Chapter Forty

E lysande slammed open the keep door, swiftly hastened through the inner bailey, and pressed onward until she reached the field where Reynard and the few knights who guarded Blackmore were training. She took in great gulps of air to calm her frayed nerves. After almost a fortnight of peace, there was an army approaching. Elysande had marched up the turret stairs to see for herself the dust plume in the distance from the battlement walls. Whether friend or foe, she could not tell but Reynard must be warned in case 'twas Stephen's men bent on causing more havoc on their home.

But as urgent as the matter was, she did not lose sight of the fact that her husband was sparring with naked blades. Startling him or his training partner could lead to an injury she would much sooner avoid. Thus, she waited for the opportunity when she could interrupt without causing trouble. The knight he was sparring with fell upon the ground, giving her the perfect chance.

"Reynard," she called, waving her hand with a renewed sense of urgency.

He took off his helmet and pushed back the mail coif from his head. Placing his sword in his scabbard, he began to approach. He was an impressive sight to her eyes and her breath hitched as it usually did the closer he came. He was a warrior in every sense of the word and the chain mail links chinked with each step he took.

" Mon amour ," he whispered in a soft accent before bending forward to seal a kiss upon her lips.

She would have lost herself in the moment if not for the danger that approached. "There are men drawing near. Too many to count but from what I could see from the battlements, they have only one destination in mind."

Reynard swore beneath his breath and called out to the men to take their places to guard the gate. He took Elysande's hand and together they began to make their way back toward the keep. "You will go inside until I come for you."

"I will not leave your side," she said instead of obeying him.

"Must this always be an argument between us?" he asked with a scowl. "I cannot concentrate on guarding our lands if I must needs be worrying over your safety."

"Then you should have listened to me when I asked you to teach me how to defend myself with a sword," she huffed, placing her hands on her hips.

Reynard rolled his eyes. "The blade I asked the smithy to make for you is almost done but you will need several years of practice in wielding it before I am confident enough that you can stand by my side in a battle."

She looked toward the weak defenses near where the barbican gate would one day be in place again. "Do you think that barrier will hold?"

He ran his hand through his hair before he pulled the coif back into place. "Nay, I do not but I will not let the few knights we have be slaughtered if the approaching army will do us harm. I must go to fight with them. Now, please go inside and be safe."

She saw his logic even if she still did not want to part from his side. "Please take care, my love." She pulled on his surcote to kiss him. His gauntlet hand pulled her against the hardness of his body, and she could feel the chainmail beneath his garment. The kiss was brief before he tore his lips away and gave her a gentle push toward the keep's door. His command was silent but unmistakable, and she could do nothing else but tear herself away from his side.

She had just placed her hand on the handle of the keep door when a lone rider approached the gate. Elysande raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sunlight to peer at the man who jumped down from his horse. He tore the helmet from his head and recognition made her heart leap with joy.

"Hawke!" Elysande called out. She heard her husband give a short chuckle before she began running toward her captain. Once she reached him, she jumped into his arms and heard his grunt of surprise.

"Did you miss me, my lady?" he laughed, twirling her around before he set her back down on her feet. He remembered himself and gave her a short bow of respect.

"You finally found your way home," she beamed happily as Reynard joined her and held out his hand.

"Welcome back," Reynard said as the two men clasped forearms.

"'Tis good to be home… that is, if you shall still have me," Hawke declared, looking at the pair.

Reynard chuckled. "Of course, you are always welcome here. Someone has to help me keep an eye on this lady. She continues to get into all sorts of mischief, causing havoc in my life."

Elysande playfully swatted her husband. "'Tis not my fault men continue to try to abduct me. Besides, I am not the one people call the Knight of Havoc."

Hawke raised a brow at their words. "I sense a story here somewhere, but I suppose that can wait until later. The empress has sent you a whole garrison of men to help you protect these lands in her name. And your maid Olive is somewhere in the center. She was not happy to be left behind at Oxford and was only too willing to return with us to serve you as soon as we were able to travel."

Elysande widened her eyes. "How shall we feed them all through the rest of winter?" she asked, mentally tallying the food stores they currently had.

Hawke held up his hand. "No need to worry, Lady Elysande. The empress has thought of that too. There are several wagons of supplies that will come in handy until the fields can be planted again come the spring."

Reynard placed his hand on Hawke's shoulder. "Go see to your horse and we shall have Cook prepare a feast for tonight to welcome those who will now serve Blackmore."

Elysande watched Hawke take the reins of his horse and began leading the animal toward the stable. Once Reynard gave orders to the men standing at the gate, they made their way inside the keep. Elysande instructed the kitchen servants to prepare more for the evening meal and asked for a tub to be filled with water in their chamber so her husband could bathe after his training.

She had hoped to see to him personally, but one servant after another demanded her attention for instructions regarding the number of people who would now inhabit Blackmore for the foreseeable future. After almost an hour, she was finally able to make her way up the turret stairs, down the passageway, and to open the door to her bedchamber. Her hand firmly gripped the handle at the sight of her naked husband. A boy was standing on a stool and pouring rinse water over Reynard's head.

She swallowed hard whilst entering the room. "You may leave us," she told the boy who jumped off the stool, put the bucket down and quickly left the lord and the lady. Reynard stepped from the tub and Elysande took a linen and began wiping dry his dripping wet body. He shook his head, sending water flying, causing her to laugh. He pulled her close.

"You could have waited so I did not become as wet as you," she teased whilst the towel was wrenched from her hands. He tossed it aside.

"What took you so long? I had hoped you would join me whilst I bathed." He began nuzzling her neck as he began walking her backwards toward their bed.

"Duty called," she said, placing her hands on his shoulders and stroking his hot skin.

"Your lord and husband says that there is but one duty that demands your attention."

She raised her eyes and took her finger to her chin as though contemplating her many options. "You do not think this could wait considering we most likely have a whole garrison of knights you must needs address and see settled?" she mocked with what she hoped were mischievous eyes.

"I have waited long enough," he purred into her ear. He took hold of her gown and raised it up over her head. Her undergarments followed until she was as naked as he was. He laid her down and they sank into the feather mattress.

"I waited an entire lifetime to find you," she murmured, taking hold of one of his dark brown locks of hair and twirling it between her fingertips.

He stroked her tresses until he cupped her cheek. "As did I for you, dearest wife. In case I did not tell you this today, I love you."

Her heart soared at his words. "As I love you, although you may have to prove it to me to ensure I do not forget."

A low laugh rumbled in his chest. "Now that is a command I will gladly obey."

And obey he did, far into the afternoon hour and for many years to come. She had found the one man who made her complete and they had a lifetime before them to look forward to. Blackmore would thrive under Reynard's command and if they were so blessed, children would follow to carry on their name.

Aye… Elysande was more than content to have Reynard Norwood as her husband. She no longer had to worry how she might defend her home, not with one of the empress's finest knights as Blackmore's protector. She had found her true home in Reynard's arms. She was indeed blessed.