What Fresh Hell

Lady Lucia sat up late one night and penned the letter. She left out as much detail about Rosalina's life as possible without Edric missing the point of the letter. When she was finished, Lady Lucia called a messenger and told him to get the letter to Mercia as quickly as possible. She knew that Edric would be furious when he read the letter and would go straight to the King and Queen. She hoped that soon her mistress would be saved from the monster she had been forced to marry. Lady Lucia returned to Lady Rosalina's chambers and laid down in her bed until Rosalina woke up.

The sun rose in the sky and the birds began to sing. The light invaded the windows and crossed the stone floor to the bed where Lady Rosalina was sleeping. The rays of the sun illuminated the bruises that covered her face. The bright light of the sun hurt her eyes, she was a little thankful that her eyes were swollen, so that she didn't have to squeeze her eyes closed. Lady Rosalina rolled over and gasped at the pain all over her body. A few tears squeezed out of her eyes and ran down her cheeks. Rosalina curled up in a ball and cried. She had had a bad feeling about this marriage but it was worse than even she could have imagined.

How would she live through this? Would she be able to survive the pain and humiliation? Would she ever get home again. She had to get away from this marriage. Rosalina laid in her bed thinking about how she would get away or get a message to someone who would help. She could not even send letters to Kings without Tor getting angry.

Lady Lucia walked into her mistress' chambers to find her still in bed. She walked over and sat next to the young woman. "Rosie, how are you this morning?" Lucia asked. Rosalina kept crying. "I know, Jovia. We will get you out of her. I promise." Lucia leaned in really close, "I have already written to Edric. Once he realizes what I was trying to say he will rescue you." she whispered. Rosalina could not help but smile, well she tried to smile. "Do you really think he will understand?" she whispered. "I am sure that just getting a letter from me and not you is clue enough." Lady Lucia whispered. "I guess you are right. Then when Uncle Edmund finds out there might be considerations of war." Rosalina responded. " You are right. If he only considers war, what do you think your Aunt would do?" Lucia asked. Rosalina was quiet for a moment. She thought about what her Aunt would do and anything she came up with would not end well for Tor. She giggled on the inside a little at the thought. Lucia smiled.

Rosalina spent her day in bed with only Lady Lucia to care for her. With Lady Rosalina's eyes swollen she couldn't do much so Lady Lucy read to her and helped her eat and drink. By that evening, Lady Rosalina's were opening a little. Lady Lucia was so happy to see this and knew that by morning her mistress would be able to see again and maybe get out of bed. THat is if Tor left her alone. Lady Lucia knew there was no way that she could stop him if he visited that night. He wouldn't care that she was hurt or if Lady Lucia tried to say Rosalina was sick. He would take what he wanted no matter what. Lady Lucia knew that if she tried to stop him he would just beat her.

Lady Lucia decided that if Tor did visit she would just have to have to gather the herbs and bandages ready. Luckily, Tor had left the castle earlier in the day and according to a guard Tor would not be back for a few days. Lady Lucia breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that her mistress would be safe for a little while.

Lady Rosalina healed up and by the third day of Tor being gone was sitting in her sitting room and finally was able to wear a real gown. She was sitting in a chair sewing with Lady Lucia. Lady Rosalina was a little relaxed and in less pain than she had been. Lady Lucia was happy to see her mistress was able to sit up in her chair and dress. But the happiness was short-lived. Right after the evening meal, Tor entered Lady Rosalina's chambers. He approached his wife, grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her up. She dropped her sewing and tried to pull away from him. He gripped her wrist tighter and drug her to the bed chamber.

Lady Lucia left the chambers to gather the herbs and bandages. She returned to the sitting room to wait for Tor to come out so she can take care of whatever wounds he inflicts on Lady Rosalina. She could hear everything happening in the bedchamber and every scream and slap forced another tear from the lady's eyes. She heard his final grunts and was sure that he was done and should exit soon. Tor through open the door and walked out. He noticed Lady Lucia in the sitting room. He walked over to her, "You will not enter those chambers until I give you permission." He commanded. Lady Lucia wanted to argue but knew that he would either kill her or send her away. Either way she would be of no use to Lady Rosalina. She simply nodded and bowed to him. He closed the bedchamber doors and stormed out of the room.

Lucia waited for a few minutes before she approached the bedchamber with her basket in hand. She walked over to the bed and looked down at Rosalina. There were fresh marks and cuts on her once unblemished olive skin. She could not help but gasp at the sight. Lady Lucia shook her head with a sigh and started cleaning Rosalina up. "I cannot bandage or clean you up too much. Tor told me not to enter this chamber until he gave permission. I will do what I can." she explained. "It's alright, Luce. I will be fine." Lady Rosalina tried to reassure her friend. Lucia nodded and started cleaning her up. She cleaned her face. Lady Lucia was sure that her friend would be fine in time but right now Rosalina was not fine.

Lady Lucia kissed the top of Lady Rosalina's head and left the room. She went to her own bedchambers and sat on the bed and prayed. She prayed for her friend, she prayed the letter would reach Edric and she prayed he would walk through that door any day now. She laid down and restlessly slept. She woke up the next morning with the sun. She went to leave her chambers only to find a guard outside the door. "Ma'am you are ordered to remain in your chambers until further notice. Your meals will be brought to you." he informed. She nodded and closed the door. She huffed and stayed on her bed. He knew she would not have left her mistress to suffer. She stood at the window and stared at the sky. The unfamiliar clouds that weighed heavily over the castle brought no comfort to Lady Lucia.

Lady Rosalina laid in her bed, her body throbbing in pain. She tried not to move because every little movement would sting at the open wounds and her joints would cry out with a stabbing pain. She lay on her back and stared at the canopy of the bed. She closed her eyes and tried to think about Mercia. She wanted to escape to somewhere safe, somewhere she was loved. She wanted to just run. Then she thought about the children she had yet to meet. The children she was told she was supposed to raise. If Tor was this cruel to her how did he treat those innocent children? Part of her told her that she had to stay long enough to help them. They didn't deserve to be treated this way.