The Eternal Shadow

Chapter 17

XVII

"I SAID NO!"

Francesca winced at Sir Guy's angry tone of voice but stood her ground. "Come now, just a sip. It will make you feel better." She gestured to the goblet of water she was holding, careful not to get too close for it was the third one now; he'd batted the other two out of her hands. His answering growl would have been more unnerving had he not had to heave again.

"Well Sir Guy, I must say you're not being very welcoming to your visitor are you?" Jenkins sighed looking at Francesca's dress, which was soaking wet at the front. Still could've been worse he supposed; it could've been vomit.

Guy wanted to hurl the bucket in his hands at the man's head but refrained because he still needed it. Francesca put the goblet down on the bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed, Guy tried to shuffle away from her but quickly gave up for it was too much effort in his weakened state. He settled instead for grunting curses at her that she couldn't hear properly because his head hung in the bucket.

Eventually he surfaced and lay back, panting hard from the strain of continual heaving, a deeply miserable expression on his face. Francesca put the bucket to one side and moved to build a pile of pillows beneath him but he didn't want her help, gripping at her wrists and clumsily pushing her backwards. She was momentarily alarmed but could tell that there was no real force behind his movements and so she smirked at him and redoubled her efforts. He gave up and let her get him comfortable.

Jenkins grinned, happy for small victories. "Is that not better Sir Guy? It's not so bad is it? She's come to visit you in the middle of the night, the least you can do is be good for her eh?"

Guy was too exhausted to insult the man as he would very much like to and could only manage a weary look in his direction before closing his eyes and curling up upon the pillows, riding out the convulsions that continued to torment his body. Francesca pulled the sheets up around him and then reached over for the goblet.

"Come now Sir Guy, shall we try again?" Her expression was nervous but her dogged persistence made Jenkins smile.

Guy relented, no longer able to resist for illness and exertion had drained him. Francesca smiled and with both hands brought the goblet to his lips, then as she was sure he was not about to change his mind and give her another soaking, she gently tilted his head back so he could take a sip. He spluttered and a fair bit of water ended up on his chest but Francesca was happy to see that he managed a few sips before finally shaking his head to signal he'd had enough.

Jenkins sat down upon a chair in the corner of the room and smiled approvingly at his helper, he'd been worried that she might not be able to handle Sir Guy but she'd so far taken all that he'd thrown at her with quiet determination. She was obviously fond of him despite the fact that he was behaving like a wounded bear and it wouldn't surprise him if, when Sir Guy came back to his senses, he found himself grateful to have such a patient carer. It was whilst thinking along these lines that he found himself nodding off. He didn't fight it, it had been a long night and he was sure that the patient was in good hands.

*

"NO! PLEASE!"

Jenkins jolted awake at the sound of Sir Guy's shouting. Francesca looked just as surprised as he was.

"HELP ME!" Guy's voice was high pitched and strangled with fear; his fingers curled into tight fists gripping at the sheets and his whole frame was shaking uncontrollably. His eyes were the worst; impossibly wide and dark, pupils swallowing up his pale blue irises, darting from place to place - terrified, confused, pained.

"What is it?" Francesca wondered what could have put Guy in such a state for nothing had changed; everything was as it had been a while earlier when she'd urged him to shut his eyes and sleep. Guy didn't answer, only looked at her as if he didn't know who she was.