Inner Smile, By Aisling Burke

t wasn’t easy for Laura being a blind healer living on her own. When she was at the market she heard them whispering that she had exchanged her sight in return for dark powers. Laura said nothing and treated anyone who asked for her help. It was her mother not the devil who told Laura that willow bark is good for fever and lavender poultice can help heal a burn.

Warmth tickled her skin as she walked into her herbal garden with her basket. She knelt in the soft dirt and plucked some leaves. Each plant was easily identified by its feel and scent. Feet skidded on the stone path and she froze.

“Hello, Laura.” Something landed with a thud beside her. “I brought you some meat.”

“Hello, Marcus.” She stood up and rubbed her hands on her skirt.

“We need to talk.”

“The answer is still no. Please, leave.”

“I’m offering you a good life.” He touched her shoulder with his hot, meaty hand. “No other man would marry a blind woman with your reputation.”

“I am happy as I am.”

“The woods are not safe for a woman on her own.” His fingers dug into her flesh.

“Let go of me.” She twisted away from him.

“Careful, Laura. I have a lot of powerful friends” His feet crunched the gravel as he walked away.
***
Bang, bang, bang. Laura sat up and hugged her knees to her chest. The knocks reverberated through the cottage. She slipped out of bed. The stone floor was icy under her bare feet. She crept towards the door and wrapped her fingers around the handle.

“Is anyone there?” a man rasped.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“Please, I was attacked.”

“I don’t…”

“Please...”

She opened the door. A hand brushed her ankle. She stifled a scream and bent down to help him to his feet. “Come in.” She half-dragged his body into her cottage.
***
“Good morning.” Laura set a bowl of porridge beside the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“How did I get here?” His rough, twisted fingers grabbed her arm.

“You appeared at my doorway. Let go of my arm.”

“Apologies, lady.” He let go. “I need to go.”

“Not yet. You need to rest” Laura pressed his lumpy body back down onto the bed. “I...” He stopped struggling. “I think you may be right, lady.”

“I’m not a lady. I’m Laura.”

“I’m Daniel. Your eyes...”

“I’m blind.” Laura folded her arms. “Eat your breakfast. I have to visit my patients.”
***
When Laura returned to the cottage the aroma of roast meat tugged at her taste buds. “What is going on?”

“I found some meat and I thought you might appreciate a meal,” Daniel growled.

“You should be resting.” His rough hands plucked the packages from her hands.

“Sit down.” She could hear the smile in his voice.

“Hmmph!” She heard the scrap of wood on stone and felt the cool, smooth wood of the stool touch the back of her legs and sat down. “So, who are you, Daniel?”

“I’m one of Lord Carlton’s soldiers.”

“The Beast Lord?”

“Don’t call him that!”

“I’m sorry.”

“He’s a good man. It’s not his fault he looks like a monster.” Something slammed onto the table. “Here’s your food.”

“Thank you.” Laura fumbled for the cutlery. “I am sorry.”

“No, I am.” His fingers brushed her hand. “Let’s eat.”
***
Laura hummed as she walked into the cottage. Every night for the past week she had returned to a cooked meal. It was nice to have someone to talk to.

“Laura...” His voice was strained. He touched her wrist.

“What’s wrong?”

“I was repairing the roof and I twisted my foot.” He grunted as he sat down.

“Idiot!” She knelt on the floor and cupped her hands around his ankle. “I think it’s just sprained. I’ll get you some willow bark tea.”

“Thank you.”

“You should...”

“You’re so beautiful!” His fingers brushed her hair.

“Beauty doesn’t matter much to me.”

“Tis lucky you can’t see me, lady.” He twisted fingers cupped her cheek.

“I doubt that.” She turned her head to kiss his fingers.

“Laura…” She tipped up her chin. His lips touched hers for a second and he pulled away. His malformed hands stroked her back as he stood up, pulling her to her feet. “I wish I could stay with you.” He pressed his forehead to hers.

“Can’t you?”

“I have to go back to the castle. You could come with me.”

“I’m not a lady and I’d be lost in a great castle.”

“Marry me, Laura. You’re the most wonderful lady I’ve ever met.” He buried his face in her neck. “You could be a healer there if you want or…”

“It's too soon, Daniel.”

“But you’ll think about it.”

“Yes, I will.” She felt his smile against her skin. She stepped back and took his hand. “Come on.” She led him over to the bed.
***
Laura laid the herbs out on the table. It had been two weeks since Daniel had left and she refused to admit to herself how much she missed him. There was a loud crash. Heavy footsteps echoed through the cottage walls.

“Witch!” Marcus roared.

“Your black magic brought the plague to my animals,” shouted another.

“I’m no witch!” Rough hands grabbed her and forced her to sit. Someone grabbed her arms and tied her wrists together with thick ropes. “Let me go.”

“Burn her,” they chanted.

“Marcus… You never said anything…”

“Help me.” She recognized Rustin’s voice. She’d delivered his son a few days ago. The ropes loosened a little.

“You’re right, burn her,” Rustin said.

Someone slapped her in the face and she was knocked to the floor. She heard very still as she listened to the footsteps leaving the cottage. There was a rush of heat and she could taste acrid smoke. She tugged on the rope and her hands were freed. Thank you, Rustin she thought. She rested her cheek on the floor and tried to picture her home.

Panic squeezed her heart as the skin on her feet heated up. She sucked in dirty oxygen and crawled across the floor. Then her fingers touched splintered wood and she dragged herself out into the wonderful, cool air. Hands touched her and she slapped them away.

“Laura, it’s me.” Daniel picked her up. “What happened?”

“You saved me!” she whispered.

“I think you saved yourself.” His kiss was the last thing she was aware of.
***
Soft silk cocooned her sensitive skin. Laura pulled at the covers. A small hand touched her arm.

“Are you alright, my lady?”

“Where… where am I?”

“You’re in Lord Carlton’s castle. The healer gave you poppy juice to take the pain of the burns away. I’m Sarah. I’m your maid.”

“Oh!” Laura sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She gasped with pain as her feet brushed the carpet.

“Please don’t, my lady. Master Richards said you’re to stay in bed.”

“I’m no lady.” Laura touched her shorn head. “My hair…”

“It was all burned. I cut it as best I could.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Laura’s hands dropped to the silken coverlet.

“You’re awake!” Daniel’s voice reverberated around the room. Laura felt the mattress dip. He wrapped one arm around her.

“I’ll leave you, my lord.”

Laura waited until she heard the soft click of the door. “My lord?” she asked.

“I’m… I’m sorry, Laura.”

“You’re Lord Carlton.” She pulled away from him.

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m the beast lord. Would you have let me into your cottage if you’d known?”

“I don’t know.” She bowed her head. “You should have told me.”

“I didn’t know how. I’ll leave you in peace.”

“But…” She heard the door closed.

“My lady?” Sarah touched her arm.

“I think… Can you help me?” Laura asked.
***
Sarah dressed Laura in the softest silks she had ever felt. Master Richards insisted Laura had to use a wheeled chair. Sarah guided Laura to it and pushed her down the winding corridors into a room.

“Laura, how are you feeling?” Daniel asked in a stilted voice.

“Much better, thank you, my lord.”

“Don’t call me that, please.”

“I… I was thinking about my future.” She twisted her fingers together. “I can’t return to the village.”

“No, of course not.”

“I thought…” She swallowed and rubbed her palms against her expensive skirts. “Master Richards said he’d welcome an assistant.”

“Laura....”

“I love you, Daniel.”

“I love you, too.” His hands covered hers. “I’m a monster. My face… my mother tried to drown me when I was three.”

“I don’t care.”

“You will when you hear the whispers about your husband being a monster. And if our child is deformed…”

“If that happens we’ll manage.” She lifted his hand to her lips. “So, ask me again.”

“I love you, Laura.” His lips brushed hers. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes, yes please.”
*

Aisling Burke is an Irish girl living in Dublin. She's a nurse, teacher and trained ballroom dancer. In between she squeezes in a few minutes here and there to write. Currently her novel is under consideration by a top Irish publisher, so fingers crossed. Aisling's story, "The Guardian," appeared in Issue One, so we think she's pretty talented!

Image by Kay Nielsen.