by Lisa Heaton
Elias spoke to the remaining soldier. “I will tend to the fire. Go quickly and see if you can find anything at all dry to keep a fire going for the princess.”
The man departed, and the two were momentarily left alone.
“Are you all right, Isabel?” Elias asked.
The fear on her face was evident as she watched the winds howl outside the cave. On one occasion he had reached for her arm and pulled her deeper within the cave as debris began to blow and swirl about too close for comfort.
“I am.” She turned to him, her eyes wild with wonder. “I’ve never witnessed a spring storm so severe.”
“Nor have I, but you’re safe in here. We will hunker down until this passes.”
Men began to file in carrying several of her trunks. At risk of their own safety, they had brought her dry clothes and blankets.
“You’ll catch your death of cold,” one said to her.
“Thank you, Edward. This was kind of you, but please, don’t risk yourself for me. Stay safe.”
He smiled a shy smile as he ducked back out of the cave and made his way down the muddy hill. The others followed him out.
Isabel looked up at a smiling Elias. “Your men are the bravest I’ve ever known.”
He chuckled. “They learned it from me.”
“Always humble, commander.”
“Always.”
Hours passed, and still the rain poured. At least, Elias thought, the princess had come to no harm. The worst seemed to have passed, but the torrents of rain had washed out the road ahead. Trees were down, blocking their way. Phillip had checked in and notified the commander that all were safe. Tents had been set up in the meadowlands, and the men were warm and as dry as possible, considering.
Many times Elias had thought the worst was over only to receive another round of lightning and damaging winds. For the time being, he decided to keep Isabel tucked safely away in the cave in case the storm picked back up. Fina and Mary were present so that he would not be alone with the princess. Already he had crossed every line of propriety imaginable while in the company of Isabel.
When night fell, Elias made a pallet of blankets and gowns for Isabel to sleep on. Though arguing all the while that she would never be able to sleep, she drifted off almost as soon as he talked her into settling down to rest. Mary and Fina slept on the other side of the cave, yet remained close enough for comfort. It hadn’t escaped Elias’s notice that Fina kept a watchful eye on her princess, a quality he found admirable, as well as disturbing.
Now, with the women all sleeping in safety and as much as he knew he shouldn’t, he could only sit nearby and watch Isabel sleep. The silent journey before the storm had him so unsettled still that he knew he wouldn’t sleep a wink. So he sat and watched over her, wishing he were king.
***
Isabel woke to find the commander resting surprisingly near her, looking ridiculous with a red gown draped over him as a blanket. She giggled.
“I was cold,” he said without opening his eyes.
“You look lovely in red.”
“Of course I do. I look lovely in every color.”
“Ever a man of modesty.”
“Did you expect anything less?”
“No, not at all.”
Isabel sat up and stretched. Even with mounds of fabric beneath her, she still felt the effects of her stone bed deep in her bones.
“Elias?” She lowered her voice.
He sat up and looked at her. “Yes, Isabel.”
“Did you set out to make me love you?”
He exhaled and closed his eyes. “No, not at all.” He moved as close as he dared. “My task was to help you understand that this will be a royal union and not a romantic one, to lessen your expectations. That was my only intention.”
“The king asked you to lessen my expectations?”
“He did. Not because he is cruel but because he is kind.”
“I wasn’t angry with you.”
“I know. You were hurt.” He looked down at her hand and even moved his an inch toward hers without actually touching her.
“The thought that you would manipulate me…” She trailed off.
He moved even nearer. “I will never, ever do anything to hurt you. I promise to watch over and protect you. I will give my life for you.”
With a quick glance at the sleeping women, Isabel stroked his cheek with her fingertips, the course stubble of his beard prickling against her skin. “I wish you were king.” Her words were barely a whisper.
Isabel watched as Elias hung his head, likely to prevent himself from moving in to kiss her. By his expression it was what he wanted. She lifted his chin to look at her. Neither moved in, but they were so close that it was very nearly a kiss.
“Your lips invite me and draw me in, but I will not dishonor my king by taking from him that which is his.”
Isabel smiled and nodded. “There is no more noble man than you.”
He moved back. “I am a noble man indeed.”
They were apart no more than a minute when Phillip entered the cave.
“We have the princess’s tent set up but the ground is soaking still. And your tent, commander.”
Phillip stared at them, with dark eyes narrowed, waiting for the commander to respond. At his commander’s hesitation, he said, “Sir, I will stay with the princess while go down and change.”
Elias nodded and said to Isabel, “I will change and return soon.”
Phillip shifted from one foot to the other and looked between the commander and princess with obvious unease. “Maybe I should stay while you view the damage, sir.”
“No. I will return and stay with her.” He looked at Phillip in the eye. “I have this, Phillip. I appreciate your concern, but I will watch over our king’s intended.”
Isabel grabbed the red dress, her hope to lighten the tense encounter. “Do you want your blanket, Commander?”
He chuckled, his eyes dancing in amusement. “I’ll will use it when I return.”
***
Elias surveyed their caravan and found more damage than he expected. A tree had fallen on a supply wagon and broken the carriage wheel. All were safe, which mattered most, but going forward, when Isabel wasn’t on horseback, she would be riding in the smaller carriage. He found that miles ahead there was debris littered along the roadway, so until that was cleared out, they wouldn’t be going anywhere. Already Phillip had men working ahead of them on the road removing downed trees and scattered limbs.
Just as Phillip had said, the ground was still too saturated for Isabel to stay for the night in her tent. In the meantime, until the sun dried out the ground enough for her to come back to the main camp, she would remain in the cave. At the moment Mary and Fina were helping to gather what the princess would require for another night’s stay.
When Elias returned with food for Isabel, Phillip left them alone and went to check on the road progress.
“While we have a moment alone, may I speak with you candidly, Princess?”
“Of course.”
“What we were discussing earlier, about my intentions.” She began to speak, but he held his hand up indicating that she wait. “I could hardly sleep the past nights with you thinking such a thing of me. All that has happened, the feelings of fast friendship that have developed,” he hesitated at such an understatement, “was purely unintentional. I could have never imagined the closeness I feel to you or the deep emotions that have surfaced. You have taken my breath away and my integrity, I fear. Through no fault of your own, simply who you are has captivated me. Still, no matter my feelings, I will conduct myself with more reserve and respect for who you are to my king.”
Isabel smiled. “May I speak now?” At his nod she continued. “You have conducted yourself with the utmost integrity by not acting on feelings that have overtaken you. Because of my own confusion and fear, I have given you every opportunity to believe your advances would be welcomed. Still, you have remained a gentleman. That coul
d hardly be said of most men. You have been tremendously kind and patient with a woman who needs kindness and patience. I admire you greatly and once again ask you to forgive me for my conduct.”
At her words Elias moved only closer. “Here we are again, apologizing to one another.”
“Yes, so it seems.”
“I should go now and allow someone else to watch over you.” Even as he spoke the words he could see her disappointment, a feeling that reflected his own.
“Is that what you want, Commander?”
“Not at all.”
“Then why must you go?”
The truth was that he needed to be as far away from her as he could get in order to stop tumbling downhill in love with her. At least for now he was safe, but if they continued on, he would be helpless to ever stop his descent.
“I fear we will only find cause to apologize again.”
“Then we will apologize again,” Isabel said.
He smiled at her suggestion and reached for her hand. “I had hoped you were a practical girl.”
The morning had proceeded with many updates on the work on the roads and the progress of getting the caravan back underway. Though he knew he should be for the kingdom’s sake, Elias was in no hurry. His time with Isabel would end soon enough, so however many more stolen hours with her as he could claim, he was glad of it. Conversation for them came so naturally, they found that hours passed with little break in the dialogue. Isabel was well read, so they discussed many books. More often than not, she insisted that he tell her stories of battles and how he routed enemies as a warrior.
The one thing that was never discussed was King Colin. Both knew what was ahead for Isabel, and for now, she seemed satisfied with what she had been told. Since there were moments of privacy on occasion, Elias was tempted to prepare her to anticipate rejection on her wedding night, but another part of him wanted to spare her such a dreadful expectation.
Even as a man, a strong and experienced man of battle, Elias couldn’t imagine any man being heartless enough to lie with a woman on her wedding night and then leave her alone afterward. He sighed at the thought, knowing that would likely be Isabel’s near future. Already his heart burned within his chest at the image in his mind of Isabel being left alone and crying afterward. This friendship would prove to be his own undoing since he knew more than she did and longed with everything in him to change her fate.
Just after noontime, Phillip arrived and stood on the outer edge of the cave.
Elias met him there. “What is the progress on clearing the roads?”
“I’m afraid it’s slow going, sir. Nearly a dozen men have taken ill, one dropping out after another. I have them confined to one tent for now in case it’s infections.”
“Tainted food, do you think?” It was Elias’s hope more so than an outbreak.
“We can only hope, sir.”
“Keep me apprised.”
Hours passed, however, and food became an unlikely cause. By the last report, thirty men were affected and confined to bed.
In order to keep Isabel safe from the illness, no one was allowed near the cave except Elias, the one who had been least exposed to the men. Even Fina and Mary were excluded from the cave since they had spent time near those who had taken ill. Those who were well shared the responsibility of caring for the horses and tending to those who were sick. Before long, even Phillip had taken ill as the count grew to seventy men.
Elias had left Isabel against his better judgment. Because she was alone and defenseless in the cave, he found he was unable to focus on the task at hand. With so much livestock to care for and water to carry for horses and men, he couldn’t remain in the cave and not help. Two men were stationed near the cave but not close enough to the entrance to infect Isabel if they fell victim to the dreaded illness.
When evening came as he carried buckets of water up from a stream nearby, Elias dropped one of his buckets at the sight of the princess leading horses toward him. “What are you doing here, Isabel?”
Since arriving in camp to help, finding men sicker than he had even imagined, his only thought was of keeping Isabel safe from it. Everywhere he looked there was vomit. Men groaned and writhed in pain as stomach cramps drew them into tight balls. Not all, but most were burning up with fever. And now, here she was, walking right through the contaminated camp. All his best efforts had failed.
“You can’t do this alone. I can at least help you water the horses.”
“It’s nearly dark.”
His heart was thudding at the mere sight of her. Headstrong and utterly foolish, she was the bravest woman he had ever known. No royal woman of his acquaintance, ever, would lower herself to such servitude. No commander in his right mind would allow her. Not intending to try to shield her from it, he had been honest with her that morning and told her how dreadful the illness was. Still, here she was.
“I will use a torch when it is fully dark. I’m ever practical.”
He grinned, unable to do anything else. “Ever practical, indeed.” He stopped before her. “Let me take these back to camp and fetch some horses, and then I’ll join you.” Elias glared at her. “Do not leave this spot. I will be back for you.”
“Yes, Commander.”
***
Isabel watched Elias as he moved the distance back to camp. There, she could see him trade his buckets for horses and move back in her direction. A feeling settled over her as she watched him, some sense of unusual comfort at his near presence. On occasion she felt the flutter of tiny wings in her stomach when around him, but mostly she felt secure, as if he would make all right with her upside down world. What she was feeling for him wasn’t necessarily the beginnings of new love. Rather, she was feeling a sense of camaraderie and belonging when he was near. Since this was all so new to her, maybe that was what new love felt like.
They walked along in unusual silence, both knowing this would be their only trip before darkness fell. Isabel tried to match Elias’s pace. His legs were longer than hers by far, so keeping up was no easy task.
She called after him, “Isn’t the point of doing this together to actually do this together?”
When Elias realized she was so far behind him, he slowed until she caught up. “I’m sorry, Princess. My mind was elsewhere.”
“Where was it exactly?”
“On you, dreading the thought of you falling ill.”
Upon entering the camp, Isabel had been unprepared for the stench she encountered, so she understood his concern.
“I know this was foolish, and I knew you would be angry, but I couldn’t sit there knowing you were here working.”
He exhaled. “I could never be angry with you, not with your willing heart.”
They continued on toward the stream and then returned for more horses and torches. Together, they walked back and forth until every horse was watered. When returning back to camp the final time, Elias insisted that Isabel go back to the cave, but she refused and went into her tent instead.
Soon enough, Elias entered carrying one of her trunks, left again and returned with more. He set the last of her trunks down. “Do not leave this tent again until morning. Promise me.”
“If I’m not needed, then I promise.”
“That’s not a promise.”
She grinned at him and his frustration over her.
“Are you feeling well, Commander?”
“I am or else I wouldn’t be here with you. I’ve tried to keep as much distance between myself and the sick. We’ll all be sunk if someone isn’t left standing.”
“Have you eaten?” she asked.
“I will soon and bring something back for you. Do not leave here. Have I made myself clear?”
“You have.” When he turned to leave, she whispered, “Commander?”
Elias turned back to face her.
“Will this run its course?”
His eyes widened in realization. “In due time, Princess. Please don’t worry. This isn’t the same as h
appened to your family.” His smile was less than reassuring. “And please do not leave here – if for no other reason than because I have asked you.”
Isabel nodded. “I will do as you say. I promise.”
The morning came and Isabel discovered that all were sick. The maids were sick, the cooks, and all one hundred soldiers. To varying degrees, sickness surrounded them. Because the vomiting was so severe, many were suffering the effects of dehydration, only making matters worse. Many who were less affected continued to try to help others. Isabel was tasked with caring for the horses while Elias took water to the men in hopes of keeping them hydrated.
Another day later, much remained the same. Out of caution Elias kept his distance from her since he suspected he would be the next to fall. She noticed how pale he seemed even from a distance, but still he carried on.
Isabel did as she was told and stayed away from the soldiers’ camp. That was until the commander did not come back at all that evening. When he didn’t, she knew he had taken ill.
With no hesitation, Isabel opened the flap to his tent and walked in without invitation. Already she heard him vomiting, hanging his head over his pallet and retching violently. He waved his hand at her, directing her to leave. Instead, Isabel went to him and knelt beside him.
“Go.” He could say no more between gagging and spitting.
She reached for him and caressed his back. “No.”
Elias fell back onto his mat, too weak to even sit up. “Please leave. Please, for me, go back to your tent.”
Isabel moved in even closer. “I can’t do that. Even for you.”
She stood and moved to fetch the pail of water that she had brought. Not finding any cloth in sight, she tore the hem of her gown and dipped the fabric into the water and wiped his brow and face with the cool, wet cloth.
Elias reached for her hand. “You don’t know what you’ve done. You will face days of this.”
“You are worth days of this.”
At that he rolled over again and began to vomit.
Chapter 6
This continued on not hours but days. Isabel brought Elias broth and water, but neither stayed down. His sickness was so severe and violent, she wondered if he would survive it. Those who were showing some improvement assured her the commander would pull through. Still, Isabel worried and watched over him.
