A Sister's Crusade

by Ann Turner

  Simon stepped over the lifeless body and shouted an order for the corpse to be removed, along with instructions for its disposal. Two of his men appeared and dragged Chad’s body away by the legs, leaving a trail of blood. Simon turned back to the startled, trembling women. His expression softened as he approached his wife, realising now how deep and painful the cut to his arm was. The pain was forgotten as soon as he kissed her on the mouth.

  Aubrette looked into his dear face. Blood had splattered over him during the conflict and on his left cheek under his eye patch, a raw cut would remain as a permanent reminder of the battle for Romhill, but it made him look heroic. He was safe, alive and back with her. A woman found some swaddling to temporarily bandage his wound, and Simon thanked her.

  ‘I shall explain to Esma about Chad and I expect she will shed few tears for him,’ he said, grimly.

  Aubrette was barely listening and hadn’t noticed her dead half-brother’s body being unceremoniously removed. She was thankful that Simon was here and had survived, almost unharmed. The women were quietening down now and began to talk about cleaning the room of the remnants of the birth and the fight. They were hugging each other, thanking their master, grateful for his protection and for him coming through this alive.

  ‘You are alive,’ was all Aubrette could say. It sounded so obvious, but these were the only words that entered her mind.

  Simon grinned that familiar smile that could melt the coldest of hearts and he looked at the child, who, with curious slate-blue eyes, looked back at him. He had been so intoxicated with the victory over Darell, and the sudden and fatal disturbance by Chad, that he had forgotten to enquire after his latest child.

  ‘Well,’ he began, ‘do I have another son?’

  Aubrette carefully unwrapped the blanket so he could see the nakedness of the child. She lifted the baby up and he smiled again. Simon looked up at one of the women hovering, still nervous behind Aubrette.

  ‘Go and bring my sons here, so they can greet their new sister,’ he said, gently. He took his newborn daughter carefully into his arms and inspected her more closely. ‘She must have a name as beautiful as she is.’ He suggested. It was a sudden moment of true tenderness, and Simon laughed out loud in pure pleasure as the baby’s tiny hand curled around and gripped one of his large fingers.

  Aubrette smiled at her husband and their daughter. The name must be as precious as the child herself. She knew the exact name. She said one word:

  ‘Rowena.’

  Bibliography

  The Angevin Empire by Richard Benjamin

  Berengaria, in search of Richard the Lionheart’s Queen by Anne Trindad

  History of the Crusades, Richard the Lionhearted and Philip Augustus (No credit, internet researched)

  Richard the Lionheart, The Mighty Crusader by David Miller

  Two Kings Arrive in Sicily (No credit, internet researched)

  North Cyprus, Cyprus under Richard I (No credit, internet researched)

  The Real Richard the Lionheart by Dominic Selwood

  The Crusaders Bride (No credit, internet researched)

  The Crusades, Battle of Arsuf by Kennedy Hickman

  King John and Richard I: Brothers and Rivals by Dr Mike Ibeji