Chapter Text
He held up the perfect red apple, admiring how the light seemed to caress it. It had been easier than he thought it would be. He was now one step closer to where he really wanted to be. Where he deserved to be! If only that upstart pretty boy hadn’t gotten in his way. At times like these, fate needed a helping hand. He was more than willing to lend his aid. Soon he would be the one wearing the crown.
“When he breaks the tender peel to taste the apple in my hand, his breath will still, his blood congeal. Then I’ll be fairest in the land!” He wasn’t sure where the words had come from, but they felt right. It felt like destiny. All that was left now was to set the trap…and wait for the prey.
✦ ✧ ✦ ✧ ✦
It wasn’t unusual for Rook to disappear into the woods to go hunting and be gone for an entire weekend if he didn’t have anything else to demand his attention. What was unusual, and rather worrying, was that he wasn’t back early, as was his habit, for a meeting he had scheduled with his Housewarden. Vil had made sure to remind Rook before he left the previous Friday evening to be back and cleaned up before their meeting early Sunday evening. The huntsman had readily agreed. Everything was as it had always been. But now it was an hour and a half after the agreed upon meeting time and Rook was nowhere to be found. Having checked everywhere else in the dorm he could think of, Vil headed towards Rook’s room in search of him. He’d avoided going to his room because it was really his last hope.
“Rook? Are you there?” Vil called through the door as he knocked. He was greeted by silence. He’d expected that, of course, but it didn’t ease his concern at all. Vil had a bad feeling that he needed to get to Rook as soon as possible. After a moment of internal debate, Vil went to his room and changed into something more suitable to go traipsing through a forest in. After he deemed himself ready, he headed out of the dorm as quickly as he could. On his way out, he told a passing student to fetch a professor, any professor, without mentioning why specifically.
He went straight to the edge of the woods surrounding the Pomefiore dorm, searching for anything that might lead him to Rook’s whereabouts. What Vil didn’t expect was for an incredibly large stag to suddenly leap out of the tree line. Briefly startled, Vil jumped back and reached for his magic pen. The massive creature stared at Vil intently, but stood very still. Only then did he recognize the stag. Rook had met the stately animal some weeks earlier and the two had started a game of hunter and prey. Rook would hunt for the stag, who in turn tried to keep away from the hunter. Rook had no intention of actually harming his new friend. It was all in good fun. Seeing the animal here now, when Rook was last seen entering the woods for a hunt, made Vil even more certain that some misfortune had found Rook.
“Please, tell me you know where Rook is.” Vil practically begged the stag, who nodded his great head vigorously, huffing and stamping his hooves as if to tell Vil to hurry. “Can you lead me to him?” Again, the beast nodded and turned back to the woods, glancing to be sure that Vil was following. The Housewarden was relieved that he wouldn’t be going into his search blind. Looking for one hunter in the forest surrounding the dorm would be daunting. The two made steady but slow progress through the trees and underbrush until the stag stopped and let out a low mournful bellow. Vil hurried around where the animal stood and saw a sight that he knew would haunt him for the rest of his life. He had found Rook.
The hunter was sitting, leaning back against a tree, eyes closed as if he was simply asleep. His pack was opened next to him and Vil could see the simple rations Rook favored inside. At first glance, nothing seemed amiss. But a splash of lurid red amongst the soft greens and browns of the forest drew Vil’s eye. Just past the fingertips of Rook’s right hand, as if he’d simply dropped it, was an apple missing only a single bite.
It couldn’t be… Vil thought in dawning horror. He crept closer, hoping against all odds that Rook would wake, but the huntsman didn't stir. A trembling hand reached for Rook’s wrist and felt for a pulse. At first, Vil couldn’t find one and he could feel the tears welling up in his eyes, blurring his vision. There was no way Rook was dead. After unintentionally holding his breath, Vil found a weak pulse under his fingertips. He blinked away the tears and could faintly make out the slightest rise and fall of Rook’s chest as he breathed. Barely. The breaths were dangerously shallow. The realization snapped Vil out of his almost panic. He could get emotional and panicky later, right now he needed to act.
He needed to get Rook out of the forest as quickly as possible. Vil carefully wrapped the apple in a bag he found in Rook’s pack and zipped the whole thing closed. After throwing the pack onto his own back, Vil carefully gathered the prone hunter into his arms. Gently placing Rook’s head against his shoulder, Vil realized that the hunter’s skin was cool to the touch. But he didn't have time to dwell on that at the moment. The stag seemed to realize that Vil was wanting to leave and starting leading him back out of the forest. Just as they broke through the tree line, Vil saw Professor Crewel, walking towards the dormitory.
“Professor!” He called, nerves quickly becoming more and more frayed. His guess about what had happened was all but a certainty now. Rook hadn't stirred even a tiny bit, despite the inevitable jostling that came with being carried through a forest. Crewel’s eyes went wide when he saw them and he hurried towards the pair. He spared a brief glance at the massive stag still standing nearby.
“What happened?!” He asked once he reached them. He didn't wait for answers before he started looking Rook over. He didn't like what he found. Rook was barely alive.
“I don’t know for sure. I realized he was late coming back. He’s almost never late. When I went to search for him, the stag led me to where he was. I found him like this.” Vil answered. “But, I found something else, too. Let’s get Rook to his room and I’ll show you.” Crewel nodded and they carefully and quietly made it to Rook’s room. Once the hunter was settled on his bed, Vil brought out the apple he had found and showed it to the potions master. Crewel stared at the offending fruit and came to a sudden and inescapable understanding.
“You know what this is, don’t you?” Crewel asked. Vil nodded miserably, but didn't speak. “I’ll assume you haven’t checked to see if your vial is missing yet. While I look him over more thoroughly, I want you to check and make sure. I also want you to send someone for the Headmage, but don’t tell them why. If this was deliberate, we don’t want to alert the culprit.” Not quite trusting his voice, Vil nodded and left quickly.
While the Housewarden was gone, Crewel checked Rook over thoroughly. He found exactly the same things that Vil had earlier. Rook’s pulse was weak and his breathing shallow. His body temperature was dangerously low and nothing could stir him in the slightest. He wasn't dead, but he almost might as well have been. Crewel had just finished his examination when Vil re-entered the room. The professor looked up and saw the ornate vial in Vil’s hand. Just as he’d suspected, it was empty.
“So…that’s where they got it.” He muttered. “A small comfort though it may be, at least we know exactly what happened. Even if, as of right now, we have no way to wake him.” The tears that Vil had been holding back since he found Rook threatened once more to spill down his cheeks at Crewel’s words. He knew it was true, but hearing it out loud made it more real somehow. A knock on the door interrupted what Crewel had been about to say next. The door opened to reveal Headmage Crowley on the other side.
“Come in, Headmage.” Crewel said. After the door had been closed behind him, Crowley stood quietly and waited for an explanation. Vil explained again how he had found Rook and about the empty vial…that had once contained the Beautiful Queen’s most favored poison, Sleeping Death. The very one that Vil had made to earn the title of Housewarden. They explained what they knew to Crowley, who nodded thoughtfully.
“So, you believe your vial of Sleeping Death has been used on this apple and that Rook has fallen victim to it.” Crowley summed up. “Do we have any idea where this apple came from? It doesn’t look like one from the cafeteria.”
“Epel’s family has an orchard and they regularly send fruit, juice, and other products to him. That is just one of many apples from their orchard that has made its way to Pomefiore.” Vil answered, his reddened eyes fixed on the hunter’s motionless form. “Rook could’ve easily grabbed it from just about anywhere on his way out on Friday. He likes to supplement his dried rations with fresh fruits and vegetables if he can.” The two teachers processed this before Crewel spoke up.
“We’ll need to find out exactly where Rook got this particular apple and from there, whether or not it was meant for him or someone else. Since we know the poison’s source, I believe we can rule out this being an accident.” Crewel turned to Crowley. “I also believe it would be prudent to keep Rook’s true condition from the student body. We should, of course, notify his family, but the students should be told only that he is sick and shouldn't have visitors. He can stay here under Vil’s care instead of the infirmary. Do you agree?” Crowley nodded, another thought coming to him suddenly.
“I have a suggestion to add to that. The students in the Ramshackle House have surpassed expectations in the past with investigations I have had them assist with. Todd and Grim could look into the source of the poisonous apple and Rena could help Vil, since he is without his Vice Housewarden right now.” The Headmage offered. After seeing the look on Vil’s face, Crowley quickly clarified what he meant. “Don’t think of Rena as a replacement for Rook. Only a temporary stand-in.” Despite his dislike of the idea of anyone, even Rena whom he liked well enough, temporarily in Rook’s place, Vil could see that it made logical sense. He reluctantly agreed.
Soon after that, Crewel and Crowley left to take care of informing Rook’s family and the student body while Vil was left alone with the slumbering hunter. The adrenaline of finding his friend’s seemingly lifeless body had long since worn off and the weight of guilt, knowing that it was his poison that was used, was almost suffocating. Vil pulled out Rook’s desk chair and all but collapsed into it. He dreaded having to explain everything all over again once Rena arrived. Was she coming tonight? Or tomorrow? Vil couldn't remember what Crowley had said, or even if he had said. His unspoken question was answered only a short while later when a quiet knock sounded and Rena’s voice called softly through the door.
“Vil? The Headmage said you and Rook needed my help? One of your students told me you were in here. Is everything okay?” The tears that Vil had managed to stop earlier came rushing back with a vengeance upon hearing Rena’s quiet concern. All he could manage in answer was a choked sob. Rena immediately opened the door and took in the scene before her. Vil in tears, his normally pristine makeup streaked down his face, and Rook motionless on his bed, heart barely beating in his chest. Rena closed the door and hurried to Vil’s side, offering him a place to cry. With Vil’s face buried in her stomach as he cried, Rena studied Rook carefully.
“Can you tell me what happened?” Rena asked, gently stroking Vil’s hair. “All Crowley said was that I would need to assist you while Rook was sick but…sick appears to be an understatement. I can feel that he is alive, but it’s like his spirit is asleep.” Vil nodded at her words, his tears abating somewhat, and briefly explained what he knew.
“So the staff has plans to look into what happened, but that won’t bring Rook back.” Vil concluded. “There isn't any known antidote for Sleeping Death. Supposedly there was one, but that part has been lost. Every minute I can, I plan to search for that antidote. I won’t let Rook be trapped in an eternal sleep. Also, I don’t want Epel to find out that it was one of his apples that was used. He’ll just feel like it was his fault somehow.” Rena stepped closer to Rook’s bedside and held her hand above him. Vil waited anxiously. Earlier, she had said his spirit was sleeping. If anyone would know, it would be the fox spirit.
“Strange.” Rena mumbled, more to herself than to Vil. “He is suspended between life and death. His spirit is sleeping as well as his body. Even if I were to enter his dreams, he wouldn’t be awake. I’ve heard of things like this happening, but never seen it before…” Rena turned back to Vil.
“He isn’t in immediate danger. A spirit can stay suspended for centuries before there is any risk of it vanishing. But we probably have only a few months at max before it will start to damage his physical health and that damage will get worse as time goes on. Suspension isn’t immortality. It’ll drastically slow down time for someone, but it can’t stop it completely. I’ll help however I can. I think I have a recipe for a medicine that can lessen the strain on the body. I think we should start giving him that sooner rather than later.” Rena said. Vil nodded, trying to wipe the smudges of makeup from his face. Now that he was a little calmer, his mind was beginning to formulate a plan. He would get Rook back, even if it took the rest of his life.
“There are several extra rooms here.” Vil said. “You can use one of them for the time being. It’s late and sitting here with him all night won’t fix anything. It will only make us tired and irritable tomorrow. I’ll show you to a room. But first thing in the morning we should make that medicine and start looking for that antidote.” Rena nodded readily, relieved to see Vil acting more like himself. She followed him out of Rook’s room, saying a quiet ‘goodnight’ to the sleeping huntsman.
✦ ✧ ✦ ✧ ✦
“Any luck yet?” Rena asked. Vil looked up from the thick tome he was reading, his eyes red from hours upon hours of looking through old books and manuscripts. Ever since Rook had fallen asleep almost two weeks ago, either Vil or Rena had been in the library as much as possible looking for the antidote to Sleeping Death. Vil had even used his wealth of connections to reach out to several well-known potions masters, seeking their advice. But so far, they had little to show for their efforts.
“No…everything says the same things that I already know.” Vil answered. He closed his tired eyes for a moment, but opened them again when he heard something being placed on the table in front of him. It was a cup of tea and it smelled heavenly.
“It helps with fatigue and soreness.” Rena explained, gesturing towards the tea. “Don’t run yourself into the ground in an attempt to save Rook. He wouldn’t want you to neglect yourself.” Vil sighed before taking a sip of the tea. He knew she was right, but a sense of guilt remained. Afterall, he was the one that had brewed the poison holding Rook hostage.
“I can’t give up, Rena. I just can’t.” Vil said quietly. He’d known that he relied on Rook quite a bit, but how much he relied on his Vice Housewarden was startling. Life at the Pomefiore dorm was dull and boring without the vibrance Rook brought to everything. It was just too quiet now. Vil had never realized how much energy Rook breathed into the world around him just by being there.
“I’m not saying you should give up, Vil.” Rena corrected gently. “I’m advising you to pace yourself. Maybe you should sit with Rook for a while and leave the books to me for a day or two. You’ll damage your vision at this rate.” Vil nodded and started to put away the book he’d been reading, but Rena stopped him. “I’ll take care of it. Go on.” Rena watched as Vil walked away slowly, as if he didn't have the energy to move any faster.
Rena remained in the library for several more hours after Vil left. She looked through many heavy volumes, thin pamphlets, scrolls, and loose sheets of paper, but they all said the same thing. There was no known antidote for Sleeping Death. Noticing the sinking sun, Rena gathered the books and went about putting them away. As she placed the last book on the shelf, a slim, aged book caught her eye. The title read Unusual Cures, Remedies, & Antidotes. It was definitely not shelved in the right place. On a whim, Rena grabbed it before leaving for the night. She decided to look it over in her room later.
Before she returned to Pomefiore for the night, Rena made a stop at Ramshackle to check in with her brother, Todd. She wanted to see if he had made any headway in the investigation. She also needed to grab a few things from her room.
“Todd?” Rena called once she entered the dorm and closed the door behind her. It no longer squeaked when she did it. They were slowly making progress on this rickety building at least. Grim poked his head out from the kitchen and called to her.
“We’re down here!” Rena made her way down the long hallway and found her twin sitting at the table, looking over some papers. He was scowling at them as if they had personally offended him.
“Learn anything? At this point, I’ll take any news. I’m getting more worried about Vil surviving this intact than Rook. He is running himself ragged trying to save Rook.” Rena reported. Todd looked conflicted for a moment.
“I might have discovered something, but I have a couple leads to chase first.” He replied finally. “There’s something…strange going on though. I keep thinking I’m getting close and then it’s like suddenly no one can remember where they were or who they were talking to. But it’s not like any magic we’ve ever used. What have you got?” He gestured to the book Rena was holding under her arm.
“Oh! It’s a book called Unusual Cures, Remedies, & Antidotes. I found it in the wrong place on the shelves and thought it might be worth a look over, so I took it with me. I need to get back to Pomefiore before curfew, but let me know the second you learn anything, okay?” Rena said as she turned to go. Todd nodded and waved goodnight before returning his attention back to the papers in front of him.
Rena made a quick stop by her room, gathered her things, and headed towards the Mirror Chamber. On the way, she absently flipped through the book she’d grabbed from the library. To her annoyance, there were quite a few words and terms that she didn't completely understand. Luckily, Vil had allowed her to borrow a glossary of potionology terms because she kept getting stuck while reading. She would have to pull that out before she could read much of this book. It looked like there were some more archaic phrases in the book as well, so she would have to have a dictionary handy, too. It wasn’t likely to be a quick read, despite how thin it was.
Deciding that she would look the book over properly later, Rena headed to Rook’s room. Vil was surely still there and she felt that Todd’s slightly positive news could help him. Maybe it would help to distract him from his misplaced guilt. Sure enough, Vil answered when she knocked on Rook’s bedroom door.
“Just wanted to check in and let you know I was back.” Rena explained once she’d entered the room. “Make sure you get to bed soon. I will use my foxfire on you if I have to.” Vil chuckled at that. He knew she would because it wouldn't have been the first time. Rena didn't make empty threats. “By the way, I stopped by Ramshackle and Todd said he might have discovered something. He has a couple more leads to work, but he seemed hopeful. He didn’t give me any details, but I thought you’d appreciate the update.” Rena decided to leave out the part about Todd feeling like he was getting stalled when he got too close. No need to weigh Vil down with a report like that.
“Excellent.” Vil said before sighing heavily. “I know I should use this time to rest so that when I do go back to looking for an antidote, I won’t be so exhausted that I miss something, but… Are you sure you don’t want my help for a couple of days?”
“I’m sure, Vil.” She replied. Whereas she understood why he was so determined to save Rook, she didn't want him to succeed at the cost of his own health and wellbeing. She was sure Rook would agree with her. “I know these last couple of weeks have seemed to stretch on for much longer than that, but I can’t shake the feeling that we are nearing the end.” Rena said. Vil looked up at her, his expression reluctantly hopeful. “I don’t have anything I can point to that proves it, but I know we’re close. Just a little longer and this will be behind us. Think you can make it?” Vil nodded and stood to leave. As always, he said goodnight to Rook.
“We’ll find a way to wake you up soon, Rook.” Vil said, laying a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Goodnight.” During their search for answers, one of the books they had found mentioned that people in comas or even just deep sleep could sometimes hear what was going on around them and recall everything after they had woken up. After that, Vil and Rena both made a point to keep Rook updated on their progress and to promise him that they would wake him up. Just in case Rook could hear them. Rena waited until Vil had left before she approached Rook’s bedside.
“You really do need to wake up soon. We miss you terribly. Also…I have something important I need to tell you.” Rena said. She gently caressed his cheek as she spoke. His skin was warm under her palm, but barely. “Pleasant dreams, Rook.” Then, she slipped out into the hallway and made her way to her borrowed room. During her time helping Vil and sitting with the sleeping hunter, Rena came to realize something. Something that she wished she had discovered before all of this happened. She was in love with Rook Hunt.
Rena had always considered Rook a friend, but it wasn't until he was poisoned that she realized how much he really meant to her. And what a time to find out. Her reasons for helping at first were just because it was the right thing to do. Now though? Her reasons were a little more selfish. She wanted to tell Rook how she felt, but she was scared that maybe he didn't feel the same way. Rook loved everything he came across unabashedly and with everything he had. He saw beauty in what most would consider mundane and common. That was one of the things Rena realized that she loved, that and the way he gave his all in everything. No matter the situation, Rook was all in.
This enthusiasm and love of everything he had made it hard for anyone to tell if he held any kind of special regard for something or someone. More specifically Rena wanted to know, did he love her romantically or just like he loved everything else? If what she told Vil came true, like it usually did, then Rook would be awake very soon. She didn't have much time left to figure out her feelings before she would have to face them head on.
Closing the door to her borrowed room with a sigh, Rena pulled out the book she brought from the library. It looked old, perhaps older than any she had read so far. Deciding that she would heed her own advice about getting some rest, Rena set the book on the desk and prepared for bed.