A Knight to Desire (34 page)

"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."

"It seems a shame to keep the treasures hidden where no one can appreciate their beauty and their significance."

He nodded. "I believe it was always the Templars' intent to merely store and protect the treasures until mankind was ready for their reemergence into the world."

"Thank you for bringing me here, for sharing this secret with me." She gazed at him, loving him with all her being.

He inclined his head. "My pleasure, Lady Lockhart."

Silence settled around them. The only sounds in the world seemed to be the whisper of their mingled breathing and the pulse of their heartbeats. Then there was the rustling of gems a moment before Simon slipped a necklace over her head. "It's beautiful."

Simon arranged the chain of diamonds interspersed with emeralds so that they dipped into the hollow between her breasts. "This is the first time I've ever given a lady jewels fit for a queen." The diamonds caught the firelight and sprayed a dazzling array of brilliant hues across the chamber. "The emeralds match your eyes."

"Are these from the Templar treasure?" she asked hesitantly, allowing the gems to slide through her fingers. "I'm not certain—"

Simon smiled. "They are from the Lockhart family treasure. I removed them from the family vault when we stopped there. My mother would have approved, and truth be told, I had a feeling I might need them to coerce you into marrying me."

"You are the only jewel I shall ever need, Simon." A tiny smile came to her lips. "They are very beautiful."

"You could thank me for my gift," he teased.

Her smile broadened. "I do thank you, husband, for so many things." She lifted his hand and brought it to rest over the necklace so that he could feel the erratic pounding of her heart. Then she moved his hand downward, to rest against her abdomen. "You have given me many gifts in the past few weeks."

"Gifts? I gave you but one."

She shook her head. "You trusted me. You believed in my visions. You knighted me. You gave me a child."

He drew a sharp breath and his eyes twinkled down at her. "A child? Are you certain?"

"We are pregnant with a daughter."

"How do you know?"

Heat tingled through her as she remembered last night's joining beneath the stars. "I had a dream."

He pulled her back against his chest and slid his arms around her, his hands gently caressing her belly. "We won't know for certain for several more months."

"It will be a daughter." She smiled up at him over her shoulder. "Will you be disappointed that it's a girl?"