A Winter's Knight

by Fiona Neal

  “Thank you, Edmund, but I just did what the nuns taught me.”

  “You have a talent for healing,” he said.

  “Let us wait and see if he lives,” she said.

  “I have a feeling he will, Alice.”

  But Alice was not so sure Sir Nigel would recover. She had been careful to avoid the wound festering. She had also done all she could to save him. Now the knight's recovery was in God's hand, and she prayed with all her heart that he would live.

  Chapter Nine

  “Alice,” Sir Edmund called, entering their rooms a few days later.

  She turned from the window and said, “Yes, Edmund.”

  “I have some bad news,” he informed her.

  She froze, and then she managed to ask, “Has Sir Nigel taken a turn for the worst?”

  “No, he has was much improved today when I saw him.”

  “Then what troubles you, Edmund?” She approached him and took hold of his hands.

  “Lord Camden plans to attack us soon.”

  She gasped and leaned against the wall for support. “How did you find that out, Edmund?”

  “I have a spy in Camden’s castle,” Edmund explained. “He tells me Camden has been building a very large trebuchet. Our walls will take quite a beating if he has a chance to use it. Unfortunately, I believe he will, Alice.”

  Alice put her arms around him and her husband reciprocated.

  “I am afraid, Edmund. If Lord Camden attacks this castle we shall have many wounded men who will need care. I do not have the resources to treat them. The fact is we could all be killed.”

  “I know he said. Death is always near us, but we do not have to cooperate. But what do you need, Alice?”

  “Medicines, which we don’t have, and I require women who can nurse the sick and injured. As you know, if Camden lays siege, we will have many wounded, and many will die. When the people from the village and surrounding farms crowd into this castle we can have an outbreak of epidemics. We need medicines and drugs to alleviate pain and suffering.”

  “Where can we get the drugs?” Edmund asked.

  “The abbess will provide them. I must get someone to the abbey to bring back what we require. Of course, my grandfather and I will pay for them. In addition, I need to train the women about cleaning and dressing wounds. We must have cloths for bandages too.”

  “You must speak to your grandfather and explain what you need.” Edmund advised her.

  “Yes, I should do that.” Alice nodded. “I want to be as prepared as we can be. It is not if, but when Camden will strike.”

  “Yes, he certainly will attack us, Alice. Have no doubt about that. My informant has here heard that Lord Camden wants me in particular. The evil lord proclaims loudly and often that I tricked him, but I was not going to become his henchman and his unpaid murderer.”

  “I know.” She nodded. “You are no murderer. I have not said this, Edmund, but I can see that you are a very finest of men. I am glad you are my husband.”

  He blushed. “I would not say the finest, but I make an effort to be a good man.”

  “You are a the finest man I know, just as good as my grandfather,” she said.

  Even though you are over concerned with your lack of money.

  “Thank you, Alice. Your good opinion means a great deal to me.”

  “You are welcome,” she said.

  “Perhaps we should send Godwin to the abbey for the medicines,” he said. “He has proven himself very efficient and reliable. I believe his former master was a cruel man.”

  “Yes, I did not like him.” Alice nodded.

  Then let us go to my grandfather right now, Edmund,” Alice suggested. “Let him send Godwin to the abbey with money to buy bandages and medicines. We will need them badly when the siege begins and after that. I don’t want the men to die because we were ill prepared.”

  “Let us be on our way then,” Edmund urged.

  * * * *

  “Oh, I am so nervous,” Lady Edith said on her wedding day, some days later. “I want to be a good wife to Sir Alec.”

  “You will be,” Alice assured her, as she laced up Edith’s bridal dress of blue silk.

  The lovely outfit had bands of silver embroidery around the neck, the bell sleeves, the long belt, and the hem.

  “But I am so ignorant about the physical part of marriage.”

  “I think I know how you feel,” Alice said. “I knew nothing about the intimate part of being a wife. I had spent most of my time in the convent, so I was shy. I never even heard married women talking, but making love with someone you love was all very pleasant.”

  “Well, I’ve heard it was. The women in my brother’s castle would talk. But I’ve guarded my virtue, so I’m a little apprehensive. I haven’t said anything to Alec, though.”

  “I think it will all turn out well, Edith.” Alice handed her the sapphire earrings. “Alec loves you, and you love him.”

  “Yes, and I love him. I am eager to make him happy and give him an heir…if the child is a boy.” Edith smiled and fastened the earrings.

  “I think you will have an heir, Edith. Do not fret about that.”

  “I want to thank you for helping me. I don’t have a lady’s maid here.”

  “I didn’t have one for a long time because I stayed at the convent, but I wanted to return your favor, Edith, and you helped me on my wedding day.”

  “Yes, but I enjoyed it. If it were not for you, Alice, I would not be marrying Alec. I know about the money you gave to Edmund to contribute to my dowry.”

  “How did you discover that?”

  “Edmund told me. He did not have the extra money.”

  “He shouldn’t have done that.” Alice shook her head.

  “Yes, he should,” Edith insisted. “And Alec knows, too, because I told him. Now, my speaking of it isn’t going to cause trouble between you and Edmund is it?”

  “No, I assure you, it won’t?” Alice smiled. “I love your brother, and I did not tell him to keep it a secret.”

  “Good,” Edith said and smiled.

  They arranged Edith’s hair in a style similar to the one Alice had worn at her wedding, and then it was time to leave for the chapel.

  “I wish you all happiness in the world, Edith,” Alice told her.

  “Thank you, Alice. I wish the same for you and my brother.”

  Edmund and Alice held hands as Lady Edith and Sir Alec exchanged their marriage vows in a lovely ceremony, as was planned. After the ceremony, they all enjoyed a great feast and entertainment

  The next day, the newly married couple left for Sir Alec’s home, where his father would hold another huge celebration.

  As Alice and Edmund waved the happy couple off, she realized that they had not heard from Godwin. She wished he would return. Camden's revenge would not wait forever. The fiend would attack.

  * * * *

  “You have done well, Sir Nigel,” Alice happily declared when she came to change the dressing of the wound. I believe you are all healed, and I do not have to redress your injury. I’ve prayed that you would get no infection.”

  “And your prayers have been answered, my lady,” Sir Nigel replied. “I never even got a fever.”

  “He was a good patient,” his lovely wife, Lady Eleanor, let Alice know. “He was a very brave and quiet in the face of all the terrible discomfort.”

  “A knight is expected to endure pain, dearest,” Sir Nigel said, looking fondly at his wife.

  “I know.” His wife smiled. “But you were extra courageous.”

  “I have not told you how sorry I am that you were hurt,” Alice told him.

  “Actually, you did tell me, my lady, but it was an accident,” the knight said. “Sir Robert was most upset that he hurt me. He has come every day, postponing his departure to be with me. He has brought delicious food each day for Eleanor and me.”

  “Yes, I know.” Alice replied. “Sir Robert has been a most commendable friend.”

 
; “You have been very kind to come every day,” Lady Eleanor told her. “We thank you.”

  “You both are most welcome. I had to see to the health of a good man.” Alice smiled

  “But you could have sent someone else,” Lady Eleanor said. “Yet you did not do so. We shall be forever in your debt.”

  “The debt, as you call it, has been paid by Sir Nigel’s recovery. Now, I shall take my leave.” Alice lifted her basket of remedies and bandages and left.

  She felt a sense of gratitude and satisfaction that her patient had healed through God’s bounteous grace.

  Now, she hurried to the undercroft where the medicines from the abbey arrived today.

  She had been overjoyed to see Godwin arrive with the supplies.

  Her grandfather had instructed the soldiers to put them in the undercroft. Young Godwin now stood there, observing the placing of the supplies.

  Not only had Lord De Winter agreed to foster the boy, but he made sure Godwin received lessons in reading and writing. He received lessons every day that he was in the castle.

  Alice was surprised they had arrived just ten days after they were requested, and paid for by her dear grandfather. That was quite a fast trip, but they had not had any snow for a while. Still, the temperatures had been so cold.

  Now as Alice inspected the medicines, she saw that she did not get as much of the remedies that she would need for a long siege, for she knew that Camden would most definitely attack.

  A lord didn’t go through the great trouble and enormous expense of building a huge trebuchet for no reason.

  And from what Edmund had related about Lord Camden, she knew he was a most evil man. Camden proved himself a schemer, and liar, and he had demanded the murder of innocent women—her and Lady Edith. He appeared so innocent, but he was a bloodthirsty wolf in sheep's clothing.

  “God, please help us,” Alice prayed as a terrifying shiver trembled through her.

  * * * *

  Valentine’s Day approached when Edmund made an announcement to Alice as she sat by the fire in their rooms.

  “I received an invitation to a joust, which will commence in April,” he declared. “I should like to compete. The prize is a good amount of money. If I win, I shall be able to give you a good amount on that loan you gave me. Still, I am afraid that Camden will attack while I am away.”

  Why is my husband so obsessed with money?

  “You are paying on the debt each month, but if Camden attacks, you will not be here to lead your men. You are the captain of the guards, Edmund. My grandfather needs you.”

  “Oh, it is not of question of if the man will attack. Make no mistake, Alice. Camden will make his move, dearest wife, but I predict he will come in early May.”

  “Why in May?” she asked and frowned.

  “Now, his troops will freeze in the fields, and food is dwindling fast. An army needs nourishment. Vegetables and grain aren’t growing at the moment, as you know. They could fish, but they could never fill the great quantities to feed all Camden’s men.”

  “I see,” she said. “What if I told you that I prefer that you do not go?”

  “I think I know you would like me to stay, Alice, but I want the money. I should feel better if I had some funds of my own. I want some security.”

  Money again, she wanted to say, but she did not. Alice had never openly contradicted him, and she would not start now. Instead, she said, “Yes, I know. Some financial security gives a person some peace of mind.”

  Of course, Edmund had security. Her fortune provided it, and her grandfather would give him what he needed, in addition to his salary. Why did he want to have his own fortune? Oh, it was his pride and honor, wasn’t it?

  Still, she was glad that he did not want to depend on her money. Edmund wanted to make his own. She could not fault him for that. He was a man of honor.

  “I have been saving,” he told her.

  “Yes, that is a good thing. Still, we must be ready when Camden does attack,” she said. “All the money in the world will not protect us if we don’t have what we need. And we don’t.”

  “We don’t?” he frowned.

  “I didn’t tell you before, but we do not have enough remedies for the wounded. Yes, we have more than we had before the delivery from the convent, but we don’t have as much as we require. And I am trying to teach the women how to nurse the wounded, but they don’t seem as if they have too much aptitude.”

  “A good healer is endowed with a gift, Alice. Not everyone has that ability.” He took her hands in his. “You have the gift of healing.”

  “Do you really think suppose that is true, Edmund?”

  “Yes, dear wife, I do.” He gave her hands a gentle squeeze.

  “Thank you, Edmund.” She nodded. “We are all given different talents.”

  “At the moment, there is nothing I can do here, Alice.”

  “But there is, Edmund. I know you have trained soldiers to fight, but what about the food stores? When the villagers crowd into this castle before Camden attacks, our food will go all too quickly. Those people will eat everything. They must to stay alive. What about the security of the water supply? We have two wells, but they can be poisoned. And when Camden gets out his trebuchet and smashes our walls to powder, then what?”

  “You’ve given the coming siege considerable thought,” Edmund said, releasing her hands and rubbing the back of his neck. “Better consideration than I,” he said, and he began to pace.

  “This siege, which you have promised will happen, is threatening our lives, Edmund. It is never far from my mind, nor is the horrible devastation that could happen. We could all starve to death. If I must die, I prefer to go quickly.”

  He stopped and walked to her. “Do not speak of leaving me.”

  “We must consider the possibilities, my love,” she said, “even if the outcomes are not to our liking.”

  “I have to say you are right, Alice. I have concentrated on the defenses of this castle, but food, water, and medicine, are of prime importance, and then there is the dreaded trebuchet.”

  “What will we do about that, Edmund?” Alice took his hands in hers and gazed deeply into his deep blue eyes.

  “There is little we can do except to kill the men who operate it, but that will be difficult,” he said. “The men are moving targets when they walk the great wheels that propels the weapon. An archer would have to be very lucky to strike the men. Trebuchets are hard to burn because the animal hides to not easily ignite, and the metal does not combust well either. And if we are lucky and kill the operators, those men can easily be replaced.”

  “There has to be some way to defend ourselves,” she stated urgently.

  “Well, we can build our own trebuchet, but I don’t think it would be effective against an invading army. It’s a weapon for battering down walls,” Edmund replied.

  “We must think about it, Edmund, my love. I don’t wish to be killed by Camden.”

  “I don’t either, my dearest one,” Edmund said and put his arms around her.

  Alice reveled in the warmth of him, and then she said, “But there is another reason why we must survive.”

  “Why,” he asked. Edmund now held her at arms’ length and his eyes held a puzzled expression.

  Alice took his hand and rested it on her stomach. “I am carrying our child, Edmund. I wish to live to give birth, and I want us to see the child grow to be an adult.”

  “Are you sure you are expecting our child, Alice?” The look he wore on his face was one of absolute incredulity.

  “I’m quite sure. I had no cycle in January, and it is past the time when I should have had it for this month. I also get very tired these days, and I am a little nauseated first thing in the morning. I have consulted the doctor, and he believes I’m carrying our child, my love. I suppose I should have spoken to the midwife, but she is a gossip, and I didn’t want anyone to know until I told you, Edmund. I have never missed a cycle in my life since they began, so I beli
eve I am going to have our baby.”

  Edmund pulled her close and held her gently. Then he swept her up in his arms cradling her and spun them around and then stopped. “Oh, Alice, I’m so happy. This is the news I have wanted to hear for so long.”

  “I am thrilled, too,” she said and caressed his cheek. “I cannot tell you how much I want this baby.”

  “Does your grandfather know?”

  “No, I wanted you to be the first to know,” she replied. “That is as it should be. You are the father.” She smiled.

  Edmund set her on her feet and kissed her. “If you had given me all the riches in the world, I could not be happier.”

  Alice wondered about that. Edmund was always so preoccupied with his lack of fortune and title, but she did not mention those issues. She refused to spoil this most precious of moments.

  “I hope we shall be good parents,” he said.

  “I believe we will be, so we must defeat Camden. He will kill us and our child. Then he will seize this property. We cannot let that happen, Edmund.”

  “Yes, we must, but please, Alice, let’s have a few hours of celebration before we have to deal with the realities that Camden has thrust in our faces.”

  “Yes, you’re right, Edmund.”

  He kissed her again, and for a little while, Alice pushed thoughts of Camden and death away and concentrated on the tiny life growing within her and the promise it could have.

  Would they live to see the child grow to adulthood? Alice couldn't see the future, but she fervently hoped they would.

  * * * *

  The snowdrops bloomed in February, braving the cold of winter. They looked so delicate, yet they braved the elements with the valor of an old battle-hardened warrior confronting the enemy in war.

  The crocuses arrived a short time later and peeped up through the patches of late snow. The golden daffodils arrived and bobbed in the stiff winds of March. Finally, the weather warmed to the point where the fields went under cultivation.

  Alice, her abdomen now slightly swollen with her child, watched from the window as the teams of oxen tilled the soil.

  “The awakening fields,” she whispered. Soon those fertile patches of land would sprout with crops of wheat, oats, and rye. Hawthorns and lilacs would add color, along with the fruit trees, which would put forth their lacy, delicate blossoms of pink and white.