Morrigan gasped as he opened his eyes. He awoke in what he quickly realized was the medical barracks. What on earth was he doing there? He attempted to sit up, but quickly stopped as he groaned in pain. His chest burned like somepony had struck a match on his fur. Looking down, he saw a deep gash, sewn together. When had…

His eyes widened as he remembered the battle. A single thought burst into his head – Katrina. She must be so worried. He had to get to her, see her, make sure she knew he was perfectly –

Morrigan gasped as he shifted again. Quickly, he laid back down, the fire under his skin settling to soft coals. “Fantastic,” he said softly, his voice rough. He must have been here for some time.

“Morrigan!” He turned to see a fellow knight trot in, beaming. “Thank the gods…”

“Iron Clad…” Morrigan sat up once again, far more carefully this time. Now, it simply felt like he was lying in a small bonfire, instead of already being burnt alive. Wincing, he forced himself a small smile. No sense showing weakness. “How long hath I been here?”

“Long enough. Thou collapsed after the battle. We carried thee on a litter back home… Thou hast been in recovery for 3 days, at least.”

“3 days!?” Morrigan groaned, not from pain in his chest this time. “Tell me, where is my wife? When can I escape this medical cell?”

“Another week at most, Sir… And, well…” The knight cleared his throat, blushing lightly. “Thy wife is outside as we speak…”

“She’s outside?” Morrigan smiled suddenly, his spirits somehow lifted. “Please, let her in. I need to see her…”

The knight nodded and trotted out. In a moment’s time, he returned. Katrina followed him. Morrigan took her in as he had the first he had ever seen her. Now, however, her face was tear streaked. Her eyes were puffy from crying, and she looked tired. Sick, even. But she smiled as she saw him, a smile of relief. That smile was like water to the blazing pain in his body, soothing him. “Katrina…”

Smack!

Morrigan blinked once or twice as he began to feel a sting in his cheek. His head was now facing the other direction. Yes, he was quite certain – His wife had just smacked him.

“What happened,” she screeched, loud enough that Morrigan was nearly positive changelings in the Outer Lands had heard her. He turned his head back to her. That smile was gone now. Replacing it was a burning anger – And worry. Concern. He sighed softly. “W-what happened,” she asked again, tears in her eyes.

“I… I was hurt,” he said lamely, unsure what else to say.

Katrina trotted up quickly and embraced him as tightly as she could. He held back a soft groan of pain, hugging her back gently. “I-I thought I lost thee,” she sobbed into his shoulder. “Never make me think that again, Morrigan!”

“Shh…” Gently, he stroked her mane, intent on calming her down. It seemed to have the desired effect as her tears slowly lessened. “I told thee, my love… I’ll not leave thee a widow.”

Katrina looked up at him, a few tears still falling on her face. Morrigan reached up and wiped them away softly. She nudged her head under his, simply resting on his chest. Morrigan continued holding her, never wanting to let her go.

The knight in the corner, nearly forgotten, cleared his throat. Morrigan glanced at him. “What is it?”

“Well… Sir, the captain..”

Morrigan’s eyes widened. Oh no… “Is he… Did he…” Morrigan sighed, knowing somehow what the answer to his question would be. He shook his head lightly before speaking. “Did he die in battle?”

The knight nodded softly. “A clean kill. He took many a changeling to Tartarus.”

Morrigan sighed as he remembered Cedar. He had always been a good knight, but furthermore, a good man. “He will be missed by all,” Morrigan said softly, his heart aching as much as his chest. He shut his eyes as he sighed and leaned back against the pillows. They brought him little comfort. However, he did not cry. He knew Cedar would not want him to cry.

“Well… Sir, he… He left instructions.”

“What were they?”

“… He… Thou art to be the new captain.” He opened his eyes once more, sitting up – a tad too quickly, his chest protested. “He wrote it down, kept it in his desk… Just the instructions to make thee our new captain.”

“Captain…” Morrigan sighed. As a child, he had always cherished and longed for the position of captain. He just wished it had been bestowed to him under more… peaceful circumstances. Under such circumstances that his close friend, and mentor, did not have to die. Yet die he had. And now… Now life still trudged on, even after yet another death of yet another soldier.

Morrigan glanced out the window. It was raining. I suppose life does shed tears for the fallen.

“Sir… What art thy orders, Captain?”

Morrigan turned to the stallion. “Well, Iron, thou seem strong enough. It seems I shall need time to recover… Thou shalt act in mine stead until I am well.”

Iron Clad’s eyes widened. “S-sir, me?”

“Well, I did address thee, did I not?” He could not help but smirk softly, despite his sorrow. “Go and tell the men they may visit me anytime. Until such time as I am recovered, thou shalt act as Captain. Is this understood?”

“Y-Yes sir,” Iron said, smiling. “I-I’ll leave thee and thy wife now, sir.” Quickly, Iron trotted out, so he could tell the other knights, Morrigan assumed.

Now, he glances at his wife. Her tears had all dried, yet weariness still clung to her every aspect. She looked up at him once before simply nudging her head under his once more. “Shh, darling,” he said softly as he ran his hoof through her mane.

“I… I thought thou had left our child fatherless…”

Morrigan gently lifted her head up by her chin. “Yet I did not…”

“B-But thou still could’ve…” Katrina sighed tiredly. “I wish I did not fear for thy life so… That I could trust thee and love thee without these worries and doubts plaguing my mind…”

"Katrina.” She looked him deep in the eyes, seeing honesty and truthfulness reflected there - True love. “I shall always be by thy side, even when we are apart. I shall love thee until the end of all time, and well beyond even then. If I should perish -”

"No, please, I -”

“If I should perish, Katrina,” he insisted, “and leave thee a widow, then blame me as I should be blamed. For, no wife should have to suffer such a punishment for her husbands mistakes in battle… and I do not plan for thee to suffer that fate.” He pulled her close, kissing her deeply. Together they held that position, resting in the peace that was the other’s softness.

Yet separate their lips did, eventually. The kiss left it’s mark on the weak mare. She rested her head on his chest, sighing softly. “I love thee, husband mine… Please, never leave me. Never betray me, never hurt me as I thought thou had…”

“I promise thee. I shall never harm thee again.”

Together they rested in their love, in each other’s hooves.

Author's Note

Uuuugh, this one is taking too looong. *hunkers down in my writing den and works hard