I awoke with a start, sweating and shaking, my breathing shallow. I glanced down at my hands, then pulled a lock of hair in front of my face. They were all mine. I looked over at Mary. She was still asleep. 'Thank God I didn't wake her..'
Slipping quietly out of bed, I put on my boots and walked quietly out of the room and out of the house, to the stables, stopping at Belial's stall. He was asleep, but awakened immediately upon sensing my presence.
"Hello boy."
Belial whickered softly in response, his black eyes shining in the moonlight. Sensing that something was troubling me, he nudged my shoulder and nipped at my sleeve, staring at me with imploring eyes.
"You wouldn't understand, boy. I don't even understand. But whatever it is, I don't like it."
Belial reached forward and nipped harder at my sleeve. My eyes narrowed.
"I told you, I don't know what it is, you devil.."
Belial lifted his head, gazing at me innocently. I chuckled.
"Alright, I'll admit that you're more innocent than Asmodeus was, but Asmodeus was a war horse; and he didn't even need my encouragement to be nasty to the rebels."
"No he didn't. His nastiness was nearly as legendary as yours was."
I turned to see my wife standing next to me.
"Mary; what are you doing here?"
"You left."
"I thought you were asleep.."
"Not really." She replied. "It wasn't restful; I may have not seen you get up, but I felt your presence leave me."
Several moments of silence passed before Mary spoke again.
"You had a nightmare didn't you?"
"How could you tell?"
"First of all, you look as if the colour drained straight out of your body; second of all, you're here with Belial."
At the mention of his name, Belial snorted and nudged Mary with his nose. She smiled and patted his neck.
"Good evening, you handsome devil."
Belial whickered, shoving his nose into Mary's hand.
"Did you check on Ember by any chance?" Mary asked. "She's due any time now."
"I did not.." I replied. "I can now if you like."
Mary nodded.
"I'll come with you."
We walked several stalls down, past the workhorses' stalls, to Ember's stall. The mare was pacing about in her stall, snorting.
"She needs to be watched, especially now since her time is so close and this is her first foal." Said Mary softly.
She coaxed Ember over to where she stood, tenderly petting Ember's nose and neck.
"I'll watch her tonight."
Mary nodded.
"Thank you, William. I would myself but as you can see, I can't with my condition."
"There's no need to explain yourself, my love. Now, up to the house and back to bed with you."
"Alright, but first, I'll get you some blankets."
Mary left the stables and returned about ten minutes later with a stack of blankets.
"It's very cold out here." She said wrapping a couple of the blankets around me as I sat in a chair across from Ember's stall.
"It's nothing I haven't dealt with before." I replied.
"Still, I wanted to make sure you were warm."
"Thank you my dear."
Mary smiled and whispered, "You needn't worry William. Even if for some reason your father was still alive, you have a family now, as well as three brothers and a captain who has been loyal to you well beyond military protocol; your father cannot take that away from you William. He's powerless to you."
"I know…"
Mary bent down and kissed my forehead, caressing the side of my face.
"I love you, and I shall see you in the morning."
