The Queen of Rosefield

Chapter 11

    The young queen checked the progress on the North Wing of the castle to see how much work had been finished.  The halls were already cleaned as were most of the chambers on the four different levels.  Four small beds were built and placed around each of the chambers and the younger children carried in straw while older boys and girls stuffed it into ticks for mattresses. 

    "It's looking good in here."  She said and left the chamber she was checking.  She watched other people washing and scrubbing in the other chambers as they tried to hurry their work.  When the young queen saw Hester, she spoke.  "How is the work progressing?"

    "It's slow my queen, but we do have sixty chambers that are completed with beds and ticking.  Then there're twelve chambers being cleaned right now and four chambers the wood workers are building the beds for."  She said as she thought about the work.

    "It's going to look good once it's all clean.  These halls have been neglected for to long."  The young queen said as they walked.

    "Yes my queen."  Hester said and nodded.

    "Keep up the good work.  I hear the worst of the wounded are on the way here now and we must have the chambers ready to receive them."  She said and hurried back to the great hall.  She was in time to see Sally being shoved from the kitchens by one of the cooks.

    "You need to keep that crazy woman out of my kitchen herbs."  The cook said and turned to face the queen.

    "You need to keep your hands off Sally."  The queen said and slapped the cook across the face as hard as she could.  "No one touches her, nor do they speak to me like that, and if Sally needs herbs, let her get them.  They aren't yours."

    "Yes my queen."  The cook said and hurried back to the kitchen with a red hand print on her face.

    "Sir Talbert, take Sally to the forest and let her gather the herbs she needs.  Take some food and watch out for her."  The young queen said.

    "Yes my queen."  He said and took Sally by the arm before he looked at the queen.  "What of her child?"

    "He'll be fine here.  He's clean and fed and my old nurse is looking after him."  She said.  "Now get some food and go."  She told the young knight and watched him leave the great hall.

    "It's such a shame that that beautiful girl cannot hear a word we say."  Lady Rothschild said as she joined the queen.

    "Yes it is."

    "She's taken with you my queen."

    "So I've been told."  She said and went to where the knights and lords were gathered.  "What's the word of the battle?"

    "The king is coming back to the castle for counsel."  Lord Rothschild said.

    "When?"

    "We don't know yet."

    "Do you know why?"  When the lords and knights looked at each other, the queen knew the news wasn't good.  "What have you heard?"

    "We have news that Casteel has married Lady Anna."

    "Does this Casteel think Anna is the rightful Queen of Rosewood?"  She wanted to know.

    "Yes my queen."

    The queen went to her bed chamber and fell into a deep sleep soon afterward.  She had only been queen for a few short days and it was already running her ragged.  She was sleeping soundly when she felt someone climb into her bed and lay at her feet.  "Who's in here?"  She asked and saw the shape of a woman curled up on the bed.  "Who's in here?"  She asked again as a knock sounded on her door and a mans voice made the queen sit up.  "Who is it?"

    "It's Sir Talbert my queen.  Sally has ran off from me and I don't know where she is."  He said.

    "Open the door and bring in a light."

    "My queen, I cannot do that."

    "Then go get another woman to come in here with you.  I believe Sally is in my bed."

    "My queen, I'm sorry.  I'll hurry back with a woman soon."  He said and hurried off in search of any woman he could find.

    The queen was still awake when Agnes entered the chamber with a candle in her hand.  She lit the other candles in the chamber and looked at the queen who motioned to the foot of the bed.  There, sleeping at the feet of the queen was Sally.

    "Oh my queen, the poor child looks so peaceful, and I hate to wake her."  Agnes said as she looked at the sleeping Sally.

    "Maybe you wont have to.  Is there a bed chamber nearby that's empty?"  The queen asked.

    "There's one just across the hall from you.  I'll turn the covers down."

    "Sir Talbert, can you carry Sally to the room across the hall that Agnes spoke about?"

    "Yes my queen."  He said and gently took Sally into his arms.  "She's so beautiful and innocent."  He said before he carried her from the queens chamber.

    Agnes soon returned to the queens chamber and straightened up the covers.  "I believe that young Sir Talbert is smitten with Sally."  She said as she fussed with the covers.  "He's doomed to a life of service and he deserves a little bit of happiness in his life, even if Sally is a few years older than he is."

    "Why is Sir Talbert doomed to a life of service?"  The young queen wanted to know.

    "He's the youngest of fifteen children, and the seventh son of his father."

    "So his father left him no lands."

    "No my queen.  He had nothing left for Sir Talbert."

    "It's a shame.  If I have any say in the matter I would give Sir Talbert his own lands to rule."

    "It's a beautiful thought my queen.  Now you go on back to sleep.  I hear the king will arrive by midday on the morrow."

    "Thank you Agnes."  The young queen said and lay back down.  "I am tired."  She said and closed her eyes again.

    It seemed like only minutes before Agnes and Lady Rothschild rushed into the bed chamber.  "My queen, get up quickly.  The king is here."  They said as the covers were pulled from the young queen.

    She rose from her bed and let the two women dress her in her armor.  They placed her helmet on her head before they shoved her from her chamber to face a knight.  Sir Darren was standing in front of her and he wore a grave expression on his face.

    "What is it Sir Darren?"  She asked and reached for his hand.

    "The king has been wounded."  He said and they began heading for the great hall.

    "Is he hurt bad?"

    "We don't know.  He wont let us touch him, but I believe the wound is bad."

    "Who brought him in?"

    "Sir John brought him my queen."  Sir Darren said and reached for the queens arm to stop her from running the rest of the way to the great hall.  He turned her to face him before he continued speaking.  "I fear he'll die."

    "Sir John, or the king?"  the young queen asked softly.

    "Both my queen."  He said as gently as he could.

    "They're hurt that bad."

    "Yes, I'm afraid so."  He said and the young queen saw what looked like a tear in the eyes of the fist knight.

    "Who else?"  She asked.

    "My father is dead, as are the other guards of the king."

    "I'm so sorry Sir Darren."  She said and they hurried on their way to the great hall.

    "Were there anymore wounded brought in?"

    "No my queen.  They still haven't made it in yet."

    "Send someone to help bring them in.  Get carts, horses, whatever it takes to get the wounded here."

    "Yes my queen."  He said and left her side when they reached the doors of the great hall.

    The queen made her way to the king and saw that his face was pale.  Blood stained his armor from several wounds that were now bound.  "My king."  She whispered and watched as he slowly turned his head to look at her.

    "My daughter.  My beautiful black haired child."  He said and coughed.  "Are you doing alright here?  You haven't had any problems with anyone have you?  So many didn't even know you existed."

    "There was nothing that I couldn't handle my king."

    "That's good.  Now you go see your friend Sir John.  He's been nothing but a grand knight to your old father."  He said and motioned toward the wounded knight.

    "Yes my king."  She said and went to the equally bloody knight.  She knelt beside the knight and took his hand in hers.  "Sir John."  She whispered and the knight looked at her with pain filled eyes.  "My dear friend, you hang on."

    "My queen."  He whispered and smiled at her.  "I have an arrow in my back and I fear it has already killed me."

    She leaned closer to the knights face and placed her hand upon his cheek.  "Don't talk to me like that.  What would I do without you?"  She asked gently and stroked his whiskered jaw as she looked him in the eyes.

    "You would find another to take my place."  He said.

    "But Sir John, you are one of the first true friends that I made so I wont let you die."  She whispered.  "I need you here."

    "He smiled at the queen, then frowned as Sir Talbert led Sally to him.  "Who's she?"  He asked as Sally looked at him.  "What does she want?"

    "Quiet Sir John.  Sir Talbert, get his armor off while Sally looks at the king."  She said and led the girl to the king.  She waited for her to look at the king and watched as Sally held the kings hand for a few seconds before she looked back at her and started making motions with her hands.  "What do you mean?"  The queen asked and didn't notice the lords and knights were watching the deaf girl.  "What is it?"  She asked gently and Sally made a move as if she were drinking.  "Drink?  A drink.  Cup.  You need the kings cup."  She said in excitement and someone hurried up with the kings cup as the queen tried to figure out what else was needed.

    Sally made a movement that looked like pouring then she fanned her mouth.  She did this twice and watched the queen as she knew what was wanted.  "Hot water.  She needs hot water for a tea!"  the queen said.

    A cooks helper soon came running with the hot water and they watched as Sally made a tea.  When she finished, she tried to get the king to drink it, but he wouldn't.  "My king, please drink the tea.  It will help you."  The young queen said and took the cup from Sally.  "Please Father, please drink."  She said and placed the cup to his lips so he could drink.

    "When he was finished drinking the tea, he looked at his daughter with clearer eye.  "I do feel better."  He said and watched as Sally went to Sir John.  "Who is she?"

    "One of the villagers.  Her name is Sally, and she's deaf."

    "Is she a healer?"

    "I believe she is?"

    "She has helped me already."  He said and his voice sounded like he was relaxing more.

    Sally had turned Sir John over so she could look at his wounded back.  It was covered with blood and Sir Talbert turned his head from the sight just as the queen stepped to his side.  "Is there nothing we can do for my brother?"  The young knight asked his queen.

    "Your brother?"  She asked the young knight as she looked from him and then back at Sir John.

    "My half brother, but my brother no less."  He said.

    "I'm sure Sally will do what she can for him."  She said and felt Sally's hand on her leg.  She looked down at her and again watched the hands move.  "A sharp knife.  Very sharp and, I don't understand."  Sally made a motion like she was hurting.  "Pain.  Something for pain."

    "Willow bark.  I remember she did that when we were gathering wild herbs in the woods and she found a willow tree."

    "Get it."

    "Yes my queen."  He said and hurried off.

    Once more Sally wanted a cup and hot water, and again she made a tea.  She forced Sir John to drink it and after a while he began to dose off.  Not once did Sally stop her work as the medicines she gave the wounded men began to work.  She went from the king to the large table and back to the king to apply a salve to several cuts he wouldn't let anyone else tend.  When she was finished with the salve, she made the king more tea and watched him drink it all.  She touched the queen and closed her eyes as she looked at the king.

    "What did she say?"  Sir Darren asked from behind the young queen.

    "The king will sleep soon."  She said.

    "When he sleeps, we'll move him to his bed chamber so we can better see to his wounds."

    "Good Sir Darren.  Now let's see what Sally needs for Sir John."  She said when Sally became furious at a knight and all eyes went to her.

    "She's daft."  The knight said and before he knew it, the flat side of a sword had connected with the side of his head.

    "Never say that about Sally again."  She said with anger in her voice.

    "Yes my queen."  The knight said and looked at the floor.

    "She's only trying to tell you what to do."

    "She wants him on the table."  Sir Darren said and stepped to Sir John's side.  "Help me lift him up."

    The two knights lifted Sir John and lay him on his belly on the table.  Sally looked at the wound again and quickly made a paste of willow bark and leaves.  She then heated the sharp knife over a candle before she started to dig the arrow out of Sir John's back.  Fresh blood ran down Sir John's side as Sally cut the arrow out, she quickly cleaned the wound and packed it with the willow bark paste before she cleaned several other smaller wounds.  When she was finished, she looked at the king and saw he was sleeping soundly.  She followed the knights that carried the king to his bed chamber and when they took his armor off, she went to work on all of the kings other wounds.  One wound she had to sew up after she cleaned it out and she smiled when she was finished and had left the chamber.  She went to find Sir John and check on him before she went back to the bed she had been sleeping in.

    The young queen looked at the lords and knights as they were gathering around the great table in silence.  She could tell they were all as worried as she was now.  She walked to the head of the table and was soon joined by Sir Darren.  "Lords and knights, soon I'll go to the chapel to pray for my father the king and Sir John, as well as for our lands.  If you have it in your heart to pray, then pray.  If you fear there'll be no king if our king dies, don't.  A new king has been chosen to sit on the throne beside me as my husband and he is not only a man that I trust, but a man my father the king trust."

    "Who is it Queen Malana?"  Several knights wanted to know.

    "It's Sir Darren."  She said and looked at each of the lords and knights.  "Now is not the time to dwell upon it.  We're at war with Casteel.  Sir Darrel is trying to get Lady Anna back, but we have no peace.  This is a time of war, when it is over, it will be as God has said and we'll mourn for our dead, have some peace, marry, love, and bare children.  We'll be happy and sad, but we must live and carry on as God has demanded of us until then."  She said and turned away from the lords and knights to head to the chapel.

    She was kneeling before the alter with her sword handle above her head like a cross when others began to join her.  She never turned her head as the chapel filled with the men and women who would serve her to their deaths if she asked them to.