“It’s your da, isn’t it? Something has happened to him,” she said, clenching her hands in worry.
Odran would not keep the truth from her. “Aye, he’s been stabbed several times, but he lives. Elysia has tended his wounds. It is now up to time and fate.”
“Take me to him,” his mum said, reaching out to her son.
Odran went to her, his arm going around her. He feared she would collapse, seeing her body tremble. “He’s in the Great Hall. Perhaps you should stay here. There is nothing you can do for him at the moment.”
“I most certainly can,” his mum said indignantly. “I can be with him. I can stroke his brow, hold his hand, let him know I love him.” She sniffled back tears.
“Aye, Mum, that you can and I am sure Da would want you to,” Odran said, realizing how much he would want Elysia at his side if he were dying.
His mum’s steps faltered a few times on the stairs but his firm hold kept her from falling. He made sure to keep hold of her as they approached the bed in the Great Hall, worried she would collapse when she saw her husband, looking so deathly pale.
Margaret gasped and pulled away from her son, though he didn’t let her go. He hurried her to sit on the chair beside the bed.
She reached out and stroked her husband’s brow gently. “I’m here, Fergus. I’m here with you. I won’t leave your side. I will see you get well. You will not leave me, Fergus. I refuse to let you go. I love you, always.” Tears fell softly and quietly down her cheeks.
Elysia had no hope of containing her tears. She let them fall, not only for Fergus and Margaret, but for her husband who kept his tears and pain locked behind his stern expression.
Lady Margaret went to move the blanket down to take his hand and Elysia hurried to help her.
“Let me,” Elysia said and carefully drew the blanket back. “Lord Fergus suffered several wounds to his chest, but they are minor.” She didn’t want Lady Margaret to get upset when she saw his bandaged, naked chest. “The wounds to his arms required more care and will require more healing time.” She placed Lord Fergus’s arm, the length of it swathed in cloth, atop the blanket. “He also suffered a wound to his lower left side which I stitched closed. If that heals well, he will do fine.”
Lady Margaret smiled, though her tears continued to fall. “Thank you for explaining that all to me, and your honesty, but most of all for helping my husband. I am grateful. You should rest now.”
“Mum, there is something else you should know,” Odran said, worried this was not the time to tell her about Elysia being with child, but concerned she might learn it before he could tell her himself.
“Elysia is with child,” his mum said, her eyes on her husband. “Did you hear that, Fergus? We are to be grandparents. You must get well. Our grandchild will need us.”
“You know?” Elysia asked, stunned, not only that the woman knew, but that she didn’t appear upset by it.
“I began to suspect shortly after you arrived here. My suspicions grew when you touched your stomach often during your visits with me. I did the same when I first learned I was with child. I was thrilled and amazed that a bairn was growing inside me. I could barely believe it. Other things confirmed it for me. I saw the small garment that peeked out of your stitching basket and I heard talk that you were not eating well in the mornings.”
“But you said nothing,” Odran said, surprised. “I thought for sure you would be upset with the news.”
“At first I was. I thought Elysia foolish and selfish to bring a bairn into this world to only make him suffer much like his father has. Then I got to know Elysia better. After a while I was surprised to feel hopeful that perhaps she would do what I couldn’t—successfully defeat the curse.”
“My sister will do that,” Elysia said with confidence.
“I pray you are right. I truly do,” Lady Margaret said. “Now you should rest while you can. You and the bairn both need it. I will look after my husband and send for you if necessary.”
“My mum is right. You need to rest,” Odran said, annoyed he hadn’t seen the tiredness in her eyes and the slump of her usually squared shoulders.
“I will be here to help Lord Fergus,” Lendra said from a nearby table.
“I can help as well,” Finch said, sitting next to Lendra.
Rory stepped out of a darkened corner. “I’ll do what I can. You will do Lord Fergus no good, Lady Elysia, if you don’t rest.”
Odran went to his wife. “I’ll walk you to our bedchamber.”