Calamities: Grave Condition

1

Lord Jehan de Grantham was one of the knights who bore the King with his grievous arrow wound on a shield into his manor. He called to servants in the Great Hall to clear a space before the hearth and bring in a cot and blankets for the King. Lawrence, senseless, was placed on the cot and wrapped heavily in every blanket or fur that came to hand. He shivered in spite of the covers and the nearby fire, which servants fed to increase the warmth. He was in shock from loss of blood.

"Get the healing wench," Jehan barked to a servant. He meant the woman Aelflynn, who lived on his estate and was known for her skill with herbs and other healing arts. His seneschal carefully uncovered the King's wound to examine it. Jehan heard his sharp intake of breath.

The seneschal look up at his master. "The arrow is in deep, my lord. I wonder if the King broke the shaft off himself. It is in the bone, methinks, which should have made that easier, but it would have hurt something fierce."

Jehan asked, "Can it be removed?"

The man examined the wound further. "I know not. He has lost much blood, my lord. The bleeding hath stopped at last, but I should not want to have it start again. Methinks we shall have to wait until he regains some of his strength."

Jehan nodded. "Will he stay like this? Unconscious?"

The seneschal replied, "Aye, until he has replaced the blood he lost.. and that shall be hard. We must find a way to nourish him but not endanger him further."

Jehan considered. "All we can do is our best. The wench will know more. I must send to the Duke to tell him of this calamity. At least I can report that the war is all but over, if it be not in fact at an end." He went to his chamber and wrote a message to Duke Lorin and through him, to the Queen. He dispatched the messenger at once, knowing that he should wait until he knew if the King would survive the night. Loyal a subject as he was though he wanted the Duke to know everything as soon as it happened. He returned to his Hall to see that the wench Aelflynn had just come in with her baskets of plants and other tools.

The young woman made Jehan uneasy. She was rail thin and her skin was extremely pale. Her eyes were so light a blue they almost faded into the whites. But her hair, full and rich and smelling of pungent herbs, was coal black. She seemed otherworldly to the nobleman, but he knew she possessed knowledge and skills unequalled in the region, perhaps in the entire kingdom. He stopped near the King's cot and watched her.

The woman first examined the King's wound making clucking sounds with her tongue. She cast an angry glance at the seneschal, "Did thee break the shaft off, sirrah?" She had a wild look about her pale eyes.

Jehan replied for his servant. "Nay, 'twas like that before he fell. We found no other part under him when we lifted him."

She frowned and went back to examining the wound. "Mayhap the fall drove what was left farther in. It appears that he lost much blood when he was shot and then more when the arrow was broken. I think there was a gush of blood no doubt when he fell." She palpated the skin around the wound and sniffed at it. She demanded, "Have thou not cleaned the wound? Where are thy heads? Bring me very hot clean water and clean cloths."

Aelflynn reached into her basket and drew out a dried plant, complete with desiccated purple flowers and roots still attached. She took a mortar and pestle from another basket and, tearing off the roots and leaves and pulling them apart, she put them in the mortar and used the pestle to grind them as fine as she could. When she got the boiling water, she pored it over the plant matter and waited, going back to examine the shaft of the arrow. "It hath pierced the bone and done damage to the muscle. We are indeed fortunate, it came nowhere near the artery in his thigh or he should have been dead long ago."

Jehan addressed her, "Can the arrow be removed?"

"Nay," she shot back sharply. "If thou removest it now he will bleed out and die. Doth thee want that?~ We must build up his strength again. Then we can remove it."

The King stirred and moaned. Aelflynn moved on her knees to look into his face. She examined it quietly. "Poor man, so much pain," she breathed.

The seneschal spoke up, "But the King is without sense.. he cannot feel the wound now!"

The woman continued to look into the King's face, her cool hand on his brow. "There is pain and longing here. And fear. Deep loneliness."

She went back to her infusion and soaked a cloth in it. She gave the mortar bowl to the seneschal and bade him have the liquid boiled down to a dark dense liquid. She went back to the wound and carefully cleaned it, causing the King to stir and moan again.

"Are thee hurting him?" Jehan demanded.

"Aye. It cannot be helped.. and the sting means the infection is retreating from the plant's warriors." She continued to bathe the wound. She then dried it and took more items from her baskets, this time chopped bark and strips of cloth, , put the bark in another mortar and took a fresh pestle and ground it. She poured more of the water on it, but only enough to make a paste. She took clean dry cloths and piled the paste into the middle of one and wrapped it up. She applied the poultice to the Kings red and angry looking wound and then tied it firmly but not tightly with another length of cloth. She Examined the blankets before she draped them back over the wound. "Well at least these seem clean."

She went back to his head and pulled up his eyelids one by one and shook her head as she examined his eyes. She put her fingers between his lips and pushed them apart so she could look at his gums, then picked up each hand and looked at the fingernails. She felt his throat, then sat back on her heels. "He is a strong healthy man. He will live… if the wound does not bleed more and if there is no infection." She got to her feet and dusted off her hands. "I will need a cot for myself. When he can be moved he will need a chamber so he is not disturbed and can rest. I will stay there too. Now I need somewhere to sit. And in an hour bring me some clean water in a bowl with a spoon. If he can take it, I will feed him some rich meat broth tomorrow. He needs to replace the blood he lost. "

Aelflynn pushed the chair that was set by her closer to the King's side and sat. She pulled her baskets closer to her. She brought out a small cloth bag and handed it to Jehan. "Take this to your kitchen and tell them to make am infusion of it , very strong, and let it cool. Make sure the water they use is clean and boiled. Bring it to me in a flagon with a cup. " Seeing Jehan's interested look, she explained, "It is Bistort, Yarrow, Nettle, Rue, Red Clover, Parsley and Alchemilla. It will build up his blood."

She turned back to the unconscious King. "His name is Lawrence, is it not?"

Jehan had started to leave with the pouch. "Aye, but it is not fit to use his Christian name.. he is the King."

Aelflynn just smiled and looked at the King's face. "I know that."

2

Lawrence was vaguely aware of someone stroking his forehead with a cool, damp and fragrant cloth. He smiled and reached for the hand. When a female voice gasped, he opened his eyes to see a pale face surrounded by raven hair. He stared blearily. "Who? Where?"

The very slight woman sat back on a stool and gave the King an odd smile. "Who am I or who art thou?"

He thought a moment. "Thee."

"My name is Aelflynn. We are in Lord Jehan's manor in Grantham. You have been gravely ill." The look on her face was.. serious? Matter of fact? Unfriendly? The King could not decide. He noticed she did not call him "my lord". A small thing, but something that established relationships in their world.

"Aelflynn?" he responded. "Thou art Lord Jehan's lady?" Her clothing was not that of the lady of the manor, but Lawrence's wits were still befogged. His thigh throbbed and his throat was sore and raw.

The woman gave him that odd smile again. "Nay. I am but a country healer from his estate." This time she added, "My lord."

Lawrence looked around. They were in a small windowless chamber lit only by torches and a hearth. He seemed to be on a cot, and another cot lay against a perpendicular wall. There was little else in the room save for a table with various dried plants and tools on it.

The King put his palm to his forehead. "Healer. My leg… the arrow. The war?" he looked at her questioningly.

"'Tis over, my lord. But thou canst speak to Lord Jehan about that." Aelflynn stood and went to the table. She lifted a pitcher and poured an amber liquid from it into a cup. She brought it over to him. "Thou must drink this."

He tried to prop himself up and fell back to the pillow with a groan as a pain shot through his thigh. She shook her head, put her arm under his head and pulled it up so he could drink. He was shocked at the bitter taste. "What is that?" he complained.

She reached and put the cup back on the table. "'Tis what has kept thee alive these many days. Thou lost a great deal of blood thanks to continuing to fight with a grievous wound." She shook her head again.

"Days?! Lawrence cried and tried to pull himself up again. "My wife! The Queen! She must be told that I am well!"

Aelflynn pushed him back down gently but firmly. "Aye, well she hath been informed of thy wound. But not that thou art well. Thou art not well."

Lawrence cast miserable eyes around the room. "I must speak with Lord Jehan. Please, lady, bring him to me in haste." He was clearly frantic.

The pale woman nodded grimly, stood, made a slight effort at a curtsey, and left. Lawrence remained with his arm across his eyes, anguished at the thought that Josephine would be in Lincoln, suffering with fear at his injury.

Several minutes later, Lord Jehan returned with the strange woman trailing him. Jehan's face was filled with concern. He went to the King's side and knelt by him. "My lord, thou art awake! I am pleased to see thou art back in thy senses~"

Lawrence reached and took the man's hand. "Jehan, I thank thee for thy care in thy home. Tell me, what tidings of my wife? What hast thou sent to her about me? "

Jehan noticed that the King had not asked about the war or his wound or any other matter than his wife. He guessed that the woman had answered what questions she could, but he would find out later. "I have sent to Duke Lorin, my lord, and informed him of thy wound and thy dire condition."

Lawrence looked miserable. "Thou must send to him again immediately to tell him that I am in no danger."

Jehan looked at Aelflynn. She said to Lawrence, "But my lord, thou art still in danger. If we cannot strengthen thee soon, we risk the arrow causing thee serious damage. It may be in the bone."

Lawrence looked at her, incredulous. "The arrow? The arrow is still there?" He tried to lift his head to look down at his left thigh. Jehan prevented him from lifting his shoulders from the cot.

"Majesty, when thou fell from thy horse the arrow was driven in deep. We must wait until it is safe to remove it."

Lawrence protested, "But I live. " Then he looked at the woman, whose grim face communicated that his condition was still in question. He looked to Jehan and took his hand again. "Jehan, thou must write to Lorin anyway and tell him I am recovering. My wife is with child. She hath lost two children already. She must not be allowed to fear for me. Thou must tell her I am well and shall be with her soon."

Jehan looked resigned. "I shall do that if thou commands, but then what shall I do if thou falls more ill?"

Lawrence gave him a stern look. "Do it anyway. Now." Jehan nodded and bowed and left the chamber.

Aelflynn looked at the King. "Thou art putting him in an untenable position." He ignored her comment.

"What is my condition, lady?" he demanded.

She raised an eyebrow, then sat on the stool by his cot. "The arrow went in deep and may be lodged in thy thigh bone. We have not been able to remove it for fear that thou wouldst lose more blood. We must finish building up thy strength ere we can remove it. I fear infection if that is not soon. I have been giving thee drink that shall help thee grow more blood. Thou art young and a healthy man. If we can pull the arrow and clean deeper into the wound, thou shalt live and mayhap not lose thy leg."

Lawrence gazed at her grimly. "Thou art an honest woman. I thank thee."

Her answering smile was wan.

Lord Jehan wrote to Duke Lorin and sent a messenger with his letter immediately.

Your Grace,

The King is sensible once more, although still gravely ill. He hath commanded me to write to thee immediately to say that he is recovering. I know that I am defying his wish by writing the truth but methinks thou shouldst want to know it. He is in fear off the Queen's despair if she knows he is still in danger.

The woman Aelflynn is concerned that he hath not grown strong enough yet to pull the arrow, and that left in his leg it shall cause the tissues to fester and grow gangrenous. At best that shouldst result in his losing his leg to the hip. At worst he could die from blood poisoning.

The woman is a skilled and competent healer. I shall give her all she needs to see to it the King survives and is well.

He asks after the Queen and her child. Please send tidings of her well being.

Thy servant,

Lord Jehan de Grantham

Lorin's reply, which came in five days, was read to the King. He was not told that there had been two such messages, for one was for Jehan's eyes only that told the man he had done right and to tell the King only those tidings that would not vex him. Lord Jehan red the message for the King to him in Aelflynn' s presence.

"My liege, he says this, 'My dear brother and King, We have welcomed the tidings of thy recovery with great rejoicing. My sister hath been much comforted. She and the child are well. She doth wish to come to thee, but we have advised her against traveling so far. I know thou would agree with this. I have instructed Lord Jehan that he may call for any help he needs in ensuring thy full recovery.'"

The Kin was visibly reassured. He was able now to pull himself up a bit on his pillows. The chamber however had a sour smell. The wound was becoming infected. It gave him much pain. The woman told Jehan and him that they could no longer wait and must remove the arrow immediately or the wound would become rotten. Jehan set down the Duke's letter and looked at Lawrence.

"We must do this. Make whatever preparations are necessary," Lawrence said.

The woman spoke too quietly to the Lord for the king to hear. The man nodded gravely and left to send a servant for what she needed.

She came and sat by him and her look was not without compassion. "My lord, this shall be greatly painful. Thou mayst e'en fall into a faint. Thou art I know a brave man, but it serves no purpose not to call out if thou needest to."

He returned a grim smile to her. "What shall be done?"

Aelflynn cast down her eyes and Lawrence saw how dark and long her lashes were like spiders standing on a white tablecloth. "First we shall pull the arrow. If it is imbedded we may need to use a knife to dig it out. Then we must stop the bleeding and also clean the wound. Then we shall cauterize it, pack it and bandage it. I shall have to bandage it many times a day and night."

Lawrence nodded. "And how long until we know..": He looked into her pale eyes.

"Not long," she answered softly.

The servants came in with sheets, a small earthenware bottle, some material that looked like cobwebs, and a slender steel dagger. The King tried to hide his apprehension.

Aelflynn removed the blankets that were settled on his legs and hips. She drew up a short nightshirt exposing the wound to t he air. Lawrence saw the wound. It was red and swollen. There was a rank and disturbing odor. Then he saw the broken shaft of the arrow. His heart skipped a beat at the shock of it.

The woman took the sheets and had one of the servants raise the King's leg so she could place it under him. Lawrence gritted his teeth and suppressed a groan. The woman shot a disapproving look at him. "Cry out if you must," she commanded. The servants exchanged glances.

Aelflynn took a kettle from the hearth and poured boiling water over something in a bowl. She used a pestle to squeeze the water into the bowl's contents. Then she brought the bowl and a cloth over and wetted it to clean around his wound. She looked at one of the servants. "Put thy hands in that hot water and dry them. Then I want thee to grasp the shaft of the arrow and pull with all thy strength."

The man cleaned his hands in the stingingly hot water, then took the cloth she gave him and dried them. He came to the side of the cot and looked at Lawrence, "Begging thy pardon, sire?" He looked anxiously at the King who gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Wait," the woman said. She went to her table and looked for and found something. It was no more than a stick of wood. She brought it to the King and bade him put it between his teeth and bite down. "It will prevent thee from biting thy tongue or lips," she explained. He did as she instructed.

The servant then took hold of the stump of the arrow shaft. The King winced. The servant started to pull and Lawrence squeezed his eyes tight shut. The man had to put his foot against the side of the cot to get leverage. Pull as mightily as he could he could not budge the arrow.

Aelflynn looked at Jehan and sighed. We shall have to cut it out." Lawrence was already pale from the pain. The slim knife had been placed in the hearth fire and was now almost red with heat. Aelflynn retrieved it and came back to the King. She looked into his eyes. He nodded, put the stick in his mouth again, and shut his eyes again. Deftly the slender woman guided the knife into the wound and felt for the bone. The smell of burning flesh was pungent. The King's ability to bear the pain weakened and he began to moan. She felt the tip of the arrow where it was imbedded in the bone and with a neat twist she loosed it. She pulled on the shaft hard and with an awful squelching noise it came out. The King screamed. "That's it, Lawrence, that's it," she breathed.

As soon as she had tossed the bloody arrow to the side, she took the cloths she had at hand and pushed them into the wound to staunch the blood. She called to Jehan. "Come here and press on the wound with all your might."

When he took her place she went to prepare the next treatment. Jehan looked into the King's eyes, which were full of tears of pain. The stick had come out from between his teeth. Jehan started to reach for it and the woman shouted, "Both hands, I said press with all thy might!" The King looked at the man weakly.

Aelflynn came back and peeled up the side of the cloths and said, "Good, it is bleeding but the blood is clean. Move out of the way." She pushed her master to one side and knelt by the King again. She lifted the cloths and examined the wound. She made tut-tut sounds, then started to dab at the gaping hole with cloths soaked in her solution. The wound stung but it was so much less than the pain had been the King made no sound.

The woman took the stick and put it in Lawrence's mouth again. "This will be worse than before." He blanched but took the stick between his teeth and waited. She lifted a bowl that was at her side and poured an oily liquid onto the wound. It was boiling hot oil and Lawrence screamed aloud and nearly doubled from the pain. The woman quickly stuffed the wound with the cottony fiber and then dressed it with more clean cloths. She sat back on her heels and sighed.

Lawrence opened his eyes, which were dazed, and looked at her. She put her hand on his forehead, "It is well, my lord. The oil has cauterized the wound. It shall not bleed more and it shall not become more infected. Thou will live and I think keep the leg."

His eyes spoke deep gratitude. Then they closed and he fell into a stupor us sleep.

"Cover him warmly she commanded the servants. Sweat was on her pale brow.

Jehan asked her, "What was that spider web material you packed the wound with?"

She looked up at him with a smile. "Just that. Cobweb."

3

Aelflynn wound her way along the path to her cottage in Grantham. The King of Christenlande, who had been under her care, was healing from the arrow wound in his thigh. She had eliminated the infection through her skill with herbs. The wound was healing. He would not lose his leg.

As she walked she thought about Lawrence, for that is how she thought of him. She had no liking for ranks or titles. She had seen the great and small laid to rest from the same illnesses, the same injuries. Everyone ate and drank and everyone pissed and sweated. She stuck to the formalities in company, but in her mind Lawrence and she were just the same, mortals on the Earth and under the sky.

She liked him. That was unusual for the healer. She generally found other people to be trivial and heedless. But this man was thoughtful. He knew pain made him scream just as it did a peasant. He was grateful for her skills and for her kindness, oddly delivered as it was. She also honored him for his great regard for his wife, the Queen. So many men of all classes looked at their women as vessels for their lusts and their progeny. This man appeared to genuinely care for his wife. He sought to protect her from anxiety about his injury. That was not the way of most men she knew.

As she returned to her cottage in the growing dusk, she saw before her, clearly waiting for her, just one of those men who cared for no one but themselves. It was her brother, Hugh. He was younger than she . He sometimes came to live with her in the cottage when he had outworn his welcome wherever he had found work, on a farm, in a brewer's shop, at a fulling mill… he was not fond of hard work and he was of fighting, so Aelflynn saw him often.

"Sister," Hugh said as she reluctantly slowed to greet him. "Well met. On thy way home from the manor?"

She nodded and went on. Her brother fell into step beside her. "What, no smile for your little brother?" he pressed.

She managed a faint smile. They walked on a while.

"Aelflynn, I hear thou hast a nobleman under thy care," he said in an insinuating voice.

At that she stopped and confronted him. "What dost thou want of me, Hugh?"

The man pretended to be hurt. "My sister, what canst thou mean? I merely asked."

"Thou hast heard that I healed the King of Christenlande and now thou art at my doorstep. That is no coincidence. " She glared at him. "Thou wishes me to ask the King for something for thee. I shall not do it, whatever it is."

Hugh frowned. "Hear me out, Aelflynn. This is my one chance to get away from the work I am forced to do. It is beneath me, I know that and thou doth as well. And if I could get some favor from thy friend at the manor, I could move away and start mine own brewery and leave thee alone." He gave her a threatening glower.

She stood and stared at him. That was a temptation she could not dismiss without some longing. All Aelflynn wanted out of life was to be left alone with her herbs and plants and potions. If she could but get Hugh out of her life she could relax and spend her energy where she might. Perhaps she should just hear him out.

"What dost thou want of the King?" she asked frankly. They had reached her dooryard and stepped into the dark of her cottage. She went to get him a cup of mead as she knew he would be demanding in a moment. He sat down. When she handed him the cup he took her wrist and forced her to sit at the table with him.

"My sister, this is good fortune for us. Thou did save his life. He is beholden to thee. He owes thee a boon." Hugh at least made a weak effort to give her good reasons for what he wanted her to do. It was only after she refused that he would usually become angry and hostile. He would threaten and she would give in to get rid of him over and over.

Now she said, "Hugh, thou knowest that the healing I do without asking a boon in return. It is my calling, not my profession."

He grew impatient. "Nevertheless, Aelflynn, thou will ask this boon for me."

She glared. "What is it then?"

Hugh sat back, smiling his acquisitive little smile. "Now, let me think on that." He pretended to ponder the question. "I should like some money, first of all.. and some land to build a brewery. And the right to sell my ale and mead without competitors." He leaned towards her, "Surely this good man, this King, would honor thy love for thy brother?"

Aelflynn considered. "That is a great deal to ask."

"Not from a King it is not," her brother snapped.

She gazed at him without any hint of friendship. "And thou will go and leave me in peace? Go far?"

He grinned. "I shall build my brewery in the man's new capital on the other side of the kingdom. That should be a fine place to sell what I brew, especially if my product is the only one the taverns and the castle may buy."

Aelflynn sighed. "I shall think about it, Hugh. She stood. Her brother grinned again and reached and slapped her bottom.

"I knew thou would not fail me, sister," he laughed and went back to his drink.

Lawrence was considerably better and now could stand and, with the aid of a crutch, move about in his chamber. He tried to exercise his leg daily so that when he could ride again, he would go to his wife seeming none the worse for his wound. His mood was light, if impatient. He had sent to the Duke that he should be able to return by early in the month of August if not before. He would go straight to the Convent of St. Helens and, God willing, he would be there when the Queen had their child. He knew nothing of the fear of miscarriage that Lorin and the counselors had had. But Lorin did send on the message in the King's own hand to warm the Queen's heart.

He was standing with his crutch looking out the window of his chamber when Aelflynn arrived to minister to his wound. It was a very warm July day. Lawrence was anxious to see how soon he could be leaving. He turned a bright smile on her but saw that she was not herself.

"Aelflynn, what is wrong? Thou looks worried," he asked with concern.

She sighed, seeing the look on his face. How could she ask for such a greedy boon when he had been so considerate and appreciative?

"My lord," she replied. "'Tis nothing. Think not of it." She went over to him and guided him to a chair where she could undress and examine his wound. He sat, and she knelt at his feet, reaching to take the dressing off his upper thigh. It came away with no blood, no pus. It was as clean as if it had been wrapped around healthy unblemished skin. The wound itself was not quite fully knitted. That would take a while more. She examined it, felt it with her fingertips. It was not over warm. It was not tender. It was dry. She looked up and asked him, "And thou art exercising the leg, my lord?"

He smiled down at her. "Aye, just as thou instructed. It is still stiff, but it is loosening." He asked, "When shall I be able to ride?"

She gave Lawrence a wan smile. "What is thy haste? Better to rest and heal. Thou canst command a kingdom from any chamber in the country."

She began to redress the wound. She could feel the muscles in his thigh, strong and fully intact in spite of the grievous wound he had sustained.

"The Queen is due to bear our child in August. It is my wish to be there for the event and to be with and comfort her."

Aelflynn sat back on her heels and looked at him, touched yet again by his sweetness towards his wife. She impulsively took his hand and kissed it. He looked surprised but pleased. "Good woman, that is an unexpected kindness."

Aelflynn waved his comment away. She was embarrassed at the gesture. She stood. "I must go now, sire. I have much work to do." She quickly gathered up her tools.

"Aelflynn," the King said from where he sat. She turned and looked at him. "I shall miss thee when I return home."

Her pale face went pink. She turned and without asking leave, left the King's chamber.

"I cannot do it, Hugh," she told her brother later. "I cannot repay his kindness and friendship with such a base greed."

Hugh flared. "Base greed?! It is only what thou art due for thy act of saving the life of the King of Christenlande!" He realized something she had said, "Friendship? Is that it? Thou art in love with the man? And has he in his sickbed had thy company?"

Aelflynn reached out and slapped him. He grabbed and twisted her wrist. She cried out with the pain. "Sister, thou will regret this. Now that I know of thy 'affection' for the man, I shall have other means to get what I want from him. A King may have mistresses, but I hear this King cleaves unto his wife and would not dishonor her. Mayhap he prefers her think that way, anyway." He grinned broadly. "Methinks I shall have to pay a visit to Lord Jehan and the King tomorrow."

He shook her and knocked her to the floor and left to find drink in the village.

Aelflynn fretted and worried all night, unable to sleep until a doze overtook her in the small hours of the morning. She could only hope that Hugh would lose interest in this latest project as he most always did.. or that he would execute his threat so poorly he himself would be thrown in prison.

The day dawned fair and hot. "A fine day for some exercise outside," Aelflynn thought as she went to the manor that morning. She found Lawrence in fine fettle, restless, ready to leave the manor, no less ready for a walk in the woods near it. She promised him, "Soon. Any day now." She felt sad to know he would be leaving so soon, but her work was nearly done. And perhaps if he was gone Hugh would leave off his threats.

The King and Aelflynn walked slowly along paths through woods and clearings near the manor. He limped alongside the small woman, relying on one crutch to take the pressure from his wounded leg. She coached him to put his weight on it judiciously.

When they stopped to rest a while, Aelflynn decided she must tell Lawrence of the threat her brother had made. "My lord, I have something very difficult to tell thee of."

Lawrence had been laying down his crutch next to the log where he was sitting, and looked up startled. "What can that be, Aelflynn? Am I not making progress?" He looked anxious. She knew he was very worried that he would not make it to the Queen to be near her during her lying in.

"Nay, 'tis not that. Thou mayst leave any day if thou promises to take the ride back slowly and to continue to exercise as I have shown thee," Aelflynn replied, pleased to see his face relax.

She stood and went a few paces away. "My lord, this is hard for me to explain. I have a brother who can be a bad and grasping man. He heard of my.. relationship with thee and has pressured me to demand a boon of thee…"

Lawrence interrupted, "What is this boon? If it will help thee as well and is in my power.."

Aelflynn spun and shot a sharp look at the King, "Stop it, Lawrence, I did not want thee to think I have come to ask such a thing. He is not worthy of thy help and I should feel dishonored by the gift in that case."

Lawrence looked at her seriously. He was always taken aback by her familiarity. He sensed something untoward in it, and wondered if she had formed an attachment to him that he could not allow. "Aelflynn, it is not fit.."

"Lawrence, I know that. It is my way. Besides, I want to warn thee of a threat, not complain to thee of my brother." She looked flustered.

Lawrence settled a bit and said in an even voice, "Go on."

Aelflynn wrung her hands. "My brother .. with no encouragement from me whatsoever, sire, has decided that thou and I have formed an unseemly bond, that we are lovers. And he seeks to extort a boon from thee by threatening to tell thy lady wife."

Lawrence's face clouded. "I do not fold to threats, lady."

Aelflynn nodded sadly, "I know, my lord, and I simply wanted to tell thee so thou shouldst be warned and take what action thou canst to prevent such tidings reaching thy lady's ears.

Lawrence struggled to his feet, taking the crutch and placing it under his arm. "Lady, if such tidings should reach the Queen's ears, she would have more faith in me than apparently thou dost." He began to hobble away from her and towards the manor.

Aelflynn looked after him. She wanted to call to him to make him see she did not want to hurt or upset, just protect him. But she had no words.

Hugh saw the King limping into the manor yard with an angry expression and heard him bark to a servant to tell Lord Jehan that he should be preparing to leave in the next day and that he would be taking his leave of his host.

Her brother found Aelflynn where she still stood, unhappily replaying the scene in her mind.

"What happened, sister? The King looks very angry. What did thee do?" Hugh's countenance was dark.

Aelflynn looked up at him and shook her head. "I warned him of thy plan. He is not concerned."

Hugh flew into a fury. "Warned him? Thou ungrateful.. That was my one chance and thou has ruined it!"

He grabbed her by the throat. She struggled, but his grip was tight enough that she could not scream. Her world went dark and she fell to the ground. Her brother went pale as he realized he had killed her. He knew that he must flee and never come hence again.

When a village lad found her body later that day servants whispered among themselves that the King had been seen scowling and angry as he left the woods near the spot. Jehan looked at the King speculatively. He did not believe the man would kill the woman in cold blood, but what if she had tried to extort him or what if they had been lovers and the King feared for his young wife's displeasure. At any rate, he was the king. He would do what he would do, and devil take any who stood against it. It was a moot point.

Lawrence was shocked and saddened when he heard that the strange, remarkable woman was dead. He could not imagine who might have done this. He suggested that her brother be called in to question, but when the man could not be found, the matter was dropped. Lawrence was blind to the suspicious looks around him. It simply never occurred to him that someone might think he could have killed the healer himself.

He left for the Convent of St. Helen's the next day after Aelflynn was buried.

The kingdom was abuzz as quickly as such stories may fly, and with each telling the tale changed. When it reached St. Helen's the King was said to have had a hand in the death of a woman he had seduced. If the rumor ever reached the Queen's ears, she did not reveal it.

Next: Birth of Peter and ensuing angst