#thelastsock

Letting out a sigh of excitement Julia jumped a little as Wilfred her husband of 15yrs sneaked his arms around her waist. Placing a kiss into her neck, he hummed with the same excitement. This is what they lived for, to celebrate life to its full. Tonight, this room would be full of delegates from different merchant houses from around Wolnosci and neighboring cities. Wilfred had worked hard to provide this for Julia, many hours planning, negotiating, travelling and all culminating in tonight's event. After this evening Julia and Wilfred were looking forward to slowing down, to enjoying more time together. Wilfred had spent many months travelling and Julia had been so busy both with her duties running the estate but also in her clinic as the local healer. As Wilfred had prospered so had Julia's practice helping people both physically and emotionally to the point that people from neighboring kingdoms had started to seek her out.

He lifted his head and kissed the back of her hair "mmm you have done a marvelous job my sweetheart" murmuring softly into her ear. Julia shivered at the contact, but wanting to give credit where credit was due softly spoke, "I am so proud of my servants they have taken my creative idea and made it come alive. We must do something special to thank them" Julia turned around and looked up into her husband's handsome face. His 6ft high, broad frame towering over her 5 ft 3" curvy shape made for a fun pairing.

He bent his head and kissed her softly on the lips, "my dear it's endearing how much you love your servants, but we must also maintain order. We will thank them, but I'll think of their reward. You would give them all a week off, then what would we do!" laughing he pulled her into a big bear hug. "now you need to go get pretty for tonight and I need to go back to the office." Julia pulled away just enough to show her displeasure, frowning she groaned, "you were supposed to have today off" her lips protruded into a small pout.

Wilfred laughed his eyes sparkling with amusement. Pulling her back into his chest and kissing her on the top of her head. "I won't be long love. Besides if I stay here any longer, I'll sweep you off to our room and then we both won't be ready for tonight" Julia could still hear his laughter as he walked away towards the stables. Taking one final look around the room she sighed again, what is one more day, this was the only thing in their marriage that was a sore spot for Julia.

Julia had met Wilfred when her family had moved from Sodden to Wolnosci. She was 12yrs old and still shaken after their town had been under invasion by the Nilfgaardians. Her father had a premonition that something was about to happen and had gotten the family safely out before the worst of the carnage started, however the trauma had stayed with Julia for many years, even after everything had settled down. Julia had inherited her father's ability to sense people's needs and sometimes predict future events. It was her mother that had shared the art of healing with her, both body and mind that had helped her grow through the trauma.

Julia had been neighbors with Wilfred. Years of playing together after school, celebrating families milestones, and sharing their first sweet kiss cemented her love for Wilfred. Julia had known that he was the one for her and at the age of 20, they had gotten married. Life had been sweet except for Wilfred's desire and drive to always need just one coin more, or one project more. He had lavished her with a beautiful estate, lovely things, and sweet nights.

He had also encouraged her to develop her business as a healer, but now it was time to settle down, slow down and focus on her one real desire to start a family. Wilfred had wanted them to wait to have children, "let's live a little, once children come, they eat up your time, money and energy. I want to enjoy life" but finally after 15yrs, he was ready to start a family.

Julia wondered down the marble corridor to their room, and into her chambers where her ladies were waiting to draw her a bath, do her hair and as Wilfred said " make her pretty" but even now she would give it all up for a soft bundle of joy to fill her arms.

"There that should do it." Her lady's maid Hannah exclaimed beaming with pride as she looked at Julia in the exquisite rosewood rimmed mirror attached to her dresser. Julia was impressed, Hannah was a wonder at hair, and makeup. She thanked the unnamed God every day for her. Standing Julia stepped into the royal teal dress that her other lady's maid Ruth held out. It was stunning, edged with silver beading, and a beautiful band of crystals that helped accentuate her small waist. Grateful for her dressmaker who knew how to hide the unwanted curves, and accentuate the important ones. Julia stared into the mirror, her heart appreciating all that she had been blessed with.

Some may say she was too plump as her small stature accentuated her hips, and bust a bit more than she would like. But her waist was small, a perfect hourglass her dressmaker had said. Although Julia sometimes wished she could have had just a little bit more height. Wilfred had chided her when she spoke like this, and she knew he was right. Her assets as he described them were her best feature, Julia however really liked her hair and skin. Her hair was curly and a rich auburn, that with the ministrations of Hannah were currently piled atop her head, with precisely placed ringlets accentuating her neck. Her skin was fair to medium, and at the age of 35 was yet to show too many wrinkles.

"Hmmmmm" a rumble of deep appreciation echoed from the door. Julia turned around, and blushed as Wilfred now dressed in his finest gold and russet silk outfit looked her up and down. Appreciation showing in his eyes, "ladies you have done well" Hannah and Ruth also blushed from under their lowered heads. "Julia as much as I would like to keep making you blush our guests will be arriving any minute, and I know how much you pride yourself on being the best hostess in our city. Come let's greet our guests." Still holding Wilfred's gaze Julia moved towards him, took his offered arm, and was escorted down the corridor to the sounds of the minstrels playing in the hall, and the first pull of the entrance bell.

Many hours later full of satisfaction and joy, Julia looked around the room. Their guests were lounging back on cushions, bellies full and deep in conversation with each other. The minstrels played softly in the background on their lutes, violins and harps creating a heavenly sound. It was in this state of contentment that Tobias, Wilfred's manservant interrupted her.

"Mistress, may I introduce the Sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg. Wilfred thought you may like to meet her as she is visiting here from Aretuza." The woman standing before Julia was tall, slender with raven hair, and the most stunning violet eyes she had ever seen. "Welcome Yennefer, I hope your stay in Wolnosci has been pleasant so far" a coy smile crossed Yennefer's face as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yes, this quaint little village is beautiful and full of surprises. You throw a wonderful party Mistress Julia." "Thank you" Julia stammered, something about this sorceress made her feel insecure and unsettled. "What brings you to our 'little village?' "Julia stated, echoing Yennefer's words exactly. A broader smile lifted Yennefer's face, reflecting amusement in her eyes "please, don't take offence, I have been living in Temeria, and this in comparison is little. But, I love the architecture, history, and beauty of the forest that surrounds you."

Yennefer continued to eye Julia, and it was just briefly that Julia noticed a look of pain in the sorceress's eyes. As brief as it was it alerted Julia to the possibility that Yennefer was here to see her as a healer. She had the ability to see past the symptoms, to the causes of people's pain, and to help them find healing. Seeing that the guests were thoroughly engaged, and would not need her for some time Julia spoke in a low tone to Yennefer "would you like to continue our conversation in private?" Yennefer nodded in agreement a look of relief filling her eyes as Julia led her off to her healing rooms.

On entering her rooms Yennefer gasped, smiling Julia laughed "it's a bit ostentatious isn't it" nodding at the large body of water placed strategically in the centre of the room. "Wilfred chose this land because of the natural hot springs that we found here. We built the house around it." Yennefer walked over and knelt by the Spring dipping her hand in the warm water. Surrounding the Spring was tables for manipulation, massage, and examination. The walls were lined with herbs of every variety to treat most ailments that she came across. Her favorite part of the room was on the far wall, a bay window looking out over the expansive gardens. Strategically placed was a day bed and a comfortable couch that when seated you could look up at the stars, or out at the beautiful gardens during the day.

Standing up Yennefer walked over to the large window and looked up at the stars "I like this place, you have made it very welcoming" smiling she looked back at Julia as she took her place on the couch. "Yennefer, I can see the guarded look of pain in your eyes. What is it you have come all this way to see me for? "Yennefer took a moment, looked back at the stars and sighed. "Many years ago, I traded my ability to have children to look young forever. I was young, full of rage, and determination to concur the very people who treated me like a piglet, to show them I was beautiful! I did not know then the degree of consuming desire I would have to bare children. It's has become a driving compulsion that I cannot seem to control. To find a cure, something to reverse what was taken from me that night." Yennefer did not cry, but her violet eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and it seemed to Julia that the violet colour seemed to glow more brightly as she spoke.

"Can I ask what was removed and to what extent?" Julia knew the answer but needed to be certain. "All of it" Yennefer stated. Her head dropping at the finality of the action. Julia's mind scrambled to think of what this stunning creature needed. Knowing that a cure would have to be magical, and that she had made a decision when she first entered the healing world that she would only treat what could be healed with hands, mind, and herbs. She understood that chaos, that magic, came from nature, and even believed if she wanted, she could learn to control it, but something had held her back.

"Yennefer you know that this can only be fixed by magic as it was taken away by magic. But what I can do is to help you to gain some control of the compulsion, to gain some control of your life while you search of that magic cure" Yennefer's head lifted, her eyes narrowing "what do you mean, you are a Healer, one of the best in this kingdom it is said. How is it you are not a sorceress? do you not practice the art of Magic healing?" Her frustration was showing, Julia used to this line of questioning just took a breath "Yennefer, I chose a long time to respect chaos, but I also chose not to use it. I felt its power, and knew it would be too much of a temptation to want the power. So, I choose to heal what I can, and do it to the best of my ability. Yes, I am known as a great healer of both body, and mind, and if you'll let me, I can show you some mind exercises to gain your control back".

After another hour of talking through techniques, Yennefer and Julia left the healing rooms, and made their way back to the party which seemed to be slowing down. Wilfred and Julia said goodbye to each guest, and as Yennefer was the last to leave she pulled Julia into a hug. "Thank you, at least this is a start" eyes bright she then turned to Wilfred " and thank you for your offer of an escort back to Temeria tomorrow morning, it will be good to have company on the road" she smiled and left. Julia turned to Wilfred eyes wide in shock. "Now don't give me that look Julia, I already had made my mind up to do one more trip to Temeria today, before Yennefer said she was travelling that way." Julia's head started to throb "one more trip? Today was supposed to mark to end of the trips. That's why we had this party in the first place." Julia wiped her hand down her face not worrying that her lips stick had smudged, or that her eyes brimmed with tears of anger. It was all too much after the waiting, the longing for them to be close. Julia turned and ran down to her room her heels ringing across the marble hallway. She fell across her bed and wept.

She awoke to her ladies opening the windows to let in the light, it was almost noon if Julia had read the suns position correctly. Next to her lay a note folded neatly, and written in Wilfred's neat handwriting were the words "I'm sorry Julia, I didn't want to wake you. To be truthful I didn't want to face your disappointment. It's just that the opportunity for one last cargo of goods to bring back from Temeria was too good an opportunity to waste. I'll be back in two weeks, and then we can start our slower pace. I love you, please don't be mad at me for too long. Kisses Wilfred"

Two weeks seemed to go forever Julia busied herself with her patients and the general running of her household. Tobias had stayed behind to help with the running of the businesses while Wilfred was away, and as usual was doing a wonderful job. Three days before Wilfred was due back Tobias came into the healing room. There was a pained look on his face, and a note in his hand. The note said that three days ago while embarking on the journey back to Wolnosci, the caravan had been set upon by the Scoia'tael a band of renegade elves. There were no survivors.