The Lady of Fairhaven

by Lee Scott

  “You’re most welcome, but might I ask where you were headed?”

  “My Aunt Elinor’s castle is only a few day’s walk from here. We were hoping to make it there before Sir Oliver’s men could find us.”

  Sir Giles smiled, and said, “These men all worked for your father and are loyal to you, My Lady. We will be more than willing to take you there ourselves.”

  “I would prefer if you remained here and at the manor,” Gillian said. “I will be returning soon enough to take back what is lawfully mine. It will be with great relief to find you there.”

  “Then we will at least take you some of the way.” Not waiting for a response, Giles turned to his men. “Paul, you and John will keep enough food for two days. We will return with your horses then.”

  The two men looked at each other but dared not disagree.

  In one hour, there was nothing left to do but mount the sturdy palfreys and bear the consequences. Gillian was at the end of her resources but still needed to cover ground quickly. In spite of the pain that would most definitely accompany a horseback ride, the bone jolting exertion of straining muscles would do more damage. There simply was no choice. Soon, they would be pushing farther along through the cover of the forest, hopefully leaving the danger of Sir Oliver behind.

  The knights pushed horses and riders to their limits, resting only for a noonday meal of hard bread, cheese, and ale, and the infrequent stops to take care of personal necessities. By sunset, the group had made remarkable progress. Bone weary, Gillian and Anne nestled under furs to stay warm, and then promptly fell asleep. As hard as the journey had been to this point, tomorrow would, most likely, be more difficult.

  Before dawn, the men heated water for tea to drink with dried meat, cheese, and bread. Although flavorless, the meal was filling. As the sun rose above the horizon, the group was mounted and on their way.

  By mid morning, Sir Giles and his men had repacked the horses, given directions to the women, and had parted company. They had covered a great deal of country while together, but Giles had Oliver’s task to complete and would become a suspect if he failed to complete it.

  As much as Sir Giles wanted to protect the Lady Gillian, he knew it spelled danger for her if he were to stay too long in her company. Final farewells were given, and within minutes both groups had lost sight of each other. Gillian and Anne followed the directions Giles had given to the letter. Keeping off the road was time consuming as well as exhausting, but it prevented chance encounters, making it much safer. Weighed down by supplies, each woman carried a pack of sleeping blankets and food. Gillian refused any suggestion of procuring horses from the local gentry. It was agreed that leaving any sign aiding her uncle to locate her was unacceptable.

  One night and day more on the road would place them at her Aunt Elinor’s Castle, and the much needed safety Gillian needed. They kept the road in sight and watched travelers going both directions pass them by. Recovering from her wounds, Gillian now had to suffer with the fact that neither she nor Anne was in any kind of shape to travel like this. Both women were exhausted, but not willing to admit it.

  “I believe we should rest here tonight,” suggested Anne. They were in a secluded patch just out of sight of the main road. Just beyond that was another road that would lead them to their refuge. More eager to see her aunt than ever, Gillian shook her head. “No! We are far too close,” she said.

  Their conversation, however, had occupied both Gillian and Anne’s thoughts to the point that neither lady ever noticed the knight standing in the clearing straight ahead. With their heads bent down watching each step, they were within only fifteen feet of the night when they spotted him, his back to them.

  Gillian froze where she was. Her heart pounded with fear as she took one slow cautious step backward. She then took another. One more step and she would again be hidden.

  “It is a good day for a walk through the woods,” the knight said as he turned and smiled.

  As her gaze rose to meet his, she gasped. He was large and foreboding. God help her if she was his prey. His dark brown eyes were large and penetrating enough to stop her in her tracks. But she knew she would have recognized this knight if he had ever been at Fairhaven.

  “Good day Sir Knight,” Anne said. “But we must be on our way.” Anne quickly reached over and pulled her mistress away.

  “Stay! My Lady,” the knight said. Several long legged steps put him next to Gillian. He stood towering over both women. The top of their heads reached only the top of his broad shoulders. His brown hair curled at the nape of his neck. Surprisingly, Gillian was no longer frightened. His chiseled chin and square jaw displayed two beguiling dimples that promised a happy disposition.

  “My lady, pray tell me your name and why you are out so far away from your protection?” the knight asked.

  “My name is Anne and I’m from…” she paused.

  Anne threw her mistress a worried glare.

  Gillian continued. “I dare say I shall not share that information with you. You seem too quick to judge my protector and I would not want his name to fall prey to false accusations by a person not of my acquaintance.”

  “I am Luke Thornburgh, My Lady,” the man offered. “And it would seem that I should offer more protection than those who would be sworn to it. But have no fear for I offer my protection to you until I can see you safely to the nearest safe castle. I believe that might be Fairhaven.”

  Recognizing the man’s name as the son of her betrothed on top of the difficult journey and knowledge that she was about to return to Fairhaven was too much. In moments her knees buckled and she slowly succumbed to the fog enveloping her.

  Standing several feet away from the lady, Luke was prevented from catching her. His heavy mail was perfect for thwarting vicious body blows, but resisted quick response and seemed impossible in unexpected situations like this.

  But Dog made no such delay in his response. Leaping forward between the knight and his mistress, he immediately emitted a low vicious growl between bared teeth.

  “What is this all about?” the knight asked with dismay. “Why does this animal behave thus?”

  “Easy Dog,” Anne commanded. “Soothe now.” Her voice softened, calming the dog’s raw instinct to protect. “You wished to know who protected the lady. It is Dog.”

  Luke watched the dog for a moment then held out a piece of cheese from his mid day meal. “Good Dog, then,” he said. Dog stepped forward. His bottom wiggled in an attempt to wag his tail. He wanted the food. Gently he nudged ahead and brushed his soft muzzle against the fingers holding the cheese. Slowly Dog pulled it from Luke’s grasp. The animal gulped down the treat.

  While the animal was occupied, Luke scooped up the lady’s limp body and threw a few orders in one direction and then another, ordering his men from hiding.

  “What is the matter with the lady?” he asked Anne. His impatience with a swooning young woman was short at best and presently visible.

  “I fear the lady fell on some rocks while we were climbing and injured herself rather badly,” Anne said. “She is tired, but has refused rest.”

  Luke’s expression softened as his opinion of the unconscious woman shifted slightly.

  “And where was she hurt?” the knight inquired.

  “She hit her head, knocking her senseless for a time. She has also hurt her back.”

  “Where did she hit her head?” he asked.

  “Here my lord,” Anne answered. Her hand guided his to the still formidable lump on the back of Gillian’s head where her uncle hit her. “She also has other bruises, but I believe she is past the worst of her injuries.”

  Luke studied Gillian’s beautiful face. He read the strain of the past few days in her very pale complexion and stress induced dark smudges under her eyes. Making her way across country with an injury as severe as what he felt on her head swelled his opinion of her with expanding admiration. This was a woman of considerable substance.

  Luke held her to him as
his men spread a blanket out on the ground. As Gillian was placed onto the blanket she awoke.

  One soldier approached with a wine skin and held it out for the knight. Pressing the skin to her mouth, Luke lifted it until a small amount of wine dribbled down her throat. Moments later, Gillian struggled to rise.

  “Where are we?” Gillian cried. Seeing the knight, she paled again as the reality of the moment sunk in. “We must be on our way!”

  “That’s impossible!” Luke declared with the authority of a man who was accustomed to getting his own way. “I have offered protection to you, My Lady. I’m afraid you are in no condition to travel about the countryside. I fear you must rely on me to get you safely to a place where your family will be notified. I know if I were your family, I would be most anxious to find you gone.”

  “Thank you for your kind offer, my lord, but we must refuse. I am making my way to my…aunt, and I cannot afford any delays.”

  “Well, perhaps your aunt might be found along our path.”

  “It depends on where you are traveling.” Gillian replied.

  “We are journeying to Fairhaven Castle to collect my father’s bride.”

  Fear pooled in every pore of Gillian’s body. Every ounce of resolve stood her fast against her fears. “Well, there you are then. We are traveling to the north. I’m afraid it wouldn’t do to detain your journey any longer. Come along Frances, we must be on our way.”

  Clenched fists and teeth were hidden from the knight’s view, but a fresh wash of bloodless color caught his attention. Gillian’s sudden move forced a large intake of air into her lungs, and she leaned against a tree for support against another wave of dizziness.

  “Lady Anne, you cannot expect any knight to let you travel unescorted. There are too many dangers, and you appear to not be up to the task.”

  “No! You are too kind, but I am up to the task,” Gillian argued. “Besides I have my companion to look after me.”

  “And what is your maid’s name?”

  Before Gillian could reply, Anne interjected. “Frances, my lord. I’m named after a beloved Aunt.”

  “I must insist that you ladies travel with us to Fairhaven.” Luke insisted.

  Gillian only nodded. This man was determined to see them safely placed in someone’s care. She would say no more on the subject. Gillian knew her only hope was to wait for an opportunity to escape from the knight’s protection and make her way to safety.

  Within the hour, the entire party was on its way. It wasn’t until the party had camped for the evening that Gillian and Anne had their first chance at escape. Being concerned for Gillian’s weakened condition, Luke made camp early. A small stream was running just over the hill from the encampment. Under the guise of bathing, the two ladies were left alone to tend to their private ablutions.

  After surveying the surrounding countryside, Gillian planned to escape by way of a steep sided canyon where the stream coursed. In her condition, traversing the rocky slopes would be difficult. But the knight wouldn’t think women would take the difficult route, and it would buy some time.

  It had been over two hours before Luke finished his chores and realized that the lady and her maid had not returned from their baths. “Simon,” he shouted. “Come with me. We must find Lady Anne and Frances. They have not yet returned from the stream.”

  Not willing to wait to saddle his horse, Luke immediately jumped on the back of the large animal. Sidestepping away from the horses tied together, the big horse nodded his thick neck as Luke applied pressure on the reins. The animal’s energy urged a steady pace along the stream.

  Luke and Simon first rode to the small stream. Seeing no evidence of women bathing sent a wave of fear through Luke. “The women should never have been allowed away without an escort,” he shouted. Although he knew it would cost the party precious time to search, he could not leave them vulnerable to danger.

  The hillsides closed in along the brook leaving few paths to walk. Skirts and petticoats left a wide distinctive trail in their wake. Small crushed grasses and broken twigs might as well have sent out an invitation to follow.

  Luke knew nothing of this woman, but her vulnerability plucked at his heart strings, and he had an overpowering desire to protect her. She had managed to make her way along when suffering greatly. Her courage and strength were admirable. He had no interest in fluffy minded women who frequently fainted and cried. Why did the feeling of need hit him so hard when he saw Lady Anne?

  Steep hillsides forced him to dismount. “I’ll continue on foot,” he shouted back to his companion. Both men tied their horses to a nearby sapling. The stallion shook his head in protest, but soon found some clumps of grass to catch his interest. Luke continued on. Almost immediately, he found something that made him stop. Bending over, he picked up a scrap of torn chemise snagged on a bramble. But before he could examine it, the frantic bark of a distant dog drew his attention.

  Luke followed the noise along an ever rising and treacherous path following the stream. If not for the silken scrap of chemise and the barking dog, he never would have believed the ladies would have dared choosing this route. With no real path to follow, each step over loose rock proved difficult. After rounding a bend, and just behind some trees, the knight found Dog, or rather Dog found him.

  The animal scampered over the talus sending dust floating into the air in its wake. The frantic barking reverberated off the steep canyon sides. Upon seeing Luke, the dog hunkered down on his forelegs, continuing its ceaseless noise. Once Luke had reached the dog, it swiftly turned and made its way along the winding valley, turning constantly to make sure he was being followed.

  Luke started after the animal. Clearly, the pet would never leave his mistress unless there was some trouble. Luke’s heart raced at the thought of her coming to harm. Foolishly, she had set out on a dangerous journey, but an admiration for her pluck jolted him. What lady would leave the protection of a knight to travel alone without sufficient provisions?

  While he pondered what situation had set these women away from their home and family, he spotted the Lady sitting on a ledge with her maid leaning down from an outcropping above.

  Obviously, the Lady was in pain. Luke’s heart jumped in response to seeing this woman in distress. He quickly charged up the slope. Luke had noticed that the Lady’s breathing was shallow and caught slightly if she moved. Strangely enough, fear widened Luke’s eyes as he approached her.

  Gillian crouched on the narrow ledge. Hugging on to her knees, her head rested against the stonewall. She watched Luke make his way over loose rocks in an attempt to reach her. She knew that once he freed her from this predicament, she would have no recourse but to travel back to her uncle. The thought of it made her shiver.

  Leaning over from above, Luke asked, “My Lady Anne, are you cold?”

  Gillian was momentarily confused but quickly remembered that she had taken her maid’s name. But she couldn’t quite remember what name the real Anne had taken. All the while she looked Luke steadily in the eye. “No, Sir Luke,” she finally said. “I’m afraid my courage has left me.”

  “I would suggest otherwise,” he replied. “Are you injured?”

  “Only scrapes and bruises,” she lied. “I am unable to grasp a hand hold to get myself off this hillside.”

  “Can you stand?”

  “Of course,” she replied. Painfully, Gillian rose to her feet and leaned against the rock face. She held a moan in check, not allowing it to give away her pain. She looked up at her rescuer through wide hazel eyes. Her head spun, and she pressed her back against the ledge lest she fall. She wavered but fought for control.

  Watching her sway caused Luke to lunge forward to help. To his relief, she clung to the hillside. He would have little or no chance preventing a fall if she were to collapse. After removing his chain mail and gauntlets, Luke lay on a rock ledge above and reached over the side to the woman below. The vast golden brown eyes blended with emerald green flecks held the knight’s attenti
on.

  Placing the weight on only one foot, the imposter raised to her toes allowing the knight to grasp both wrists securely. Luke pulled her body upward as her feet found purchase in the rock crevices along the face. Gillian inched her way to the ledge. Strong arms and hands never let go until her trembling form molded itself against his body. She swayed against him, nuzzling against the safe hard surfaces of Luke’s chest.

  Within the half-hour, the three had safely descended from the hillside. Dog pranced triumphantly ahead, turning every now and again to check the progress of his mistress. At the bottom, Gillian collapsed on top of a rock to rest. Her body trembled with the effort.

  One look at her pale face told Luke all he needed to know. “What’s wrong?” he bellowed out of frustration. “How have you hurt yourself?”

  “It is nothing of consequence,” Anne replied. Her temper flared back at him.

  “Like bloody hell it isn’t,” he ground out. “Tell me now!”

  “It is my ankle sir. I must have injured it in the fall.”

  “What are you about? Had I known, I would have found another way down the mountain for you even if it meant carrying you. You are perhaps the most stubborn woman I have ever met.” Her independence riled him in spite of his growing esteem for her spirit. “Let me see your injury,” Luke said.

  “I should think not, sir,” Lady Gillian gasped. “It is improper.”

  “It is unacceptable to allow you to continue on in your present condition,” Luke insisted. “If you wish to have your maid assist you, I would see to your injury now.”

  “Lady Anne,” he said, “I need your cooperation.

  Hearing the name, both women responded simultaneously, “Yes, My Lord.”

  Luke raised his head slightly, and then knelt beside Gillian.

  Gillian blushed at the intimacy Sir Luke was suggesting. Embarrassment froze her in place. Luke reached down and removed her slipper. Gillian first flinched at his touch then yelped in pain.

  “I would appreciate your maid’s help,” Luke said. “What is her name?”

  Gillian looked up at Anne and hesitated. It was obvious she still couldn’t remember.