New York, 2015

Mimi sat at Tara side of the bed talking to her. It's been almost a month since Tara's breathing tube was removed. The swelling in her brain had reduced tremendously which was very good progress. The doctors said the first 24 hrs were crucial and important to see if she could breathe on her own. Then slightly she would be weened off the medication for her induced coma.

There was a lot of brainwave activity which meant she was responding well to stimulation such as their voices and their touch. They all have high hopes she would recover soon.

Daily, a ballon or floral bouquet was delivered from a classmate or distant relative with a get well card.
Mimi would read to her everyone them that would come and place it by her window.

"Pretty soon your room is gonna look better than the gift shop downstairs girl," Mimi laughed a little.

She walked over to Tara's side then and gently held her hand.

"Please come back Tara, I miss you so much," she whispered.

She leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her cousins forehead and leaned back too look down at her.

Suddenly, she felt a slight twitch and she looked down at Tara's hand joined with hers.
Mimi gasped and looked at Tara.

Her eyes were twitching erratically not like before but faster. The beeps from her monitor picked up its pace and Mimi turned towards the door in a rush calling for her Uncle and the Nurse.

She turned and ran back to Tara's side and squealed as her eyes briefly opened then closed.

"Omg!!" She smiled as fresh tears began to fall down her cheeks.

In that instant, her father entered  quickly followed by a nurse and an assistant.

"Mimi, what happened?" he asked looking at her then at Tara.

"Omg, she opened her eyes," she beamed with a tearful grin.

Awe spread across his face and a little disbelief as he turned to stand at Tara's side and impatiently watched the nurse check her monitor.

Soon after her Doctor entered.

"Dr. It shows there was some activity on the EEG monitor," the nurse informed him stepping to the side so he could check her.

They waited and watched as he waved a small flash light before her eyes. Then he stepped off to the side and observed her monitor.

He stood straight and turned to look at her father as he stepped closer.
" Is...everything ok.."

"No worries at all Greg, she is responding well. It's her reflexes, which is good we know she can open and close her eyes. We just have to wait until she full emerges from the coma," he said.

Relieved and emotional from the news he exhaled with a sob.
"So does this mean," he began.

"It only means that she is no longer in the sleep induced coma, she is transitioning. We wont know how extensive the injury was to the brain or what impact it had on her until she is fully awake then we will know."
The Dr. Said.

Satisfied with his answer he thanked the Dr. and watched him leave.

Greg pulled away from Mimi, he held her hand and turned to stand close to Tara again. He leaned over and pressed his lips to her forehead.

"You hear that princess. You are getting better. Soon you will be awake and we will be right here waiting." he whispered.

******

England, 1245

Aweek has gone by after their visit to Marlaudes home. It's been a week since he made his threat known. And since then he has put his plan into place. He would attack Chaswick Castle....

The burly lord paced back and forth as the room erupted into chaos with his decision.
Paper slewn across the table with strategies of his attack etched on the parchment for the men nearby to see.

Smashing his closed fist on the table, Ale fell over and his men stopped their chatter to stare at the irate man before them. He thundered, "We must strike and very soon!"
He strode purposefully along the length of the table.

"He thinks he is safe in his Keep. He thinks he can't be attacked!" Spinning on his heel he faced them.

"I object. I donna feel it is wise to start a war over such a puny offense. It is not necessary." A gruff voice came from the dark corner of the room.

Marlaude paused to look through the wide array of heads before him towards the dark corner.

"Show yourself" he ordered the man.

Small gasps and light chatter came as a tall muscular man stepped forward. Familiar eyes clashed with Marlaudes as the mans eyes landed over everyone in the room. He lazily made his way around the room and began to talk.

"You would start a war over a little offense because your daughter was rejected?" he began.

"Aye," Marlaude clenched his jaw.

"You would put the lives of your people at risk. Drive your men to their deaths on a long forgotten promise that holds no validity only because your pride was wounded?" Trevar leaned over the table to stare down the murderous glare of his friend and advisor.

"It was an agreement that I held my promise to," Marlaude bit out squeezing his fists tight.

"You...mayhap. But, it is long forgotten. And I refuse to put my men's lives at risk on the questionable virtue of your daughter," he hissed.

A dead silence fell. All worried gazes fell on the young girl in the corner.

"What did you say?" Marlaude shot her a murderous glare.

He watched as she slunk back and averted her gaze.

"Men talk, is all I can say my friend. And the corners in this keep have watchful eyes. Nothing is a secret and it surprises me that you do not know," Trevar scowled.

Enraged with Trevar's words, Marlaude slammed his fists on the table before him sending everything to the floor. He faced Erica that now coward in a corner and stalked towards her.

He took in the guilty stare. And that was enough to insite his ire. It was true, her virtue was compromised.
He back handed her sending her to the ground. She groveled and wept to be forgiven but he ignored her.

"Take her out of my sight," he ordered and two men came forward and helped her up.

"This changes nothing," Marlaude looked directly at Trevar.

"Are you mad, of course it does," Trevar scoffed in disbelief.

"It would have not come to this if he did not place his eyes on the girl he is with." Marlaude shook his head.

It was no secret that she intrigued him.

The eerie look in Marlaudes eyes with that statement made Trevar scowl shaking his head.
"What are you plotting?"

The develish grin on his friends face made him clench his fists.

"I wonder if taking the lass out of the equation, will I be able to bend him to my will," he began playing with his beard in deep thought.

"Surely you don't plan to kill her, you can not?" Trevar scoffed in disbelief.

"Of course not," he chuckled. "I will simply take her from him,"

"And how do you plan to accomplish that?" Trevar asked agitated.

He didnt like this one bit.

"You will see my good friend."

You will see....

*******

So sorry guys for the late updates im trying my best to get these stories wrapped up.
Writters block has me stumped.
I want to point out first before I continue that you are all amazing... I can begin to explain the immense happiness I have in a.m. when I see ALL the notifications and comments....they trully make my day....
....here you go...
Please comment and like....mostly comment I need the feedback...