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Varrick stood and turned to see Corwin had returned. “Aye, Corwin, all is well.”
“The men grow anxious. They wait for you to take the lead, my lord.”
“I’m ready,” Fia said in a whisper only her husband could hear.
“We will be right there,” Varrick called out.
Corwin nodded, a pleased smile on his face. “Aye, my lord.”
“You are sure?” Varrick asked, turning to his wife, and when she nodded, he leaned down to hook his hands under her arms and lift her up gently out of the snow.
“You must be chilled,” he said once he had her on her feet.
“Chilled enough to keep me comfortable,” she said with a satisfied sigh.
“Then we leave and get home where you can properly tend to yourself.”
* * *
It should have beena brief ride but the substantial snow that had fallen overnight slowed it considerably as did the decision to skirt the troubled area of the forest, adding a bit more time to the ride.
The chill dissipated faster than Fia would have liked, and the ride jostled her about, inciting her soreness. She held her tongue, not wanting to delay their return home. But the short distance seemed to stretch on forever until she had to smother her discomfort with locked lips.
“You are in pain, I can feel it,” Varrick said as the castle walls came into view.
“Aye,” she said, not able to contain her discomfort any longer. “But we are not far from home.”
“I can stop—”
“Nay, please, Varrick, I just want to get home,” she pleaded.
“Aye, but it is in our bed where you will spend the rest of the day,” he ordered.
“Some rest will help,” she said with no intention of spending the remainder of the day in bed.
“Bed. The rest of the day for you,” Varrick said, making sure she understood his command.
Fia had no desire to argue with him and even less desire to be dictated to, especially after having lived freely and doing as she pleased. But she could not hold her tongue. If their marriage were to have a chance, she needed to speak her peace to him without worry.
“I cannot bear confinement. I have spent much of my time exploring the forest, gathering plants, learning from the animals, doing what I enjoy. And now, having a home, I find myself eager to talk with others and continue to learn in new surroundings. I also know what is best for me when it comes to healing and it would be unwise of me not to do what is necessary for me to heal.” When he remained silent, staring at her oddly, she continued. “I believe it is also wise of me to speak my peace to you so we may come to better understand each other, which I believe will benefit us in securing a good, strong marriage. I understand you order me to rest out of concern, but as I have said on another occasion that if for some reason I ever had to battle at your side, I would follow without question all you told me to do since you are far more knowledgeable about battle than I am, just as I am far more knowledgeable when it comes to healing than you are.”
His wife was not a witch. She was a woman of vast wisdom, a woman he was lucky to have as his wife.
“You make sense more often than not, wife,” he said.
She smiled but then lately she often wore a smile and he never failed to take delight in it. Rarely had he found delight in anything until his wife had come along.
“I will trust that you do what is necessary to heal.”
“On that you have my word,” Fia said.
They continued the short distance to the castle walls and beyond, and soon reached the keep. With one arm around her waist, Varrick lowered his wife off his horse.
“I must speak with Argus, see to your care.”
“Aye,” Fia said and made her way to the steps, stopped, and turned to watch him ride off, then hurried around the side of the keep and to the back where no one would see her and plopped down in a snow drift, sighing with relief as the snow began to numb her pain once again.
“Are you all right, my lady?”
