Marrok

Chapter 21

Lady Grace fell to her knees, wailing uncontrollably upon the sight of her daughter lying on her bed. Lord Hymos fought hard to control his emotions as he barked out orders for a rider to make haste to the Gill's residence to fetch Maifynn.

"Shall I send word to White Haven, my Lord?" asked a manservant who had been called to the bed chamber.

Lord Hymos lowered his head and closed his eyes, unable to answer for a moment. "Yes," he finally replied. "Marrok will also want to be by Jane's side. Send a messenger bird, and be quick."

The manservant left quickly as a young girl came into the room, her arms laden with candles and another older girl carried a basket of logs for the fire. It was not long before flames were ablaze in the fireplace and the older girl, her task now complete, helped the younger one to place the candles around the room.

Lady Grace wiped her tears and walked over to the girls amongst the candles laid out across the flagstone floor. "Give me one of those reed sticks," she asked, reaching out. "I would like to light some of the candles for my daughter, myself."

Once every candle was lit, the girls left the bed chamber and Lady Grace returned to sit with Lord Hymos at their daughter's bedside. The bluish hue of Jane's lips had spread to create a ghostly complexion, although her brow now felt feverish, and beads of sweat rested upon her forehead. Lady Grace took a cloth from the bowl that had been brought up to the room and wrung it within her delicate hands, the precious stones set within the gold rings upon her fingers glimmering in the soft light from the candles. She tentatively mopped her daughter's brow and whispered prayers in the hope a higher being would answer them.

"She looks so weak," said Lady Grace.

"She will pull through, my love. Maifynn will be here shortly. I'm sure she will have a remedy for such a thing, whatever it is that ails our daughter," Lord Hymos tried to sound reassuring. "I cannot understand it though. When I spoke with Jane after the sitting for her portrait yesterday afternoon she was well. It was but a headache was all she said before she went to rest in her chamber."

Lady Grace took hold of her husband's hand and then reached across for her daughter's, squeezing them both tightly. "We will pray for her to give her the strength she needs to recover," said Lady Grace managing a weak smile.

They sat in silence as the morning gave way to afternoon and still Maifynn had not come. A servant entered the bed chamber to stoke the fire to keep away the chill, that was always present within the thick stone walls of Aberon.

"Is there any news of the healer?" asked Lord Hymos.

"No, my Lord," replied the servant who quickly left the bed chamber, feeling uneasy in the presence of such apparent sickness.

"Jane is not improving," said Lady Grace with concern.

"We cannot just wait here in the hope that Maifynn will arrive with a cure for her. Can we not send word elsewhere?"

"You are right, of course. I shall send out another rider at once," Lord Hymos agreed. He kissed his wife on the cheek and wiped a tear from her eye before leaving her alone with Jane in the candlelight.

                                                                ...............................................

As the message received from Aberon sank in, Marrok's body turned to stone, unable to speak or move as shock took over. He could not imagine a life without his beloved Jane and feared the worst.

"I'll ride with you," said Saul placing his hand firmly on Marrok's shoulder.Marrok turned to him with bewildered eyes.

"Your father is in good hands, he would not want you by his side even if he does await death, if he knew that Jane needed you too. She is to be your future, your life, and your love. He would understand your duty now lies with her," said Saul.