshen up, or have a cup of tea perhaps?'

She sighed dramatically. 'Well, I'm certainly not going to sit in the car for however long. Come, Stella.' She clicked her fingers again, and let herself be led off by the man.

Out of the car came a miniature version of the woman; a small girl with the same blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a replica of her mother's white lacy dress. She got out carefully so as not to scuff her shoes, then glanced up. And caught Noctis's eye.

Noctis had been watching her, and felt like a deer caught in headlights when she stared back. 'Uh, hi?' he said.

She smiled. 'Hello.'

Noctis shifted uncomfortably, aware that his three friends were watching and probably laughing at his awkwardness. He was a shy boy around anyone but them, and this girl was so calm and composed. 'Think your mother wanted you to go.'

She nodded. 'I think so too. I recognise you, you're the prince, aren't you?'

'Well there goes our cover. Seriously Noct, we can't take you anywhere ,' Prompto said, rolling his eyes and slapping a hand on Noctis's shoulder. In one swift motion he pushed his friend back a little and stepped forward, putting on his best, most charming smile. 'And I'm the prince's best friend. Prompto Argentum, at your service.'

Her eyes fell to the gun badly concealed at his hip, far too large for his lanky boyish frame. 'I thought firearms were illegal here?'

Prompto smirked and touched his fingers to the handle. 'What can I say? I'm a rebel.'

'I see,' she said politely, then ignored him for Noctis. 'I wanted to meet you, there's something we need to talk about.'

Noctis blinked, and stepped back a little unconsciously. 'We do? I don't even know who you are.'

'Sorry, where are my manners? I'm Stella Nox Fleuret, my family are advisors to the royal family of Tenebrae.' She stepped forward and since Gladiolus was behind him there was nowhere further for Noctis to retreat. She lowered her voice. 'I need to talk to you about the light.'

'The…light?' Noctis said slowly.

She nodded frantically. 'Yes, and it has to be soon.'

'Stella! Come along,' her mother called sharply.

Stella frowned and shook her head. 'We can't talk about it here, but once I'm in the palace we'll have a chance to talk properly.'

'What light? What are you talking about?' Noctis asked.

Her eyes widened briefly. 'The light. You know?'

'Not a clue,' Noctis said harshly.

'But I saw you in my dream…' Disappointment laced her voice, but she shook her head. 'It was definitely you. Definitely.' She raised her hand to touch his cheek. 'Definitely.'

As soon as her fingers touched his skin Noctis felt it. It was like an electrical current passing through his body, and suddenly he could see images before his eyes. And a warm golden light that covered everything.

When he woke up he was on the floor, with his head in Gladiolus's lap. All of his friends were crowded around him, along with Stella, her mother and a few other people. Suddenly Noctis felt claustrophobic. He struggled to sit up, and people began backing off.

'What happened?' he asked, his heart was racing a mile a minute.

Ignis placed an arm around his shoulders to support him and frowned. 'I'm not sure. You went white as a sheet and then you fainted. How are you feeling?'

'Fine, I'm fine,' Noctis said, waving off the concern as he got to his feet again, cheeks blazing crimson at having fainted in front of so many people. His gaze sought out Stella, but he saw her disappearing with her hand in her mother's. She turned back to him as if sensing he was watching her, and she nodded once.

'What's going on?' Gladiolus asked. 'That was weird.'

'Not weird at all,' Prompto said. 'Noct is rubbish with girls, so the second she got close to him he freaked out and fainted.'

'I did not!' Noctis said, all thoughts of Stella suddenly vanishing as his friends started teasing him.

-

Noctis stood in front of his full length ornate mirror. He was wearing what was supposed to be a slim fitting black suit but it still hung off his boyish wiry frame, a black shirt and shoes, with his black tie hung loose around his neck. At least in an all black ensemble he didn't resemble a penguin like Prompto had warned him about. The Caelum family were famous for wearing all black, their kingdom was one shrouded in darkness and mystery. Even more so since the death of its queen.

Ignis appeared in the mirror behind him, and placed a hand on his shoulder to turn him around. While only a couple of years older, his friend had already had a growth spurt and bent slightly as he reached to fix Noctis's tie. 'Are you well, my prince?'

When he'd studied his reflection he looked paler than normal, but that could have been nerves. There would be a lot of people looking at him tonight, offering their condolences and dragging up memories of his mother. Noctis's stomach knotted up just thinking about it. 'Yeah.'

Pausing in tying the knot, Ignis glanced into his eyes. Then pulled the tie tight. 'It's alright if you don't. I know I wouldn't want to go through this. All the other kingdoms have already paid their respects, this should have been over and done with long before the funeral.'

'Well it's not, and I can't change that,' Noctis said.

'It's a great insult from Tenebrae,' Ignis continued. 'You understand that? From what I can gather by waiting until after the funeral they'd dealt our kingdom a blow. The advisors have all been in the audience chamber each night with the doors closed, but I heard they're talking of switching trade suppliers, which would mean Tenebrae would respond with something even worse, and then it would escalate.'

Noctis shrugged. 'Why does it matter?'

'It matters because eventually the insults become so great that war is declared.'

'You worry too much,' Noctis said.

'And you not enough,' Ignis said, squeezing his narrow shoulder gently. 'Just be careful, Noct. Tonight isn't about Tenebrae paying respects, it's a chess game. A political minefield.'

'I don't like chess, and I don't like it when people don't just say what they think. I hate all these mind games and back stabbing.'

'I know,' Ignis said. Which was exactly why Ignis was studying so hard, to ensure that as Noctis grew up and was drawn deeper into the web of politics he'd be there to ensure Noctis stayed one step ahead. 'Just stick with Gladiolus and myself tonight. We'll get you through this.'

Noctis nodded, not caring about plots in the least. He was still mourning his mother, and tonight was another reminder that the second throne in the audience chamber was cold and empty, and that he could no longer jump on his parents bed on a Sunday morning and be embraced by both parents. It felt as if he'd suddenly be forced to grow up very quickly, and he wasn't ready for it all.

There was a knock on the bedroom door, and then the large wooden door swung open. Gladiolus walked in, looking much neater than usual in a black suit of his own, and his dark hair pulled back in a ponytail.

Ignis nodded his approval. He himself was wearing a black suit befitting of Lucis royal staff, but a deep plum shirt collar peeked out above the lapels. His hair had been gelled to perfection and his angular face was accented by his slim glasses.

Gladiolus crossed the large bedroom and his gaze travelled down Noctis. He grinned. 'I thought you said you'd grow into the suit?'

'I'm working on it,' Noctis said hotly.

'Think you need to work a bit harder, shorty,' Gladiolus said, making to ruffle Noctis's hair, but Ignis grabbed his wrist.

'We don't have time to tidy him up again, we're running late as it is.' Ignis straightened Noctis's tie and adjusted his hair; an impossible task as Noctis's bangs were all over the place as per usual. It made him look adorable, but tonight he needed to look older than his ten years.

As Noctis left his bedroom his friends flanked him either side, as they'd been trained to do. They simultaneously watched Noctis while looking out for any potential threats or hazards. They'd been doing it for so long it came naturally now, so much so that when they were approached as they descended a staircase toward the ball room Gladiolus moved in front of Noctis to act as a shield.

'Evening,' he said gruffly to the stranger.

'My apologies. I'm with the Tenebrae group.' The man bowed low. 'I was wondering if I could borrow the prince for a moment? There's a girl who would very much like to speak with him.'

Stella, Noctis thought instantly. And a vision of the golden light he had seen before appeared in front of his eyes. He felt weak, and almost stumbled had it not been for Ignis's hand on his shoulder to steady him.

Gladiolus had noticed the trip, though, and frowned. 'I'm sorry, we have to meet with the king first. Introductions will be officially made once the festivities begin.'

The man bowed again. 'Of course. Thank you.'

As soon as they were out of ear shot Ignis guided Noctis to the side. 'Are you alright? What was that?'

Noctis shook his head. 'I don't know. I just felt…like this morning, when I fainted.'

Ignis's eyes searched his. 'Would you prefer to return to your room and get some rest? We can tell your father that you're ill.'

'No. He'll just think it's because of my mother.'

Gladiolus regarded him with a look of sympathy. 'Is it? Maybe you're worried about tonight, and talking to all these people about the queen? It could be anxiety related?'

'Like panic attacks,' Ignis muttered, and exchanged a quick glance with Gladiolus. The two knew full well how shy the prince could be at times, and after the stress of losing his mother it wouldn't have been beyond the realms of possibility.

But it angered Noctis, and he pulled away from Ignis. 'It's not in my head, I really felt dizzy.'

'I know, my prince,' Ignis soothed. 'But anxiety-'

'I'm not anxious!' Noctis snapped, then remembered himself. 'Sorry, but I just…can we just go in there and get this over with?'

Ignis swallowed hard, but nodded. Now more than ever he wished he could take Noctis back to his room rather than having to parade him in front of a foreign kingdom, but the prince was already making his way toward the ball room so he and Gladiolus had to hurry and fall into step beside him.

The ball room had been decorated with the purple and gold of Tenebrae, in honour of their guests. Long tables had been set out and the gold and purple of Tenebrae lords and ladies mixed with the silver and black of Lucis. There weren't many from Tenebrae, and even Noctis could see that for the insult it was. Especially since the king was missing. Lucis's king sat on his throne raised on a dais at the head of the ballroom. His personal guard Cor Leonis stood to the right of his throne, and his advisor the left, whispering something into the king's ear. King Regis looked unhappy, but then he always did these days, Noctis mused.

'Shall we go and present to your father?' Ignis suggested.

'No, he'll see me down here,' Noctis said, wandering over to the tables where food and drink had been laid out. His small hand went for one of the glasses of bubbling gold champagne, and he'd brought it halfway to his lips before Ignis plucked it from his grasp and set it back on the table.

'You're being particularly difficult tonight,' Ignis warned in a low voice.

'Nobody cares,' Noctis pointed out, but lots of people had noticed the small prince enter, and it was like vultures circling, each one ready to pounce on him and ask him questions.

Gladiolus picked up a glass of beer. 'Prom would love this,' he said. 'Free alcohol, ready to be drunk by minors.'

Ignis took the glass from him, too. 'Bodyguards, even those in training, should stay sober and alert. I'm quite certain that Prompto is more than capable of acquiring his own alcohol.'

'He is, we shared a can of cider last Saturday night,' Noctis said, taking delight in the way Ignis's eyes widened at the revelation.

'P-prince!' Ignis said.

But Noctis was already gone. The food didn't interest him, all day he'd felt a strange sense of nausea, and a complete loss of appetite. Instead he passed by people, ignoring them as they called his name or asked him questions. Until the man from the corridor grabbed his arm and dragged him aside.

'This way, please. It won't take long,' the man said hurriedly.

'What? No! Let go,' Noctis said, pulling back. But he wasn't strong enough to compete with a grown up, so he had to either hurry to keep up or fall and be dragged. Desperately he looked back, but the crowd was thick there, and he only caught a glimpse of Gladiolus once and saw the young man was looking about frantically, having realised he'd lost the prince.

'Just through here,' the man said, and suddenly they were outside.

The cool evening air chilled him, and Noctis shivered as he was led into a small courtyard with neat flower beds and a bridge over a koi pond. The bridge had a lattice roof, with sweet peas winding around the wooden beams mingled with little white fairy lights. The blonde girl he had spoken to earlier was on the bridge, looking down into the water. Noctis was nudged in her direction.

'Please, talk to her,' the man said.

Well, there wasn't any harm in that, he supposed. Slowly Noctis made his way over, keeping his distance as best as he could. She didn't look up when he approached. He cleared his throat. 'So, uh, hi again. I guess.'

'Hello, Prince Noctis,' she said in her soft voice, still watching the fish. 'I'm sorry about your mother.'

Noctis snorted. 'Yeah, you and the rest of the world. When a normal person loses their mother they're allowed to mourn in private, I've been splashed in the news for weeks.'

Now she looked up, and regarded him with bright blue eyes that shone in the darkness. 'You wish we weren't here.'

'N-no, I didn't say that,' Noctis amended quickly, thinking of the political storm he could cause. At least he assumed that had been what Ignis kept drilling into him. 'It's very nice of your kingdom to pay their respects but I-'

'Want to mourn in private, as you said.'

'Yeah. No. I don't know,' Noctis said, leaning against the railing and staring out across the pond. The silver moonlight reflected off the dark surface.

'You're confused,' she said.

'Figured that out, huh?' Noctis said. 'I don't know how I'm supposed to act, or what I'm supposed to do. My father won't talk to me, so how am I supposed to know what he's got planned for me? I'm not a kid anymore, I need to know what my place is in this family. In the kingdom. What do they expect from me?' He had no idea why this was all coming out. These were fears he'd never shared with his friends. Not Ignis who could give him a logical explanation, or Gladiolus who could offer him a distracting sparring session to clear his head. Or Prompto who'd supply him with booze that made his head feel fuzzy but made things easier to bear.

'I know why you feel this way,' Stella said softly. 'Because I felt that way too, before the light.'

'Ah yes, the light,' Noctis said sarcastically. 'Look I'm really sorry, but I think you've got me mistaken for someone else. If you saw me in a dream, well, I'm sorry but I can't help that. I don't see any light.'

'No, you don't. I understand that now,' she said, watching him carefully. 'Which is why you're so confused and emotional. Once you see the light, things will be clearer.'

'What light? What are you even talking about?' Noctis asked, backing up a step as Stella moved toward him with her hand raised. 'Look, I think I need to get back inside now. It's cold and my friends are looking for me and I haven't presented myself to my father yet, so I really should-'

'Shh,' she said softly, and cupped his cheek with her hand.

His gaze was locked in hers and it felt as if he couldn't move. She had enchanted him, that had to be it. Noctis was terrified, even more so when the golden light he had seen flashes of earlier returned, clouding his vision. The wave of dizziness returned with it, and he felt his legs go weak as he collapsed against the railings. His hearing cut out, all he could hear was a strange buzzing sound. And his vision greyed at the edges, until there was nothing but the golden light, speckled with flecks of gold swirling around. He reached out a hand to touch it, but it didn't feel of anything. It was like smoke.

'-tis! Noctis!' called a voice, and someone was tapping his cheek.

When Noctis finally came to he was being cradled in his father's arms, and a group of worried men in black were crowding around him. He groaned, this was far too much like this morning for comfort. He wearily blinked his heavy eyes up at his father, who was looking down at him with terrified eyes.

'What happened?' Regis asked, his voice trembling. 'I thought…god don't to that, Noct. I can't lose you too. Not after…' Regis pulled him tight to his chest. 'Are you alright, son?'

'I'm fine.'

'What happened?' Cor asked, crouching down beside them and supporting his head with a huge hand.

'I don't know,' Noctis said, frowning. His memories were fuzzy. 'She was there, and then there was light, then darkness.' His head was still swimming, and though he was shivering violently he felt hot inside. 'I don't feel very well.'

That got Regis's attention. 'Cor, please take him back to his room and find a healer. Don't leave his side. Send somebody to update me every half an hour.' He turned back to his son. 'I wish I could be with you, but I have to sit through this damned farce of a party. As soon as it's over I'll come and see you, alright?'

'Okay,' Noctis said weakly, and then he was transferred from the warm arms of his father into Cor's strong arms. The bodyguard lifted him up as if he weighed nothing at all, then carried him around the outside of the building so as not to have to carry the prince of Lucis through a crowded ball room filled with prying eyes. Behind them Ignis and Gladiolus hurried to keep up.

Noctis's bedroom was huge, and despite being only a small boy of ten he had a large king size four poster bed. When Cor placed him down on it he paused to frown at just how small the prince of Lucis still was. Gruffly he ran a calloused hand through Noctis's unruly hair.

'You okay to get changed?'

Noctis nodded. 'Yeah, thanks.'

Cor nodded, and backed up a step. 'I'll go get the healer. I expect to see you tucked up in bed when I get back.'

'Yes sir,' Noctis said, not even looking up to watch the man leave.

Ignis went to a set of drawers and brought out a fresh pair of black pyjamas, which he brought over to Noctis. 'Do you want any help?'

'I'm fine,' Noctis insisted, shuffling off the bed and undressing himself.

Ignis and Gladiolus turned away while he did so, and only turned back once they heard him climbing back onto the bed. He looked younger than his years, dwarfed by the huge bed, wearing too-big pyjamas with his hair dishevelled and his face pale. Ignis went about picking up the discarded clothes and placing them in the hamper, then he and Gladiolus sat either side of the bed, watching their friend closely.

'It's not anxiety,' Noctis insisted finally, but there was no force to his words.

'Don't worry, your highness,' Gladiolus said. 'Whatever's wrong the healer will fix it.'

Noctis drew his knees up to his chin, and hugged them tight. 'I don't know what's happening to me anymore. I feel so lost and alone.'

'You're never alone,' Ignis said.

Then as if on command both he and Gladiolus slid up the bed and wrapped the younger boy up in a hug. They sat there for a while, rocking the dark haired boy back gently back and forth until the door opened again and Cor returned with a small, dumpy woman in white healers robes. She ushered them off the bed, then began checking over Noctis, lifting his shirt to reveal pale ribs, and clucking at how thin he was, and was he getting enough to eat? And the scars on his body from training, were they pushing him too hard?

Cor just stood with his arms folded like he was a statue, and Gladiolus tried to mimic him. Ignis, however, was taking note of everything the woman was saying. Healing knowledge would always come in handy, if he wanted to be a good advisor for Noctis. There was still so much to learn. He noted the way she stuck the thermometer under Noctis's tongue, and how she warmed the stethoscope before pressing it to his chest and back.

'How did you feel before you blacked out?' she asked.

'Dizzy. Hot. Sick,' Noctis said, trying to remember. It had all taken a backseat when he'd seen that beautiful light.

'And now? How do you feel now?'

'Dizzy, hot and sick,' Noctis said. 'But not as much.'

'Hmm,' she turned to Cor. 'He has a low fever. I'd recommend an antipyretic to reduce his temperature, and to see how he is in the morning.'

Cor nodded and accepted the bottle of medicine she handed him from her bag, then the woman took her leave and Cor sat down on the side of the bed, looking at the bottle cautiously. He'd never had children, had never had to administer this kind of thing before. It took a bit of work to unscrew the cap, then he read the instructions twice before looking at Noctis curiously. 'It says under eight years to have one spoonful, but you're small for your age…eh, one and a half. Done.'

Noctis watched him with amusement. It was funny to see the usually stern guard so awkward.

Cor poured the thick pink liquid onto the spoon, then held it out for Noctis to take. 'Probably tastes horrible. Sorry.'

'S'okay,' Noctis said around the medicine. It wasn't that bad actually, and the half spoonful was gone just as quickly.

Cor did the bottle up and set it on the bedside table, then hovered. He cautiously reached out a hand to press against Noctis's forehead. 'Mild fever? You're burning up, she's crazy,' he muttered. 'Go on, lay down. Your father will have me hung if you're not asleep by the time he gets here.'

Noctis shuffled down the bed and leaned against his pillows, feeling the wave of dizziness pass now that he was resting.

Cor leaned over and tugged the blankets up so they covered his shoulders, then the man nodded to himself and stood up, wandering over to snag a chair from the desk in the corner of the room so he could keep watch as the king had requested. His dark eyes fell on the two boys hovering by the foot of the bed. 'I can take care of him, don't worry.'

'We know,' Gladiolus said, not wanting to offend his hero. 'But we just…we wanted to…'

'What he means is we'd like to stay with him,' Ignis finished.

'He needs sleep. He won't get that with the two of you here. Besides, don't need the two of you coming down with fevers too.'

'We won't,' Gladiolus said confidently. 'Please? We just want to make sure he's okay.'

With a sigh Cor leaned forward. 'I know you care about him, but he'll be fine. Even more so if you leave him to sleep-'

'I want them to stay,' Noctis said, sitting himself up again.

Cor ground his teeth and counted to five slowly in his head. 'Your highness-'

'I'll sleep better if they're here. Promise,' Noctis said, blinking impossibly large blue eyes at Cor.

When had he gone soft? Cor felt his defences crumbling, and he waved a large hand. 'Fine. Stay. But if he's not asleep within fifteen minutes I'm kicking you both out.'

The two guardians took up their positions perched on either side of the bed again, watching over the dark haired boy. True to Cor's fears, Noctis didn't even try closing his eyes now that he had his friends close.

'Prince, you have to sleep,' Ignis insisted, casting a quick glance over to Cor who was watching them like a hawk. 'Otherwise we can't stay.'

'But you're all the way over there, so I have to keep my eyes open to see you,' Noctis pointed out.

Ignis and Gladiolus exchanged quick glances, then sighed and shuffled further up the bed. They lay on top of the covers still in their formalwear, and the bed was wide enough for all three of them to lay against the pillows. This close they could feel the heat radiating from Noctis. Finally satisfied that his friends weren't going anywhere, Noctis closed his eyes again, and this time he was asleep within seconds.

Just past midnight the bedroom door quietly opened, and the king slipped inside. By the light of the moon pouring in through one of the large windows he came to his trusted friend and guard. 'How is he?' Regis asked, looking over to the bed where the three boys slept.

'Fever. Just a childhood sickness, I guess. The healer gave him some medicine and said to see how he is in the morning.'

Regis nodded.

'How did it go?' Cor asked.

Regis sighed, and leaned against the desk. 'As badly as can be expected. Poorly concealed jibes, their excuse for the king being unable to attend was that his hunting trip overran. How ridiculous. As soon as they're gone I want to start planning for what would happen if our kingdoms were to seek different allies. They'll soon learn that they need us far more than we need them.'

'And the girl?' Cor asked. 'The prince said he saw a girl before he fainted.'

'Nobody saw him leave with a girl,' Regis said. 'It could have been a hallucination from the fever.'

'Perhaps,' Cor agreed. 'Would you like me to stay with him tonight?'

Regis shook his head and clapped a hand o the man's shoulder. 'Get some sleep. I'll visit him in the morning. For tonight it seems he has two personal guards.'

'They're just kids.'

'Exactly,' Regis said, watching the boys. 'And if they're this loyal now, imagine how loyal they'll be when he's old enough to face real danger. This is where true bonds are forged, Cor, you should know that. Now get some sleep, that's an order.'

'Yes, your highness.'

-

Noctis dreamed of the light. He was in a dark room, and the light was all around, warm and golden. The longer he stared the more shapes he could see in the swirling mists. Then a figure stepped out of the shadows; Stella. She smiled and reached out a hand for him to take.

'I've been waiting for you to see. Come, there's so much to show you. You'll want to see this. She's here. You can see her again if you'd like.'

'See who?' he asked.

'You know who.'

'I don't! Who is it…?' Noctis asked, but then the light faded and Stella was swallowed up by darkness.

Noctis woke up feeling groggy. He would have turned over and gone back to sleep, but it quickly became apparent that he wasn't alone. The covers were pinned down either side of him, and Gladiolus was flat on his back snoring loudly, while Ignis was curled on his side, facing Noctis. He looked different with his glasses off. He struggled to sit up, but the covers wouldn't budge. His movements woke the other two boys, though, who were quick to sit up themselves.

'How are you feeling?' Ignis asked, checking Noctis's temperature with his hand as he had seen the healer do the night before.

'I'm okay,' Noctis said. 'I need to get up.'

'I don't think so,' Gladiolus said, resting a hand on his shoulder to keep him down. 'That healer said she wanted to see you this morning.'

It wasn't like Gladiolus to encourage bed rest. Noctis wondered just how ill he looked. He didn't feel great, but there was something he needed to do. The dream was still fresh in his mind; he had to find Stella and talk to her again.

'I have to get up, I've got school,' Noctis pointed out, for once grateful it was a school day. He had no intention of going, but if it got him free from bed rest then he'd take the excuse and run with it.

Ignis saw through him, though. 'You want to go to school? Well now I know you're ill.'

'I'm going to start taking my studies seriously, like you,' Noctis said, trying to sound convincing.

'No, you want to go see Prompto and gossip in the back of class,' Gladiolus said.

Well, whatever worked, Noctis thought. 'Uh, yeah. I want to see Prom. I need to tell him what he missed last night, you know he gets down because he can't join in with us.'

Ignis raised an eyebrow. 'You missed most of the party. How are you going to explain it to Prompto?'

'Um, well-' Noctis was saved from answering by a knock at the door.

A different healer entered, a man in the same kind of white robes that the woman had worn last night. As he made his way to the bed Gladiolus and Ignis climbed off, and hung back while their friend had his temperature taken.

'How is he?' called a deep voice from the open door. King Regis cross the room to the healer, then sat down on his son's bed.

'His temperature is lower than last night, but not completely normal yet. I'd recommend another dose of the medicine, and bed rest for the day.'

Regis nodded slowly, his sharp blue eyes taking in every detail of his son's face. 'Noctis? Are you feeling unwell still?'

Noctis shook his head. 'I feel fine,' he lied. 'I don't want to stay in bed all day, it'll be boring. Ignis has that special tutoring and Gladiolus has training, so I'd be all alone.'

The king made a resigned sound, then looked up at the healer. 'Is he well enough to be up and about?'

The healer nodded. 'For a little bit, but I wouldn't recommend he pushes himself. And as we don't know the cause of the illness I'd recommend against school, in case he's infectious.'

Regis turned to Ignis and Gladiolus. 'You were foolish to be so close to him last night when you knew he was ill,' the king said, then he voice softened. 'But thank you for being with him.'

'Our pleasure,' Gladiolus said.

'Well Noctis,' Regis continued with a wry smile. 'A day off school, I'm sure you're terribly upset. You can stay with me for the day if you'd like? I'll be in the audience chamber with the royal family of Tenebrae, you can sit in and see how boring my days are. I promise you won't think schoolwork is half as bad when you see what's in store for you when you're older.'

'Um, okay,' Noctis said, not really sure he wanted to sit in on dusty meetings, but he did want to spend more time with his father. And if he was in the palace there was a chance he could see Stella again and ask her about the light.

'Very well, take your medicine and get dressed, then meet me for breakfast and we'll begin the official business.'

Noctis was so happy that he didn't have to sneak out of school to find Stella that he took his medicine without complaint, then took the clothes Ignis handed to him. As he set them down on the bed he groaned.

'A shirt? But I'm not going to school,' Noctis complained.

'No, this is even more formal, you'll be attending your father in the audience chamber. This is big, Noct,' Ignis said. 'He wants you to see what you'll be doing in a few years time. This is important, it's a big step.'

Noctis frowned at the clothes as if they'd personally offended him. 'I don't want to take a big step. I'm fine where I am.'

Ignis sighed patiently, and placed a hand on Noctis's shoulder, but the young boy just shook him off and stormed over to the wardrobe where he pulled out a pair of dark jeans and an oversized zip up hoodie. 'There, I'm dressed,' he huffed.

'Your highness-'

'No. If I'm supposed to be some important prince then I can do what I want, right?' Noctis said angrily. 'Everyone always tells me Lucis is the greatest, and I'm the heir to Lucis, so technically I'm the second greatest person in the world. So if I don't want to wear a stupid shirt then I won't.'

Gladiolus snorted with laughter. 'Gotta admire the kid's attitude.'

'You're not helping,' Ignis hissed to him. 'Noctis-'

But Noctis had already stormed out of the room.

'Well that could have gone better,' Ignis said, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

'Chill, Ignis,' Gladiolus said. 'He's all mixed up, blame the hormones. And he's been through a lot recently. He doesn't want to grow up-'

'But he has to,' Ignis said. 'Everybody has to grow up and start taking responsibility. You think I like having to study every hour of the day? To learn about the royal lines, and the monsters of the world and learn to plan attacks and identify threats? I do it because Noctis is my friend and it will help him. But right now he's not exactly helping himself.'

'Again, he's growing up and just lost his mother. And King Regis is really putting the pressure on him,' Gladiolus pointed out. 'He's all confused, it's a lot to happen at once.'

'I just want him to be the best he can be,' Ignis said sadly.

Gladiolus nudged him. 'How about settling for getting him happy again for now? When was the last time you even saw him smile. I mean properly?'

Ignis paused, then hung his head a little.

'Tonight let's give him a break, yeah? We'll find Prompto and just hang out together. No mentioning homework or politics or anything, got it? Just a fun evening with his friends,' Gladiolus suggested.

'That could be good for him.'

'It will be good for him,' Gladiolus said.

-

King Regis sighed, and looked up from his newspaper. If the news of rising crime rates and growing resentment at Lucis being the last kingdom with a crystal wasn't depressing enough, his only son was sat across from him at the dining table looking pale and miserable and pushing his cereal around the bowl. He loved his son, and since his wife's death Noctis was the only family he had left. But there just wasn't enough hours in the day to devote to him as much time as he'd like.

'Are we playing this game again?' Regis asked.

Noctis looked up. 'What game?'

'The you not eating game. Last time I believe it was the gravy was too thick, the time before that the toast wasn't hot enough. And the soup-'

'Even you said the soup was yuck,' Noctis pointed.

'…Okay, the soup was foul,' Regis admitted. 'But you have got to be the fussiest eater in all of Lucis. What's wrong with cereal, surely the cook can't have ruined that?'

Noctis glanced down at the corn loops. 'I'm not hungry.'

Regis frowned. 'Well, they haven't given you much, can't you at least eat half?'

Noctis considered this, but his stomach felt queasy so he shook his head.

'Not even one spoonful?' Regis tried.

Noctis shook his head.

Had he not been a king, Regis would have sighed in frustration. How had his wife managed for all those years? Noctis was stubborn and picky with his food, but she'd always managed to make sure he ate enough to keep him going. 'Would you like something different?'

'Not hungry at all,' Noctis said. 'Can I try that instead?' he pointed a finger at the steaming mug beside Regis's hand.

'My coffee? You won't like it,' Regis warned.

'I want to try. You say it always gives you energy.'

'Really not suitable for a ten year old,' Regis said, but he slid the cup over.

'I'm ten and a half,' Noctis pointed out, as if the six months made the world of difference. He picked the cup up and sniffed it experimentally. It was strong, and smelt how his father smelt when he hugged him in the evenings. He must drink a lot of the stuff, Noctis reasoned. Carefully he raised the cup to his lips, then made a face. It was bitter. Really bitter.

Regis laughed at the face his son made. 'Told you that you wouldn't like it,' Regis said, reaching out to take it back.

'No, no I like it,' Noctis lied, keeping tight hold of the cup. 'Can I have it?'

Regis raised an eyebrow. 'You really like it?'

Noctis nodded.

'Okay, fine. But if I fall asleep in my throne I'll be blaming you. You'll understand when you're older what the crystal takes out of you. I hope to Etro that you do like coffee, the caffeine will help you.'

Noctis had no idea what his father was talking about but he nodded dutifully anyway.

'Would you like sugar in it?' Regis asked, as Noctis took another sip and screwed his face up again.

'No, it's fine,' Noctis lied. Besides, if this was how his father took it, then it was exactly how Noctis wanted to drink it. This was a grown up thing that he actually wanted to learn.

The audience chamber, however, was something that he didn't want to learn at all. He was still holding his mug of coffee (he'd managed a quarter of the cup) as he followed his father into the room. Everyone stood up as they entered, and bowed their heads. An advisor hurried forward and asked Regis if he'd like another throne set out for Noctis, but Regis shook his head.

'Today is a one off, he can use…the other throne.' Regis turned sad eyes to his son, and offered his hand. 'Come, Noctis.'

Noctis took his father's hand and tried to ignore the stares of people dressed in black, and especially those of the people dressed in purple and gold from Tenebrae. They were all arranged on long tables in the chamber, and the two thrones sat on a dais at the head of the room.

Once they had stepped onto the raised platform Regis nodded at the rightmost throne. 'Just for today. When you're older we'll have one made especially for you.'

Noctis approached the cold, dark throne with apprehension. His mother had sat here each day, seeing petitioners, helping to draw up plans for treaties and for war. Slowly he sat down, shuffling backward. His feet hung in the air.

The meeting was very boring. It was the official version of the condolences, now that the merriment of last night's party was over. Noctis sat in silence, watching the faces of the people below. Most of them he knew from around the palace; advisors and guards of Lucis. Cor was stood behind the two thrones. Noctis had looked back at him once, and caught the older man's gaze. The prince and queen of Tenebrae came to the thrones and bowed low as they offered their condolences, but Noctis blocked them out. He didn't need fake words. He scanned the room for Stella, and though he saw her mother the young girl was nowhere to be seen. His heart dropped in disappointment. He managed to finish another inch of coffee, but it tasted even worse when it was cold. He was determined to drink it all, though, even though it was making him feel sick all over again.

Finally they broke for lunch, and Noctis followed after Regis, with Cor behind them.

'I do hope you're hungry enough for lunch now,' Regis said with a smile in his eyes.

'Still not hungry,' Noctis said.

Regis frowned, then crouched down and lifted a hand to Noctis's forehead. He frowned. 'I think your fever is coming back, you're warm. Are you okay?'

'Yes,' Noctis lied.

Regis smiled. 'Stubborn. You did well this morning.'

'I just sat there.'

'Sometimes that's all that's needed. To sit and listen, and absorb it all.'

Noctis didn't admit that he hadn't really been listening at all, but rather wondering where Stella could be. 'Yes.'

Regis ruffled his hair and straightened up. He turned to Cor. 'Can you take him back to his room? Then find someone to sit with him this afternoon while he sleeps.'

'Yes, your majesty. Then I'm to return?'

'Yes, for a fun filled afternoon of forced pleasantries. You won't be missing anything, Noct, I promise you that. As soon as we're done the Tenebrae representatives can be on their way, though, so that's one positive. The sooner they're gone the better.'

That struck fear into Noctis. By this evening Stella could be gone, then he'd never get a chance to ask her about the light. But Regis was leaving and Cor had a hand on his back, guiding him down the hall toward his room.

'I'm not a kid, I don't want to go to bed,' Noctis said. 'Can I go and sit with Gladiolus while he trains?'

Cor raised an eyebrow. 'His majesty said that you should rest, so I'm taking you to bed.'

'But-'

'Just following orders.'

Noctis huffed, but Cor wasn't going to budge. It was like the time he refused to let Noctis out even though it was slightly after his curfew. There was no way Cor had ever been ten years old, Noctis reasoned. Cor wouldn't leave until he saw Noctis climbing into bed, but as soon as the door was closed Noctis shoved back the covers and ran to the door, listening out for any signs that Cor might not have actually left. When he was happy the coast was clear, Noctis opened the door again and slipped out quietly. Whoever Cor sent to sit with him was going to get a nasty shock when they found him gone, but this was an emergency. He had to find Stella.

It was awkward sneaking around, but his training with Gladiolus and his not so official training with Prompto had helped him find good ways to hide, then check around corners to make sure no servants were wandering about ready to see him. Stella wasn't in the ball room, or the main gardens, or the courtyard she had spoken to him in last night. Nor any of the other courtyards. She wasn't in the music room, or the drawing room, or the large lounge. After twenty minutes of searching Noctis decided they needed a smaller palace; it was far too easy to lose someone in here.

Two maids came running, so he ducked behind a table as they went hurrying past.

'I have no idea where he could be, oh the king is going to be furious,' one of them was saying.

Oops, they'd found out he was missing. That meant he had to be even more careful. Which was why he jumped a mile when someone touched his shoulder.

'Ahh!' he yelped, and fell on his butt. He scrambled around, expecting to see a stern face…but instead found the smiling form of Stella Fleuret.

'Hello,' she said politely. 'You've caused quite a fuss.'

'Uh, yeah,' Noctis said, feeling his cheeks heat up. 'Well, it's their problem, not mine. Listen, I need to talk to you-'

'Not here,' she said, going serious. She stood up and looked about, then down at him. 'Coast is clear, follow me.'

It felt strange being led around his own home, but Stella seemed to know where she was going and led him to the music room. She closed the door behind them, and for the first time they were alone. Sunlight from the large bay windows warmed the room, and cast a glow on the large grand piano, and the harp, and the row of stringed and woodwind instruments. Stella walked between them all, gently running her fingers along the keys of the piano.

'You've seen the light?' she asked finally.

'Yeah. When you touched me, then I dreamed of it last night.'

She smiled. 'I knew it was you that I saw.' Her smile turned sad. 'I'm sorry.'

Noctis frowned. 'Why are you sorry?'

'It's a poisoned gift, to see the light. And you haven't even slept yet.'

'Slept? Do you ever speak normally?' Noctis asked, getting frustrated.

She was patient, though. 'You don't see the light now, do you? When you look up, you don't see the swirling mists of gold?'

Noctis looked up. All he saw was the white ceiling. 'No, just in my dream.'

'I see it even now. I see it when I close my eyes, I see it when I go to sleep. It's always there. And it will be for you too, once you've had the sleep.'

'You were in my dream last night,' Noctis said. 'You said that I could see her. Who did you mean?'

Stella smiled. 'You know who I mean. You know what the light is.'

Noctis swallowed hard as tears shone in his eyes. 'My mother?'

Stella nodded. 'The light is the souls of the dead. Once you can hear them properly you'll never be able to stop. They're always there, and nobody else can see them. You'll think you're going crazy. They'll drive you crazy. Every minute of your life you'll see their tortured souls, and there's nothing you can do to help them. That's why I had to find you, to know that I wasn't crazy. To meet someone else who can see them too.'

'But I don't want to see them,' Noctis said, taking a step away from the blonde girl. 'I love my mother, but I don't want to see her as light. I want to see her in person.'

'She's gone. But she'll be with you. There's nothing you can do, the goddess Etro has chosen you. All you have to do now is embrace it. It's time for you to sleep.'

Noctis backed up again, almost tripping over a violin in its stand. 'You keep saying that, but it doesn't sound like a good thing. Keep away from me or I'll scream for the guards.'

'They won't get to you in time. I locked the door. You can feel it, can't you? The light is ready to claim you. All you have to do is let go.'

Violently shaking his head Noctis hurried away from her. But he was feeling lightheaded and sick again, worse than before. He fought to stay on his feet, but he collapsed against the piano. That was when Stella reached him, and placed her warm hand against his forehead.

'It's okay,' she said softly. 'When you wake up everything will be clearer. Now you have to rest. It's a sleep like death, and you'll be trapped in your body, but when you wake up you'll have the power of the light. Etro will be with you.'

'I don't want…' Noctis said, but it was no good. His eyes were falling closed, and he slid to the floor unconscious.

Stella unlocked the door and straightened her dress, then she ran out into the palace to tell the staff that she'd found the missing prince. And that they'd better bring a healer.

-

If he was truthful to himself Ignis was ever so slightly jealous of Noctis. He'd wanted to sit in the audience chamber for the longest time, to find out what went on behind those closed doors where all the important decisions were made. And despite his intense study programme for gifted children, Ignis had yet to be offered a seat in the hall. But Noctis, who was several years younger than himself, was there right now. Okay so he was the prince, but still, he was far too young and undisciplined to appreciate the experience.

His tutor was reading from a textbook on the history of Altissa when someone burst into the room. Ignis looked up annoyed, but as soon as he saw who it was he dropped his pen.

'Gladio? What's wrong?' he asked, worry flooding through him as he saw the panicked expression on the young man's face.

'Prince...prince Noctis...' Gladiolus gasped between breaths. 'He collapsed again and they can't wake him up.'

Lesson abandoned, Ignis hurried after his friend through the palace. All the staff were rushing about, and tensions were high. When they saw King Regis storming through the hall with Cor at his heels they followed him, all the way up to Noctis's bedroom. There were at least a dozen people crowded around the prince's bed, most of them in healer's robes and all of them talking in hurried whispers. They turned as one when the king stormed into the room.

'Your majesty,' one began.

'What happened?' Regis demanded. 'What…oh god, Noctis…' People parted for him, clearing the way to the bed. Noctis was lying on the covers, looking small and pale. His thin chest barely rose and fell at all, and when the king reached out to touch his cheek his skin was cold as ice. 'Is he…?'

'He's alive, your majesty,' one of the healers said. 'But his vital signs are very low. I've never seen blood pressure and heart rate readings as low as his, and his temperature is under thirty degrees.'

'Speak,' the king demanded. 'What's wrong with him?'

The group exchanged worried glances. 'W-we don't know, your majesty. Nobody has ever seen anything like this.'

The king swallowed hard, then looked back at his frail son. 'Scour the medical journals. Call on our allies. Do whatever you must, but wake him up and make him well again.'

'Your majesty,' the lead healer said, bowing deeply.

The murmuring healers all left, and suddenly the room felt large again. Regis bent down and wrapped his arms around his son, pulling him close to his chest in a hug. 'How did I not notice? Cor, he seemed fine this morning.'

Cor shook his head grimly. 'You had no way of knowing, your majesty.'

'I just lost my wife, I can't…not Noctis too. I can't lose him too, Cor.'

'You won't,' Cor said. 'Perhaps the girl will have more information, though? Her mother has requested to be present for the questions, but they should be ready by now. The girl was the one to find him, perhaps she can shed some light on what happened.'

'Yes, yes of course,' Regis said distractedly, and gently set his son back against the pillows. He smoothed down the dark unruly hair then reluctantly got to his feet. When he turned around he blinked in surprise at finding his son's shadows there. He smiled. 'Would the two of you stay with him? If he wakes up please let someone know.'

'We will, your majesty,' Ignis said, inclining his head to show respect as he'd been taught.

The king nodded and finally left with his bodyguard, leaving the three friends alone. Instantly Ignis and Gladiolus hurried to Noctis's bedside to see the sleeping prince for themselves.

Gladiolus gripped Noctis's small hand tightly. 'I should have protected him better.'

'How?' Ignis asked sadly, taking Noctis's other hand. 'How can you protect him from sickness?'

'I don't know. But I should have done something more. I wasn't even there when he collapsed. I mean how long had he been lying there before he was found? If he'd got help sooner maybe he'd be awake right now.'

Ignis had no words for that, it was a distinct possibility. Instead he gently rubbed his thumb against the back of Noctis's cold hand, as depression sunk in. This was his prince, and his friend. The boy he was being trained to help. Slipping away from them. He looked dead; his skin was white as snow and his lips were pale blue. It scared Ignis more than he could admit. 'What if the last thing I ever said to him is that stupid argument?' Ignis mused aloud.

'Don't do that to yourself,' Gladiolus said. 'Besides, he's not gonna…he's tougher than that.'

'Does he look tough to you?' Ignis asked suddenly, waving his free hand at the slight boy lying deathly still.

'Strength takes many forms, that's what my teacher says,' Gladiolus said with a shrug. 'His body might not be strong yet, but he is. He'll be fighting whatever is making him sick, and we have to believe in him.'

There was a ping at the window, and the two boys jumped.

'What was that?' Gladiolus asked, already getting off the bed to go and investigate. He was halfway there when there was another ping. He pressed up against the glass and looked up, then down, and saw the source. Prompto was on the ground, getting ready to throw another rock.

'Hey!' the blonde called, waving an arm. 'Let me in?'

Gladiolus opened the window. 'Balcony?'

'Yup!' Prompto called, and began climbing up the trellis on the side of the palace wall. Noctis's room had its own balcony, and for someone as nimble as Prompto it was a fairly easy (if slightly dangerous) climb. When he neared the top Gladiolus grabbed under his arms and lifted him the rest of the way.

'Shouldn't you be in school?' Gladiolus said, leading the younger boy into the room and checking to make sure no guards had noticed them.

'School's over for the day, duh,' Prompto said. 'And since Noct wasn't there I had to come check he wasn't skipping class without me. Then I heard all this weird stuff in the town on the way over, people are saying the prince is dead? That's…I knew that wasn't right. He can't be dead, there'd be stuff all over the news and…please tell me he's not dead,' Prompto finished, a desperate tone to his voice.

Gladiolus sighed. 'He's not dead, but…well, see for yourself.' He waved a hand at the bed, where Ignis was still sat watching over the young prince.

Prompto leaped onto the bed and crawled over to the spare side, taking Noctis's free hand and invading his personal space. 'Jeez, you guys sure he's not dead? He looks…well, kind of dead. Is he actually breathing? Has anyone checked that?' Prompto leaned down check his friend's chest was rising and falling, albeit it not very much. 'What happened? I leave you two in charge of him for one day. And no offence, it's kind of your jobs.'

'There are other things we have to do,' Ignis said hotly. 'I have to study, I can't be with him all the time. I wish I could, but I can't…I couldn't protect him…'

'Not your fault,' Gladiolus reminded him. 'It's not anybody's fault. All that matters now is getting him better.'

'How do we do that?' Prompto asked.

'I have no idea. But the healers will figure it out,' Gladiolus said. 'And we'll do whatever it takes to help him.'

-

The heavy audience chamber doors slid closed, and King Regis regarded his guests carefully. The girl was young, about Noctis's age, and a delicate little thing at that. Her mother was similar in appearance but tall and striking, with a glare that shot right through him.

'Why are we here?' she asked sharply, placing a slim hand on her daughter's shoulder. 'Being treated like common criminals-'

'I assure you common criminals never set foot in my audience chamber,' Regis said, resting an elbow on the arm of his throne and running fingers through his closely cropped beard. The woman was annoying, but it was only right she was present with her daughter. 'Stella, isn't it?'

The girl looked up nervously at her name, biting her pale pink lip. 'Yes, your majesty.'

'You found my son this afternoon?'

'I did.'

'Run me through how you found him.'

She paused and looked up at her mother, who just nodded. 'Get on with it, the sooner we leave this wretched kingdom the better.'

'Well, I had gotten lost, and I was wandering around a bit, but then I saw the door to the music room was open. I thought I might like to play a little piano, I take lessons at home, but when I went inside Prince Noctis was laying on the floor. I thought he was dead and I panicked and started yelling, I'm sorry for the confusion I caused, but I really thought he was dead.'

'Yes,' Regis said, massaging his temples. Word had spread like wildfire among the servants and now half the damn kingdom thought that Prince Noctis had passed on like his mother. That was going to be a mess to clean up, there were mourners as the palace gates already. 'In your defence he is gravely ill, and the symptoms do appear similar to...but I can assure you my son is alive.'

'I'm very happy to hear that, your majesty,' Stella said, with a little curtsey.

'Get up, Stella,' her mother snapped. 'Is there anything else? My daughter had already told this to-'

'I just wonder,' Regis continued. 'What my son was doing in the music room. He had no lesson today, and my own personal guard had escorted him to his bedroom to rest. What compelled him to get up, while feeling ill, and go to the music room I wonder?' he watched Stella's reaction carefully. Her eyes betrayed her.

'I-I don't know, your majesty. Perhaps he wanted to practice?'

Her mother scoffed. 'Seems a bit odd that he'd choose that time to practice.'

'Exactly,' Regis said, surprised that even Lady Fleuret wasn't jumping to defend her daughter. 'I'll ask once more, Stella. And my dear, nobody is blaming you, and you're not going to get into any trouble. I just need to know what happened to my son, so I can help him. Stella, were you with him before he fainted?'

She swallowed hard, and shook her head.

'Really Stella, were you or weren't you? Just answer the king,' her mother hissed.

'I…we were just talking, and he fainted. I didn't do anything, I swear!'

Regis sighed in relief. 'I know you didn't, but this is very important, Stella. Did he say anything about feeling ill? About anything hurting? Did he look off colour or was he saying strange things or-'

'The light,' Stella mumbled unhappily, reaching for her mother's hand. 'We were talking about the light.'

'The light? Did he have a headache? Was he complaining of light? Could be meningitis…' Regis mused to himself.

'Oh not this again,' Lady Fleuret said suddenly. 'I apologise, your majesty, my daughter can say strange things sometimes. She has it in her head that she can see a golden light. But conveniently nobody else can see it.'

'It's true!' Stella said, pulling her hand back and glaring at her mother. 'It's all around. It’s the light of the dead and now Noctis can see it too. He's having the sleep right now.'

'The sleep?' Lady Fleuret said, then sighed. 'Stella, dear, that was a sickness you had, remember? You were ill.'

'No, it was the sleep like death, that the goddess Etro promised would give me the gift of sight.'

Lady Fleuret smiled apologetically to the king. 'Stella was taken ill a few months ago with a fever. She slipped into a coma, and ever since she calls it her sleep of death. I don't know what happened, but the healers say she was lucky to have survived. Her body almost gave up. I think she's still recovering, to be perfectly honest.'

'I'm fine, and Noctis is going through it now too. You don't believe me, but he won't wake up no matter what you do. Only when the goddess is ready to give him back, then he'll wake up. And he'll be able to see the light. Just wait and see.'

King Regis looked between the two, then up at Cor. 'I have no idea what's going on here.'

'That makes two of us,' Cor said. 'I don't think there's anything to be learned from all this, though. The girl is clearly making up stories. If she did speak to the prince before his collapse I'm not sure she'll be able to offer us any useful information.'

'I agree,' Regis said sadly, then turned to the Fleurets. 'Thank you for your time, Stella, Lady Fleuret. I'm sorry to have had to bring you here like this.'

'Quite alright,' Lady Fleuret said, taking her daughter's hand and then pulling her away to the doors. She paused, though, and turned back as a thought occurred to her. 'It was the strangest illness. Stella was ill for a couple of days with a regular fever, then her temperature dropped and she really did sleep like she was dead, for nearly two weeks. I'm not sure how your son is doing, but perhaps there's a sickness about? Good day, your majesty.'

Regis frowned as the doors closed behind her. He had more questions than he'd started with, and no way to get answers.

-

'How long can you sleep for?' Prompto asked suddenly.

'Forever. It's called being dead,' Gladiolus said.

'I know that,' Prompto said, sticking out his tongue. 'But if you're just sleeping, regular sleeping, how long can you stay asleep for?'

Ignis set down the book he had been reading (or not reading, he was too worried to study) and turned to his friends. They had a board game set out between them and were laying next to Noctis on his bed. 'Excluding those in comas, or those who take sleeping medication or other drugs, the longest recorded natural sleep was five days.'

'Well that's good, then, right?' Prompto said. 'Noct's only been asleep for three, so there are people that have gone for longer than him and survived.'

'Yes,' Ignis said, but it was in his least convincing tone ever. His gaze fell on the needle stuck in Noctis's pale, thin arm, dripping fluids intravenously into his body to keep him from dehydrating. He winced as he remembered the healer sticking it in, how painful it had looked and yet Noctis hadn't twitched at all. He was particularly glad he hadn't been there for the catheter.

'What's it like in the city?' Gladiolus asked.

'People are confused, they don't know whether the prince is dead or alive, and what they should be doing. The king did that official announcement to say he was sick, but people are still passing around rumours that Noct died and the palace just aren't ready to admit it yet.'

'He's not gonna die,' Gladiolus said, his warm amber eyes resting on Noctis. 'He's gonna be fine. I was teaching him defence techniques last week, he knows how to protect himself.'

'Against an attacker, yes,' Ignis said. 'But how do you fight off something like this?'

'I told you, strength isn't just about your body, it's your mind too. The prince will beat this. He has to.'

Another week passed, with healers from all over the kingdom being summoned to attend the young prince. Each of them tried something different, but none of them were able to revive him. King Regis began travelling to every corner of his kingdom to meet specialists, and when he wasn't out he was locked up in his study writing letters begging for foreign aid. Anything to help his son wake up.

Noctis was attended to by healers day and night, and also his three friends. Cor had stopped protesting at finding Prompto in the prince's bedroom at all hours of the day, and Ignis had even started skipping his tutoring sessions so that he could be with his friend. They either slept on the bed, or in the arm chairs beside the bed. And when they played games they'd often set a place for Noctis as if their friend might wake up and join them.

They were playing a game of poker, with Prompto teaching the other two the rules, when a healer bustled in with King Regis. Nobody had seen the King in two days; he had been travelling to Altissa and had only just returned.

'Why can't it just stay in?' Regis was saying.

'It's been so long, your majesty. We believe that a tube through his nose might be a better way of feeding him. The needle site at his elbow has become infected, it needs to be removed and he needs to be started on antibiotics or the infection could become septicaemia. His body is very weak, an infection like this could-'

'Fine. Fine, do what you have to.' The king sat down on the bed, where Gladiolus had just vacated, and took his son's hand.

'No news from Altissa?' the healer asked.

'They've never heard of anything like this either. They offered to send a healer, but I have hundreds myself. Nobody knows what to do.'

'Perhaps Tenebrae?' the healer suggested. 'You mentioned the girl was in a coma for two weeks. Perhaps their healers can help?'

Regis sighed. The tensions between the two nations were high, but if it meant saving his son then he'd do anything. He stood up, casting a pained look at the boy before leaving. 'I'll draft a letter to them, they might know something. Someone must know something.'

The doors closed and the room was silent again. The three boys collected the playing cards and relocated back to the bed. Nobody dealt the cards.

Ignis shuffled up to Noctis's right arm, where the needle punctured the skin. There was a strip of white tape holding it steady, but the skin was red and slightly raised, clearly infected. Ignis gently touched his fingers to the skin, relishing the warmth. It was the only part of Noctis that was warm anymore; his temperature had been steadily dropping every day.

'What do they mean, a tube through the nose?' Prompto asked, in a small voice.

'For feeding and for medication,' Ignis said. 'The tube goes through his nose down into his stomach.'

Prompto screwed up his face, and felt like he was going to throw up. 'Won't that hurt?'

'He won't feel anything,' Ignis said. 'I wish he would, but he's too far gone for that. If the healers think it's for the best then they need to do it. Look how thin he's getting. He's not going to last much longer.'

'Muscle loss, because he's just lying around,' Gladiolus said.

'Partly,' Ignis agreed. 'But this might be for the best. Anything they can do to help him.'

'What's the good of looking healthy if he's still asleep, though?' Prompto asked. 'They need to worry about waking him up, I'd say. I hate seeing him like this. He needs to wake up. What if he never wakes up?' Prompto's voice cracked as the situation hit him hard.

Nobody knew what to say to that. So they dealt another round of poker and tried not to think about what might or might not happen. The thought of losing their friend was too much to bear.

-

The healers inserted the nasogastric tube. Ignis watched them do it. He forced himself to watch, taking mental notes and telling himself he was studying. But really he wanted to be there to hold Noctis's hand, just in case the small boy could feel it. He knew that he wouldn't want to be alone if he was going through that. Noctis's arm was bandaged up at the needle site, and they started him on a course of antibiotics for the infection. When his urine started running red they gave him antibiotics for a urine infection too. And when his chest became rattly they added another antibiotic to the cocktail for a chest infection. The healers started talking in hushed whispers after that, saying that the prince's body was shutting down. That Noctis's body was finally giving up on him. It certainly looked like it was giving up; the prince was reed thin, and pale as death.

His three friends were sat on his bed as usual, each of them tired beyond belief from the vigil they had been keeping for over two weeks. Their hearts hurt as they watched Noctis struggle for each shallow breath, and every time the prince paused in his breathing there was the panic that it had been his last.

The door to the bedroom opened, and slow footsteps made their way to the bed. 'You should all go back to your homes and get some sleep,' King Regis said solemnly.

'Have you received word back from Tenebrae yet?' Ignis asked.

The king swallowed hard, tears forming in the corner of his eyes. 'They apologised, but they were unable to offer any help. They say the Fleuret girl simply woke up on her own when she was ready.'

Ignis brightened slightly 'Maybe Prince Noctis-'

'Prince Noctis is dying,' Regis said bluntly. 'The healers think that he won't survive the night. I am very grateful for the friendship you have shown by staying with him and caring for him through this ordeal, but I don't think this is something you should have to witness. Watching someone you love die is something that stays with you until the end of your days.'

Ignis wanted to protest, but Noctis looked so ill. It was scary seeing him struggle to cling to life, and when he finally let go Ignis wasn't sure he'd be able to keep himself together. And if he couldn't then he knew that Prompto would be in pieces. Gladiolus would put on a brave front, but the older boy would be scarred too; Noctis was a younger brother to him, a best friend.

'Perhaps we should leave the king with the prince,' Ignis finally said.

'No,' Prompto said, frowning and taking Noctis's hand. 'He wouldn't leave us.'

'This isn't a game, Prom,' Ignis said, his voice quivering.

'I know that,' Prompto said harshly. 'But this is Noct. If he is gonna…well, I want to be there with him.'

'Prom…' Ignis said, but in truth he didn't want to go either. As much as it was going to hurt, not being there would hurt more. 'Your majesty, could we possibly-'

'Whoa!' Prompto said, jumping back on the bed.

'What's wrong?' the king asked.

'His hand,' Prompto said, excitement in his voice. 'I swear, his hand just twitched in mine.'

Ignis shook his head. 'It could have been your hand. An involuntary muscle spasm that you thought originated from-'

'There again!' Prompto said, a smile starting to form on his lips. 'It's not me, I promise. Look, hold his hand.'

Prompto let go, and allowed King Regis to take Noctis's hand. Ignis took the other, and Gladiolus placed his hand on top of his. For a second nobody dared breathe, then they all felt it. The spasm that jerked Noctis's arms. It was stronger that time, and his whole body twitched.

'Well something's happening,' Regis said. 'Is it a good thing?'

'He's moving, that's good, right?' Prompto said.

'Involuntary twitching,' Ignis said. 'It could be an end of life sign. I think we need the healers.'

Gladiolus ran off to do just that, and seconds later the room was filled with men and women in white robes, fussing over the sleeping prince. One of them turned to the king, and when she did her face was lit up. 'Your majesty, I believe he's waking up. The gods have answered our prayers.'

The king sat down heavily on a chair, unable to believe what was happening. When he saw through the bodies that Noctis was starting to move more noticeably he ushered them away. Though he didn't mind the three boys watching.

'Noct?' he asked gently, shaking his son's shoulder. 'Can you hear me?'

Noctis groaned, and his dry, chapped lips parted slightly. 'Mum?' he whispered.

A stab of pain shot through the king's heart, but he tried to be strong, and gently smoothed his son's hair. 'No, it's me, Noct. Come on, open your eyes for me.'

Unable to disobey, Noctis's eyes fluttered open briefly. Dazed blue eyes searched the room, taking in the blurry figures of his three friends watching him anxiously, and then his father. His hand moved slowly and weakly, and he tugged gently at the annoying thing in his nose, until his father pushed his hand away.

'No, you need to leave that in. I'll get someone to remove it properly for you now that you're awake.' The king laughed, and a smile split his face. 'You're really awake.'

'Etro said I could wake up,' Noctis said simply, then his eyes fell closed again and he fell into a proper sleep.

-

It was another week before Noctis was able to get out of bed, but slowly he began to get better and was able to return to school and training.

But he didn't tell anyone about the light. Or the fact that he was sure he could see his mother's face if he looked at it closely enough.