Fallen Knight

by Dana D'Angelo

  He restrained himself from jumping out from his hiding spot and dragging Clarisse to their father. She had a lot to answer for. But prudence made him pause as he sized up the other man. He was built like a warrior, and he obviously wasn’t a greenhorn. No doubt he would put up a fight. At the moment, Edgar was too tired from his long journey. If he fought the giant, he would surely lose. He had to bide his time, find out who this man was, and what business he had with his sister. Then he would speak to his father, and put a stop to this love affair before it exploded in their faces.

  Clarisse hooked her arm around her lover’s waist, and they both disappeared out of sight.

  He stood there for a long moment. While the lovers were long gone, his mind’s eye still focused on the pair, and he didn’t notice the man who sidled up beside him.

  “There you are, Edgar.”

  Turning his head, he did a double-take. “Geoffrey?” he asked, uncertain whether he saw a ghost.

  “’Tis good to see you too, brother.” One side of his lip quirked up. “A page raced to informal me of your arrival. Of course, it cost me a pretty copper.”

  “I never thought I would see you again,” Edgar said, letting out a laugh and embracing him, momentarily forgetting about Clarisse. “You had disappeared after the accident that I feared that you were dead.”

  Immediately the grin on Geoffrey’s face faded. “Nay, not dead but near enough.”

  “Where have you been all this time?”

  “I had traveled the countryside for the past five years, but have only recently found employment in the town of Treville. Two months ago, I told Clarisse about my whereabouts.”

  “And you never bothered to inform me?”

  Edgar stepped around an abandoned hay cart.

  Geoffrey shrugged. “I knew that you would be too busy.”

  They began to walk, but the pace was slowed by Geoffrey’s uneven gait.

  “Will you be returning home?” Edgar asked.

  “My home is in Treville now.” Geoffrey shook his head. “There is nothing for me in Servian as you know. And once you inherit the lands, I would only be a burden to you.”

  He studied Geoffrey’s face. There was something different about him. He seemed grave, as if his life’s experiences had aged him. He expected his brother to be bitter about having his dream permanently altered. He knew that if he was in Geoffrey’s place and was unable to obtain knighthood, he would be miserable. But his sibling seemed far from being miserable. Edgar gave his younger brother a smirk that he knew was slightly condescending. “Do not tell me,” he said, “You have a woman in Treville, and you fancy yourself in love with her.”

  A flush rose to Geoffrey’s cheeks as he gave him a sheepish grin. “There is not much I can hide from you, Edgar. I do not —”

  Suddenly Edgar jumped and covered his brother’s mouth, cutting him off. He dragged his sibling to the well that was nearby and pulled him down to a crouch.

  “Who is that man?” he whispered, peeking over to the side of the well. There was no mistaking that this was Clarisse and her lover once again. The man had pulled her to an area where the wall cast a deeper shadow. Obviously they thought they were alone. They had stopped once again, and he began to kiss her. It was not an innocent kiss by any means. The anger had subsided when Edgar reunited with Geoffrey, but it began to stir anew when he saw the lovers.

  Geoffrey craned his neck, trying to get a better view of the couple. “Why, that is Sir Gareth,” he said after a moment. “And that woman is Clarisse.” He said his sister’s name with much astonishment. An irate flush stained his cheeks. “I warned her to stay away from that knight.”

  “It seems that she didn’t heed your warning then,” Edgar said grimly. “What manner of man is this Sir Gareth?”

  “There is rumor abound that he was Sir Jonathan d’Abelard’s garrison commander.”

  “The Iron Hawk,” Edgar said.

  “Aye,” he said, agreeing. “Sir Gareth held a great place of honor with the king and among his peers. That was until he killed a royal prisoner about five years ago and lied about the deed.”

  “Surely, these rumors are exaggerated,” Edgar said, frowning. The idea that this dishonorable knight was taking advantage of his sister grated on his nerves.

  “These are rumors, aye, but others have said that the man confessed to the crime, and our benevolent king exiled him to the outer skirts of the realm.” Geoffrey turned and looked all around him, an unhappy look on his face. “Which would be here.”

  Chapter 23

  “Do you think my lord father will consent to our marriage?” Clarisse asked, toying with the ends of her sleeves. There was a slight tremor in her voice which she couldn’t fully conceal. Her father was a hard man, and even though he seemed frail now, his influence was still formidable.

  Gareth smiled down at her. “You already asked me this. The chaplain has confirmed that I’m breaking no law by asking for your hand. ‘Tis up to your father to say yea or nay to my suit.” His hand cupped the back of her head and he bent down to drop a kiss on her forehead. “Do not worry. I have everything worked out.”

  “I shall trust you then,” she said.

  Clarisse led the way through the twists and turns within the castle. And all too soon, they stood in front of her parents’ bedchamber. Gareth lifted a fist and knocked on the oak door. The sound echoed in the corridor, a sound that was nearly as loud as her beating heart. Her hands which were clasped in front of her felt cold and clammy. He reached over, squeezed her hands and offered an encouraging smile. There was love reflected in his eyes. Drawing in a breath, she gave him a tremulous smile. His relaxed and confident manner lent her strength. There was no reason for her to be on edge. She knew the habits of her parents, and this was the best time to approach her father. Her mother went for her morning walk, and wouldn’t be back for another hour. She, at least, would not be here to complicate matters. Still, Clarisse sent a nervous glance over at Gareth. Clearly her father will see that Gareth was the better man —

  A cough sounded and then, “Enter,” said a raspy voice from within.

  She grabbed the door handle and sent Gareth a brave smile. “This is it,” she whispered, her heart in her throat.

  While Gareth didn’t have the allies that Hervey had, he still had influence in high places. He also had much military experience, and he was bound to be an asset in defending the Servian borders. If anything, he had the strength and knowledge as a knight, and would lead them into victory. Now it was only a matter of convincing her father of this. Taking in a deep breath, she pushed open the wooden door.

  With his back to the door, Lord Servian was bent over a table, absorbed with writing a missive. A single candle flickered at his elbow.

  “Father,” she said. “I brought —”

  Lord Servian turned at the sound of her voice.

  “Who is this?” he demanded, his eyes narrowing when he saw the two of them at the door.

  Her father’s tone caused her mouth to turn dry, and she licked her lips. But his attitude wasn’t the only thing that made her feel nervous. Lord Servian took Gareth in with one sweeping glance. The look on his face was not a welcoming one. This wasn’t the kind of reception that she expected. Taking a step closer to Gareth, she reached for his hand. But her father’s sharp eyes noticed the subtle gesture and stared at their entwined fingers. The frown lines on his forehead deepened. She could feel her hand trembling, but Gareth gave it a quick squeeze. The small gesture of reassurance brought strength back into her, and she opened her mouth to respond to her father.

  But before she had a chance to say anything, a voice behind her answered for her. “’Tis Sir Gareth de Mowbrey, Father.”

  Clarisse whipped her head around. “Edgar,” she said, unable to contain her surprise. “And Geoffrey as well!” Happiness and relief suddenly turned to alarm. They were here all along?

  Edgar sat at the edge of a side table while Geoffrey was in the stool next to him. Sh
e took in her older brother’s travel worn clothes, where a thin layer of grey dust and mud splatters still speckled his dark green tunic. It was obvious that he had come straight to see their father. Geoffrey in contrast was dressed in a plain blue tunic, looking as relaxed as if he was ready for a noonday outing to the town square.

  She let go of Gareth’s hand and approached her brothers. Giving them each a peck on the cheek, she said pleasantly, “’Tis good to see you both. I have just recently spoken to you Geoffrey, why did you not tell me that our brother had arrived?”

  “I just found out myself,” Geoffrey said, shrugging.

  “Aye, the skirmish with our neighbor took longer than expected, and I missed the wedding ceremonies.” Edgar pushed himself off the table. “My intentions were to see Amelie, and offer her my apologies and congratulations, however I got waylaid,” he said, looking meaningful at her. “What are you doing with this man?”

  The smile on her lips faded and she took in his solemn demeanor. Her eldest brother had always been the more serious one, but the expression on his face seemed severe, almost frightening. She glanced over at Geoffrey, and found the same grim expression playing on his visage. For some reason she knew that they were discussing her. Her stomach twisted with the instinctive knowledge that whatever they spoke about, it wasn’t in her favor. She moved back to stand beside her knight.

  The movement wasn’t lost on Edgar, and he narrowed his eyes when she reached for Gareth’s hand once more. If anything the expression on his face turned stone-cold, and when he spoke, there was hostility in his voice. “Why are you here with my sister, sire?”

  Clarisse flinched at his icy tone, and she glanced at Gareth, hoping that he wasn’t affected by the frigid reception from her family.

  Geoffrey got up from his chair and limped over toward her. “You best come with me, Clarisse,” he said, grabbing her free hand.

  “Nay,” she said, resisting him.

  “’Tis probably best if you listen to your brother,” Gareth murmured. He disengaged from her, and placing his palm at the small of her back, he nudged her forward.

  “I cannot allow you to face them alone,” she cried. “They —”

  “Clarisse!” her father’s raspy voice cracked across the room. He watched the entire exchange with a grave look on his face. Reluctantly she stepped away from Gareth, knowing that if she put up further resistance, she would make the situation worse for herself and for Gareth.

  Edgar crossed his arms over his chest, tapping a foot on the floor. “Well?” his eyebrow cocked in challenge. “You have not answered my question.”

  A forced smile appeared upon Gareth’s lips, and he said in an even voice, “I am here to ask permission to marry your sister.”

  “Marry?” Geoffrey repeated in amazement.

  “Nay,” Edgar said, shaking his head. “I cannot allow it. Clarisse already has a suitor that we approve of, a suitor that is worthy and honorable,” he stressed the last word.

  Her mouth dropped open, and turning to her father, she said, “Surely, you would hear Sir Gareth out before refusing him? He has a proposal —”

  “We are making arrangements with Sir Hervey,” her father interrupted. “But I will hear your brother speak first.” He fixed his gaze on Edgar. “Why are you opposed to this man’s suit, son?”

  “There are many reasons, Father. Everyone knows that he is a disgraced knight. He spits on the face of authority, and ignores the rules of chivalry even though he has taken his vows as a knight. He has killed a royal prisoner in cold blood and lied about it. That should account for one reason. But my biggest reason is that he has defiled my sister.”

  “Defiled?” His pale, gaunt face suddenly had splotches of color high on his cheeks. And at the moment, he looked far from the sickly man that he was. “Is this true, Clarisse?”

  “I — I do not know —” she said, taking an involuntary step back, the lie sticking in her throat. But even as she tried to deny what had happened, the hard look on her father’s face stopped her short.

  “We had premarital relations, my lord.” Gareth came to stand beside her. He placed a protective arm around her waist. “And I am fully prepared to do the honorable thing and marry your daughter.”

  “The honorable thing,” Lord Servian repeated flatly.

  “Well, I see no honor in any of this,” Edgar said, spitting on the ground. “Geoffrey and I witnessed their embrace in the courtyard. Even then I thought that no innocent maiden would act so wantonly. This undesirable behavior will besmirch our family name.”

  “Aye,” Geoffrey said, agreeing with his brother. “We cannot allow you to marry our sister.”

  Clarisse closed her eyes as her heart sank to the pit of her stomach. She had finally found a man she loved. This moment here was supposed to be a joyous one. Her father was supposed to say yes to Gareth’s proposal, and then after that, she was supposed to marry him, have a brood of children, and live happily ever after.

  “I will allow it, whether you agree to it or not,” she said, her voice loud and clear.

  Her father jerked his gaze from them, suddenly seized by a coughing fit. Geoffrey hurried over to their father and began to pound on his back. He shot her a warning look, as if to say that she had gone too far with her declaration.

  But then just as swiftly, the coughing spell ended, and her father appeared weak and aged.

  He looked around the room and spotted a stool on the other side of the room. “Get me…that…stool,” he said.

  Geoffrey made a move to get it.

  “Let me,” Edgar said, stopping him, and with long strides he quickly crossed the room to retrieve the stool.

  When Edgar placed the chair down, her father sat with a groan. “I am too old for this,” he said. But then he turned his attention to Clarisse. The coughing fit had deflated his anger, and all that was left now was disappointment and sorrow. “You realize that you put our plan to secure Laventon in jeopardy, don’t you?”

  “Sir Gareth had once fought for the king,” she said, lowering her gaze. “He is more experienced in warfare than Sir Hervey. And —”

  “My decision still stands, and you will marry Sir Hervey,” Lord Servian said. “Sir Hervey cannot know of your indiscretion.”

  “Aye,” Geoffrey said, nodding. “No good will come of it if he knows what transpired.”

  “I disagree” Edgar said. “’Twould not be a good idea to keep him in the dark. He will no doubt be displeased, however I believe he might be persuaded to continue with our plan.”

  “You cannot mean this, Edgar!” His words slammed into Clarisse like a battering ram to her chest, leaving her struggling for air. Her older brother was someone who she cherished and admired. But the man before her was a stranger, and one that she didn’t care for. Didn’t he realize that his words had the potential to ruin her life forever?

  But Edgar continued on as if she hadn’t interrupted him. “We all agree that there is much at stake here. I recommend that you continue with your negotiations with Sir Hervey, Father. The gains he’ll receive from this union will likely make him overlook this indiscretion.”

  “Father, please,” she said, a sob escaping from her lips. She went to him and kneeled at his feet, grasping at the hem of his tunic. She had never begged him for anything before, but this was too important to allow pride to get in the way; this was her life. “You are a just and fair man. If you care for me at all, consider my feelings. ‘Tis Sir Gareth who I love.” She clenched tighter at his tunic. “Please, do not make me marry Sir Hervey.”

  Her father looked down at her, a jumble of emotions crossing over his gaunt face.

  “Take her away, Father. And you get the guards, Geoffrey,” Edgar said, his eyes trained on Gareth, his expression cold. “I will deal with Sir Gareth.”

  “Nay!” she shouted in panic. Her brother was a ruthless fighter, and she couldn’t allow unwarranted violence directed at an innocent party. Scrambling up from the ground, she ran over to Gare
th, who stood as still as a statue, his face as equally unmoved.

  “Do not hurt him, Edgar!”

  “Go with your father, Clarisse.” Gareth pried her fingers from his arm and gently pushed her forward. “I will be all right.”

  Chapter 24

  “I should kill you for ruining my sister,” Edgar said, his eyes hard and piercing. “You must be mad to think that I would allow you to marry her.”

  “My intentions are virtuous,” Gareth said flatly. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Clarisse being led away from the chamber, her sobs stabbing into his heart. This was not the course of events he pictured when he put forth his marriage proposal.

  “Excuse me if I don’t believe you,” Edgar said sarcastically. “You broke your oath once when you lied about killing a man. And you demonstrate your base nature by defiling my sister. Any words coming from your mouth mean less than dirt to me.”

  Gareth grounded his teeth together, causing the muscle to tick at the side of his jaw. “If you were not Clarisse’s brother, I would make you regret your words.”

  “Guards!” Edgar barked, his eyes still pinned on Gareth when two stocky knights burst into the chamber. “Give him your broadsword.”

  The guards looked at one another with confusion, but the one closest to Gareth unsheathed his sword and handed it to him.

  “Take it,” Edgar commanded.

  But Gareth just looked at the weapon. His warrior’s instinct urged him to reach out and grab it, but he forced his hands to stay at his side. If he injured Clarisse’s brother, he knew that she would never forgive him. Even if he couldn’t marry her, he couldn’t bear to have her look at him with loathing and contempt.

  “I will not fight you.”

  “Now I have proof that you’re a coward as well,” he said, letting out an exaggerated sigh.

  That comment stung and rage shot up inside of him, the anger making him almost blind. “Do not call me a coward,” he said through clenched teeth.