17 Chapter 16: A Path through Fire

Lillian lays in her bed staring up at the ceiling. It's been a week and a half since that terrible night when she lost her father, her brother, and her home. Images flash in her mind as she lay there. They quickly become overwhelming and she shuts her eyes with a gasp.

"You really shouldn't dwell on it so hard, my lady. It will only harm not help you.", Malinda advises from the edge of Lillian's bed. Lillian opens her eyes and sits up.

"How can I not. How can I not think of what I have lost, Malinda. Every day my heart aches worse from the memory and not only that, but that vision of the roses still seats in the back of my mind.", Lillian argues.

"I understand... Deeply, I do, but letting it consume you will make you lose what you have left.", Malinda pleas.

"And what is that?", Lillian asks.

"Your sanity.", Malinda answers simply. "Have you seen your mother?", Malinda asks.

"I have."

"Then you have seen depression at its finest. I must already bring her back and I'm not going to let you go down that path.", Malinda proclaims. "I really want you to try to help her. You two are all each other have left. This is a time to come together and to be strong.", Lillian listens to Malinda with curiosity.

"How can you be so strong? You are a woman and you love my family as if they were your own, and yet... And yet you can still carry on like normal. How?", Lillian says. Malinda looks into Lillian's eyes deeply for a moment.

"Your mother and father entrusted me to look after you. Your father, in his final moments, entrusted me to look after you and your mother. I must do my grieving on my own time and continue my duties and that is to serve you and your mother."

"Your family is in too dire a situation to let ourselves fall apart now and when it comes to picking up the pieces and moving forward. A woman is the best at it.", Malinda's words strike Lillian in the heart and awakens in her a renewed sense of drive she didn't now she had. Malinda gets to her feet to deliver her creation, an emotional healing ring, to Lillian's mother.

"What can I do? To help, what can I do?", Lillian asks. Malinda turns to her.

"You can start by praying for your mother and hope she finds comfort.", Malinda says to her. Lillian isn't sure what she can do for her mother now, but she knows that there has to be a way they can live again. Perhaps not like before, but at least in a way they can put this tragedy behind them. Lillian nods her head to Malinda.

"I'll try. For mother...for you...and for me.", Lillian says.

When Malinda leaves the room Lillian waste no time to do as she was advised. Lillian has to admit she hadn't been able to do anything including praying and eating for a few days now. When she finishes Lillian actually feels a little better. It seems like letting in a bit of good was what she needed. Although it doesn't take away the pang of loss that still sits in her stomach like a rock, nor does she expect it to.

A knock is heard at the door.

"Enter!", Lillian answers. A messenger enters the room holding a scroll.

"For you, Lady Lillian. It is a message from Prince Winston.", he says presenting the scroll to her.

"Thank you.", Lillian says taking the scroll with a forced smile. She didn't expect to be getting a letter of any kind from Prince Winston. When she opens it the letter reads that the prince has heard about the misfortune that has befallen her family. However, it goes on to say that Prince Winston will still like to consider her to be his fiancée and future queen.

Lillian is shocked and overjoyed by the news. To her knowledge this is the first time the prince ever wished to see a maiden again who he was introduced to for marriage, but Lillian also learns from the letter that she is not the only one under consideration. When she reads who it is Lillian decides to talk with her mother; hoping the news will bring her joy and to discuss with her the situation.

Lillian finds her mother in her chamber with Malinda. Lillian looks around and sees that her mother had not touched the lunch that had been brought to her.

"How is she doing?", Lillian asks Malinda.

"Better. She's not sleeping so much and I did get her to eat breakfast this morning and a little dinner last night at least.", Malinda answers.

"No need to talk about me as if I am dead or bedridden.", Lillian's mother chimes in with a hoarse voice. Malinda and Lillian smile.

"Of course, my lady.", Malinda says.

"Anyway.", Lillian says slowly. "I have news that may just turn your mood around mother.", Lillian tells her mother with an upbeat tone in her voice.

"Oh, what could that be?", Lillian's mother says sounding a little doubtful. Lillian approaches her mother's side and presents to her Prince Winston's letter.

"Prince Winston wishes to pursue me, mother.", Lillian says simply as her mother looks over the letter. Lady Lackburd looks up to her daughter with brighter eyes.

"I see... It seems God is still watching out for us... Even in our darkest times.", Lady Lackburd says. She grasps Lillian's hands in hers. "If anyone can help us Prince Winston and his family can. They can get us out of here and away from Lord Argon.", her mother goes on.

"What do you mean mother?", Lillian asks curiously. A serious look comes upon Lady Lackburd's face.

"We can not trust him. I know it. He is an underhanded, greedy scoundrel that loves power.", Lillian's mother tells her. Lillian becomes intrigued by her mother's accusations against the lord. Until now Lillian has been distracted by grieving to connect Lord Argon with what happened, but she remembers her suspicions of him leading up to that night.

Lillian looks to her mother. Could she also suspect Lord Argon of having been involved somehow with what happened that night. She wants to ask her, but seeing her mother already devastated, she decides not to. The idea that the man whose house they are currently residing in could be the mastermind behind her husband's death could push her mother over the edge or worst have their suspensions known to Lord Argon. In which case could prove dangerous. Yes, for now ignorance is bliss for her mother.

"You know...I do have to compete with his daughter for Prince Winston's affection.", Lillian informs her mother instead. Lillian's mother's expression becomes more somber and thoughtful. She lets go of Lillian's hands and drops them in her lap.

"Hmm...I thought she would be one of the ones called on by the queen. I must admit she is a pretty girl as well and of course her family is the second powerfulest of the order.", Lady Lackburd pauses for a moment. "Well, the powerfulest now...", she goes on. "You will have to do your best not to fall to her.", Lillian's mother advises her grimly. Lillian nods her head in agreement.

"Yes mother, I know.", Lillian says.

"However, that does not mean the battle is loss. The fact that the prince knows of our condition and still wishes to pursue you speaks volume in itself and of his affection.", Lady Lackburd says.

"I wish it is not to be a result of pity though.", Lillian tells her mother.

"Of course, darling. You still have your integrity. We all do, but that doesn't mean you should run the risk of losing a chance to get help.", Lillian's mother response. A frustrating look comes on Lillian's face.

"That sounds a bit confusing don't you think?", Lillian asks.

"I'm sure it does. You are still a young maiden after all. You will understand later. For now I only ask of you to do what you can, my daughter.", Lady Lackburd assures Lillian. Lillian smiles at her mother's words and gets up from her mother's bedside.

"Of course, mother.", she replies. Lillian turns to Malinda who has been sitting back silently while the mother and daughter talk. "Come, Malinda. We should leave my mother to rest now and I wish to speak to you on an important matter.", Lillian says to her. Malinda bows her head.

"Yes, my lady.", Malinda replies. The two exit the room and as they do Lillian turns back to her mother.

"Sleep well and rest easy.", she says to her. She closes the door and faces Malinda. "Come. We must find a place to talk privately.", she says to her.

Lillian and Malinda head back to Lillian's room. There Lillian voices her thoughts of how she thinks lord Argon still has something to do with what happened to them and is thus responsible for her father and brother's death. She also tells her how she suspects her mother of thinking the same whether she knows it or not.

"My lady, do you honestly think Lord Argon would do such a thing?", Malinda asks unsure.

"Think Malinda!", Lillian urges. "Just that day he met with my father and my father denied him what he wanted. I can not ignore what was placed right in front of me any longer. My hesitation is what caused my father and brother's deaths. I did not act as I should have done and now I have lost everything.", Lillian says to Malinda.

"I am not saying you are wrong. I only want you to be sure of this. Because once we start we can not stop until the truth is known.", Malinda responds calmly. Lillian looks Malinda in the eye.

"I know and I am sure.", Lillian replies with deathly stillness in her voice. Malinda looks at Lillian for a moment with wide eyes.

"Then what do you wish of me, Lady Lillian?", Malinda asks humbly. Lillian paces in front of Malinda one or two times before stopping to face her once again.

"I want you to see what you can find out about Lord Argon. Become friendly with his servants; familiar with them. Watch him as well and my mother. I will watch his daughter and see what I can learn from her. He does not yet have a son so...", Lillian begins and trails off.

"I see, but how will you get to the daughter?", Malinda wonders.

"I have something in mind. The less you know now the better. I don't wish for harm to come to Rosalinda or anyone besides Lord Argon should we find him guilty.", Lillian informs Malinda.

"Of course.", Malinda says nodding in agreement. Lillian takes a deep breath and releases it.

"Now. I need you to go back to my mother and tell her I wish for her to call an audience with Lord Argon to discuss a little arrangement for their daughters, but make it to where I am the one to speak for her.", Lillian instructs Malinda. Malinda jumps to her feet with gusto.

"Consider it done, Lady Lillian.", she replies.

.......

After Lady Lackburd's request, which is really Lillian's request, is delivered to Lord Argon it does not take long for it to be answered. In fact the meeting is set for that evening before dinner.

Lillian meets with the lord in the main living room with only them and the guards present. When she enters she finds him sitting in a dark blue armchair across from another. A small table made of birch sat between them with a bouquet of flowers on it. Bear carvings stand in each corner of the room and long sofas sits on the left and right of the sitting area. A decorative rug lays as the centerpiece of the room.

"Lady Lillian, welcome.", he greets her. Lillian walks in with confidence and the poise expected of a maiden of her status.

"Afternoon, Lord Argon. I am grateful that you accepted my mother's request. Especially under such unorthodox conditions.", Lillian greets him as she sits down.

"Yes, I must admit I was surprised by the detail that your mother would not be the one I would be meeting with.", Lord Argon tells Lillian. Lillian does not waver under the lord's eyes.

"My mother is still recovering from her loss. As am I, but one of us have to pick ourselves up and carry on. I'm sure you can sympathize with us, my lord.", Lillian says calmly. Lord Argon shifts in his seat.

"Of course. Now what is this proposal your mother wishes for you to present?", Lord Argon replies.

"Well first off on behalf of me and my mother I would like to thank you for the kindness you have shown to us. As for the proposal; being that your daughter and myself have both been selected as potential wives for Prince Winston, an honor on both our houses, she thought it maybe fitting for the both of us to go off and spend a week at the capital. Therefore allowing Prince Winston more opportunity to think and make his decision on which maiden he shall pick.", Lillian shares with Lord Argon.

The lord sits without responding for a few moments. Thinking over the idea carefully Lillian guesses. Finally, the silence is broken and Lord Argon gives his answer.

"I think that is a fine idea. If your mother wishes it I can arrange the whole thing on behalf of both our families.", he says.

"That won't be completely necessary. My mother or I can be a part of the arranging.", Lillian responds quickly. She simply refuses to leave such a matter completely in the lord's hands; not when her trust in him is little to non existent. Lord Argon looks curiously at young Lillian, but in the end he agrees.