Shadow of the Dark Knight (Noble Heart Book 3)

by Cynthia Griffith

  “Jamie!” he cried. “You’re alive! Praise God! When I saw you lying there I—”

  “I’m fine—well, not exactly fine, but—” Suddenly Jamie remembered. “The queen, the prince! Where—”

  “They’re safe, Jamie, in the cottage. The Dark Knight had—” Noble’s words were cut short when all of a sudden they realized they were hearing screams from within the small house.

  The two boys raced to the front of the cottage and saw to their horror that the entire roof and front of Granny’s home was on fire! Sparks had flown across the road from the forest fire and set the thatched roof aflame. In the heat of the battle, and behind the small house, Noble had not seen what was happening. Now he saw the fire was moving quickly, and had already blocked the door and one of the windows. The people inside were tied up and unable to move—trapped inside the blazing building!

  “Quickly, Jamie! We must get them out!” Noble shouted. He grabbed a large stone that was near the gate and broke out the only other window. Wasting no time he dove right through the opening, landing on his back on the table below it. He rolled off the table and tried to see through the billows of smoke that filled the air.

  Nothing! He could see nothing! He could not call out to the trapped people because every breath brought more smoke into his lungs. He covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve and hit the floor. With all the smoke he was soon confused as to which way to go. “Lord, help me” his heart cried out. “Help us all!”

  It had only been seconds since he’d entered the cottage, but it seemed like hours. Suddenly he heard muffled barking. Hero! He crawled along the floor in the direction of the sound as quickly as he could. The room was small and he finally found them, still huddled and tied up on the floor. Noble grabbed his knife from the pouch at his side and cut the ropes binding them in one quick motion each. “Hold on to one another and follow me!” he choked out through the smoke.

  He could barely see any of them but now the queen brought her face close to his and shook her head. “William! He’s unconscious!” she gasped.

  Noble grabbed the child from her and put him over his shoulder. He glanced up at the roof just in time to see part of it cave in on the far side of the room. The heat was intense and the air was getting more and more difficult to breathe. His lungs felt like they were bursting. “Hurry! Hurry! Not much time left!” he croaked out. He turned to go back the way he had come and realized he was lost in the smoke once more. Which way to the window? Which way?

  Suddenly he heard Jamie’s voice calling him. Even over the roar of the fire it sounded nearby. The window had to be close. Ah! There! A patch of daylight appeared through the smoke and then he saw Jamie’s face framed in the broken window, arms outstretched to take the little prince from him. Noble handed the boy through and then reached back for the queen.

  “No, no!” she choked out. “Take Dominique first!” Noble grabbed the girl and pushed her through the opening, and reached back once more for the queen. She shoved the duchess into his arms, and only after her friend was safely out, did she allow Noble to help her through the window. At last, when they were all safely out of the burning cottage, Noble began to climb out himself.

  A terrible thought came to him just as he stuck his leg through the opening. Hero! Where was the pup? He couldn’t leave him! He had pulled his leg back when Jamie saw what he was doing and grabbed his arm through the window. “Wait! Where are you going, Noble? Get out! The whole roof is about to fall in!”

  “Hero! We forgot Hero! I have to find him!” Noble shouted.

  “No, no! Stop, Noble! Hero is right here, in William’s jacket!” Dominique cried out hoarsely. She held up the puppy for Noble to see. Hero barked weakly and tried to give his tail a little wag. Noble looked in relief at his small friend and finally climbed out the window and collapsed on the ground below.

  He lay there for only a moment when he got to his hands and knees and crawled over to William. He was in his mother’s arms and barely breathing. Noble took him from the weeping queen and laid him on the ground. Then, covering the child’s mouth and nose with his own mouth, he breathed air into the boy until finally William began to cough and choke, and his eyelids fluttered.

  It was just at that point that the king and his men returned at full gallop—and with them was Granny on Valiant! Noble didn’t know if he was more happy and relieved to see the arrival of help, or more shocked to see his tiny little granny on the great black warhorse. His mouth dropped open and he stared in amazement!

  The king and duke leaped from their horses and ran to their wives and children. The heart of King Stephen was gripped with fear at the sight of his small son covered in smoke and lying still upon the ground. “William!” he cried out. “William, my son!”

  At last, at the sound of his father’s voice, William’s eyes opened. The king gently picked him up and hugged him close. “My son, oh, my son!” he cried.

  “Father,” the little prince whispered, “Noble has saved us again!”

  _____________

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  _____________

  The Measure of a Hero

  William coughed, and his eyes closed once more, but they knew then that he would be alright. The king turned to his wife. “I am fine, Stephen,” she assured him. “Or I will be soon, thanks to God—and Noble.” The duchess and Dominique were shaken but unhurt, as well.

  Noble pulled himself to his feet and went over to his granny and Valiant. “Granny! What are you doing up there?” he croaked. “How did you get up there? You were supposed to stay hidden!

  “I watched what was going on from the trees across the road but I couldn’t let that terrible man hurt you, Noble! I had to go for help!” Granny said. “So I led Valiant over to the gate, and climbed up on the rails and then onto Valiant’s back, and from there that wonderful animal made sure I didn’t fall and took me straight to the king! When I told King Stephen and the duke that the Dark Knight had captured their wives and children, they left the burning forest and came as fast as they could. I had no choice but to ride with them. I was frightened to death, Noble, that I would fall off for sure, but Valiant carried me safely and here we are! Now help me off this big beautiful beast, Grandson. I really am much too old to be riding with the king’s knights, you know!”

  Noble lifted his grandmother off Valiant’s back and set her on her feet. “Granny,” he said gently, “your house has burned, I am afraid. Sparks from the forest fire set the roof ablaze.”

  Though she had kept her eyes turned away from her burning home, Granny replied softly, “Yes, I see that, Noble. What is important is that you and everyone else got out safely.”

  “Granny, I am sorry,” Noble said putting his arms around his grandmother. “I know how much the cottage meant to you.”

  “Your grandfather built it for me when we were first married,” Granny said sadly. Then she smiled. “I have many happy memories left, Noble. God has been so good to me.”

  The king walked up to them just then and said, “I, too, am sorry for your loss, Dame Talbot. Noble, we must get back to the forest fire. Will you stay here and protect our families from the Dark Knight while we are gone? There is no one I trust more than you to care for them.”

  “The Dark Knight!” Noble exclaimed. “I almost forgot! He will not be hurting anyone again, Your Majesty! Come and see!” Noble quickly explained the knight’s role in the forest fire and his evil scheme in all that had happened as he led the king and several of the others around to the back of the cottage. There, right where they had left him in the dirt, was the Dark Knight.

  “Andras!” the duke groaned. “How could you do this?”

  “They’ll pay! They’ll all pay!” the Dark Knight muttered, not even seeming to know they were there.

  “No, you’ll pay! You will soon join your father, Sir Andras, and pay for the rest of your life,” the king said grimly. “Guard him!” he ordered one of his men. “Now come, we’ve wasted enough time on this knave
. We must get back to that fire.”

  Just at that moment rain began to fall. Not just a sprinkle, or even a small shower, but sheets of rain. Where only a few minutes before the sun had been shining brightly, now great torrents of rain poured down on the burning cottage and the forest fire just across the road. Quickly the flames were put out and smoke alone rose from the ashes.

  “Thank you, Lord,” Granny prayed aloud for all to hear. “Thank you for sending the rain.” The exhausted men stood or knelt in the growing puddles of water and joined her in thanking God for this miracle.

  Finally King Stephen said wearily, “Let us return to the castle. There are men here who have burns that need care, and we must get the women and children home and to bed. Jamie’s head may need to be stitched, as well. Dame Talbot,” he said as he turned to the older woman, “you shall come with us. There is nothing left for you here, I fear. Come with Noble now, please.”

  Tears filled Granny’s eyes but she nodded her head, and the king himself helped her into the coach with the queen and duchess. “What?” she tried to joke. “I can’t ride Valiant again?”

  The king smiled and shook his head. “No, madam, you shall ride back in honor, for you, as well as your grandson, are heroes today.”

  Noble had gone over to Dominique. She still sat on the ground, her face and clothes smoke-stained, and her hair plastered against her head by the rain. She had sat in that one spot, cuddling Hero, ever since their escape from the fire. “Come,” he gently said to her. “It is time to go.” He helped her to her feet.

  “It was terrible, Noble!” she said, her voice trembling. “I was so frightened!”

  “I know, Dominique. But you are safe now, and God will wash all fear from your heart if you will let Him. Praise Him, and thank Him, and cast all your cares upon Him, for He loves you.” Noble put her into the carriage and settled her between her mother and Granny. “Will you keep Hero with you for the time being, Dominique, please? He needs comforting, too.” Noble knew that cuddling the puppy would bring comfort to the frightened girl, as well.

  The Dark Knight was thrown over his horse like a sack of potatoes and they started back to the castle. Noble took Fly from her old pen behind the cottage where Jamie had left her and mounted Valiant once more. He looked back now as they rode away at the burned-out ruins of Granny’s cottage. He, too, had many happy memories of his life there with Grandfather and Granny. It hurt deeply to see the place like this, but praise God, though the fire could destroy the cottage, it could not destroy those memories. And he still had Granny herself.

  It was nearly dark when they reached the outskirts of Caernarfon. Those townspeople who were still out in the streets stared in shock as the king and his filthy, ragged following wound their way through the city to the castle gates. At last they were in the courtyard, and servants came running to help the injured and weary to their rooms for food and care, baths and rest. The horses were returned to the stables, and Noble himself took Fly back to the Mews.

  Granny was shown to a guest room near the queen’s own chambers, and Noble was put in a room right next to hers. “Do not return to the knight’s quarters tonight, Noble,” Queen Gwyneth said softly to him. “Your grandmother may need you and I think you should be nearby.”

  Noble sat by his granny’s bed for a while that night. She was sleeping peacefully, and Noble knew that though she had lost everything, she was trusting the Lord. Finally he went to his own bed, and soon he was sound asleep, as well.

  The next morning they joined the king and queen for breakfast. They looked tired, but they were smiling as Noble and Granny entered the room. Noble was relieved to see William there, as well. The little boy was still a bit pale, but as usual, he jumped to his feet when he saw Noble and ran to his friend’s side shouting, “Noble! Noble!”

  The Duke and Duchess of Conwy and Dominique entered the dining room a few minutes later. They, too, looked tired, but none the worse for wear. Dominique was carrying Hero, who had spent the night with her.

  “How are you, Dominique?” Noble asked the girl as the adults greeted one another.

  “Much better this morning, thank you!” she said, smiling. “And here is someone who has missed you!” She handed the little dog over to Noble.

  Hero’s tail was wagging so fast it was hard to hold onto the wiggling puppy, and he covered Noble’s face with excited kisses. Noble laughed and said, “And how are you, my little friend?” He gently hugged the pup.

  “He’s limping a bit, Noble, and his ribs are sore I think, for he’s yelped a couple times, but otherwise I think he is alright,” Dominique said. The others were sitting down at the table now so they joined them.

  The king stood to ask the blessing upon the food. “Our Father,” he began, “we have so much for which to thank you. First of all, Lord, we thank you for Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. And then Lord, we thank and praise You for the miracles you did in our lives yesterday, for Your protection and love. Thank You for sparing our son, for sparing all of our lives, actually. Thank You for putting out the fires. And thank You, Lord, that we were able to capture a dangerous man and put him where he will never hurt anyone again. Now, our Father, we ask that you will give us wisdom in meeting the needs of Dame Talbot, who lost all she owned yesterday. We pray you will bless her for her courage, and for her faith in You. And may you bless us all as we seek to serve and honor You all the days of our lives, Amen.”

  The servants began bringing in the food and for a few moments they were all busy eating their breakfast. They had been too tired to eat much the night before when they had returned to the castle, but now, with the morning sunshine streaming through the windows and a good night’s sleep behind them, they were suddenly hungry.

  At last the king spoke again. “Dame Talbot, my wife and I have been talking about what we can do to help you. We cannot begin to tell you how sorry we are that you have lost your beloved home. I know how much it meant to you, for you told me yourself the day I brought Noble to the castle to live that you could not leave it because your husband had built it for you when you were first married.”

  “I am so sorry, Dame Talbot,” the queen added. “Though we all escaped the fire, and the evil that the Dark Knight had planned for us, you are the one who has suffered and lost the most. You, the one who could afford it the least.”

  “Your Majesty,” Granny said, “the Lord has blessed me richly throughout my life. Though I have never had much in worldly goods, I was blessed with a wonderful husband and son, and a very special grandson, as well. I have had a happy and full life. God will continue to care for me, as He always has. I am sure of it.”

  “I am sure of it, also,” the king said. “And He has told my wife and I that He will use us to take care of your needs.”

  “We want you to come and live with us now that your cottage is gone, Dame Talbot,” the queen added. “We want you to be a part of our family, with your own little sitting room and bedchamber close to ours. You shall have your own little garden, as well, if you wish, for I know how you love working out of doors. But now, if you so choose, you will no longer have to work hard to support yourself. You may be a lady of leisure and let someone else take care of you, for once!”

  Tears were slipping down Granny’s face by this time. Noble put an arm around her and squeezed her hand. She could not say anything as she struggled to control her emotions.

  “If this plan does not please you, madam,” King Stephen said, “then we shall be happy to build you another cottage out in the country, but—”

  “But please think about it!” the queen interrupted. “You shall be close to Noble again, able to see him almost every day! We love Noble dearly. We think of him almost as another son. And I know it would make him most happy to have you nearby, as well. And William! Our William has never known his own grandparents. It would be so wonderful if our William could think of you as the grandmother he has never had! And—”

  Granny laughed, wiping away at the tears o
n her face. She held up her hands, “Enough, Your Majesty! I can see I am truly wanted! How then can I say no?” She curtsied to the king and queen. “Thank you! I shall be pleased to come and live here with you, but as a lady of leisure? I do not think I have ever had a lazy day in my life! I do not think I could live like that. Is there not some job I could do here in the castle for you to earn my keep?”

  The king looked at her thoughtfully. “You have already earned your keep, and far more, my dear lady. But if you insist upon some small task, I think I know what I would ask of you.”

  “And what is that, Sire?”

  “We never got those fresh-baked scones and homemade blackberry jam you promised us yesterday! Do you think if I could persuade Cook to turn over her kitchen to you every once and a while, you could make me some scones and jam?”

  Granny laughed. “Gladly, Your Majesty!”

  William jumped up out of his chair at that moment and came running around the table. He stopped at Granny’s chair and took her small hand in his own little one. “And do you think I could call you Granny, like Noble does?” the young prince asked, his big blue eyes shining.

  “Gladly, Your Highness,” she repeated softly. “Gladly!”

  “That is settled then,” King Stephen said gruffly. “And now there is another matter to take care of. Sir Noble, once again you have come to our rescue!”

  “And ours!” the Duke of Conwy added.

  “How then can we reward you?” the king asked.

  “Your Majesty, you know, after all this time, that I do not desire rewards, or even praise. All that I am, I owe to my Heavenly Father. All that I do is done out of my duty to my king, and from my love for you and your family. There is no greater reward that I could have than to hear that you think of me almost as a son, and that you love me, as well. Let us speak no more of earthly rewards or worldly praise. Let us praise only our God Who rescued us yesterday, and Who keeps us daily in the palm of His hand.”