He dips to place a kiss on Athelstan's burning brow. "I will return, my dearest heart." and runs for help.

Finding no-one around the infirmary, or their rooms, he runs for doctor's rooms. In his haste, his skirts tangle and he trips on the stairs and falling several steps. He lands with his ankle twisted and cries out sharply.

He sits there for some minutes, shocked out of his wits by the pain of it before trying to pull himself to his feet. But it is too much and he falls again.

Cursing his own foolishness, he drags himself up, feeling time slip away that Athelstan is left alone and burning.