The Warrior Maiden

by Melanie Dickerson

  “I shall tell him.” The monk-soldier turned and left.

  Wolfgang pulled Mulan closer. She turned to face him.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.

  “Wearing this?” She glanced down at her ugly brown quilted and padded gambeson.

  “It doesn’t matter what you wear. I will always see you as beautiful.”

  An image of Algirdas’s face flashed across her vision as he gazed down at the stains on her dress. But Wolfie was not like Algirdas. Or her father.

  His gaze focused on her lips again when she heard heavy footsteps coming down the corridor. She quickly pulled away from him, this time letting go of his hand. She was standing with her arms crossed when Rusdorf entered through the open door.

  “Greetings.” Rusdorf nodded to Wolfgang. He only glanced at Mulan, then his focus returned to Wolfgang.

  “Greetings,” Wolfgang said.

  Mulan said nothing. Why should she greet the man who wanted to kill her mother and wasn’t even acknowledging her? But at least he was speaking Polish so she could understand.

  Rusdorf’s lips twisted and his throat bobbed. “The reports that came to me of Frau Feodosia’s salve and its miraculous powers must have been exaggerated or misunderstood. But God in His mercy has graciously given her another chance to live a righteous life. She is free to return to her home.”

  “What will happen to my brother?” Wolfgang’s voice and demeanor were both stern. He was not trying to assuage Rusdorf’s guilt, and he certainly wasn’t praising his current behavior to gain his favor.

  Mulan had never loved him more.

  “Your brother’s injuries are not serious. But he did not acquit himself according to the rules of the joust. He deliberately threw down his lance. Therefore I cannot honor my promise to knight him and hear his vows or accept him into our holy order of knights.”

  “I wish to speak to him.”

  Rusdorf was silent for a few moments. “I care not if you speak with him. You are not a prisoner and may do as you wish. In the meantime . . .” He turned his gaze on Mulan. “She must dress as a woman while she’s enjoying the hospitality of Malbork Castle.”

  “I have no problem with wearing women’s attire. But I will be dressed in my riding clothes to make the journey back to Zachev Castle.”

  “Very well. I give my consent to you wearing your men’s clothing on the day you depart. And I ask that you never return here. A woman pretending to be a man is not what I wish these righteous brothers to be exposed to. When Wolfgang is sufficiently recovered from his injur—”

  “When he is recovered from his injuries,” Mulan said forcefully, “we shall leave and never return, I assure you, but not because you are righteous and I am unrighteous.” Her breathing was coming fast and heat rose into her head. How dare this arrogant man try to make her feel less righteous than he?

  Rusdorf stared at her with his cold, beady eyes, a spot of red on both cheeks. He made eye contact with Wolfgang, bowed quickly, and left the room.

  Mulan leaned toward Wolfgang. He kept his head down, but he slipped an arm around her and pulled her closer.

  “What are you thinking about?” Mulan tried to see his expression, but since he was sitting and she was standing, his head was slightly lower than hers.

  “I was thinking about Steffan. What will happen to him now? He always only wanted to be a knight.”

  “I am sorry. I know how much you love your brother.”

  His brown-eyed gaze slid to hers, and the corners of his mouth curled into a lopsided smile.

  “What else are you thinking about?” she asked in response to that smile.

  “That it’s probably good that Rusdorf left the door open. We might forget ourselves.” He was staring at her lips.

  She moved away from him a bit. “That is true.”

  She probably should not have kissed him the way she had. She had opened a door to temptation, certainly. It seemed wise to talk of something else.

  “How are your injuries? Are you in much pain?”

  “Not when you’re with me.”

  “Much blood loss?”

  “Not very much.” He reached out and fingered a tendril of her hair that had come loose from its tie.

  “We should talk about what our plans are. I haven’t spoken to Mother, but I was hoping she might go back to Duke Konrad’s with us. She has no close family in Lithuania. They’ve all died, and I am in Poland now.”

  “I think that would be a very good thing.” He lifted her hand and kissed it.

  “When do you think you’ll be well enough to travel? We can set a slower pace on the way back to Zachev Castle, especially if we have Mother with us.”

  “I can leave tomorrow, if needed.”

  “I think you need at least two full days and nights of rest. We can depart on the third day from today.”

  He trailed the backs of his fingers down her cheek. “When did you first fall in love with me?”

  Her heart fluttered, but she had to stay firm. She stepped out of his embrace, standing just out of his reach. “I cannot tell you that. Your head will swell twice its size, and no one will be able to recognize you.”

  “Do you think so little of me?” But he was smiling, a spark glittering in his eyes.

  “I think that you’re tired and need your rest.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “But you love me, tak?”

  “Tak.”

  He tried to pull her closer, but she extricated herself from his arms and stepped back. “I will go so you can speak to your brother alone.” She hurried away.

  Even when she was in her own chamber, her heartbeat did not slow to normal. Never had she felt so exhilarated, happy, and terrified all at the same time. She pressed her hands to her head, a hundred thoughts tangling within.

  Wolfgang was lying in his bed. It had been hours since Mulan left his room, but he was still thinking about her.

  Someone knocked on the door and Steffan entered his room without waiting.

  His brother had a cut under his eye that had not been bandaged and a bright-white bandage just over his eye. His upper arms and shoulders strained against his shirt as he crossed his arms over his chest. He didn’t speak.

  Wolfgang sat up and faced him. “Thank you for not killing me.”

  Steffan leaned his head back, then forward. “I could have.”

  “I know.”

  They stared at each other.

  “I hope you’re not hurt too badly,” Wolfgang said.

  “If the splinter from your lance had struck a bit lower . . .” He gestured to his eye. “But I still have both eyes.” Another pause. “You don’t look like you were hurt much.”

  “Just got knocked off my horse by my older brother. I’ve survived that before, and worse.” Wolfgang smiled. “What will you do now?”

  Steffan shrugged and stared down at the floor. “Don’t know. I’ve always wanted to ride about the countryside seeking damsels in distress I could rescue—for the right amount of reward, of course.” He smiled again.

  “I can actually imagine you doing that. But I would also like you to come to Poland with us. I’m sure Duke Konrad would add you to his guard.”

  Steffan frowned. “I’m not ready for something like that. Don’t know if I’ll ever be.”

  Wolfgang nodded.

  “Your Mulan seems . . . good for you. I suppose you’ll marry her soon.”

  “I plan to.”

  Steffan nodded.

  “Will you stay and see us off in two days?”

  Steffan opened his mouth, hesitated, then said, “Perhaps. The truth is . . .” He swiped a hand down the side of his face, then rubbed his brow while staring at the wall. “I think you were right. I was bothered—a lot—by what happened to that little boy all those years ago.” He cleared his throat, hanging his head. “I talked to the priest here. It was the first time I’d told anyone else about it. I just—” Steffan cleared his throat again. “I felt like it was my f
ault he died, but it made me very angry—and I know that doesn’t make sense. I don’t understand it myself.”

  “It does make sense. I felt so guilty. I ignored the guilt as long as I could, but it wouldn’t go away. I’ve tried to be good, to make up for what happened. The problem is . . . I can’t always be good.”

  Steffan gave a slow nod. He crossed his arms and stared down at the floor. “I know I need to stop being angry. I don’t really know how.”

  “We were only children, Steffan. God forgives us for being careless and not knowing what to do. We’ll never be able to be good enough to make up for what happened. I guess we have to accept that God’s grace is sufficient.” He wished he’d realized this sooner. But if it hadn’t been for Mulan, he might not realize it now. “And Heinlin, being only a small child when he died, is in heaven with God and is no longer being abused by his cruel father.”

  “I’m just glad . . .” Steffan’s voice thickened and he cleared his throat again. “Glad I didn’t kill you in the joust.”

  “As am I.” Wolfgang smiled, a little relieved Steffan wasn’t arguing with him, even though he was changing the topic.

  Steffan looked him in the eye, more humble than Wolfgang had ever seen him.

  “I thought I wanted to be a knight, but once I got here and saw the monastic life . . .” He shook his head. “I always wanted to be a knight, but I never wanted to be a monk.”

  Wolfgang laughed.

  “I will say, though, these men are good men, most of them, and they are truly dedicated to God. I admire that. But I . . . I’m not a monk.”

  “I find it hard to imagine you as a monk.”

  “To get up out of bed three times a night to go kneel and pray . . . I like my sleep too much for that.”

  “And marriage? You could never get married.”

  “Never be with a woman at all.” Steffan shook his head. “Better not to make a vow than to break it.”

  “You are growing quite wise, my brother.”

  “Ach, I know you are laughing at me, but I have learned . . . I don’t want to be a Teutonic Knight. I don’t want to be a soldier at all. I want to do something, I just don’t know what it is yet.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I wonder if I’ll ever know.”

  “You’ll know, someday. Ask God and He will lead you.” Who would have thought his brother would become rather humble while staying here with the Teutonic Knights? “You should write to Mother and Father, go talk to them.”

  Steffan’s mouth twisted, raising his brows. “I will. Eventually. Father and I did not part in the best of ways.”

  Wolfgang wanted to tell him that was his fault, not Father’s, but Steffan might not be ready to hear that. He had come much further than Wolfgang would have imagined, though, and for that miracle, he was thankful.

  CHAPTER 30

  Mulan glanced around. Where was Wolfgang? They should be leaving. The sun was already up.

  Three days had passed, giving Wolfgang time to rest and heal. Mulan was helping Andrei tie their supplies onto their horses’ backs. Aksoma and Boldheart were already saddled, as were Wolfgang’s and Gerke’s horses. They had also readied the horse the Teutonic Knights lent them for her mother, who would be traveling with them to Duke Konrad’s castle instead of going home to Lithuania.

  Steffan came riding from the other stable, walking his white horse straight up to Mulan. “If you and Wolfgang will allow me, I would like to accompany you to make sure you have a safe journey.”

  She stared at his face but found no trace of amusement. She’d had a hard time trusting him after his lack of remorse for shooting her. But he was Wolfie’s brother, he seemed sincere enough now, and she had forgiven him and felt no grudge against him. “Thank you.”

  Wolfgang and Rusdorf walked toward them from the opposite direction. Steffan stared hard at them, scrunching his brows together. Mulan’s thoughts went to the location of her bow and an arrow, just in case she needed them. Then she noticed another man walking slightly behind Rusdorf, flanked on both sides by a guard.

  Lifting his head high, Rusdorf almost made himself look as tall as the men around him. Almost.

  The ends of his long black mustache fluttered in the slight breeze as he said in a loud voice, “In the interest of peaceful relations between Duke Konrad of Zachev, his ally Duke Wilhelm of Hagenheim, and the Order of the Teutonic Knights, I wish to present this Knight of the Order of Teutonic Knights as the one who wrongfully shot Wolfgang Gerstenberg as he entered Malbork Castle.”

  The guards nudged the man forward, his hands tied in front of him, hair flopped over his eyes. He didn’t lift his head.

  “He is Sir Joseph of Berlin. He was ignorant of the peace agreement I signed with Duke Konrad and was attempting to kill those whom he perceived as enemies of Christ. But he understands that killing outside of war is wrong, and therefore you are safe to enter or depart any fortress belonging to the Teutonic Knights, now and in the future.”

  Rusdorf did not have to be terribly wise to realize he did not need to make an enemy of the Duke of Hagenheim.

  Finally the man who had tried to shoot her, but shot Wolfgang instead, lifted his head. Something about his expression as his gaze captured hers sent a shiver down her spine. His eyes seemed wild and crazed, like those of a wolf she’d once seen inside a cage at the market.

  “I shall personally ensure that he never harms you again.” Rusdorf’s lips curled slightly.

  Mulan was grateful when they turned the man around and walked him back toward the castle.

  Wolfgang acknowledged Rusdorf’s words with a nod. If God was willing, he and Mulan would never have to come near another Teutonic Knights’ castle again.

  He couldn’t help watching Steffan as Rusdorf and Sir Joseph turned and went back toward the castle.

  “And now it is your time.” Steffan stood at his shoulder, grinning. “Are you ready, little brother?”

  “I’m ready.” Wolfgang’s heart beat hard against his chest as he was reminded of the morning’s plan. He reached into his saddlebag and pulled out the two rolled-up sheets of parchment. He took a deep breath and searched for Mulan. She stood nearby, talking to her horse and patting his neck. Andrei was beside her, but he was looking at Wolfgang and smiling.

  “Mulan of Lithuania, captain of the guard at Zachev Castle.”

  Mulan turned around, a slight frown on her lips, her eyelids narrowing, as everyone in the grassy courtyard gave him their attention.

  “I have two letters in my hands.” He held them up, each bearing his family’s seal. “With a word from you, I will either tear them up or send them out by courier, one to your home village in Lithuania and the other to Hagenheim, Germany.”

  She folded her arms in front of her chest and stared, unblinking.

  “But I beg you with all my heart,” he said, placing both his hands, even though they held the letters, over his heart, “to allow me to send out these missives asking the priests in our hometowns to cry the banns over us. I beseech you, Mulan, daughter of Mikolai, to marry me and love me as much as I love you. For I love you and pledge here and now to always cherish you.” He held his breath as he stared back at her.

  She unfolded her arms and took a step toward him. He stepped toward her, and she smiled.

  “What is your answer?” he asked as they were still several paces away from each other.

  “I say, yes, you may send the letters.”

  “You will marry me?”

  “I will marry you.”

  His two couriers advanced toward him and took the missives from his hands, then backed away. He just stood there looking at her, waiting, as about twenty or thirty of the Teutonic Knights, Mulan’s mother, Steffan, Andrei, and Gerke stood still and quiet, watching them.

  Mulan suddenly ran to him, threw her arms around him, and kissed him.

  Finally. He got it right.

  Mulan ran to him and kissed him, eager to show that Wolfgang’s love would not be given in vain. She wou
ld accept it and return it, with all her heart.

  He held her tight in his arms, kissing her back. When she pulled away, he looked into her eyes and whispered, “Thank you.”

  She had to bury her face in his shoulder to keep anyone from seeing the tears as she nearly sobbed . . . that he should thank her for accepting his proposal of marriage.

  Wolfie had looked so brave and vulnerable at the same time, asking her to marry him, declaring his love for her—her—forever, this almost unbearably handsome, courageous soldier, son of the wealthy and powerful Duke of Hagenheim, with his kind brown eyes and oh-so-worthy heart. Oh, how she loved him.

  But she had to control herself. Many people were around, and they would have to get on their horses and ride out of the Malbork Castle compound, away from the place where so much had happened in a short amount of time.

  She touched Wolfgang’s cheek and pulled out of his arms as men were beginning to wish them well in their life together. She kept her arm pressed against his and her head down, letting Wolfgang thank them for their words of blessing as she surreptitiously wiped her eyes with her fingers.

  Finally everyone was walking away. She tipped her head up to look into Wolfgang’s eyes.

  “You haven’t said you love me yet,” he said quietly.

  “I do love you. I love you with all my heart.”

  “And I love you.” He leaned down and kissed her lips, then her cheek. “I guess we should go.”

  Their little traveling party mounted their horses and were finally off, riding toward Zachev Castle. And even though she and Wolfgang lagged behind the others and kept staring at each other, no one teased them for it, not even Steffan.

  EPILOGUE

  Wolfgang and Mulan were married four weeks later in the chapel at Zachev Castle. Mulan’s heart was still full to overflowing at the wedding feast. Her mother sat nearby, along with Wolfgang, his brother Steffan, Duke Konrad, and Duchess Katarzyna.

  Wolfgang’s family had made the journey and sat with them as well: Duke Wilhelm, Lady Rose, Valten and his wife, Lady Gisela, his sister Rapunzel and her husband, Sir Gerek, and his younger sister Adela and brother Toby. He had such a loving family, and she adored them already. Never would she have believed that she could feel so comfortable talking with two dukes, two duchesses, and an earl. But they never made her feel as if she was less important than they were. Rather, they seemed to love her, and not just because Wolfgang loved her.