That Most Precious Gift

by Timothy Bryant

CHAPTER EIGHT

  “Lord, how long must I wait for this sign foretold to me,” prayed Lenee, finding many minutes had passed. “I have done as your servant has asked. I prepared myself amid the woods of the South Forest, under the beams of the full moon which is now beginning on its way. Hast favor left your eyes to see me only with this uneasy heart? Please, Lord, grant me my wish. Answer my prayer. Give me my knight.”

  The lass looked down in discontent, then was suddenly brought to notice the direction of a noise. Her heart skipped as she saw the silhouette of a knight walking beside his horse. Her soul began to quiver from the anticipation of what was to proceed. The knight stopped abruptly.

  “Dear knight, I shall close my eyes so that when you approach, my heart will find you first,” called out the girl.

  Slowly, cautiously, she heard the steps come closer and closer.

  “Hurry my love, for Cupid has many other tasks than our own,” she cried, becoming anxious of the knights arrival. The steps became louder, then stopped. “My knight?”

  Suddenly the knight ran to embrace her. Passionately, the princess and knight lost themselves within the affection. Ending as quickly as it had started, Lenee stopped, feeling the lips unfamiliar to that of Randall's.

  “It's you!” she exclaimed once opening her eyes. “My God. It's you sweet knight!”

  “I have missed you so, dear princess,” sighed Maxwell embracing her once again.

  Lenee felt the once lost fire rekindled within her heart, realizing that her love truly stood with his.

  “I have missed you so, my love,” answered the lass.

  Their lips, once again, passionately touched as a small tear came from the edge of the princess's eye. She held onto Maxwell tight as he did to her in return. When coming upon them, James stepped off to the side in satisfaction.

  Slowly Maxwell reached into his armor and pulled from its home, the white rose she had given back to him; the memento from their time in the garden. Though tattered and dry, it still held its beauty before the princess’s eyes. Emotions of his love overran her entire soul. They embraced once again.

  “Cupid’s deed has been accomplished,” said James quietly as he watched his mastering of a plan unfolded.

  “Who art thou who has hands upon my lady? Release her so that I may cut out thy heart and give to her in that context," stated Randall as he drew his sword.

  Maxwell quickly pushed Lenee aside and drew his own in defense.

  “Princess, was thou not happy enough knowing of my broken heart, yet now wants to see its pieces falling down amongst me?” questioned Maxwell harshly.

  “Maxwell, my knight. It is not the truth that you speak! I meant never to place you in this condition,” cried the lass. “Randall! Randall!”

  “I'm glad I followed you, my love; for danger shall not approach you with I at your side,” said Randall “Prepare, fine knight. Prepare to die!”

  The two began to battle within the flickering of the torch. Slashes were heard cutting through the night air, occasionally interrupted by the steel blades joining in force.

  “Howst dost thou feel now since taking advantage of a lone princess,” declared Randall while he attempted to strike.

  “It is one thing to take advantage of an unwilling heart than to call on one that is willing,” returned Maxwell with attempts of his own.

  “My lords, I beg of thee, quit this foolishness. If either of you die, I shall never let my soul live again,” cried the princess.

  “You are distraught, my dear. Hast thou forgotten who is fighting in your defense?” laughed Randall.

  Maxwell's sword was soon knocked helplessly away. He now stood defenseless before the knight, whose sword was found pressed against his chest till being forced to the ground. Randall then prepared the final blow at the base of Maxwell's throat.

  “Randall, I beg of thee. I order thee. Do no harm to that knight!”

  “Your highness, was this man not taking advantage of our time a part? Was he not also having his way with you?” asked Randall as he played the sword upon the knight’s juggler.

  “My love, if thou hast feelings within your heart for me, as I do you, be truthful to them now,” snapped Maxwell. “If not, let me then die."

  “Hold your peace, knight! For anymore words will become your last!” said Randall “Princess, let us end this game. Tell him who truly owns your heart so that he may be silenced for all eternity.”

  At that, a deafening filled the air.

  “Lenee, tell the poor soul it is I who has your heart for his own!” continued Randall.

  The princess suddenly turned away and began to cry. At that moment, Lenee's true emotion overpowered the knight, who then began to slowly retract the sword. He looked back to the princess.

  “My love, tell me, is thy heart not the heart for which I yearn? Dost he that lie at my feet hold more power than I?”

  “I do love you, dear knight. We have shared so many grand moments together. Yet . . .”

  “Yet, dear lady?” questioned the knight as he slowly released Maxwell.

  “Yet, the knight who controls my heart is he who is before thee. I never knew till now the power my heart held for this knight. It is he whom I truly love.”

  The knight moved further from the site of battle. His head lowered when realizing the truth. Though knowing he could cut the young knight down, he knew it would only distance his heart further from the princess. His sword soon fell to the ground.

  “No matter what I do, my lady, I know of Cupid’s way. If this night had never happened, I still would have learned of the truth as time was spent. Though lying with me, you would soon begin wishing to be lying with another. That the smiles upon your face would not come from actions derived by me, but from memories of a love gone by,” said Randall softly. “It is best that I now leave this land forever, so that I may take what sweet memories I hold for you and with it the portion of love you may still have for me.”

  After calling for his horse from among the trees, he slowly mounted.

  “My love, though I will meet and lie down with another, I shall never forget you. Forever your face will have a home within my heart,” said the knight. “Sir Maxwell, I commend thee on a great battle, one of true reward. You had the power of Cupid with you, who is a most formidable opponent. Farewell, my princess. Farewell, my love,” Randall then snapped the reins, taking him deep into the night.

  EPILOGE

  “Tis a most beautiful day, steward,” said the queen as she walked beside James.

  “Yes, my queen. A fine day indeed!”

  The two proceeded down the hallway amid the servants and handmaidens who hurried about.

  “Cupid can truly be a difficult spirit to entangle, can he not my dear boy?”

  “For that he can, dear queen. For that he can,” smirked the boy.

  “When matters of the heart are involved, a little help is always needed from those who know the power of his magic.”

  “So true, my queen,” said the lad.

  Once arriving near her chambers, the two separated.

  “Well, fine steward, I presume to see you soon?”

  “Most definitely, my dear queen. Most definitely.”

  The steward proceeded on to a room further down.

  “Where hast thou been, steward? Canst thou not see our time is at hand?” questioned Maxwell as James entered the chamber.

  “Yes, my lord.”

  Once the beckoning of royal cannon horns are heard the steward then escorted the knight from the room. The two walked into the same gallery where the knight had first met the princess, then onto the lawn. There, Maxwell and his steward proceeded to the back of the cathedral, the last place the knight’s love had spent time with Lenee. As the cannon horns continued to beckon, the knight was then led into the large cathedral, followed by James. The church was full of town's people and dignitaries. James noticed in front the two fortune tell
ers and winked. Both sat beaming with pride. The king and queen sat before all and looked upon the knight. The queen softly nudged the king with her elbow, then smiled with gratification. The king, first annoyed, showed a large smile across his face. Once the priest was in place, a choir of children began to sing as lone, white rose petals were laid amid the aisle. Soon followed a line of handmaidens, then silence.

  “I am happy for you, master. For I know the love which you both share shall never be matched again,” whispered “Yes, dear James. I am truly blessed. To think of all the heartaches and mistrust I had found in my path, when least expecting, I found that most precious of all gifts, the gift of Lenee's love.”

  Suddenly, the cannon horns sounded as the children's voices filled the gallery once again. The princess approached the altar to be wed.

  THE END