To Make Me Happy

Chapter 20: Struggling

Miranda's breath came out in short gasps as she struggled not to scream. She had woken up that morning, the bed unfamiliar and empty. She sat bolt upright, only to have a wave of nausea take over. She jumped from the bed and ran to the bathroom. As she puked up the meager contents of her stomach, she wondered where Dentwood was.

When she finished and had sat back against the cool, tiled wall, it all came rushing back to her. Dentwood had been kidnapped. He was missing and she was alone. The bathroom wasn't hers. She was in Seylin and Emily's room. And now, still sitting on the floor, Miranda was panicking. She couldn't stop the tears that were spilling down her cheeks.

Finally, when the pain became too much, she screamed.

A long, loud, agonized scream. When she couldn't scream anymore and her throat was raw, she fell over on her side and covered her face with her hands as the tears came in torrents.

Soon, she felt gentle arms lifting her from the floor. She moved her hand and saw the kind face of Kate. She buried her head in her neck and cried for what seemed like forever.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Miranda lay on the bed with Kate sitting beside her. After Kate helped Miranda up off the bathroom floor, she had put her to bed and sat there with her. Miranda was comfortable in her company. Kate didn't try to offer words of comfort, she just rubbed soothing circles on Miranda's back and let her cry.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

A few hours later, Seylin came back to the room to report that they had found some sort of tracks. They followed them as far as they led and were doing their best to find further evidence of the attacker.

Seylin looked tired, but nonetheless, he kissed Miranda on the cheek before going back out to search.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

There was a knock on the door. Kate had already left at Miranda's insistence.

"Come in." she called. The door creaked open slowly and Catspaw poked his head in. She did her best to smile at him. But the smile fell short.

The Goblin King stepped into the room and smiled at Miranda.

"I hear you were ill this morning." The statement seemed awkward. She nodded her head.

"I think I just panicked." She looked away and went back to sit on the bed. Catspaw followed and sat a foot away, staring straight ahead. There was a moment of silence before he finally cleared his throat.

"Miranda, I don't think there's anything I could possible say that would make this situation any easier. I'm not going to say I know how hard this is, because I don't. But I truly am sorry."

Miranda nodded her head as tears rolled down her cheeks. She sat with her back straight, and head held high, trying to appear strong through her ordeal. But Catspaw saw right through it.

"Miranda," he said quietly. "I know that right now, your trying to be strong, and I know that you cant hold up this act for much longer. But I remember once, not long ago, when I couldn't be strong, and I broke down. You were there for me, and you let me cry on your shoulder. I consider you one of my greatest friends, and I want you to know that whenever you need me, or you feel like your breaking down and you need a shoulder to cry on, just say the word and I'm there."

Another tear trickled down Miranda's cheek. "Thank you." she said in a shaky voice. Catspaw nodded and got up off the bed. With a quick smile to Miranda he started towards the door. Then he heard a small voice from behind him.

"Hey, what's the word?" He turned around only to see Miranda's shoulders slump over in defeat. Her eyes were full of unshed tears that she couldn't hold back for much longer and her hands were trembling. It didn't take a genius to know that she was breaking down. He went back to her side and sat down.

When she put her head on his shoulder he wrapped a protective arm around her. And then she broke. The tears came pouring out quicker than she knew was possible. She buried her face down in his shoulder and let the grief take over her entire being.

Miranda finally cried herself to sleep.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

A cry pierced the air and Catspaw turned his head to see Miranda flailing about in her sleep. He quickly got up from his perch in a chair beside Seylin's bed and smoothed down Miranda's hair from her damp forehead.

Her head was warm. No not warm, it was burning. Catspaw noticed her flushed cheeks and labored breathing. He ran to the door and sent a guard to immediately fetch his mother, the goblin doctor, and Emily.

When that deed was done, he ran to the bathroom and found a face towel. After soaking it in cold water he went back and sat down next to Miranda. She had grown more fitful. He scooped her up in his arms.

"Miranda," he called. He put the cool cloth to her heated forehead and gently patted her cheek. "Wake up dear. You need to wake up." Miranda's thrashing had calmed down and she laid her head against Catspaw's chest.

He gently shook her shoulder. There was a slight moan as her eyes cracked open a bit.

"Catspaw," she said weakly. "Something's wrong."

"I know. I've called for the doctor. Your running a very high fever." Miranda moaned again and turned her face fully into his chest. Catspaw gently wiped the side of her face with the damp cloth.

After a few minutes, the doctor arrived with Kate and Emily in tow. After they all fussed over her for a minute the doctor shooed them all out of the room so he could examine her.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

After about 15 minutes of pacing any worrying, the door finally creaked open and the doctor stepped out. Everyone rushed forward. "How is she?" they all asked at once.

"She's sleeping right now." the doctor replied. "But I think there's a problem. You see, she seems to be connected to her husband on a deeper level than we all thought. It's as if she can feel his anguish, and in her present condition. It's making her very ill. Now I can only do so much. Catspaw, there may even be some of the ancient spells that you could perform that might help, but her husband being found is truly the only thing that will cure her."

Everyone's eyes sank to the floor. Thus far, the search for Dentwood was going nowhere.

They thanked the doctor and sat down to wait for Miranda to wake up.

END CHAPTER

Sorry the wait was so long. But now I'm out for the summer and hopefully I can crank a couple out! Happy reading!

p.s. I really want to give a big thanks times infinity to all my faithful reviewers who've stuck with me through my slow updates! You guys are amazing!!!!