A/N: Thank you to my Betas, the amazing Ninmesarra and wonderful PrettyFlour. The ledge ended up not being quite so high, and I really appreciate the encouragement! You guys are awesome!
*~HR~*
The hands that were reaching for her finally caught her and flung her to the ground. The village was burned to the ground. She could see no survivors as she struggled against the abuse of her captors. Her clothes were being torn from her body, exposing her. It was nothing she wasn't used to already. Even the beating they gave her as she struggled was familiar.
Realizing that no one was going to be able to save her- everyone was dead- Rosalie went limp and stopped fighting. She felt dead inside. The monsters had left her for dead after they'd each taken a turn defiling her body.
After an indefinable amount of time went by, she forced herself up and through the ashes of her home. Her husband had been burned badly. He was beyond recognition. Rosalie was numb. She could feel no pain, no horror, no grief, nothing.
Her friend, Carmen, was lying in the field with a dirk protruding from her chest. Carmen's husband, Eleazar, the Spaniard that had made his home here, was beheaded- his body falling beside the sheep he cared for. The blacksmith was face down in the pyre of his shop. His wife draped over him lifelessly. The priest and the children that had taken shelter in the chapel had stopped screaming a while ago. The building was nothing but ashes.
Digging through the collapsed piles of what used to be homes; Rosalie finally managed to find some clothes. Donning them quickly, she set off to the closest keep. Maybe should be able to find work and shelter in Cullshire.
Finally, relenting to the pain that gripped her heart, she sobbed out as she plodded on, one foot in front of the other.
"Rosalie?"
She looked for the speaker, but saw no one.
"Rose? What's the matter?"
"What's the matter?" she railed. "I've lost everything! My family, my home, MY LIFE!"
Rosalie bolted upright in the bed, a strangled scream tearing from her throat. She slapped at the hands that were shaking her awake. Finally realizing she was safe, the fight left her and she sobbed out her grief.
The giant of a man that stood beside her bed had the sweetest look of concern in his eyes. "I heard ye crying, Rosie. I came to make certain ye were nae hurt, lass."
"Just my heart, Emmett. I dinnae ken how much longer I can stay here. I can nae get… weel, I should nae get too close to anyone here. They always end up dying," she choked out. Her exhaustion made her loose-lipped.
"Lass, ye can nae change the ways of the evil men ye've kenned. May haps ye need to let go of the hurts o' ye're past and try to heal. I dinnae ken what has happened, Rosie Posie, but I'll always be willing to listen to ye, should ye need it," Emmett's words to reassure her only made her cry harder. "Nay, Rosie. Ye must nay cry any longer. I can nae see ye this sad. Besides, ye'd ne'er live it down if I told the men. They all think o' ye as the stone lady," He ducked as she slapped him again.
Her eyes were narrowed in a piercing stare as she spoke, "Emmett, I am nay stone lady, but ye will nae tell them what ye saw or else I'll gut ye slow and spit ye o'er the fire to share with the witches for my last meal, ye hear me?"
He laughed in response. Stooping to kiss her temple, he whispered into her ear, "Weelcome back my spitfire." With one last wink over his shoulder, he exited her chamber.
She gazed out at the darkened sky. A storm was imminent today. She was weary of rain. They'd had a few days of sunshine and Rosalie wasn't ready to part with it. It made everything sparkly and vibrant. The colors were more pronounced and she could appreciate the beauty of the country side surrounding her as she gazed at it through the sunbeams.
Hurriedly dressing in the first dress and chemise she laid hand to, Rosalie gathered Esme Alice to her chest and ran from the room to check on Bella. It had been yester eve since she'd checked on her mistress, and the worry over Bella was eating her alive.
The knock was soft on the door, and the whispered "Come in" was even quieter. Rosalie slipped into the room and glanced around. Noticing the healer in the chair not far from the fireplace, Rose growled a greeting at her. The sentiment was returned, and Rosalie crossed the floor to the bedside of her friend.
"Good morning, Bella. Are ye going to wake up anytime soon, my lady? I ken that Esme Alice misses her mother. Ye can nae leave her yet Bella. She needs ye," Rosalie continued whispering on for an hour before she grew horse.
Victoria became tired of sitting around and left when Rosalie's voice made its final departure as well. She had checked Bella's head wrap once more as well as feeling her forehead for a fever. Victoria hissed when she found her fever had spiked again. She then rushed from the room with no promise of return.
Rosalie huffed in exasperation. She couldn't understand why the woman would keep running off. Victoria had a job to perform, and she must do it well. Rosalie was going to see that the wicked witch didn't succeed. She rushed to the door and called out for the serving lad that waited at the stairs. After he'd scampered off for hot water and Emmett, Rosalie began undressing Bella's head wound.
Cursing again when she revealed the disgusting poultice that Victoria had slapped against Bella's head, Rosalie prayed the lad would return quickly. She needed to get whatever this was off of Bella's head. The scent of it was so over-powering and yet strangely familiar. Rosalie tucked that thought away to address later. Right now, she needed to clean this wound.
A quick knock at the door revealed the lad as well as Emmett. Rosalie thanked the boy and requested that Emmett go on guard duty just for a short while. "I need to get this off of her head Emmett. Dinnae let the witch in here 'til I've completed changing the heard wrap. Please?"
"O'course, Rosie! I'll keep on lookout," Emmett replied with a wink tossed over his shoulder.
Rosalie directed the serving lad to place the hot water down and compelled him to stay and assist her. He held Bella's head still as Rosalie cleaned away the disgusting mixture. Once the paste was gone, Rosalie soaked a rag of clean linen in the hot water and laid it along the gash on Bella's head. After a minute had gone by, Rosalie removed the dirty cloth and wiped away the infection that was being drawn out. Then, she placed a new doused rag upon the wound. The poor boy that was helping, Daniel, was trying valiantly to keep his gag reflex at bay. She finally dismissed him to stand in the hallway on guard so Emmett could help her.
He gratefully flew from the bed and ordered the big man. Emmett entered laughing at the little boy. He looked to Rosalie for orders, happy to help however he could. After all, he'd grown rather fond of his tiny sister.
The little boy dashed inside to announce footsteps in the stairwell. Emmett went again to the door to stand guard.
Rosalie smiled to herself at the high pitched sound of Victoria's shrill, angry voice, "Ye must let me in! I must attend to the lady! 'Tis my job, ye great oaf! I will-" the rest of her words were garbled as Emmett interrupted.
"Ye'll nay be calling' me names, but ye'll also nay be going in there right now. Get yerself gone afore I decide to punish ye. Dinnae forget, I am the laird's brother. I'll be certain to send for ye when we're done." Rosalie could envision the steely glint and hard set of his jaw as he delivered his chastisement.
Victoria squealed once again in rage, and her stomps could be heard through the heavy wooden door as she fled down the stairs.
The confrontation over, Emmett rejoined Rosalie to help her finish with Bella's care. He looked at her in concern when a sigh as big as she elicited from her lips. "What's the matter, Rosie?" he's voice rasping a little as he spied her tongue dart out to wet her bottom lip.
"I am trying to remember where I have smelled this before. Is it familiar to ye as weel?"
"Aye, now that ye say summat, I ken it does." He drew in another lungful of the scented air. His brow creased in concentration as he tested the air again and again. "I ken I've smelt it somewhere. Let me ponder this awhile."
"We need to have someone follow that deceitful wench. I dinnae trust her. What did she have with her when she came back?" Rosalie questioned.
"A basket of herbs and a jar with some muddy-colored liquid," he said as he lifted Bella's head so the Rosalie could wrap a clean bandage around it.
Rosalie's eyebrows drew together in thought as she hummed to herself. When her tongue zipped along her bottom lip again which drew a moan from Emmett. Rosalie jerked her head up and her blue eyes flashed with unspoken questions.
"Ye dinnae ken what ye do to me, do ye, Rosie?" Emmett asked, his voice sounding as though he were in pain.
"I dinnae ken what ye mean, Emmett. What-?"
He sighed and raised an eyebrow at her, "Surely ye ken what ye do to me?" For added emphasis, he cupped himself. Her eyes grew round as she rushed from the room.
*~HR~*
Emmett trudged into the hall looking for Rosalie. He needed to apologize. Sometimes he just let his mind run away before he actually thought out his actions and words.
He finally found her in the kitchens with Esme Alice, sneaking cookies for the tiny toddler. Emmett laughed as her baby lips pouted at being denied more cookies. Hearing her favorite uncle, Esme Alice ran to him and hugged his shins. She wasn't tall enough to reach his knees yet. He gathered her up into his arms and kissed her on the cheek.
Cuddling his niece close, he strode over to Rose. Draping his arm around her shoulders he whispered his apology into her ear, "I'm sorry I'm such a vulgar arse! Will ye ever forgive me?" He clutched his heart with his free hand while Esme Alice giggled at him, not understanding his antics.
Rose took the baby from his arms and pinched him hard enough to provoke a growl. She laughed merrily as she danced away. Before she made it too far, he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him. "I was goin' to tell you afore ye wounded me so," he paused to grin at her, "I set Jacob to following the bit- wench. He'll tell us everything he kens as soon as he kens it. Then we can finally get rid of the vicious…. Healer."
"Thank ye Emmett."
"Dinnae thank me lass. I want to get to the bottom of this as much as ye do." He pulled her closer and bent his head to hers, aiming for a chaste kiss on her ruby lips…
*~HR~*
A/N: Leave me some feedback! Can't wait to hear what you guys think of this. Love it or hate it? I wanna know!
Also, want to apologize for the delay. I should be back to posting weekly- I'm aiming for Mondays. Thanks for reading!