Lovers End

Chapter Four: Part Three

Aurora had a lovely conversation with the maid as they walked back to her father's room. She learned the maid's name, Gwendolyn, and how long she had been working at the castle. Gwendolyn even stayed with Aurora for a while as they both sat in her father's room, listening to stories she had about Emeric growing up and just stories of the old woman's life. Aurora was lost in Gwendolyn's stories when the healer walked into the room, looking a bit confused at the two of them.

"Unfamiliar faces," the man smiled slightly, walking to Franklin's bedside with a bag in hand. Gwendolyn excused herself quietly. Aurora smiled as she left before her attention turned back to what the healer was doing. "Sir Cooke is your father, then? I expected you sooner." The man seemed too consumed by his work to realize what he said may have been insensitive, but Aurora didn't let it bug her.

Instead, she sat quietly as she watched the healer change Franklin's bandages. "I'm here now," she eventually looked up to the man who had finally turned away from her father's wound. It was her responsibility to take care of her father; whatever she could do counted. "Show me how to help."

The healer showed her how to properly clean her fathers wound along with what herbs and pastes in his collection were needed to keep her father healthy and alive. "Thank you...for everything you've done." aurora would step out of the room with the healer looking down at jars in her hands he had left with her

"I'll still come by and check in, but if you're confident you can handle it my job seems almost done." The healer would tap on one of the jars "Every 2 hours don't forget." He had a serious look on his face causing Aurora to nod like a lost child watching him take his leave.

'''''''''''

Emeric had signed off that day on a declaration to be given by his generals for men to join their military. There was no choice in the matter, but Emeric made sure to promise that they would be treated handsomely for their troubles, including pay and food. He hated that he had to force these young men to fight, but their freedom might be depending on it.

Once night had fallen, Emeric paced the library as Theodore stood watching him by the fireplace, speaking up over the crackle of the flame, "Four generals have made progress already. It seems your father's death has put fear into some of our people's hearts. They want to fight whatever is coming." Theodore hoped this news was enough to ease his friend's worries, but the idea of war coming wasn't an anxiety easy to relieve for Emeric.

After seeing Aurora, a small weight lifted off his shoulders, but he was still very much burdened with it all. "The fate of the Kingdom rests in my hands, and I haven't the faintest clue how to deal with it," Emeric admitted before slumping into a chair, his hand rubbing his temple.

"Is anyone ever prepared for such a thing? You are doing what you can. You were right to say it was too soon to march on their lands. Asatus has been preparing, and we haven't. We play it safe for now," Theodore sat next to Emeric, looking toward the fire. He hesitated but couldn't help trying to seem indifferent about the subject Theodore asked. "Are you still going to marry her?"

Emeric's eyes narrowed, looking over to Theodore. "Of course, I will... she's the love of my life, and I won't have it any other way," he said, licking his lips exhaling at the thought of not marrying her. "I can't live without her, Theo... I need her with me if I have any hope of getting through this."

"Of course, love is something special," Theodore smiled slightly at his old friend, though it was a fake one. Theodore liked being someone Aurora had been relying on; once again, she was going to slip through his fingers. "My bed calls, I'm afraid," Theodore spoke after a moment of silence. "You'll sleep soon? The funeral procession will be hard for you and your mother," Theodore stood, reminding Emeric of the next day's events, knowing he'd most likely run off to see Aurora.