Soul Searching (Chapter 18)
Mandie:
Earlier that same morning, much earlier, Rebecca sat up in bed. Something was going to happen. A feeling of dread filled the girl’s heart. Sometimes she had these feelings, and usually they were right. No one knew about them but the family, in fear that Rebecca would be labeled a witch. She concentrated on her feeling for a moment, trying to feel where it was coming from. Her eyes flew open, and she bolted out of bed, racing to her parent’s room. “Mother!” The harsh whisper floated over the sleeping couple, waking the older woman. Blinking sleepily, she looked at her daughter. “Mary needs us. Please, Mama, we need to go to Mary.”
Long ago, Sarah had learned to listen to Rebecca’s feelings. Although it might not be proper to go out on All Hallow’s Eve, she had no doubt that her older daughter would need her this day. Waking her husband, she requested a small contingency of soldiers be made ready. The two women quickly dressed and packed a few items and left the house. By the time that Sally was desperate for help, they were just outside the village gates.
* * *
Sally sat beside the bed, tears running down her cheeks as she watched her dear friend going through so much pain. Downstairs, the front door opened, and the Marbourne women entered the house. Mary’s scream echoed through the entryway, and the two of them dropped their things on the floor and raced up to Mary’s room. Sarah’s eyes took in the situation in moments.
“Aniseed oil might calm the cramps.” Sally looked up in gratitude. Running from the room, she found the vial of oil sitting on a shelf in the herbarium. Grabbing it, she rushed back to the room to find the other women holding Mary down as yet another pain ripped through her.
Sally massaged the oil into the hardened belly, hoping that she had done it in time. Unfortunately, Mary was too far gone, and the next contraction broke her bag of waters. “It is too late.” Sarah’s voice was filled with sorrow. “We must deliver the baby, and hope God sees fit to save them both.”
Throughout the morning and into the afternoon, Mary’s labor continued. Finally, with a groan, her small stillborn son was delivered into the world. Sarah sadly handed the small body to Sally, who went to wash him off. The elder Blakes returned home only to find sadness and devastation. Charlotte took over the care of her grandson, while Baron John sent his men out to find his son. The small body was dressed carefully in his father’s christening gown, and laid in a small box on the floor of the dining room. A priest would be called to bless the body, and then he would be laid to rest in the family crypt.
John was found fairly quickly, and he raced home, unaware of the death of his son. His thoughts and prayers were with his wife. “Oh God, not Mary! Don’t take my Mary!” The prayerful mantra ran through his head over and over until he was finally by her side. He knelt next to the woman that he loved, tears in his eyes. “Oh Mary! I am so sorry I wasn’t here for you!” Her took her pale limp hand in his and brought it to his trembling lips.
A powerful fever came over Mary, weakening her body. All she wanted to do was follow her son into eternal sleep. The only thing that was holding her back was the need to talk with her husband. Day turned into night, and Mary had still not regained consciousness.
John was left alone with his wife, the others giving them their privacy. He bent low over the bed, praying that she would waken, that everything would be all right. A small groan got his attention, and he looked up to see Mary looking back at him.
“Oh my Love! I love you so.” He had tears in his eyes as he gently caressed her lips with his. “I’m glad you are awake.”
“Not for long now.” She whispered, realizing the truth of the matter.
“Hush, now!” Please don’t say that!” He couldn’t picture his life without her. Surely she wouldn’t leave him alone!
Mary smiled wanly at her husband. “We were meant to be together you know.” Her voice was weak and scratchy.
“Hush, Love. Save your strength.” A tear rolled from John’s eye. He couldn’t stand the idea of losing her. Only together could they overcome the death of their son.
She shook her head. “Not much time left, now.” She took his chin and made him look at her. “I will find you. Sometime, in another life perhaps, I will find you.” She sighed. The weight on her chest seemed to grow ever heavier. The pain was almost unbearable, and Mary wanted to embrace oblivion. Darkness invaded her sight, and she knew that the end had come. “I...will find . . . you . . . ” The whisper was barely audible as the life left her body.
John sobbed over his wife’s body. “I’ll wait for you, my love. No matter how long it takes. I’ll wait.” As Sarah tried to pry him away, he couldn’t seem to let go.
“Come now, John. It’s over now.” His mother-in-law had tears in her eyes as well. She couldn’t believe her eldest daughter was gone. She led him away, taking him to another bedroom. She left him to his mourning, sobbing away on his pillow. Rolling her sleeves up, she walked back into the sickroom, trying to prepare herself for the task ahead. Rebecca was already in there, standing by her sister’s head. “This is not the place for you, young lady.”
“Now, Mama,” The girl sighed, “No one else loved her the way that I did. This is my way to say goodbye. Please let me stay.” As usual, her daughter made sense. Sally quietly lay her hand on Sarah’s arm. The three of them reverently prepared the body for burial, tears flowing freely down their faces.
The night was long, but morning finally arrived. John stood in the cold air, watching as the coffins of his wife and son were laid to rest in the family crypt. He felt as if his life had ended. No happiness, no warmth. Only darkness and cold. His hands clenched into fists. How could he have let this happen? How could they be gone? The son he would never know, and the wife he could never forget.
Rebecca gently laid her hand on his arm. “From now on, the eldest daughter in our family will be named Mary Elizabeth. She will never be forgotten.” He smiled down at her, touched by the effort on her part. Mary would be remembered until the end of time.
When the crypt had been closed, John allowed himself to be led away. His own family followed, trying to lend their strength, but he could not bring himself to care. He closed himself in his study, and sat alone in the dark with only his thoughts as companions.
As the day faded, Robert finally approached the study, unable to let John be alone any longer. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for you, Brother.” He sat in a chair in front of the desk. He had never seen John like this. He seemed like a shell of the vibrant man he knew.
“I’m leaving tonight.” John finally looked up. Robert nodded, he had almost been expecting this. “I go to help King Henry fight. There is much unrest between him and his brother. I don’t think I will return from this.”
Robert swallowed, an odd ache in his throat at the thought of his brother dead somewhere. “I will not let you be forgotten. Every eldest son in our family will be named John William. Your memory will live on.”
John smiled sadly. “Maybe my namesake and Mary’s will meet again one day.” He stood and clasped arms with his brother. Then he turned and walked out of the room. After packing a saddlebag, he left the house. It wasn’t his home, not anymore. His home, his heart, lay in a darkened crypt. Well, he would be joining her soon enough.
February 1, 1101: King Henry’s brother, Robert, attacks, hoping to steal the crown. After the ferocious battle, many lay dead on either side. One of those bodies, lying on the battlefield, had an oddly peaceful expression on his face. As if he had finally found his way home.
oddball011:
omg. please update!!!
dangermouse:
Oh no! You can't leave it like this :(
Mandie:
Don't worry, this was only part one. :)
oddball011:
hmmm *thinks about what will happen next*
please update!
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