Fallen Knight

by Dana D'Angelo

  “Need I remind you, my lady,” she said in carefully measured tones. “We don’t know anything about this man.”

  “We know that he is Sir Gareth, and he is a friend of Sir Derrik,” she countered.

  “What if he kills us along the way?” Edith pressed her lips into a thin line. “I’ve heard of his reputation, and as everyone knows, desperate knights are dangerous.”

  “I do not think Sir Gareth would kill us,” she said, smoothing down the sleeves of her tunic. “He did after all rescue me from that drunkard, or have you forgotten?”

  “I don’t trust the man,” Edith said stubbornly. Neither do I trust how the knight looks at you. But she wisely kept that comment to herself.

  Although Clarisse was a beautiful woman, she seemed unaffected by her beauty, and was unaware of the admiring glances that men cast her way. This knight was no different. Clarisse didn’t need to be distracted by another man when she already had a suitor. Edith had overheard Lady Chantal speaking with her daughter about marriage prospects. And right now Sir Hervey de Lyria was the best match for Clarisse. The girl just needed to be convinced of this.

  Edith cleared her throat. “Do you think ‘tis wise to go with these strangers?” she asked, changing her tactics. Perhaps appealing to reason would make her listen. But then seeing the stubborn tilt on the child’s chin, she sighed in resignation. “I’m getting entirely too old for this, my lady. I thought ‘twas enough to run after you when you were a child, but now that you’re older, it proves much more difficult to keep up with you.”

  Clarisse shrugged, but then she grinned as if the act was meant to take away some of the sting from her words. “I have been without a nursemaid for almost ten years, so you ought to know that your services are not necessary. Need I remind you that I have reached seventeen summers, and have already learned how to care for myself?”

  “That may be true,” she said. “But I will forever see you as the sweet little girl that left for Stanbury Castle. And,” she wagged a finger at her, “I’m not the only one who views you as such. Your mother still considers you as a child, and she commands me to take you under my charge once again.”

  “This I know,” she said with a wry twist to her lips. But still she couldn’t fully hide her worry from Edith. “Mother must be aware by now that I have left Laventon Castle. I am almost certain that she will be livid when she finds out that I have gone ahead without them.”

  “Yet still you did it,” Edith said, giving her a disapproving frown. “I don’t think the message you left on your pillow will appease her anger.”

  “Well, I had no choice as you know. Sir Hervey was going to accompany us to the wedding…”

  “We’re back,” Gamel called out. With the help of a stable boy, the guard led the three horses to them. Sir Gareth and his page were already mounted.

  Edith closed her eyes, and let out an annoyed hiss. “We are too late.”

  Chapter 5

  “Too late for what?” Leofwin asked as he approached them.

  “’Tis nothing,” Clarisse said dismissively. She allowed Gamel to assist her on her saddle. “Let us leave this place.”

  Gareth moved past them without sparing a glance at her direction. The others trailed after him. He seemed sure of himself, and she was content to have him lead the way.

  She tipped her face in the air, allowing the sun to shine on her face. She could smell the damp earth where it had rained the night before. The road was deceptively quiet, but she knew that it was best to move within a larger group. Outlaws were known to live in the forest and jump out and accost unsuspecting travelers. She remembered how everyone had cautioned her cousin Amelie to stay off the king’s road when she searched for her father. Everyone knew that the roads were dangerous. But Amelie was fearless, and while she stayed off the highway, she had taken a short cut through the forest. The shortcut, Clarisse knew would have shaved about an hour from their ride, but she was too frightened to venture through that path. When she stayed at Stanbury Castle for all those years, she rarely went beyond the castle gates. Amelie was not so afraid, but then again her cousin had the run of the castle, and was used to having her own way.

  An hour later, Gareth had still not said one word to her. She slanted a look over at him. For all his silence, she knew that he listened to every word that was spoken. There was more than one occasion when she caught him looking at her. But he quickly averted his face away, making her think that she had imagined it. But she knew it wasn’t her imagination, because in each instance, her body began to strangely heat up. Even she knew that the extra warmth wasn’t because of the sun.

  While the man didn’t speak directly to her, she found that he didn’t exactly ignore her either. His silence was oddly comforting. And even though she had only known him for a few hours, she was unafraid of him. Perhaps it was because her cousin had sung praises about him. He was not some mad knight that lived out in the wilderness, which was their initial impression. And although he didn’t say much, she felt a connection to him, as if she had known him from somewhere before. It had been a long time since she trusted any man, but in her heart she sensed that he was trustworthy. She smiled ruefully at herself. Perhaps she felt indebted to him because he had saved her from the drunkard at the tavern. At her moment of distress, he came to her defense without any concern for his own safety.

  But then an image of Hervey de Lyria drifted into her thoughts. Until a couple of months ago, she was unaware of him as a suitor. Still, the knight was well acquainted with her older brother, and it was Edgar who proposed the match.

  Whenever Hervey was around, her parents fawned over him to the point that she almost ceased to exist. She understood how important it was for him to become impressed with their holdings. She also knew that there was a lot at stake if she didn’t marry well. In fact, it was explained multiple times and in utmost detail on how the union between them would benefit their families. And since the knight seemed keen to court her, she was forced to vacate her position as Lady Edeline’s attendant and return home.

  She didn’t really want to leave Stanbury Castle, because it was a home that she had come to love. But since Amelie and Derrik were about to wed, it seemed like the most opportune time to break her ties, and live her own life. The idea seemed appealing at first. She would marry around the same time as her cousin, and their offspring would be born close in age. Initially the idea of being married and having children made her smile, but after meeting Hervey, she began to have her doubts. The knight wasn’t a terrible man. At the beginning she looked forward to his visits. But then he came too often, and the time spent with him turned tedious. He was only interested in himself, and spoke at length about his conquests and ambitions. Rarely did he ask for her opinions, and she was relegated to just nodding her head to everything he said. Still, he was an attractive, charming man who came from a family of good repute. Everyone in her family approved of him. If all went according to what her father and brother planned, she would be married to Hervey by the following year. What more could a woman want?

  She looked gloomily at the forest on either side of her. The word love echoed in her head. Unfortunately love wasn’t something that Hervey offered.

  “What is the matter with you, my lady?” Edith had exclaimed when Hervey had arrived for another visit. Clarisse picked up a brush that was on the small table beside her bed, and began to give her tresses long and slow strokes. Edith made an annoyed sound in her mouth. “Why do you tarry, my lady? Sir Hervey is waiting for you in the great hall, and you should be down to greet him.”

  “He has already come to visit only four days earlier,” she pointed out and looked miserably at the bristles on her brush. “I know ‘tis not me that he wants to see.”

  “’Tis nonsense that you speak, my lady.” She took the brush away from Clarisse and put it aside. “You are the reason he is here. After all, he is trying to win your favor before you marry. Would you not give him a chance?”

  She look
ed to the far end of the wall, choosing not to answer right away. They usually went to the formal gardens. Since she came home, she found that she enjoyed spending time sitting on the stone bench, and watching the old gardener tend to the many different flowers and herbs. Some of those flowers ended up in the meals that the cook prepared, while many of the herbs became medicine for the inhabitants of the castle. But whenever Hervey came to call, she couldn’t enjoy the garden, and an unshakable irritation hovered over her.

  “He basks in his own beauty,” she said finally. “Even a rose in bloom would not turn his head.”

  A startled laugh escaped from Edith, but she sobered immediately when she saw that Clarisse was serious.

  “’Tis true,” she insisted. “Of all people, you should know this, Edith. Have you not accompanied us enough times to the garden?”

  “He is trying to get to know you, my lady,” Edith said, turning her around and fixing a crease on her gown. “That is what a suitor does when he comes to visit. When a knight comes a-courting, the maiden must ready herself, and make herself presentable.” Exasperation entered her voice. “I cannot believe that I have to explain courtship to you.”

  “What he does is not courtship,” she said flatly. “In the many times that he has visited, he has not made any attempts to get to know me,” she furrowed her brow in annoyance. “You accompany us to the garden often enough, and I know you have witnessed his behavior toward me, Edith.” She put out her arms to allow Edith to slide on her green over tunic. “Rarely does Sir Hervey ask about my views on important matters. However I know a great deal about him and his ambitions. And as things stand, he will continue to see me as someone who is too stupid to know anything other than to stitch embroidery patterns.”

  “You should be glad that your father has found you a man of Sir Hervey’s stature and fair looks,” Edith said, tightening her lips with slight censure. “Many maidens your age could not find themselves in a better situation.”

  “I am not blind, Edith. I know that ‘tis a privilege to marry into a good family. However I cannot fool myself in thinking that he will ever care for me.”

  “The alliance would benefit us all.”

  Her nursemaid’s comment caused all of her arguments to fall to the wayside.

  “Truthfully your marriage to Hervey is a minor inconvenience when compared to everything else,” the nursemaid continued. “The enemy to the north-east is closing in on us, ready to take our land. Don’t look at me like that, my lady. I have eyes and ears, and I know what is going on. Just as I know that the enemy we fight was once a close friend of your father’s.”

  “There has been bad blood between my father and Lord Dyrwell for many years.” Clarisse sighed and shook her head sadly. “They hate each other so intensely that even the king’s influence cannot stop their feud.” In fact she knew that this was one of the reasons why she was sent to attend her lady aunt at Stanbury Castle — to learn how to become a chatelaine of course, but it was also to grow up unfettered by danger. Unfortunately she had faced a different sort of danger. Nay, I will not think about that, she scolded herself. That part of my life is over, and I need not dwell —

  “Be glad that your knight is youthful and fair,” Edith said, interrupting her thoughts. She placed a hand around Clarisse’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

  “Well, I am not glad,” she said. “Despite his looks, I feel no attraction toward him.”

  Edith opened her mouth to argue with her, but Clarisse held up her hand, stopping her.

  “I already know what my father and brother have in store for me. If Sir Hervey and I wed, our two families will have much to gain. And we at least can drive back the threat to our borders…” her voice trailed off just as a wave of sorrow washed over her.

  “Aye, if the enemy can be driven back, we can finally sleep well at night.”

  “I know.” Clarisse sighed. “But what about love, Edith?”

  “’Tis best that you forget about love, my lady. As I’ve told you many times, love does not exist in a noble marriage. The most you can expect is affection and respect. Look at your lady mother. She was married in the same fashion, and through time she learned to care for your father. Once you wed Sir Hervey, your affection for him will grow as well. Of this I’m certain.”

  But her nursemaid’s assurances did little to make her feel better. The older woman had never married. She had stayed in the service of Lady Chantal even though Clarisse had been gone for almost ten years.

  “I think you are wrong,” she said finally. “I am not my mother, and I will not be content with just affection. At one time I might have been satisfied, but not any longer, and certainly not after witnessing the love that flows between Amelie and Derrik. And so you see, love is possible within the noble ranks.”

  “’Tis a rare occurrence then,” Edith said, amending her stance.

  “’Tis rare but not impossible,” she said, nodding. “Unfortunately I cannot see it being possible with Sir Hervey.” She brought her hands to her forearms and unconsciously began to rub them. “With him, I foresee a cold and loveless union between us. And when he goes to assist my brother in war, I will be surrounded by strangers in my new home.”

  “Perhaps you worry too prematurely, my lady,” Edith said, shaking her head. “I will be there.”

  She gave her nursemaid a wane smile. “Aye, I know you will come with me.”

  But there was no point in saying anything further. Edith would never understand. In fact, she wasn’t qualified to impart wisdom about love, since she had never experienced it herself. Clarisse had never felt true love either, but at least she witnessed it flourishing between Amelie and her new husband. It was obvious for all to see that Derrik adored her cousin, and his feelings were returned with equal enthusiasm. So why was it so wrong to wish for the same happiness for herself, especially after all the things that she endured?

  “Halt,” Gareth said, his voice breaking into her dreary thoughts. He pulled at his reins, and the others followed suit.

  “Why are we stopping, my lady?” Edith looked around them cautiously as if she expected outlaws to emerge from between the trees and surround them.

  “I am not certain,” Clarisse said. She drew her brows together in puzzlement when Gareth dismounted from his horse.

  “I think there is something there at the side of the road,” her nursemaid said, a slight tremor in her voice. “’Tis moving!”

  Clarisse craned her neck, trying to get a better look. “Oh,” she cried in shock. “’Tis an injured animal.”

  “It looks like a young stag to me,” Leofwin said in a hushed voice. “See that? There is an arrow sticking out of its hindquarters. Someone must have tried to hunt it down, but somehow it had gotten away.”

  “What is Sir Gareth going to do?” she whispered back.

  “Kill it.”

  She looked at him, surprised. “Kill it?” she repeated.

  He nodded. “He does this to any wounded animal that we come across, whether he’s drunk or not.”

  “Why would he do this?”

  “My guess is that he wants to stop the animal from suffering.”

  The stag lifted its head at Gareth’s approach. And when it saw him, its breathing came out heavily as it desperately tried to get up. However its injured leg collapsed uselessly under it. Gareth bent down and rested his hand on the young animal, murmuring something that she couldn’t hear. When the animal quieted, he slowly withdrew his dagger from his belt, and plunged it into its body. The creature twitched and twisted and then went still. For a long moment, he stared at the dead stag, his hand still gripping the dagger. One of the horses whinnied and seemed to knock him out of his trance. He then pulled out the dagger and wiped the blood on the long grass beside the carcass. He sheathed the dagger back into his belt and made his way to his horse.

  She nudged her horse forward just as he mounted his horse. “’Twas a kind thing that you did for the animal, sire.”

  He spa
red her a glance. But when she looked into his eyes, she saw that it glittered with pain and sorrow. “It didn’t need to suffer,” he said, and urged his horse forward.

  “Nay, it did not,” she said softly. However he was already riding ahead of her, and didn’t hear what she had said.

  There was something about this man that intrigued her. She was aware that Edith had sent her cautioning looks several times throughout their journey, but she didn’t heed the subtle warning. In all actuality, she should be afraid of this large knight, but for some reason she wasn’t.

  They continued to ride, and her thoughts now lingered on Gareth. He was a surprising man — strong, silent and gentle too. It was unlikely that Hervey would have noticed the suffering animal at the side of the road. And even if he did, it was doubtful that he would actually stop, and relieve it from its misery.

  She studied Gareth’s broad back as the horses clopped steadily toward Stanbury. She had never met anyone like him, and as much as she knew that she should stay clear of him, she desired to know more about this complicated man.

  Chapter 6

  “Where is everyone?” Gareth asked with a frown. He scanned the courtyard. The castle itself was well fortified and built solidly. There was a round chapel off to the right, and servants were everywhere, readying themselves for the wedding. But there were no sign of any colorfully garbed wedding guests strolling across the courtyard. “Are we the only ones here?”

  Derrik approached them, but the smile of welcome on his face faltered slightly when the question rang loudly in the courtyard. He looked behind him as if to see how things appeared from Gareth’s perspective. Then turning back, he gave a sheepish grin. “If you want to know the truth, you’re actually a day early.”