Year 470 of the Emperor, Phoenix 00|07, fifth year
The calm evening air rolled over the hills of Southern Perth as the last caravans rolled over the cobblestone roads and across the bridges into the city of Tremaine. The sun was just touching the horizon when the order came to close the gates for the night. Across the city, the six gatehouses allowing access within the city walls clanged with thunderous chains as the portcullis' dropped into place, sealing the gates shut. Across the water, the gates to the castle also slammed shut as the night watch took patrol over the walls. Deep within the castle itself, Ferris stood overlooking the map of Carrickshire, several small wooden figures covering its surface. Opposite him stood his brother Gildos and Helori, Murtagh's eldest son. Now at sixteen, the young man had been sent to Tremaine to learn a higher form of governing from his uncle. As the last rays of sunlight faded through the glass window, Gildos pointed at the southern border of Perth.
"An army that close to the border will raise questions. Kaine is only a few leagues east of this point we need to be careful so as to ensure this is not considered an act of war.
"They can dress it up however they like," Ferris said, his temper rising as he swept a hand over the southern planes of Carrickshire. "Endermen numbers are increasing in the south. We've had to halt production of our border forts and with the occurrence of these creeper mines in the east our options are becoming more and more limited."
"I understand, but we need to treat this matter with delicacy." Gildos repeated.
"Delicacy?" Ferris asked, staring his brother in the eye. "The time for delicacy has come and gone. If you'd brought these concerns to me sooner perhaps we could have stopped this threat before it became this widespread."
"I had no reason to believe the information was pertinent..."
"You had no reason to tell me about a horde of Endermen roaming the Perth countryside?" Ferris yelled. "Now I have refugees fleeing their homes! Farms are being pillaged, bandits are raiding just to keep themselves alive and outrun the bastards!" He pointed a finger at Gildos. "Perhaps you've forgotten the casualties we've already lost to the endermen?"
"Of course I have not," Gildos reasoned. "I'm sorry I kept this from you. Please let me help you fix it."
"You can help me by staying here and looking after Helori," Ferris said swiftly. "I'm taking the fourth division down to Mount Foliantos and I'm going to secure my Duchy."
"Let me go with you," Helori said swiftly. "I can help."
"You won't help us in a battle," Ferris said bluntly. "You have a brain, stay here where you can use it. Keep my city running until I return."
"Please brother, this is madness you should not..."
"It was madness to keep this information from me!" Ferris yelled. Just then there was a sound or running footsteps, raised voices, and the door to the office flew open. A flushed hand maiden rushed in, her cheeks glowing and her bonnet askew.
"Pardon me m'lord, it's the mistress,"
"What is it, what's happened?" He asked harshly.
"The doctor's been called. There's a lot of blood." She panted, breathless. Ferris pushed past her as Gildos hurried to follow. Helori hurried to follow but the hand maiden pulled him back, insisting her walk with her. The two brothers rushed up the stone steps, taking them two at a time until they emerged into Rosaly's bed chamber at the top of the north tower. Three maids stood around the bed, one holding a wet cloth to her forehead and holding her hand, while another handed towels to Doctor Argyle, who sat at the end of the bed in sheets painted red with blood. Ferris hurried forward to her side, taking her hand.
"They're gone, Ferris," She breathed, her face soaked with sweat. "They're gone again..." He gripped her hand, her fingers weakly clinging to him, as he turned to the doctor.
"I know this is difficult, but the baby is still in there," he said sternly. "We need to get it out now. I need you to push."
"Rosaly, come on now," Ferris breathed, lifting her up.
"I can't."
"You need to. Push now, push,"
***
The doctor stood by the wash basin, his hands shaking as he rubbed them in the already crimson water. He reached for a bottle of alcohol, but Ferris was by his side.
"Please my lord," he began, but Ferris cut him off.
"What went wrong?"
"It's impossible to say."
"But we were doing well, weren't we? We did everything right! We followed your diet, we used your medicines. What's stopping this?"
"She held the child almost to term," Argyle confirmed as he poured alcohol over his trembling fingers. "But I can't be certain what caused the issue."
"But she can bear children, can't she?" Ferris asked.
"I can't see why not..."
"Then why have we still not had one?" He yelled. Behind them, the exhausted sobbing intensified as Rosaly bent over the tiny bundle of towels in her arms. The doctor took a deep breath, releasing it slowly as he padded his hands with a towel.
"I don't know why none of your children have survived," He said at last. "But I do know this; if she falls pregnant once more, it is unlikely she will survive the ordeal."
***
"Your blood pressure has returned to normal," Doctor Argyle explained, placing his equipment carefully in his bag and closing it. "Your heart rate is stabilized, your recovery is coming along excellently," He smiled at Rosaly, who smiled weakly in return. "You've fought valiantly." He commended her.
"Thank you Doctor," She nodded. "Do you know when we will next be ready to try again?" The doctor paused for a moment, then turned to her fully.
"It would be unwise to try again," he said at last.
"Well, I don't mean right away," she smiled, "I mean in a few months or so, when I'm feeling a little stronger," The doctor nodded.
"Yes, as did I," he stared intently at her. "Your body has gone through a tremendous strain, and not just this once. With you as my patient I have had to witness five still births from you. I do not know what is causing them but I must insist you do not try again,"
"But...but you said I was getting better," she said, confused, "You said I was recovering."
"From this ordeal, yes," Argyle nodded. "But I cannot be certain you would survive another term,"
"But you don't know that I wouldn't."
"It is unlikely," He warned. "I would advised you to forget this matter. Sometimes things simply are not supposed to be." She stared at him for a long moment, her eyes filled with something he could not identify. Finally she looked away, then shook her head.
"I am the Duchess of Tremaine." she said calmly. "The wife of Ferris, house of Felandrison. That name cannot end now."
"You are a woman," Argyle said, standing over her and gripped her shoulders. "Who has been through a terrible ordeal," he continued as he pushed her against the bed, forcing her to lie down. "Not once, not twice, but five times over."
"Ferris needs a son." She argued.
"You need your rest!" He retorted. "If you get pregnant once more you'll only be putting both yourself and the child in even greater danger. You will die." He spoke sternly, his eyes locked on hers. Slowly, she lifted her hands to his and pulled them free of her, then sat up, her eyes still fixed on his.
"He is my husband," she said calmly. "And I will not fail him." The doctor stared at her for a moment longer, then sighed heavily and stood.
"I will not help you kill yourself." he said simply. "I will not be here to deliver another dead child."
***
The door opened into Doctor Argyle's office and he looked up to see Ferris march into the room, closing the door behind him. He did not speak, only stood beside a cabinet, examining a conical flask containing a green solution.
"Duke Felandrison," The doctor acknowledged. "Is there something I can help you with."
"I hope so." he continued to frown at the conical flask, then drew a piece of parchment from his coat pocket and placed it carefully on the table. Argyle read the paper swiftly, then looked up.
"You want to conscript me."
"You're the best doctor in Tremaine," Ferris replied simply. "I'm marching to the south with an army to wipe out the Endermen threat on our border. The movement requires more soldiers than Tremaine has right now, however we cannot wait for reinforcements."
"So your using random conscription," Argyle concluded for him. "My name was drawn." Ferris nodded.
"There were several noblemen and generals present when your name came up. I couldn't stop it from happening." Ferris explained. "Your patients would be seen to by other medical professionals in the city..."
"Including Lady Rosaly," Argyle said slowly. Ferris nodded. Silence fell, then Argyle made to reach for a pen. Before he could pick it up, Ferris strode forward and drew the parchment back from the table.
"Duke, that paper requires my signature before I can join the forces," Ferris nodded.
"Indeed...it's a shame you're not here to sign it." Ferris said simply. Argyle frowned. "I came here to get the papers signed, however I found your office empty. Your receptionist told me you had been called away to a settlement on the other side of Aberdeene Loche on urgent business." He explained. "Your receptionist will swear to this as my guards have witnessed it as well..." Argyle raised an eyebrow.
"You want me to remain within the castle to look after Lady Rosaly." Ferris nodded.
"The army marches tomorrow at dawn. Your business will keep you occupied for at least two weeks and is in a remote settlement; we would not be able to contact you in time." Argyle nodded.
"Very well. My other patients will be seen to, yes?"
"All of them," Ferris nodded. Argyle stood then.
"I think I should get going then." He reached for his bag but Ferris held out a hand.
"There is...something else." Silence fell between them as Ferris fiddled with the parchment in his hands. "Two months ago, when...when we lost the last child...you told me Rosaly would die if she were to get pregnant again. Is that correct." Argyle nodded.
"It is." Ferris' lips thinned.
"She...she is persuasive." he admitted at last. "And determined. She wants another child."
"If you give in to her, she will die." Argyle said quietly. Ferris nodded.
"But if I don't I risk losing her anyway." he said, his voice also low. "IS there...among these bottles and tinctures...is there anything that I could use to..." his voice trailed off. Argyle took a deep breath, then nodded as he walked to a cabinet and drew a vial. He handed it to Ferris who opened it to see a thick paste inside.
"Smear it over yourself beforehand." He advised. "It is odorless so try to keep her hands away."
"What is it?"
"A spermicide. She will not get pregnant again if you use this." Argyle explained. Ferris nodded, then pocketed the vial.
***
The sun rose as Rosaly opened her eyes. She sighed contentedly as she rolled over to see Ferris standing before the window, the set of iron armour upon the stands before him, the sun showing through the window over his defined figure. She made to stand when Ferris reached forward and lifted the greaves, examining them, then began to strap the armour onto his limbs. She watched him dress, not moving until he lifted the helmet, the last piece of metal before him, then he turned to her.
"I must go." He explained. She nodded.
"I know." Silence fell as he stepped forward. Their fingers touched as they stared at each other.
"I love you,"
"And you," she replied. There was something unspoken between them, a rift unlike anything before. Last night, for the first time in years, they had been on the same side. After so many failed pregnancies, Rosaly was worried she was losing him, but then last night was...something different. And now this silence, this barricade of unspoken things. She had not told him of the doctor's words, and unknown to her Ferris had used the vial given by him. The weight of such unspoken truths dragged at their heels, crushing their hearts until it hurt to breathe. Finally Ferris drew his hand back and turned swiftly, not looking back as he hurried down the stairs. In the silence that followed Rosaly placed a hand on her stomach, a single tear rolling down her face.
***
Rosaly lowered the book as Gildos opened the trap door to her tower and climbed the last few steps. She smiled as she saw him, but his grim expression quickly sobered her.
"What is it? What's happened?" She asked. Gildos stepped closer, sitting on the edge of the bed as he searched for the right words.
"I've received word from the First Division." he said quietly. Rosaly placed the book on the table beside her and sat up, placing a hand on his atop the sheets. "I'm afraid the news is dire. Ferris has been killed." The words hung in the air. It did not seem real, and yet Rosaly knew it was true.
"How?"
"The general says he was supporting the right flank as they charged the town of Sommerton. It's unclear what happened after that." Rosaly's gaze drifting into the middle distance as Gildos placed a hand on her shoulder. Her hand instantly flew up over his, holding it in place. She swallowed, tears brimming her eyes.
"I'm so..." He broke off as she leapt forward, pulled him into a tight hug. Her chest heaved as she sobbed into his shoulder. He pulled her closer and held her steady for a long moment. She sniffed as she looked up, her eyes meeting his only inches apart. A primal desire rose within them both as Rosaly leaned toward him. Their lips touched as they both accepted their sorrow and yearning.
_________________ Ainmire Sera-Blodh of House Flenadrison, second of his name, King in the South, Ruler of Carrickshire, and slayer of false Kings. "The Crippled King" "Flanders"
Last edited by Flanders on January 25th, 2016, 10:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
|