𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘦𝘴

The Wounds (part 2)

"You went unconscious." Hilda said as Ferox's eyes fluttered open. It was still dark outside.

He tried to speak but no words came out. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Did you not get anyone to help?"

She smiled and shook her head. "No, I knew what I was doing."

His wife cupped his face with one hand and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"You should get some more rest." She whispered. "Close your eyes."

He did just that...

His dreams were full of all sorts of horrid visions: the dark and damp dungeons rose from blackness and he was walking towards the cell he was attacked from. The bars were rusty and there were holes in some parts of the metal. As he looked into the gloom, this forehead almost touching the bars, a voice spoke.

"What is it that you want from me." It was low and rumbling.

"I do not know." He heard himself say in a shaky and weak voice in comparison to the other. "I am here on orders from the King."

The man laughed. "The King?" He mocked. "The King who tells the town nothing. The King who risks nothing. The King who relies on you and you do not know why you are here? Bullshit." He finished.

"All I know is that you know something we do not."

The man laughed again. "And you think I am weaker from being kept in here? Oh, no! My friend, I am stronger. I have something you would like, but it is mine - or ours shall I say."

"Yes, your sister would do anything not to give it up. She is insane, just like your mother was." As he said this, the man lunged at him through the bars.

His nails, were they nails, he did did not know, dug into Ferox's chest and he felt his shirt rip. Blood splattered up the metalwork and Ferox staggered back, clutching at the wounds. On the floor at his feet lay a shard of the metal. There were more inside his cell. The man must have somehow ripped the metal from the rusting areas and fashioned makeshift knifes out of it. These are what cut his skin, not nails. Metal.

This man was clever and stronger than the King expects.

***

Breathing heavily, he jumped awake, seeing dawn light streaming through the windows.

"You were shouting and thrashing about." Hilda's voice was full of panic.

Ferox shook his head and tried to close his eyes to fight the images away.

"What happened?" Hilda said again, perching on the edge of the bed, next to his side. "Where did you go to get hurt like that?"

Could he tell her? Would she understand?

He just shook his head. "The dungeons." Was all he said before his voice cracked.

He had let is guards down. The moment he looked into Hilda's pleading eyes, he knew he could not do it so resorted to weeping.

She placed a hand on his cheek, bent her head down and kissed him. Her lips were warm and soft on his chapped and cold ones.

"What ever has happened," she murmured, "you can tell me. I will be able to take it."

Would she be able to take it? Would she ever be able to forgive her Father - or Ferox himself?

He closed his eyes and he felt Hilda move her hand away for his face before grabbing his own. She then lifted it to her stomach and pressed it against it.

He smiled. "Are you-?"

"Yes." She said proudly before he could finish the rest of his sentence.

For a brief moment he felt happy but then it all came back: the dungeons; the man; the dangers that lay ahead, inside and outside of the walls; the lack of protection he would be able to provide. What sort of father would be this useless? He had to remain strong, however, to hide all of this from Hilda. So he kept the smile on his face and allowed himself to imagine the excitement he should feel.

***

If he was going to tell me anything, I thought, the pregnancy would help. The thought of becoming a father will surely coax all that has happened out of him?

Imogen was tending to his wounds but she told me I had done a good job so there was not much for her to do. This allowed for a few moments to write to Lena, Wymond and Kamden. I then folded the letters up and gave them to Imogen who I could trust with my life and she told me she would get them to them that day.

***

Dearest Lena,

Ferox has been injured. He was working late at the dungeons yesterday and came home with wounds to his chest. They were deep cuts made by what looked like a knife but not as sharp. He will be at home for a few days now, which means I will be stuck here with him.
I have given him hope though: I am pretending I am with child. This should allow me time for my bleed to come which I am so hoping it will.

I miss you more than ever,
With all my love,

Hilda.

You should also know that I have sent a letter to Wymond so do not worry about trying to see him to tell him everything - it has been done.

Lena stood there, the paper clutched between her fingers. She need to the see the others soon. What was their plan now? Would it be the same as before? Or will it be changed?