Chapter 2: Affliction

Percy awoke to the warmth of sunlight on his face, the brilliant beams of golden light streaming in through the curtains and casting strange shadows on the walls. Groggily, he turned on his side to gaze upon his beautiful wife only to find her no longer beside him.

"Margot?" he called hoarsely. His voice echoed around the room but only silence answered him. He lay back down uneasily. A sense of foreboding filled him and he wished to assure himself of her safety but he was still very tired, and his eyes soon drifted closed against his will.

A scream brought him stark awake. He sat bolt upright as Fear's icy fingers wrapped tightly around his heart. There was no mistaking the sound. It was Marguerite. He threw the bed sheets from him and bounded to the door. He was at the grand staircase in seconds, but at the top of the stairs he began to sway. The fever exerted its hold on him ruthlessly, blurring his vision, and he fought fiercely to remain conscious. Marguerite was in danger. He had no time to be weak. He took the stairs four at a time, his long powerful legs propelling him towards the sound of his beloved. It was a miracle he did not tumble down and break his neck and as he raced to the bottom, the thought that he was in nothing but his shirt and breeches did not even occur to him. For once his appearance was the last thing on his mind.

Another cry pierced the air. This time it sounded even more desperate. Percy dashed to the entrance hall and flung open the large oak doors. What he saw before him turned his very blood cold. Chauvelin stood in the gravel drive, Marguerite clutched tightly to him. He held a pistol to her head and when he saw Percy he shouted out to him.

"So Pimpernel, can you save this one?"

"No Percy!" Marguerite cried, tears streaming down her face. "Don't worry about me. Save yourself!" Ignoring her warning, he hurried to the bottom of the terrace and called out to his enemy.

"It's me you want, Chauvelin. Let my wife go, and I'll come with you quietly." The Frenchman smiled evilly. Yes, he would be victorious this time. Marguerite saw something move around the side of the house. It was one of Chauvelin's men, his gun aimed at Percy's back.

"Percy, behind you!" She wriggled in her captor's grasp, trying desperately to get loose. Chauvelin cursed and tightened his hold on her.

"Stop squirming, I…" The sound of thunder cut him short. In her attempt to free herself she had hit Chauvelin's hand, accidentally setting off the gun. Blood and brain matter splattered the Frenchman's coat and face. The bullet had gone through the right side of her head at point blank range. Percy heard someone scream. He realized in horror that it was himself.

xxx

Marguerite had risen early. She felt her husband's brow and found it still burning hot. Silently she slipped out of bed and dressed without her maid, then rang for a servant to fetch a physician. She was not hungry for breakfast and instead went back to her chambers to check on Percy. She was almost to the door when a blood-curdling scream issued from the room.

Percy held Marguerite's limp form in his arms as tears rolled unheeded down his cheeks. Nothing mattered to him now, nothing but her. It was too cruel, too cruel that he should be reunited with her at last only to lose her so irretrievably. Through his bitter weeping he thought he could still hear her voice calling out to him. The bravest man in all the world knelt broken and defeated, his very soul shattered. There was nothing without her, no light, no hope, no point in living. She was everything to him, the very air he breathed. Even when he thought she despised him, the pure passion and adoration he felt for her had kept him alive. The thought of living without her was unbearable. Oh, what he would not give to see her smile once more!

"Mar…got…" The name was hardly audible through the sobs that wracked his massive frame yet it held all his love and sorrow. Her blood spilled over him, soaking his clothes, the acrid smell conjuring terrible memories of head after head rolling on the guillotines of France stained red with the lifeblood of innocents. The vision grew large and menacing before him until it swallowed him completely. Darkness surrounded him and he fell through a swirling black void. But even as he hurtled downwards through the pit of his despair, her voice still came to him. It was as though the very sound had become a guiding light and he reached out to it. The voice grew steadily louder and slowly he dared to open his eyes. To his utter astonishment he was no longer falling, nor was he on the gravel drive. He was still in bed! Marguerite was shaking him gently, calling his name. She was alive! His arms were instantly around her and he held her tightly, needing to feel her closeness. He could still see the dead, terror filled eyes that had stared out unblinkingly at him from her face. The images from his nightmare had been so real. He could scarcely believe it had not happened even though he was holding her in his arms. He buried his face in her hair, desperately trying to forget the gruesome memory.

Marguerite could feel her husband shaking in her arms. She rubbed his back and kissed his forehead, trying to soothe him. Never before had the great Sir Percy shown such fear or weakness and his current condition frightened her. At last they broke apart and Marguerite helped him lay back against the pillows. Percy was reluctant to let her go. He had lost her only moments ago and the nightmare still haunted his memory. He took her hand firmly in his and she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Percy, what happened? I heard you scream. It was terrifying. I thought something horrible had happened." Percy tried to smile to allay her fears.

"I am better now, little woman," he said shakily, endeavoring to regain his composure. The entire manor must have heard him. He had never screamed as such in his life. The rouge of embarrassment tinted his cheeks but was thankfully undetected due to his condition. "'Twas merely a nightmare. Must be this demmed fever…"

"I have been terribly worried about you." She stroked his cheek and the heat from his face startled her more. His condition was worsening. He leaned into her touch, the coolness of her hand a welcome change from the incessant fever. He sighed relievedly as the presence of his beloved wife dissolved the ghastly images of his nightmare, replacing them with thoughts of the future he now looked forward to spending with her. So caught up in imaginings was he that several sentences were uttered before the realization that she had continued to speak struck him. Unfortunately for the ill adventurer, he rejoined the conversation at a most inopportune moment.

"…and so I felt it was up to me to make the decision. Therefore, I have called for a physician and he will arrive about midday."

Percy froze. He hated doctors, thought they were "demmed useless." They had done nothing for his poor mother when she had gone mad at a young age and they always insisted on using the most… unnatural forms of treatment. Unwelcome memories flushed out all his previously happy feelings and he shuddered involuntarily at the thought.

"Percy? Is something the matter?" Marguerite inquired when he did not reply.

"Oh! No, nothing. I'm terribly sorry my dear. I feel all out of sorts. Thank you." He smiled at her and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "You will forgive me for asking, Margot, but have you breakfasted yet this morning. I must say that I am quite famished and would be delighted if you would join me." Marguerite smiled, glad to see that his earlier fright had passed. Kissing him gently on the forehead, she rose to fetch the servants.

"I will be back shortly."

Lady Cavalier: Thank you so much for the kind reviews for this story and others. I am delighted that you are enjoying this. I also have school coming up along with the yearly move-in and will therefore try to upload whenever I can. I am juggling a few stories right now so I ask for a little patience but I assure you there is more to come. : ) …(random) Enjoying freshman year of hs? haha Oh teenage drama, how I loathe thee. Also, if you become a member of this site it can automatically alert you to updates of your favorite stories. Plus you can pm people. Just some info. :P