Night Before The Battle
Lady Babette sat in her room thinking and twirling a lock of her long golden hair in her fingers. The big battle was tomorrow, and Sir Daniel Fortesque would be at the head leading the Royal Battalion. She shivered. Why did it have to be so cold? Her small fire had burnt out hours ago, but she hadn't been able to sleep. What if Sir Daniel didn't come back this time? Her teeth chattered as another cold chill ran along her spine.
Suddenly she heard a noise at her window. She saw the rose trellis tremble and then a helmeted head popped up. "I hear shivering." The knight removed his helmet. It was Sir Daniel Fortesque! "Do I have the pleasure of keeping M'Lady warm tonight?" Sir Daniel winked.
"You have kept me warm some nights and left me to freeze in the morning time. What then if I told you I be not cold?" Lady Babette pulled her sheets closer and shuddered at her own icy words. How she hated herself for loving him.
But Daniel just smiled and pulled himself the rest of the way through the window and onto her bed. He knew this act. He'd seen it a thousand times.
"I beg your pardon Sir- !" Babette tried to protest but he caught her and enveloped her in a soft kiss that left her speechless.
"You meant to say you be not cold now," Daniel smiled.
Babette could say nothing. She was lost in his deep brown eyes. Devil have you, she thought as he kissed her again- more insistant this time. He leaned into the kiss and before she knew it, Babette was on her back...
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"Babette?" Sir Daniel whispered. "Lady Babette?" He had to tell her. He had to tell someone. He watched as her green eyes fluttered open and looked at him in surprise. Sweet heaven, she was beautiful.
"Daniel?" She sat up. He hasn't left?
"Babette, I have a confession to make. I have to tell someone. If I d- don't come back, I don't want this deception to live after me." He took a deep breath. "I am not in truth worthy of being a knight. I've never slain a dragon. I could barely kill a horse! All these stories, all the bragging is just- just- " he sighed and looked down at the ground "- lies." When he looked back up, there were tears in his eyes. "I will lead the Battalion into battle as promised, though I cannot promise I will return. I will fight as bravely as I know how, even if- " his voice cracked " -even if that means riding into suicide."
"Oh, Daniel- " Babette started, but she couldn't think of anything to say. She could only kiss his forehead and hold him as he quietly wept. It was at this moment that she realized that she loved him no less now than when she'd believed all those tales. If it was possible, she could very well love him more.
All of a sudden, Sir Daniel stopped. He sat up quickly and wiped his eyes. "I apologize for this. I should not have troubled you." He stood up and made for the window to make his exit.
"Daniel wait," Babette stood and followed him.
Sir Daniel crawled out the window and turned to climb down, one hand on the trellis and the other holding his helmet. He stopped for a moment. "I've brought this upon myself. My folly shall be my fate. I alone should bear this."
Babette reached out and touched his face and said, "I still love you."
Sir Daniel's eyes widened in surprise. "You do?"
She smiled and leaned in to kiss him again. Sir Daniel's grip weakened on his helmet and it fell to the ground, landing in the soft grass below without a sound.
Babette stood at the window and watched him make his descent. Tears began streaming down her face. She'd finally been able to admit to him how she really felt and this could be the last time they ever saw each other.
Cruel and bitter fate, she thought. Then, she went back and knelt beside her bed. She had a lot of praying to do.
THE END