To Love in Peace: 10th Anniversary Edition

by Kathleen Bird

  “I love you, and I will always love you. Love as strong as death, right, Katherine?”

  “Right. I’ll love you just the same no matter what happens. I love you, Michael.”

  “I love you too.” With that he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. The men behind them clapped and cheered. Katherine blushed. Just then, Adam rode up beside them.

  “The gatemen and the trumpeter are ready when you are, Your Majesties.” He bowed and moved his horse back with the men. The knights would march as one today, with their King and Queen in the front.

  A nod from Michael and the gate opened. The trumpet sounded and the army marched forward. The people hanging out of the windows of the castle cheered, as did the archers led by Edwin. It was a joyful sound, ironic for such a bleak day. They were outnumbered and weak, but there was joy in their hearts as they marched to an unknown fate.

  The enemy stretched out once again on the grassy open space before them. The sun was to Adven’s advantage, as it was in their opponent’s eyes. Katherine sat straight up in her saddle; she hardly moved a muscle. Instinctively, she drew her sword as the two lines approached each other. Suddenly, a bright flash reflecting partly from the sunlight, but mostly from her sword, filled the battlefield. The enemy line paused as they were momentarily blinded. Glancing quickly from Michael to the blinded knights across from them she screamed, “Now!” And raising her sword she took advantage of the momentary distraction. She charged forward, slashing madly with her sword. The gallop of Michael’s horse was right behind her, along with the rest of the Adven army. The clash of battle was all around her as she was swept further away from the safety of the castle. All around her people were falling as she fought. Her sword was swirling like a baton around her. The space between her and her attackers was growing when suddenly she realized something terrible. In her first charge, the whole army had followed her. But after the initial distraction and the subsequent battle, the army fell back completely unaware that she was still in the midst of her battle fury. Now, she was completely surrounded!

  Edwin saw it all from the parapets where the archers stood. He watched the charge go seemingly well at first, but then fall back. He saw the sun glinting off Katherine’s sword and the golden circlet. That circlet ensured that she would be killed momentarily if someone did not help her. Suddenly, Michael looked as though he would charge single handedly back into the battle, but Adam pulled his horse in front to stop the king from attacking rashly. The argument couldn’t be heard, but it was clear that Michael would not allow Katherine to die without a fight; and Adam would not allow the king to charge to his death.

  In one moment, his mind was decided. Without a second thought, Edwin rushed down the stairs to the stable to grab his own horse. It was not the biggest or the best, and therefore had not been chosen to go into battle. Edwin had already saddled her because it felt like the right thing to do. Now he was immensely glad of that decision as he mounted quickly and went charging through the gates. His bow was still on his back, completely useless in the open battlefield, he thought. However, he had managed to unsheathe his sword and came bearing down on the army of Adven with sword in the ready. Startled knights backed out of his way; Edwin was an excellent horseman. In fact, he charged right in between Michael and Adam, giving neither the opportunity to stop him. With Adam’s voice ringing in his ears, he charged into the middle of the clash, desperate to save Katherine.

  Queen Katherine was swinging her sword with all her might, taking out everyone within reach. Her thoughts weren’t on Michael, the baby, or Adven. She was concentrating on staying alive! Her heart beat wildly, and she thought about passing out, but then she’d be dead for sure. Her sword arm was growing tired. Everything was starting to spin. Another few moments and she would have to focus on keeping her eyes open. Suddenly, there was more yelling behind her. She whirled around ready to face a new opponent and found Edwin, swinging a sword in every direction, coming to her rescue. In no time, he’d cut through the enemy line and forced her to retreat. Not that she needed much convincing.

  The trumpet sounded the retreat for the opposing army. Exhausted, Katherine and Edwin returned to the waiting company. Michael rode forward immediately.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. When I get my breath back, I’ll be sure to thank Edwin for saving my life.”

  “I’ll be sure to thank him as well.”

  “No thanks…is…necessary.” Edwin rode up to the whispering couple, having overheard the conversation, gasping for air until he could catch his breath. “I was just playing my part.” With a cluck to his horse, he turned and rode over to Adam who was smiling, revealing the deep affection he had for the boy as well as the intense pride that threatened to burst from his chest at any moment.

  There was not another moment to think before the trumpet was sounding and they were charging once again. The clash of battle rang over the whole countryside. Knights fell to the ground on both sides. When the retreat was finally called, the men of Adven were tired and becoming discouraged.

  “What’s the plan?” Katherine called over the ruckus of retreat. Michael could barely hear her over the noise. She was looking at him waiting for an answer he didn’t have. They couldn’t keep charging and retreating. What good would that do? However, he knew there was no better plan today than there was last night.

  “I don’t know,” he whispered. God, give me a plan. I don’t know what to do. I can’t keep sacrificing these men, but I can’t surrender. My hands are tied. Just tell me what to do! As there was no immediate answer to his prayer, he turned to Katherine’s upturned face. Her eyes were shining with the light of battle and the hope of victory. Where was this peace coming from? She’d never looked so beautiful to him as she did in that moment.

  “It’s okay if you don’t have a plan. Love as strong as death, remember? I won’t leave you, no matter what happens.” If there had been a moment, she would have kissed him. As there wasn’t, she simply smiled. The baby kicked inside.

  Michael returned her smile and looked at the knights bringing the wounded from the battlefield to the castle. There were so many wounded! And there had been so few to start with. How could they ever face such odds?

  “Princess Katherine!”

  A stranger’s voice echoed over the bloody grass. A single knight from the enemy’s camp was coming forward with a scroll of parchment in his hand. His face was stern and hard. He spoke in a deathlike monotone that sent chills down Edwin’s spine.

  “It’s the chief’s right-hand man, his brother,” Edwin whispered to Adam. “He’s the one who leads the warfront. His brother may be their ‘king’, but he’s no fighter. He’s a coward.” Fearing that the approaching stranger heard him, Edwin ducked behind some of the men.

  “Princess Katherine! To avoid unnecessary bloodshed, the King has offered these conditions of surrender: complete and total surrender of the lands and ruling of Adven, offer of servitude from both yourself and your husband, all future children immediate slaves to His Majesty, and revocation of all claims to the throne both now and in the future.”

  Edwin, still hiding behind those in front of him, heard these terms of surrender and nearly growled. The audacity! That coward! How dare he come and offer such unacceptable terms. And to even think that they would actually surrender!

  Michael was about to speak, but the man interrupted. “My business is not with you. It is with the Princess Katherine.”

  “You mean Queen Katherine.” And Katherine herself appeared. Her dress was torn and bloodstained from the battle. Her horse was breathing heavily. But with the sun shining off her crown and her raised sword, she looked exactly like a queen. “I am no longer the little girl your chief knew. My father is dead and gone. You, whoever you are, have no business with me save surrendering yourself. It was you who attacked Adven for no reason but revenge! It was you who murdered hundreds of thousands of innocents! It was you who killed my father!” With each statement she rode clo
ser and closer until her sword was almost on the knight’s neck. Then she pulled back. “But I believe in a God of mercy.” She sheathed her sword and offered her hand. “Here are my terms of surrender: you and your men leave and never return. Your weapons remain here on the battlefield, and you leave immediately. The offer is only open now. Take it or prepare to fight to your deaths.”

  The man looked at her outstretched hand for a moment and then drew his sword. In another minute, Katherine would have been dead; but an arrow flew through the air and killed the man where he stood. The whole army whirled around to see Edwin standing with his “useless” bow drawn and looking as if he were about to faint. His face paled, and Adam caught him before he collapsed. With a smile on his face, the older man said, “Good job, my son. You have indeed played your part.”

  But the war was not over yet. Seeing their leader shot down and knowing that whoever killed the Queen first would be the new leader, the army charged forward. They all raced toward Katherine and Michael who were fighting side by side. The knights of Adven responded instantly to the threat and many did not even reach the King and Queen before they met their deaths.

  How long this went on no one knew. Michael and Katherine remained fighting side by side and back-to-back until they felt they would collapse. Still, there were always new knights coming from behind the lines. Everyone was tired, and there was no sign of the end coming quickly. With no leader to sound their retreat, the army just continued to come in wave after wave of fresh knights coming to try their hand.

  “Michael! I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out!”

  She turned to hear his response and found that the two of them had become separated at some point. The army of Adven had consequently split in half in an attempt to protect both leaders. There was no time for strategy, just survival. Katherine swung her sword and knocked down one man, only to have him replaced by two more. It was the same everywhere she looked. It seemed defeat was unavoidable.

  Suddenly, a trumpet ringing across the glade. It was not Adven’s; nor was it the enemy’s. “Where is that coming from?” Katherine screamed in frustration. She was completely surrounded once again. Her sword worked like a whirlwind swinging at anything that came close. That didn’t seem to deter the knights attacking her. The trumpet continued ringing in the distance, quickly coming closer and closer until…

  The trumpeter broke over the top of the hill off to their right. The standard bearer came right up behind him, and the wind caught the flag unfurling it to reveal: the flag of Suffrom! King Evan had come to their rescue! A moment later the entire army of Suffrom was spilling onto the battlefield. King Evan himself was leading the charge into the confused enemy before them. If the knights had been in disorder before, now they fell into complete chaos. Some started fleeing into the woods. Others still continued to doggedly attack Katherine and Michael. Others turned their attention to King Evan, figuring to take him while he was first entering the fray. Adven’s knights used the distraction to dispatch with the confused enemy who had no idea which direction to turn and no leader to tell them.

  Katherine felt the knights around her letting up a little, and she started to breathe a little easier. As she looked around, she saw Edwin fighting to her right. He had obviously recovered from his brief fainting spell and was now doing significant damage to anyone who tried to get near her. On her left, Adam was doing the same for anyone daring to approach Michael. His sword swung in brilliant curly cues and took down many a valiant knight. The battle was indeed turning in their favor. She couldn’t see King Evan, but she could she his knights mixed among her own. They were pushing the enemy back from the castle walls. It seemed victory was near at hand!

  Then the unthinkable happened. Just when it seemed that the war would soon be over and everyone would make it out alright, Katherine turned to see Michael struggling to free himself from the grip of one determined knight who’d caught hold of his sword arm. Seeing the King almost defeated, many knights turned their attention to unhorsing him. Before she had a chance to scream, Michael had been pulled from his horse, his sword taken from him, and immediately he was pulled underneath a sea of fighting people.

  “MICHAEL!!!!!!!” Her voice rang above all the chaos around her. Both Adam and Edwin heard her distress and turned their attentions to rescuing their king. Many of the knights of Adven and Suffrom did the same. Katherine herself turned to charge through those immediately surrounding her. She raised her sword, and a brilliant flash erupted sending those attempting to attack her sprawling on the ground. Not stopping to ponder, she swept through the next layer of knights and rushed to her husband. She couldn’t see him through the teeming mass of people. When she finally pushed her way through, she wanted to burst into tears.

  It was just like in her nightmare all those months ago. He lay sprawled on the ground with unseeing eyes open to the world. There was blood everywhere, and she couldn’t tell which wound was the most significant. There were too many to count. His clothes and the ground around him were stained red.

  The whole world seemed to stop, and it was just Michael and Katherine. Every happy moment they’d spent together flashed through her mind. Then some of the sad times pushed their way in. She wanted to burst into tears and collapse on the ground, but that wasn’t an option. She could feel the baby, their baby, kicking inside her. Nothing would ever be the same again.

  A hand touched her arm. It was Adam. He’d finally reached her and seen Michael lying on the ground. He pulled her away from the distressing scene.

  While her world had stopped, the battle had been won. The knights of Suffrom had saved them. No one had found King Evan yet. They didn’t know whether he was alive or dead. Now that he knew where Michael was, Adam summoned knights to bear the King to the castle.

  “Katherine?”

  She didn’t respond. At some point she had dismounted, and her horse had been led away. She didn’t remember that happening, but how could she now be standing on the blood red grass where her husband lay dying just a moment before? She didn’t even hear Adam’s question.

  “Katherine? You’ve got to snap out of it! Your people need you!”

  Still no response.

  “Katherine!”

  She finally looked at Adam with tearful eyes. “He’s dead, Adam. I watched him die, and I couldn’t do anything about it.”

  “Katherine!” He grabbed her hands and held them in his own. Her sword had long ago fallen unheeded to the ground. “Michael is not dead!”

  It didn’t register. “I watched him die. I couldn’t even say good-bye.”

  “Katherine!” Adam had to shout in her face to get her to look at him. “Michael is not dead! Not yet anyway. There is hope for him!”

  “Hope?”

  “Yes! Eli is with him now doing everything in his power to keep him alive.”

  “He’s alive?” It finally dawned on her. “He’s not dead? He’s alive! Michael’s alive!” She threw her arms around Adam’s neck and kissed him on the cheek. Now the tears were falling down unhindered. She picked up her sword, wiped it on the grass, and sheathed it. She would have started off to the castle immediately if a knight had not appeared just then with a solemn look on his face.

  “Your Majesty?”

  “Yes?” Her face fell when she saw the knight’s serious expression.

  “We found King Evan. He was overtaken in the first attack.” The knight lowered his eyes to the ground.

  “Is he…”

  “Dead? I’m afraid so. Many swords and spears pierced him. There was no chance for him, but we believe he probably died without much pain.”

  The tears that had been joyous now turned to sorrow once again. What would she tell Ralyn? What about their baby born just a few months ago? “Bring him to the castle. We will prepare the body and send him home. He would want to be buried in Suffrom.”

  As soon as the knight turned away to follow her instructions, she felt Adam’s hand on her arm again. “Come now, my Queen. You
have done all you can do here.” She allowed herself to be led away from the battlefield. When they arrived at the castle, Eli made sure she went to her room and immediately went to bed. Katherine fell asleep instantly and slept until the next day.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Queen Katherine stood on the parapet watching the men take care of the battlefield. There were, unfortunately, many graves to be dug; and it was not a pleasant work. Better to get it done and over with quickly. But she wasn’t really watching the men work or the knights cleaning their weapons or the children running freely in the courtyard. Her mind was on the pale figure she had seen yesterday lying on the battlefield. Eli had not allowed her into the room where Michael lay. “He needs rest. He’s far from healed yet. If you feel you want to help him, go and pray.” So that was what she was doing. Standing alone on the parapet with the wind blowing her breezy blond hair out of her face and rustling her skirts; it seemed the perfect place to pray.

  God, You gave me such peace. I thought You said everything would be okay! Well, I guess You didn’t say that. I said that. But I thought that since You gave me peace You would make everything else work out as well.

  She moved from leaning on the wall to pacing back and forth.

  Yes, we won the battle. The men are still searching for the chief, but if Edwin is correct, the second in command is dead. That’s some good news at least. But King Evan is dead. Michael is dying! This baby is kicking frantically like it wants to escape. All this mess can’t be good for him…or her. That just complicates everything, God.