Kingdom of Grunwald: Chapter 35 How Sylvia's Heart Was Healed

Lady Sylvia ate another meal in sorrowed silence. She was no longer bursting into tears in the middle of a meal. Pirate Jack wasn't sure this was an improvement.

"I'll be busy here today. Will you be going out today Sylvia?"

Sylvia began doing the dishes. Finally she said, "I have no plans."

Pirate Jack moved and sat upon her chair. He wanted to feel her warmth upon it. He'd been trying to wait for her to come to him. He hoped this would help her heal from the loss of their baby. He didn't know if it was the right thing to do. He only knew he missed her. He didn't know how much longer he could keep himself from his mourning wife.

Sylvia brought Jack another plate of food. Even during this time of great pain she took care of him.

Jack wanted to take care of Sylvia too. He wanted to rip the pain from her and tear it to shreds. Of course he could not. In all his life he had never felt so defeated. Before Sylvia lost her baby she had been a happy little wife. She was spirited and aventurous. Sylvia had begged him to go on the Grunwald voyage. She said she had missed the high seas. Being a pirate, Jack knew how she felt. Sylvia had been one of few wives who had gone, and the old Gypsy Queen. That's it! Sylvia and the Gypsy Queen were becoming friends. Jack resolved to send a scroll to the old woman.

Pirate Jack had a habit of scanning the horizon, on shore and off. He noticed Queen Gypsy and a few others heading toward the ship. Jack sent Sylvia to greet their guests.

"Jack please, I don't want to see anyone."

"Sylvia! Is Queen Gypsy not your friend?"

Sylvia didn't answer.

"Sylvia go invite everyone down there to come aboard this ship."

"But Jack-"

"Sylvia, I don't ask much of you. Please do as I say."

As a pirate Jack was used to swift obedience. As a husband he was hoping this visit would help heal his wife.

Lady Sylvia barely looked at her guests. She noticed a flash of orange and red. She drifted over to Queen Gypsy. She didn't greet the old woman properly. She simply stood there, listless.

In her grief, Sylvia spoke little. It was too painful somehow. Most of the time her silence was all that kept her from tears.

The old gypsy smiled and waved. Sylvia didn't even turn her head. "Come child." The old woman walked toward the ship. A few people followed her. As her feet moved, Sylvia realized she was following too. As hostess Sylvia should have introduced her guests. She did not. They introduced themselves around. Sylvia caught a few names, a red haired gypsy by the name of Summer Schwarz, another gypsy woman with the last name of Bloom, a man who called himself the Dark Elf... What? What is he doing here? The Dark Elf? The Goblin? Sylvia had not sent for him. No one else from Grunwald had been near Goblin the Dark Elf. She had been the only one to meet him. The ship had left shortly after she returned to it. Could he have tracked her here? How? Why? Sylvia heard a horrible cough. She turned. It was Summer. She whispered to the Dark Elf that Sylvia had lost her unborn baby. Sylvia heard and was somewhat horrified. Then, she was surprised.

The Dark Elf cried upon this news. He buried his face in his hands and sobbed. Had she misjudged this elf? Had her fears been born of appearance alone? As the grown elf cried, not bothering to turn his face away from the people in the room, Sylvia's heart melted. She had not seen such a display from her own husband. Her own pain seemed to melt with his tears. The tender sympathy struck her so.

While this was going on Pirate Roberts had been teaching the 2 gypsy women to play his pirate game. He was now back to his work.

The Dark Elf dried his tears, then joined the game. Summer did not. Sylvia suspected it had to do with that hacking cough.

At first Sylvia didn't join either. With the sympathetic tears ended she found herself wringing her hands.

The game was a soothing distraction. At last she timidly joined them.

With all eyes on the ball instead of her mourning self, Sylvia was more at ease.

As she became absorbed in the game, her troubles were forgotten.

Queen Gypsy smiled. Sylvia had forgotten how nice that was. Since she had lost their baby, Jack's face was full of sorrow and concern instead of smiles. She couldn't blame him.

Then it happened.

For the first time since she had lost her baby, Sylvia felt happy.

Later that night after their guests had left, Jack lay abed with his wife. Sylvia prattled on about playing his game with her guests. As Jack listened he sighed, content and relieved. He hadn't heard her like this in a long time.

At last he had done something that had helped her. She seemed to be her old self again, bubbly, smiling, full of spirit. Jack pulled her into his arms.

How he had missed his dear little wife. In more ways than one.

Jack kissed her wee hand. He softly let her hand go, kissing her sweet lips. He let his hand trail over her hips. He began to tug at the skirt of her gown.

"Jack..."

Sylvia pulled away, her faced crumpled. Jack didn't understand.

"What's wrong?"

"I-I wanted our baby so much." At last she had come to him. Perhaps not in the way he had hoped, but she had come.

"As did I."

Jack paused a moment.

"Sylvia, let's try for another." "What if I lose this one too? I don't want to let you down again."

Was this what hurt her so? Was this why she avoided him?

"Sylvia, you did not let me down."

"If I had done what you said, if I stayed on board ship, if I hadn't wandered about the Magic Kingdom, if I hadn't been startled-"

Jack cut off her babbling. "Sylvia, short of hurting yourself on purpose you cannot be to blame for this babe dying. I know you did not do that. And if you lose this baby, and the next and the next-" He stopped, realizing this was a foolish thing to say. Sylvia looked worried.

"I will be sad. But I will not feel you have let me down. Did we not marry for better of for worse?"

Sylvia nodded.

"A hundred babies or none at all, heir or not, you are my wife."

Sylvia smiled again.

He tickled her 'till she squealed.

"Babies or no, let me please you trying." It was words such as these that had first won her to him. He wasn't sure if she was amused or flattered by them, he was only sure she liked them.