There Is No Me Beyond You

~24~

"How did it go?" Lucas asked, squinting at me through the falling snow as I walked out of the church and joined him under the trees.

"Perfectly." I smiled happily, letting him pull my hood on.

"Do you mean that the priest agreed?" He asked, voice laced with surprise and doubt.

"He did. But I need to find a suitable place."

"And... can you?"

"Of course." I replied, imagining how much work would need to be done on the half crumbled chapel by the lake. Mine and Vlad's chapel... "But let us go home now, it's getting late."

As Lucas had predicted, the castle was upside down when we got back, late in the afternoon, wet through because of the heavy snowfall.

I looked at him and took a deep breath even as he shook his head.

"After you, Princess," he said, motioning towards the wooden bridge spanning over the impetuous stream I could only hear in the darkness of the early winter night starting to descend around us. I let the wolf pack go, then we crossed over, followed only by Shadow.

One of the Guards meeting us on the drawbridge sent for Katerina immediately and she was waiting for me, silent but scowling, on top of the first staircase.

"You're drenched to the bone!" She scolded when I reached her, peeling the heavy coat off me. "Your bath is nearly ready... And you, Master Lucas, a great Guard you are..."

"Katerina it's not his fault!" I defended my friend, then added, turning to him, "Go take a rest, Lucas, I'll be fine. See you in the morning, for the archery lesson, remember? And thank you. For everything."

He winked at me gratefully for not forcing him to listen to my nurse's laments and pulled me in a quick, one armed embrace, then was off.

"Where have you been, my lady... when your husband finds out..." Katerina rattled on as we entered my chamber and she helped me out of my damp clothes, then into the bath the moment the maids left.

"Don't worry, Katerina. I'll explain it to him." I said, reveling in the feeling of the warm water caressing my skin, hoping that Vlad would understand and forgive me.

"I've been afraid..." Katerina mumbled, as she added more wood to the fire and spread a towel and one of my white shirts on the bench to warm up.

"Nothing happened to me, I'm well. And hungry." I added in an attempt to make her change the subject.

"I'll get someone to bring your food the moment you are dressed."

Once I was dry, dressed and wrapped in my blanket, Katerina sent me to bed while she helped the maids to remove the bath so they would not wake me up later.

"Is there any news from my husband? When is he coming back?" I asked her when she appeared at the foot of my bed, carrying a tray with my dinner.

"A messenger arrived for you from him just before lunch, saying his lordship would be back tomorrow night, or the morning after at the latest. But, seeing that... you were nowhere to be found, and the man was sent back to your husband with that information, I would not be surprised if he returned earlier." She sighed, making me feel guilty. I did not want Vlad to worry.

I nibbled at my food half-heartedly, not feeling hungry at all.

Katerina sat on the bed next to me, watching me intently as she said, "Your mother was just as stubborn as you, once she set her mind on something there was no stopping her..."

"Katerina, tell me about her, please!" I begged, sensing one of the rare moments when she was willing to talk, as I passed the tray to her. She placed it on the small table next to my bed even as I lay down, snuggling under the blankets.