Epilogue

Blackmore Castle, England

Summer, 1146

R eynard paced his solar with worry. It had been hours since Elysande had begun having pains to announce the birth of their second child. His brothers had attempted to distract him with food and wine but everything they tried to feed him was tasteless. How could he eat or drink when the moans of the torture Elysande was enduring could be heard echoing down the hallways? He swore he would never touch her again so she would not have to be put in such pain.

Wymar slammed his cup upon the table before him. "For God's sake, brother, sit," he demanded whilst raking his hand through his light brown hair.

Theobald nodded. "Aye. You are making me dizzy watching you pace back and forth. Your wife might still be in labor for hours so you might as well enjoy a cup of wine and make merry. You are, after all, about to become a father again."

Reynard growled an oath in frustration. "I do not know how the two of you have been able to remain so calm," he grumbled. "Can you not listen to what I am putting my wife through?"

The two men gave each other a knowing look before Wymar spoke first. "I recall being in the same state, more so with the first child."

"Aye," Theobald chimed in, "but this is your second so you should have already been prepared for what awaited you. Soon your daughter will have a sibling to torture as he or she grows."

Wymar laughed. "Aye! Much like I had the pleasure of making both your lives miserable when we were children."

"Sod off, both of you, or you will drive me mad," Reynard cursed, reaching for his wine and finally taking a sip.

Wymar raised his cup to salute the two men. "To my brothers and the women who make our lives all the better."

Theobald raised his chalice. "I shall drink to that!"

Reynard returned the salute and took another drink, but his cup rattled upon the table when the door was thrust open and Olive poked her head in with a smile.

"Is she…" Reynard began praying he had not lost his wife in the birthing process.

"Well and waiting for you, milord," the girl said with a bright smile.

That was all Reynard had to hear as he ran from the solar to reach his bedchamber down the passageway. The door was already ajar and inside Wymar's wife, Ceridwen, was wrapping a child in clean linen. Theobald's wife, Ingrid, was holding the hand of Reynard's oldest child who was sucking her thumb.

When the girl saw him standing at the door, she wobbled over on unsteady legs and held up her hands for him to lift her. "Up," she demanded.

Reynard smiled, knowing he could not deny Serena any more than he could deny her mother. He lifted the girl, and she patted his cheeks before he gave her a quick kiss on her own. "Go with your Aunt Ingrid, my sweet, and your papa will see you later."

Ingrid came over and took Serena. "Congratulations on the birth of your child, Reynard," she said with a smile.

"A boy or girl?" he asked.

"Aye," she said laughing not answering him.

Ceridwen placed the child in Elysande's waiting arms before also coming toward the door. She kissed his cheek. "We shall let your wife tell you of your child," she answered before she shooed out the remaining servants and left them to their privacy.

Reynard quickly made his way to gently sit on the edge of their bed. "Are you well?"

Elysande gave him a tired smile. "'Twas more difficult than when I birthed Serena, but we managed."

"I will never put you through this again," he vowed, leaning forward to kiss her forehead.

"Aye, you will, my dearest love. I think we shall have many more children to fill our hall," she whispered. "Would you like to hold your son?"

A son! So many thoughts swarmed through his head at the thought of a son to carry on his name and the title the empress had given him. Elysande was still waiting until he held out his hands and the small babe was placed in his arms. He pulled back the edge of the linens to reveal a crop of black hair upon the tiny infant's head, reminding him of the child's mother.

"He is beautiful, just as you are, my love," he replied whilst Elysande moved over to make room for Reynard to join her on the bed.

He placed the child between them so they could unwrap the cloth and closely inspect the baby.

Elysande bent down and kissed the infant's downy head. "He is perfect. Ten toes… ten fingers. He will become strong just like his father one day."

Reynard began covering the child again whilst Elysande gave a yawn. "I am so proud of you, Elysande."

"As long as you are happy with the child…"

"Happy? Oh, aye! I am very happy with our son, wife." He picked up the child and stood to rock back and forth upon his feet. "He will be a champion knight for the empress and her son Henry one day."

Elysande laughed. "Well, mayhap we could get him walking before he pledges his fealty to the monarchy. What shall we call him?"

Reynard pondered the small child he held in his arms. The world would one day be at this boy's feet. "We shall name him Dristan… Dristan of Blackmore."

"A fitting name for a champion knight," Elysande declared with another yawn.

Reynard returned to sit again on the edge of the bed. "Thank you for our son."

His wife reached over to pat his hand. "Thank you for loving me."

He leaned forward to kiss her lips and heard her sigh of contentment. "I will always love you, Elysande. Forever and always will our souls be bound together.

"Aye… for all eternity will our love survive," she said softly as her eyes began to close in sleep.

"Rest, my lovely wife, and dream of us. I will see to our son," Reynard replied and soon his wife drifted off to sleep.

He rose and went to the shutter to open the latch so the last rays of the evening sun shone into the room. He lifted his child so the sunbeams graced the boy. "Welcome to the light, Dristan of Blackmore."

The boy opened his eyes. Reynard swore he saw his own grey ones staring back at him before the child yawned much like his mother moments ago, falling back asleep. Reynard placed his son in the small cradle they had waiting for him in their room. He then made his way back to his wife and laid down next to her. She immediately was drawn into his embrace and snuggled in her place with her head resting on his chest.

He gave a heavy, contented sigh. His life could not be any more perfect. A wife who fulfilled his every need and desire. A daughter and a son to carry on his name and perchance more if they were so blessed. His brothers and their wives also happily married with children of their own. Reynard was not sure how they had all been so blessed, but he would thank the good Lord above come the morn. He had much to be thankful for.

And as he, too, began to drift off to sleep with his wife lying next to him, he realized that Elysande had made a home for him here within the walls of Blackmore Castle. A castle that they would continue to fill with love and their children. His days of being called the Knight of Havoc were now over. He had many years to relish in the idea that he was loved by a woman who made his heart sing. He could not ask for anything more.

THE END