As we hurried through the palace corridors towards the medical wing, my mind raced with a thousand questions. Who was this woman, and why had she fainted so suddenly in the garden?
Clutching her limp form in my arms, I could feel her shallow breaths against my chest, her heartbeat fluttering like a delicate bird. A deep sense of worry gnawed at me - I had to ensure her safety, no matter the cost.
Reaching the infirmary, I gently laid her down on a bed, the physicians immediately rushing to her side. "What happened?" one of them demanded, already checking her pulse.
"I found her in the garden, she simply collapsed," I explained, my voice taut with concern. "Please, you must tend to her quickly."
The physicians nodded and set to work, their skilled hands moving with practiced efficiency. I hovered nearby, watching anxiously as they examined her, muttering instructions to one another.
Finally, the head physician turned to me, his brow furrowed. "My lord, I...I'm afraid I cannot determine the cause of her condition. There seems to be nothing physically wrong with her, yet she remains unconscious."
I felt a cold dread settle in the pit of my stomach. "What do you mean? Surely there must be something you can do?"
The physician shook his head helplessly. "I'm sorry, but my healing abilities seem to have no effect. It's as if...as if her very life force is being drained from her."
Narrowing my eyes, I stepped closer to the bed, reaching out with my own powers. As a member of the royal family, I had been blessed with the gift of healing - a rare and coveted ability. If anyone could help this woman, it would be me.
Concentrating, I willed my energy to flow into her, seeking out the source of her malady. But to my horror, I felt my power rebuffed, as if an unseen barrier had erected itself around her.
"Impossible," I murmured, brow furrowing in confusion. I had never encountered such a thing before - my healing abilities had always proven effective, no matter the affliction.
Yet here I was, powerless to aid this woman who had so captivated me. Frustration and helplessness warred within me as I stared down at her motionless form.
"Keep trying," I commanded the physicians, my tone brooking no argument. "There must be something we're missing. I will not accept defeat, not when her life hangs in the balance."
The doctors nodded mutely, redoubling their efforts as I stepped back, my mind whirring. What dark forces were at play here? And why did this woman seem immune to my healing powers?
I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening with determination. Whoever she was, and whatever mysteries surrounded her, I would uncover the truth. I would not rest until I had found a way to save her.
For in that moment, as I watched her fight for each breath, I knew that her fate had become inextricably linked to my own. And I would move heaven and earth to ensure her survival.