The Whitlock Family

"It must be her trauma, your Grace."

The doctor put all his things back in his case. He had checked Elaine's condition and just finished examining her. All her symptoms pointed to reactions to trauma. She sat on the bed as she listened and the Duke sat beside her on a chair by her bed.

She felt bad for inconveniencing everyone by fainting. She thought she could handle it until she got back in the manor. She looked down at her fingers and she fiddled with them.

"Physical contact must have triggered the strong reaction, causing her to faint. She must rest for a few days or her condition may relapse," he warned. "Also, she might have nightmares for the next few days."

The doctor stood up as well as the Duke. The Duke escorted him to the door and they shook hands.

"Thank you, doctor Hans," the Duke said as the doctor opened the door. The Duke had summoned him because he could trust that he wouldn't leak any information.

"Your welcome to summon me anytime, your grace," the doctor said as he left the room.

The Duke walked back to the bed. Sophie was wiping sweat off her forehead and had given her a glass of water. She then moved aside as the Duke came closer.

"I must apologise again, Elaine." He sat down on the chair and held her free hand in his. "If I had known your trauma was this bad, I wouldn't have asked you to go."

"I'm okay now, grandpa," she assured him. She put down her glass on the nightstand and raised both her fists. "You don't have to worry about me."

"Oh, Elaine." He caressed her head. She still looked very pale and she hasn't eaten well since yesterday. He had wanted to celebrate her birthday after they had gotten back home, but Elaine was unwell even throughout the night. He smiled at her and said, "It's my job to worry about you as your grandpa."

Elaine had fallen asleep after lunch and hasn't woken up yet. The Duke sat by his desk and wrote a letter back to the duchy to inform them that their arrival would be delayed, possibly for a few weeks. He wanted to make sure Elaine fully regained her health before they travelled for days to get back. He looked behind him to check on Elaine as she slept. He closed the envelope.

"No...no!" she screamed in her sleep. "Mommy, Papa, please don't go...no."

Like the doctor had warned, Elaine would have repeating nightmares about the day she had to run away. She would cry and groan in her sleep and sometimes even hitting the air. The Duke stayed beside her every night to calm her down, praying to the Goddess to bring her back to health.

After a few days, a letter came from Hendrix, asking whether they could visit. They wished to know how Elaine was fairing and if she was well enough to have visitors. The Duke pondered for a bit and decided it would be good for Elaine to have a change of pace. He sent a letter back accepting their request with a preferred date and time.

The Duke informed Elaine of their visit in a few days. She was excited to make some friends, but she was nervous as well, wondering if they would like her. She began to put her focus on the preparations and even helped choose the pastries and drinks that would be served. She also thought long and hard which dress she should wear for the occasion. Something simple, but not too simple.

The day finally came for them to visit. Elaine waited with the Duke and Jared by the entrance to welcome them. The carriage finally came into sight and Elaine took her grandpa's hand to calm herself down. They came out of the carriage one by one. Although she noticed that the Marquess wasn't present.

"Welcome," said the Duke. "Thank you for taking time to visit us today."

"Of course!" said Hendrix. "When would we get the chance to see you otherwise? Your always stuck in your duchy and if I don't visit you, we wouldn't be seeing each other at all."

The Duke laughed and apologised. It was true that he was always busy as the Duke. And when he isn't working, he would spend his time with his grandchildren.

"We are grateful to be welcomed as your guest, your Grace." Said the mother as she curtsied. Her brown wavy hair slid off her shoulder.

"No need to be so formal, my dear Beatrice," said the Duke with a smile. "You are like a daughter to me, so we may very well be like family here."

"Of course," she replied with a smile. She tucked her hair behind her ear. "Children, come introduce yourselves to Elaine."

"It's a pleasure to finally and officially become acquainted," the boy stepped forward. He had red orange hair like his father but navy blue eyes just like his mother's. He also had freckles over his cheeks and nose. "My name is Kayden."

"My name is Maeve!" shouted the girl that stood beside the marchioness. She had brown wavy hair and green eyes. "And I'm five years old. Brother didn't say how old he is so I'll say it. He's nine years old."

Kayden chuckled and thanked his younger sister. He patted her head and she pouted. Feanix stepped forward and curtsied.

"You probably already know, but I'll introduce myself again," she said. "I'm Feanix. It's a pleasure to see you again."

"I-It's a pleasure to meet you all," replied Elaine.

"Since the introductions are finished, let us have some refreshments in the garden."

The Duke guided them through the garden into the pavilion. They all sat down and the maids poured tea into their cups. The marchioness brought her cup to her mouth and took a sip.

"What a wonderful choice," she praised. "It goes well with the pastries."

"Elaine decided on these herself," informed the Duke, feeling proud himself.

Everyone looked over to Elaine to praise her. Not every six year old child would be able to do so much. Not to say that she had only been studying for a year. However, Jared kept silent and only drank his tea. Elaine blushed as she waved her hands in front of her as she shook her head.

"I-It isn't that praise worthy," she said. "I had only read a book about it when I had nothing to do."

Elaine listened to the conversation carefully. Maeve talked a lot and told Elaine about how kind and gentle her brother was while Feanix rarely played with her and didn't talk much. She would always be bored whenever she was with her sister. The three adults chuckled as they listened.

"You only brag about your grandchildren, Zyair."

Elaine's attention shifted to the conversation of both grandfathers. The Duke smirked as he drank his tea.

"I can brag about mine too," Hendrix said. "My grandson here has begun with his training. And he's just nine years of age."

"Grandpa," Kayden said, feeling a bit shy.

"I'm just telling the truth, my boy."

"Oh ho," began the Duke. "So you've started your lessons already, Kayden?"

"Yes I have," He replied. "But I've only been doing stamina training. Although, I have been reading books on sword techniques."

This got Jared's attention and his eyes began to sparkle. He had always been dreaming about becoming the best swordsman in the country, just like his father. He had made a promise to his father that he would become the next Duke as well as the best swordsman. And he had been working very hard for it.

"You're already training?" He asked. "I thought training starts only when you are at least ten or eleven."

"Well," He chuckled. "It's actually a bit funny how this came to be. I made a bet with my father and he lost. And my request was to start my training as soon as possible."

"Do you want to play sword fight with me?" Jared asked as he got ready to stand up. "I have wooden toy swords."

Kayden looked over to his mom to ask for permission and she nodded. The Duke had also agreed, but he gave a condition.

"No one is in the training grounds right now so no one would be keeping watch on you both. I will only allow it if you would play where we can see you."

Jared nodded vigorously and he led Kayden to the training grounds to grab the swords. They came back not long after and began to attack each other. Maeve stared at them.

"Mother," she said. "Why do only boys get to be a knight? Why can't girls become knights too?"

There was a long silence and Elaine also began to question this in her head as well. The marchioness seemed to be flustered and didn't know how to answer the question.

"Well, most girls find it too difficult and straining," she said. "They also don't want to get hurt in the process."

"But I wouldn't mind. I hurt when I trip, but it doesn't bother me." Maeve said. "Can I become a knight too when I grow up?"

This time, she really didn't know how to respond. Hendrix chuckled lightly and put down his cup. He looked at Maeve.

"If you do become a knight in the future, you would be the first female to ever achieve that. There has been no known female knight yet. At least in our country."

"I'll have to talk about this with your father first, Maeve." The marchioness nervously drank from her cup.

"I think she'll make a great knight," Feanix suddenly said. She remembered the times when Maeve would climb up on trees and pull the girls hair who mocked her for her boyish ways. Maeve pouted and began to complain. She swore she would become a knight no matter what.

The day ended fairly well. Maeve had fallen asleep and was now in the marchioness' arms. Jared almost didn't want to let Kayden go. Feanix had asked Elaine whether they could regularly write to each other and she naturally said yes.

Elaine lay in bed with her grandfather and she was still wide awake. She had so much fun, she still felt energized and couldn't help but be so happy to finally have a friend.

"Can't sleep?" asked the Duke as he turned to face Elaine. She shook her head with a smile on her face. The Duke chuckled. "Did you have a lot of fun today?"

"Mhmm," she replied.

"I'm glad to hear that," He said as he fixed the blanket over her. "But let's try to sleep now okay?"

Elaine nodded and closed her eyes. From that day on, she didn't have any nightmares anymore.