"Lizzie!" At some points, Lizzie could hear Ben's voice just barely coming through, like she was underwater, and then it would come out so loudly and sharply it would hurt her ears. She kept trying to tell him that she was all right, that she just needed to rest for a moment, but no words would come out of her mouth. Then Ben started to yell another name, but by then Lizzie was back to feeling like she was underwater and couldn't make out who he was calling for. Everything became clear for a moment. She had somehow ended up in Ben's arms and she could hear him crying, saying "Don't leave me. Elizabeth? Don't leave me," and then everything went dark.
Almost right after Lizzie passed out, the physician came to the room and he and Ben carried Lizzie to the bedroom. The doctor had run numerous tests and he predicted that it was a disease she must have picked up while visiting Andalasia last month. What confused Lizzie was why it had taken so long for it to set in but the doctor explained that it could take weeks for it to actually become present, but during the time it was taking to show symptoms it was slowly attacking your body. He also said that there was a higher chance of her contracting it since her immune system was down due to pregnancy. The news that scared Lizzie the most was that, there was a low chance that one of them let alone both her and the baby would survive. After being sick for two weeks there was no sign of improvement in Lizzie and she was only getting worse. Since she felt so weak and tired she mainly just slept most of the days. Ben, faithful as ever, never left her side and the kingdom was in mourning. After awhile Lizzie decided to just accept death. It was either her or the baby and she wanted her precious child to live. Now if only she could stay strong until it was time. In the mean time Lizzie just slept and rested . The doctor was giving her special herbs to help her sleep. Her dreams were all some of her favorite moments as child.
"Come out, come out wherever you are..." This was one of Lizzie's favorite memories. Her mother had yelled at her after messing up something stupid when a royal dignitary had come to visit. Lizzie ran out crying and was hiding behind a large oak tree when her father came to find her. Hide and seek was Lizzie's favorite game. She peeked behind the tree and someone grabbed her. After she and her father stopped laughing he said, "Now what's wrong buttercup?" and he told her what he told her every time her mother was mean to her. Then her dream changed to the day of their wedding.
"Lizzie I promise to always, love you until the day I die," Ben said looking into Lizzie's eyes. They got lost in each others eyes until they heard the priest say "You may now kiss the bride," and then they kissed. The next part of her dream was a montage of all that Ben and Lizzie had done together in the past year. The reunion they had after they thought they lost each other. The horseback and boat rides. The walks through the courtyard and town. Those secret looks they gave each other at royal functions and at James and Cornelia's wedding just last month. Then Lizzie saw an image of her right before she left Ben to go to her father. She knew that she had loved Ben, but she had to go back to her father and that was one of the most heartbreaking things she ever had to do.
Lizzie woke up with a coughing fit. Faithful as ever, Ben was still holding her hand and by her side. She gave him a small smile but she felt so weak that he wasn't convinced. She cleared her throat and started "Ben, I..." she choked on her words but then pulled herself together. "You have to remember... You can mourn for me after I 'm gone, but not for too long. I don't want to waste your time crying that I'm gone. I want you to be happy for the time we had together and the happy times that are going to come for you," and then she smiled, this time a real one. "Remember when we first met?" she whispered. "That first day it was so magical. I want to thank you for making me feel... so special. I love you." Ben's eyes started to tear up and Lizzie fell asleep again.
Almost right after Lizzie passed out, the physician came to the room and he and Ben carried Lizzie to the bedroom. The doctor had run numerous tests and he predicted that it was a disease she must have picked up while visiting Andalasia last month. What confused Lizzie was why it had taken so long for it to set in but the doctor explained that it could take weeks for it to actually become present, but during the time it was taking to show symptoms it was slowly attacking your body. He also said that there was a higher chance of her contracting it since her immune system was down due to pregnancy. The news that scared Lizzie the most was that, there was a low chance that one of them let alone both her and the baby would survive. After being sick for two weeks there was no sign of improvement in Lizzie and she was only getting worse. Since she felt so weak and tired she mainly just slept most of the days. Ben, faithful as ever, never left her side and the kingdom was in mourning. After awhile Lizzie decided to just accept death. It was either her or the baby and she wanted her precious child to live. Now if only she could stay strong until it was time. In the mean time Lizzie just slept and rested . The doctor was giving her special herbs to help her sleep. Her dreams were all some of her favorite moments as child.
"Come out, come out wherever you are..." This was one of Lizzie's favorite memories. Her mother had yelled at her after messing up something stupid when a royal dignitary had come to visit. Lizzie ran out crying and was hiding behind a large oak tree when her father came to find her. Hide and seek was Lizzie's favorite game. She peeked behind the tree and someone grabbed her. After she and her father stopped laughing he said, "Now what's wrong buttercup?" and he told her what he told her every time her mother was mean to her. Then her dream changed to the day of their wedding.
"Lizzie I promise to always, love you until the day I die," Ben said looking into Lizzie's eyes. They got lost in each others eyes until they heard the priest say "You may now kiss the bride," and then they kissed. The next part of her dream was a montage of all that Ben and Lizzie had done together in the past year. The reunion they had after they thought they lost each other. The horseback and boat rides. The walks through the courtyard and town. Those secret looks they gave each other at royal functions and at James and Cornelia's wedding just last month. Then Lizzie saw an image of her right before she left Ben to go to her father. She knew that she had loved Ben, but she had to go back to her father and that was one of the most heartbreaking things she ever had to do.
Lizzie woke up with a coughing fit. Faithful as ever, Ben was still holding her hand and by her side. She gave him a small smile but she felt so weak that he wasn't convinced. She cleared her throat and started "Ben, I..." she choked on her words but then pulled herself together. "You have to remember... You can mourn for me after I 'm gone, but not for too long. I don't want to waste your time crying that I'm gone. I want you to be happy for the time we had together and the happy times that are going to come for you," and then she smiled, this time a real one. "Remember when we first met?" she whispered. "That first day it was so magical. I want to thank you for making me feel... so special. I love you." Ben's eyes started to tear up and Lizzie fell asleep again.
