Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing.
Summary: The plaque was mocking them, teasing them, laughing at them. It remembered them all of the past, and of the present. "Always do what you are afraid to do," it said. However, it was time for it to dictate the future as well. (follows season 7)
Author's note: So, I have come across When Calls the Heart, and like most fans it was not that difficult to become interested in the story it had to tell. However, as most fans, I have also been pulled into two completely different directions after Jack died on the show. I watched seasons 6 and 7 with close attention. Of course, I have my personal preferences – which will be quite obvious from the start of this story – but I will do my outmost to portrait the characters as correctly as possible. However, English is my second language so I apologize for any mistakes or errors you will undoubtedly find in the story. Not only that, but please remember this story is being written for fun so, even if you do not agree with the couple I like, please be cordial and just have fun. Thank you kindly.
The Rhodora
Chapter I
The world around her seemed to be so still. She knew people were around her; they were moving around, talking, whispering, but she could not hear anything. For her it was almost as if the whole world had ceased to exist. Either that, or she had entered some sort of numb state where she could not perceive anything around her. There was only one thing she knew.
She was still shaking.
Her fingers were trembling against her skirt even though she had rested her hands against her legs in a comatose move to settle down. Her heart was hammering against her chest, but the thumps seemed to be gentle all the same.
It was such an odd sensation. Almost as strange as the sticky sensation on her cheeks, the consequence of the tears she had spilled not that long ago. Her lips were dried as she struggled to breathe. In fact, was she breathing? She probably was. Otherwise, how would she be aware of the commotion around her even though she was so anesthetised?
"Elizabeth?"
Her own name seemed to pierce through her ears, and resonated inside her brain, but she still could not react. All her breathing did was hitch in surprise. A body appeared in front of her, and she soon found herself looking at a pair of blue eyes. A frown appeared on her face. The blue eyes in front of her were not the azure eyes she wanted to be staring at.
Where was he?
Where was she?
"Elizabeth?" the same voice called out for her, and finally she recognized the person that was calling her. Blinking back to reality, Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton was finally hit by the sounds and smells of the world as she stared into Carson's eyes. The caring doctor offered her a sympathetic smile as he recognized her movements. "Welcome back."
The fragrances around her helped Elizabeth to understand she was at the Infirmary, but she had no recognition of how she had been taken there. Last thing she remembered was…
"Nathan?" the name spilled from her lips in a whisper, her heart still racing against her chest making her feel winded. Carson smiled softly at her before straightening up.
"Constable Grant is in his office." he explained as he rested a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. "How are you feeling?"
For a moment, the teacher wondered why he was asking her that. Albeit a little out of breath and perhaps a tad disoriented, she was fine. When she realised Carson was still waiting for an answer, Elizabeth forced herself to nod.
"All right. I just want you to drink this. It has sugar just to give you a little bit of energy." the doctor informed her as he handed her a glass of water. "Small sips, and then you can go. Do you want me to ask someone to go with you?"
All of a sudden, as if she had been waiting for that particular question, Rosemary stormed inside the Infirmary. She moved so fast, and rambled at such an extraordinary speed, that Elizabeth almost felt dizzy at the explosion of energy that detonated in front of her.
"Elizabeth, I just heard about what happened! How are you? Do you need anything? Did you hit your head?" Rosemary blurred out questions, that nearly made no sense in Elizabeth's head. "Oh! I heard about Nathan! That poor Constable! I really wish there was something I could do!"
Elizabeth felt her breathe get stuck on her throat as memories of the most recent event flashed in her mind.
Ned! Carson needs extra gauze and bandages. Whatever you have.
What happened?
Someone's been shot.
I think it's Nathan! He's been shot!
He's gone.
As a reaction, Elizabeth latched onto Carson's arm, nearly making him spill the contents of the glass he was holding for her. Her eyes, wide and fearful, locked with his.
"Where's Nathan?"
"He's at his office." Carson calmly replied, and Elizabeth practically leaped off the hospital bed. She would have run out of the Infirmary too if Rosemary had not grasped her arm, halting her movements.
"Elizabeth, where are you going?"
"I need to see Nathan." was all the teacher said, but Rosemary still did not let go. "Please, let me go."
"You can't, Elizabeth. Lee and Bill are with him." her best friend kindly explained, "There's paperwork they need to work on, and… Well, it's best if you don't see Nathan right now."
"Did something happen to him?" Elizabeth asked as she turned to face her friend, her face pale, her eyes wide open. Rosemary exchanged a look with Carson before shaking her head.
"He's fine. He needs time to take care of some things." she explained, "With that said, you and I are going home. We can drink some tea together, and try to relax a little. I'm sure Laura won't mind staying with little Jack if needed."
"I don't think I can relax." Elizabeth confessed, and this time Carson appeared next to Rosemary.
"Elizabeth, listen to me; Constable Grant is fine. You can talk to him later." the doctor elucidated, "So, go home. I'm sure Rosemary will take good care of you."
Rosemary smiled at that before nodding. Elizabeth pulled her lips into a thin line before letting out a deep breath. Understanding there was nothing she could do, Elizabeth gave in, and nodded. Rosemary took the opportunity to entwine their arms together before waving goodbye to Carson.
When they stepped outside, Elizabeth instinctively looked in direction of the Mounted Police office. Her breathe got stuck on her throat when her eyes landed on the wagon Bill had arrived in, shouting for help.
I think it's Nathan! He's been shot!
"Elizabeth," Rosemary called her out, forcing the teacher to look away from the wagon. The blonde offered her an understanding smile while tapping her arm. "Do you trust me?"
"Of course." Elizabeth answered without missing a bit, and Rosemary shifted closer to her as they started walking.
"Then, trust me when I say Nathan is fine." Rosemary repeated, "Lee and Bill are with him. They just need to take care of some paperwork, and everything will be all right."
Elizabeth nodded, and followed Rosemary to their car. Rosemary rambled about different things along the way, and Elizabeth could not help but be grateful for her liveliness. However, no matter how hard Rosemary tried to fill in the silence, Elizabeth's mind and heart were still in the centre of Hope Valley.
He's gone.
"What was I doing in the Infirmary?" Elizabeth asked all of a sudden whilst doing her best to push Carson's voice away from her mind. "I can't remember how I got there…"
"Well, I wasn't there, but Florence told me Lucas was the one who took you there." Rosemary explained, and Elizabeth blinked at that. "Fiona, on the other hand, told me that Nathan was the one who told Lucas to help you. It seems like it was very difficult to convince you to let Nathan go."
Elizabeth dropped her gaze as she tried to remember that moment. She could still hear Carson announce the Mountie was gone, and she could feel herself go numb. The sound of hooves echoed in her ears, and Elizabeth remembered turning around, tears blurring her vision, making it nearly impossible to identify the Mountie that was walking towards her.
Her heart had both shattered and healed at the same time as soon as she had recognized the man in the red serge tunic.
His heartbeat beating against her ear was the sound that followed next, and Elizabeth let out a shaky breath.
"Do you remember Nathan trying to convince you to go with Lucas?" Rosemary asked all of a sudden, and Elizabeth looked up at her.
"No…" Elizabeth answered in a weak voice. "All I remember is…" Elizabeth trailed off as she tried to come up with the proper words, but decided against. "I just remember running to him, and…"
"You held onto him for dear life?" Rosemary completed her sentence, and Elizabeth paused before nodding. "Oh Elizabeth, that's completely normal. You were worried about him, and you wanted to make sure he was all right."
Elizabeth wanted to correct her. She had not hugged Nathan just for the sake of making sure he was all right. For what had seemed like an eternity, Elizabeth had thought she had lost Nathan the same way she had lost Jack; forever.
That idea – that reality – had devastated her heart.
"And just think; as soon as we get home, you will look at little Jack's bright eyes, and you will feel all better."
At the mention of her son's beautiful face, Elizabeth suddenly felt the need to hold him. Tears threatened to fall as she thought of Jack, of their days together, and of their son. She also thought about their losses, and about the changes that followed. How was it possible that everything seemed to have changed so much in such a short period of time? And, worst, what was she going to do about it?
To Be Continued
Note: The Rhodora is an 1834 poem by American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, a 19th century philosopher. The poem is about the rhodora, a common flowering shrub, and the beauty of this shrub in its natural setting.