Chapter 252 - Who Will Take Care Of You?

When they arrived back at Edgewood the guards and the men from the stables were waiting anxiously.  When they saw their master ride out of the forest on Frost with his wife they visibly relaxed.  Delaney saw the men from the stables and felt guilt fill her chest.

"Were you angry with them?" she asked Vincent quietly before they were close enough to be heard.

"The men from the stable?  Of course.  They let my wife ride into the woods in the middle of the night on a beast that's only partially tame.  I've told them many times that no one is allowed on Frost but me."

"Please don't be angry with them," she whispered as they grew closer, "It was my fault.  Don't punish them."

"They're lucky I don't get rid of them."

"Please don't do that.  And please don't punish them.  I'm sure knowing they made you angry has been punishment enough."

"I know how to manage my people Delaney."

His harsh words made her fall silent.  She didn't know what to say to him.  Where did they go from here?

He rode to the stables and the men were waiting to take the reins from him.  One of the men helped Delaney down and she felt relieved when her feet were on solid ground again.  She turned and watched her husband lock his jaw and slowly get down from the tall half-unicorn.  A sound escaped him when his feet hit the ground and he stumbled forward.  The closest man from the stable caught him and awkwardly helped him steady himself.

"I'm sorry," Vincent mumbled, quickly stepping back from the man, "I... I lost my footing."

"Of course my Lord," the man nodded nervously, "The grass is wet and slick too."

Vincent nodded but didn't meet their eyes, "Take care of Frost and get some sleep.  All of you."

Delaney was surprised when he turned to her and held out his arm to her.  She hesitated for a moment, still upset with him.  His eyes stared hard at her, willing her to come to him.  Not wanting to embarrass him further or make their people uncomfortable she reached out then and tucked her arm through his.

They walked slowly inside, his leg giving him enough trouble that he was taking sharp breaths as he stepped.  The wound by his shoulder where the dragon's tooth had sunk in was causing his arm to ache as well.  Pain would flicker across his face as he moved it.  Delaney felt her worry return as she watched him.

Inside their home he ignored the servants as he made his way to the stairs.  He looked up at the challenge ahead of him and closed his eyes.  It was going to be torture to make his injured leg take all these steps.

"Where is the medicine?" Delaney asked quietly, "The medicine from Opal."

"I don't need it."

"Vincent please..."

"I don't need it Delaney.  Stop pitying me."

He took a quick breath and began up the stairs then, one hand holding tight to the railing.  He had to close his eyes and little groans escaped him when he stepped.

Delaney didn't try to fight him on it further.  He was already angry enough at her without her making it worse.  Tears filled her eyes but she tried to keep them from falling.  She hated this.

Vincent walked with her past the door to her old bedroom and she didn't stop him.  She wanted to get him into bed and try again to get him to take some medicine.  No matter their arguments or what would happen tomorrow she still loved him and didn't want him in pain.

They made it into their bedroom and Delaney let go of Vincent so she could close the door behind them.  When she turned back around he was working his way towards their bed, using chairs and anything else he could reach for support.  When he finally made it he collapsed with a quiet cry of pain.

"Vincent where is the medicine?" Delaney asked gently, coming to stand beside him and lightly brushing the hair from his face.

He didn't answer.  She watched as he worked to roll onto his side.  He was sweating from the effort and his eyes were smashed shut.  He reached out with his good arm and grabbed one of their thick pillows, pressing his face into it.  He yelled into the pillow making Delaney jump.

She didn't wait any longer for him to answer but instead started pulling open drawers and sifting through his things as she tried to find the little bottle.  A sob tore free from his throat but was muffled by the pillow he kept pressed to his face. Delaney was about to give up and call for Harris to help her when she at last spotted the bottle tucked on a shelf of the bookcase.

"Here," she whispered to him after grabbing the bottle, "Take some of this my love."

He shook his head but Delaney was already working to roll him over and he was too tired now to fight her.  She pulled the stopper from the bottle and was surprised to see how little was left inside.  She looked down at her miserable husband and wondered when he had been taking the medicine.  When had his pain been bad enough to need it?

"Open your mouth," she said seriously.

He gave in and she was quick to dump the rest of the bottle into his mouth.  He coughed and sputtered but swallowed it all.  He laid back on the bed and she anxiously watched him, waiting for some sign of improvement.

Thankfully it didn't take long.  Soon his breathing slowed again and his body seemed to relax.  She gently brushed his hair from his face and used a handkerchief to blot the sweat away.  She sat lightly on the edge of the bed then and watched him, waiting for him to be able to speak again.  When he opened his eyes she gave him a sympathetic smile.

"There," she said quietly, "I think you're feeling better now."

Slowly he nodded, "Thank you."

Delaney took his cheek in her hand and studied his face.

"I wish you would take some before the pain gets to that point," she sighed.

He looked up at her with tired eyes, "I know... But I don't want to waste it."

"That's not wasting it," Delaney giggled, "It's medicine for pain.  When you're in pain you take it."

He smirked and closed his eyes again.  Delaney looked tenderly down on him but suddenly sadness started to creep over her.  She felt tears return to her eyes and when he looked up at her again he was confused.

"What's wrong my lady?  I'm alright now."

"Who... Who will take care of you when I'm gone?" she asked quietly, fat tears sliding over her cheeks, "Who will make you take your medicine when you need it?  You won't listen to anyone."

"Delaney," he said softly and reached a trembling hand to take hers, "I'll be fine.  I promise.  No matter what."

"Who will remind you not to push yourself too far?  Who will make you take breaks?  You only ever take naps when I make you.  Who will tell you to rest so you don't hurt yourself?"

He looked up at her with pain in his eyes but didn't reply.  There was nothing he could say to her.

"You... You need me," she whispered before a sob came from her chest and she covered her face with her hands.

Vincent moved until he was sitting up and pulled her in his arms against his chest.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I'm so sorry my love."

He held her tight and whispered that he was sorry as she wept.  There was nothing else he could say.  His heart was breaking in his chest to hurt her like this and he had to tilt his head up to try to stop his own tears from coming.

"I don't want to leave you," she managed through her tears, "I want to spend my whole life with you."

"I know... I wanted that too my love.  But I promise I think this is the best thing for you.  You know I love you so much I would never send you away otherwise."

"But you don't have to send me away at all," she countered desperately, "You could let me stay here with you and forget the stupid arrangement."

Vincent was quiet.  His mind turned and turned.  What if he did let her stay?  What if he just told her the truth?  That he was dying from the poison.  Then he could spend the rest of his days with her there beside him.

As he thought this he looked up and his eyes landed on the large mirror on the wall across from their bed.  He took in the sight of the monsterous brute staring back at him.  Every day his body was becoming more and more covered in angry red scars and his skin was getting to be so hot he was sure it would catch on fire.  He had barely made it to their bed this time and the next time he might not make it at all.

All thoughts of possibly letting her stay were swept from his mind.  He couldn't do that to her.  And it was only getting worse.  He couldn't trap her here to watch him slowly die.  She deserved so much more than that.

"I... I'm sorry my love... but you have to leave."