Once Upon a Christmas Past

by Regan Walker

  “She is a joy to me and all she meets,” Guinevere said.

  “Where are the men this morning?” Noelle asked as she selected another length of ribbon.

  “The men have gone out hunting. Then they will practice for the joust in the field this afternoon, now that the snow has melted away.”

  “It was quite a treat to have such a lovely snowfall at this time of year. It seems to add something to the season, but it didn’t last long enough,” Noelle said with a sigh. “Do you know that I have always dreamed of being married with snow on the ground? And I would wear a very special gown.”

  “You almost had your dream, then,” Guinevere said.

  “Almost,” Noelle said, but somehow the dream seemed far away from the marriage she was preparing for.

  “It is so early in winter to have snow. But I agree it was lovely to see those big, fluffy flakes falling from the sky,” Guinevere said as she glanced around the hall. “I think everything looks quite beautiful, do you not agree?” She looked back to Noelle. “It’s so nice to have you here this Christmastide. I hope it will be one of your most memorable Christmases.”

  “It is always nice to be with old friends. Have the church decorations been finished?”

  “Aye. Everything is prepared for Saint Nicholas Day service. The men will join us tonight in church when we celebrate the feast of Saint Nicholas.”

  The December air was crisp, but had warmed some since the men had ridden out earlier that morning. Arthur rode his great white destrier up next to Nicholas’s matching one and Arthur reined his mount in as he came to a halt. “I see that Boots is in rare form today. She has now brought back her fourth fowl.” The horse stamped impatiently, blowing out great clouds of white breath as he waited.

  Nicholas chuckled. “You know how bloodthirsty wenches are, sire.”

  “Aye.” Arthur nodded. “It’s good to see the color back in your face. You looked close to death when they took you to the tower. Lady Noelle took excellent care of you.”

  “She is well-gifted with healing.”

  “She is also a very lovely woman. I was told that she never left your side the entire time you were sick. I’d say that Noelle is most devoted to the things that she cares about,” Arthur said as he nudged his horse forward again.

  “Devoted as in her cures and medicines?” Nicholas said as he urged his own horse into step beside the king. Nicholas wondered exactly what the king was trying to tell him.

  “Aye. I think she will make Sir Gavin a good wife.”

  Nicholas tensed. He didn’t like the notion that Noelle was promised to another, and he did not understand why. “Aye, she will,” he said, but his voice lacked the enthusiasm it should have had. Nicholas could not feel joyful at his friend’s good fortune.

  “I heard that Meleagant attacked Wayfair, and that you sent Gavin to meet him.”

  “Aye. Meleagant has been much too quiet of late. I fear he is up to no good. Meleagant’s judgment is poor. He figures if he can capture enough of the smaller holdings, he can use those men to overcome Camelot.”

  “It will never happen, sire. Not while I breathe.”

  “Nor I. Meleagant has had his sights set on Cranborne Castle for a very long time, and now that Cranborne is vulnerable, I fear he will strike.”

  “The castle was once well defended. What happened?” Nicholas asked.

  “King John, when he was alive, had many men and Cranborne prospered. However, after he died, his eldest son John made poor decisions and squandered the money away. Tristan wasn’t old enough, nor was he next in line, so he could do little to prevent John from doing his will. I think Tristan will one day be a strong baron, but John needs more guidance.” Arthur glanced over at Nicholas. “How does he fit in with the other knights?”

  “I like Tristan and see no reason why he hasn’t been knighted before now. He is a good man.”

  “He has been too long under his brother’s control, and Tristan did not want to leave his sister unprotected for the quest, so he has put everything aside until Noelle weds.”

  “Is that why you have promised her to Gavin?”

  King Arthur arched a brow. “It’s one of the reasons. I was good friends with her father. I think of her as a daughter, and I would have only the best for Noelle,” Arthur said as he watched a black scowl cross Nicholas’s face. “She is quite a remarkable young woman.”

  “Aye,” Nicholas agreed and then grew quiet as they rode back to Camelot. He was hard-pressed to put his feelings into words . . . aye, Noelle was exceptional . . . and spoken for. And that was the rub.

  The sunny afternoon was spent in sword practice. Nicholas took great pleasure in besting his opponents one by one. It kept his mind off that which he wished not to think of.

  When the day was finally over, Nicholas made his way wearily back to his tent. Dirk sat just outside on a stump, having finished practicing long before Nicholas. Dirk was bent over a stone, sharpening his knife.

  “For someone who has been on his backside for two days, ye fought like the devil himself was after ye this day,” he said without looking up. “Or was there something ye wished not to think about?”

  “Do you have something you wish to say, Dirk?” Nicholas snapped.

  “Nay. Just making a comment.”

  Nicholas frowned. “I was practicing, nothing more.”

  “Ye know, the Lady Noelle is a fine lass,” Dirk said completely ignoring Nicholas’s short answers. “If she were not promised to Sir Gavin, I might see if she had eyes for a Scotsman,” Dirk said as he held the knife up to test the blade’s edge.

  “She isn’t the right woman for you,” Nicholas snapped again as he ducked inside the tent.

  “And who is she right for?” Dirk called after him, smiling. He was enjoying needling Nicholas. It was not often that Nicholas discovered something he didn’t know what to do about.

  “She is fine and fragile.” Nicholas stuck his head back through the opening. “You need an outspoken woman who can give you hell when you need it, which is often.”

  Dirk laughed loud and deep as he held his blade up and examined the edges. “Then she is probably more like someone you would fancy?”

  “Dirk,” Nicholas said impatiently, “Lady Noelle is promised. I can lay no claims to her even if I wanted to. I will never marry. You know that. Now, find something else to do. You have spent too much time in foolish thought.”

  Noelle chose a dark blue velvet cotehardie to wear to church. Her long, flowing sleeves let her light blue kirtle show from beneath the darker blue and flattered Noelle’s creamy complexion. Isabelle wove blue ribbons into her hair in a complicated arrangement that Noelle would never have thought of wearing. She paused to look at her lady’s handiwork. Yes, she liked it. It suited her. Surely it would suit her lord as well.

  However, Noelle wondered which lord she truly wished to please.

  Noelle and her ladies started across the bailey to the brown-and-gray flagstone church. The archway of the chapel was carved with animals and mythical beasts. Just above the arch were the Magi awakened by an angel.

  As they approached the front of the church, Noelle saw the knights standing in two lines on either side of the steps, waiting for them to enter.

  Sir Lancelot turned, and with a sweep of his hand said, “Miladies, please go before us.”

  “Thank you,” Noelle said with a nod, then proceeded through the avenue made up of handsome men before starting up the church steps. The knights all nodded a silent greeting as Noelle and her ladies passed.

  Noelle noticed that Nicholas was not with the knights and she wondered why. After all, he likely had been named for Saint Nicholas. He would surely be there on his namesake’s day.

  Isabelle nudged Noelle and whispered into her ear, “I would rather stay out here with Sir Lancelot.”

  “Shh,” Carolyn hushed Isabelle as they stood in the church vestibule. The church was bathed in warm candlelight, and the pews were almost full. An usher walked
back to get them.

  “Follow me,” he said. He escorted them to the pew where they were to sit. Noelle curtsied to the cross and then entered the pew, followed by Isabelle and Carolyn. When Noelle moved down the row she realized that the pew was already half full, but until she reached her seat she couldn’t see who she’d be sitting beside.

  She knelt down next to a gentleman who had his head bent in prayer. Noelle said her prayers, and when she had finished, she eased back to her seat.

  “Milady,” the gentleman next to her said softly.

  Noelle glanced to her left and was pleasantly surprised to see Nicholas. He looked healthy and much too good. The candlelight bathed his dark skin and highlighted the lighter places in his hair. His golden eyes glowed like those of an animal. Yes, Sir Nicholas looked very well indeed. Noelle realized her thoughts were wandering, so she stopped herself from thinking and asked, “How do you feel this eve? Are you well?”

  “Much better, thanks to you, milady,” he whispered. His boldly handsome face smiled warmly down at her.

  Every time Nicholas’s gaze met Noelle’s, her heart turned over. The priest entered the church and began to chant. The music started and saved her from having to say anything else. They both stood to sing. Nicholas had a beautiful voice, she noted.

  When they were seated again, Isabelle leaned over to Noelle and whispered, “Would you like to change places?”

  “Shh,” Noelle replied.

  Father John stood behind the pulpit and began his sermon. “Saint Nicholas day is a blessed day,” he intoned as he raised his arms to the heavens and the large, white sleeves of his alb flowed down to his waist. The garment was embroidered with green and red down the center, front and back. When Father John lowered his arms, he started again. “When Saint Nicholas was born, he was given the name of Nicholas, which means conqueror of nations. After his birth, his mother, Nonna, was immediately free of pain, and from that time until her death, she remained barren.

  “Saint Nicholas showed himself to be perfect in every aspect of his life. He avoided vain friends, idle conversations, shunned conversation with ladies, and seldom looked at them. Saint Nicholas preserved a true chastity.”

  Isabelle nudged Noelle. “He does not sound like our Nicholas,” she whispered.

  Noelle frowned at Isabelle. “You are incorrigible. We are in church. Behave.”

  A knight on Nicholas’s other side cleared his throat, and Noelle finally had to smile, having heard of Nicholas’s reputation.

  Father John continued. “Saint Nicholas’s marvelous wonders were performed on land and sea. He helped those in distress, he saved those who were drowning in the deepest sea, he gave healings to many, sight to the blind, power to walk to the cripple, and he was the champion of children,” the priest said. Then he added with a nod, “He was truly a saint.”

  This was the first time Noelle had heard the full story of the saint. Now she knew that Saint Nicholas was a very exceptional man. Was his namesake just as special? Perhaps Nicholas kept his goodness hidden.

  Noelle felt Nicholas’s thigh press next to hers, and she found she was very aware of the man next to her. Being close to him wasn’t displeasing.

  Her hand rested on the pew next to her skirts. Without any indication of what he was about, Nicholas reached over and placed his hand on hers. His fingers were warm and strong.

  Noelle didn’t jerk her hand back even though she knew she should. Instead, she curled her fingers around his hand. His warm skin felt wonderful next to hers. She could feel strength in his hand and her skin tingled at his touch. She realized Nicholas hadn’t intended to hold her hand. His action had been spontaneous. She liked the tender gesture.

  Did he care for her just a little? Or was she just another one of his potential conquests?

  Noelle began to think that Father John could talk forever, but much too soon he ended his sermon and bade them to sing.

  Nicholas let go of her hand as they rose, and disappointment immediately replaced the warm feeling Noelle had felt but a moment ago. She tried to glance at Nicholas without him noticing, but she could read nothing on his face.

  As they sang “Nowell, Nowell: In Bethlehem,” Noelle wondered how she was going to manage to get more time with Nicholas. She needed to sort out all these strange feelings. She wanted to talk to him. Aye, she wanted to know more about him. Perhaps if she prayed for a Christmas miracle, she could have some time with him.

  Father John introduced the two boy bishops that had been chosen to preside over the services on the Feast of the Holy Innocents on December twenty-eighth. The two lads then followed the priest from the church.

  When the service was over, Noelle and the congregation began moving toward the back of the chapel. Once outside, Isabelle turned to Dirk. “I was hoping you would sit with me as we sup tonight.”

  “I would like nothing more, lass,” Dirk said and held up his arm to Isabelle.

  Isabelle punched Noelle discreetly in the side, trying to get her to do something.

  Noelle stood looking at Nicholas, but she didn’t know what to say.

  Nicholas finally smiled and asked, “May I escort you and Lady Carolyn to dinner, milady?”

  Sir Alex walked up behind the ladies. “Nay,” Sir Alex said. “It’s not fair that you have both fair ladies.” Alex looked at Carolyn. “Milady?” He held up his arm and Carolyn accepted with a smile.

  “That leaves the two of us,” Nicholas whispered softly.

  Noelle’s breath caught in her throat. When she glanced around she saw that all the others were across the bailey heading for the Great Hall. When she looked back at Nicholas, she became captivated by his gaze. “Shall we join the others?”

  He held up his arm to her, and she placed her hand on his and they started toward the hall. “Are you enjoying your stay at Camelot?”

  “Aye. It’s beautiful. I look forward to seeing my first real jousting match,” Noelle said.

  “Do you know anything about jousting?”

  “I do,” Noelle said as they reached the bottom of the steps where a torch has been mounted onto the wall. “I have competed before and won.”

  Nicholas chuckled. “Who would compete with a woman?”

  She pulled her hand from his arm. “Just because I am a woman does not mean I’m helpless.”

  “Women are weak.”

  “It is not always strength that matters. Sometimes a good mind can make one strong.”

  “You do not need to be competing with men.” Nicholas was arrogant, just as her brothers and every other man she had met were, she thought. Noelle would just have to show Nicholas that he could be outwitted, but before she could say anything ...

  Nicholas glanced over her head at the torch. A slow smile formed on his mouth.

  Noelle turned to see what Nicholas was staring at. And then she saw the red bow and the sprig of mistletoe dangling from it. She turned back and looked at Nicholas with a smile. What would he do? She wondered.

  “It would seem that your ladies have done a good job of decorating, and you, milady, have been caught,” Nicholas said in a husky voice. He lowered his head.

  The intensity of his gaze made Noelle tremble. She should do something. It was the custom to kiss whoever you caught under the mistletoe, but she was promised to another. But this kiss really wasn’t important, just a tradition, she thought to herself, as Nicholas’s lips met hers.

  All thought of resisting fled her mind.

  After all, it was Christmas.

  Nicholas’s mouth brushed gently over hers. He gave her time to pull away.

  She did not.

  Good, he thought.

  Nicholas’s arms went around her. He was going to end this attraction he felt for her once he gave her a thorough kiss. Her arms slid around his neck, and he shook with a raw need that shot through him like a spear.

  When he pressed his mouth against her lips, she parted them slightly and let him delve into her sweetness. God, she was pleasing. She
responded to his touch, and when she molded her body to his, he thought that what little reason he held on to had surely deserted him.

  Her passionate response became a burning need, and he wanted to taste all of her.

  Where was the strong discipline that Nicholas prided himself in?

  Evidently, he’d left it on the battlefield.

  Good thing she wasn’t the enemy. Or was she?

  The door at the top of the steps opened, and Nicholas forced himself away from Noelle. Reluctantly, he glanced up.

  “I came to see if something had befallen ye,” Dirk said with a grin. “But I see that ye have things well in hand.”

  “It was the mistletoe,” Nicholas said, his voice raspy.

  “Aye. I plan on finding some mistletoe myself,” Dirk said, then added, “Ye do realize that the tradition calls for everything to be done in twelves. Lady Noelle now has eleven more times to pass under the mistletoe in keeping with the season.” Dirk’s grin stretched from ear to ear.

  “I had forgotten,” Nicholas said, but his gaze was on Noelle. “Thanks for the reminder,” he told Dirk, who had already gone back inside.

  “I think we should go inside, too,” Noelle finally said as she lowered her arms from around Nicholas’s neck.

  Nicholas looked down at her flushed face. Her lips were slightly swollen and wet. “You are still standing under the mistletoe,” he finally said with a smile. “Should we try for the other eleven times?”

  She gave him a devilish look. “I will not deny that I enjoy kissing you, Nicholas, but we must—” She stopped reaching up to touch the side of his face.

  He caught her hand and kissed her palm, then bent down and kissed her once more. “It is probably foolish to admit,” he whispered, “because one day we will not stop with a kiss. Someday, we will discover just what happens when a spark of fire ignites.”

  Desire, something Noelle had never experienced, left her frightened, but also curious. She had never dreamed she could feel passionate toward someone ... but Nicholas was the wrong someone. Yet, she couldn’t stop these feelings. Nicholas stared at her as if his statement should frighten her, but he had to learn that she was not the weak female he thought she was.