Chapter eighteen Have Faith

Anna charged towards him, delivering another wild blow that he quickly dodged. He grabbed her hand and twisted it backwards, pressing her firmly to his chest.

"You would be a lovely woman in bed," he whispered into her ears before tenderly biting it.

She was irritated by his touch, 'why were all men suddenly interested in her,' she wondered.

She used every ounce of strength she possessed to knead his manhood, forcing him to leave her.

Anna regained her balance and walked towards him, hoping to remove his mask, but the man was already back on his feet before she could reach him.

She landed a punch on his ribs, which he  handled pretty well. He was too big her punches were useless .

He smiled at her sweetly, "all I wanted to do was take you to bed but you're not..."

Anna threw another punch instantly hitting his face taking him unaware this time.

'He bled,' she thought. He was, after all, penetrable.

It all happened quickly. She may have made a mistake by approaching him, because he gave her a sucker punch.

Anna had not expected it; she fell to the ground, her head hitting a stone.

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"We are making progress William, I wasn't as optimistic as I am now when I first met you. You are one hell of a man.. your highness," the doctor said bowing down.

"You can cut the formalities with me doctor, a man you've seen at his weakest.. no, no need for this formality. I must say I lacked faith as well doctor. Am I really going to walk again?"

"You moved a leg William, yes you are going to walk again, I have never been so sure as I am now."

"I want you to keep this between us," William requested.

"You have my word on that sire.. strictly between us."

"Not even Anna, I do not want to raise her hope and find out later I could not possibly walk again."

"You have my word sire on that, and you have my word also that you will walk again. Now where is Anna, I should be on my way now. I have business in whisperwood."

"Oh.. an estate matter," William asked.

The doctor laughed heartily, "my business is always in the forest, young king, with nature. Maybe when you are strong and on your feet again you will try it. It is a refreshing hobby I have come to enjoy."

"We should be careful not to get our hopes high for nothing."

"Do not doubt your capabilities young king, do not ever doubt your strength, remember Azurethra counts on you. Your subjects are waiting for you, do not fail us. Have faith William.. have faith."

"I will take my leave now, send Annie girl my love, the doctor added walking away."

William was left in his thoughts, he did not want all his hopes to come crashing down if after all these he could not walk. For the first time since the accident, he moved one of his legs. It was a miracle, he must say.

He knew no matter how Anna was mad at him right now, she would be glad to hear this. She would be as optimistic as the doctor, he knew that.

"Alfred," William called, "take me inside I need to wash up I am all sweaty."

"Yes sire, Alfred replied wheeling his master inside. He had witnessed his discussion with the doctor. Everyone prayed and hoped for his recovery, even if they were few in the same boat with Vivianne.

He could feel the tension, the fear William concealed.. the fear that he might not walk again but Alfred believed he would. There was not a finer, stronger man he had seen and known in all his life. He believed strongly in him.

It was getting dark already. William was more than worried already. Anna had not returned, 'how could she just disappear like that or had something bad happened to her,' he wondered.

Where had she been all through his exercise. If something bad happened to her because of him, he would not forgive himself.

"Do you want me to go out and look for her," Alfred asked seeing the worried look on his master's face. "I do not mind," he added.

"Thank you Alfred, I would really appreciate that."

William watched him leave feeling useless in his wheelchair. He was supposed to be the one going out to search for her. 'So useless,' he thought.

Alfred walked in fear, he was regretting volunteering going out into this path so late. 'What if he was attacked by a wild beast,' he wondered holding the lamp firmly in his hand.

He hoped the lady was alright, for his master's sake he hoped so.

He could not bear to see him heartbroken again. Just then he walked into something on the ground, out of fright Alfred threw the lamp away putting it off as it hit something and moving away from what he had walked into.

'Was it a wide beast sleeping?' he wondered. He stood there not moving an inch expecting the beast to pounce on him any moment.

The light had been put off by his stupid fright how was he to see now what he had walked into, to make matters worse it was a moonless night.

It was as if the sky was asleep, gaining courage he walked towards what he had walked into using is legs to feel for anything.

He felt something soft and hairy.. it was long, 'a woman's hair,' he concluded hope rising within him.

Feeling more courageous than he had been since he left the house, he bent down to feel the figure properly. He caught her scent before he touched her, that faint scent of lavender. William had always said you had to get close to her to catch a glimpse of her scent.

His fear returned when he touched something sticky; no one needed to tell him what it was—blood.

'No no no, she couldn't be dead,' Alfred wailed within. He lifted her immediately retracing his steps back to the house.

To his utmost surprise the moon was out lighting his way and lighting the woman's face, the messy blood on her face freaked him out.

Walking steadily and quickly he hoped she was not badly hurt, her breathing was very faint. 'She must have lost a lot of blood,' Alfred thought, the house in sight already.