No one expected those to be his last steps, for the following week had been a dire one with fever and seizures. The fragile boy, who was already lean and thin, was reduced to barely skin and bones.
More than once, it seemed as though he was about to draw his last breath. His surviving the whole week was a feat in and of itself.
When the fever subsided at last, he was too weak to walk on his own legs anymore and was prohibited from even trying not to strain himself further.
It wasn't that they didn't expect it. Just, not that quickly.
His situation was getting worse, and quite fast.
Murmurs broke in every corner of the castle, that he didn't have long to live.
Zarqa covered her ears every time she overheard those whispered talks, not wanting to ponder much about it. But unfortunately, she couldn't cover her eyes from the state Arslan was getting to.
