A Knight to Desire

by Gerri Russell

  "In the heat of the battle, I felt no pain in them. Perhaps I am fully healed." He pressed another kiss to her palm then looked up to see the other men looking at the two of them, smiling. And yet, they also looked to Simon for leadership.

  "We still have much to do."

  She nodded and pulled her hand from his. "The dead will need burial, and there are the injured to attend to." Her face sobered. "I used the Grail during the battle to save my father."

  "Your father is here?"

  She drew a tremulous breath. "He came to ask my forgiveness."

  "Did you give it to him?" Simon asked, his voice threaded with hope.

  She nodded. "He was badly injured. I dragged him into the abbey and forced him to drink from the Grail."

  He frowned. "Does he still live?"

  Fear etched her face. "I don't know. I'm almost afraid to check on him. He is just comeback into my life…"

  He took her hand. "You've faced your fears before, Brianna. But this time you'll face them with me at your side. Let's go find out."

  Chapter Twenty-two

  A gust of wind swirled through the abbey as Brianna and Simon strode inside the entrance. Torches lit the hallway, sending golden light spilling across the stone walls. A monk stood guard at the doorway.

  "The man who was in the entry, is he still alive?"

  "Aye, he lives."

  "Where is he?" Brianna asked.

  The monk silently led them down another long hallway and pointed to the third cell on the right. A chill went through Brianna as she stepped inside the chamber and moved to the pallet beneath the small shuttered window. A simple crucifix hung on the wall over the bed. Other than a small table near the bedside that held a single candle, the room was devoid of anything else.

  Brianna knelt by the bedside. The flickering candle light revealed that her father's eyes were closed. His face was ashen. She carefully drew back the cover to look at his wound. Someone had bandaged him. "Was his wound cleaned?" she asked the monk who stood in the doorway.

  "Aye," the monk replied. "I cleaned it myself, and as I did, it seemed that the wound was beginning to heal right before my eyes."

  The Holy Grail.

  Brianna frowned down at the seemingly lifeless man. "Then why doesn't he wake?" she said more to herself than anyone else.

  "Sometimes," the monk replied softly, "a man needs more than healing to pull him through adversity. Without a reason to live, it is easy to slip away."

  Simon knelt beside her. "Perhaps if you talk to him."

  He needed a reason to live. She understood that sentiment only too well. "Father?" she whispered and stroked his bearded cheek.

  His eyes fluttered and opened. He gazed about him for a moment until his eyes connected with hers. "You're alive," he whispered in a broken voice.

  "You're awake." Brianna smiled down at him. "How are you feeling?"

  "Better to know you are here." His lips tightened. "The battle?"

  "Is over. De la Roche is gone as are his men. We are safe for now." Brianna stroked back the hair from her father's face.

  He caught her hand, squeezed it. "I was not certain I would have the chance to say this again to you … the battle … oh, Brianna, I'm so sorry. It was never my wish to—"

  "I know." Brianna returned the squeeze and placed his hand on his chest. "We have time in the future to say all that needs said."

  He shook his head. "I wasted so much of it with my anger, my grief." A note of bitterness threaded his voice. "No more. I want to help." His gaze shifted to Simon. "My steward told me of your earlier visits. He informed me that you'd come for Brianna the first time and to ask about the catacombs the next. I am sorry I refused to meet with you. It would be an honor to store the Templar treasure in the catacombs beneath Rosslyn Chapel. And if you would allow me to help, I'd like to serve as guardian of the treasure if it will allow you and Brianna the freedom to live and move about the countryside and keep our people safe. You two belong together."

  "I … we…" Brianna said in a rush as her cheeks heated. Simon had yet to declare himself or even talk of a life together. "You are mistaken."

  The glimmer of a smile touched his lips. "I might have been blind to you before, my daughter, but I can now see what is clearly before me."

  Brianna shifted her gaze to Simon's as fear suddenly gripped her. There was no longer de la Roche keeping them apart, or keeping them together. They were free to do as they pleased. But she no longer knew for certain what that meant for Simon and her. He had said he wanted to tell her something after the battle was through, yet he had not.

  It took all her warrior's will and patience to keep her gaze locked with Simon's. Her heartbeat sped up. She swallowed dryly, waiting. Suddenly she felt as though she were standing on a precipice. All he had to do was hold out his hands to her and she would jump if it meant making a life with him. She had been changed by their adventure and she couldn't go back to her old life of being alone and lonely.

  She kept her gaze on him and waited.

  Simon couldn't move, couldn't speak. He needed a moment — just a moment — to savor the look of her right now. Her hair was wild around her face and smudges of blood were on her cheek, her neck, and down her arm. Yet, despite the signs of war, she had never looked more beautiful.

  He didn't know what he had done in this life to deserve her love … and in this moment, he didn't care. All he knew was that God had given him the gift of Brianna and he was going to take it. He brought his hand up in a tentative, hopeful gesture and touched her cheek.

  "Brianna, marry me." Gazing down into her luminous green eyes he felt none of the sorrow that had lingered inside him since Teba. Instead, he felt powerful, larger than life, able to do any task set before him. Something deep in his soul expanded, and an aching, loving tenderness filled his heart. "I want to spend the rest of my days loving you, if only you will have me."

  She stared at him, feeling dazed. His words were like a bright ray of sunlight, offering her the warmth and security she'd sought her whole life and never expected to find. But there were still things between them, things that needed said. "We will probably always battle each other. Can you live with that?"

  His gaze softened. "I look forward to each and every one."

  Her heart sped up. "And our daughters, if they want to be warriors, will you allow it?"

  "I encourage it!" He reached for her hands, held them tightly in his own. "I want many strong daughters and sons. Is that a problem?"

  "Nay," she whispered.

  "Then you'll marry me?"

  "I shall." The minute the words left her mouth, she felt an almost unbelievable sense of joy blossom inside her chest.

  Their gazes locked. His was unblinking and filled with determination, as if he'd glimpsed what it was he wanted from this life and would do anything on earth to see it was never taken away.

  Her eyes glittered with tears as the most profound sense of love warmed her to the core of her being.

  "That's my girl!" her father's voice cut in, bringing them both back to the reality that they still knelt before his sick bed.

  The monk at the doorway cleared his throat and if Brianna was not mistaken, tears misted his eyes. "Are you not forgetting one small thing?"

  Brianna and Simon shared a puzzled look.

  "Are you not still a monk yourself, Brother Simon?"

  Simon's hands dropped to his side. "Aye. There is that one small obstacle that only Archbishop Lamberton can rectify."

  Brianna straightened. "Then we had best get my father packed up for travel. We'll deliver him to Rosslyn Castle on our way to Edinburgh to see that archbishop."

  All eyes in the room filled with surprise.

  "What are you all looking at?" Brianna frowned. "We have work to do. Nothing and no one will stand in the way of my marrying this man. Do you hear?"

  Simon chuckled as he rose to his feet and helped Brianna up beside him. "You heard the lady. We have work to do. Let's get to it,
shall we?"

  It took another day to bury the dead at Pennyghael Abbey, and three days more to travel across the countryside to Rosslyn Castle where Simon and Brianna said goodbye to her father. They promised to return with the treasure soon. But before they could do anything more, they had to see Archbishop Lamberton. Simon felt his Templar vows like a weight upon his shoulders. He longed to be free of the Brotherhood so that he could accept his true calling as Brianna's husband.

  It was half a day more of hard riding before he and Brianna finally arrived at the gates of Saint Giles's Church in Edinburgh. As he dismounted, his body cried out for rest. There would be no rest for either of them until they knew the archbishop's decision.

  He helped Brianna down from her horse, and tethered the animals. They proceeded into the church and up the altar, where he knew Archbishop Lamberton would be waiting.

  Pale afternoon sunlight filtered in through the stained glass windows on either side of the aisle, illuminating the man at the front of the church. The cleric was not kneeling at the altar as Simon had expected; instead, he stood contemplating the crucifix hanging from the wall.

  "Simon Lockhart." Archbishop Lamberton turned his gentle gaze upon the Templar tunics folded neatly in Simon's hands. The holy man's gaze shifted to Brianna with no hint of surprise. "I've been expecting you both. Lady Brianna." He bowed his head in greeting before returning his gaze to the crucifix. "It is done then?"

  "Aye, Your Grace. De la Roche is no longer a threat." He would give no further explanations, no excuses. The man was dead by his and Brianna's hands. The holy man might not understand their need to kill the monster, but they had done the only thing their warrior blood had allowed. "If it is our confession you seek—"

  "God has already forgiven you for that sin and all those that might have brought you here to me today." The archbishop fell silent, but Simon saw the slight clenching of his hands behind his back. The holy man continued to stare at the crucifix.

  Simon turned to look at it, too, suddenly uncertain of what the holy man expected him to say. "My heart is no longer that of a Templar, Your Grace."

  "Is that why you have come here today?" Archbishop Lamberton asked after a long silence. The holy man watched Simon now, and the feeling came over him that the man looked not at his person, but somehow into his soul.

  Simon held out the tunics, both his and Brianna's. "I must return these to you, and to ask that you release me from my vows." Simon turned to look at Brianna who stood slightly behind him at the altar. "I wish to marry this woman and spend the rest of my days in her arms."

  Again the Archbishop grew silent. After a long pause he nodded. "It has been a difficult life you have lived, Simon. Darkness and light have touched you in many ways."

  "Darkness and sorrow and despair," Simon replied. "These are the forces that have shaped me. No man is immune to such things. I respect all that has come before, but I look forward to light and joy and hope with Brianna in the days ahead."

  The middle-aged man's face filled with compassion. "And you think leaving the Templars will bring you this … peace?"

  Simon did not answer right away. There were no easy words for such a question. "I ask to leave the service of the Templars, but my life will never be filled with peace, not while men and kings still quest for power and wealth. That is why I must focus my attention on relocating the Templar treasure. De la Roche exposed it."

  "Heaven help us all." The archbishop paled.

  Simon turned to Brianna and accepted the sword Joyeuse and the Holy Grail from her hands. "He brought these two treasures back into the world, and because he did many lives were both lost and saved."

  The holy man nodded very slowly as his gaze travelled over the sword and the Grail. He accepted the artifacts, then set them on the altar. "Life and death should be a decision only God can make."

  "We agree, which is why Brianna and I would like to devote the remainder of our lives to protecting our people from others like de la Roche. Lord Sinclair has agreed to assume the role of protector of the treasure with Your Grace's approval."

  "The task is too great for one man alone," the archbishop said.

  Simon smiled. "He will have plenty of help from Brothers Kaden, Thomas, Benton, and Cameron. They are at Rosslyn Castle by now, preparing the new site for the treasure."

  The dark eyes that met Simon's twinkled gently. "So you and Brianna will leave the peace and solitude to others while the two of you guard the gates?"

  Simon shrugged. "We are both warriors. Someone must guard the gates in order to ensure peace for those behind them."

  "That is very selfless of you both." The archbishop nodded his approval. "I grant you your wish, Simon Lockhart. I accept these tunics and relinquish you from your vows, but only if you take up another vow here and now."

  Archbishop Lamberton's words sent a warmth through Simon. "Marriage vows?"

  "Indeed."

  Simon turned to Brianna. "Are you ready to marry me here, this very moment?" He held out his hand.

  She slipped her fingers into his without hesitation.

  "You're trembling." Simon tightened his fingers around Brianna's as he drew her beside him. "There's no reason to be frightened. After you've faced de la Roche, marriage to me cannot be that bad."

  "It's not fear," she said softly, her gaze on her feet.

  With a finger beneath her chin, he brought her gaze to his. "Then what is it?"

  She blinked back tears. "I love you, Simon, with all my heart, but I have yet to hear those words from you."

  He brushed his lips across her brow and stroked her hair back from her cheeks. "I might not have said the words, but tell me you felt them in my touch, and read them in my eyes, and heard them in my voice?"

  "All the time," she admitted with a lopsided smile.

  "Then I will say the words often as well. I love you, Brianna. Always and forever. You are my life now. Is that enough for you, my beautiful warrior?"

  As he said the words she needed to hear, the world responded. Strong beams of sunlight streaked through the stained glass windows, casting a rainbow of colors across the altar, bathing the two of them, the archbishop, and Joyeuse and the Holy Grail in shades of blue and green and yellow and gold.

  "Aye, it's enough." She blinked rapidly to keep back the tears. She suddenly threw herself into his arms, hugging him with all her strength. "But you certainly took your time telling me so."

  He kissed her until she was breathless. "I won't make that mistake twice. I love you."

  "The Templars have their treasure, but I have mine."

  Simon smiled down at his soon-to-be-bride. "You find me a treasure?"

  She nodded. "The true treasures of life are not silver and gold and gemstones as de la Roche believed. But in the shared moments of pain and joy."

  "We have both seen enough pain in our lives. Let us hope for much more pleasure in the future. Now, let's get back to this wedding. Declarations of love are all well and good." His eyes were twinkling as he slipped his arm about her waist and turned to face the archbishop. "But we are both better with action. Wouldn't you agree?"

  Her laughter rang out, rising to the arched ceiling and beyond, sending the doves in the belfry into flight.

  And all who saw the birds knew that those who married inside would have lives filled with years of peace, tranquility and most of all … love.

  Epilogue

  With only the light of a torch to guide them, Brianna and Simon made their way through the underground cavern that Simon claimed had once been buried. As they walked, Simon explained that many of the men who had helped in the battle had aided in digging away the collapsed cavern. With so many hands, they had managed to do a year's work in a matter of a few weeks. Simon had told her that the recovery efforts would take many more years, but he had said he could not wait that long to show her what they'd been fighting to protect. He guided her through the semi-darkness until they stood at an entrance to a chamber.

  "Are
you ready to be amazed?" Simon asked.

  Brianna smiled. "Every day with you holds something amazing."

  "Wait here." Simon disappeared into the chamber. Suddenly, bright light spilled from the entrance as Simon lit several urns. He returned to her side and grasped her hand. "Come."

  Brianna entered and gasped at the sight of the Templar treasure that had been recovered so far. It was grander that anything she had ever expected or imagined.

  Riches spilled over every surface. Within arm's reach were two enormous wooden cases inset with jewels from an early period in Egypt's history, and seven more of European descent — all were filled to overflowing with diamond, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and pearls. Brianna reached down and plucked a pearl the size of her thumb from the heap. As it glowed with silver iridescence it warmed beneath her touch.

  "Simon," she breathed beside him. "It's extraordinary." Her gaze wandered over statues in alabaster, silver, and gold, as well as plates and vases bejeweled with precious and semiprecious stones. In the corner was a painted dragon ship of Viking origin. A gilded chariot from Roman times. Along the far wall were other statues made from marble, obsidian, limestone, and granite from every culture — Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, Viking, Roman, and more.

  Excitement made her heart flutter as she looked past the wealth and riches to the historical importance of such a cache. De la Roche had taken the Holy Grail and Joyeuse, but there were also Herod's crown, Merlin's staff, the throne of Constantine, the Athenian Sword of Pericles, Ramses's golden chair, Octavian's goblet — treasures from every culture since the beginning of time. Brianna felt her legs go weak as she staggered to a gold chest overflowing with lustrous black pearls, diamonds, rubies, and she suddenly had to sit down. "Why are all these treasures here instead of with the cultures they belong to?"

  Simon came to stand beside her. "The artifacts are here to protect them from men like de la Roche. Many of the treasures like the Holy Grail and Joyeuse can be used for good or evil purposes." He sat on the chest beside her and took her once damaged hand in his. Gently, he stroked the delicate scar along her finger. "Men like him will do anything to take what they want from this life."