Once Upon a Christmas Past

by Regan Walker

  “I hope you are not stuck in yonder tree,” Noelle said and then hurried to the old brown door.

  The tunnel was dark. She hadn’t thought about that. Usually she came from the other way and had the light from a torch. Well, no matter—she would have to make do.

  Noelle slung the longbow and pouch over her shoulder and carefully started down the long, dark corridor. She ran her hand along the damp wall to keep her bearings. Halfway in, she was completely surrounded by darkness and had to take several deep breaths not to panic and turn back. She must keep moving.

  Finally, she bumped into the door at the end, and she knew she had made it to safety. But how to remain as such, she thought to herself. She darted across the solar and out onto a balcony so she could see what was happening.

  There in the bailey, fighting was everywhere. She could hear the sound of broadswords clanging as they struck the upraised shields. Then she saw Nicholas. He was in the very middle of the melee, fighting two men at once. Blood slung through the air every time he slashed his sword. But he didn’t see the man approaching him from behind.

  Noelle gasped as she realized the danger. Thank God she had brought the bow and arrow.

  She dropped her pouch and quickly selected an arrow and positioned it in the bow. Pulling the bowstring back, she said a quick prayer that her aim would be true. If she missed the other man, she’d hit Nicholas.

  Her hands trembled.

  She took a deep breath.

  She could do this, she told herself sternly. She had to.

  Pulling the bowstring back taut, she released the string and sent the arrow whistling though the air.

  She held her breath.

  Nicholas swung his sword mightily through the air, downing the two men in front of him, then turned to see one of Meleagant’s men fall at his feet with an arrow protruding from his back. Nicholas glanced up and saw Noelle standing on the balcony, bow in hand. She had killed for him, he thought in disbelief.

  She had also disobeyed, he realized with a frown.

  Before he could do anything about Noelle’s disobedience, Nicholas was assaulted from his left and he was forced to fight once again. Where was Meleagant? Nicholas had been fighting for hours and had yet to see the cur.

  But he’d find him before this day was through.

  Noelle felt a surge of satisfaction as she watched Nicholas return to battle. He might not like what she’d done, but she had undoubtedly saved his life.

  The ungrateful fool!

  She was getting ready to fire another arrow when suddenly a hand clamped around Noelle’s neck. She screamed with alarm as she fought off the attacker. Spinning around she came face-to-face with Meleagant.

  “I see the little bird has returned to the nest,” he said with a vicious smile as he tightened his hold painfully on her arms.

  “You filthy pig. You will be defeated this day,” Noelle gasped defiantly and tried to twist from his hands.

  Meleagant shrugged. “If so, it will be a small defeat. I have other men,” he simply said. “Do you know that your brother once promised you to me?”

  Horror ran through her. “It is not true,” she screamed protesting the horrid thought.

  “I would but let you ask him. However, Sir John can no longer speak.”

  She didn’t know what Meleagant had done to her brother. Probably tied and gagged him and threw him in the dungeon. She was sure he’d hurt John. “You filthy pig,” Noelle spat at Meleagant.

  He slapped her hard across the face.

  Noelle screamed. She beat on Meleagant’s chest with her balled fists, but it had little effect as he dragged her into the solar.

  Nicholas had just finished his opponent when he heard Noelle’s screams. He glanced up at the solar just in time to see Meleagant dragging her back inside.

  God’s tooth, if she had only stayed in the woods as he’d told her.

  Nicholas ran and grabbed his sword from the man he’d just struck down, then fought his way across the bailey toward the castle.

  Just before entering the doorway of the Great Hall, he glanced back and noticed that his men now had the upper hand. Good, he thought, and darted into the hall, taking the stairs two at a time to the solar. He could hear Noelle’s screams and that not only fueled his anger, but something odd as well. The muscles of his forearms hardened, and his chest felt as if it would explode before he could get to her.

  Nicholas burst into the room to find Meleagant on top of Noelle, his hand up her skirt. “Get off her or die as you are,” Nicholas grated out angrily as he swung at Meleagant.

  Meleagant rolled to his feet and withdrew his sword. “At last The Dragon and The Death Prince meet,” Meleagant sneered as he lunged at Nicholas.

  Nicholas was quick and barred Meleagant’s sword forcing the blow down to the ground. The two knights came at each other with the fearlessness of falcons. Noelle held her breath, praying that Nicholas would be the victor.

  Steel rang against steel.

  Sword sought flesh.

  They fought eagerly, giving and taking great blows. Nicholas would land several hard blows and it looked like he was gaining the upper hand but Meleagant fought back.

  The fighting was fierce and endless. Finally Nicholas knocked the sword from Meleagant’s hand and held the tip of his sword to the cur’s throat.

  Noelle shut her eyes. She couldn’t bear to see Nicholas take the life of another man. She didn’t realize she had squealed, but the next thing she knew, an arm went around her neck and she was hauled up against Meleagant, a sharp dagger point at her throat.

  How had Meleagant gained the upper hand?

  “Now, great knight, I suggest you stand back before I spill forth this fair damsel’s blood.”

  Immediately, Nicholas moved back and lowered his sword. “Leave her out of this. Your fight is with me.”

  “I think not,” Meleagant said and pressed the tip of the knife against Noelle’s skin, drawing blood.

  Noelle whimpered from the pain. Now she was truly scared for she knew that Meleagant wouldn’t hesitate to kill her, and probably take great pleasure in doing so. She tried to remain still so she wouldn’t be cut again.

  And she didn’t want Nicholas to do anything stupid. Every time she whimpered, she could see the flash of anger in his eyes before he disguised it again with a cold glare that reminded her of death.

  “I shall take her with me and if you’re lucky, she will live. However, I just might take her for my wife and then this land will be mine legally.”

  “You forget her brothers,” Nicholas said.

  Noelle could see his jaw clenched. Other than that, he showed little emotion.

  “Noelle is promised to another.”

  “Her brother promised her to me first,” Meleagant said.

  Noelle gasped. This could not be true. Was there no one her brother had not tried to marry her to? She was so angry that she forgot about the knife as she spat, “I would die before I would marry you.”

  “And you just may,” Meleagant said as he dragged her to the door, the knife still pressed against her throat. He swung around and glared at Nicholas. “We will meet again, sir knight, and next time I will take the time to defeat you.”

  Nicholas took a step forward. “Why not stay and finish it now?”

  “I fear I might be outnumbered in a few moments,” Meleagant stated and then, with a curt nod, he slammed the door.

  Chapter 13

  Noelle tried to keep up with Meleagant as he raced down the corridor that had once been so beautiful. Now tapestries either lay on the floor or hung by a single nail. She didn’t fight Meleagant or try to pull away because he’d threatened to slit her throat if she gave him any trouble.

  When she stumbled, Meleagant dragged her, jerking on her arm. She had no doubt that if she fell flat on her face, he would drag her by the hair. She meant nothing to him except a means of escape.

  Once outside, they ran along the catwalk on the stonewall to a spot where
Meleagant didn’t bother to stop. He jumped over the wall, taking Noelle with him.

  She screamed as they tumbled through the air, hoping death would soon claim her. But she was not that lucky, for they landed in a wagon full of hay that had been placed conveniently ahead of time for Meleagant’s getaway.

  Noelle didn’t have time to think of escaping, for Meleagant was pulling her off the wagon, scattering hay all around them. A horse that had been readied for the escape stamped impatiently nearby.

  Meleagant mounted and yanked Noelle up onto the horse in front of him. She had barely gained her seating when he spurred the horse. Not a moment too soon, as a shower of arrows rained down upon them.

  Red-hot pain struck Noelle. She screamed and clutched at the spot. Looking down, she saw that one of the arrows had caught her in the thigh.

  She moaned at the pain. It did no good.

  Meleagant didn’t stop. Apparently, he didn’t care that she’d been hurt, for he kept heading for the woods and safety.

  Once they had made it safely into the shelter of the forest, Meleagant reached down and jerked the arrow from her leg. “It is just a flesh wound” he grumbled. “Do not make a fuss.”

  Noelle wanted to strike out at the beast, but blessedly, she fainted and knew no more.

  Nicholas stared at the closed door. He had never been so frightened. He had actually stopped breathing, and for a moment everything seemed to stand still.

  There had only been one other time in his life when he had felt thus, and that had been when he was a boy in a burning castle. He thought he’d lost the ability to feel after that awful day.

  He had been dead inside for years . . . until today.

  To stand helplessly by and watch Meleagant drag Noelle from the room was not a feeling he liked. Unbearable guilt stabbed at Nicholas. Noelle’s whimper had distracted him, giving Meleagant the upper hand. Could he have thrown himself down on Meleagant?

  What Nicholas really wanted to do was pick up his sword and run the cur through. But the dagger against Noelle’s milky-white throat had left Nicholas with little choice. He vowed, if Meleagant hurt Noelle in any way, there would be no place in the kingdom that the cur could hide.

  For Nicholas would find him. He would hunt him down like a rabid dog, and then take pleasure in torturing him.

  But what if Meleagant killed Noelle? A cold shiver ran up Nicholas’s spine and a heavy feeling of dread formed in the pit of his stomach.

  He would not allow that to happen!

  Nicholas snatched his sword from the floor and raced out of the castle. He ran across the bailey, leaping over the bodies that lay sprawled on the ground, either dead or dying. He did not notice, nor did he care, that his men seemed to have the situation well in hand.

  Tristan was fighting near the stable doors and had just finished off his opponent as Nicholas approached.

  “What is wrong?” Tristan gasped, trying to regain his breath. “You look as if you could murder the next person you bumped into.”

  “And well I could,” Nicholas snapped. His familiar mask descended once again. “Meleagant has taken Noelle hostage!”

  “Then we shall go after them,” Tristan said. “I will gather some men and we will follow you.”

  “Nay. Meleagant already has a head start. I can travel faster alone. You will be of better use by beginning the task of putting Cranborne back together. Many will be looking to you and John for help.”

  “Meleagant killed John,” Tristan said as he followed Nicholas over to the stall.

  Nicholas grabbed the first horse he came to. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I would stay and help you bury John, but I fear for your sister’s safety. Now that John is dead, the people of Cranborne will definitely need you. You must stay.” Nicholas mounted the brown destrier. “My men will be able to help you. Does your sister know of John’s death?”

  “I don’t think so,” Tristan said, then added, “Go. I do not want the same fate for my sister,” he urged, wearily sagging against the wall as if the task was too daunting to face.

  Nicholas nudged his horse forward. “I will bring your sister back safe. And I will bring Meleagant’s head back on my sword.”

  “Godspeed,” Tristan called after him; then he trudged toward the castle.

  As Nicholas neared the gate, he heard Dirk shout, “Where are ye going?”

  “Ask Sir Tristan,” Nicholas said over his shoulder, not wanting to stop and explain. “I will be back soon.”

  “Do you need help?” Dirk asked.

  “Nay!” Nicholas shouted back. He was very capable of rescuing Noelle and murdering the bastard all by himself.

  When Noelle regained consciousness, she realized that Meleagant had slowed his horse from the fast gallop they had maintained upon leaving the castle. She also realized that if she didn’t get away from Meleagant he would kill her, or worse, compromise her and force her into marrying him because no one else would have her.

  She wouldn’t be defiled by this horrible man. And she would not allow Cranborne Castle to fall under his control. That decision made, she began to struggle, fighting for her life, her honor, and her virtue.

  “Get still,” he snapped.

  “Never,” Noelle shouted as she twisted her body violently to get out of his arms. Her jerking motions caused the horse to start sidestepping and become skittish.

  Meleagant reared back to strike her, but before he could land the blow, a loud, screeching noise came out of nowhere. Noelle saw a blur as something dove at them.

  The Black Knight swung his arms up over his head to fend off the attack. As soon as he did, Noelle fell backwards from the horse. It took her only a moment to regain her wits. She scrambled to get to her feet.

  Meleagant bent down, trying to grab her arm. He snagged her gown instead. Noelle squealed. Then the dark blur attacked again.

  She gasped at the sight before her. Boots had grabbed Meleagant’s face with her talons, ripping his flesh.

  Meleagant roared in pain and fury as he grabbed at his shredded cheek, but Boots showed no mercy as she dove again, this time catching the horse in the hindquarters. The horse reared, then bolted as if the Devil were after him.

  Noelle couldn’t believe what had just occurred. She could only stand and wonder if a miracle had really happened.

  One small but very determined bird had just defeated her enemy when an army of soldiers could not. Could the falcon have remembered their adventure in the trees and was paying her back for her good deed? One thing Noelle knew for sure: she did not want Boots for an enemy.

  Noelle looked around to get her bearings, then turned and started running back the way they had come. She wasn’t sure that Meleagant wouldn’t come after her, but if he did, his mood would be foul, and she didn’t want to be anywhere within his reach. She could feel the ache in her injured leg, but she ignored the pain as she ran the best she could. She hoped her guardian bird was somewhere up above her keeping watch.

  Having seen Boots in action . . . she would have the bird defend her any day.

  Noelle wasn’t sure how long she had run before she finally collapsed on the cold, hard ground, too tired to go any farther. Darkness was beginning to settle over the forest and the air, mild in the daylight, had taken on a decided chill. The cold seeped through her clothing and thin slippers. Sitting on the ground wasn’t helping keep her warm, either. She took several deep breaths to slow her breathing as she wondered what had happened to Boots. Was she still keeping watch overhead? Noelle hadn’t seen the bird since the attack.

  As Noelle searched the darkening sky, she heard a noise in the distance. Was it an animal? She listened again.

  Someone was coming.

  Sitting still in the cold night had stiffened her joints and muscles, and Noelle struggled to get to her feet before limping off deeper into the trees. The dark shadows within the woods would hide her. She couldn’t tell from which direction the rider came, but she wasn’t taking any chances that it could be Meleaga
nt.

  The rider galloped past her. For some reason, Noelle looked up to see a bird soaring overhead. Boots. The rider was Nicholas, even though he rode a different horse.

  “Wait. Nicholas!” Noelle shouted after him as she leapt from her hiding place in the trees. “It is Noelle. I am here.”

  Nicholas jerked his horse to a stop. He turned in the saddle to see what he had heard. Had it only been the wind or had he heard Noelle?

  “Nicholas, I am here.”

  No. Not the wind. It was the Lady Noelle. Relief washed over him that he’d found her and she’d somehow managed to escape the cur.

  Nicholas turned his horse and rode back toward her voice. He pulled his mount to a stop, then slid from the destrier. Nicholas had no more than touched the ground when Noelle threw herself into his arms and began to sob.

  Nicholas cradled her in his embrace while he whispered a prayer of thanks that she was safe. “Shh,” he crooned as he rubbed her back. “You are safe now. Did the filthy cur hurt you?”

  Noelle, still sobbing, couldn’t speak so she shook her head bumping his chin.

  “Where is Meleagant now?” Nicholas looked down, noting the tears that left streaks on Noelle’s cheeks. Tenderly, he wiped them dry.

  “He-he—” She paused taking time to compose her thoughts. “I-I do not know where he is. Boots attacked Meleagant, and I was able to escape.”

  Nicholas looked at her in a peculiar way. “You jest?”

  “Nay. It is too grave a matter to jest about.”

  A slow smile caused small creases at the comers of Nicholas’s eyes. “Boots must like you. She veritably led me all the way down this path to you.” Nicholas kissed the top of her head. “Let us ride back to safety.” He took her elbow. “I will meet Meleagant yet another day.”

  Nicholas noticed Noelle’s limp as she started toward the horse. “What has happened to you?”

  “An arrow caught my leg,” Noelle said offhandedly as if it were nothing. “I will tend the wound once we are back at Cranborne. It will be all right,” she assured Nicholas, not wanting him to tear off after Meleagant and leave her out here all alone. “Now, let us ride. I long to feel the comfort of my own bed.”