Chapter 27

In Brendlewood ...

The next morning a rapid knock on my door startles me as I dress for the day. "Miss Nora! I bring news of the strange woman!" the maid Midi squeaks. "Oh? What news is this?" I question curiously. "She was badly injured, but the nurse has addressed her injuries. When she came to, she told of a dreadful tale. She was beaten and escaped her captors to seek aid here in Brendlewood. Her kingdom has been over run with lycans and the torment of Queen Carolin" Midi finishes breathlessly.

Gasping I clap my hand to my mouth. "How tragic! Isn't Queen Carolin the one that stole the royal funds?" I ask her. "Yes Miss, one in the same. Normally our kingdom doesn't associate with vampires and lycans, but this woman is special...she is part faerie. Come, come! The others are downstairs speaking to her now!" Midi explains. I nod in agreement and we dash off to the servants quarters. 

Upon reaching the servants quarters where the strange woman is staying, we find quite a large group talking with her. "I just think we should act quickly, while she thinks she's gotten off scott-free" Novus tells Cade and Jax. "But, what do we know of this woman? She could have an army of thousands!" Jax says in a concerned tone. Cade mulls the idea over, staring blankly. "Nora! Good morning! I suppose Midi has filled you in?" Cade blurts as he snaps out of his stare. I nod and tell him that she has explained everything, but I think it would be a good idea for me to speak with the woman. "Maybe I can find out more information about the numbers we'd be facing" I offer. The men see this as a good idea, and inform us that they will be upstairs working on strategies for a battle plan.

Taking my place in a nearby chair, I greet Shelly. "Good morning, I'm glad to hear that you are doing better. They tell me that faeries usually keep to their own kingdom, but that you are a special exception being half faerie. They are more than willing to go after this Queen Carolin woman, and seeing what those awful lycans have done, I'm sure they will make them pay. "That's right! No one hurts a fellow faerie, even if she is only half" Tulip pipes up, entering the room.

"I have family that I was trying to escape with. My husband told me the Brendlewood would be a safe meeting point before they..." Shelly trails off as tears start to fill her eyes. "...Before the lycan beat him and bit him right in front of me" She explains. I place a hand on her shoulder to comfort her and respond softly, "I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm sure we can help you all and stop the lycans as well as Queen Carolin" I sooth. Tulip says, "I know a bit of faerie magic that will completely heal you. Maybe then you could show us the way to this kingdom you've come from?"

"That Queen Carolin! She's nothin' but trouble! She has caused my family and myself alot of pain and heartache!" Shelly huffs. "I'll take you to the edge of our kingdoms. We have a long history with this Queen and the lycans. I know they will stop at nothing to see my families demise. Would your people be willing to offer my family some protection?" Shelly questions shakily. "I'm certain they will" Tulip says in a comforting tone. "I will pass on the message to the King. Tulip will you see to her healing spell?" I ask. Tulip agree's, and I make my way back upstairs to fill in the King on the information Shelly has given us. 

Upstairs reaching Cade, Jax, and Novus I go over the information that Shelly has told me about her family coming to Brendlewood, the lycans, Carolin, and request for protection. Cade agree's to offering some protection until everything is sorted out. "They will have to stay at the inn near the guards cottages. This kingdom is strictly for fae but desperate times call for desperate measures. The fact that Shelly is part faerie is also a factor. We can't leave one of our own in harms way" he tells me. "I can make the arrangements with the innkeeper" Jax suggests. "Thank you Jax, that would be a great help" Cade smiles before Jax leaves the room. "I need to inform the guards of the visitors arrival, and of the procedures in which to handle them" Cade announces. Novus offers to set all of that up, Cade agree's and thanks him. Before he leaves Novus asks me to check in on Emily and I give him a nod.

"Nora, do you mind to give this to Emily? She left it here last night" Cade asks holding out a dainty bracelet. "I'll turn it to her" I agree. Taking the bracelet from him, our hands gently graze one another. Cade catches my eye, and I blush as I turn to leave the room. 

I knock gently on Emily's door and her nurse answers the door. "Hi, Cade sent me with this for Emily. Is it a good time for a little visit?" I ask her. The nurse nods and motions me inside. She whispers, "Just a quick one though. Her majesty hasn't been doing well at all since the wedding. I fear the worst is near, but I haven't let on to it" the nurse tells me. I silently bring my hand to my mouth and compose myself before approaching Emily. "Good morning, Cade asked me to bring this to you. He said you left it downstairs" I tell Emily as I take a seat next to her bed. "Oh thank you Nora, your kind to bring it to me. This is my favorite bracelet, it belonged to my grandmother" Emily says in a raspy voice. "It is beautiful. How are you doing?" I ask. 

Emily glances down and says softly, "Not well I'm afraid. I don't want to worry anyone though. I'm not afraid to join the realm of the spirits. I just didn't think it would be so soon. I didn't know my body wouldn't respond well to the recovery transformation" she explains. I place a hand on her shoulder and gently nod, not knowing what to say. "Nora, please don't worry! If nothing else I have saved the kingdom from falling. I know that Cade will take good care of our people, especially with you by his side. Don't give me that look!" she wheezes as she laughs. "I know there is something special between you two, I can even feel it. I want you to know that when I am gone you have my blessing. I would like to give you an official royal title so that if it comes to it, you will be able to become his wife. I have already had the documents drawn up, you only need to sign them" she smiles weakly. 

"Emily! That is too kind of you, but please don't talk like that. I just know you can pull through and get back on your feet" I tell her. Emily closes her eyes and shakes her head, then looks at me. "That's what I love about you Nora, you believe in impossible things. All of the hardships you have been through, the people you have lost, you always find a way to see the positive. You always find the good in people and circumstances, even when the inevitable will happen. What will be, will be. I will leave this realm, Nora of 1945, and my spirit will rest in the hall of souls. Do not mourn me" Emily says using what little strength she has to take my hand and kiss it. The nurse softly suggests that her majesty rest now, and I thank Emily once again before leaving the room.

Down the hall I run into Cirrus who is looking flustered. "Nora! Thank goodness! I never can find anyone in this giant castle!" she chuckles, "I'm looking for Midi, have you seen her? One of the villagers has gone into labor and her midwife is very ill! Normally I wouldn't lend my best ladies maid but everyone needs a good midwife when they are in labor!" she rambles excitedly. "Oh, yes! I will send her to you" I reply and continue to the servants chambers to find Midi.

"Midi! Cirrus is requesting your help with someone in the village" I tell Midi once I arrive back downstairs. "I'm on it Ma'am" Midi says energetically before rushing off. I find Shelly still in her bed and ask how she is holding up. "Still a little sore, but that is to be expected after all that has happened" she replies. I nod understandingly, "Well Cade tells me that Tulip is known for her great potion skills, and I'm sure she'll have you good as new in no time!" I cheerily reply. 

Our conversation is suddenly interrupted by an ear piercing scream from the next room. Gasping I glance at the door, then back at Shelly. "Go! Go!" Shelly cries out. Running from the room I yank open the door. I find Tulip in a nearby room lying in a puddle of blood and overturned cauldron potion. She screams in pain clutching her stomach as a purple smoke rises from the potion mixture. "Oh my gosh! TULIP!?" I shout rushing to her. 

Tearing the potion soaked clothes off of her rapidly, and grabbing a towel I work quickly to get the potion off of her. I submerge a clean towel in some water and wipe splashes of potion and blood from her skin as she trembles in agony. Where the potion has soaked through the clothes there is a terrible wound on her abdomen. I stare horrified at the opening. "There's some salve in the jar on the counter" she manages to tell me, and I carefully smear it on her and wrap a large bandage cloth around her snugly. Searching the wardrobe I find a dress for her, and help her into it gently. 

After cleaning up the spill, I help Tulip into the room with Shelly, and lay her in an adjacent bed. Shelly sits up on the edge of her bed as quickly as her sore body will allow her to. "Holy crap! What happened?" She gasps. Tulip sobs into her hands, "My....baby....my....BABY!" I sit perched on the edge of Tulip's bed and gently rub her shoulder. "Shh, there now Tulip we'll get the nurse and have her look at you. Just try to breathe, take a deep breath and tell us what happened" I sooth. Tulip takes a breath, trying to compose herself as I ring for the nurse. 

"UGH! It's so stupid, a curse is what it is! My fear of mice has caused this. I-I was just about finished with the potion for you Shelly. That's when it happened, a fat, hairy rat rushed across the room terrifying me! It rushed under my skirts, and as I jumped back, I accidentally bumped straight into the cauldron. It teetered, and fell over before I could stop it, hitting the ground and splashing all down the front of me. It left a large wound on my stomach, and I started losing alot of blood. I....I lost the baby" Tulip manages to get out between sobs.

I frantically tell the nurse what has happened as I listen to Tulip describe the horror that has just occurred. "Oh my God! Nora and I are both here for you, just take deep breaths. We're gonna get you taken care of sweetie" Shelly tells Tulip soothingly. Tulip hiccups with sobs and I tenderly stroke her hair. "Just try to lie down and close your eyes hun, the nurse is on her way" I tell her. 

  

*To see the beginning of Shelly's adventure please visit secondary author  Alyssa Sim's  Twisted Fairytale*