Novel Hearts

by Rebecca Boucher

  The glazed over look in her eyes was gone and then she looked around, as if trying to understand where she was. “What happened, Fredrick?” she asked, then looked at the four men laying motionless on the ground as blood now seeped from their mouths, eyes and ears. “Good Lord! Did I do that?”

  “Wait here,” I said sternly, not answering her questions. “I’ll be right back.” She nodded and as quickly as I could, I ran into the house, grabbed all my money and a few clothes, then went out the back door toward a small barn where my horse, Blaze, waited. I led him out of his stable as he whinnied loudly. “Whoa, boy! Ye must be quiet tonight. We don’t want to be heard,” I gently cooed. As I patted the side of his neck, he quickly quieted down. Without bothering with a saddle, I slipped a bridle over his head, the bit into his mouth, and a riding blanket over his back and jumped onto his back.

  When I walked Blaze around to the front of the house, Lucia was standing there, still looking at the four dead men laying haphazardly upon the ground and porch, with tears streaming down her cheeks. I quickly slid off the horse, wrapped my arms around her, and pulled her to my chest. “Lucia, we must go,” I cooed gently into her ear.

  “I didn’t mean to do this! I didn’t want to …” she bellowed as tears streamed down her cheeks. “It’s dark magic … if I kill, I’ll lose my soul!”

  “Lucia, ye had no choice,” I said, gently stroking her hair. “If ye hadn’t, we’d both be dead now.”

  She nodded, coming to her senses as she dried her tears.

  “We must leave … now,” I whispered urgently. It really was a miracle that anyone else hadn’t come looking for us yet. She nodded again as I quickly climbed onto the horse then offered her my hand, and pulled her onto the horse behind me. Within minutes, we were racing to the next village. Through my trading business, I knew a lot of people … and one was a minister.

  “Where are we going?” Lucia asked, holding tightly around my waist as I pushed the horse as hard as he would go.

  “Did ye not say ye wanted to be wed tonight?” I asked, listening, holding my breath for the answer.

  “Aye, I did.”

  “Have ye changed thy mind?” I asked, again, holding my breath.

  She paused for a moment, then answered, “Nay, of course not. I love thee, Fredrick. I always have and I always will.”

  “And I love thee,” I replied as we raced onward against time, praying it would stand still just one night … for us.

  Within a short time, we rode up to a quaint little house, the home of Paul Davey. He was a protestant village preacher for the local church, who was married with eight children. How they all fit into his small house, I didn’t know, but they all seemed very happy. The house was dark and I almost hated to wake him … almost.

  “Wait here,” I said, but noticed the tears in her eyes as she nodded. I ran my fingers along her cheek, catching a tear. “Lucia, it really will be alright.” She nodded again and I slid off the horse, hopped up onto the wooden porch and quickly beat on the door.

  “What in blazes if going on?” a strong male voice bellowed from the other side of the door. “Hold ye shirt on! I’m coming!” His eyes flew open wide when he saw me standing on his porch. “Fredrick? What in the blazes are ye doin’ here? And at this time of night?”

  “I have a favor to ask,” I said, looking back over my shoulder at Lucia.

  “Well, out with it then!” John ordered, then eyed Lucia on the horse, obviously upset and suddenly wide awake. “Fredrick, what has happened?” he asked, truly concerned.

  “Who is it, dear?” a female voice asked from behind the door.

  “Fear not, Susan,” he answered, never taking his eyes off the two of us, concerned. “It’s just Fredrick Lee.”

  “Well, ye should have said so!” Susan called out, as I heard footsteps getting louder until the door was pulled open wide. Mrs. Davey stood with the door open, holding a candle. Then, upon seeing me and the state Lucia was in, quickly asked, “Why, Mr. Lee? What has happened?”

  “I hate to intrude, but might I have a word with thy husband … in private?”

  “Oh! Of course,” Mrs. Davey replied, then retreated back into the house. Mr. Davey waited, his eyebrows knit together, concerned.

  “John, I have a favor to ask of thee,” I began in a low voice. “Can ye marry us tonight?” I asked, nodding toward Lucia.

  “What the blazes is this? Couldn’t it wait until tomorrow? Thou art drunk, Lee. Go home and sleep if off. If ye still want to marry her in the morning, then I’ll gladly make the arrangements,” Paul said, pushing the door, but I put my foot in the door before it closed.

  “Paul, I wouldn’t be disturbin’ ye if it wasn’t important,” I said, practically begging. “Please, the townspeople just hung her parents for witchcraft tonight …”

  “Oh, dear God!” Paul said, quickly making the sign of the cross.

  “Aye,” I continued in a low voice. “I’m taking her away … tonight … but we must be married first.”

  John thought for a moment, concerned, then he looked directly at Lucia. “Do ye love him?” he asked and she nodded. “And ye wish to be married tonight?” Again she nodded. “Well, come in, then and I’ll marry ye …”

  “Would you mind marrying us in a sacred place?” Lucia asked, and I knew the exact place of which she was speaking.

  “Well, here is a good place …”

  “It would mean a lot to her … to us,” I intervened, hopeful.

  Paul took a deep breath. “And what place is that?”

  “The meadow of the ancient stones,” Lucia replied, raising her eyebrows.

  Paul nodded. “Aye, that is a sacred place,” he answered, then paused for a minute and, after a bit, nodded. “Aye, yes I’ll do it. Just give me us a minute.”

  “Would you like me to ready the horses for ye?” I asked, knowing his wife would be coming with us, and that we had to go through the forest to get there. We needed a witness to make it legal.

  “Aye, please ,” he replied. “I’ll only be a moment.” From the tone of his voice, he knew the urgency of our request. I quickly prepared the horses and within a few minutes, Paul and Susan walked out of their house.

  Susan walked over to me without hesitation and pulled me into a quick hug. “I’m so sorry to hear this, Mr. Lee,” she said, patting the side of my cheek in a motherly way. Then, she crossed the short distance to Lucia, still waiting atop Blaze, took her hand and patted it. “My child, I’m so sorry for thy loss. Everything will work out.”

  “Susan, where are the children?” Mr. Davey asked, concerned as he helped his wife onto one of the horses.

  “Annabel will watch them,” she replied as she took the reins. Annabel was their eldest daughter.

  Mr. Davey nodded and soon, we were off, pushing the horses as hard as they would go, and Lucia once again wrapped her arms around my waist, headed toward Stonehenge. Once we arrived, Blaze was a bit winded, but the Davey’s horses were fine. I pulled Blaze to a stop and quickly helped Lucia down, as Paul did the same for his wife, Susan. Then, Paul and I quickly tied the horses to a tree, as Susan took Lucia off to the side.

  “I hope ye don’t mind or think me too presumptuous,” Susan said to Lucia, “but I brought this along, thinking ye might like to wear it?” From under her cape, Susan pulled a lace veil, as tears sprang to Lucia’s eyes. “I’ve had it for a while, but ye can have it, if ye like.”

  “It’s lovely,” Lucia replied, running a hand carefully over the lace shawl, then she turned to me, “I’ll be right back.”

  I nodded, as tears sprang to my own eyes, as well. “Thank ye,” I said to Mrs. Davey as she led my Lucia behind a tree.

  “Well, my boy,” Paul said, slapping me on the back. “Let’s prepare.”

  I nodded, suddenly feeling a bit nervous. Paul and I picked a spot before one of the huge, ancient stones, facing the moonlight. It truly was a beautiful night. Moonlight illuminated everything, as if the earth was giving us its
blessing. Then, Paul cleared his throat and I turned to face my bride. She looked lovely in the moonlight. Her long sun-streaked hair shone silver, and the lace veil was in perfect contrast to her pale, blue dress. She took off her sandals and walked barefoot along the soft green grass toward me, as a sheepish smile illuminated her face. Off to the side, Susan dabbed at her eyes. As soon as she drew near, I took her hand into my own, knowing we were one … forever.

  “We are gathered here today …” Paul began, saying the traditional vows of our forefathers. It was a beautiful ceremony and even if we had planned it, it could not have been better. Soon, the ceremony came to an end with Paul’s final words, “I now pronounce thee man and wife.” Then he said to me, “Well? What are ye waiting for? Ye may kiss the bride.” And I knew the moment my lips touched hers, I was finally home. A moment later, John cleared his throat and Susan giggled slightly, dabbing at her eyes.

  “I love thee,” I whispered, pulling my new bride into my arms.

  “I love thee, too,” Lucia returned, turning her chin up to me. My lips descended upon hers, a gentle caress, as I placed my hands gently on the sides of her face. When I pulled back, I knew I’d never forget the love radiating within her eyes as she looked into mine.

  “I thank thee, Paul,” I said, turning to face him and his wife.

  “It be my pleasure,” John returned, wrapping an arm around his wife. “This be the best wedding I’ve performed all year!”

  “Well, let us be gone and leave these two lovebirds to themselves,” Susan said, pulling her husband away.

  “Go ye ahead, Susan, I’ll be along in a moment,” Paul replied, then turned to face me, and said in a low voice, “Do not be long. Ye do not want them to find thee. It’s best if ye go.”

  I nodded, wrapping my arm around Lucia, pulling her into my side. “I understand. I don’t know how to Thank thee …”

  “Just take care of thyself … and this pretty little wife of thine,” he added, as Lucia blushed.

  “We’d better go,” Susan said in a stage whisper, already atop one the mares.

  “I’d better go before the Misses has my hide,” Paul said with a smile, then patted my arm as he walked off. That was the last time I ever saw him, but I knew that I would be forever grateful to him.

  When we were alone, I looked into Lucia’s eyes and placed a gentle hand on her cheek as she closed her eyes and leaned into it. “We’d better go,” I said, taking her hand, but she stopped me.

  “Nay, Fredrick,” she cooed in a husky voice, “Let’s stay here tonight.”

  “But they might find us …”

  “Please … I want to stay here … with thee … tonight,” she said, with a lovely pale blush on her cheeks, as she looked down to the ground, embarrassed.

  I place a gentle finger under her chin and slowly lifted it chin until our eyes met. “We can stay here,” I agreed, knowing this might be our last night together if they caught us, but at least we would die in each other’s arms … as husband and wife. “I love thee, Lucia, my forever love.”

  “I love thee, too … and I always will,” Lucia said, then added, “Thou shalt always be in my heart.”

  Slowly, my lips descended upon hers as she closed her eyes. Our lips moved in familiar ways, gently, at first then passion enveloped us both as my lips moved with hers, as one. After a moment, I pulled back to allow her to catch her breath and slipped the lace veil from her sun-streaked hair, letting it fall to the ground. Slowly, I slipped her sleeve from her shoulder and let her beautiful blue dress fall to the ground beside the shawl, as both of our breaths quickened. She reached up and slowly unbuttoned my white shirt, exposing my muscular tanned chest, then she pushed my light brown wavy hair away from face and looked deeply into my eyes.

  “I’ll never forget this moment,” she whispered, “It’s what I’ve wished for all my life.” Then carefully, I spread her lace shawl upon the ground, scooped my bride into my arms, and lay her gently down onto the ground. Then, I lay down beside her on the soft ground and in this holy place our bodies became one … as husband and wife … forever.

  The next morning, I woke as sunlight danced across our bodies, caressing our cheeks, bidding us to wake. The birds were singing in the trees and then the reality of the night’s events came rushing into my mind. I hated to have to do it, but I knew I had to wake my lovely bride. “Lucia, love, we must go,” I said as I gently kissed her shoulder, brushing her long hair away from her face. “Lucia, love, wake up.”

  “If ye continue that,” Lucia said, beginning to wake, “then we shant be going anywhere.”

  I laughed, continuing to kiss across her shoulders. “As tempting as that sounds, we really must go,” I said, hating myself for suggesting it. Then, I suddenly remembered something. “The Mayflower! We must go. We must be on that ship.” I quickly sat up, pulling on my pants and slipping into my shirt.

  “Ye said the ship was to sail today,” Lucia said, sitting up, reaching for her dress.

  “Aye, but we might get lucky,” I said, giving her shoulder one last kiss. “But we need to try.”

  Lucia nodded, slipping into her dress. “Aye, we should.”

  “Not so fast, Lee,” a voice called from behind me, and my heart sank. In front of me, Lucia quickly finished buttoning up her dress. “Ahhh … so, it’s ye and the witch woman!”

  “Watch how ye talk about my wife,” I ordered, then turned around slowly to find Mr. Baker, the bartender, pointing a musket at my chest. He was alone. It would be a fair fight, one on one, but I didn’t want my Lucia to get hurt.

  “Wife! That’s a laugh …”

  “We were married last night,” I replied through gritted teeth. “Baker, ye don’t want to do this. Put the musket down and go back to ye tavern,” I said, edging toward him.

  “I think not,” he said with a sneer. “Everyone’s seeking her! I’ll be a hero … when they string her up.”

  I inched closer to him with my arms up, then remembered the knife in my boot. “Baker, put the musket down …”

  “Not on thy life!” he said, then pointed the musket at Lucia, watching wide eyed, frozen where she stood. “Hey, everyone! The witch is here!” he yelled loudly over his shoulder.

  “Run, Lucia!” I yelled, then rushed at Mr. Baker, knocking him to the ground as I reached for the knife in my boot. He rolled over onto me, pinning me to the ground and I quickly flipped him off and bent down and hastily threw the knife with all my might, hitting him in the throat as the musket went off, shooting me square in the chest. I looked around as I fell to the ground and no one was coming … or, at least, I got him before anyone heard him.

  “Fredrick!” Lucia shouted, rushing to kneel by my side as tears streamed down her face. “Oh, no, no, no!”

  “Lucia … I don’t have much time,” I said, feeling my soul beginning to lift from my body, as my eyes began to close. “Lucia, listen to me … get to the Mayflower any way ye can. Go to Blackwall … it’s leaving from there.”

  “I’m not leaving thee,” she said, crying uncontrollably now, then she stopped short. “Wait. I can heal thee.”

  “Heal me?” I asked, smiling, knowing that my injuries were too great, even for magic to heal. “Lucia, no …”

  “Hush … I can’t lose thee, too … not now,” she said, thinking quickly. Then, she ran off into the forest. I was relieved. I didn’t want her to see me die. But a moment later, she came back with the branch from an oak tree and some leaves, I assumed were healing herbs.

  Using a rock, she crushed the herbs, along with the oak leaves. Then, she stood and outstretched her hand over the field in the center of the ancient stones and chanted, “Aquitus asparitus et parcium e tu. Aquitus asparitus et parcium e tu …” over and again, until a small pool of water bubbled up from inside the ground in the center of the stones. Finding nothing to hold water with, she tore a length of fabric from the hem of her dress, ran to the stream and drenched the fabric. She hurried back and dribbled the water over the
herb and oak leaf mixture, saying,

  “Water of life, bring life to my love,

  Oak or my fathers, heal from above.

  Healing herbs, keep death away,

  And forever, let my love with me stay.”

  It was the most beautiful prayer I’d ever heard, but I was losing blood and I could feel my life slipping away. “Lucia, I love thee …”

  “Say not thy goodbyes to me, Fredrick Lee! Ye will not die,” Lucia said as tears streamed down her cheeks. “The spirits are punishing me for taking the lives of those men …”

  “Lucia, the spirits are not punishing thee,” I said, reaching out to place a hand lightly on her cheek. “If I die today, then I die a happy man. Thou hast made me very happy. I will always love thee … my forever love.” When I pulled my hand back, streaks of blood from my hand marred her beautiful face.

  “Bring him back to me! Let him stay with me!” Lucia shouted to the heavens, as my eyes began to close. “No, NO!” she yelled, stroking my hair, then added, “I know what I must do …”

  “No, Lucia. Don’t use dark magic, love …”

  “Hush! I’ll do what I have to do … no matter who I have to bargain with.”

  “No! I won’t allow thee to risk thy soul for me! Let me go, love,” I begged, cringing from the pain, weak from the loss of blood. Then, I was beyond pain, beyond feeling. “Let me go.”

  “Nay, Fredrick,” she said, then bent down to softly kiss my lips. “I waited for thee for so long … I’m not letting ye go.” Then, my soul started to lift from my body when I heard her say, “I know what I must do.” She began chanting and suddenly a snake crawled out from the forest’s edge, coming toward us … a King Cobra … one of the most dangerous, venomous snakes in the world, but what was it doing here? They weren’t indigenous to England. She chanted as she pulled my knife from Baker’s head and slit her wrist with it, and held it to my lips. “Ye need blood … drink.”