The Sheila Diaries

Summary: Sheila becomes ill and lies at Death's door. There are subtleties here if you can see them. Think about the tea.

The Sheila Diaries

By

Dan Cooper

Chapter 7

Illness


As the year became fall

and the fall started to become winter

The air suddenly became cold

and snow appeared on the mountains

My maidens brought out blankets for me to sleep in at night

I still had to wear what he wanted

and there was no warmth to them at all

Lord Venger comes

and does as he desires

Always he tells me that I am his now

I find myself looking forward to his visits

He pleasures me greatly

and warms me with his body

When My Lord is not here

I sit all day in front of the fireplace

Wrapped in blankets

Even so I am cold

My breath rose before me

and I shivered

and I ached all over

Not just from the cold but from where he had beat me

Soon I became ill

I lay there coughing

and shaking in fever

I ate hot soup

and drank hot tea

Teeeaaaa

Denora came to me and spoke

'You are sick Sheila

Soon you will get worse

I have warm clothes

and sweaters for you to wear'

My first reaction to her was that she was mad

What would My Master say if he came

and I wasn't wearing what he wanted?

Moreover what would he do to me

When I said this to her she did not get angry but merely replied

'I am in charge of these rooms

Just as I am in charge of you

If you get worse and die because I did nothing

Then it is my fault

If he is angry then he can be angry at me'

Her logic was simple

I was still wearing what I was supposed to

Underneath the warm clothes

I thought that I would never get better

I laid there in front of the fire for a long time

My chest hurt from coughing

My body shook from fever

Nothing solid that I ate would stay down

All around me the other maidens scurried

and changed the room

In preparations for even more cold that was to come

I just lay there and watched them

With my servant girl Michelle

She lay beside me on the couch

and held me

She kept me warm

My mind wandered

and I began to hallucinate

I called out for my friends

'Dungeon Master, Hank, Bobby, anyone help me

Help me...I don't wish to die here

Not like this

Not with him'

Where Oh where were they?

After a time Master came and saw me

He stood before me

and paid no notice to the cold

I was so sick

The world seemed to fade in and out

I tried to rise and kneel to him

but I was too weak

He set his hand on my shoulder

and gently made me lie back

He was not displeased about the clothes

Or because I did not make my obedience to him

Merely concerned because I was so sick

He gave me something

A crystal to wear around my neck

It was on a thin gold chain

He told me it would make me better

I lay there for the next three days

I could feel the crystal sucking the moisture out of my chest

and the fever leaving my body

The crystal changed from white to pink to red

After a time my rooms begin to warm

and I arose and was well

For the first time in over a week I could eat real food

Lord Venger appeared before me

He took me in his arms

and asked if I was feeling better

'Yes, thank you Master I am well now

The crystal you gave me was magical

Wasn't it?

I felt it healing me'

'You are very welcome little one

While you were ill you called out to your friends

To Dungeon Master

To my Enemy

Is this not true?'

My breath froze in my chest

I could not speak

There was nothing I could say

That would spare me from his anger

That was not a lie

and I could not lie to him

I looked at him apprehensively

Waiting for my punishment

I already knew

That it would be harsh

Instead he led me to the table

and gestured to me to sit

'I have something for you Thief

A small gift to be sure

But it may ease your mind'

My Lord gave me an ornate jewelery box

Inside was a large orb

It was clear and made of the the finest crystal

'After I leave you may look into it

It will show you what has happened

I think it will make you happy'

For once he did not vanish in energy

But turned and strode out of my rooms

After he departed

I set the crystal in my hands

and gazed it to it's depths

What the crystal showed me was wonderful

The others had returned home

Via some portal or another

I saw Eric hugging Diana

and Presto rejoicing

Hank just stood there and smiled

With tears of joy running down his face

and I saw my brother Bobby

and he looked so happy

Afterwards I just sat there

and smiled

I smiled for the first time

In a very very long time

I was so happy

My friends were home

My brother was safe

But then I realized something

They were gone

and I was left here

I would never go home

I would never see Bobby again

I would never see Hank or Eric or Diana or Presto

I would never see Mom or Dad or Gramma

No one would ever rescue me

and there was no way to escape

I was here with him

I did not weep or cry

I just accepted it

It was like My Master said

'I was his now'

For the first time ever

I actually believed that

I called my servants together

and thanked them for taking care of me when I was sick

I told them how much I appreciated them serving me

and I hugged each one of them

Especially Denora

Then I made a request of her

I asked for Lord Venger to come

and sup with me that very night

I dressed well for him

and when we were done

I went to him of my own will

and we were together