Say somethin’, Ceana, she told herself.Say somethin’. Anything.
But still, she found herself able to say nothing.
Her mother lifted her head, and a look of curiosity was beginning to form on her face. “Will ye nae say a thin’?”
The pressure that Ceana had felt multiplied with her mother’s statement. Suddenly, the images of the dead girl flashed in her mind. The combined attack from both sides was too much, and so Ceana burst into tears.
“Oh, dear girl,” her mother soothed and took her in her arms. Together, they cried until Ceana’s head hurt.
Her mother wiped her tears and then wiped hers.
“I worry about Alina,” her mother confessed. “She took Bridget’s death so hard. ‘Twas weeks before, she began to smile again. I do nae want it to happen,” her mother said with teary eyes.
Ceana nodded even though the ache in her head began to get unbearable.
“Whatever are we to do? I do nae want her to be that way e’er again.”
Ceana nodded again. Her chest hurt, and she found it hard to breathe. She stood up, trying to regain her balance and shake off the weird feeling that was settling in her belly.
“I know,” her mother said, standing up too. “We will nae tell Alina a thin’ about it.”
At that moment, Alina stepped into the room. “Tell me about what?”
It was then that Ceana’s balance lost the battle it had been fighting. With only a short gasp, she fell to the ground in a faint.
* * *
When Ceana came to, she realized that she was on her bed in her chamber. It was very dark, and all her curtains were down. Memories floated back to her, and she remembered having a terrible stomachache and feeling dizzy. She had fainted, she realized. Slowly, other memories filled in.
She remembered her night with Torcall and their kiss. She remembered his confusing words with a frown. And she remembered the journey home. Then, unwillingly, images of the corpses filled her head.
Tears prickled her eyes, and she shook them away. Then she tried to stand up.
“Ye should rest,” a voice said.
“Alina?” she turned to face her sister.
“Stay still, ye silly goose.”
A smile filled Ceana’s face at her sister’s usual scolding demeanor.
“And we thought I took the news of Bridget’s passin’ terribly. Ye fainted!”
Ceana laughed lightly, triggering a hint of the headache that had plagued her earlier.
“How do ye feel?” her sister asked, the worry in her voice betraying how concerned she had been.
“I am well,” Ceana assured her sister and sat up.
“Shall I part the curtains?” Alina offered.
“Aye,” Ceana said.
When Alina drew the curtains, she sat beside her sister.
“Ma didnae want to use smelling salts. She said ‘twas the bad news she had shared to ye. She was certain that ye would come to in time.” Alina stroked her head. She said that sometimes, the body demands rest on its own will when it has been put through stress.”
Ceana nodded wearily. She wasn’t okay, and it was a struggle to hide it behind a smile.
