To Capture Her Heart (21 page)

'Twas only partially true that Roreck could read minds, though his gift was not as accurate or as precise as he claimed. He couldn't really reach into people's minds and foresee their thoughts on a whim, but on occasion he was gifted to be able to see things in his own mind, things about other people that they didn't wish to have known. And only this morning he had been able to see that Gwendolyn had failed in her attempts to feed Rosalind the poison. Now, they had to make good on their threats.

Gwendolyn must die, as well as the others.

One down, two to go, Clarice thought victoriously as she raced to find Roreck and discuss with him what their next course of action would be. He would be even more pleased than she that Gavin was finally out of the picture.

***

Gwendolyn turned when she heard her door creek open. She was expecting to see her mother or a chambermaid, but instead was startled to see Talbot had nudged his way inside her chambers. She paused briefly, half expecting Gavin to follow behind him, but it soon became apparent that Talbot was by himself.

“Get out, you filthy swine,” she yelled at him as she attempted to show him out the door. But Talbot wouldn't budge. He whined incessantly as his head dipped into the folds of her skirt, smearing slobber across it as his jaw clamped down on the material.

“What are you doing? Let go.” But Talbot didn't listen to her commands; he only attempted to drag her towards the door.

“Are you trying to show me something?” she asked impatiently when he refused to give up. The dog instantly released her skirt and gave her a look with his brown, soulful eyes that seemed to say she had finally caught on to him.

She reluctantly followed him into the corridor, unsure if it was wise to be near the beast that was almost as large as she, especially considering their not so favorable past, but something compelled her on. As soon as they exited the castle, Talbot began running. Gwendolyn had to sprint to keep up with him, as he seemed overly anxious to get to wherever he was going. They circled around to the gardens where Gwendolyn soon fell behind as Talbot leaped over the hedge bushes while she had to go around them.

“Wait up, you big buffoon,” she called out to him, but he didn't stop.

She was beginning to doubt her decision to follow him at all when they reached the very edge of the garden. Her eyes followed him as he approached a spot where a man lay on the ground.

A man? Her heart stilled. As she neared she could see that it wasn't just any man, it was Gavin.

She raced to his side, dropping to the ground next to his lifeless body. “Gavin,” she said as she put her hands to his face, shaking his head back and forth.

“Gavin,” she said once more when she failed to get a response. His skin was cold, and he appeared as if he were dead.

A knot of fear unlike any she had ever known formed in her soul. He couldn't be dead, she thought as scalding tears formed in her eyes. Instantly, the contract she had unknowingly made with Roreck flashed in her mind. If she failed to deliver the potion to Rosalind, he vowed to kill the person that she loved most.

Looking down on Gavin's face, she traced his strong jaw with her hand. Though his eyes were closed, she could vividly remember the way his chocolate gaze would melt into her own. She traced the scar on his cheekbone, the scar he had obtained during his first walarute encounter and shuddered. Nay, this couldn't be. Not her strong, brave Gavin who had successfully protected her from one of the most vicious beasts of the forest.

At the time that Roreck had hurled his threat at her, she hadn't been sure who he was referring too. Who did she love the most? But as she looked down at Gavin's familiar face, it hit her like a lightning bolt—'Twas him.

Her hands shook as she desperately began ripping his tunic from his chest. Warm tears cascaded from her eyes, splashing into pools on his skin as she placed one hand over his heart. She forced herself to still her breathing as she paused and prayed that he was still alive. A relief unlike any she had ever known flooded over her as she felt a very faint, slow beating under her palm. He was alive!

Her hands moved all over his body, anxious to know what had happened to him. Had Roreck attempted to kill him then left him for dead? She couldn't find any wounds on his upper body so her eyes scanned his legs. That's when she noticed the ripped hose, leaving his bare skin exposed. She quickly moved down to his leg and gasped.

The skin had turned black, the flesh slowly eating away exposing muscle and sinew. It looked exactly like the tip of her finger, albeit much, much worse. He had been infected with the poison, and it was slowly spreading throughout his body. She ripped his hose off up to his thigh to assess the damage. It didn't look good at all. She had to do something fast, or he would die. But what?

Gwendolyn started gasping for breath as the air around her seemed to thin and then vanish. In all of her training as a healer she had never once encountered anything like this. She had no knowledge of a cure. She was hyperventilating so hard she thought she was going to pass out. If Gavin were to die, she just assume she die as well.

She laid her head on his chest and sobbed. Why couldn't she have realized that she loved him before it was too late? Why couldn't she have forgotten about her obsessive need for a gift? It had led to nothing but heartache for so many people she cared about, including herself.

She was about to give in to the despair that was attempting to consume her when she felt Talbot's wet nose nudging her arm. “Not now Talbot, can't you see that Gavin is dying?” She was on the verge of hysteria, yelling at the beast.

He dropped his head and nudged her lap, pushing her leather pouch into her belly. Gwendolyn gasped. The cudworth tonic! How could the wretched beast have known and how could she have forgotten about it?

She scurried to her knees, furiously tearing at the pouch until it opened. She grasped the vile of magenta tonic as hope began to fill her. Uncorking the bottle, she knelt by Gavin's leg and poured several drops into the most severe spot on his calf and watched as almost instantly, the skin began to heal.

The dead, black skin began uncurling and slowly started transforming into a healthy peach color. The tonic oozed over the sore, but the bleeding stopped. For several seconds she watched as Gavin's leg was restored to normal, as if it had never been poisoned at all. Her fear was replaced with awe as she watched the magical transformation taking place.

As soon as his leg returned to normal, she returned to his head, but he still appeared as if he were dead. She leaned over him, her dark hair caressing his face as she bent forward and whispered, “Gavin, don't die. You can't die; I can't handle it. Please,” she urged as she covered his mouth with her own, placing a tender kiss to his lips.

She gasped as she felt his hands twine into her hair, pulling her head even closer. He was alive! He kissed her passionately, and she never wanted to let him go. She loved him and he was alive!

“You saved me, my love. She left me here to die. I thought I'd never see you again.”

“Who did this to you Loreena?”

“Loreena?” he asked, perplexed. “Nay, 'twas Clarice.”

“Your former fiancée?” He nodded. “But why?”

Her questions seemed to breathe new life into his body. He sprung to his feet, pulling Gwendolyn with him. “We must go. She said that Roreck is already within the castle walls, and he has designs to kill Rosalind.”

Gwendolyn pulled Gavin to a halt. “How do you know Roreck?”

“I don't, at least not personally.”

“He's the man I met at the festival, the man who promised to help me acquire a gift. He gave me a potion and told me to administer it to Rosalind.  Then I would acquire her ability to transport.”

Gavin stilled. “Tell me you didn't give it to her.”

“I almost did.” Gwendolyn was shaking, remembering how close Rosalind had come to drinking the poison.

“Just before she partook of it, she informed me that she was with child. I didn't know the potion was poisonous at the time, but I wasn't sure what kind of affect it would have on an unborn child. Besides, I started having doubts as to whether I could trust Roreck or not, but he threatened to kill the person I loved most if I didn't do as he said. I didn't want Rosalind's gift, but I was scared, Gavin. Scared to lose anyone else I love. I watched my father die, and ever since I haven't been able to...I just couldn't stand to see somebody die because of me. When I saw you laying there lifeless, I thought he had come for you.”

Gavin pulled her into his arms, holding her firmly to his chest. “Are you saying that 'tis I that you love the most?”

Gwendolyn searched his face, suddenly unsure. What if he didn't love her back?

Gavin must have sensed her doubt, because he bent down and placed his lips gently to her forehead. “You saved my life Gwen, and you are going to help me save your brother and Queen Rosalind as well. But even before that, long before that, I started to fall in love with you. You've always been enough for me, more than enough.”

“Oh Gavin,” she whispered as she plunged her hands into his hair, pulling his face to hers. “I love you.”

His warm breath mingled with hers as their lips met in a fiery kiss. Gavin loved her and she loved him! And it would have been enough had they not had to worry about saving the king and queen's lives.

Though she was loath to have the kiss end, she forced herself to pull back from his intoxicating lips. “As much as I want to stay right here, in your arms, forever, we must go before it's too late.”

“Aye, you are right, as always.”

Chapter 26

A Gruesome Demise

Gavin wasn't surprised that he could barely keep up with Gwendolyn on their race back to the castle.  But this time, instead of being frustrated by her abnormally fast speed, he was grateful to know that he wouldn't have to chase her for the rest of their lives, for he had captured her heart, and she his.

As they approached the keep, he clasped her hands in his. “We need to find Queen Rosalind first; she is in the most danger. Then we will find your brother and make him aware of the danger that they are in and come up with a plan to keep everyone safe.”

Gwendolyn nodded her head in agreement and they took off, anxiously running through the castle in their attempts to find the king and queen.

Herfordshire Castle had never felt so large and so maze-like as it did then. They ran through each corridor, stopping long enough to search each room only to come up empty handed. Several servants inquired after them, but Gavin didn't have time to explain. He'd quickly ask them if they knew where Queen Rosalind was, and then when he'd get a negative response, he'd grab Gwendolyn's hand and take off once more.

He was holding out hope that they'd find both King Terric and Queen Rosalind in the privacy of their bedchamber and was careful not to betray his grave disappointment when they didn't. He was trying to be strong for Gwendolyn.

As they left the King's chamber, they heard a voice coming from down the hall. They both turned to see Millicent running hastily towards them.

“Whatever is going on? The servants told me you are both running through the keep as if your very lives are in danger.”

Gwendolyn stepped forward and grabbed her mother's hands. “Mother, have you seen Terric and Rosalind?”

“Nay, not since this morning.”

“We have to find them, they are the ones whose lives are in danger.”

Millicent paled. “Have you checked their bedchamber?”

Gavin stepped forward. “Aye, we just did. I want you both to return to the room and bar yourself inside. Do not open the door for anyone. I will go find the king and queen.”

“Nay, I will go with you,” Gwendolyn interjected.

“You can't Gwen. I don't want anything to happen to you. I will find them, and I will save them. You have to trust me.”

“I do,” she stated firmly, and his heart swelled. He escorted them to the king's room, instructing them to bar the door behind them before fleeing down the corridor.

Gavin ran, but he was unsure of where exactly he was going, though he was determined he would not fail King Terric, Queen Rosalind, and especially not Gwendolyn.

Pounding footsteps told him that he was not alone in the hall. Turning, he saw Talbot bounding towards him. He put both hands up in front of him. “Stop, Talbot. This is not the time.” As per usual, the dog ignored him, barreling into his legs, almost knocking him to the ground.

“You blasted beast,” Gavin spat, fully anticipating the dog to growl in his face. He was surprised, however, when the dog retracted and began nervously prancing in front of him. He stood up and glared at the dog when an idea formed in his head.

He forced his voice to soften. “Come here, you smart, talented beast, and tell me where your master is.” He hoped the dog wouldn't be suspicious of his insincere praise.

Talbot turned and trotted off and Gavin chose to follow him, praying that for once, the dog would prove useful. Down the long hall they went until they came to the spiral staircase in the tower that was overly crowded with the both of them trying to push their way through. Gavin grew more and more anxious by the second, hoping that his decision to follow Talbot wouldn't prove futile.

Just as they entered the Great Hall, Terric stepped into the room. It was clear from his windblown hair and his clothing that he had just been out riding. Talbot ran to his master, jumping up anxiously to receive his petting. Gavin followed suit, running towards Terric.

“Where's the queen?” he asked, failing to address the king properly.

“I parted ways with her in the courtyard. A servant had bid her to come sample some of the new mead that had just arrived, hoping to seek her approval.”

Gavin's eyes bulged. “What did the servant look like?”

“I didn't pay that much attention. Why the concern?”

Placing a steadying hand on the king's shoulder he said, “We need to go to your wife straightaway. Someone is seeking to kill her.”

Gavin watched as King Terric's face turned a ghostly shade of white. He wasted no time in turning and dashing to the bottlery where the mead was kept, in hopes of finding his wife still alive. Gavin was right behind the king as he pushed the door wide open and burst into the room.