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Post by Vianne Giry on Aug 16, 2007 21:14:46 GMT -5
*Vianne lay sleeping, her every breath rattling weakly in her chest. In her dream, a voice sang softly, childish, breathless and sweet.*
He is dead and gone, lady. He is dead and gone. At his head a grass-green turf. At his heels a stone.
*She knew it was her death, approaching from afar.*
Not long now. Not long now...
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Post by Vianne Giry on Aug 16, 2007 23:14:19 GMT -5
*A doctor cleared his throat and glanced at the crumpled paper of written instructions as he made his way down into the cellars.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Aug 16, 2007 23:16:36 GMT -5
Percy saw the man and followed him down. It took a few steps before he realized it was a doctor, and his heart nearly stopped.
"Vianne," he whispered.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Aug 16, 2007 23:17:22 GMT -5
*The doctor turned with surprise, viewing Percy and adjusting his spectacles.*
"Monsieur--I am not to be followed...I have specific instructions..."
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Post by Sir Percy on Aug 16, 2007 23:21:08 GMT -5
"Rest assured, docteur, I am to follow," he said with quiet authority.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Aug 16, 2007 23:24:38 GMT -5
"Erm...very well. It cannot do much harm, I suppose." *Clutching his black bag, he went down into the gloom.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Aug 16, 2007 23:27:06 GMT -5
((HA! No one messes with the Pimpernel!))
Percy followed him silently, trying to remember what Vianne had said about traps.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Aug 16, 2007 23:32:03 GMT -5
*The doctor took some unorthodox turns, consulting the piece of paper in his hand often, looking nervous, but at last they emerged by the house upon the lake. The doctor let himself in and went to a bedchamber with the door shut. He turned to Sir Percy.*
"You will wait, Monsieur," *he stated with unwonted strength of conviction.* "My patients are no sideshow to be gawked at."
*He went into the room and shut the door quickly behind him.
Vianne did not awake as he entered, took her pulse and shook his head slowly.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Aug 16, 2007 23:39:41 GMT -5
Agitated, Percy waited.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Aug 16, 2007 23:41:58 GMT -5
*The doctor re-emerged, looking about as grave as he had going in.*
"I could give her a sedative to keep her comfortable, but there is little else to be done," *he said.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Aug 16, 2007 23:43:12 GMT -5
"It's only love that can cure," Percy muttered, and then, hardly knowing what he had said, he entered Vianne's room.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Aug 16, 2007 23:47:39 GMT -5
*Vianne did not stir from her troubled sleep, her skin clammy and pale with illness, her flesh beginning to show signs of wasting away from her bones, fragile and almost transparent in places.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Aug 16, 2007 23:49:38 GMT -5
Percy knelt in front of her, horror washing over his aristocratic features.
"Vianne," he murmured. The word was like a prayer. He picked up her gently curled hands, and kissed them reverantly.
"Vianne," he whispered.
It was all he could do to keep back the darkness, and he wondered, with a heavy heart, when Death would come.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Aug 16, 2007 23:53:16 GMT -5
*Her eyes opened, slowly, dull with fatigue and pain, searching the darkness above her for the voice that had called her from her dream. A sigh that was half of a wordless murmur escaped her as she awoke.*
"...Erik?"
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Post by Sir Percy on Aug 16, 2007 23:54:19 GMT -5
Percy bent and kissed her forehead.
"No, beloved," he said. "It's Percy."
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