My Once Handsome Husband

Delaney paced back and forth in the entryway until she feared she was going to wear away the rug that covered the floor. The servants watched her warily, many seeming to have found a reason to hover within sight of the doors.

"My Lady maybe you should try to get some rest," the butler suggested, "We can wake you when the Lord returns."

"I cannot sleep," Delaney snapped in annoyance, "I don't know where my husband is or if he's safe. For all I know he could be wounded or even dead."

The butler stepped back, stammering an apology and staring at the ground.

Delaney sighed then, "I'm sorry. I'm just worried. It's not your fault. You and the others can go to bed if you'd like. There's no point in you all losing sleep."

"Oh no my Lady," the butler shook his head, "Lord Adair is our master. He's a fair and kind one. None of us will sleep either until we know he's home safe again."

Delaney smiled fondly at the man and looked back into the room of hovering servants. It said a lot about Vincent that even his servants cared about him so much. She prayed he would be home soon to appreciate it.

At last, she gave up on her pacing and simply stood by a window, staring out. Despite her panic, her eyelids were starting to feel heavy and she had to work to stifle a yawn.

"Here my Lady," a man said, coming up behind her carrying a chair. Delaney recognized him from serving their meals but couldn't recall his name. She thanked him warmly before taking her seat.

With elbows on the windowsill and chin in her hands, Delaney soon started to nod off in the seat. She fought it for as long as she could but eventually sleep overcame her.

It was some time later when she awoke with a start. Delaney jerked upright, blinking quickly, trying to clear her sleepy vision. A strange sound had awoken her.

Looking back into the room around her, Delaney saw the servants that had been waiting up with her were all now also asleep in various odd positions.

The sound came again and Delaney turned around to look out the window. There in the distance, she saw the growing glow of torches. She scrambled to her feet and hurried out the door as the servants began to stir, now hearing the noise themselves.

Outside in the damp night air, Delaney paused at the top of the steps and listened to this strange sound that had woken her. Without the manor walls to muffle it, she could hear now that it was singing.

Delaney frowned in confusion and watched as the group grew nearer. When she could finally make out the shape of horses she walked slowly down the stairs, step by step, shocked by the sight in front of her.

The horses trotted up to the stairs, dragging something large behind them. The men finished the chorus of the silly tune they were singing.

Delaney searched the faces of the riders, looking for her husband until at last her eyes landed on a grinning, scarred face.

"Well good evening my Lady," he chuckled as he got down from the horse. Delaney watched as he landed on the ground and his leg almost buckled beneath him, his face cracking into a mask of pain for a moment before he managed to get it back under control.

"I didn't think I'd find you still awake at this hour," he grinned, working his way slowly towards her.

When he stepped into the light, Delaney saw his clothes were soaked in blood, as well as his hands and spatterings covered his neck and face. Her mouth fell open in horror.

"What... what happened?" she managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Ah yes this," Vincent laughed, "You see we managed to shoot a stag, and then a bear came along who thought it would beat us and take our meal. Needless to say, we beat him."

"You... you fought a bear?"

"Well not just me. Miles, Harris, and I fought a bear. We're all alright though! No harm done."

"I can't... I can't believe you," Delaney managed as she felt anger beginning to grow in her chest, "You lied to me!"

Vincent looked taken aback, "What? I didn't lie to you. We fought a bear and killed it. It's right here behind the..."

"I don't mean about the bear," Delaney snapped, boiling, "I mean with all your promises before you left! You promised you would be safe! You promised you wouldn't do anything reckless or dangerous!"

"We-we are safe," Vincent stammered but understanding was beginning to dawn on him.

"By a miracle you are safe!" Delaney shouted.

The servants began to slink away from the scene, not wanting to be part of the brewing battle. Only Miles was left standing uncomfortably a ways out of the way.

"How could you?" she demanded as tears filled her eyes, "You promised you wouldn't do something like this. I've been waiting up for you, worried sick!"

"Delaney," Vincent tried, reaching out to take her hand.

"No," Delaney jerked it out of his reach, "Do not touch me! The entire manor has been up worrying and watching for your return! You told me you would be home for dinner and you never came! What if something had happened to you, Vincent? What if you'd died?"

He opened his mouth to reply but Delaney's tears and anger overwhelmed her. Turning, she lifted her skirt and dashed up the stairs and into the manor, Vincent calling after her.

Delaney didn't stop running until she reached her room. Safe inside, she slid the lock on the door closed and looked over to find Ms. Bird was waiting for her.

"Oh my Lady," she said quickly with worry and surprise, "Are you alright? Is Lord Adair alright?"

"He's fine," Delaney managed before sobs began to shake her body. Ms. Bird dropped what she was doing and rushed over to take the younger woman in her arms and help her to her bed.

"Tell me what happened while I help you get ready for bed," Ms. Bird said encouragingly.

While her new maid went about her work, Delaney found herself so upset and angry, she poured the story out to the woman about Vincent promising not to do anything reckless, and then he'd gone off and done just that.

Ms. Bird was quiet after she'd finished, thinking about Delaney's words as the girl worked to get her crying under control.

"I'm overwhelmed with relief he's home safe and anger that he would do something so stupid and dangerous," Delaney spoke, wiping away the tears from her face.

"Maybe he didn't see it as such a danger," Ms. Bird suggested then, "For men that used to fight dragons, maybe a bear didn't seem like such a threat."

"It was!" Delaney shook her head, "And he isn't the same as he was when he was fighting dragons! His leg can't move quickly or as well. He can't run. If he uses it too much it will pain him and give out! His shoulder bothers him sometimes too. He doesn't think I've noticed it but I have. He fought his brother with swords and later it was stiff and very sore."

"But my Lady maybe that's just it," Ms. Bird tried gently, "He's used to being a quick, agile, and strong young man. With the excitement of the hunt, I doubt he ever paused to realize he may not be able to beat that bear because I'm sure the last time he was in the woods, before the war, it never would have been a problem."

Delaney was quiet then as she thought over the older woman's words. Before the war, she doubted if she would have worried about Vincent being out so late or killing a bear either.

"I imagine it must be hard," the maid continued softly, "Being struck down so young and not being able to do all the things you had before. Especially hard watching everyone you knew before still doing those things. I suppose it would leave you feeling a bit... left behind."

"He's been so happy these last days with his brother," Delaney said quietly, "They've been doing all the things they used to do and he hasn't had to feel... left behind... When they were out hunting he was probably swept up in that feeling of everything being the same as it had been before."

Ms. Bird nodded, "I would expect you're right my Lady."

"Thank you," Delaney said, looking at the maid now, "Thank you for not judging him or I. Or thinking the worst of us."

"Oh never my Lady," Ms. Bird assured her with a chuckle, "I meant what I said about Lord Adair being a hero. Everyone in these lands owes him for sacrificing all he did to save us from the dragons. Besides, I knew you weren't really angry with him as much as terrified by the idea of him putting himself in danger."

"I think you're right," Delaney sighed as she curled up in her bed. Ms. Bird wished her good night and slipped from the room, careful to leave the door unlocked.

Alone in her bed, Delaney's mind got the best of her as she imagined all the terrible things that could have happened to Vincent out in the woods. She didn't know what she would have done if he had never come back to her.

Dark thoughts led to dark dreams. Once Delaney fell asleep her mind really took off, conjuring up all kinds of terrible images of Vincent being hurt or dying in the woods. Sometimes it was by the bear and other times, a great terrifying dragon.

Without Vincent's arms around her, there was nothing to keep the nightmares at bay.