At Mercy's Will

Part 16

Lisa walked down the dark halls to her father's room. a maid's scream echoed coming from the room, she took off running. she wasn't the only one, Jason was  already sprinting from his room and ran into her. 

"Lisa." Jason said.

"Father!" she exclaimed throwing the doors open to the room. 

a young maid was hiding behind a couch and she screamed again hugging Jason's legs tightly. she cried and pointed to the bathing room. Lisa walked cautiously to the room and pushed the door slowly open.

"Papa?"  she asked as the door swung open. 

she screamed when she saw her father in the tub. his throat had been slit in the same manner of Lady Neil's. the water had soap that was mixed with blood, his eyes were wide open and staring at the room. Jason ran in and gasped. Lisa ran to the tub and dropped to the floor screaming for her father to return. Jason dragged her out of the room and held her tightly shushing her. Isabel appeared at the door and gasped, Jason handed Lisa to her and she dragged her out. 

the funeral was the same Weekend. Lisa had written to Eileen and to Stephan telling them to come quickly. so far she hadn't heard anything of either of them. Lisa pulled the black veil over her face and stood walking out of the room silently. her brothers waited below, it was clear Ian and Nicolas were not going to stay long. Nicholas going back to his wife and to his father in-law. Ian was going to court to train to be a knight for king Angus. 

she walked to the stone grave upon the hill where the other grave stood. Her father now lay next to her Aunt who Lisa had always considered a mother. the other graves of her grandfathers and grandmothers lay in front. she stayed behind from everyone else as the wind blew around her, throwing lose hair in her face. her father had always said he liked her hair down, and now she respected his wishes. 

"Hello papa, i would say it is good to see you but honestly i am saddened to see you leave. Many believe someone hired an assassin to kill you but i think it was mother. Jason is Laird now and Nicolas and Joan have gone to live with her parents. Ian still writes to us and says that he wishes he were here. Simon and Gavin have asked where you have gone and i have tried to hide the truth as much as possible." Lisa said to the grave, whipping away a tear. 

"Jason also believes that it is time i found someone to marry. funny how it seemed like everything was so perfect, and in one night you have left me alone. I suppose that i will have to leave you soon." She said crying into her hands. 

she turned not being able to handle it any longer and fled. she ran into her room where she sat in front of her vanity and began to cry. she must have fell asleep crying until a maid knocked on the door. she stood brushing the hair away from her face and answered the door. 

"Yes?"

"Excuse me miss, some people have come asking for you." the maid said with a bow before she left. 

Lisa changed quickly into a clean black gown and walked out of the room tying two strands of hair back. she walked to the main stair case and descended into the hall, Jason was talking joyfully to the guests.

"Ah Lisa! please come, Princess Eileen and Prince Edward have come all the way from the palace to see us." Jason said happily. 

Lisa smiled and rushed to Eileen who grinned. Eileen pulled her into a tight hug and when she pulled away Lisa could see her tears. 

"Eileen, why didn't you respond?" Lisa said.

"I thought i did! i will have to do better, my dear friend i am so sorry." she said taking Lisa to a couch to the fire to sit.