Mercy's Prince (48 page)

“Do
I have to sleep with the women? Can’t I sleep where the men do?”

Gwendolyn
laughed and tousled Rafael’s hair.

“He
has a point, Merry. He’s not a baby.”

Rafael
straightened at her remark. “O’course I’m not a baby. Sir Caelis said I could
be his page and then a knight someday.”

A
spike drove through Merry’s heart.
What do I say to him?

We
can deal with that issue later. For now, and if it’s all right with you, he may
stay in my rooms. He’s comfortable with Drew, and I hope he will grow to be
comfortable with me, too
.

Thank
you
. Merry
squeezed Valerian’s hand. “All right, Rafael. You may sleep with the men.”

“Thank
you, Sissy.” Rafael grinned.

Kieran
and Drew returned, carrying an unpadded chair. They set it beside Valerian’s
cot.

“This
is from your apartment, Sire,” said Drew.

“Of
all the chairs, ’twas the easiest for us to carry together.” Kieran wiped his
brow, feigning exhaustion. “There are quite a lot of stairs ’twixt here and
your rooms.”

“I
can just stay here.” Valerian grimaced. “I don’t wish to cause so much trouble.”

“Ach,
Sire, ’tis no trouble at all. Until you heal enough to wear a wooden leg and
learn to use it, Drew and I will be your legs.”

“Thank
you, Kieran. I think.” He made a face and turned to Drew. “I would like for you
to be my squire, if you can put up with me and Kieran here.”

Drew
went down on one knee and brought Valerian’s hand to his forehead.

“I
would be honored, Your Highness.” The young man swallowed.

Valerian
clasped Drew’s hand. “We have been through many trials, and we have gained strength
from them.”
He and I were squires together for my brother
.

Now
I understand
.
Merry hoped the haunted look in Drew’s eyes would fade with time.

Valerian
closed his eyes.

I
feel suddenly weary
.

It’s
the loss of blood. You should sleep now
.

They
will want to take me upstairs
.

You
can sleep here tonight. I can even stay with you
.

I
would like that
.

Merry
stood and faced the squires.

“Valerian
cannot go upstairs tonight. He needs to sleep now in the cot.”

“You
two can sleep in my room.” Valerian’s voice sounded far away. “Kieran, I know
you’ve been wanting to try out the big bed. Here’s your chance.”

“Thank
you, Sire.” Kieran saluted, grinning.

Merry
spoke to Rafael.

“Would
you rather stay here or go with Drew and Kieran?”

“Do
you need my help, Sissy?” He was torn between duty to his sister and friendship
with older males. Merry knew which was most important to him now.

“I
think our three patients will be too sleepy to need anything in the night. But
if they do, Gwendolyn can help me.”

Rafael’s
eyes shone with anticipation.

“Then
I would like to go with them.”

“All
right, love. I’ll see you in the morning.” She hugged her brother, and he
scampered from the room with the two squires.

Merry
helped Valerian lie back on the cot and covered him with a fur. She kissed his
mouth and then his eyelids.

Sleep
well, my prince
.

And
you, my beautiful Merry
.

Merry
had just helped Valerian to the chair when Kieran, Drew, and Rafael burst into
the infirmary. Drew came forward and went down on one knee.

“Your
Highness, King Orland stopped me in the hall and told me I could be your
squire.” His eyes shone.

Valerian
gripped his wrist.

“I’m
right glad, Drew. In truth, I feel a little selfish to have the two best
squires in all the land.” He beckoned Rafael to come closer. “What think you,
brother? We have two squires now.”

Rafael
met his eyes with a shy smile. Again, Valerian
Saw
a brief glimpse of
what the boy had suffered since Caelis and his men had massacred the Brethren,
and it twisted his heart. Somehow, he would make it up to him and try to be a
surrogate father, as well as an older brother.

Before
he could say more, King Orland entered.

“Good
morrow, all.” His father went first to Merry and kissed her hand. He kept her
hand in his while he came closer. “Valerian, do you feel up to attending a
celebration feast in the hall tonight?”

Merry,
love, will I be able to go and not fall asleep on my trencher?

Yes.
I’ll stay beside you to make sure
.

“I
believe so, Father.”

“Good! 
And if you feel up to exchanging vows with Lady Merry before Bishop Ignatius
later this morning, he can post the banns, and we’ll announce it at the feast.”

Have
you noticed my father is very energetic?

Yes,
I have
.

“That
sounds like a good plan, Father. I only wish we could marry today.” Valerian
met Merry’s gaze.

As
do I
.

“How
long did you plan to wait, my son?”

Valerian
gestured to his bandaged stump.

“I
would like to be able to stand on my own foot and wooden leg when I appear before
the altar with my bride.”

“That
is reasonable.” Orland looked at both of them, well pleased. “I look forward to
the blessed event.”

“Blessed
event? Is that what a wedding is called?”

“No,
Valerian. I’m anxious to have a grandchild.” The king chuckled and strode
toward the door. “I will see you tonight.”

“A
feast.” Kieran grinned. “’Tis been a while since we had good food.” His eyes
widened. “Ach, Drew, we have much to accomplish and little time to do it.”

“What
do you mean, Kieran?” Valerian asked, frowning.

The
squire bowed. “We need to clean and mend your royal surcoat and prepare a bath
for you, Sire.”

“Not
that surcoat again!”

“I’m
afraid so, my prince.” Kieran smiled in sympathy. “You canna appear at this
feast in anything less.”

“Very
well.” He shared a glance with Merry but spoke aloud for the squires’ benefit. “I’ll
need a nap today.”

After
Kieran and Drew left, taking Rafael with them, Merry took a step closer to
Valerian.

“I
can help you Heal faster, you know.”

“No,”
he said. The very thought of it troubled him. “I don’t want you to exhaust
yourself for something that will mend on its own.”

“But
I don’t have to do it all at once.” She stroked his hand. “I can help the
Healing along a little each day. That way it won’t tire me at all.”

“I
don’t know, Merry.” He gently gripped her hand.

“When
I Healed the phantom pain in Ruddy’s leg, it took very little energy. This
would be much like that.”

“Phantom
pain? Do you mean it isn’t real?”

“Oh
yes, the pain is real. I heard my father call it that, but until I touched
Ruddy’s stump I did not understand.” She kissed his hand before continuing. “When
a limb is no longer there, the rest of the body doesn’t realize it’s gone. The
brain keeps trying to tell it what to do.”

“So,
I will have those pains too?”

“Yes,
love, but you will be married to a Healer who can help you block them.”

Valerian
stared at the bandaged stump, and fresh grief stabbed him.

It’s
as if I’ve lost an old friend
.

In
a sense, you have. Grief is not a bad thing, as long as we don’t let it
overpower us
.

He
cupped her face in his hand.

“How
is it that you are so wise?”

She
kissed him tenderly.

“How
is it you won’t let a wise woman look at your leg?”

Valerian
sighed and held up his hands.

“Merry,
I surrender.”

She
unwrapped the bandage and studied the injury.

“Welden
did a good job on the stitches. There’s a little infection though. I want to
use some of the salve I put on my own leg injury.” She fetched her carry sack.

Valerian
lifted the stump to see the place, and shuddered. It was hideous. At least he
still had the knee joint. He should be grateful for that. Ruddy had no trouble
learning to walk, and he’d said that having a knee made all the difference.

Merry
knelt and spread salve all over the end of the stump. Then she cupped it in her
hands, and he briefly saw the glow of her Healing power. Amazingly, just that
small touch helped with the throbbing ache.

Thank
you, love. It does feel better
.

She
gazed up at him. Her shorter hair made her appear even younger the way it
framed her face. He stroked its silky softness.

“I
still want to grow my hair long and braid it to honor the Brethren,” he said. “I
hope that won’t distress you.”

Merry
captured his hand between her own.

“Of
course not. I won’t ever cut my hair again either.” She smiled. “Our braids
will be the same length.”

As
soon as Merry stood, Bishop Ignatius entered the infirmary wearing his
embroidered surplice and a skull cap instead of his mitre. He nodded at Merry
and Valerian.

“Your
Highness, my lady, I understand from King Orland that you wish for me to
witness your vows of betrothal.”

“Yes,
Your Grace.” Valerian kissed Merry’s hand. “I have asked for the lady’s hand
and she has accepted.”

Kieran,
Drew, and Rafael returned, out of breath.

“Are
we too late, Sire?” asked Kieran.

“No,
you are just in time.” Valerian longed to ask where they had been.

The
bishop looked at the three young men.

“Are
these your witnesses, then?”

Merry
beckoned to Gwendolyn and indicated the two recovering patients on the cots.

“And
these also.”

Bishop
Ignatius raised an eyebrow.

“An
unusual collection of witnesses.”

“We
would have no other, Your Grace,” said Valerian.

The
bishop became serious and turned to Merry.

“My
lady, I understand you are a royal cousin, though not so close as to prevent
marriage to the prince. Is Merry the name you were christened with?”

“No,
Your Grace. I was christened Mercy, but I no longer go by that name.”

Mercy?
What a beautiful name
.
“Why did you never tell me?”

Her
face grew sad.

“When
you and Kieran first found me, I was deeply grieving the loss of everyone and
everything I knew. I thought no one alive knew me as Mercy, so when Kieran
asked to call me Merry, it seemed good at the time.” Rafael hugged her.

“I’m
sorry, my lady,” Kieran said, chagrined. “I shouldn’t have pressed ye about
taking that name.”

“Please,
dear Kieran,” Merry said. “Never apologize for that. You giving me a new name
helped me find a reason to keep on living.”

Bishop
Ignatius cleared his throat.

“That’s
settled, then.” He spoke to Valerian, who was still seated in the chair. “It is
customary to kneel, Sire, but if you are not able—”

“We
can help ye with that, my lord,” Kieran said. “Rafael, will ye toss me a
pillow, lad?”

Rafael
brought a pillow from an unused cot, and Kieran placed it on the floor in front
of the bishop.

“Come,
Drew, our prince must kneel and needs us to be his supports.”

Nervously,
Valerian put a hand on each of their shoulders and hopped to the pillow. Leaning
heavily upon his squires he lowered himself to a kneeling position. He tried to
put most of his weight on the uninjured leg.

The
bishop held out his hand for Merry, and she knelt on Valerian’s left side.

“The
vows of betrothal are as binding as the marriage vows. They should never be
taken lightly, without commitment. Because you will be king someday, Prince
Valerian, you and your future queen must enter into the marriage contract with
greater seriousness than most couples.” He addressed Valerian.

“Do
you, Valerian d’Alden, agree to enter into the covenant of marriage with this
woman, Mercy known as Merry?”

He
bared his mind to Merry. “I do so promise, so help me God.”

The
bishop turned to Merry.

“And
do you, Mercy known as Merry, agree to enter into the covenant of marriage with
this man, Valerian d’Alden?”

“I
do so promise, so help me God.”

Bishop
Ignatius then placed Merry’s right hand in Valerian’s right and bound them with
his stole.

“By
this handfasting, I bind you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost until such time as you are able to make your marriage vows to one another
before the altar of the Most High. What God has joined together, let not man
put asunder.”

Valerian
gazed into Merry’s eyes, too full of joy for words, when the bishop said, “You
may kiss her now, Sire, to seal the vow.”

Valerian
leaned toward Merry and kissed her gently.

Then
the bishop unwrapped the stole and bade them rise. Merry stepped away so Kieran
and Drew could help Valerian back to the chair.

Kieran
turned to Merry, looking more serious than Valerian had ever seen him.

“And
now, my lady, we must take your betrothed away in order to present him in all
his splendor later today.” He bowed solemnly, and he and Drew lifted Valerian
in the chair, bearing him out of the infirmary. Rafael led the way.

I’m
sorry, Merry. Things have quickly gone beyond my control
.

It’s
not the first time, and probably won’t be the last. Farewell for now
.

Fortunately
this time it will not be for long
.

***

Merry
felt bereaved after Valerian left. She knew it was ridiculous, but she didn’t
want to let him out of her sight. After they did marry, would she finally be at
peace? She came to herself and realized Gwendolyn was waiting patiently.

“I’m
sorry, Gwen. I’ve been lost in thought.”

“It’s
all right, my lady.” Gwendolyn winked. “I just need you to check on Brentley’s
foot. He wants to know if he can use crutches yet.” She lowered her voice. “He’s
heartily bored, and Tristam as well.”

“Tristam?”
Merry gasped. “I never asked his name.” She’d been neglecting both of her
patients since Valerian was brought to the infirmary.

“You’ve
been rather distracted lately.” Gwendolyn smirked, and Merry blushed.

She
hurried to Brentley’s cot and sat near his bandaged foot.

“I
understand you’re bored. That’s a good sign.” Merry smiled at him.

“My
lady, I wish I could get out of here. Not that I don’t appreciate what you and
Lady Gwendolyn and Rafael have done for me.”

“Think
no more about it, Brentley. Let me examine your foot.” Merry cupped her hands
around the bandage and closed her eyes. Using the Healing power, she could
See
the bones beginning to mend. Fortunately, no infection clouded that process. She
did bring together a few small fragments that she hadn’t fused before and let
go of the power before it could drain her strength.

“Your
foot looks good, considering how badly it was crushed. If you promise not to
put any weight upon it for at least a month, I can release you on crutches.”

“Lady,
for you I’d promise anything.” Brentley brought his fist to his heart in a
gesture that greatly touched her.

“Gwendolyn,
bring some crutches, please.”

They
helped the squire pull himself up so he could position the crutches under his
arms. Merry bade Gwendolyn stay with him while he practiced walking around the
infirmary. She went to Tristam and sat beside him. He stared at her with his
remaining eye. It was the palest blue with long dark lashes. He had been a
handsome young man. Now his ruined face was marred with ugly stitches.