New Beginnings, Chapter 4 

Sending ​Jude

Lawrence was trying to address some paperwork in his office...but he was distracted, thinking about Baron...

"Commander Jude is here, your Majesty."

"You sent for me Sire?"

"Yes, I did. I have an assignment for your Special Forces Team"

"We have a situation in the far north."

"I received notice this morning that a group of outlaw mercenaries have apparently been terrorizing the countryside up there. And now they have also made a brazen attack on the Winter Patrol."

"Are Rex and Baron okay?"

"Rex sustained some minor injuries..."

"..but Baron took the brunt of their attack..."

"...and he's been severely wounded."

"They don't know if he's going to make it."

"The entire situation up there is unacceptable......all the pillaging and burning, and now the unprovoked attack on two of my knights."

"So I'm sending your team up there to regain control."

"Hunt down those terrorists."

"Your orders are to use any means necessary. Do whatever it takes to return peace and safety back to the region."

"Yes, Sire."

"Consider it done"

Heading Out

Lawrence was getting ready to leave.

"I have to go deliver the news to Miho and Naomi before they hear it from someone else. They deserve to hear it from me."

"If you wait a minute, I'll come with you..."

And she quickly got ready to go with him.

"I really appreciate you coming with me."

"Well, Miho and Naomi are my friends too."

"...and I want to be there for them."

"They are going to be utterly devastated."

"I know I would be...."

"If anything like that ever happened to you."

So they headed out together...

The burden weighed heavily on Lawrence, as he considered exactly how he was going to break the news.

"I hate this part of my job."

"This is going to be very difficult, and I'm thankful that you are coming with me.""

Monica knew that Miho and Naomi weren't the only ones who were going to need some support.

Her husband would need it too.

A Surprise Visit

Naomi happened to be looking out the window just as Lawrence and Monica arrived.
​ "The King and Queen are here."

"That's odd. Are you sure?"

"Yes. They just rode in together. You weren't expecting them?"

"No, I wasn't."

"I wonder what they are doing here?"

The maid showed Lawrence and Monica in...

"The King and Queen are here, my Lady."

"To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?"

The maid took their cloaks...

"Unfortunately... this isn't a regular social call."

"A letter from Rex arrived this morning...."

"Is everything okay?"

"No, it's not."

"You may want to sit down."

Breaking the News

"The Winter Patrol was ambushed yesterday. Rex escaped with minor injuries..."

Monica sat down and took Naomi's hand, as Lawrence passed Rex's letter to Miho, so she could read it herself.
​"Unfortunately Baron took the brunt of the attack."

"How bad... is it?"

"It's very bad...."

"Baron was severely wounded. Thankfully help arrived quickly, and he was lucky the nearby village had a very skilled surgeon...""

"The Doctor did the best he could with Baron's injuries, but he's in critical condition."

"..and they don't know if he's going to make it."

Naomi struggled to take in the news...

"The last thing Baron said before he lost consciousness, was to tell you that he loves you."

"I'm so sorry..."

Miho could barely believe it either, and read the letter from Rex again.

"Rex writes that the next few days are going to be critical."

Lawrence tried to offer some hope.  "Yes, they are waiting to see how he recovers from the surgery, and hope he doesn't develop an infection. But Baron is young and strong. If anyone can survive something like this, he can."

​"I've asked Winston to keep us informed about Baron's condition. He's agreed to fly back and forth every day to let us know about any little change."

"And we'll let you know right away."

Some Comfort

Monica and Miho were trying to comfort Naomi...

...when Dominic came in. "I heard we had visitors."

"Your Majesties...!?!?"

"What is going on?"

"They are here....unfortunately.... to deliver some bad news...about my son."

"He has been severely wounded in an enemy attack."

"How bad is it?"

Miho had been trying to stay strong, but was in shock...."He may not make it..."

"The Doctor who treated him says it's too soon to know...."

"...and the next few days will be critical...as we wait to see how he recovers from his surgery."

Miho finally broke down, as Dominic took her in his arms. "I'm so sorry."

 Lawrence was having a hard time too, after holding it together all day.  ​Seeing the reaction his news had on the two women was almost too much. Baron was like a brother to him, and he was as shocked by the news, and worried about Baron, as they were.

Monica sensed that it was time to go... 
​"We will be leaving now, and give you some privacy. We are so sorry to have brought you such terrible news.
Unfortunately, now we need to go home and break the news to the children. They love their Uncle Baron, and deserve to know."

"Thank you for coming, and delivering the news in person."

Monica hugged Naomi...

"We'll all be hoping and praying..."

"...that he will recover quickly, and make his way back home to you."

"I will send word as soon as I hear anything."

"Thank you. I appreciate that."

"Yes, thank you for coming. We'll be anxiously waiting to hear any further news.."

Lawrence took Naomi's hand,
​"Take care of yourself. Baron faces a lengthy recovery, and you need to keep up your strength, for Baron...and your child."

"Hopefully it won't be too long before he recovers enough to come home."

"​I will send word and let you know as soon as I hear anything."

* next - Chapter 5

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