A Winter's Knight

by Fiona Neal

  Alice sank into a chair. “I am exhausted, Grandfather.”

  “Yes, my child,” Lord De Winter said. “I am sure you are, and you wish to go to your rooms.”

  “I do, but tomorrow, I wish to meet with you, Edmund, and Godwin. The young man told me he had been thinking about the trebuchet. I believe he may have an idea for us.”

  “Oh, I pray God that he does, Alice. I do not believe that barbican can withstand another battering. Camden is just waiting to kill us.”

  “Yes, and after Edmund, I shall be next on his list. If I am dead, he will also murder my unborn child. He will then go after you, dear Grandfather.”

  “Oh, God spar us,” Lord De Winter said.

  “But if I were Camden, I should not be counting my chickens before they hatch. We do not have a trebuchet, but we have courage and intelligence,” Alice replied.

  “Yes, we do,” Edmund said, hurrying his way back into the room.”

  “I imagine the men are being fed,” Lord De Winter said.

  “Yes, and I think I shall take my wife to our suite. She looks tired.”

  “She does,” Lord De Winter said. “She needs her rest and so does the babe she is carrying.”

  Edmund took her hand, tugged her to her feet, and then swept her up into his arms. “We shall see you in the morning, my lord.”

  Lord De Winter smiled. “Have a pleasant night.”

  “Thank you, my lord,” Alice said.

  Edmund then carried Alice to their rooms.

  “I smell soup.” She sniffed as he placed her on her feet near the table.”

  “Yes, we have vegetable soup, trenchers and some fish. The men went out of the secret passage and caught some pike in the lake.”

  “The meal sounds enticing. I must admit, I am hungry, Edmund.”

  “We shall dine then. I am hungry too.” He smiled and pulled out the chair for her.

  They ate most of the food, and he said, “You look exhausted, Alice. Why don't you sleep?”

  “I thought you would want to make love.”

  “I always want to make love with you, but I think you will like it better if you slept a while first.”

  “Perhaps you are right.” She yawned.

  She then walked to the small table and brushed her teeth with a marshmallow stick, using salt and sage. Edmund did the same.

  “Shall I call your lady's maid, Alice?'

  “No, you can assist me,” she replied.

  He helped her doff her outer vestments, and they she reclined on the comfortable bed.

  She cuddled down next to him, and sleep came, but sometime later, she woke.

  The room was warm, but he had lit a fire. He stood by it, a tall, strong presence with the orange flames as a backdrop.

  “Edmund,” she said softly. “What are you going there?”

  “I am wondering what Godwin can tell us about the trebuchet?”

  “We shall discover that in the early morning, my love,” she answered.

  He walked to her and sat by her on the bed.

  “You couldn't sleep.” She caressed his face.

  “I did for a while, but then I woke. I had a terrible dream that Camden's men overran the castle, and we were all killed.”

  “We must have faith, my love. “ She sat up, put her arms around him, and they kissed.

  “I know you were not gone a long time, but I missed you so much,” he whispered.

  “And I missed you, Edmund, so much that I do not have the words to tell you.”

  “I want you so desperately, Alice. It may be the last time we make love.”

  “And I want you, too, my love,” she said.

  They kissed again, and she felt their hunger for each other burgeon. His hands caressed her breast, and Alice felt breathless with desire.

  They were in a most dangerous situation, but at the moment, all she could think of was Edmund.

  His luscious lips dropped kisses down her neck and to her breast. He fastened his mouth on her nipple and sucked, and then he gave the other rosy crest the same treatment,

  The pull of his mouth made her even more aroused, and Alice felt wild with desire.

  “I missed you so much, Alice, I ached for want of you.”

  “And I felt the same, Edmund. It is as if you have become a part of me. I am so much less of a person without you.”

  “I feel the same way, my love,” he said, and his big hands traveled down her body to her nether lips. He gently messaged them until she climaxed.

  He clung to her until her pleasure ebbed, and then he aroused her again. Turning her on her side, he entered her warm, inviting body from the back, stroking gently. “I feel the pleasure rushing on me,” he whispered. A few seconds later, he said, “Oh,” she she felt the warm spray of his essence.

  “I love you, Alice.”

  “And I love you, Edmund.”

  They remained in each other's arms.

  They slept again until she woke to see the spring sky—now pink-gold with the glorious light of the sun.

  “Edmund,” she said, “wake up.”

  He bolted upright. “Are we under attack?”

  “No,” she replied, “but we must wash, dress, and meet in his lordship's chambers.”

  “Oh, yes. Godwin is going to tell us his answer for the trebuchet.”

  “Yes,” she said, getting out of bed. “We must also eat some breakfast.”

  * * * *

  Bathed, dressed, and their breakfast consumed, Alice and Edmund sat with Lord De Winter, as Godwin said, “I think we can destroy the trebuchet with Greek fire.”

  “Do you know how to make Greek fire, Godwin?” Lord De Winter asked.

  “No, my lord. I thought we may have some in the armory?”

  “I can tell you that we do not,” Edmund said. “I know of every weapon, but I know we do not have Greek fire there. I wished we did. If so, I should have had my archers fire on that war machine immediately. Greek fire does not go out. It just keeps burning.”

  “The only thing that stops it is to smother it,” Lord De Winter said.

  “Does anyone know what it consists of?” Godwin asked. “If we have the ingredients, we could make it. I saw it once at a fair. The fire did not go out with water. In fact, the water spread it. The only thing that extinguishes it is to smother it. If we hit the trebuchet with flaming arrows. If Camden's men douse it with water, the flames would spread more.”

  “I can ask if anyone knows that ingredients, “ Edmund said. “But I doubt it. Someone would have come forward.”

  “Still, maybe someone does know. It would hurt to ask, Sir Edmund,” Lord De Winter said.

  “I shall, my lord.” But Edmund did not have much hope. If someone knew it, that person would have come forward long before now.

  Edmund knew that weapon was used in the distant past, but the formula was lost long ago. It was a powerful tool.

  The one thing for which Edmund was grateful was the Camden didn't have any Greek fire. At least, he didn't think his enemy had it.

  * * * *

  Alice put the pillow over her head, for the noise and the vibration of the trebuchet hurling great stones against the barbican were making her mad with fear and dread.

  Some of the archers had killed the men operating the great war machine, but the dead men were soon replaced by other soldiers.

  Soon the wall would be breached and Camden's men would overrun the castle. Her grandfather, her husband, she, and her child would likely soon die. Still, they would be the just a few who would be slaughtered. Many who had taken refuge in the castle would also lose their lives. The king's soldiers, and the men Lord Bosworth had sent to help, would be killed, taken prisoner, or ransomed.

  Oh, this was the most terrible situation.

  Alice thought about her life just six months ago. She had been living quietly in the convent, waiting to become a postulant in the Benedictine order. Even though she was not yet received into the order, she lived according to the rule�
�for the most part.

  That peaceful existence had been so simple. It consisted of work and prayer. She had to obey the abbess and the rule of the order.

  Alice also enjoyed helping the sick and brewing the medicines made from herbs and plants that helped make the patients better..

  Now, she was facing death—and so was the unborn life within her.

  Alice got down on her knees and she prayed that God spare her until the babe was born. She knew all life ended. Every living thing must die, but her child had not had the opportunity to live life.

  “Please, Dearest God, help us. Let my babe live if that is Your will.”

  But she shouldn't be here. She should be in the undercroft, tending to the injured men.

  Alice made her way down to the undercroft, and the area was buzzing with activity. Wounded men, brought in by their companions in arms, were bleeding and moaning. The women she had trained endeavored to help the poor patients as best they could.

  The area smelled of blood, which nauseated her, but she put her perfumed handkerchief to her nose and soldiered on to her tasks. A man, just brought in, had an arrow in his leg. There were huge blood vessels in the legs, and Alice prayed it had not been injured. She also prayed an infection would not set in.

  She could perform admirably, but if festering set in, Alice could do little against it.

  God help me give the proper aid to this poor man.

  Alice did all she could to help the man, removing the arrow head, while he screamed in pain. She was relieved, for the weapon had not severed the large artery. She then washed the area and used the cautery to stop the bleeding. She thanked God the major vessel had not been severed.

  To make matters worse, the sun did not set until close to midnight, and it didn't really get dark. The men at the trebuchet could go on for hours more.

  After several hours, Marjorie, one of the women who helped, approached her. “My lady, you look pale. Perhaps you should take a rest. We can manage here. You must think of your babe.”

  “Yes,” Alice said and nodded. “I shall take a short rest.”

  Just then, Edmund strode in. He did not say anything, but swung her exhausted body up, and carried her to their suite.

  She took off her bloodied outer wear and he wrapped her in a robe, for the weather had cooled considerably. He put her in bed and gave her a drink of warm milk.

  “Now you should sleep, Alice.”

  “The noise of the trebuchet will not allow me to do that.”

  “They must stop soon, my love.”

  “Why?”

  “I believe there will be a thunderstorm.” He motioned to the glazed window. “See the clouds.”

  “I do not think a shower will stop them,” she said.

  “They will have to eat and rest, Alice.”

  “I pray that they do that soon. The walls are fifteen feet thick, but after a time, they will collapse.

  “But changing the subject, Edmund, did any of your men know how to make Greek fire?”

  “I'm afraid not.” He shook his head. “It is a pity. Godwin had a good idea.”

  “Perhaps we should said a prayer,” she said, taking his hands.

  “You pray, Alice. Your prayers are always lovely.” He bowed his head.

  “Thank you,” she said and folded her hands. “Dear God, please deliver us from the evil that Camden has brought on us. Please restore justice and goodness to us and restore the wounded me to health Amen.”

  “Amen,” he added. “Are you hungry, Alice?”

  “Not at the moment,” she said.

  “I know the noise of battle will prevent you from sleeping, but I think you should stay in bed and think of good things.”

  “Will you go?” she asked.

  “No. For the moment, Sir Crispin is looking after the situation.”

  “You can stay with me.”

  “Yes, I shall stay with you, dearest one.”

  “Good,” she said.

  The trebuchet suddenly stopped, and Alice noticed the sky had turned dark with rain clouds.

  “Perhaps you can sleep for a little while, Alice. I believe we will have heavy rain. Camden will give the order to cease and desist. He wants to drag this fight out, so we shall be glad to surrender.”

  “Maybe so.”

  Thunder boomed, and she heard large drops of rain pelt down and splatter against the glazed windows.

  Edmund went to the window. “Camden's men are leaving for the moment.”

  “Yes, I suppose they would go. A thunder storm can be dangerous.” She rose from bed and walked to the window.

  “You should be in bed,” Edmund said.

  “Yes, I'll go, but I want to see the men leave the field,” she said. “And it will be nice to have it quiet. I thought the noise of the smashing rocks would drive me to madness.”

  “Yes, the relentless noise became unendurable,” he added. “It is really a form of torture.”

  With his arm around her shoulder, Alice watched as Camden's men left their positions and headed for their tents.

  Suddenly, a huge bolt of lightning forked across the deep gray sky and touched down on the trebuchet. It incinerated the huge war machine in an instant, and the gasps of the men could be heard like a chorus. It also killed a great many of Camden's men who were near the war weapon.

  “Oh, God, please help and save us,” Alice cried out and dropped to her knees, making a sign of the cross and trembling as a deafening roll of thunder sounded.

  “I think God just did,” Edmund remarked and smiled. “The tide of this battle just turned, my love. Without that trebuchet, the odds changed in favor of our side. We have the fighting men because Lord Bosworth and King Stephen have sent reinforcements. We can hold this castle.”

  “Yes,” she said, realizing the good fortune.. “We should have a Te Deum sung tomorrow.”

  “Yes, we should, but for now, let us get some sleep. We have not won yet, Alice.”

  “No, we haven't, but we have a good chance to do it.”

  Edmund put his arm around Alice and led her to bed. “Some sleep now for you and our child.”

  “Yes.” She nodded. “Some badly needed rest.”

  * * * *

  Edmund and Alice attended mass the next day, as was the usual routine, but the Te Deum was sung.

  They then proceeded to the great hall to eat a breakfast of porridge, bread, and beer for everyone except Alice who drank some warm milk.

  Her grandfather, in high spirits, said, “The destruction of the trebuchet is a great event in our favor. Now, Camden will pack his things and order his men to go home.”

  Edmund wasn't so sure those things would happen. He knew Lord Camden better than most. He felt sure the nobleman would do something else before he gave up. Actually, he did not think the man would just go home. The evil lord would probably do something else—and it would be terrible.

  Nevertheless, Edmund kept those thoughts to himself. He did not wish to demoralize the people of De Winter Castle or village. He certainly didn't want to upset Alice. So...he decided to wait and see.

  “Sir Edmund,” a servant said.

  “Yes,” Edmund replied.

  “I have a message from Lord Camden. He wishes to speak to you in an hour. Do you wish to reply?”

  “Yes.” Edmund nodded. “I shall meet him at the western side of the castle.”

  Camden had all but destroyed the eastern side. One or two more strikes and he would have broken through the defense of the castle. Luckily, the walls there were fifteen feet thick.

  The smile fled Lord De Winter's face, and Alice turned quite pale.

  She reached for his hand under the table and squeezed it hard. Her wide eyes told him she was most unhappy.

  “Why does that scoundrel wish to meet you?” Lord De Winter asked.

  “I do not know,” Edmund replied, but he certainly had his ideas. If Camden killed Edmund, it would be one less enemy with whom the vile lord would have to deal. Edmund als
o stood between the him and Lord De Winter and Alice.

  Camden would do his best to kill both of them—and end the life of the unborn child.

  God help me, and God help the people of this castle and village.

  “I must go and made ready to meet Lord Camden,” he said quietly to Alice.

  “I shall come with you, Edmund.” She stood and took his hand.

  “And I shall escort you to see Camden in an hour,” Lord De Winter added.

  “As you wish,” Edmund agreed.

  “I shall meet you on the western battlement,” Lord De Winter informed him.

  Alice and Edmund left and returned to their suite.

  “I do not like this invitation, Edmund, if one can call it that,” she stated. “It is more like a summons.”

  “Nor do I like it,” he replied. “If the man had any sense, he would go home and write and apology to the king and send it along with his regrets and a large gift. He should also pay for the damage done to the wall.”

  “But he hates to lose at anything, Edmund.” She took his hands. “I do not know what he will demand, but I know he will not be satisfied until you are dead.”

  “Well, I refuse to give him that satisfaction, my love. I want to see my child when it is born. “

  Edmund went into his room, and removed his tunic. He then put on his padded jack and then his mail shirt and hood. He buckled on his sword and returned to her with his helmet under his arm.

  “I remember the first time I saw you,” she recalled. “You were carrying your helmet as you are now.”

  “I recollect that night, too, or was it in the wee hours of the morning?”

  “I think it might have been the wee hours,” she added. “It was so and dark and so cold. How did you make your way without light?”

  “We carried some lanterns,” he said.”We should have stayed at an inn, but Nigel and Crispin agreed we should press on because we did not want to travel in the snow. We also wanted to get back to De Winter Castle as soon as we could.”

  “I am glad we did,” she said.

  “Are you, dear love?”

  “Yes.” She nodded and said, “Oh, Edmund, I am so afraid. Camden doesn't have the trebuchet, but he has other resources.”

  “I know, Alice.”

  She began to cry. “I don't want you to die, Edmund.”