Vigil

The night after the attack, Erik developed a slight fever that caused him to stay in bed longer. Rahim and Christine had worked tirelessly to help him ward off the fever and fight off infection. In his delirium, he drifted in and out of consciousness. All the while, Marigold just watched as her mother and Rahim took constant vigils watching over him. She tried to help her mother nurse him back to health as often as she could.

It had been two days since she last spoke with him as all she could do was wait for any news of whether her father was past the worst. One night while Rahim was keeping the first vigil, Christine was busy pouring dried feverfew herbs in a mortar to churn into a tea for Erik's fever.

As Christine worked, she looked on as Marigold watched pensively at the roaring fire. "Marigold, why so pensive?" she asked.

"I feel so helpless. Father has been so ill for two days and you and Uncle Rahim have been trying to nurse him back to health. What can I do to help?"

"Darling, you've done a great deal already. You've helped us look after him, helped gather the herbs I needed for his fever, and helped with the chores around the house. You most certainly have not been helpless."

"But Father still isn't better. If he hadn't taken that knife in his shoulder just to protect me, he wouldn't be in this state."

Christine put down the pestle and walked over to her daughter's side. "That was not your fault. You know he would have done anything to protect you. He loves you very much."

"I love him too, Mother. And I'm sorry for disobeying you that night, when you told us to stay home. But I felt if we had waited too long, the gypsies would have killed him. And I…couldn't bear that. He has saved my life so many times before. He has always tried to protect me. I just wanted, for once in my life, to prove that I could do more. I wanted to save his life for a change," she said, hurtfully.

Christine gently took hold of her daughter and kissed her on the forehead. "While I'm not too pleased that you did disobey my orders and, albeit, knowingly put yourself in danger, it is true that it might have been too late for us to have found him. You and Frans were fortunate that your father taught you how to track and find your way through that forest. If it wasn't for you, my dear girl, we probably would have never found him. Don't you, for one moment, think that you haven't done anything. You did the one most important thing of all. You saved your father's life."

Marigold smiled, feeling a little better. "I love you, Mother."

"And I love you, dear heart," said Christine.

Moments like this with her mother gave her affirmation that their bond was equally as strong as the bond she shared with her father. Christine also cherished the time she had with her daughter, although she was just as glad that Marigold had a stronger bond with her father. It was important to her that Erik felt loved by his daughter when he, himself, had not known love.

A while later, Rahim came out of the bedroom, looking slightly tired.

"How is he?" asked Christine.

"His fever is breaking a little but he is still weak. For the moment, he seems out of danger. He's asleep for now," said Rahim.

"Will Papa be all right, Uncle Rahim?" asked Marigold.

"Have no fear, child. Your father is a strong man. He has been through many dangers in his lifetime and cheated death more times than I can count. The man is quite an enigma."

"I have to ask you and Mother something. Before Frans and I left to find Father, I found these strange little pouches in Father's workshop. I found out that when you throw them on the ground, they make a small smoke explosion. That was how we were able to escape from the gypsies. Why would Papa keep such things?"

"Your father is quite a remarkable inventor. When he came to Persia, he astounded many with his creations. As I once told you, he was the chief architect, magician and inventor for the Shah. I'm sure he told you that when he was in Persia, the Shah became unconvinced of his loyalty and wanted him executed for knowing too many secrets that could have caused the Shah's downfall. Fortunately, I was able to help your father escape from Persia. But to answer your question, I'm afraid I can't give a sound answer. Just that your father is a very mysterious but remarkable man,' said Rahim.

"Perhaps when your father is better, you will be able to ask these questions directly from him. I know there's still a great deal about his past that you don't know about but he should be the one to tell you more. But I do know that he was quite curious as to how you found those smoke bombs too, so he may ask you how you found them. So, perhaps then, you and he can have a talk. Didn't he tell you that he wanted to take a stroll with you once he was better?" said Christine.

Marigold nodded. "I hope we can."

"You will. He will get better in no time. I know he still very much wants to talk with you. He told me he never got the chance to thank you for saving his life. When he had the fever, I could hear him whispering your name a few times," said Christine. "We just need to let him rest some more."

Later that night, as Rahim and Christine were still busy nursing Erik back to health, Marigold sat down near the top step of the stairwell overlooking the sitting room. The house was very dimly lit apart from the fading embers in the fireplace and the lit lamps in the hallways. She sat quietly as she could hear faint murmuring from her parents' bedroom as Rahim and Christine were in deep discussion about Erik's condition.

It wasn't until another kindly voice broke her out of her daze. "What are you doing sitting here all by yourself?"

She turned to find Frans walking toward her and taking a seat on the step above her as she leaned against the railing.

"Everyone keeps saying how brave it was of me, saving Papa's life. But the truth is I don't really feel heroic, even while Papa is still so sick and injured,"

"But he would have been killed if you hadn't decided to go after him."

"I know, but there's still no telling how he will get through this. When I saw him lying there in bed, looking so weak after being struck from that knife, it just made me think about his mortality for the first time in my life. He's always been there for me and I just can't bear the thought of him…dying. I just…would feel so much better if he was all right again."

At that moment, Frans reached out and took Marigold by the hand. Slightly startled, she looked down as his hand held hers in a comforting way. She looked at the way Frans was looking at her and she felt a slight blush come across her cheeks. His eyes looked at her in the most comforting gaze she ever saw.

"Marigold, you are easily the bravest girl I have ever known. You're smart, kind and caring. And what you did for your father was truly one of the most noble acts I've ever seen. I could never ask for better friend than you."

Marigold smiled. It was strange how in the beginning, she never thought she could become best friends with a boy. But now, she couldn't imagine having a better friend than Frans.

"Frans, if it wasn't for your help, I would have never been able to find Papa. And you were so brave fighting those gypsies too. You're such a great friend to me. Thank you so much," she said, sincerely.

With that, she reached up and embraced him warmly. Frans stood still for a moment but then he returned her embrace. "You're welcome," he said softly. Then, Marigold gave a quick kiss on Frans' cheek and gave a girlish giggle as she ran up to her room. He gasped a little and touched his cheek curiously.