Chapter Twenty-Six #3
His knights left the corridor, noisy armor and mail echoing off the walls, the stairwell, until the sounds of death and warfare faded away.
Brandt stood in the corridor, summoning every ounce of courage he had to do what he knew he had to do.
Already, it was killing him. He would have to leave his wife.
Quietly, he pushed open the chamber door.
The midwife was burning white sage and peppermint because, Brandt suspected, she had a bit of mystic in her so the room smelled strongly as he entered.
Ellowyn was lying on her back on the big bed, her eager attention focused on him as he came into the room.
He smiled at her as he approached the bed.
“So you are awake?” he asked lightly. “I have not seen those lovely eyes in quite some time.”
Ellowyn smiled weakly in return. “How is everything?” she asked. “Did the castle fare well in the siege?”
He hadn’t really spoken to her about any of it because she had been sleeping so much. He sat down on the bed beside her and collected her soft hand, kissing it.
“Well enough,” he replied, but he changed the subject right away. He didn’t want to speak of the castle or his army just yet. “How are you feeling?”
Her smile faded. “Well, I suppose,” she said. “I want to get up and move about but the midwife will not let me.”
Brandt glanced at the midwife, who shook her head at him. He returned his focus to his wife.
“Has the pain in your belly gone away?” he asked.
She turned her head, not looking at him. “Not entirely.”
“Then perhaps you should listen to her.”
Unhappy with the opinion, Ellowyn simply kept her head turned, bordering on a pout. Brandt looked over at the midwife again and jerked his head in the direction of the door, silently ordering the woman to leave. Fortunately, she understood his command and slipped from the room.
When they were finally alone, Brandt leaned over Ellowyn, arms braced on either side of her. He studied the shape of her face, seeing perfect beauty in her delicate features. But she was staring off into the room, refusing to meet his eye, so he leaned down and began to gently suckle her jawbone.
“Do you recall when we first met that I said you were pleasing to the eye?” he murmured.
Ellowyn closed her eyes as he kissed her, thinking back to that day of days. “You also said you had no use for me.”
“I lied.”
Her grin broke through and she looked up at him, seeing how very weary he appeared. Reaching up, she stroked his rough cheeks tenderly.
“What is happening?” she begged softly. “Is there more battle to come?”
The twinkle in his eyes dimmed. “Eventually,” he told her.
“Jean’s army is bivouacked about twelve miles south.
They did not make it very far with all of the wounded they are carrying.
Additionally, I am told that there is very bad weather to the south which is also hampering their travel.
The king is moving south to attack Edward, I believe, and it is my intention to weaken him seriously before he can accomplish that. ”
She gazed up at him. “When will you leave?”
He sighed heavily and averted his eyes. “Before the sun sets.”
“That does not give us much time to say what needs to be said.”
He looked at her again, his expression guarded. “I do not want to go, Wynny.”
She nodded patiently. “I know,” she said. “But you must. Too many people are depending on you.”
“Do you want me to go?”
“Of course not. But if you remain with me, who else can command in your stead? Who else can bring fear to the hearts of men but the Black Angel?”
He grunted with displeasure at her statement, at the situation in general, before stretching out on the bed beside her and wrapping her up in his arms as much as he was able.
Armor and a mail coat made it very difficult but he did the best he could.
He had to hold her, to feel her in his arms. It gave him such comfort.
As he lay there with his mouth on her forehead, tears began to fill his eyes. He simply couldn’t help it.
“The midwife says she does not know what is wrong with you,” he whispered.
“She believes we should wait and see if your pain subsides because it is too early for the child to be born. However, if your pains do not subside, she says there is a potion she can give you to induce the birth. Wynny, if it comes to saving your life or the child’s, I will choose your life every time.
We can always have another child, but there will never be another you. ”
She sighed faintly. “The child will be fine,” she insisted. “There is nothing to worry over.”
“Are you still feeling pain?”
“Not much,” she lied.
He wasn’t sure if he believed her or not but he let it go. He leaned back, pinching her chin between his thumb and forefinger and forcing her to look at him.
“Do you understand me?” he said softly. “If the choice is between you and the child, I will choose you. Those are my wishes and you will not disobey them.”
“I understand.”
Gazing into her bottomless eyes, he kissed her tenderly.
Then he kissed her again and hugged her tightly, staving off the flood of tears that threatened.
Ellowyn sensed his sadness, wrapping her arms around his neck and squeezing him tightly.
She sensed his deep reluctance and his unwillingness to do what he had been born and trained to do.
His mind was with her and as long as he believed she was in danger, his thoughts would be with her even though his body would be with the army.
Distraction is deadly. It was all she could think of.
She didn’t want her distracted husband taking an arrow to the chest because he wasn’t being vigilant.
It would absolutely destroy her. She tried not to think on that terrible dream that had plagued her for so long, the one she now determined had something to do with Brandt.
The de Russe dragon on the breastplate. Brandt didn’t give any stock in her dreams and she would not bring it up.
Perhaps this one would not come true, as others had not.
Perhaps it was just the musings of her overactive mind.
Still, it was difficult to shake off the sense of foreboding she had at Brandt’s imminent departure.
But it would be her burden to bear alone. As much as she didn’t want him to go to war, she knew she had to be the strong one at this moment. He had to continue Edward’s fight and she could not stop it. Brandt had to believe she was well and that everything was going to be all right.
“I do not want you to worry,” she said, forcing her courage. “I am feeling much better. I am sure everything will be fine. But I must ask you a question.”
“What is that?”
“How are you feeling?”
He paused, considering the question. “My strength has never been better,” he replied. “But my mind….”