Don't Forget to Dream (30 page)

Walt was rapidly improving as the days progressed, first his appetite and then his colour. Two weeks after draining the abscess and removing the charred wooden fragment from his thigh
,
Rhyla declared he was strong enough to take short walks. He was very thin and his
muscles weak but there was
only a scar to indicate the life threatening ordeal he had endured. Rhyla was satisfied that with time the injured leg would be no weaker than his good leg.

Rhyla could not think of a time when she had been so happy and content since she had lost her father and home. Even surrounded by constant reminders of him
,
she was able to remember him with love and pride
than that of
the grief and despair she usually felt. She silently thanked him for all he had
taught her, wondering many time
s
what he would have thought of such a place, of the huge dun, it
’
s multitude of buildings and community that lived and worked both within and around the complex. Their small farm and his forge on the outskirts of Bendarin was a simple life but she believed he would have come to love this place just as she was starting to.

Late one afternoon with the sounds of hammers and saws filling the dun
’
s grounds behind her, Rhyla stood looking out the open gateway to the rear of the complex. To her left stretched a field of tall wheat, still green but w
ith the promise of a good yield.
To
her right lay the orchard and a small river
beyond;
it
’
s soft babbling concealed by the noise of the workmen. She had been standing there lost in her thoughts when Lady Emelia strolled to her side.

They shared the scenery in silence for several minutes before Lady Emelia spoke,
“
This was always such a wonderful home. I had forgotten how much I missed it.
”

Rhyla smiled but her eyes remained lost in the beauty before her.
“
After leaving Bendarin I never thought I would find
a place that would welcome me as
these estates have. They are truly beautiful and the people are wonderful.
”

“
Oh my girl, you should have see
n it when I was a lass. It was full of life and energy.
So
much
was always happening with
children playing amongst the constant activity of a large farming estate. I fear I do not do it justice now, an old lady who can
’
t even reside in it, too frail and old to really do what is needed. A dun like this needs a young family to make it live again.
”

Rhyla looked troubled for a moment, realising the deep concern her mistress held for her ancestral home.
“
Surely there is someone to whom you can trust it to.
”

Lady Emelia smiled sadly,
“
I fear not my dear. My younger brother died childless so the estates were turned to me. My son has his father
’
s estates and only one son to leave those to. My grandsons are too full of their Princely duties to concern themselves with what they see as a large farm. It is a grave concern
and
as the years pass me by, no doubt Liam will dispose of it to some worthy young noble once I am gone.
”

“
But what of Callum.... Prince Callum,
”
Rhyla hastily corrected,
“
he can
’
t remain in the Palace forever, he will need his own estates?
”

“
Aye, Callum will need his own estates, but out here? He would need the right woman by his side,
”
she replied glancing briefly at Rhyla,
“
but he will not find such a woman in the courtly lasses and Princesses currently on offer.
”

Rhyla fixed her gaze on the tops of the trees, struggling to control the grief she had not had to face since leaving the Palace. Fearing for his safety and praying for his safe return was hard enough to bear and now the reminder that her love for him meant nothing as his family debated and deliberated on a suitable bride for a Prince. She was reminded of her determination to stop
loving
him now that they
were separated.
The
naive lunacy of such a simple assessment of her problem should have had her laughing. Her control finally failed and traitorous tears spilled from her eyes to trail down her cheeks. She hastily dashed th
em away but the damage was done.
Lady Emelia had already seen them.

“
You fear for him?
”
she asked gently.

“
Constantly.
For all of them,
”
Rhyla added hastily.

“
You have every right to worry, but trust
me,
he will return to you.
”

Rhyla laughed softly for a brief moment,
“
You forget
,
I am not his to return to.
”

Lady Emelia turned to face her, gentle
,
yet adamant as she spoke,
“
You have his heart. I
t is a simple truth that even my old eyes can see. I know he will be thinking of you every day that you are parted.
”

Rhyla turned away to seek solace in the vista before them. It was several minutes before she spoke,
“
I had thought to use this time apart to break my feelings for him.
”

“
But?
”
Lady Emelia encouraged.

“
But it is
no use. I long to see him again; more than ever before, e
ven if at a distance, just to see he is well.
”

“
It is a hard lesson to learn, loving a soldier. I have now lived with four generations of men going off on some campaign or another. It doesn
’
t get any easier,
but you learn to deal with it. Just t
rus
t that he will come home to you.
Be
patient and you shall have your heart
’
s desire in the end.
”

“
I shall
never have my true heart desire.
We
both know the realities.
He
is a Prince and I am....,
”
Rhyla left her words trailing. Lady Emelia squeezed her hand but remained silent as they looked across the green, calming landscape.
“
As long as he is well,
”
she whispered.

The storage shed was nearly complete when a half dozen supply wagons arrived from the Palace. Half were loaded with sacks of grain while the remainder contained sacks of root vegetables and barrels of pickled onions,
salted fish and dried meat. With the prospected yields from this year
’
s crops and the extra late planting they were embarking on in any fallow field they could find, Rhyla and Lady Emelia were confident that
with
the extra
supplies from the Palace,
the people of the Black Swan Estates would not go hungry in the coming months or the following winter.

The arrival of the supplies also brought a squad of guardsmen from the Palace to protect the wagons and men on their journey. The sight of the dark blue and gold uniforms filing through the gateway brought a tightening to Rhyla
’
s throat and a flutter to her heart as she stood in the doorway of the dun. Never would Callum have worn such as these men
were wearing
but he had bee
n constantly surrounded by them.
Before logic and reason
resurfaced Rhyla had fully expected to see him ride through the
gates alongside them.
Realising
her foolishness she brushed the fantasy from her thoughts and prayed no one had noticed the sudden flare of colour to her cheeks.

Controlling her features and struggling to steady her racing heart she descended the stairs as the first wagon drew to a halt before her. She surprised herself at the steady commanding tone she obtained as she called for men to assist in the unloading of the wagons. A pair of stables had already been cleared out to accommodate supplies until the
new
shed was completed.

As the wagoners were lead away to her left, Rhyla had the uncomfortable experience of the squad of
guardsmen lining up before her.
Their
sole officer had light brown hair and she soon realised that she did indeed recognise him from around the Palace but she failed to know his name. In unison the men dismounted before her. Rhyla had seen men received at the Palace but had always been in the background, never close enough to hear what was said. Master Stephen and Mistress Belinda were both out of the dun seeing to matters before supper and Lady Eme
lia was resting in her chambers.
It
was down to her to welcome these men.

Descending half way down the stairs Rhyla smiled to the lieutenant,
“
Welcome to the Black Swan Estates lieutenant. I trust you had a safe journey.
”

The officer smiled at her but Rhyla was sure she was doing something wrong and he was being polite.
“
Thank you Miss Rhyla, we had a pleasantly uneventful journey. I am Lieutenant Ewan.
”
He said bowing briefly, not as deep as it would have been to a Lady but certainly more than she expected.

“
It is a pleasure to meet you.
I recognised you from around the Palace and must apologise for not knowing your name Lieutenant Ewan,
”
Rhyla struggled to recover her composure and silently chastised
herself
for knowing so little of courtly ways despite living at the Palace for so many months.

“
No need to apologise, there has been no reason for us to be introduced,
”
the young lieutenant had a ready smile that lit up his dark brown eyes. Rhyla remembered seeing him seated at Captain Martin
’
s table in the Great Hall.
She
also remembered the
attentions that smile had obtained
from several of the serving girls. She was startled to see him briefly appraising her as he had the lasses in the Hall. For a moment indignity flared from Rhyla
’
s subconsciousness.
It
must have shown on her face before she could control it. The smile faded from Lieutenant Ewan
’
s face and he subtly took on a more formal stance.

“
No, of course, there are so many within the Palace,
”
Rhyla said attempting to soften the effect of her uncontrolled features.
“
If you and your men would like to see to your horses, you will find Ryan and the other soldiers of the estate assisting with the building work,
”
she said indicating the stables where the wagons were being unloaded alongside the busy building site.
“
I
shall inform Lady Emelia of your arrival and see to preparations for your accommodation and meals. We d
o not have a guardhouse as such.
The
men sleep above the stables but I doubt they have room for you all. There are rooms in the dun that we
can set up for you. Please
excuse me.
”
Rhyla turned away and mounted a couple of stairs before the lieutenant called her.

“
Miss Rhyla?
”

“
Yes,
”
she replied turning to face him as he proceeded up the stairs to her.

He removed a folded letter from his belt pouch and handed it to her,
“
The Queen wished me to deliver this letter to her mother.
”

Rhyla looked at it, briefly disappointed as she had somehow hoped it had been for her,
“
I shall take it to her immediately.
”

Leaving the guardsmen to see to their mounts
,
Rhyla hurried to Lady Emelia
’
s chamber. Her gentle knock was quickly followed by Elsie opening the door. As usual she looked a little tired, smiling briefly in welcome but not speaking. She was not handling her separation from Kyle
well;
she did her chores well enough but did little else to engage in the life around her.

Rhyla crossed quickly to sit by Lady Emelia
’
s side as she rested against a mound of pillows.