Lady Anne walked in, she entered the fence wired with the scary objects, she looked so out of place in the dirty environment, with her clean black boot, and fair hair, but she continued, Tessy followed closely behind her...
"Anne Marie thornwyn!, a very high and shrill voice called to her and she stopped at the door of the Hut, shaking with fear, as she didn't see the person who called her...
"You may proceed, but you will proceed alone!, the voice called out again, and both women froze, holding their hands,....
"Mi lady it's not too late to go back, change your mind please, Tessy begged her, and although she was very scared, Lady Anne felt her baby kick again, and knew she had to do this for her son, she had to know...
"Nay, I have to go in alone, she said to her holding back her fear,
"Then I have to go in with you, Tessy said as she stood by the door, I won't let you go in all alone! she stopped when lady Anne held out her hand to stop her,
"I am going in alone, end of discussion!, she shouted, and it is better this way, you can keep watch at the door, while I go in, she said to her, trying to lift her spirits..
Tessy nodded in agreement and watched her go in, she is a brave woman, Tessy thought in her head, her lady was a very strong and brave woman!, and she was proud to serve her..
Lady Anne entered the Hut and it was pitch black, she was scared but continued in, she used her leg to feel around the room, then a sudden movement startled her, she saw stones been smacked together to produce the fire, and she paused in her movement, then the fire was lit in the fire place and the room glowed with the red golden color and lady Anne took a good look around, it was a shabby place filled with bones of animals as she refused to call it human bones, and shells like she saw outside a lot of spice, and roots, she saw she was stepping on a bone, she quickly kicked it away, and she looked up to see the woman, but the illumination of the light cast made her look so dirty, and she was old, a very old lady with gray hair and she was sure few teeth, she watched her wondering if it was her voice she heard earlier
"Are you here to look at me or are you here to seek answers the woman asked her and she shook her head, knowing it was rude to stare, and she couldn't believe such an old lady had such a voice, it was clear and loud...
"I came to seek answers, Lady Anne said. and I'm sorry, I know it was rude to stare, she added...
"You came to know about your son, the old woman said and sat in an old chair that looked like it would give way any day soon,
"Yes lady Anne said, a bit surprised, how did you know, and you called my full name earlier, she said again and the old woman laughed, it was a dry, wicked laugh that made her spine cold, she looked at lady Anne..
"The sorceress was right, he would be a tyrant, killing and destroying all in his path, till he finally dies, and he would have a cold unloving and unfeeling heart.
"No...,. Lady Anne said in a low broken voice shaking her head unwilling to accept that as her baby's fate, "Can't it be changed?, she asked him, can't my baby's fate be changed? she begged, I will do anything, I will face anything, she said barely holding in her tears...
"Nothing can be done, the woman continued, he will have a chance to change his fate, if he is willing, he will meet someone who is touched by the gods, but she will come in form of a curse.....
Lady Anne was more confused than ever, and she begged, "Please, can I bring him up with love!, it will certainly help him,, I can't let his name be sullied, not like this, she said, pleading
"Enough!, the old woman shouted at her, I can only tell you that their path will meet, they are fated, but the rest is up to him, she said standing up, you have to leave my home now! go back to your husband..
"You have not spoken to me clearly, I'm not done, save my son please, what should I do! Lady Anne said running towards her, but she was stopped by a high pitched scream, she held her ears and ran outside the Hut, she met a worried Tessy who held her, and they ran out of the fence, she was tired when they got to where their horse was tied, and Tessy handed her her reins, she took it and mounted her horse, the sky was already bright, and the sun was about to set, it was already coming out of the gray sky, she mounted her horse and set bound for home, Philip will be awake soon, as she thought about what her poor baby's fate was, she did what a lady never did in public, what a duchess must never do in public, she cried bitterly, tears running down her cheeks, and blurring her vision, she wasn't aware of the journey home, thank God for the day light so the mare could make her way home on her own, she was so heartbroken, but she held on to the mare, as it ran like lightning bolt
Philip stretched on the bed not fully awake, then he did what he normally do at the crack of dawn, touch his wife and his unborn child, he felt the bed and met with an empty bed, and he stretched again touching the bed again than he opened his eyes fully awake now, this was the first time in years when he didn't touch his wife warm body on the bed as he woke up, and he sat up, did she go to use the chamber pot? he thought, then he went to check, he saw nothing, or maybe she went to feed her best mare because he knew it calmed her and she had been troubled all through the night before he slept off, and why didn't he hear her leave. he was a light sleeper...
"He went to his washing chamber and saw a hot water, but he didn't have time for a bath so he only washed his face and underarms, and his mouth, and hurried to go and check on his wife as he felt she would be in the stables, feeding her horse, he heard the servants walking around, he went down the stairs and asked a servant he saw....
"Have you seen the lady? he asked him and he shook his head,
"No yer grace. he said and Philip proceeded to the great hall, he saw Andrew there already and went to him,
"Good morning my lord, trust your night was well, he asked him and he saw the look on Philips face and asked, "What is the problem your grace....
"My wife, have you seen the lady he asked, and Andrew shook his head,
"Have you searched the manor, although it's quite early but she may be somewhere around, Andrew said alert, his wife just put to birth and he can't be with them because couldn't celebrate when his lord was sad, so he was back to work, it hurts not to be with his family, but he had no option...
"Okay I will check the stables, while you check on her maid, he said and Andrew nodded to him before they ran in opposite directions....
Philip got to the stable, the sun was almost fully up now, he got there and didn't see his wife. or her favourite mare, so he was scared, did she go for a ride, or was she abducted and used that story as a cover up, he ran back to meet Andrew and he shook is head indicating that the maid was gone as well,
"Ring the bell!, and gather the men!, he bellowed and Andrew ran to do that, the whole villagers gathered at the villa at the sound of the bell, and he closed his eyes, please be safe babe, he thought...
Lady Anne didn't slow down till she got to the villa, she brought the horse to a trot, and it walked in jumping, she dried her tears, she already planned what she wanted to do when she got home, she was think8ng on how to protect her son... she saw everyone gather in front and Philip was directing his men, pointing his hands for better understanding, and she knew it was the search party they were preparing for....
"Look at her, Andrew said patting Philip on the shoulder, and he turned quickly, and saw his wife, her face was so drawn, and her hair was looking wild, she still looked so beautiful to him, he ran to her and helped her down, and hugged her tightly, then he stepped away from her a little just enough to kiss her on the lips...
"Where did you go, he asked, I was so worried, he said and sighed .... hugging her, as he said that into her hair, she was quiet.
"I'm sorry, she said to his chest, she was really sorry because she was about to tell a lie, to him, to everyone, but it was for her son, she thought, then he held her belly, and kissed her fore head,
She stepped away from him to address everyone....
"I am so sorry I made everyone worry so, and too early, and when they started murmuring their response she held out her hand, "Please let me speak, I went with Tessy to confirm what was said about my son yester night, and... ,she paused as everyone stared at her hungry for the outcome, and it was hopeful, she said, and smiled, I was told that to stop him from being a tyrant, my son had to be taken to another castle where he will grow, he will leave here when he has seen six summers with us, hence he would be more than capable of understanding his surroundings and why we have to do this, and that way he would be a fair and just child...., she paused, that's what the wise woman told me..., she was surprised at the fact that all was silent, she breathed heavily, does that mean they didn't believe her?, she thought and racked her brain, she had to make it believable.....
"It is said that on the day he is born, a good news will reach us, and that's a great sign that he would be a just duke, she said and then everyone cheered, clapping at that. Lady Anne tried to hide her relief, Philip stared at his wife, not knowing what to believe, especially as she avoided his gaze, as she received congratulations from the villagers,
"Okay everyone!, Andrew shouted and everyone stopped, in that case I am happy to announce that Theodore Wilson Gentry, was born in the wee hours of this morn, Andrew said excitedly and that earned him a loud cheer, Philip forgot about what he wanted to say to his wife and hugged his friend, and right hand man.
"Congratulations man, and what are you doing here, you should be with your family!, he shouted, and Andrew bowed to him,
"I was going to tell you your grace, he said to Philip, and Philip dragged him closer, and said, "don't you, in any circumstance hide your joy because of me, he whispered to him, before hugging him, and sending him in his way, an excited Andrew ran home to his wife and child.... and the cheering continued...
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