Praying for good.

It's been a long time since Alfonsina prayed. She woke up that morning. She was still feeling so bad but she realized that she could stand up. So she dressed up and left her room. She hasn't seen Edward for three days. She was missing him. After she left her room , she couldn't know where to go. Then she decided for chapel. She was cold and feeling dizzy. But she was walking by holding somewhere. Fianlly she reached the chapel and sat somewhere. Then she started to pray.

"Dear God.. Please take care of my Thomas. He is very small not to be with his mother. Please give strength to my husband after me. "

Her eyes were full of tears but she continued praying.

It is late and I sit in silence hearing the castle breathe-it is now I miss home more than ever. It seems as the colour drains from the world around me and turns black with night it enters my mind and I remember home more vividly.

I walk to the chapel to seek solace and see a well dressed woman hunched over in deep prayer. I am as silent as I can be and slip into a pew and make the sign of the cross reverently...

As she was praying she heard some footsteps behind her. She cleared her tears immnediately and looked for who was coming. She saw a lady who was pretty but at the same time bored. Alfonsina smiled weakly at her as she was making the sign of cross.

I notice the woman in the chapel smile at me but I notice her pale face and the tears spilling out her red eyes. I immediately stand as if to help,"Are you alright?"

She looked at young girl who stood for help. Alfonsina smiled.

"No , thank you.."

She was still feeling so ill that her head was spinning around.

I pad a little closer and hold my glossy hair from my face as I take off the veil I had slung over my head. As I wrap it round my slender shoulders I notice she wears a hood like the other ladies in court and her gown is fabulously rich with colour. Her jewels glint -even in the pale light in the chapel- I also notice the wedding ring on her finger. It is far greater than any wedding ring I have seen and looks theatrical on her little finger.

"Do you want e to get anyone for you?"I ask as she looks ready to keel over.

She was kneeling and then she wanted to stand up and sit. She tried but she failed.

"No.. But if you can help me to stand up and sit , I will be happy."

She smiled softly.

I nod obliging and walk over to her. I wrap my slender around her waist and support her as she stand-I notice how weak she is and I feel my knees buckle a little. Carefully and with much care, I sit her down on the wooden pew and smile softly.

She was out of breath.But she was smiling to young lady brightly.

"Thank you very much.. So , tell me something about you. I want to know the young lady who didn't reject my request."

She smiled again.

I smile and sit beside her with my head bowed reverently-after all we are in chapel still. I think of how apt this is-I seek sanctuary and in truth simply placing my little hand on the altar would have given be enough protection. I know though that the man who called himself the greatest noble in Scotland is patient and would have shown me the greatest of cruelty. He would have nurtured it and it would have festered and grown. Eventually it would have been too powerful for even him to control. And when I had to leave which I would have to eventually...I would feel the cruelty of all the world.

"Well, I am from Scotland and have only been here for a few days,"I say in my thick accent that curves around my words like a celtic prayer.

Margaret entered in the chapel with unsure steps. She felt not very well, yet. But she needed to stay alone for praying. She was so religious before marriage. Now she felt changed and tired. She crossed and kept on praying silently for her unborn child, while a tear was falling along her cheek

Margaret was praying deeply with closed eyes. Everything was silent around her. When suddenly she felt a presence next to her. She opened her eyes and saw a young lady, sitting next to her. She dried fastly her tears "My lady.." She whispered, surprised of not being alone in the chapel

Margaret looked at her and nodded with her head too "I...I am Margaret Wyatt, my lady. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your prayers.." She said lowering her voice

Margaret's eyes fell on her stomach. She realized she was pregnant and felt her eyes filling with tears again "I...I was praying for my child too. I had a...a miscarriage few days ago.." She could barely say. She turned her head to hide her tears

Margaret felt surprised by her embrace, but she let her hugging her. She smiled weakly "Thank you..Unluckily, a dream turned into a nightmare. But I'm trying to recover slowly.." She said, even if she never saw this woman before

Margaret felt shocked while she was talking. Her story was so similar to hers. She took a breath and lowered her blue eyes "I'm sorry, my lady. I am because...my marriage has been annulled too. Suddenly and without a reason. I lost my child because of that.." She raised her eyes and shook slowly her head "But I don't wish to marry again. I...I can't.." She said with weak voice

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at the woman "You lost your child because your marriage was annulled?" she asked and she took a deep breath "We are strong independent women living in a mans world, we don't need a man."

Margaret smiled sadly and ironically "I wish I was so strong, my lady. But I'm not. And..he was everything to me. I should hate him. But I still can't.." She dried her tears again and looked at her "Oh..you must think I'm very silly, right?" She tried to smile

Margaret couldn't avoid to smile ironically again "You're lucky, my lady. Very lucky. Ah..friends, you say? I even doubt I'll talk with him again. I have no news of him.." She sighed and looked at the cross "Furthermore...I don't believe in friendship after a marriage.." She said with cold voice, this time