The Healer's Apprentice

by Melanie Dickerson

  And Lord Rupert sat a few seats away with Lady Anne. They were smiling at each other. Only last night Lady Anne’s father had given his consent for them to be married. Rose sighed, thankful that everything had happened as it should have. She prayed they would be happy together, and that Lady Osanna would also be happily wed some day. And of course Duchess Katheryn was beaming. Her older son was marrying his betrothed and her younger one was marrying a wealthy duke’s daughter. She even seemed to have completely forgotten that Rose had been raised by a woodcutter.

  Rose’s birth parents, the duke and duchess, sat talking with Duchess Katheryn, Rupert, Lady Anne, and Osanna. They all looked happy.

  The entertainment included minstrels, jugglers, acrobats, and contortionists, but Rose hardly noticed any of it. So many people came forward to offer their well wishes and expressions of joy on their marriage that Rose hardly had a thought for anything except the guests.

  But the men continued to drink and began to grow rowdy. Wilhelm nudged her elbow. He leaned down until his lips were almost touching her ear. “Shall we sneak away?”

  Her stomach flipped excitedly. “A wonderful idea.”

  While a group of acrobats performed in the center of the tables, raising cheers and shouts of astonishment from the crowd, Wilhelm and Rose slipped out a side door. Hand in hand they hurried toward the stairs and the life that had been planned for them since before they were born.

  Dear Reader,

  I’ve always loved the medieval time period. When I think of the Middle Ages, my mind is flooded with colorful images of flowing dresses, heroic knights in armor, castles decorated with banners and shields, forbidden love, betrothals, secret identities, and, of course, true love’s kiss. But since I want my stories to be historically accurate, I did my best to thoroughly research the fourteenth century and the Holy Roman Empire, or Germany, where this story takes place.

  One of the things I learned is that most people could not read, especially women, and that most books, including the Bible, were only written in Latin. Only those who were highly educated were able to read the Bible. Since Frau Geruscha had come from a wealthy family and had been educated in a convent, she was able to teach her protégé, Rose, to understand and read Latin. Since I do not know Latin, and readers may not either, I used the King James Version when quoting Bible verses in this story. I know this translation was not in existence in the time of this story, but it is the closest I could find.

  Something else that might give the reader pause is the fact that, as a younger son of a duke, Lord Rupert is known by his first name, and as the oldest son, Lord Hamlin, is known by a place name, as his title is the Earl of Hamlin until he becomes the duke. These were the social rules of the time, and also meant that the oldest son would not be called by his first name except by close family members. I considered bending the rules and letting him be known as Lord Wilhelm but decided against it, since this “rule” is fairly well-known among readers of historical fiction.

  I am blessed to know some wonderful researchers in the European historical writers’ loop I’m a part of, and I asked them lots of questions in an effort to ensure I didn’t make any glaring mistakes, although there certainly may be some things that I missed. One problem I’ve run into is that there are so many contradictions in what historians believe about the Middle Ages. One so-called expert’s fact might be fiercely contested by another expert. New evidence has come to light in the last sixty years or so, refuting some earlier historians’ assertions. Besides that, there is little concrete evidence that has survived the period. Few writings, especially from the lower classes, have survived, and few articles from everyday life are available to us now; therefore much that is written about medieval times is actually just speculation. In spite of this, I tried my best to gather the most accurate information I could, and I pray to be given leniency by any medievalists reading this work of fiction.

  Blessings, Melanie Dickerson

  More to the Story

  THE Healer’s APPRENTICE

  Author interview

  Discussion guide

  INTERVIEW WITH MELANIE DICKERSON

  When did you decide to be a writer, and what did you do before you started writing?

  I wanted to be a writer when I was very young. I even wrote two novels when I was still in high school, but then I stopped writing when I started college. For fifteen years, I completely shoved my writing out the window while I graduated college, worked as a special education teacher, lived in Ukraine for a year, got married, and had two kids. Then I started writing again.

  What kind of activities do you like to do that help you relax and step away from your deadlines for a bit?

  I used to scrapbook, but when I started writing again, that hobby fell by the wayside. I like to watch movies with my husband, and I like to cook—to make recipes I’ve never tried before. I like to go to the gym (okay, I don’t like to go, but I like that I’ve been) and I like taking my kids places they love, like skating or going to the zoo or a museum. I love the ladies’ Bible studies at my church. We have some wonderful times.

  Where did you get your inspiration for The Healer’s Apprentice?

  I already had the beginning of an idea—I pictured a teen girl and her older woman mentor. At the time, my two girls were very young and they watched a lot of popular movies based on fairy tales. One day they were watching Sleeping Beauty, and I thought the prince’s reaction to meeting Rose was very unrealistic. Most men value other people’s respect, and I started thinking, What if someone wrote this story and made it more realistic? What if the prince believed strongly in duty and carrying out his responsibilities? What if he fell in love with a peasant girl when he was already betrothed? How would he deal with that? I decided it would be really fun to take the basic storyline of Sleeping Beauty and rewrite it and flesh it out. Of course, I added a lot of characters who weren’t in the original story or the popular movies, such as Rose’s best friend, Hildy, and Lord Hamlin’s brother, Rupert. I also made up a lot of plot twists and subplots and changed the story quite a bit.

  I was also inspired by the town of Hildesheim, Germany. I spent six weeks in this town, which dates back from the 1100s. Many medieval buildings are still there, or were rebuilt after World War II, including the entire town square, or Marktplatz. So I put together my love of fairy tales, my love for the medieval time period, and my love for medieval German architecture for The Healer’s Apprentice.

  Did you know how The Healer’s Apprentice would turn out? Were you surprised by any of the plot twists or characters?

  I always knew the ending, but there were several plot twists that surprised me! One was the subplot involving Gunther and Hildy. When I started the story, I had no idea any of that was going to happen! The climax of their story came directly from research, an actual law from medieval times.

  What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

  That God had a good plan for Rose all along, and she only needed to trust God. I believe the same is true for all of us.

  Do you have any parting words of advice?

  Don’t let anyone convince you to give up on your dreams. God is the God of the impossible. You can do anything He strengthens you to do.

  THE HEALER’S APPRENTICE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  At the beginning of the story, Rose expresses concern over not finding a man to marry. In the medieval time period, women had little choice other than to find a man to marry to take care of them financially. Do you think women today are under a similar type of pressure to get married? If so, where does this pressure stem from?

  Despite being the healer’s apprentice, Rose often becomes squeamish at the sight of blood. Did you ever have to overcome a fear or an aversion in order to do a job? How did you do it?

  Lord Hamlin makes a comment that many believe the lower class is less virtuous than nobility because the nobles have “more reason to uphold the family honor” and they are “expected to look out for the int
erests of God and the Church.” In the context of this novel, do you agree with this statement? Do you think this is true of certain groups or classes today?

  The author mentions several times in the novel that as the daughter of a woodcutter, Rose is not from the same social class as the duke’s sons and their family, thus making a marriage between her and either son socially unacceptable. Do you think such social limitations exist today?

  When it comes to love, are you more idealistic and optimistic like Hildy? Or do you try to be more practical and level-headed, like Rose?

  When Gunther attacks Arnold Hintzen, he claims he does it to protect Hildy’s honor. Do you think Gunther was right in taking the law into his own hands?

  Do you think Rose makes the right choice in keeping Gunther’s secret to herself? Would you have told someone? Why or why not?

  When Gunther is sentenced to death, Rose knows she can go to Lord Hamlin for help. When you get into tough situations, do you have someone you seek out first because you know they’ll have the answers?

  Why, despite his rogue reputation, does Hildy think a match between Lord Rupert and Rose is so ideal?

  Rose often worries about her reputation. Why is what people think so important to her? Have you ever worried about your reputation and what other people think?

  At what moment did you realize Rose was Lord Hamlin’s betrothed? Were you surprised like Rose when she learned who she was, once the duke and duchess of Marienberg arrived? Did you wonder like Lord Hamlin, who guessed she might be his future bride, but not entirely sure? Did you know all along like Frau Geruscha? Or were you somewhere in between?

  Lord Rupert has a questionable reputation, as his brother often likes to point out. While he is courting Rose, however, his behavior toward her suggests his intentions are honorable. What do you think of Rupert’s character? Is he capable of committing to one person? Do you think his marriage to Lady Anne will last?

  What do you think Moncore represents? Does his character symbolize something greater than simply a corrupt man?

  Throughout the book the main characters try to control their own fates, but learn God had a better plan all along. Do you ever struggle with trusting God has a plan for your life?

  What have you learned about the time period while reading The Healer’s Apprentice?

  Acknowledgements

  I first want to thank the original three writers who helped critique this story from its very first draft, those Writin’ Chicks Jamie Driggers, Caren Fullerton, and April Erwin. Jamie, I’ll never forget what you said when you read chapter one. Thank you, my friend. All of you said encouraging things that I needed to hear and needed to carry with me for the next four and a half years. You guys are the best.

  I am very grateful to my spiritual family at Weatherly for so much encouragement. You are one accepting, loving, encouraging bunch of people, and I love you for it!

  Thanks to every judge who ever commented on it in the numerous contests I entered, back when it was titled “The Woodcutter’s Daughter. ” And thanks to everyone who offered to read or critique parts of it, including Julie Lessman and my erstwhile crit group from the Hearts Through History Romance Writers. Thanks to all who helped me with research, including Diana Cosby, numerous ACFW’ers, those European-history-loving people from Therese Stenzel’s His Writers loop, and the wonderful librarians at the Monrovia Library, Katherine and Katie.

  And blessings on my “first readers,” Denita and Victoria Black. Thanks for the tunnel idea, Victoria. I hope you get your car.

  I want to thank my instructor, Cindy Savage, who gave me the encouragement I needed when I was just starting to write again.

  A special thank you to Lloyd Porter. Without your help, I don’t think I would have had the confidence to write word one.

  My wonderful mentors, The Seekers—Mary, Julie, Janet, Debby, Missy, Tina, Audra, Ruth, Pam, Myra, Sandra, Glynna, Cara, Camy, and Cheryl—I hope you don’t mind if I claim you all. Mary Connealy was the first to befriend me. Blame her. Thanks for being so real, so fun, and so generous with your time and love.

  I want to thank my agent, Mary Beth Chappell, for being excited about this book and taking a chance on it. Thank you for keeping my hope alive at a time when nobody else wanted anything to do with this book.

  I must thank Jacque Alberta for championing a medieval romance by an unknown author. Without Jacque, you would not be holding this book. She is a dream-come-true, truly talented editor who has strengthened both the story and the writing. She has blessed me over and over. Thank you, Jacque. I owe you so much.

  The Marktplatz in the fictional town of Hagenheim was inspired by the town of Hildesheim, Germany, where I spent six weeks in 1992. That is where I fell in love with medieval architecture.

  Growing up in rural south Alabama, I had to have a good imagination to imagine becoming a published author. But the fact that Harper Lee grew up thirty miles away from my hometown of McKenzie gave me hope that if she could do it, maybe I could too. I wrote constantly, but after high school, for about fifteen years, I stopped writing or even reading fiction. Then God gave my dream back to me. Thank you, God, for making my dreams come true and for helping your children, Rose and me included, fulfill our destinies.

  Copyright

  ZONDERVAN

  The Healer’s Apprentice

  Copyright © 2010 by Melanie Dickerson

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

  ePub Edition © AUGUST 2010 ISBN: 978-0-310-40753-9

  Requests for information should be addressed to:

  Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Dickerson, Melanie.

  The healer’s apprentice / Melanie Dickerson.

  p. cm.

  Summary: Rosa

  Summary: In this story loosely based on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, seventeen-year-old Rose, a healer’s apprentice, falls in love with the betrothed Lord Hamlin, who is seeking the sorcerer who cursed his future bride.

  ISBN 978-0-310-72143-7 (softcover)

  [1. Love-Fiction. 2. Middle Ages-Fiction. 3. Christian life-Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.D5575He 2010

  [Fic]-dc22

  2010021582

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  This title is also available as a Zondervan ebook. Visit www.zondervan.com/ebooks.

  All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

  Lyrics to Giunta vaga biltà on page 115 are used by permission. Original lyrics composed by Francesco Landini (c.1325–1397).

  Lyrics to Tempus est jocundum on page 121 are taken from the medieval manuscript “Carmina Burana,” c. 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries.

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  This book is a work of fiction; all names, places, events, and incidences are from the author’s imagination. Any references to historical events, people, or locales are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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