Resurrection: A Historical Adventure Romance Novel (Legend Book 3)

by Kylie Stewart

  “How many men joust?” she asked curiously.

  “There will be about twenty.” I ducked below a low-hanging branch. “The winner takes all the winnings donated to the charity of his choice.”

  “Do you miss it?” I heard her feet stop next to mine.

  “Miss what?” I paused and turned back to her.

  “Jousting, holding court, being king?”

  Her question caught me a bit on the back foot, but I just shook my head. “Of course, I miss it, but times have changed.” I held out my hand. “I’d rather time move forward and have you by my side.”

  Alexandria laced her fingers with mine. “I love you, Arthur.”

  My eyes darted from left to right before pulling her around the opposite side of the tree we stopped under. I kissed her hard, pressing her back against the trunk.

  With my eyes closed, we were in that time.

  She was my queen, and I her king.

  “As I you, my love.”

  TWENTY

  Alexandria

  Avalon left me earlier that morning with Vivian to get ready for the charity joust. Before leaving Caliburn, the blond woman handed me a delicate piece of lace. As she tied it around my wrist, I asked, “What is this?”

  “This is called a favor.” Vivian stepped back with a sly grin. “If a knight has his eye on you, he will ask for your favor. It’s a lucky token.”

  I felt the heat flush up my neck. “Do you think Avalon will ask me for one?”

  “Oh, I don’t doubt it.” Her pale eyes sparked with delight.

  The two of us settled in seats front and center in the tilt yard. A mock court sat in the center of the stadium and a very tall Queen Elizabeth I announced the charity event. The knights were introduced one by one along with their banners and their charity of choice.

  When Lancer entered the ring on a black charger wearing equally dark armor, my stomach twisted. His eyes scanned the crowd, searching, looking for me. I reached over and took hold of Vivian’s arm as his emerald eyes bore into me.

  The woman understood right away and rubbed my hand in reassurance. “Pay him and Mordred no mind. They can’t hurt you here.”

  John took a step closer to me, making sure that a dominant presence presented itself.

  Lancer eventually pulled his eyes away from mine, and I exhaled in relief. It was a short relief.

  Sir Thomas Mordred pranced before me on a gray horse. He didn’t try to hide his smirk from our small group. His eyes found me as well, but I ignored him.

  When the Duke of Avalon’s introduction echoed from the PA system, my heart didn’t freeze or sink, but it batted its wings in my chest. He rode on the gelding named Tiger, a striking black steed.

  Avalon took his place next to Mordred. The two men never even exchanged a glance. A few more knights later, including Gwaine, and the mock queen gave her announcement to start.

  We settled in our seats, and the joust began.

  Avalon rode third against a gentleman I only knew from the news. Tiger’s charge impressed and Avalon’s joust met his opponent square in the chest. The crowd roared.

  “That’s one joust or point,” Vivian explained to me.

  I had never seen a live joust before, and it fascinated me.

  After the first couple of rounds, only ten men remained. Avalon, Lancer, Mordred, and our new friend Gwaine were among them.

  Avalon and an earl entered the yard.

  Instead of Avalon taking his place on his end of the yard, he rode straight to me. With his joust, he lowered it onto the railing in front of me. The crowd burst into applause, and catcalls echoed in the valley.

  “My lady.” His voice rose above the din. “Would you do me the honor of letting me wear your favor?”

  I stood, lifting my chin in pride. Without a word, I untied the delicate fabric from my wrist and tied it around the end of Avalon’s joust. Applause broke out around us, and he winked at me, turning his mount back to position.

  Vivian nudged me with her elbow. “I told you.”

  I knew people across the yard and in the opposite stands would gossip about this.

  The two men took off at each other. Avalon managed to land his joust on his opponent’s shoulder. The second pass, Avalon hit the man in the chest plate and won the round.

  “This is making me so nervous,” I murmured to John. My hands wrung around each other in nerves. “He’s going to have to go against Mordred or Lancer or both.”

  “No worries, my lady.” John patted over my fidgeting hands. “Avalon is a man unmatched at the joust.”

  I swallowed hard as the remaining six riders were announced.

  The next matches were called, and my stomach threatened to toss my lunch back up onto the yard.

  Lancelot and Avalon were a match and set to go first.

  I covered my mouth with a hand, and the other gripped the railing in front of me.

  Would Lancer use his power in public?

  Would he be able to kick Avalon out of the joust?

  Vivian settled her hand on my back. “Have faith in him, Alexandria.”

  “I do … it’s in Lancer that I have none.”

  The two men entered the yard and took their respective places before the flag dropped and the charge began.

  I think I rode every step of the way with Avalon, dreading the worst.

  Avalon and Lancer exchanged blows on the first pass. The entire crowd roared. I sat back down albeit reluctantly.

  On the second pass, the unthinkable happened.

  Lancer lost his seat and fell from his horse.

  Everyone on the sidelines went silent, gasping in shock.

  I held my hand over my heart, knowing how heavy the armor was on top of a fall. Avalon jumped immediately down and rushed over to the man he once raised. After a few terrifying minutes, Lancer took Avalon’s hand, and he stood.

  The audience clapped, and Lancer waved to the crowd, showing he was fine. I exhaled a sigh and slumped back in my seat.

  “That hit and dismounting Lancer gave Avalon the lead,” Vivian said as though the fall never happened. “I wonder why.”

  Mordred and Gwaine faced each other next. Gwaine showed he was a fabulous jouster, but Mordred bested him with a head shot. John cursed under his breath, and I glanced over at him with raised eyebrows.

  “Sorry.” He made the sign of the cross over his chest and chuckled. “Just because I’m a priest doesn’t mean I’m perfect.”

  “Good to know,” I quipped back. I only had a moment’s relief before Avalon would face the man who now tied him—Mordred.

  “Do you think Lancer allowed himself to be unseated for this pairing?” I whispered to Vivian.

  She shrugged. “Possibly, but one can never know.”

  I waited while the announcer came over the PA system and gave each finalist a rousing introduction. A cloud passed over the sun, doing nothing to help my already anxious state of mind.

  “Foreshadowing much …?” John mumbled. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye and saw the first hint of uncertainty from him.

  Vivian merely sat calmly, plucking imaginary fuzz from her skirt. “All will be well.”

  I desperately tried to share in her optimism.

  The flag boy stepped on to the yard and lifted it into the air.

  My stomach churned.

  As the flag went down, both horses bolted forward.

  Time slowed to a creeping pace.

  The jousts came down, poised to strike.

  Avalon’s form seemed perfect; his heels jammed down firmly in his stirrups to fight against being unseated.

  On the first pass, both men crashed the blunt ends into each other’s chests.

  Still tied.

  The cheers and rabble began to sound more like a football match than a festival joust. I leaned forward and grabbed the railing in front of me. Avalon needed to win this not just for the charity, but also for himself.

  We were allowed this glimpse back into the past
for one day only. Clashing knights, magnificent steeds, the dress and speech of a time gone by. Today, he basked as king and I his queen.

  I wanted him to win.

  The second pass went off, and both once again hit each other midbody. Vivian leaned forward to join me at the rail. John had also risen to his feet.

  Avalon leaned down and spoke to M who acted as his coach.

  What words Avalon and M exchanged, I would never know, but the way Avalon slammed his visor back down over his face in determination gave a good indication as to what the conversation alluded to.

  This would be it.

  One last pass to determine the winner.

  The first of many clashes for father and son.

  The flag came down one last time, and I noticed Avalon had positioned his joust higher than before.

  I reached over for Vivian’s hand, and she squeezed back just as tightly.

  Avalon managed to land a headshot on Mordred, and his joust snapped in two. Mordred still got in a blow to the chest, but a broken lance added a point.

  “He did it!” I jumped up and down, unable to contain my excitement.

  I hugged both John and Vivian in turn before rushing down the sidelines to meet Avalon.

  He had dismounted from Tiger, and the horse was being led away for a good bath and cooldown. Avalon lifted his helmet from his head and shook out his soaking wet hair. He high fived Gwaine, who joined the celebration, and M patted his shoulder like a proud father.

  “Avalon!” I burst through the crowd of people who gathered to congratulate him.

  “Alexandria.” His gray eyes were bright with pride and relief. He took a towel from M and wiped his face off before leaning down and pressing a chaste kiss to my cheek.

  “Congratulations.” I knew our affection couldn’t be shared for all to see. We didn’t want the attention of the tabloids like before.

  “Thank you.” He pulled my favor from under his chest plate and kissed the lace. “You saw me through.”

  My cheeks heated under his lustful gaze. What he wanted from me later came across in droves.

  “How true love shines.” A voice behind me caused my skin to crawl. Avalon reached out to take my hand and pulled me closer.

  “No need to be on the defensive, Your Grace.” Mordred stalked closer, his helmet tucked under his arm with Lancer to his left. “Congratulations on a fine showing. I now see why your armor bears the legendary Welsh dragon.”

  “Thank you.” Avalon reached his hand out for Mordred to shake. “I’ve never had a better opponent.”

  Mordred paused, knowing the subtle jab was meant for Lancer, and he smiled. “Any time, Avalon. Any time.”

  “Now, if you will excuse me, I need to change and shower before tonight’s festivities.” Avalon stepped back away from the snake before him.

  “Of course.” Mordred bowed with an overactive flourish. “My lord.”

  Lancer’s eyes glowered at Avalon before turning his gaze on me. A hint of rage mixed with sorrow reflected in deep green eyes. Eyes that once held nothing but love for me now seemed void. He turned to join Mordred, and the two men walked away.

  I exhaled with relief.

  Avalon was in the middle of doing an interview. I waited while the female reporter flirted and blushed, asking question after question about his performance. No jealousy flared, though. In his blunt style of conversing with people he didn’t know, he answered her honestly and to the point.

  She then left, and his attention came immediately back to me.

  “Vivian and John shall see to you until I get out of the showers.” He kissed my hands, never tearing his gaze from mine. “Wait for me?”

  My chest swelled with happiness. “Always.”

  Avalon flashed me a rare, widespread grin. “M, come on. I smell like a pig.” We parted ways, and I followed John as he navigated through the crowds.

  A private party followed the charity joust for all those who participated and donated and would start later tonight. Everything was traditionally set to match the festival’s theme of Middle Ages.

  Later into the early evening, the twinkling lights roped through the trees seemed brighter. I sat with Vivian under a tent sipping a chardonnay when I saw Avalon flanked by three men. Gwaine and M I recognized. The new man who had black hair and a tall physique, I had never seen before.

  My attention to the newcomer was short lived.

  Avalon wore a pair of fresh black pants, tight fitting to coincide with the time. A knee-high boot without the scuffs of armor or riding gleamed in the lamplight. The basic ivory tunic he wore earlier had been exchanged for a more formal white shirt. A black vest hand embroidered with silver threads dazzled. His hair wasn’t slicked back but left wavy and dangerously low slung over his brow.

  The touch that made my heart beat wildly was the black belt slung around his hips with a thin rapier at his thigh. Sheathed but ready to defend.

  Avalon stopped before me, bowing slightly. “My lady, are you ready for some fun?” His gaze sparked with mischief.

  I curtseyed in return. “Of course, Your Grace. You of all people should know me better.”

  The space between us diminished, and he lifted my chin upward. “Oh, but I do.”

  Never in my life would I get used to his seductive nature, his wit, or his charm.

  Especially not his insatiable desire for me.

  TWENTY-ONE

  Avalon

  Alexandria gazed upon me with such adoration and love at that moment that I wished we could freeze time. There was so much unknown ahead of us, but we were sure of this. Our love, our desire, and our devotion to each other.

  “I have one more person to introduce you to.” I pulled away from her hypnotic eyes and turned to the black-haired man at my side. “This is David Wright.”

  She gave me a puzzled look but smiled at the stranger. “Hello, Mr. Wright. Were you in the joust as well?”

  David took a knee before Alexandria and bowed his head. “My lady, how good it is to see you again.”

  Her eyes grew wide as she met mine over David’s lowered head. “Is he another knight?”

  “Indeed.” Vivian pressed a hand onto David’s shoulder. “Sir Percival. I found him in Wales.”

  “Well, this is a surprise.” Alexandria took the news in stride, leaning down to urge David to stand. “We have celebrating to do. I believe we can afford to take a night off.”

  “I agree.” I offered her my arm. “John, please fill Isaac and David in on what we know so far.”

  “Of course, sir.” John nodded respectfully and then embraced his old friends.

  Merlin held out his hand to Vivian. I waited for the proud woman to reject it, but surprise resonated when she took his arm instead. Alexandria stifled a giggle at my side, and we made our way to the dinner set up for those involved with the charity joust.

  We entered the doors to a castle, a ruin set up just once a year to pull people back in time. Torches were lit everywhere to illuminate the interior. A constructed dance floor rose a bit higher from the flagstone beneath. Long tables situated themselves like those in Great Halls where eating was a place of mingling, business, and royal gossip.

  “Wow... this is beautiful.” Alexandria looked upward at the strings of lights crossing above us.

  “Not as beautiful as you are.” I caressed her cheek. “There is so much I have to tell you.”

  She beamed. “Shall we eat first and then dance?”

  I knew her meaning and nodded. “That we shall.”

  We walked by people who remembered Alexandria at my side from events earlier this spring and summer. They lifted their goblets of ale or wine toward us before going back to whisper their gossip. I was sure many would speculate that my affections for Alexandria would materialize into a proposal.

  I watched her accepting a cup of wine from a server graciously.

  The simple things about her were what I loved the most.

  How I knew what she looked like in y
oga pants and a t-shirt after sculpting. The way she wrinkled her nose at me when I said something she didn’t agree with. The way her body fit against mine perfectly.

  I loved her beyond words or human expression.

  If I came out of this entire ordeal alive, I would marry her and make her mine for the rest of our eternity.

  “Avalon, are you all right?” Alexandria waved a hand in front of my face. I immediately tore myself away from my thoughts.

  “Yes, I was just thinking.” I took the cup of ale she offered me.

  A perfectly manicured eyebrow winged upward. “You looked rather lost in thought to me.”

  Chuckling, I settled my hand on her lower back and guided her toward the buffet. “Well, if you must know, I was thinking of you.”

  Alexandria’s cheeks turned a delicious shade of pink. “Oh?” She picked up a plate and asked coyly. “What about me?”

  I grabbed a plate and followed her down the line, filling my plate with an array of gourmet food. “How beautiful you are and how I cannot wait to get back home so I can ravish you.”

  “Avalon …” Her whispered warning came with a nervous giggle.

  “What?” We took our plates and walked back to our small group already poised at a long table. “No one heard me.”

  Alexandria cast me a look, and I couldn’t suppress my smirk.

  We ate our dinner and had our cups refilled with wine by the servers passing by. David and Isaac warmed to our small family quickly, and I hadn’t realized in all my years living with Merlin just how lonely life had become.

  Days so very much in the distant past had been filled with revelry like this. The court would be held daily, and there was no shortage of business to attend or people to meet. I observed quietly, enjoying the comfort of knowing that three of my knights now stood by my side. Still, two of my other knights glowered from across enemy lines.

  “Avalon, do you want to dance?” Alexandria once again broke into my musings. Music reverberated from the ancient walls, and I nodded. “Of course.”

  Bright strings of a violin played a folk tune, and Alexandria and I joined the small group on the dance floor. I didn’t give Alexandria any time to adjust. Taking her in my arms, I swung her around, and her skirts swirled.