Heart's Ransom (Heart and Soul) (31 page)

Rose’s eyes suddenly filled with tears.  “I miss him so much.  When will he come home?”

Gwen slowly stepped forward and gripped her shoulder.  “I’m not sure, Rose, but he will return as soon as he can.  He has been so worried about you.”

She nodded, her tears falling harder.

“You...I hope you don’t think he turned his back on you Rose.  He tried so hard to find you.”

She nodded again.  “At first...I was surprised when he didn’t come for me.  But the men moved me many times.  I heard them talking when they thought I was asleep.  Papa was very close to finding me, that’s why they moved so much.  They said they would make it impossible for papa but he kept getting closer.  They finally had to send a message to stop him; if he kept searching they would kill me.  A short time later, we stopped moving, so I knew papa no longer searched.  If I hadn’t heard their words, I would have been sad, but papa only stopped because they would kill me.”

Gwen nodded relief washing over her.  “Aye, Rose.  It...it was a very difficult time for your father.”

“Does he know I’m home now?”

“Nay, I was planning to write a message to him tomorrow.”

A mischievous glint sparked in Rose's eyes.  “But if we don’t it will be a surprise when he comes home.”  She laughed and clapped her hands together.  “Papa always surprises me with a new toy when he comes home.  This time I’ll surprise him.”

Gwen laughed.  “Are you certain about this?”

“Oh aye, please lady Gwen.  Let’s surprise Papa.”

“All right, we’ll do it your way.  I don’t know if a herald could catch up with him anyway.”  She stepped forward and helped Rose with her filthy smock.  “Now, into the bath with you.”

It took forever to get the dirt and tangles out of Rose’s hair but finally Gwen managed, leaving it loose to dry and glowing a beautiful pale blonde.  Although slightly underweight, Rose seemed none the worse for wear and in good health. She prattled on about Brynmor’s rescue and Gwen’s smile grew.  The boy was a hero in her eyes.

Clothed in a fine dress, Rose descended the stairs where they joined the others for dinner in the great hall.  Revelry was the order of the evening, celebrating Rose’s return and praising Brynmor for his heroic actions.  Gwen enjoyed herself thoroughly, growing to know Brynmor and Rose better through the evening.

She noticed Brynmor sitting in his chair, rubbing his eyes with a shaking hand.  “Brynmor, are you all right?”

“I am well.  Just a bit weary.  I should return to Powys.  The meal was one of the finest I ever had.  Thank you, lady.”

Gwen wanted to kick herself, only now realizing how exhausted Brynmor must be.  He had spent a sennight on the run, trying to keep Rose safe.  “Brynmor, you are not leaving until you get some sleep.”

“I will be fine--”

“Do not argue with me.  Marcus, show Brynmor to a room, the poor man is exhausted.”

She saw Rose watching him worriedly.  “Aye, Bryn, you need to sleep.  You spent too much time watching over me.”

He smiled and tousled her hair.  “Very well, little one, if you insist.”  He rose and followed Marcus from the hall.

Only then did Gwen spot the wound on his arm, blood spotting the sleeve of his clean tunic.  “Good Lord, Brynmor, why did you not tell me you were wounded?”

He glanced down at his arm and shrugged.  “A scrape.”

Gwen rolled her eyes.  “Alys, fetch my medicant chest.”

In Brynmor’s room he removed his tunic, wearing only trews, while Gwen cleaned the wound.  She spotted Rose hovering outside the door, watching worriedly.

Brynmor, drinking a cup of laced wine Gwen had given him smiled.  “’Tis all right, little one, you may come in.”

“Are...are you all right?” Rose asked.

Gwen smiled.  “He will be fine, Rose.”  She carefully stitched up the wound.

“You know healing?”

“Aye.”

“Will...will you teach me?”

Gwen blinked at her startled.  “Of course, dear, if you wish to learn.”

“I most certainly do.”

“She already has a good start,” Brynmor said.  “Knowing Valerian makes a man sleep.”

“Bryn!”

Gwen chuckled.  “Brynmor needs a good night’s rest.  I’ll take you to your room, Rose.”

While Rose prepared for bed, Gwen busied herself with the drop-spindle, deftly knotting it where it had broken and allowing it to pull the wool into string.  She saw Rose watching her like a hawk.

“You know how to spin?” Rose asked, timidly.

“Aye, I love spinning and weaving.”

The girl’s eyes widened.  “I’ve been wanting to learn but Nan isn’t very good at it.  My....” her voice broke and she took a deep breath.  “My mother should have taught me.”

“You miss your mother, don’t you?” Gwen asked gently.

Rose shrugged, staring at her bowl.  “I never knew my
mother; she died just after I was born.”  She lifted her gaze, staring wistfully at the drop-spindle.  “I just wonder what it would be like to have a mother who could teach me.”  She grinned brightly.  “Papa taught me how to ride my pony but he said weaving is beyond him.”

Gwen laughed.  “I’ll be happy to teach you Rose.  I enjoy spinning and weaving very much.”

“Can we try now?”

“First, my dear, you need to get some rest.  We will see how you are feeling tomorrow.”

“But I’m not tired,” she protested instantly then followed it with a huge yawn.

“I see,” Gwen said,
and then patted her belly.  “Unfortunately, I fear I am very weary.  Lugging around this much weight is tiresome.”

“All right,” she said sadly.  “Tomorrow.”  But without complaint she moved to her bed.

“Do you want someone to stay with you, Rose?”

“Nay.  I’m grown
up; I don’t need a nurse anymore.”

Gwen smiled and tucked her in bed where Rose immediately cuddled with the stuffed cloth horse.  “I’ll be in the solar if you need me, Rose.”  She kissed the child’s forehead, making certain the coverlet was secure around her.  Warmth bloomed within her at the motherly action and she thought about the babe she carried.  She would enjoy being a mother very much.

“Lady Gwen?” Rose asked softly.  “You are going to stay with us, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re not going to leave?”

“I don’t plan on it, why?”

“Papa has always been so sad since Momma died.  I don’t want him to be sad anymore.”

“I don’t want him to be sad anymore either, Rose,” she whispered and kissed the girl’s forehead again.  “Now get some rest.”

Rose closed her eyes and fell asleep almost instantly.  Gwen blew out the candles, leaving only the fire in the hearth, and silently left the room, closing the door behind her.

“You were very good with her,” Marcus said, stepping forward.

Gwen jumped.  “Sweet Mary, Marcus, you startled me.”

“Forgive me, lady.  I am sorry to eavesdrop but I worry about the child so remained outside the door.  You were right, she does need a lady present and I fear Nan is too intrusive with her right now.”

“Aye.  I know Nan means well, but it’s important we remember what Rose has suffered.  Anyone would feel powerless in that sort of a situation but even more so for a child.  The best way to help her is to allow her to regain her own sense of power in her life, of control over what happens to her.”

“Well said, lady.”

“I’ve had a bit of experience in the matter.”

Marcus cocked his head curiously but said nothing more.

“Let Rose rest for tonight.  Tomorrow will be another day.”

Marcus nodded.  “And you need to rest too, lady.”

“That I do.  My feet and back ache like the devil.”

“Good eve, to you, lady.”  Marcus said and bowed.

Gwen returned to the solar and collapsed gratefully on the bed.  Only now did she allow her tears freedom.  “Thank the hollies,” she whispered.  “Thank you for bringing Rose home.”

Gwen fell asleep almost instantly and it seemed like only moments later a strange sound awoke her.  She sat up in bed, frowning.  The castle was dark and the hearth-fire in embers.  She heard the sound again, a light scratch on the door and a peculiar snuffling.  “Lady Gwen?” a tiny voice called.

Gwen bounded out of bed and unlocked the door.  Rose stood before her wearing her nightrail, her little toes peeking out from under the hem, her horse clutched to her breast, and tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Rose, my dear, what is it?” Gwen asked, opening the door a little more.

Rose hurried inside, acting as if she would throw her arms around Gwen but she stopped abruptly.  “I...I had a bad dream.”

Gwen locked the door behind her and wrapped an arm around her slight shoulders.  “’Tis all right, Rose.  Bad dreams are to be expected.”

“They are?”  She snuffled again and wiped her tears away.

“Aye.  It’s chilly out here, come to the bed with me.”

They sat together on the edge of the bed but Rose still seemed torn between seeking comfort and mistrust. 

“Do you want to tell me about your dream?”

She shook her head.  “I’m grown up now; I shouldn’t be scared by bad dreams.”

“Everyone gets scared by bad dreams, Rose.”

“Even you?”

“Even me.  And I know it always helps to have a friend near when those bad dreams come.”

Rose lifted her horse, staring into its eyes.  “I told you,” she said firmly.

“What?”

“Ebon didn’t think you’d understand.  I told him you would.”

Gwen smiled and touched the soft cloth of the horse’s nose.  “Ebon just doesn’t know me very well yet.”  The baby kicked suddenly and Gwen gasped.

“Lady?” Rose asked worriedly.

“I’m all right,” she said with a smile.  “The baby is trying to rearrange my insides again.”  She took Rose’s hand and put it on her belly.  The baby continued its squirming and kicking. 

Rose’s eyes widened.  “Does it hurt?”

“Not really, but it does get uncomfortable.  Why don’t you stay with me, Rose?  When the baby starts kicking like this, I find it very hard to sleep.”

“All right,” she said happily.  And Gwen knew it was because Rose would rather stay to keep Gwen company than admit she wanted to stay because her nightmare frightened her.  They crawled under the covers, Gwen resting on her side, facing Rose.  The baby continued to kick, but calmed a little when she relaxed. 

Rose again put her hand on her belly, entranced by the feel of the life within, still clutching her horse. 

“You named your horse after your father’s?” Gwen asked.

Rose nodded.  “Ebon is the finest steed in the land.  As long as my father rides him, I know Ebon will get him home safely no matter the battle.”

Gwen smiled.  Rose had a serious case of hero worship when it came to her father and his horse.  “’Tis true.”

“How do you know?”

Gwen laughed.  “Not too long ago, I rode Ebon.”

“By yourself?” Rose asked, incredulous.

“For a short time.”

“How did that happen?  Father never lets anyone ride Ebon.”

“Well, it started off innocently enough.  I talked your father into going on a picnic.”

“A picnic?  My father?”

Gwen laughed again then lowered her voice to a conspiring whisper.  “You see, he didn’t know it was a picnic at the time.”

“Ooooohhhh.  You’ve got to tell me.  Papa hasn’t gone on a picnic in...well...forever.  And I love them.  Did he show you the meadow?”

“He did.  We had a race and everything.”

Rose’s eyes grew even wider.

Gwen wove the tale, careful not to cause undo fright when the raiders attacked, and leaving out key information about who hired them and their true purpose.  The story became the stuff of the greatest chansons, with Talon in the role of the chivalrous knight saving the maiden in distress.  Rose listened, enraptured at learning of her father besting the raiders and how Gwen rode Ebon back to get him.  As Gwen spoke, Rose’s eyes grew heavy.  By the end of the story, she was sound asleep, tucked securely against Gwen.  Even the baby seemed to have settled with Gwen’s voice.  A smile playing on her lips, Gwen pulled Rose close and she too fell asleep.

****

The next morning, Gwen checked on her patient and to her horror found him collapsed on the floor. Brynmor muttered in a fever-dream, struggling to rise and failing. She called Marcus to help her get him back into bed but before she could warn him to keep Rose away, the little girl appeared in the doorway.

“Bryn?” she called, her voice laced with fear. “Nay!”

At the sound of her voice, Bryn struggled against them, almost knocking Gwen from her feet.

“Rose!” she barked. “Stop it! You're only agitating him more.”

“But it's my fault!” she wailed.

Gwen knew if the girl truly wanted to learn healing she would have to learn to set aside her own guilt and fear. She didn't want to be harsh with the child but Bryn grew even more agitated and ran the risk of harming himself and those who sought to help him.