The Werewolf Order (Erotica)

“In the right hands, yes. But in the hands of someone like Prince Callen, it would be a dangerous weapon.”

She shudders, realizing the truth of it. Lost in her own thoughts, she tries to figure out how to help Coral-Margaret is not a healer, though she doesn’t think a healer could do much for a woman in this regard. Recalling her own mother being beaten by her father she doesn’t have a very positive outlook on her ability to help a battered woman; every time her father was around, her mother would be frightened, she would get tense and take extra care to stay out of his grip.

She sighs, focusing on the steady heartbeat of Tomir-this feeling she has for him, this love for a half breed that has blossomed over the past few weeks is something she realizes Coral has now lost and it pains her because of it.

…

The morning moves slowly; Margaret follows Janis throughout the town, stopping at three different homes to check on pregnant women, each carrying a foal in their bellies. Though the first and second are due in about three months, the last one is close to the date at which they will induce her labor.

“I heard that Lady Coral is back from Centurion,” Janis says, making idle conversation on their way to visit the third woman, “Do you suppose she will attend the next birthing?”

“I guess it depends on what they have her doing in the castle,” Margaret mumbles.

Janis chuckles to herself, “Honestly, she should-all of these are her fault because of that damned elixir. It has been a while, though, since she was in the apothecary, hasn’t it? Do you know if she will be there tomorrow?”

“I do not know, I haven’t had much of a chance to talk to her since she got back,” she evades. “Say, Janis-have you ever come across a woman who had bouts of panic while she was pregnant?”

“I dare say every woman panics a bit when they are pregnant, Margaret,” Janis frowns at her.

“I mean like inconsolable panic to the point of it being dangerous to the foal.”

Janis stops and stares at her for a long time, “No, why? Have you found a woman like this?”NôvelDrama.Org content.

Margaret shakes her head, “No-I heard from Tomir about the women they came across in Centurion and it seemed like it would be a possibility,” she lies, trying to cover her tracks, “If there were such a woman, is there anything that can be given to them?”

She sighs and starts walking with Margaret in tow, “Nothing that wouldn’t harm the foal, at least that I know of. Let us hope that we don’t have to deal with such a problem.”

They arrive at the pregnant woman’s house to check on her and everything goes smoothly as usual; after they are finished they walk out together. Standing in the middle of the road, about to part ways, Janis asks something that Margaret wasn’t expecting.

“You and Tomir?”

Her cheeks flush, “Tomir and I what?”

“Are you mated now?” Janis asks curiously.

“No!” though she adamantly says the word, her face turns bright red.

Janis chuckles, smirking and walking the opposite direction, “I see. Have a good afternoon, Margaret.”

It takes a long time for Margaret’s face to return to a normal color, the swift walking pace she keeps as she heads towards the castle doesn’t help but the cool air of early winter does. No one pays her any attention when she walks through the outer doors or up the ramp to the second floor. Rounding the hallway towards Coral and Quell’s bed chamber, she discovers the Prince standing outside of it with a tray in his hands.

He stares blankly at the door, only turning his head when Margaret approaches; he wears a frown reminiscent of his father. She curtseys, “Hello Prince Quell.”

“Hello Margaret,” he replies. He shifts his back legs somewhat, unsure what to say or how to even ask.

Margaret can see the sad, anguished look in his eyes. She holds out her hands for the tray, “I am sure you have some business to attend to, Prince Quell. Perhaps I could see to Coral?”

Slowly, he nods and hands her the tray, “All right.”

He starts to leave but halts when Margaret’s voice asks, “How was she this morning?”

Quell turns to look at her but drops his gaze, “She slept through the night. I left before she woke because I did not want to frighten her. Gladys fed her breakfast but I don’t believe she has spoken.”

Margaret nods, unsure what to say. She watches the Prince leave and though he no doubt knows where he is going, he looks lost. Sighing, she opens the door and steps into the chamber. A quick glance to the bed and she sees Coral’s form underneath the covers. Setting down the tray on the sofa near the fireplace, she walks over to her.

“Coral?” she says softly; Margaret walks around the bed until she can see Coral’s face. She is awake and her eyes follow the maiden. “I brought you some lunch, why don’t we get you out of bed and eat?”

When she doesn’t reply, Margaret carefully reaches out and pulls back the covers. She tentatively touches Coral’s shoulder, her heart racing as she prepares for her friend to panic like she did yesterday but she doesn’t flinch. Grasping her tight, she helps Coral to her feet and slips a robe around her shoulders before leading her to the sofa.

Coral sits where Margaret directs her to and eats the bread that is handed to her. Her green eyes watch the maiden; sensing that she is still in there somewhere, Margaret chances a question, “Would you like to talk about what happened?”

“No,” Coral says softly, taking a slice of cold meat and putting it in her mouth.

“All right,” Margaret replies, thankful that she is talking at least, “Do you know what I can do to heal you?”

Coral’s gaze drops down to the meat in her hands, “No.”

She sighs, “I was afraid you’d say that. Did you bleed or have any cramping while you were in Centurion?” Hesitantly, she points towards Coral’s belly.

“No,” she repeats again, softly. “The foal…?”

Margaret hands her some more meat, “The foal should still be in there then but you’ve lost a lot of weight and it might affect it so you need to keep eating.”

They sit in silence for a long time, Margaret giving Coral food and she eating it without hesitation though it is obvious that she doesn’t taste much of it.

“Quell…” Coral finally says, tears forming in her eyes.

Margaret sighs, “Quell is concerned about you. You don’t seem to be yourself when he is around though,” she wants to ask why, but doesn’t want to push the subject; instead, she tries a different approach, “Perhaps if Lynette visited you? I would be here as well.”

“I don’t know what I would say to her,” Coral mumbles.

Thinking on it for a bit, Margaret proposes something, “Can she read?”

Nodding, she quietly adds, “She can draw quite well too.”

“Perhaps I can see Doctor Pelium and find some books; if you are all right with Lynette around then she could read to you?”

“There is an herb book that I was working on updating,” she says, staring at the piece of bread in her hand.

“Now that is an idea,” Margaret replies. Once Coral has finished eating, Margaret stokes the fire and hands her a large glass of water, “I will find Lynette and come right back, all right?”

Coral barely nods, staring off into the flames much like she did the night before.

Drawing in a deep breath, Margaret walks out of the room and shuts the door behind her. She stands there, staring at the floor for a long time, simply thinking. She has very limited experience with healing anyone and most of her knowledge deals with children or women bearing them; she is unsure as to what to do to help.

It takes her a while but she manages to find the surgery in the lowest floor of the castle; she raps on the door before pushing it open and peering in. Pelium doesn’t appear to have heard her as he looks deep in thought staring into the fireplace.

“Doctor Pelium?” Margaret asks when she walks into the room.

He immediately turns his head to see her, though he still seems somewhat distant, “Yes? Oh, you are the young midwife, Coral’s friend…”

“Margaret,” she offers.

“Yes, Margaret, what can I do for you? Are you ill?”

“No, I am not,” she says as she approaches him, “Coral had mentioned she was working on updating a book; I came to fetch it. I think-I think that having something to focus her mind on would do her some good.”

He nods slowly, “Yes, I agree with you.” He walks over to the small desk, gathering up a book, a quill and a jar of ink, “She is speaking then? How is she otherwise?”

She swallows hard, contemplating what she should divulge; she doesn’t wish to violate her friend’s privacy, yet the doctor might have some useful information to offer up; Margaret decides to update him but keep the pregnancy a secret, “I managed to get a few short words out of her but not much. She ate breakfast and lunch, though she is… distant.”

He hands the items to her, nodding slowly, “It is something I have seen before, though not in a long time. It was after the Battle that I first noticed it in a few men and centaurs-they’d have waking nightmares. Small things would trigger them, like the sharpening of a knife or a loud shout or a smell. In women, well…” He frowned, not wanting to continue, “I never found a way to fix any of them.”

Margaret takes the items, taking care to keep the worry off of her face even though her heart is sinking, “Thank you for your help, Doctor.”

He nods again watching her walk away before turning back to the fire.