I thank God for my talents and my friends and my readers and of course my co-writer StormWolf77415.
(The next day before dawn broke)
"How are you?" Sousuke asked.
"A little sore," Momo said from the bed.
"Good, I'm certain you must be hungry."
"A little," Momo admitted.
"Anything specific?"
"I'm not sure, whatever is available, I guess," Momo said softly.
"Thank you that is very kind," Momo said softly.
"Anything else?"
"Something to drink, please, my throat is a little dry," Momo said softly.
"Some mild wine?"
"Thank you kindly sir," Momo said softly.
After breakfast, the two of them sat sipping wine as dawn broke. "This is very delicious, thank you," Momo said.
"You're quite welcome, so Miss Hinamori, tell me about you."
"Not much to tell your majesty. I'm only a simple servant. I use to work for one of the older barons."
"Which one?"
"Takahashi."
"I remember him, did he treat you well?"
"I was treated OK I guess though as I grew older he started acting...differently towards me."
"I see...he started giving you...amorous looks?"
"I suppose if that's what you call it, he also wanted to get...closer to me..." Momo said trailing off and looking away embarrassed.
"I understand. I won't go any further."
"Thank you sir, I appreciate it."
"A king is supposed to care for his subjects."
"What will happen to me now?" Momo asked, but before Sousuke could answer Retsu and Isane entered. "I see you are already awake my dear," Retsu said seeing the two of them.
"Your majesty," Retsu and Isane said curtsying.
Sousuke nodded to his healers before he spoke to the younger girl, "That's entirely up to you. If you wish to stay here and be part of my staff, that's perfectly alright. If not, I can find you a place somewhere."
"Thank you kindly sir," Momo said. "Please excuse us for a few minutes your majesty while we tend to our patient and help her dress," Retsu said.
Sousuke nodded and stepped outside. Once he was gone Isane and Retsu tended to the young woman's wound and helped her dress, and combed her hair out.
When she was done she was dressed in a plain blue floor length skirt and her white shift(the night-gown/peasant top looking thing) and a blue corset that showed off her curves with blue gauntlet sleeves. With her long raven hair combed out and two tiny braids in the front and pulled back and tied in the back.
"Lovely" Sousuke observed. Momo blushed shyly and looked down at the ground.
"Shall we go for a tour of the castle?"
"If it pleases you sir," Momo answered.
"I think you'll like the gardens."
"I'm sure she will, though I should warn you your highness, if her wounds start to bleed it would be best that pressure be applied to the wound and she be brought to us immediately," Retsu warned.
"Of course, Retsu. I'll come straight here."
"Also I received word that the Inoue clan and your sister and her family will be arriving soon enough, either today of within the next few days," Retsu informed.
"Thank you Retsu." Sousuke said.
"With all due respect your majesty, I know it's not my place but, your brother-in-law is a good surgeon and he has helped show us new techniques in the past and has promised to show us some more. So if you would like we could keep him busy talking about surgery since it's no secret that the two of you don't get along too well." Isane offered.
"If you do that for me, Isane, I'll double your pay for the month."
"It will be no problem sir, really."
"I see."
"Well enjoy your walk," Retsu said.
"Thank you kindly ma' am," Momo said.
"Shall we go, Momo?" Sousuke said, offering his arm.
"If you would like," Momo answered taking it.
"These gardens were planted by my wife, sadly, she died two seasons ago."
"I'm sorry about that," Momo said sympathetically.
"She was a fine woman, she loved roses."
"I like roses too and these are very beautiful," Momo said admiring them.
"She hand picked the bushes."
"The baron's deceased wife liked roses too, she sometimes let me help her care for them," Momo said.
"She also liked irises and orchids."
"Sounds like she had quite the green thumb."
"More like a green hand."
"I see that."
"We were all sad when word of her death reached us, I prayed to the Virgin Mary for her and for you."
"Thank you."
"I was happy to do it, though not for the reason of course. I am a simple girl and I was raised simply, but I was taught to trust that God will not give me more than I can handle."
"My wife's death hit me hard, but I believe God has a plan. Whatever it is, I won't question it. If my wife's death was part of it...so be it."
"You are such a kind man, and you are handsome and smart. I know you will have no trouble finding someone else."
"There are many suitors for me to choose. But they simply want to be the queen."
"Well, to quote the baron," Momo shivered slightly at this. "All good things come to those who wait."
"I want someone who will be kind to the people, that was my wife's greatest strength."
"I know, unfortunately such women are hard to find," Momo winced a little, her shoulder hurting her a little more than she would like.
"Are you alright?" Sousuke asked concerned.
"My arm just hurts a little," Momo said clutching her arm.
"Are you sure?"
"I...I..." Momo passed out collapsing her arm started bleeding.
"Damn it."
Momo moaned before opening her eyes again, "I'm so sorry your majesty," Momo said trying to get to her feet only for them to give out only this time Sousuke caught her.
"I need to get you to the infirmary."
"Retsu, she just passed out."
"Oh dear, I was afraid of this," Retsu said hurrying to undress her enough to tend to the wound.
"I hope it was nothing I did."
"No it's just that the wound was pretty nasty," Retsu said.
"I see, let me know when she's better."
"Perhaps you should stay here in case she wakes up from a nightmare, since she had some pretty bad ones last night," Retsu suggested
"I will."
"Thank you, some of those dreams had her sitting up screaming in terror and that will make things a little harder to tend to her wound," Retsu explained.
Sousuke held her hand as Gin leaned against the wall.
Momo moaned her head turning from side to side in her sleep.
"Be ready in case she starts moving faster, it may be a sign that she is about to have a violent nightmare," Retsu warned tending to the wound. Sousuke nodded. Sure enough Momo started to stir more and more picking up speed like she was having a nightmare.
"Sir, you may need to hold her down," Retsu said as the girl started to move more violently.
"Understood," Sousuke said.
Momo stirred more and finally Sousuke had to hold her down, Momo screamed in her sleep.
"My my," Gin remarked, "That was a loud one."
"Gin! We need your help holding her down!" Retsu turned to Gin.
"Very well."
As the two men held down the thrashing girl, Retsu and Isane continued to work as fast as they could to clean and tend to the wound.
"Is there anything more you can do?" Sousuke asked.
"A few Hail Marys might help," Retsu said as she continued the stitching.
"I see," Sousuke said.
"Aaaahhhhh!" Momo screamed as she awoke. "What's going on?" Momo asked frantically.
"It's OK, dear, we are tending to your wounds just relax and stop trashing around they can stop holding you down but you can you still squeeze their hands if it hurts too much," Retsu said. Momo managed to calm down enough and Sousuke and Gin were able to let go.
"At least that's passed. At least the worst is over," Sousuke remarked. Momo winced in pain squeezing Sousuke's hand and whimpering a little as Retsu continued to stitch the wound.
"It's almost over."
(A few minutes later) "Done," Retsu said finishing up.
"Alright. You're staying in the infirmary tonight" Sousuke said firmly.
"Yes sir," Momo said.
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