Chapter Nine – Wounds
Elinor concealed a yawn from behind the back of her hand as Maudie continued to recite the many stories that had been a source of inspiration of several colorful decorative crochet patterns and the two incomplete paintings which lay incomplete in a corner, covered in dust.
"Perhaps, my queen would care to rest prior to attending supper?"
Elinor murmured an unintelligible response to Maudie's suggestion and fidgeted absentmindedly with the gold ring that rested perfectly on her index finger.
"Surely, my lady queen requires sustenance...after all it has been a rather lengthy day listening to me whittling on..."
"I am not hungry at present." Interrupted Elinor with a firm tone in her voice
Maudie bowed her head and subconsciously chewed the inside of her cheek in order to hide the disappointment with Queen Elinor as it was obvious that she avoided all contact with her own family and although Maudie did not want to appear unreasonable or unsympathetic towards Elinor's current condition, she did however decide that it was time for Elinor to stop purposely resisting any form of contact with her now estranged family since the recent accident which lead to the discovery that Elinor had lost her entire memory. Maudie had decided that she would persuade the queen to at least dine with her family and momentarily restore an air of normality but also rekindle the fade hope that was clearly displayed in the eyes of the King and Maudie knew that they deeply missed their mother and wife.
"Even so my queen, it is tradition for the family to dine together and the family always sit together during meals...you openly advocate the need to uphold traditions, be it family or the clan and if it is not too bold for me to suggest...then perhaps my queen could grace the family with your much missed presence and join them."
"I do not feel comfortable, I must appear to be an imposter to them as I have assumed the appearance of their wife, mother and queen...yet I retain absolutely no recollection of them! They are but strangers to me and...And maybe they are better off without me..."
Maudie stood abruptly, "That being said, my queen, they are all aware of your current predicament. The physician who treated you did state that in due course, your memory may return but in the meantime, I must insist that you engage the family for supper...their company may cause you to remember..."
Elinor sighed in frustration and glared at Maudie while she mentally debated whether or not to participate with the family that she could not recall being part of, but Maudie did not allow her to contemplate her thoughts for long as she courageously pulled Elinor up from her chair in the tapestry room and guided the nervous queen through the intricate stone corridors of the castle.
She winced as her hearing was assaulted by the cacophony which emanated from the great hall and worriedly glanced at Maudie who did not appear to be surprised by the deafening ruckus created by the mischievous identical triplet boys who threw their disgusting vegetables at each other as they ran around and under the grand mahogany table. Merida had assumed the role as responsible adult and unsuccessfully tried to discipline then openly bribed her brothers into sitting peacefully at their places and was not particularly bothered if they actually ate anything from their messy plates. Fergus sat slumped and uninterested at the head of the table, he appeared completely detached from the chaos currently surrounding him, and his plate remained untouched and devoid of the usual towering mountain of food.
Maudie released her firm grip from Elinor's arm, "I shall leave you to enjoy supper then at your request will join you in your chambers." She whispered and curtsied while muttering her apologies for how she over stepped her place by handling Elinor in such an inappropriate manner before disappearing towards the kitchens
Elinor cleared her throat to announce herself, "Good Evening."
"Mum?" gasped Merida clearly taken by surprise
Instantly upon their mother's arrival, Hamish, Harris and Hubert each scampered back to their chairs and silently observed their long absent mother, they revealed toothy innocent grins at her while Merida and Fergus exchanged mirrored expressions, they were equally stunned by Elinor's sudden appearance as she awkwardly took the last remaining place at the table, assuming it was where she always sat during meals and sat opposite her husband.
"Are you hungry, mum? They've cooked your favorite and..." Merida abruptly stopped her excited explanation, a hand covered her mouth at the realization of her mistake while her features pinked with embarrassment, "Oh mum! I'm sorry...I didn't mean..."
Elinor raised her hand to interrupt her flustered daughter, "Never mind, dear," she calmly replied, "Why not...enlighten me as to what I like...used to like?"
It was much later on in the evening when the triplet boys were finally tucked up in their beds and had received a good night kiss on their foreheads from their father, "Goodnight boys, sleep tight." He whispered and blew out the lone candle which plunged their bedroom into darkness and the door gently clicked shut
Fergus then peered into the bedroom of his daughter where he assumed she would be unable to sleep, after the abrupt departure of Elinor shortly after she had briefly joined them for supper only to awkwardly excuse her and hastily retreat the familiar surroundings of her chambers. His lips curled into a small smile at the sight of Merida's wild hair that poked out from under the bed-covers, she was indeed sound asleep and carefully, he pulled the door closed.
He marched with purpose and determination throughout the corridors of the shadowy castle and momentarily paused at the chambers where Elinor was temporally residing, Fergus had intended for one of two opinions to transpire tonight, regardless of Elinor's state of undress and her timid nature whenever his intimidating presence was in the same room as she. Fergus would either barge into her chambers or the heavy oak door would burden his agitated state of mind.
However, his clenched fist was mere inches from striking forcefully against the wooden door when a sharp shriek emanated from behind the door, the unmistakable sound of pain which caused his heart to skip a beat, painfully within the confines of his muscular chest. It was his wife; the only time when he had heard her and was powerless to help was pain of childbirth and the eerie scream in the forest on that day. Fergus leaned closer towards the door and concentrated on the one sided conversation.
"My apologies my queen...I shall try to work quickly and cause as little discomfort as possible." Reassured Maudie
Elinor groaned loudly while her eyes rolled sleepily from beneath closed eyelids, her hand gripped fiercely onto a handful of material.
"Oh! My lady..." gasped Maudie
Fergus pushed open the door and allowed himself to enter the darkened chambers, "Elinor...dear, I need a moment of your time to..."
"My lord!" cried Maudie as she protested at the King's unannounced arrival and attempted to maintain Elinor's dignity, "You should not be here...my lady queen is in a state of undress..."
"Elinor?" he continued to ignore Maudie and called firmly to his wife, he squinted as the strategically placed candles flickered and obscured the view of Elinor as she remained on her side on the bed
"My lord, please." She objected to Fergus as he took an impressive step closer towards Maudie, his intimidating presence demanded an explanation from Maudie, "My lord, I apologies...I was attending to my lady's wound...an injury sustained from...when..."
"Elinor?" he continued and leaned closer over Maudie's shoulder
"The physician recommended that my lady take an herbal tonic," as she gestured to her sleeping form in the bed, "Prior to attending to her injury...it makes changing the dressing easier. It numbs her pain but only temporally..." Explained Maudie
"Elinor?" he whispered and felt his knees weakened at the closeness he was to her sleeping form, "Oh, Elinor...lass..."
"The tonic is potent," she warned, "It causes drowsiness...my lady queen may not be aware that you are even here."
Fergus reluctantly looked away from the relaxed features of his sleeping wife, "I thought...you told me...she had no injuries...just a bump to the head and loss of her memory?" he asked confused
Maudie guiltily looked down at her hands and licked her dry lips, "My lady queen did not want to burden you with her minor injury."
He grunted angrily and gestured to the discolored skin, the evidence of bruising that decorated her ribs in an impressive kaleidoscope of colors in deep blue and purple which looked painful and horrible shades of green and yellow as her body was slowly healing from the injury caused by the impact of landing hard against something or at the hands of someone had been struck with considerable that was still portrayed across the bones protruding through her fragile skin.
"So thin..." the shocked observation tumbled from his watering eyes
"When my lady was not sleeping, recovering from the injuries you can and cannot see," she pointed to the side of her head, implying the loss of memory as an injury of that fateful day, "She refused to eat at first," then she slowly smiled, "However, I was able to coax my lady into eating something although her appetite is very poor...especially as her injury remains much unchanged."
Elinor twitched deeply in her sleep, Fergus reached out and cupped her head in his giant hands, and he rested his forehead against her own and murmured words of reassuring comfort, her hand gripped onto his wrist.
"Oh lass...I'm here, I will always be here."