A/N: I do not own anything of Twilight; it belongs solely to Stephenie Meyer and her affiliates. I just like writing! : - )

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"What's the matter with Bella," Rosalie asked, as she tried to calm herself from the nightmare and worry about the lady of the keep.

"She could nae stop retching after dinner, and then she fainted dead away and struck her head on the stone floor before I could catch her. She will nae wake up. I need ye to stay with her whilst I run for the healer," the laird begged her.

"Aye, o' course," her quick reply was barely out of her mouth before the Edward was rushing down the stairs and out of the keep.

Rosalie hastened across the hall and a few doors down to the laird's chamber and entered quickly to assess the situation. Bella's ashen figure lay haphazardly on the bed, as though Edward had scooped her up and tossed her there to rest. She stepped up to the bed and smoothed Bella's shift down to cover her body, and straightened her out into a more comfortable position. She walked over to the ewer and bowl and wet a cloth to wipe the lady's brow with. Laying it across Bella's forehead, Rosalie felt the back of her head, searching for lumps.

Her hand met with some stickiness and she quickly rolled her up on her side. The sight of the blood-matted hair made Rosalie's stomach jump. She swallowed back the bile and forced herself to cleanse the head wound. She'd just begun to search for a clean cloth to use for a bandage when the haughty healer huffed her way into the room.

Victoria looked put out at having to be summoned to the keep in the middle of the night. Her withering gaze found Rosalie, "What did ye do to her? Ye are nae trained and skilled with herbs as I am. Ye must needs grab the babe and get out so's I can work. I will nae be needing ye to help a'tall."

Rosalie blinked at the venom in her voice and shook her head. Mumbling under her breath over the abrupt dismissal, she gathered Esme Alice and stepped to the door. "My laird, if ye need me, ye ken where to find me," she said over her shoulder. At his nodded acknowledgement, she left the room.

Esme Alice slept the night through, and Rosalie appreciated the respite she received. She woke early and went about her morning ablutions, intending to call for Jessica, one of the maids, so that she could check on Bella. She still didn't trust the healing woman. Stepping into the hall, she ran into what seemed to be a wall.

"Hmmpf…" she groaned. "Emmett, why are ye standing outside my chamber door?"

"I was coming to escort ye down to break ye're fast with me. I even brought Jessica. I knew ye'd be coming to find her soon," the big man replied with a gentle smile.

"Thank ye, Emmett. Jessica, Esme Alice is still sleeping. She'll be wanting her morning gruel soon," Rosalie told the mousy maid.

"Aye, mistress," was the only reply uttered, before the girl was quickly shutting the chamber door.

"Emmett, I'd like to see how Bella fares afore we go to the hall," her pleading glance wasn't needed; he'd already planned on going with her and told her so. "Oh, weel, then, shall we?"

They walked over to the chamber where a very sick Bella was being nursed. Knocking swiftly, they entered when Edward bid them to. Bella was still lying curled on her side with half of her head covered with a white wrap. Her face was ghostly white, not even the hint of blush apparent on her normally rosy cheeks. Her long lashes rested on the apples of her cheeks.

A glance at Edward showed how worried he was. While his bronze hair was normally sticking every which way, his appearance was extremely haggard. He still wore yesterday's clothing and it was rumpled as though he'd slept in it. His eyes were blood shot and bleary and encompassed by black circles, showing he'd not slept at all. He had a day's worth of stubble dusting his cheeks and chin. The way he was continuously running his hands through his hair didn't help.

Rosalie walked to the side of the bed and rested a hand on Bella's brow. The heat that seeped into her hand made her gasp. "Edward, how long has it been since the healing wench was here? Has she checked on her," motioning to Bella, "a'tall? Or has she been neglecting her duties?" Emmett was admiring the she-bear in Rosalie, while Edward was lost in thought. "My laird, how long has it been since Victoria was here?"

"She left after putting a stinking poultice on Bella's head and wrapping it up," he moaned as if he were the one in pain. "This is all my fault. I should nae have been across the room. I ken she's expecting, and I should be here, by her, all the time. What have I done?" He seemed to forget they were in the room, as he slid from his chair to kneel by Bella's side, "Bella, please, please dinnae leave me, love. Please."

Rosalie looked pointedly at Emmett, and beckoned him to the doorway to have a word, "Emmett, ye must get Edward to go with ye to break his fast. I'll stay here with my lady and cleanse her wound. I dinnae like the smell of that poultice the witch put on her. I'll re-wrap it with a fresh linen and we'll see if that helps. When ye come back with Edward, bring some broth up with ye so's I can try to get her to eat." She didn't wait for a reply, but instead strode to Edward and gripped his free hand. "Edward, ye must go with Emmett and break ye're fast. I'll stay here with Bella, until ye get back." He started to argue but she shushed him with a raised hand, "Dinnae argue my laird. Please. Ye must stay strong for our lady or ye'll nay be of any use to anyone."

Edward recognized the truth of her words and stood up. With his head down and shoulders drooped in defeat, he made his way to the hall with Emmett.

Rosalie carefully unwrapped the bandage from Bella's head. She tried not to move her too much. Once the linen was removed, she set to work cleaning away the reeking poultice. As the goo was removed, Rosalie's heart fell. The wound was red and seeping with infection. Rosalie sent the serving lad that came to check on her after heated water and clean linens. He returned at once, as the cook had hot water on for dishes. Rosalie soaked the fresh linens in the steaming liquid and laid it across Bella's head. The moan Bella elicited broke Rosalie's heart. She couldn't stand to see her dear friend in so much pain.

She changed the linen with a fresh, clean one and was pleased to see the infection draining. I dinnae ken what that crazy lady put in that, but it is nae any good for people. I hate that she's made Bella worse. I must tell Edward nay to let her close to her again.

That plea wasn't received quickly enough. Edward was still eating when Victoria stormed into the room. "What are ye doin' to the mistress? Get ye away. She is nae ye're patient. What do ye ken about healing? Ye only brought me half the herbs I needed yestereve."

"Weel, I ken that ye're poisoning our lady with ye're putrid poultice. Her flesh is red and inflamed as weel as oozing. It isnae helping her fever a'tall!" Rosalie said indignantly.

Victoria continued, "Ye need to leave this room immediately!"

"I will nae leave till I ken that ye are nae going to put that vile poultice back on the mistress's head," Rosalie stood her ground firmly. She would not back down.

Victoria grabbed Rosalie by the arm and tried to force her from the room. Her black eyes flashing fire, she yelled, "I told ye to leave, now get out!"

Rosalie gripped the healer's arm tightly and gave a quick twist, causing Victoria to scream in pain.

The fighting women didn't even hear the sounds of feet pounding up the stairs. They were intent on their disagreement. Finally the sound of the laird's voice shocked them into a modicum of decency, "By the saints! What are ye doing? Ye're supposed to be caring for my Bella, nay fighting each other. I can nae believe ye two. Rose, ye said ye'd care for her, but alas, ye're bickering with Victoria. I expected better behavior out of my workers."

It was the first time Edward had ever spoken disparagingly to Rosalie. It mattered not to her that he was so upset; she picked up her skirts and fled the chamber. She ran down through the hall, out to the bailey and didn't stop until she reached the loch just outside the gates of Cullshire. She crumpled on the shore and let the tears spill.

"Where's a good whip when I need one?" Rosalie muttered to herself when her tears were spent.

"And why would ye be needing a whip, lass?"

She jumped up and spun around, surprised that someone would dare to disturb her brooding. "Emmett! Ye just took a month of Sundays off my life! Saints alive!" She pressed a hand to her chest to try to calm her frantic heart.

"I'm sorry, Rose, I dinnae mean to. I was making quite a ruckus to get to ye so ye'd nay be frightened. I suppose it dinnae work, eh?" he asked.

"Nay. I was distracted."

"Aye, I could hear that. Now, why do ye need a whip, lass? I ken I've been bad, but…" he trailed off suggestively.

She cuffed him upside the head, "Emmett, now is nae the time for your teasing! I dinnae trust that healer. The poultice she packed to Bella's head reeked. When I cleaned it away, the wound was red and infected already. It is nae usually that quick to spread infection. The hot towels were helping to speed her body's expulsion of the poisons. That witch is going to kill her. I think she plans to. We need to find out why, since we ken the how. Will ye help me?"

"Do ye e'en need to ask, Rosie Posie?" he questioned her softly.

Normally that name would have sent her into a tizzy, yelling at him for calling her that. Instead, she smiled into his eyes and answered with a quiet, "Nay."

He lifted his hand to tuck a wisp of hair behind her ears. She shivered at the connection. When he trailed his hand down her jaw to cup her cheek, she sighed her contentment. He bent his head toward hers, the silent question hanging between them. He could see her fighting the link they had. "I'd do anything for ye, lass." He said as he closed the distance. He placed a chaste kiss on her lips before pulling back, their breath mingling. The smile on her face almost undid him. She stretched on her tiptoes to kiss him again. He'd been the only man to make her feel so… so… so alive!

She pulled back suddenly, breaking the bliss of the moment. "We can nae do that again, Emmett. I am nay- we can nae- it just-" she stuttered, unable to form the words to tell him he deserved better than her. He laughed quietly at her, before he kissed her again.

This time she pulled back and slapped him soundly. Staring in horror at the welt that spread across his cheek, she mentally rebuked herself for acting so shrewish, "I'm sorry, Emmett. I dinnae ken why I did that."

"Tis alright, my Rosie. It dinnae hurt…" his voice ended on a sigh and he stared after her as she once again ran from what she really wanted to cling to.

Rosalie fled to the sanctuary of the tiny chapel that Cullshire was home to. She lit a candle for Bella and found the priest to confess her distrust and anger to, as well as her harsh reactions. She said her penance, then begged God to hear her prayer for Bella and spare her. He will nae listen to me, though. I dinnae deserve his attention. I dinnae ken why I e'en try. I'm nay worth his time. I should nae e'en be here.

Standing, she crossed herself and returned to the keep. She passed Emmett without glancing at him once. She climbed the stairs slowly feeling exhausted. She strolled past her chamber door and stopped in the doorway of Edward and Bella's chamber. She gazed at the still and almost lifeless form of her lady and friend.

"Edward, I'm sorry for earlier. I just dinnae trust Victoria. That poultice was putrid. Did ye see Bella's wound?"

"Aye, Rose I did. I'm sorry too. I should nae have yelled at ye. But Victoria is the healer. I have seen her work wonders on the people in the village," the laird's voice was barely louder than a whisper.

"I ken it. I've seen it too, Laird. But I can nae help but feel that summat is nae right here. It does nae set weel, ye understand? My guts say that it is nae as clear as we'd like it to be," Rosalie returned in an equally quiet voice.

"Weel, I dinnae have time to distrust her. My heart is lying here on the bed, and has nae moved a'tall. I can nae bare to see her this way. It is killing me," Edward murmured, fighting back the cry that was building. He was a laird after all. He was meant to be strong and show no emotion.

"Weel, Emmett and I will worry for ye. We will nae let her kill our friend, sister, and lady," Rosalie vowed. She'd come to the conclusion that if she could figure out why Victoria was doing this to Bella and bring her wicked plot to an abrupt and disappointing end, she may actually not have to punish herself so often. She might even be free to pursue her own happiness.

Who am I jesting? I'll ne'er be able to undo what's past, but I can change what has nae happened. I'll catch that viper somehow.

With that, she set about making plans to find out the why behind Victoria's treachery.

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A/N: I hope you are enjoying reading this story as much as I am writing it! Leave me a review and let me know what you think! Thanks! I do read and reply to each review, if they are signed…