The Knight and The Healer: A Medieval Romance (10 page)

After fifteen minutes on the trail or so, Morgan inquired of Mal. "What's bothering you, brother? You regained your precious 'Intrepid' and we killed the men who attacked you. Yet, you act as if we had lost the skirmish."

"Something has happened to me, Morgan. Something I have never experienced before. It is about Beth. My mind wanders to her all the time. I wonder what she is doing right now, for example. I thought we had something special, but we had a serious fight just before we left. She is leery of me because I am a knight. Her husband died in some battle or other and she is afraid the same fate will befall me. Therefore, she says she cannot get too close to me when all I want is to hold her in my arms.

"I fear she will seek other male companionship from men in more peaceful pursuits. There is more. She has heard stories about my womanizing and that troubles her, too. She wonders could I ever be faithful to one woman. I swear to you as my brother, I have entertained absolutely no thoughts of any woman other than her. She fulfills me. I even find myself dreaming about a bairn or two to carry on my name.

"I knew something about her was special when I first opened my eyes and she was ministering to my gash. She is brilliant as a healer. She's bright as any star. She is unshakable in a crisis. She is a woman of deep passions. You just know she will be a great mother. She is fun to be with. She is different from any other woman I've known and, of course, she is very, very good looking. I swear my heart rate doubles when she walks into a room. I just can't afford to lose her.

"So, when I think about the situation I am practically driven to tears. I am the Lion of the North, for God's sake. I fear no man but the prospects of losing her scares me more than I can say. It gives me an ache in my belly just thinking about it. I am at a loss as what to do. Being a knight is all I know and I do love it."

"You know, Mal, you have had a long and illustrious career as a knight. But, let's be honest here. We've come too close to losing you of late. First was the wound you received from the Burnetts when you lost Black and 'Intrepid.' Then, that besotted jongleur attacked you when you were escorting Beth. If he had been more adept, you would be dead now. Lastly, we nearly lost you to the infection that sent you knocking at Death's door. Some might interpret these events as a sign. None would think ill of you if you were to lay down your sword and shield. Plus, of course, there is the matter of your advanced years", Morgan teased.

They continued silently down the trail, each deep in their own thoughts. Finally, Morgan spoke again.

"Let's talk to Paul about other tasks you could do. I'm sure there are a number of important roles you could perform that don't involve personal risk. Of course, Paul may be reluctant to give up the services of his best knight. I can't advise you about the intimate issues. I have never slept with the same maiden twice though I've been tempted.

"You should talk to Meg about your relationship with Beth. They have become quite close these days. She could probably tell you if all is lost."

* * *

As the pair approached the Castle, Mal felt he had butterflies in his gut. He had known Paul his entire life, so it wasn't meeting him that was making him nervous. It had to be his decision to end his career to pursue Beth. The closer they came to the keep, the more extreme the feeling. His palms were wet. He thought he might throw up. What if Paul orders him to stay a knight? What would he do then? What if Beth has already moved on? Question after question kept tormenting him but, mainly "Am I too late?"

He and Morgan entered under the portcullis and were greeted by two pages. They dismounted and each handed the reins to the pages with directions to brush and grain the horses. They walked into the armory and began shedding their armor. Mal slowly dressed in the clean garments he had left in his locker. Morgan was ready first and prodded Mal to hurry. Knowing he could not postpone the inevitable any longer, they walked together across the square and into the keep.

The guard at the entry greeted the men and reported Paul was in the solar room. Mal liked visiting that room. Like most solar rooms, it was located on the top floor of the keep. It essentially was a special private room for the exclusive enjoyment of a castle's laird and his wife. In the case of Castle Klayloch, Meg and, to a lesser degree Paul, had decorated the solar with treasures from across Europe. The floor was covered with fur. A firepit occupied the center of the room and vented to the outside so there was only a faint odor of smoke. A fir-covered couch faced the firepit. Meg and Paul, dressed only in comfortable smocks, were lounging on the couch enjoying glasses of wine when the brothers' presence was announced by the guard at the door.

Paul greeted the men with a warm hug. "How did the mission go?"

"Very well, brother." Morgan announced," Mal recovered 'Intrepid' and we killed the two leaders and captured eight others who are on their way to your dungeon as we speak. All of us remain unscathed."

"Beth will be relieved to hear that." Meg offered.

Mal interjected almost defensively "I did offer to buy the sword at a fair price, but they would have none of that. So we retrieved my stolen property. Meg, I wonder if I could talk with you privately when we are finished?"

"Of course, Mal. Just knock at the bedroom door when you are done." Meg left the solar for the bedroom and shut the door.

"There is one other piece of business I want to discuss, my Laird. I have thought long and hard about this, but it is time I lay down my shield and sword and cease being a knight of the realm. I have cheated death three times in the last month. I can't expect the string of good luck to continue. I am not afraid to battle any man but, I must confess, my heart is not in it. So, for that and some personal reasons, it is time to begin a new chapter in my life. The Lion of the North is no more."

Morgan offered "I thought there may be other tasks around the castle and for the clan that do not involve risk."

Paul responded "I've heard things and I've known this day was coming for some time, frankly. You organized that stupid foray into nothingness flawlessly all the while you were recovering from your grievous wound. Would you be willing to accept that organizing responsibility if you didn't follow us to war? In addition, my tax collector is getting old. I can't imagine a more intimidating presence demanding my taxes. Would you be averse to replacing him? I definitely want you to remain is service to me, with all that entails. I can accept a new role for you leaving your weaponry behind. Perhaps, even in time, you could become my justiciar."

"Of course, Paul, the answer is yes to both your questions. I look forward to my new duties."

"Can you envision any occasion why you might change your mind? Might you become bored with the peaceful life?"

"At the moment, no, I can't see any, short of the castle coming under siege. Frankly, my personal plans are in flux, but I should know more soon." With that, he knelt before the Laird bowing his head and asked to be excused.

With Paul's approval, he rose and, with no little trepidation, went alone to the bedroom door and knocked.

Lady Margaret opened the door and invited Mal to enter, she gestured to a pair of chairs near the room's firepit. "Take a seat. Would you like something to drink or perhaps to eat?" She asked. The bedroom felt like an extension of the solar room, the walls were covered with exquisite tapestries depicting the history of the clan. Rich furs were spread everywhere.

Though he felt too nervous to eat, Mal thought a drink might help be very helpful. "Could I have a glass of mead?"

Speaking to the two ladies-in-waiting playing the card game "All Fours" at a table in the corner, she directed one to fetch two glasses of the honey-based wine. The younger of the two, nodded and left the room.

"I've been hoping we would have a moment to talk. I feel I owe you an apology for what happened to you while taking Beth to see her uncle. I don't know how I missed seeing Celia's obsession with you. In hindsight now it is obvious. I should have warned you, I could have reassigned Celia so she would have no contact with you. Sadly, I didn't and you nearly died as the result."

"Ah, but I didn't. Thanks to Beth's remarkable talents that risk is over. As I told Beth, I heal quickly."

"Apparently, you felt well enough to go on the mission to retrieve your sword. I heard about that from Beth. I suppose you know, she wasn't very pleased with your decision."

"Well, I took a small army and the whole thing lasted less than a minute."

About then, the lady-in-waiting returned with the mead and a tray of pastries, placed it on the table between the chairs and returned to her card game.

"I know we need to leave the door open and for the ladies to be here, but can we talk and not be overheard?"

"As long as you don't start shouting at me, they won't hear a word," Meg smiled.

"Well, as you know, I have been courting Beth since the incident and it has been wonderful. We've shared some of the best days of my life. I've known she has some reservations but suddenly she wants to end our relationship. I am devastated and I don't know what to do. I was thinking though, you are friends with her and you are, after all, a woman, you might have some advice I could follow."

"Mal, you know I love you like a brother I never had. It is also true Beth and I have become close. Perhaps you know, I recruited her to come to Castle Klayloch and begin practicing her healing here. What do you see is the problem between you?"

"One of her big objections is to my profession. She fears the same fate may befall me as happened to her husband. She doesn't take into account that I am the "Lion of the North" and while no man is invincible, I come pretty close. But, Beth is everything to me. If she wants me to cease being a knight, that is what I will do. In fact, I just told Paul I was laying down my sword and shield and will fight no more. I don't think he was pleased but he understands my resolve in this matter is firm."

"I don't mean to embarrass you but I need to be frank. You have a reputation that you crave variety in the women you bed. I do know that women seem to flock to you, witness the mess with Celia. You are a handsome man, Mal, and you are single. Of course, you sleep with lots of women. In my position, I hear things. This might even be a bigger obstacle than your risking your life as a knight."

"I acknowledge I have enjoyed bachelorhood. But, no woman has ever come close to making feel the way Beth does. Not even close. I just can't lose the chance to make our relationship permanent. I even find myself imagining what it would be like to have bairns by her. I've never had such thoughts."

"You are an honorable knight and you put special stock in the rules of chivalry. Your oath is your bond. Are you prepared to swear to me that if I help you with Beth, you will never sleep with another woman?"

"That would be the easiest oath I have ever made and the easiest to follow. Meg, I freely make that oath to you."

"Well, then. I would be happy to serve as a matchmaker and represent your interests to her. Of course, I can't guarantee any positive results. Beth is, at her heart, a very independent woman. But, I can promise to try my best to bring you two together."

"But, there is one more thing. How do you feel about her practicing healing if you were to wed? I wouldn't want to lose a healer and she is devoted to her work."

"She is, perhaps, the best healer in the land. I, more than anybody, should know that. It would make no sense for her to stop that work. I would be proud to be known as 'the healer's husband' and I would help her in her practice in any way I could."

“Fine, I would like you to present yourself at her home mid-afternoon, unless she has some emergency happening."

"I'm scared to death, but I will be there, Meg, and thank you so very much." They embraced and Mal left the keep.

Beth was sitting on her couch with her knees drawn up to her chest. She hugged them tightly. She was listlessly staring into the fire in the firepit. Tears continued to run down her cheeks. She just couldn't stop crying.

She was more angry than sad with herself for allowing her feelings for Mal to become so strong. She was old enough to know better but his attentions were so powerful and the feelings they generated so strong, they just couldn't be ignored. In a world of coarse men, he seemed so polite, so dignified and so desirable. Had she made the right choice to end things as she had? It certainly didn't feel as if she had.

One thing seemed certain; she needed to get away for a while. She needed a safe haven. Visiting her uncle, Alfred, was the only thing that came to mind. He was always non-judgmental and welcoming. But, what about her practice? Leah was nearing completion of her apprenticeship. Surely, she could cover things for a couple of weeks. She must send for Leah and give her the news. But, she was too embarrassed to be seen in this condition. Her eyes were red, her nose wouldn't stop running. But, at least the sobs had stopped. She could hardly be less presentable.

Her self-pitying thoughts were interrupted by a gentle knock at the door. Beth felt a moment of panic. What if someone was sick or injured? She couldn't just ignore the knocking. "Who's there?" she queried.

"It's Meg, Beth. Please, may I come in? I've released my escorts so I am alone."

"Come in. The door is unlatched."

"Ohmygod, look at you! What on earth is the matter, did Arthur die?" Meg rushed to Beth's side and reached out to hug her. That simple act of human kindness caused Beth to begin sobbing again. Meg responded, "Let me make you a tea, or, perhaps, something stronger."

"It is Mal, Beth. I have allowed him to break my heart. I feel like a moth who flew too close to a flame. I am so angry with myself and, yes, a tea would be nice. I'm afraid to drink something stronger. I may not know when to stop. Meg, I am so unhappy and I brought it on myself."

"I just left him, Beth. Full disclosure, I am here as his agent. His condition is pretty much the same as yours. He has asked me if I would talk to you on his behalf. I've known him since my marriage. Although not by birth, Sir Paul, Morgan and Tobias all consider him a full brother and a member of the family. So do I. He is a smart man and he is very much aware of the three barriers to making your relationship a permanent one.

Let's talk about the biggest one first, his profession as a knight. He met with Paul earlier today and surrendered his sword and shield. He will, of course, be a knight until he dies, but he won't be dying on the field of battle. He will no longer engage in any combat save fighting to defend the castle. For him to abandon his highly successful career to please you speaks loudly about his feelings for you. I don't think there can be any doubt about the depth of his love for you."

"He really did that for me?" Beth was astounded.

"He did, but there is more. There is the issue of his womanizing. As a virile and handsome bachelor, he is constantly presented with opportunities to bed beautiful women and, up to now, he's accepted many of those women to his bed. There is nothing more sacred to a knight than his oath. Mal has sworn to me this day, if you will have him, he will never sleep with any other women and I believe him.

"Finally, there is the matter of your role as a healer. He believes you to be, in his words, the 'very best healer in the entire kingdom.’ Many people would suffer and some would die if you were to quit healing. He would not want that on his head. He said he would be proud to be known as the man married to the great healer. He would do whatever he could to advance your success and, in no way, be an encumbrance.

"He, obviously, has given the matter of your relationship considerable thought. He has made significant sacrifices so that you would consider him an appropriate candidate for your hand. So, I guess the only remaining question is do you love him and trust him to honor his word?"

"Oh, Meg, of course, I do. But do you think he might later regret his choices?"

"He is truly smitten. He talks of you giving him bairns in the future. He will never regret marrying you. Of that, I am sure."

At the appointed hour, a very nervous Mal knocked on Beth's door. Meg answered. "Come in, Mal. I've done my best for you. The rest is up to you." And with that, she called to her retainers and returned to the Castle.

Beth was standing in the center of the room with a sweet smile lighting her face.

"I have but one question for you. Will you be my wife and the mother of my children yet unborn?"

"Before I answer, I have a question for you. Have you really made the pledges Meg says you have?"

"Indeed, I have. You must understand, darling. Those are the easiest pledges I have ever made."

"Well, then let us post the bans today."

With that, Mal took the gold ring from his sporran, placed it on the ring finger of her left hand, and embraced his bride-to-be.