Once Markus finished documenting all of Lyra's injuries, he left the washroom so that Ellen could wash up Lyra in peace. He found Wulfric waiting for him in the bedroom.
"We should go to my office and talk," stated Wulfric.
Markus nodded and followed Wulfric out of the bedroom. As they walked through the corridors he kept thinking, Her wounds are much worse than I expected. Probably because she had been going through it so much longer than I originally believed. Lyra is an extremely resilient woman. I just hope I can help her properly.
When they reached Wulfric's office, Wulfric shut the door behind him, and led Markus to the sitting area off to the right of his desk. He gestured for Markus to sit, which he did, and Wulfric followed suit.
"How bad?" asked Wulfric.
"Worse than I initially thought. It had been going on longer than I had first realized. There is scarring and bruising covering most of her body."
Wulfric sighed, before asking, "Will she heal?"
"Physically, in time. There are medications and ointments to help remove the scars and bruises, though it will take longer because of how old some of her scars are. Mentally, possibly. With the right care."
"Do you consider yourself to be the right care?"
"To an extent, yes. Though I would like to call in my mentor, she has much more experience than me, and she could help me set up a plan."
"Send for her."
"Right away, your Grace."
Markus stood to leave, then paused, before saying, "Wulfric, she is resilient. I believe that is the only reason she's survived as long as she has. It will take time for her to heal, but I believe she will. Right now, I think the best thing for you is to be by her side. She needs someone to protect her and make her feel safe. That someone should be you."
~~~~~~~~~~
After Markus left, Wulfric sat at his desk in silence for a while, thinking, 'She needs someone to protect her and make her feel safe. That someone should be you.' But how do I do that? 'Be by her side.' What does that mean?
There had never been anyone that Wulfric needed to protect or make feel safe. Everything he'd done and attained he'd done out of necessity. Out of a need to survive in a world that viewed him as a monster. But then again he was a monster. He sucked the energy out of Humans as a means of survival. He himself was Half-Human. His mother was Human, and his father was an Energy Vampire. His mother died when he was young, and he never knew his father. Not that he had any desire to. Most Humans were terrified when they realized what he was. He'd taken on the title of Duke as a means of survival. The Royal Family relied on him and the armies he maintained for protection, and he used that as a bargaining chip to make them leave him alone. He only needed to go to the Capitol for a month or two out of the year, and the rest of the time he remained peacefully in his estate. The people here were used to him and didn't cringe around him, which was a welcome change to life in the Capitol. Here he grew and maintained an army that could rival all the others in the kingdom combined. The Royal Family let him because they knew he had no aspirations for the throne. Not that the people would ever welcome a Vampire, even a half one, as their King. Therefore, his armies didn't constitute as any form of a threat.
But now there was someone in his life that he needed to protect. But protect her from whom?
Wulfric rang the bell on his desk, and soon there was a knock at the door.
"Enter."
Kranston entered, and stated, "You rang, your Grace."
"Send for the Black Ring."
"At once, your Grace," responded Kranston before quickly leaving the room.
Barely a minute had passed before there was a rustle behind one of the bookcases to the right of Wulfric's desk. Moments later the bookcase slid back, a man in all black standing in a dark passage.
"Enter."
"What can I do for you, your Grace?" asked the man.
"I have a ward staying with me, now."
"We've heard."
"I figured as much. There are two things I need: One, find out who she is, and two, find out the reason behind her captivity. Understood?"
"Yes, your Grace. May we have any information you've found on her."
"Of course. Here is what I know…"
~~~~~~~~~~
Lyra sat comfortably soaking in the tub, as Ellen had left her, saying, "This will help to start easing away the past."
Easing away the past… Lyra knew she meant it to be kind, but the past was only yesterday. She couldn't remember the last time she had enjoyed a bath. Probably when I lived on the farm, but I have never enjoyed a bath as comfortable as this one. She could feel some of the built-up tension leaving her body. It had hurt a lot when she had first gotten in, but the pain melted away after a short while. Now she lay there just enjoying the present moment, until there was a gentle knock at the door.
"Wh-who is it?" asked Lyra.
"It is Ellen, my lady."
"Oh, come in."
Ellen entered from the door leading to the bedroom.
"It is time to scrub off that dirt. Lord Markus gave me some soaps and oils that would help with your sensitive skin."
"Th-that was n-nice of him."
"He seems like a very kind man."
"Do y-you n-not know him v-v-very well? I-I am s-s-sorry, I sh-sh-should not be asking-g-g y-you that it is r-rude." Lyra said with a blush.
"My dear lady, you can ask me anything and I would not consider it rude. Part of my job is to help guide you through your time here, and help you adjust to your new surroundings. I am one of the few people you can ask anything of, and would not find it rude. To answer your question, I don't know Lord Markus very well. I met him when they arrived with you. However, I understand Duke Bertram has known him since he was a child. Now, if you sit up, my lady, I can start scrubbing."
Lyra did as she was told, and Ellen gently started scrubbing the years of dirt and grime off her, while using the soaps and oils that Markus had provided. It took quite a while to get it all off, and when she was done, Ellen helped Lyra out of the tub. She guided her back to the wooden bench where a fluffy towel was folded. Ellen had Lyra wrap herself in the towel, before walking over to the woodstove. She put on a kettle of water, pulled out a mug, a strainer, and tea leaves from a cabinet next to the woodstove. While they waited for the kettle to boil, Ellen helped Lyra dry off and then got her into a new bathrobe. Once that was done, Ellen led Lyra to the chair in front of the dressing table, before heading back to the woodstove to get the tea ready.
For the first time in who knew how long, Lyra saw herself in the mirror. Her face was gaunt and pale. She looked exhausted. Yet she also looked much older than she remembered. She was a vastly different person from the last time she had looked at herself in a mirror. Lyra felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, startling her from her thoughts.
"Here, drink this, my lady," said Ellen kindly. "It will keep you warm. While you drink, I am going to brush out your hair and cut off the dead ends."
"Okay. Oh, Ellen, thank you for being so kind to me."
Ellen smiled at Lyra through the mirror. Though it took a while, when Ellen was done, Lyra's hair looked beautiful. With all the dirt and oil gone, it was clear that Lyra's hair was a lovely sliver-blonde.
"You have such lovely hair, my lady. It will take time, but I know it will become much healthier. Though I was surprised that I needed to cut off eight inches," said Ellen. "Anyways, I should put some more salve on your bruises and scrapes, and rebandage your feet. Then I'll find you something to wear."
"Thank you."
~~~~~~~~~~
Markus finished writing his letter to his mentor and handed it off to a servant to be delivered immediately. He knew they could not wait long when it came to starting a plan to help Lyra. He also knew that the best thing for her right now was to give her time. Allow her to spend a few days without being forced to think about her past. He figured she would probably be more open to talking about it if she were not being constantly pushed.
I made a mistake trying to push her to tell me more. I could have done more damage to her psyche if Wulfric hadn't stepped in. Wulfric… Am I going to have to worry about him too? This is a big moment for him as well. He Imprinted. Yet he will not be able to talk to Lyra about it. It could scare her off, which could be deadly to them both. I will need to do more research on that as well. Anyways, I should go check on Lyra and Ellen.
Markus returned to Lyra's bedroom door and knocked.
Ellen answered it, saying "Ah, Lord Markus, do come in."
Markus entered, and his eyes were immediately drawn to the open balcony doors. He saw a woman with flowing silver-blonde hair standing at the railing, watching the sunrise on the garden.
Lyra. Who are you?
He continued staring at her. She was wearing a floor length, charcoal grey dress. Markus made his way to her side. He joined her as she continued staring out at the garden, watching the sunrise. Neither of them said anything, and Markus didn't want to look at her. The woman he saw from behind was a vision, but he knew the pain that he would see on her face. They both stood there in silence for some time.
When the sun fully crested the horizon, Markus watched Lyra from the corner of his eyes turn towards him, and heard her quietly say, "Thank you for helping me." Before she returned to watching the light of a new day fill the garden.
~~~~~~~~~~
The sun had fully risen when Wulfric reached the door to Lyra's bedroom. He knocked and heard Ellen's voice from the other side telling him to enter. When Wulfric opened the door, he noticed Markus on the balcony. Markus and a woman with lovely flowing silver-blonde hair were looking out at the garden. Lyra?
"Ah, Your Grace. Do come in. Lady Lyra and Lord Markus are out on the balcony."
Lyra, who are you?
"Thank you, Ellen. Please leave us."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Wulfric walked out on the balcony and stood on the other side of Lyra. Joining them in their viewing of the garden. After some time, he said, "If you are feeling up to it, would you like to take a walk in the garden?"
"I would like that very much, Your Grace."
"Wonderful, and Lyra, there's no need for you to call my 'Your Grace', Wulfric is just fine."
"Yes, Y… Wulfric."
"Before you go for your walk in the garden," interrupted Markus. "I wanted to check in on you, Lyra. I know things must be difficult, and I want you to know that Wulfric and I are both here for you. We will help you get through this. If there is anything you need, please just let us know."
"Thank you, Markus. I will keep that in mind."