Cassandra's eyes fluttered open as the banging downstairs grew louder. She sat up slowly, realizing that it was now dark out. "Have I slept all day?" she murmured to herself, sliding out of the bed and moving to the window.

Outside, she saw the horses, and the torches carried by the soldiers as one of them stepped forward again, banging loudly on her door. Her heart leaped into her throat as she hurried downstairs, flinging open the door.

"Yes?" she asked, the worry clear in her eyes as her hands clasped together, "Can I help you?"

"Missus Tavington" the soldier replied, snapping to attention, "I regret to inform you that your husband was wounded during a skirmish today a few miles outside of Pembroke"

"Wounded" Cassandra replied, closing her eyes, "How badly"

"Not fatally" the man assured her, "He's been patched up, but the doctor is requiring him to stay in the main house tonight for observation. He will likely be out of duty for several weeks while he heals. Please, Missus, he's been asking for you, if you'll kindly come with us"

"I'll follow you" Cassandra replied shortly, "Please, give me a moment"

Returning inside, she grabbed a few things from the house, a change of clothes for William, as well as her diary, and a few other odds and ends. After securing them in a pack, she returned outside to her horse. Quickly, she mounted, before turning towards the others, "Take me to him, please"

Within minutes, she was standing outside the door to his room, listening to the doctor's rundown of his injuries. "Its good that he was able to get to help as soon as he did" the doctor told her, "He will survive his injuries, but he will need to take time to heal completely from them. I hope you have better luck convincing him of that than I did"

Cassandra nodded, "I'll certainly do my best" she assured him, with the sinking feeling her best wouldn't be good enough. "May I see him now?"

At his nod, Cassandra opened the door to his room, slipping in quietly. She moved towards the bed, her heart aching as she saw the white bandages that were wrapped around his torso. Gently, she laid a hand against him, before she lowered her head, kissing him softly. "My love" she whispered, "I worry for you"

"Nothing more than a scratch" his slurred reply came and made her laugh.

"I'm afraid its a bit more than that" she told him, sitting beside him on the bed. "The doctor said you'll need weeks to fully recover"

"I don't have weeks" he argued, "I have days, if that before battle"

Cassandra shook her head, "The battle will go on without you"

At her words, his eyes opened, "It is to be the biggest battle of my career" he told her, "I cannot simply stand aside and do nothing"

"You are injured William" Cassandra said softly, "You will be of no use to anyone. You cannot honestly expect to ride off to battle when you've just been shot"

"Grazed"

"Whatever"

"I have to Cassandra. I am a soldier, it is my duty. My men need me."

"To hell with your duty and your men. I am your wife and I need you"

"Shhhh" William crooned softly, wincing as he pulled her down to him. "The battle is not for days yet. Let us not worry ourselves with it tonight"

Cassandra lay her head against her husband's chest knowing that she could do nothing but worry.