Once Upon a Christmas Past

by Regan Walker

  “You have,” she said in a small voice.

  “I have not lost the match, have I?” Nicholas looked at everyone around him. “Why is everyone in my . . . and where is my pavilion?”

  “Nay, you still have a match to go,” Tristan said. “Do you not remember your match with Meleagant?”

  Nicholas frowned as he held Noelle in his arms and slowly everything came back to him. “Aye, I must kill the bloody bastard. His spear carried no coronal upon it. Let us continue the match.”

  King Arthur, who had just walked up said, “You need to be clothed Nicholas, before you catch your death. We nearly lost you once. I do not think that any of us could bear it twice in one day.”

  “I am still muddled on the details,” Nicholas admitted.

  Noelle pulled herself away from Nicholas and turned to see that Matilda held Nicholas’s surcoat and tunic in her plump hands. Noelle took the garments with a smile, and then handed them to Nicholas, who slipped the tunic over his head.

  “I think I have just met death, sire. And I see my premonition of snow was not so farfetched,” Nicholas said as he dressed himself. He looked at Noelle, who was the only one who knew what he meant.

  “What does that mean?” the king asked.

  Nicholas gave Noelle a small smile. “Nothing, sire.” He looked at Merlin. “Thank you. I will try and make good this life you have extended to me.”

  “Aye, yet know that the dragon lives within you,” Merlin said as he went to stand beside the king.

  Nicholas stood. “I believe we have a match to finish,” Nicholas said to Sir Gavin.

  “Nay,” Noelle said. “I will marry Sir Gavin, for I do not want you on the field again this day.”

  Nicholas looked at her and frowned. “Are you saying I am not fit to fight for your honor?”

  “Nicholas, you almost died.” Noelle stepped back and looked at the stupid man. Did he not realize she had almost lost him? She would lose him this way, as well, but at least he’d live. “I will not put your life in danger twice this day.”

  “Woman, it is not for you to say.”

  Nicholas was so stubborn, Noelle thought. But she could not take the chance that anything would happen to him again. Because she loved him thus, she would give Nicholas up though her very heart was being wrenched from her body.

  Sir Gavin stepped up. “I can settle this argument,” he said. “I will not joust you, Nicholas. It’s not necessary.”

  Anger was starting to cloud Nicholas’s face. “Have I lost my voice that I cannot speak for myself?”

  Sir Gavin held up his hand. “Let me speak. I have just witnessed the most marvelous thing.”

  “And that being?” Nicholas’s voice was edged with steel. He didn’t like being made the fool. He would finish the match as was agreed. He would not let Noelle go so easily.

  “I have witnessed true love. When one will sacrifice his happiness for another, then I know of no truer love. And I hope one day that I, too, will find such a love.” Sir Gavin paused and took Noelle’s hand. “So I rescind my offer of marriage and give Noelle to you with my blessings.” He took Noelle’s hand and placed it in Nicholas’s.

  Noelle smiled until she heard Nicholas’s next words.

  “What if I have changed my mind?”

  Noelle looked at him with such a startled expression that Nicholas thought she was getting ready to swoon or hit him. He wasn’t sure which, but decided to ease the pained look upon her face. “I have not changed my mind, for I love you, Noelle.” He gave her a teasing smile.

  “Then tomorrow we will have a wedding,” King Arthur boomed in the background.

  Noelle faintly heard the king, but she couldn’t be sure. For nothing mattered but the fact that Nicholas held her, his lips brushing softly over hers. Then he kissed her with the warmth of the dragon. A kiss that was meant for a private chamber, but Noelle cared not for she had found her own true heaven in Sir Nicholas’s arms.

  Chapter 19

  Nicholas and Dirk had already attended the Shepherds’ Mass early this morning. It was the second Christmas Mass; the third would come tonight. Nicholas had not been allowed to sit with Noelle. As a matter of fact, he’d not even seen her in the church, which still irritated him. They had probably brought her in after he was seated. Probably Arthur’s doings.

  But they could not keep her from him much longer, Nicholas thought with a scowl.

  Dirk stood in the opening of the tent, grinning at Nicholas.

  Nicholas had just finished dressing and was leaning against a table in his tent. “I can always tell when you are dying to say something. Are you going to stand there and look like a simpleton, or will you enter and say your piece?”

  “Ye looked a little out of sorts at Mass,” Dirk said with a chuckle.

  Nicholas glared at him.

  “I didn’t believe ye were truly going to marry the lass,” Dirk said as he entered and stood across from Nicholas.

  “I am not at all certain that I believe it either,” Nicholas admitted.

  “It is a good thing.” Dirk nodded. “The men are happy to be preparing for the wedding instead of war. We are going to have one hell of a Christmas celebration this year.”

  Nicholas finally smiled. “I believe I am going to enjoy this day, as well. But to more serious matters . . . exactly what happened yesterday? I remember nothing but falling from my horse.”

  “Meleagant did not have his lance protected with a coronal. His intention was obviously to kill you. Which he would have done, if not for Merlin’s magic.”

  “You know, I believe I did die yesterday. It was a strange feeling, but I could feel myself coming out of my body. I cannot say it was an uncomfortable feeling, but I kept hearing Noelle’s voice begging me not to leave her.”

  “Lady Noelle is very extraordinary,” Dirk said as he folded his arms across his chest. “And she loves ye a great deal, though I cannot fathom why.”

  “Aye,” Nicholas agreed. “But getting back to the match. I don’t understand why I did not see the lance and avoid it. I have never slipped and been so careless before. It’s a flaw that I cannot abide.”

  “I believe milady called yer name and distracted ye,” Dirk said with a smile.

  “God’s tooth. I remember now. Noelle could be a problem. I cannot allow such distractions. I must figure out how to deal with her in the future.”

  Dirk’s laughter made his shoulders shake. “Ye are going to have a lifetime of trying to deal with yer lady. And I have a feeling it will take ye that long to figure her out. Good luck.”

  Nicholas frowned. “I will work out how to handle that problem later. After all, she is merely a damsel.” He paused, then remembered something else. “Did they catch Meleagant?”

  “Nay. He escaped unscathed.”

  Nicholas expelled a long, low breath. “Well, one day Meleagant’s luck will run out, and when it does, I pray I am there. For I will not rest until the deed is done,” Nicholas promised.

  “And I will be right beside ye,” Dirk said, moving over to clasp Nicholas’s arm. “I am truly happy this day. This marriage to the Lady Noelle is a good thing.”

  “You have been my friend and right arm, Dirk, for a long time. Thank you. Your blessing means much to me.”

  “My Lord,” Ector, Nicholas’s squire, called.

  “Enter,” Nicholas commanded.

  Ector entered and said in a rush, as if he’d run all the way from the castle, “King Arthur has requested that you return to the castle.”

  “Well, my friends, maybe the time has finally come,” Nicholas said as he grabbed his red surcoat and left to do the king’s bidding.

  When Nicholas reached the castle, he was told that Arthur awaited him at the Round Table. Nicholas made his way to the small hall, wondering why Arthur would want to meet him there.

  When Nicholas entered the room, he found not only King Arthur, but all his fellow knights sitting at the table.

  “Here he is now.” King Arth
ur didn’t bother to stand. He held out his hand and gestured. “Take your seat.”

  “Sire,” Nicholas said with a nod and then went to his chair. “Has something happened? Were we supposed to meet today?”

  “Nay, Nicholas. We have gathered to offer you our congratulations, brother to brother,” Arthur said.

  “Hear, hear,” the other knights said as they struck the table with their forearms.

  Confused Nicholas stared at the king. Arthur was smiling far too broadly. It meant he was up to something, and Nicholas wondered what. “Thank you,” Nicholas finally said.

  King Arthur rose. “I would like everyone here to know that Sir Nicholas has given up much for the lady he loves, for he and I had a wager.” Arthur’s lips quirked in a sly grin.

  “What was the wager, sire?” Sir Lancelot asked.

  “That our most illustrious knight . . .” Arthur motioned to Nicholas, “could forgo pleasuring himself with the damsels until Christmas Day. I believe you have long known of his reputation.”

  Laughter burst forth from around the table as all the knights nodded to each other.

  Nicholas frowned. Arthur seemed to be enjoying himself at Nicholas’s expense.

  “Sir Nicholas once stood here and told me that ladies meant little to him. That is, until he met the Lady Noelle. At long last, I think Nicholas has fallen under a woman’s spell. I believe he has chosen well. Do you not agree with me?”

  “Hear, hear,” everyone shouted, agreeing with the king.

  Nicholas still said nothing as he watched the king, who at this moment reminded him of a sly fox.

  “Nicholas once told me that a perfect woman does not exist. I want to know—do you still feel the same, Nicholas?”

  “Nay, sire. And, I believe you will not let this rest until I admit I was wrong. So in front of God and King, I do admit I was wrong, perhaps, only once in my life. I have found my woman.”

  The other knights chuckled.

  “And I believe you also said you never lose,” King Arthur prodded.

  “I did say that, sire. I now say I have lost once, and you know damned well when that was,” Nicholas said, letting his irritation show, and then getting angrier because he had done so.

  Arthur laughed long and hard. “I wish I could say I am sorry for the fun I have had at your expense, Nicholas, but it would be a lie.”

  Nicholas furrowed his brow. “I do not understand, sire.”

  “My brave knight, I have put upon you that which you refused to see,” Arthur said. Nicholas’s frown was so intense, it was all Arthur could do not to laugh at his knight again. It was plain to see that Nicholas was already angry. “You see, Nicholas. I decided it was time for you to marry. You were wreaking havoc with too many maidens, so I spoke with Sir Gavin and told him I planned to bring a young woman to Camelot to wed you. Sir Gavin pointed out that you would have none of it and would shun the woman the moment you saw her. So he suggested a diversion.”

  Nicholas turned to Tristan. “Did you know of this?”

  “Nay, I was told she would be betrothed to Sir Gavin,” Tristan replied honestly.

  “Were the banns not posted?” Nicholas wondered if the king thought him stupid. The banns would have been posted and Nicholas hadn’t signed anything.

  The king interrupted. “If you check, Nicholas, you will see that the banns were posted and filed with your name and Noelle’s. So what say you, my brave knight? Have I not given you the best Christmas gift of all?”

  The room fell silent as all eyes were cast upon Nicholas, who was sitting back in his chair with his arm propped upon the armrest, glaring at the king.

  Nicholas took a deep breath before leaning forward on the table. Then he directed his question to Sir Gavin. “So that is why you seemed so nonchalant about Lady Noelle?”

  “Aye,” Sir Gavin said with a nod.

  “And the joust?”

  Sir Gavin cleared his throat. “Our king suggested that you would appreciate your prize more if it were won and not handed to you.”

  Nicholas’s gaze was back on the king. Slowly, Nicholas got to his feet. “It would seem, sire, that you have thought of everything.”

  King Arthur smiled. “I think so.”

  “Then there is nothing left for me to do but . . .” Nicholas turned and started to leave. The room was so quiet that Nicholas could hear himself breathe.

  “You did not ask permission to leave,” Arthur’s voice boomed. “Where are you going?”

  “To collect my Christmas gift,” Nicholas said and turned back toward the king. “And if the rest of you want to see our king’s hard work come to an end I suggest that you all get up so you are not late for my wedding.” Nicholas smiled at the stunned faces.

  The other knights began to cheer as they all came over to congratulate Nicholas. And then King Arthur stood before him. “You should go ahead and admit the truth, and then I will cease tormenting you.”

  “One of these days I will return the deed tenfold” Nicholas warned him. He laughed and then he said what he knew the king wanted to hear. “You were right, sire.”

  “Good Nicholas.” Arthur wrapped an arm around his cousin and gave him a hearty squeeze. “You should always remember those words. Now let us go and find your bride.”

  “Look out the window,” Carolyn said.

  Noelle and Isabelle went over and gazed out. The ground was blanketed in pristine, white snow.

  “It is beautiful,” Noelle said in a dreamy kind of voice. “The day is perfect.”

  “I cannot believe that you are actually marrying that fierce knight. Did you see how relentless he was against his competitors yesterday?”

  “He was magnificent,” Noelle said.

  “Let me finish your hair,” Isabelle said, gesturing for Noelle to sit down. When she had taken a seat, Isabelle continued. “You are so lovely in this scarlet velvet cotehardie that you will stand out in the snow.”

  “I like the white fur on her sleeves,” Carolyn remarked.

  “I wonder what Nicholas will give me for the first day of Christmas,” Noelle said as Isabelle wrapped the braids around Noelle’s head.

  “That is easy,” Isabelle chuckled. “He is giving you himself.”

  “Not a bad present,” Carolyn commented, and they all laughed.

  Noelle got up. “I am ready.”

  As they made their way down to the Great Hall, Merlin met Noelle in the first corridor. “My child, you look exactly like I have always seen you in my visions.”

  “Thank you for all you have done for me and especially for saving Nicholas’s life.”

  Merlin chuckled. “Now Nicholas will not only have the title of dragon, he has the dragon within him. Most appropriate, I think.”

  “And I will have a hard time taming him,” Noelle said wistfully.

  “But tame him you will,” Merlin whispered, “and those are my last words of wisdom this day. Now, go forth and claim what is yours.”

  When they entered the Great Hall there were minstrels playing flutes, viols, trumpets, drums, and bagpipes. Everyone was in a festive mood. There was dancing, and a bright fire roared in the hearth. A few people sat around playing chess.

  And then she saw him, standing tall and proud, talking to Dirk. It was as if the rest of the world disappeared around them.

  Nicholas’s back was to Noelle, so he couldn’t see her approach. She noticed that he was dressed all in white as pure as the snow. And then she thought to herself, with a wicked grin, what a contradiction that was.

  As Noelle moved closer, she saw Matilda approaching Nicholas. The old servant stopped and handed him a scarlet surcoat. “I made this for your wedding, sire.”

  “Thank you, Matilda,” Nicholas said, taking the garment. He removed his coat and slipped the new one over his arms. Matlida had embroidered a small dragon on the bottom of the coat. “This is truly fine work,” Nicholas said, then smiled his appreciation to Matilda. “You are coming to my wedding?”

  �
��Of course, sire. You have chosen well,” Matilda said with a wink and a curtsey. “And here is your lady now.”

  Nicholas swung around, then took a step back. Noelle stood before him, her ladies-in-waiting flanking her. But his eyes were only on Noelle. She was so beautiful dressed in red that it took his breath away. She had dressed in his scarlet colors this day and it pleased him well.

  He strode to her side. “My lady,” Nicholas said with a bow. “You are beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” Noelle said with a blush. Then she looked at Matilda. “I never had the chance to thank you for finding Merlin.”

  “I was there when Sir Nicholas was struck down, and I knew it was serious. So, I went for Merlin, posthaste.”

  Noelle ran her hand over the needlework on Nicholas’s surcoat. “You do fine work, Matilda. I’m sure that Nicholas will treasure this garment always.”

  “I only want him to be happy,” Matilda said and Noelle saw tears in Matilda’s eyes. “I hope you’ll have many children.”

  Nicholas placed a hand on Matilda’s shoulders. “You, of all people, should know why I care not to have children.”

  Matilda’s complexion paled. “Might I have a word with you both before you wed?” she asked and nodded her head toward an empty comer of the room.

  They followed the old woman to the quiet corner, and Matilda turned and looked at both of them. “As you know, sire, I have been with you most of your life,” Matilda said.

  “That is true,” Nicholas said. “I can remember many a time that you dried my tears.”

  “Aye, and I was glad to do so. I hoped never to tell you about your mother, but I’ll not have you worrying about your children when there is no need.”

  “You know how mad my mother was?” Nicholas said.

  Matilda took a deep breath. “Nicholas, she was indeed mad, but she was not your mother,” Matilda said in a quiet voice. “Therefore, her blood doth not flow in your veins.”

  Strange and disquieting thoughts began to race through Nicholas’s mind, as well as hope. “If she was not my mother, then who was?”