There was a sterile antiseptic smell to the spotless white corridors that went on forever within the large Alpha Fuchsia Hospital ship that Leonardo had called to orbit around Marakaran.
Gwen held onto Erden's hand as she walked through the hallway that was to take her to the suite that Fatima had been admitted to.
Immediately upon entry into Marakaran space, she and Erden had taken a transport pod directly to the hospital ship, leaving Lyra and Süren to join the rest of the royal family down on Marakaran.
She desperately needed to check on her sister consort to see if there was anything she could possibly do for Fatima.
Sensing her distress, Erden gave her hand a gentle squeeze and breathed softly into her ear.
"It's okay Darling. I'm right here with you."
She nodded, feeling bolstered by his presence.
It was such a new and unusual feeling.
All those years married to Rex, she was alone most of the time. He only sought her out when he needed her or when he wanted her to join some group event. For the most part, she was alone, even for very important situations and occasions.
Being with Erden meant she didn't have to walk alone, even to a stark and miserable place like this. She never had to ask him to be with her and he never even asked if she needed him.
He was just there, a rock-steady presence beside her as she moved forward into the hospital room where Fatima was admitted.
The door to her room was wide open. Gwendolyn peeked in and saw a small frail woman lying on the hospital bed covered by a white hospital blanket.
Her eyes were closed and her long green hair had been bundled up inside a white surgical cap to keep it neat and away from the trauma wound.
All around her were various monitors and gadgets that she was hooked up to.
At first glance, there was nothing that seemed out of the ordinary. She was still the same Fatima that Gwendolyn had known for years.
As she moved in closer to Fatima, she could see more of her face. Her eyes were closed and nothing was obstructing her breathing, but it was shallow and fluttery, like a bird's breath.
There was a lot of swelling on her face, so much so that her normally frail thin visage looked fat and distorted.
A large silicone gel sheet was holding a skin graft that covered her entire left cheek, extending all the way past her jaw, partially down to her neckline.
Gwendolyn's eyes teared and heart ached for Fatima. This beautiful woman had been completely devastated.
She was so badly injured, and yet at the moment, she was all alone with her pain and suffering.
Her children had visited of course, but they had a wedding to organize. They could not stop the proceedings even if they wanted to, due to the highly political nature of such an event.
To some extent, Gwendolyn could understand what Fatima was going through. They were both sister-consorts of the same husband-family and had endured the same kind of life.
But it wasn't as bad for Gwen.
Similar to Theodora, Clarissa, and Anastasia, Gwendolyn had been an Avgo Female.
This was not true when it came to Fatima. She was just an ordinary Royal Consort, married into the palace purely for political reasons.
That and because Fatima was quite beautiful.
Of all the Royal Consorts, Fatima was at the bottom rung for daring to be ordinary in a world where the females who surrounded the Emperor were extraordinary.
The only thing she had going for her was that of the five wives who surrounded the Emperor, she was one of the most beautiful.
Her beauty was now gone.
"Mother Gwen." A voice sounded by the doorway.
Gwendolyn turned to the sound and was immediately crushed into a hug by strong arms.
"Oh Leo," Gwen sniffed, unable to hold back her tears. "What in the world is going on with Rex?"
Leonardo pulled back with a sigh.
"Father lost control when he saw Ariana turn into a mermaid. Mother Fatima was an easy target so she took the brunt of his anger."
Leonardo shook his head with sorrow. He pulled a chair towards Fatima's bedside and took Gwendolyn's hand.
"Have a seat, Mother Gwen." He ushered her onto the chair. "Mother Fatima is awake. She is on a lot of pain medication but she can hear you."
He took hold of Fatima's hand and placed it in Gwendolyn's hand.
"One squeeze means yes. Two squeezes mean no."
He turned to Fatima.
"Mother Fatima. Can you hear me?"
Fatima's hand squeezed once.
Gwendolyn felt the squeeze and began crying.
Beside her, Erden said nothing, simply wiped her tears with a handkerchief.
"Mother Fatima, are you in any pain?"
Fatima squeezed twice. No pain.
"Good, good. Mother Gwen is here to see you."
Another single squeeze.
Leonardo turned back to Gwen. "I'll leave you alone with her for about ten or fifteen minutes. I'm sorry but that's as much as I can give you because we are prepping her for surgery."
Gwendolyn nodded. She turned back to Fatima.
"Sweetheart. It's me Gwen. Can you hear me?"
Fatima squeezed once.
"Good. Good. I know I left for awhile, but I'm back now and I'm here for you honey."
One more squeeze from Fatima.
"Fatima. What Rex did to you, it's just so terrible, I can't even begin to tell you how horrified I feel." Gwendolyn began to cry again.
"You know you don't have to stay with him."
Fatima squeezed her hand again.
"You must also protect your little girl, Fatima. The way he reacted when he saw Ariana transform into a mermaid…she cannot remain with him. Take her with you and come stay with me."
For a moment, Fatima was still.
And then a tear rolled down the side of her face that was perfect and beautiful.
And with every ounce of bravery that was within her, she squeezed Gwendolyn's hand one more time.