Thirty Years Ago...

"Nan...Nan...wake up," the young woman said as she touched Nan's arm.

Nan cracked open her eyes, struggling to identify the woman.  It was Lizabeth, the queen's lady-in-waiting.

"What...What is it?" Nan asked as she slowly rose, sitting up in her bed.

"It's the queen, she needs your help.  Come with me." Lizabeth picked up Nan's bag, the one that she knew contained herbs and potions for healing.  "Please hurry."

Nan found it odd, Lizabeth's voice was as quiet as ever, yet she could feel the urgency belied by the woman's tone.  Nan quickly pulled on a robe and slipped on her shoes.

"What's going on?"  Nan asked while tugging the bag from the girl's hands as they hurried along the corridors Lizabeth was silent for a moment, as if contemplating what to say, or if she should say anything at all.

She visibly steeled herself, grimacing as she murmured, "I guess you're going to figure it out anyway...Lord Richard...he beat the bloody hell out of her."

"His own wife?" Nan whispered, closing her eyes and swallowing the distaste in her mouth.

Lizabeth's lit candle created monstrous shadows as they hurried to the queen's chambers. She stopped and turned to Nan, just as they reached the door.

"Please, don't talk to her about what happened," Lizabeth said.  "She had begged me not to go for a healer at all.  She was too embarrassed by what happened.  But I knew her injuries were too serious to be left alone so, I told her that I was going for help, by her leave or without it.  And she said 'Let it be Nan then.'"

"Has this...happened before?"  Nan asked, hesitant. She had only been working as a healer at the castle for two weeks.

"He's done this to his mistresses, but this is the first time with his own wife.  Just don't ask too many questions.  The last healer did and Lord Richard threw her out of the castle.  She was lucky though, he almost had her killed."

As they walked in, Nan was awed by the size of the room.  She looked around for a moment, impressed by its simple elegance.  Then she noticed a faint sound amidst the heavy silence of the slumbering castle.  The muted sound of a woman crying softly.

Nan walked to the bed, where the lady was lying, curled into the fetal position.  A mass of blond curls covered her face.  Nan gently pushed away the strands, causing the woman to wince in pain.  Nan's heart stopped as she looked at the savage wounds.  Her face was covered in blood and bruises.  Her eyes were swollen, one was already turning a dark mottled color and entirely closed shut, the other slowly leaking tears.

Nan looked up to the heavens, trying to still her hatred for the monster that caused such distress.  She had heard rumors about Lord Richard's cruelty, but she hadn't believed that the tales could fall short of the actual reality.

Four broken ribs, a broken right wrist, fractured fingers on her left hand, bruises and cuts all over her body, most of them on her face.  And then there was her womanhood.  Ripped open with such brutally.  She had been a virgin, but no more.  It had been taken from her without any tenderness, comfort, or love. Nan wanted to kick that royal ass.

Nan finished with the last of the queen's wounds.  She mixed powder into a glass of water, and brought it to the queen.

"Your majesty," Nan began, keeping her voice at a whisper, "I need you to drink this."

The queen lay still on the bed, staring at Nan with her one good eye.  "What is it?"  She asked, her voice quavering.

"Something to take away the pain and to help you sleep."

The queen nodded her head then slowly sat up, sipping the water.  Nan put the glass on the table next to the bed then helped the queen find a comfortable position to sleep in.  Nan pulled the covers over her patient, suddenly feeling a need to kiss her on the forehead, and letting her know everything was going to be all right.

"Thank you," the queen whispered.

Nan nodded her head.  "You're welcome.  Now get some sleep.  I'll be here all night if you need anything."

The queen then closed her eyes, soon slipping into unconsciousness.

Nan walked over to Lizabeth who was standing several feet away from the bed, biting her nails.  She had remained in the room the whole time, watching Nan work.  When Nan reached her side, she waited for the girl to acknowledge her, but Lizabeth never moved her eyes from the queen.

"I...," Nan began, slowly forcing the words through clenched teeth, "...want...to know...what happened. 
How could such a horrible beast marry such a gentle woman."

"Well, I want to kill that bastard,” Lizabeth said, finally meeting Nan's eyes.

As the two women stood guard over the slumbering lady, Lizabeth told the queen's story.