Elemental Kingdom

"It's still unpleasant when the person you consider a close friend actually despises you."

Delilah smiled at Ethan, reaching absently out of the bed towards him.

Ethan got to her.

"I know."

Delilah gently scooped him up and sat him on her lap.

Nathan just shrugged silently.

She slid her arms around him.

Ethan stayed close to her.

Nathan sighed before murmuring, "I can't stay long. But you can't leave this room until I'm back, okay? I shouldn't be more than an hour."

Delilah ran her fingers gently through his hair.

Ethan played with her dress.

"Where are you going?"

Delilah smiled softly as she watched him.

"To kill any co-conspirators and to root out any more people who's intent is to cause you or Delilah harm."

"Nathan, it's late, can't that wait until the morning?"

Ethan watched her dress.

"I'm not leaving you vulnerable during the night, I'm getting rid of the threat now."

"Do you like it?" Delilah hummed softly.

He nodded. "It's pretty." He suddenly stopped and he suddenly fell limp from her lap, a wond suddenly in his back.

She sighed, before she tensed hearing something and she looked back at Ethan, tensing and freezing as she watched him fall to the floor.

Delilah went completely still, eyes wide and on Nathan's face as she whispered, "It wasn't me."

"Delilah..."

"It wasn't me, Nathan, I promise, it wasn't m - "

"Delilah!" With his sudden snap the room completely froze over and Delilah shut her mouth quickly, back stiffening as she sat up straight, breaths coming out quick and panicked.

"I don't think that they were even aiming for Ethan." Garnet whispered. "Delilah, that was aimed for you."

"It wouldn't surprise me, I'm an easy target and unimportant enough not to be missed if - " she cut off with a gurgle because Nathan had strode across the room and gripped her tightly by the throat, teeth bared in a silent snarl as ice crackled around his fingertips. Since Ethan had been on her lap when harmed, Nathan had automatically pinned the blame on her.

"Nathan stop it." Garnet told him and she gently picked Ethan up from where he had slid off Delilah's lap and despite what had happened to him burning her own hands, she managed to heal him.

"They were aiming for her." Nathan snarled, hand tightening as Delilah wheezed, trying to breathe. "Therefore it's her fucking fault he was hurt!"

"Nathan, stop it and help me get him to the hospital wing."

"I'll take him. You aren't leaving this goddamn room and I'm locking the door with ice. Nobody is getting in without my permission because nobody else is getting hurt under my watch."

"Natan wouldn't it be best to move rooms?" Snow asked them as she walked in.

"No. I can ward the room, they'll be fine."

"Do it cleanly," Delilah whispered, voice hoarse from being choked. "If you use the Taint, standing in this room will slowly kill Garnet."

"I'm not stupid enough to use it willingly Delilah," Nathan replied sharply, sounding disgusted.

"Guys just sop." Garnet told them. "It isn't worth argueing about."

"She let my son get hurt Garnet. You should be angry at her too."

Delilah gave an angry breath, unable to make much more noise than that before she stumbled out of bed and walked towards the door. "They're after me," she muttered, voice still hoarse. "If it'll make you happy I'll walk out and give them a target."

"At least you'll be useful," Nathan retorted, not really thinking about what he was saying and Delilah flinched so violently, she looked as if she'd been physically hit. She swallowed quickly and tilted her head back to avoid crying as she quickly rushed towards the door, darting into the corridor and running barefoot down the hallway before she could be stopped.

"Our son." She corrected. "I'm not angry at her Nathan, because like me and you she didn't know that he was going to get hurt." She walked to the door. "So if you don't mind, I'm going to stop your sister from comminiting an act of suicide."

"You're going to stay in here and sit down so you don't get hurt." Nathan grabbed her arm gently and pushed her onto the bed. "You'll stay here with Ethan and look after him, and I'll find Delilah and tell her to stop being so stupid."

---

Delilah stumbled down the corridor, rubbing the bruises on her throat she'd been given by Nathan as she silently cried.

"No Nathan, I'm going to find your sister." She got out of his grip and she walked off to find Delilah.
_________

Ethan stirred in his father's arms, but didn't wake up.

Nathan set Ethan on the bed with a pointed look to Snow before he quickly followed Garnet, grabbing her by the shoulders and twisting her around to pin her against the wall with his body. "I'm trying to keep you alive. Just this once, for one night, just listen to me. Please."

---

Delilah made her way to the garden, only wincing briefly as she stepped onto the path barefooted - she'd stormed out without any shoes because of her outrage and upset, and was dressed in only a flimsy nightdress. Making her way to a bench by the fountain, she collapsed onto it and sobbed into her hands.