Forever and Ever After (book1)

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

As the months passed, the knights searches for Isobel became drastic as they combed through the forest. Charming had them checking every sport he had ever seen Isobel at or had met her but never found her, and Charming couldn’t think how to get to her house; while Wesley kept everyone from getting too close from finding her.

As the months grew colder and the days grew shorter, the King ordered the knights to stay out of the forest but Charming always went out in search of her, always having hope that he would find her or maybe someone who would know where she is and every time he went out Wesley made sure he always went with him.

Winter gripped the kingdom and the surrounding forest with a tight grip, every roof top and bare tree branch was littered with icicles and snow while under foot was treacherous with black ice and the snow so thick it covered the ice and made it next to impossible to walk through without falling on your back.

A blizzard blew thought in the middle of the night as it became apparent that winter was going to be merciless. The wind rattled the windows and shook the trees until they almost uprooted.

Isobel shivered as the wind traced up her spine and tried to cover the cold spot when her back cramped making her groan out loud, waking her up like it had been for the last few hours but somehow these cramps seemed different, stronger than before and more frequent. She sat up and started rubbing the ache in her back. She tried taking deep breaths to calm it down but it seemed only to tighten until she almost couldn’t breathe.

She cried out which seemed to release some tension growing around her belly.

“Are you alright Bells?” Robert shouted up over the roaring wind.

“I think so,” she called back as she swung her legs out of the bed seeing as she was now fully awake and wouldn’t be able to get back sleep for a while. But as soon as her bare feet touched the cold wooden floor boards, the band in her stomach tightened once again causing her to scream again. She almost doubled over until the pain subsided.

“Hold on Isobel, stay up there. I’m going to fetch Dylan so he can get a doctor, I won’t be long,” Robert cried and the door slammed as he ran out the house.

Isobel’s hands and legs shook as she tried to control the constricting pain in her belly and back and had to hold onto her chest of draws before she fell over. She started to sob quietly as fear struck hard in her heart.

“Be brave Isobel,” Heather said sleepily and crept over the beams above Isobel’s head and fluttered down to stand by her hand. “You’re Father won’t be long and you’re baby will be as healthy as an ox.”

“At the moment I don’t think it’s the baby I’m worried about at the moment,” she growled through clenched teeth as another attack of pains almost made her knees buckle.

“Lie down, you’ll feel better if you’re not standing up,” Heather advised and tried to pull her over to her bed.

“I thought you were asleep for winter?” Isobel asked as she staggered back to bed.

“Who could sleep through your screaming?” Heather teased.

A few minutes later Isobel could hear flapping wings above the house against the blizzard’s wind. My dear Isobel, BD thought and landed outside the window. He pushed his snout through her window, letting in a little snow that melted on Isobel’s brow. Tell me how I can help; I do not like feeling helpless.

“Get out of here dragon,” Heather snapped and tried to push BD’s snout out of the window again. “Your presence here isn’t helping anyone.”