Validus (Book Two Part One Of The White Witch Of A Stór Series)

Athaontú (Reunite)

Anna

I stepped over King Samuel's dead body and ran to find my own King.  "Where is he?" I asked the soldiers who bowed.

"He was taken to the King's quarters, I will lead you." One of them said but he wouldn't move fast enough for me. 

"Pick up your pace!" I ordered.

He began to run and I stayed on him.  Without the weight of a dress, I moved quickly as he finally came to a set of double doors.  All is quiet as the storm disappeared and the guard opened the doors. 

"Your Majesty." The guards said and bowed along with Pheador and Alexander.

"How is he?" I asked as I rushed to the bed.

"Weak, malnutritioned and delerious from fever because of serious injuries.  That is the most worrisome part at the moment." Pheador said.

"Fetch a physician," I ordered.

"The physician is tending to the men." He said.

"We must strip him and keep him cool.  Get water and ice if you can find any, we must also clean his wounds." I looked at my husband and he looked nothing like Liam.  His face is sunken in and blood stains his body as many lesions were scattered all over.  He smelled and he was dirty, which is not ideal for his injuries.

"We must sweat out the fever." One man said but that is something Miss Fitzgibbons told me never to do. 

"No!  He must stay cool if not cold.  Open the windows!" I ordered.

I crawled up into bed with him but didn't touch his hot body. 

"I am here, my lord." I ran my fingers through his blood-stained hair.

My father came rushing in and I jumped to my feet to curtsy.  "How is our King?" He asked as he stood in his armor with blood on him too.  There is so much blood everywhere.

"He is plagued with fever." I am trying to stay strong. 

He walked closer to the bed.  "He cannot be moved so we will stay in his majesty's kingdom until he has the strength to return home."

"His Majesty's Queen will not leave his side," I said.

"His Majesty's Queen has other matters to attend.  You must address Cruálacht's court first thing tomorrow." He said.

"I asked that you and the prince see over matters."

"That might be the case if A Stór won Cruálacht.  You are now their Queen Regent until King Charles is of sound mind and body.  Being Queen means making sacrifices and this is God's will." He said.  "His brother will lead the army and restore order over the lands but you must give the order."

I looked at Alexander who is a mere child but fought like a soldier today.  Liam would be so proud of the young lad.

"Very well, I will speak to the Prince myself," I said.

Alexander stood proud.

Men came rushing in with water and linens. 

"I must tend to my husband for now," I said to my father hoping he would not expect me to leave Liam yet.

"Very well." He bowed and left the room.

"Put the ice and water into the bath then slowly lift him inside it." I gave my orders and Liam didn't even move as the men carried out their orders.

I sat next to him and ran one of the cloths, soaked in freezing water and ran it over his face while I said a prayer for him.

"Almighty and merciful Father, by the power of your command, drive away from my King all forms of sickness and disease. Restore strength to his body and joy to his spirit, so that in his renewed health, he may bless and serve you, now and forevermore."

I whispered my prayer over and over again as the blood-stained water exposed my husband's true face to me.  The flicker of the fire danced upon his handsome features as I thought back to the compassion he once gave me. 

"I love you," I whispered then kissed his cheek.

"Anna" he whispered.

"I'm here, my love." I looked down at him.

"You shouldn't be here." He whispered.

"I am here to claim my King." I started to cry.

"You weren't safe." He doesn't even open his eyes.

"We are all safe now as King Samuel took his last breath," I said.

"He underestimated my wife." He whispered with a tiny smile.

"Did you?" I asked.

"Never for a moment's time." He kept the small smile on his face.

"His grace has shined upon us both and peace will reign over terror and evil," I said.

He lost his smile.

"There will always be evil, Anna.  You will always fight demons."

"We will fight together," I said to him but he didn't answer back.

"Rest now my love." I kissed his hand. 

I had my men hold him up so I may clean the wounds on his back.  There are no herbs or potions to heal him at the moment.

"Tomorrow I want men to find heather so I may help him relax until he is healed." I said as the men lifted him from the water then laid him on clean linens. 

The cold water seems to have helped as he shivered. "Leave us now." I said.

The men bowed and walked away before I cleaned the blood off myself then climbed into bed with my husband, naked to help keep him warm.  I will not leave his side until I am pulled away to court. 

The palace was stirred all night as the men arrested nobles and cleaned up the mess from the battles.  Women were heard crying and screaming at the loss of their own loves so sleep was not in my future.  That will not rip me away from my Liam as he sleeps peacefully next to me.