She was about to give in to the despair that was attempting to consume her when she felt Talbot's wet nose nudging her arm. “Not now Talbot, can't you see that Gavin is dying?” She was on the verge of hysteria, yelling at the beast.
He dropped his head and nudged her lap, pushing her leather pouch into her belly. Gwendolyn gasped. The cudworth tonic! How could the wretched beast have known and how could she have forgotten about it?
She scurried to her knees, furiously tearing at the pouch until it opened. She grasped the vile of magenta tonic as hope began to fill her. Uncorking the bottle, she knelt by Gavin's leg and poured several drops into the most severe spot on his calf and watched as almost instantly, the skin began to heal.
The dead, black skin began uncurling and slowly started transforming into a healthy peach color. The tonic oozed over the sore, but the bleeding stopped. For several seconds she watched as Gavin's leg was restored to normal, as if it had never been poisoned at all. Her fear was replaced with awe as she watched the magical transformation taking place.
As soon as his leg returned to normal, she returned to his head, but he still appeared as if he were dead. She leaned over him, her dark hair caressing his face as she bent forward and whispered, “Gavin, don't die. You can't die; I can't handle it. Please,” she urged as she covered his mouth with her own, placing a tender kiss to his lips.
She gasped as she felt his hands twine into her hair, pulling her head even closer. He was alive! He kissed her passionately, and she never wanted to let him go. She loved him and he was alive!
“You saved me, my love. She left me here to die. I thought I'd never see you again.”
“Who did this to you Loreena?”
“Loreena?” he asked, perplexed. “Nay, 'twas Clarice.”
“Your former fiancée?” He nodded. “But why?”
Her questions seemed to breathe new life into his body. He sprung to his feet, pulling Gwendolyn with him. “We must go. She said that Roreck is already within the castle walls, and he has designs to kill Rosalind.”
Gwendolyn pulled Gavin to a halt. “How do you know Roreck?”
“I don't, at least not personally.”
“He's the man I met at the festival, the man who promised to help me acquire a gift. He gave me a potion and told me to administer it to Rosalind. Then I would acquire her ability to transport.”
Gavin stilled. “Tell me you didn't give it to her.”
“I almost did.” Gwendolyn was shaking, remembering how close Rosalind had come to drinking the poison.
“Just before she partook of it, she informed me that she was with child. I didn't know the potion was poisonous at the time, but I wasn't sure what kind of affect it would have on an unborn child. Besides, I started having doubts as to whether I could trust Roreck or not, but he threatened to kill the person I loved most if I didn't do as he said. I didn't want Rosalind's gift, but I was scared, Gavin. Scared to lose anyone else I love. I watched my father die, and ever since I haven't been able to...I just couldn't stand to see somebody die because of me. When I saw you laying there lifeless, I thought he had come for you.”
Gavin pulled her into his arms, holding her firmly to his chest. “Are you saying that 'tis I that you love the most?”
Gwendolyn searched his face, suddenly unsure. What if he didn't love her back?
Gavin must have sensed her doubt, because he bent down and placed his lips gently to her forehead. “You saved my life Gwen, and you are going to help me save your brother and Queen Rosalind as well. But even before that, long before that, I started to fall in love with you. You've always been enough for me, more than enough.”
“Oh Gavin,” she whispered as she plunged her hands into his hair, pulling his face to hers. “I love you.”
His warm breath mingled with hers as their lips met in a fiery kiss. Gavin loved her and she loved him! And it would have been enough had they not had to worry about saving the king and queen's lives.
Though she was loath to have the kiss end, she forced herself to pull back from his intoxicating lips. “As much as I want to stay right here, in your arms, forever, we must go before it's too late.”
“Aye, you are right, as always.”
Chapter 26
A Gruesome Demise
Gavin wasn't surprised that he could barely keep up with Gwendolyn on their race back to the castle. But this time, instead of being frustrated by her abnormally fast speed, he was grateful to know that he wouldn't have to chase her for the rest of their lives, for he had captured her heart, and she his.
As they approached the keep, he clasped her hands in his. “We need to find Queen Rosalind first; she is in the most danger. Then we will find your brother and make him aware of the danger that they are in and come up with a plan to keep everyone safe.”
Gwendolyn nodded her head in agreement and they took off, anxiously running through the castle in their attempts to find the king and queen.
Herfordshire Castle had never felt so large and so maze-like as it did then. They ran through each corridor, stopping long enough to search each room only to come up empty handed. Several servants inquired after them, but Gavin didn't have time to explain. He'd quickly ask them if they knew where Queen Rosalind was, and then when he'd get a negative response, he'd grab Gwendolyn's hand and take off once more.
He was holding out hope that they'd find both King Terric and Queen Rosalind in the privacy of their bedchamber and was careful not to betray his grave disappointment when they didn't. He was trying to be strong for Gwendolyn.
As they left the King's chamber, they heard a voice coming from down the hall. They both turned to see Millicent running hastily towards them.
“Whatever is going on? The servants told me you are both running through the keep as if your very lives are in danger.”
Gwendolyn stepped forward and grabbed her mother's hands. “Mother, have you seen Terric and Rosalind?”
“Nay, not since this morning.”
“We have to find them, they are the ones whose lives are in danger.”
Millicent paled. “Have you checked their bedchamber?”
Gavin stepped forward. “Aye, we just did. I want you both to return to the room and bar yourself inside. Do not open the door for anyone. I will go find the king and queen.”
“Nay, I will go with you,” Gwendolyn interjected.
“You can't Gwen. I don't want anything to happen to you. I will find them, and I will save them. You have to trust me.”
“I do,” she stated firmly, and his heart swelled. He escorted them to the king's room, instructing them to bar the door behind them before fleeing down the corridor.
Gavin ran, but he was unsure of where exactly he was going, though he was determined he would not fail King Terric, Queen Rosalind, and especially not Gwendolyn.
Pounding footsteps told him that he was not alone in the hall. Turning, he saw Talbot bounding towards him. He put both hands up in front of him. “Stop, Talbot. This is not the time.” As per usual, the dog ignored him, barreling into his legs, almost knocking him to the ground.
“You blasted beast,” Gavin spat, fully anticipating the dog to growl in his face. He was surprised, however, when the dog retracted and began nervously prancing in front of him. He stood up and glared at the dog when an idea formed in his head.
He forced his voice to soften. “Come here, you smart, talented beast, and tell me where your master is.” He hoped the dog wouldn't be suspicious of his insincere praise.
Talbot turned and trotted off and Gavin chose to follow him, praying that for once, the dog would prove useful. Down the long hall they went until they came to the spiral staircase in the tower that was overly crowded with the both of them trying to push their way through. Gavin grew more and more anxious by the second, hoping that his decision to follow Talbot wouldn't prove futile.
Just as they entered the Great Hall, Terric stepped into the room. It was clear from his windblown hair and his clothing t
hat he had just been out riding. Talbot ran to his master, jumping up anxiously to receive his petting. Gavin followed suit, running towards Terric.
“Where's the queen?” he asked, failing to address the king properly.
“I parted ways with her in the courtyard. A servant had bid her to come sample some of the new mead that had just arrived, hoping to seek her approval.”
Gavin's eyes bulged. “What did the servant look like?”
“I didn't pay that much attention. Why the concern?”
Placing a steadying hand on the king's shoulder he said, “We need to go to your wife straightaway. Someone is seeking to kill her.”
Gavin watched as King Terric's face turned a ghostly shade of white. He wasted no time in turning and dashing to the bottlery where the mead was kept, in hopes of finding his wife still alive. Gavin was right behind the king as he pushed the door wide open and burst into the room.
“Rosalind!” he shouted with relief.
The queen was standing next to Clarice, dressed in the outfit of a servant, a goblet of wine in one hand. “Oh, you are just in time to sample the new shipment of mead. Come, try some for yourself.”
“Aye, try it,” Clarice urged as she shot Gavin a nervous glance.
Gavin raced forward as the queen inched the goblet towards her lips. He barely made it to where she stood before the goblet reached her mouth. He hardly registered Clarice's shrieking as he slapped the drink from her hand. The goblet soared through the air, spraying droplets of golden liquid all around, the majority of it finding its way on top of Clarice.
Rosalind was speechless, her violet eyes blinking in awe at what had just occurred. “Why did you do that?”
“My apologies, Your Highness, but that mead was poisoned. She,” he said, pointing towards Clarice who was crying out in agony as she clawed at her skin, anxious to be rid of the poison that was seeping into her flesh, “had planned to kill you and it seems we got here just in time.”
The queen turned questioning eyes to her husband who rushed to her and scooped her into his arms. “I had no idea,” he murmured into her hair. “Had Gavin not come for me just now, you'd be dead.”
Rosalind let out a sob as she clung furiously to her husband. His soothing words eventually calmed her, but Clarice's wailing did not cease.
“I hate you, Gavin Dekever! You've ruined everything.”
All three of them turned to watch with morbid curiosity as her skin sizzled and burned, slowly changing from a putrid yellow, to a dull green, and eventually to black as the skin began to shrivel and peel back from her muscles. It was a grotesque sight to behold, but they couldn't seem to look away.
Gavin stepped out of the way as Clarice lunged for him, her hands acting as claws. She fell to the ground and moaned, her motions slowing considerably. He remembered all too well how the poison had drained him of all of his strength and sat back and watched as it did the same to her.
He might have felt pity for the girl had she not tried to kill him and the queen. But the evil that resided in her was best left to the gruesome demise. Long, painful minutes passed as they watched her horrifying and agonizing death. No one moved until they witnessed her taking her last breath, her body barely resembling the statuesque beauty she once was.
King Terric started backing out of the room with his wife still clinging to him. “I will send some servants to discard of her body.”
“Very good, but we still have a problem,” Gavin pointed out, hating to be the one to bear even more bad news.
“What is that?” the king asked.
“She wasn't acting alone. There was a man who was her accomplice in all of this.”
“Where is he?”
“That I do not know. We will need to send forth the defenders to search for him. I have reason to believe that he is within the castle walls.”
“Tell me what he looks like. We will dispatch the entire force of defenders immediately. I don't want them to stop until he is found.”
“I don't know what he looks like,” Gavin admitted. “We will have to ask Gwen.”
“Gwendolyn? What does she have to do with any of this?”
“Let us go to your bedchamber where I left her. I will explain on the way.”
Gavin spoke quickly, trying to fill the king and queen in on all of the details he knew, starting with Clarice's plan to woo him and manipulate him into killing them both himself.
“So, that is why you quit your post, to marry her?” the king asked.
Gavin felt sheepish. “Aye, but I honestly did not know her true character, though it bothers me that I was so easily deceived.”
“Do not feel foolish,” the queen interjected. “You were smart enough not to fall for her plan, which speaks volumes. And I for one am beyond grateful that you were humble enough to come back to Herfordshire Castle in hopes of retaining your post. I do not know if I would be alive without you.”
The praise made Gavin feel uncomfortable, so he quickly began recanting his tale. He told them of Clarice and Roreck's second attempt to murder Queen Rosalind by manipulating Gwendolyn into giving her the poison, which she thought was a potion that would transfer Rosalind's gift of transporting to her.
“Poor Gwendolyn,” Queen Rosalind said sympathetically. “What an awful predicament. I almost partook of the potion just this morning, but she knocked it from my hands. That's twice today my life has been spared.”
“Blast that magic festival,” Terric swore. “Had I never allowed her to go, none of this would ever have happened.”
“Nay,” Gavin interjected. “That isn't so. Clarice was Asher's niece, the illegitimate daughter of his only sister. It seems that once he became lead trajector for Darth, he began supporting her and her mother. His death was a bitter blow. Not because she held any great affection for him, but the lifestyle he had begun to supply them with was comfortable and addicting. She sought to kill the queen so she could seduce her way into your heart, becoming the next queen of the Southwest.”
King Terric recoiled. “Blast it all, I would never have looked at another woman the rest of my life if something had happened to Rosalind. She's not someone who could ever be replaced in my heart.”
“I understand,” Gavin said empathetically, for he felt exactly the same way about Gwendolyn.
“And where does Roreck fit in to all of this?”
Gavin shrugged. “I don't know entirely. All I know is that he is the brother of Alexandir Goff and is seeking his revenge.”
“The man who killed Rosalind's parents?” Terric asked incredulously.
“Aye, the very man.”
Approaching the king's bedchamber door, Gavin knocked. “Gwen, 'tis me. Unbar the door.”
The only response he got was Gwendolyn's blood curdling scream. Gavin's heart dropped. He hoped it wasn't too late.
Chapter 27
Deepest Gratitude
Panic flooded through Gavin's veins as he rammed his shoulder angrily into the wooden door, but it was useless, the door wouldn't budge.
“I told her to bar the door,” he explained as he looked to Terric, hoping desperately that he would have an answer. “Is there any other way in?”
The king ignored him, pounding his fist on the door. “Gwendolyn, are you alive? Can you hear me?” He was met with only silence.
“Terric,” the queen said, grabbing onto her husband's arm. “I'm going in there.”
“Nay,” he said, horror stricken. “I will not let you risk your life, or our baby's.”
“But it could be the only way. I cannot just stand here and do nothing. Please,” she pleaded. “If I can discreetly unlock the door that adjoins my bedchamber to yours, you and Gavin can have access to the room, and Gwendolyn.”
King Terric slowly nodded his head. “You will go in and unlock the door, nothing else.”
“Aye,” she agreed.
“Hurry,” Gavin roared, hating every second that he was apart from Gwendolyn, unaware of her fate.
Queen Rosalind disappeared from their view as Gavin and Terric scurried to the adjoining chamber. The men hovered near the door, anxiously waiting to hear the click of the lock.
Time seemed to stand still as both men waited, anxious for the safety of the women they loved. Just when Gavin thought he'd go out of his mind, the lock clicked and the door was opened slowly, quietly. Gavin pulled his sword from the scabbard and pushed into the room. His eyes scanned the surroundings. Millicent was lying in a heap by the bed. Gavin's heart stilled. Was she dead? He had no time to find out, for he needed to find Gwendolyn.
“Don't come any further,” a gravelly voice threatened.
Gavin turned to see an average looking man huddling in the corner with Gwendolyn trapped tightly in his arms. He saw her blue eyes flicker with relief, but only briefly before fear overcame her once more. Gavin sized up the man and almost laughed. He was at least a head shorter than he, and Gavin was positive he could take the man without any problems, that is if he had not been holding a dagger over Gwendolyn's heart. One wrong move and he knew that she would be dead. He couldn't risk her life.
Terric was standing next to Gavin, his sword drawn as well. “What do you hope to accomplish by killing her?”
“I hope to make you suffer,” Roreck snarled, his upper lip curling angrily.
“And then what?” Terric belayed a calm assurance that Gavin did not feel. “Are you planning to take on two of the best fighters in Darth single handedly? I assure you that you will not be leaving this room alive if you kill her.”
Roreck tightened his grip on Gwendolyn, bringing the dagger so close to her chest that the tip of the blade was poking into her skin. Gavin inhaled sharply as he stepped forward, every instinct in his body screaming that he protect her.
“Don't,” Roreck commanded.
Gavin halted but only because he heard Gwendolyn whisper through her tears, “Please Gavin, do as he says.”
To Capture Her Heart Page 17