Greylen watched helplessly as his wife lingered in a state of unresponsiveness. She’d not said a word and only continued to stare blankly before her. Though she took the potions his mother placed to her lips, she never left their bed. Worse, she always curled into a ball when he had to leave her.

His mother stayed with her the few times that he’d been called away and also while he spent time in the nursery with Tristan. When he was with his wife, sadly, he found that he was just as silent with her as she was with him. In truth, he didn’t know what to say, and offered her comfort the only way that he knew how. He held her in his arms, praying for a sign of life, a reaction of any kind, be it tears or fury.

The third morning after he had brought her home, he dressed her when they awoke. Hoping some fresh air might do her good, he took her to watch the sunrise. He held her hand as they walked to the stables, noting oddly that Gwen positioned herself a step behind him and never directly at his side. She made no sounds as he lifted her atop his mount, nor any during their ride down the narrow path. She sat unmoving between his legs as they looked to the waters.

In no hurry to return, he leaned back, taking her with him. She was asleep moments later, tucked safely against his side. He’d slept so fitfully the past nights, listening to her cries, that now as the sun warmed them, he gave in to his exhaustion. Gavin’s shout awoke him, alarm and a sense of dread sweeping through his entire body.

Gwen was no longer beside him, and he ran, knowing the only place she could be—the water. She was fighting her way through the oncoming waves, the weight of the dress he had chosen pulled her down as she continued even farther. He called to her over and over again, finally diving beneath the waves and swimming as he had done only once before. She didn’t make a sound as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and offered no fight as he swam with her atop his chest back to the shore.

’Twas as he lay with her in the surf, catching his breath, that she finally looked at him for the first time since he’d brought her home. But her eyes were filled with only emptiness.

His anger got the better of him. “You would leave me? You would leave your son?” She only stared back, her look more confused than he’d ever seen. “Why, Gwen? Why?”

She finally broke then, anger and despair together. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t want to feel this pain anymore.” She covered her face in her hands and began to cry.