Xander rushes over to her.
"Bluebie, oh my oak, are you okay? What's wrong?" Her vomit is disgusting and streaked with red blood. She looks up at him in alarm and pushes him away, coughing.
"I'm fine, I just ate something bad, I'm fine…" she manages. After several more coughing fits, Xander finally manages to get her back inside, where he gives her water and lays her down in her bed.
"How did things go with Elise's father?" she asks, smiling weakly. Xander huffs.
"He said no, but that's not important right now. You were just vomiting blood out there, Bluebs. That doesn't happen with just some bad food. What's really going on?" he asks, trying not to sound demanding. Bluebie only shakes her head.
"Nothing, nothing, I'm just a little sick, is all," she says. Xander pushes just a bit further.
"What kind of sick?"
"I don't know," she says, not meeting his eyes. Xander knows that she's lying and that she does know what kind of sick it is, but he decides not to interrogate her any further today. He resolves to ask her again tomorrow.
However, Bluebie does not answer his question the next day, the day after that, or even the day after that. After the first week or so, Bluebie even begins to get angry when he brings it up. So, he stops. But it gets harder and harder not to ask. As the weeks pass, Bluebie gets weaker and is eventually confined to her bed, too weak to even stand. Xander stops going to see Elise so that he can stay home and take care of Bluebie. Eventually, after two months, she finally gives up and tells Xander what type of sickness she has.
"I'm not sure what caused it, but I think I have a case of Internal Havoc. In short, my insides aren't working properly. As far as I know, it's mostly fatal." Xander is stony-faced.
"You said mostly. How do you cure it?" he asks, anxiety building in his throat. Bluebie closes her eyes and shakes her head, but when Xander repeats the question, she answers him.
"The only way is to go before the Faerie Council and ask for the cure. They are generally heartless and unforgiving, but they are the only ones who have it and are occasionally known to show generosity. Either way, you can't go, I forbid it. The road to the faerie kingdom is far too dangerous for you, even if you knew how to get there. I won't have you risking your life just so I can get a couple more years. It's not worth it, baby," she pleads, but she recognizes the look on Xander's face; the look of set determination. She immediately regrets telling him.
"It's set then," he says quietly, "I leave in the morning." he gets up and walks to the door shakily, turning to shut it behind him. Before closing it, he says,
"You couldn't stop me if you tried."
The next morning, Xander is awake before the sun. Bluebie lays in her bed, shivering in her sleep. He begins to gather things from around their cabin to use as supplies. Clothes, food, water, small charms and useful potions. With a start, however, he realizes that while he's gone, no one will be there to care for Bluebie, who is entirely bedridden. Scrambling, he goes to his saving bucket and quickly counts out his money. After thinking it over, he decides that he has enough from his chores that he'll be able to pay Elise to visit. They liked each other and Elise was likely the only one in the village that knew how to get to their cabin. The issue, however, would be coming up with an excuse to leave for so long each day without her dad discovering that she was going to visit 'the witch'. Quickly, he gathers the rest of his things and sets out for the village as the sun begins to rise.
Elise's mother opens the door groggily. She'd never been particularly fond of Xander, but she certainly didn't hate him as her husband did.
"Please, Mrs. Sherwood, may I speak to Elise? Only for a moment, I won't take her anywhere," he asks, his voice hushed. She squints at him in the rising sunlight, then nods. She disappears into the darkness of her house, and a moment later, Elise stands in front of him, rubbing her eyes.
"What is it?" She asks, yawning.
"Elise, please listen. This is extremely important," he whispers, "I need you to do something for me, please." She furrows her eyebrows for a moment.
"Why should I help you if you've been avoiding me and haven't spoken to me in weeks? I thought you'd found someone else," she says, crossing her arms. Xander sighs and holds her soft cheeks in his hands.
"Elise, darling, Bluebie is very sick. She has been for a while and I've been taking care of her. I'm sorry I haven't been to see you as much, but trust me, I missed you so much." Elise's eyes soften and she nods slowly.
"Please, I need you to go take care of Bluebie now. I'm going somewhere to find medicine and hopefully a cure for her, but she has no one left. Please, I'll pay you to do it," he pleads. Elise watches him carefully, as if studying him.
"I'll be back before you know it, and we shall be wed," he adds. At that, a small smile climbs onto her face.
"Fine," she whispers, "I'll take care of Bluebie for you. I did always like her anyway. And you don't need to pay me."
Xander sighs in relief. Quickly, he kisses her forehead, eyelids, cheeks, and finally pecks her lips.
"Thank you so much, darling. I'll be back soon," he says, and sets off into the forest.