Part 2 - Continued
As Max crossed the clearing he realized that there were not nearly so many outlaws as he had originally perceived. Only about ten men stood between he and Michael and Tess.
Michael was glaring at Max mutinously when he reached his brother and his betrothed. Tess threw herself into Max's arms. "Oh thank goodness! Max, are they going to kill us?"
Max disentangled himself from Tess's embrace. He always felt uncomfortable when Tess became too affectionate. While he accepted that he would marry her one day, he considered her more like a sister than anything else. Still, it was his duty to reassure her.
"We'll be fine Tess." He turned to stare at his brother. "But no thanks to you Michael. Why did you not just pay them and let it go?"
"I told him so my lord," this was from the priest, who looked relieved that it appeared that he was about to be saved. Michael rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to respond.
Michael had no time to speak though because suddenly a disturbance on the far side of the clearing caught all of their attention. Max whirled in time to see Isabel back off her horse and in the outlaw leader's arms. She was fighting him but he was quickly gaining the upper hand.
"Bella!" Max yelled, but was thrust back by the bows in the hands of the other outlaws.
"You just stay where you are milord." Max felt his anger mounting. Isabel was clawing at the outlaw's face and he suddenly thrust her to the ground.
"Think you're so special do you my lady?" Max could hear the outlaw as though he was Isabel cowering under him. Isabel had connected with Max and was sending him the information he needed to deal with the situation. But the problem was, Max had not idea HOW to deal with the situation. Ten brawny and cruel outlaws stood between he and Isabel.
Max's mind was whirling in a thousand directions. But all thought stopped as a bright light suddenly lit up the clearing. Max whirled to see Michael standing with his arm upraised, his palm glowing, an expression of absolute rage on his face.
"Michael! NOOO!" Tess tried to grab his arm, but he shook her off easily. She fell to the ground, sobbing. Max just stared, shocked disbelief on his face. "We are all betrayed!" He heard Tess cry.
Max could see the priest backing away from Michael, an expression of absolute terror mangling his wizened face. He started to cross himself frantically.
A moment later, it was over.
Where moments before there had been eleven threatening outlaws, there were now eleven bodies sprawled on the ground. Isabel was getting to her feet on the far side of the clearing, her face mirroring Max's own shock.
Max knelt beside the nearest outlaw, putting his ear to the man's chest. "He's dead." Max watched Michael's expression change from absolute conviction-filled anger to that of a scared boy, which he really was.
The priest spoke up. "You are all demons!" He cried in terror, cowering against a tree, still crossing himself repeatedly. "Blessed Father, preserve me. Mother Mary, full of grace, save me!"
Max took a step towards the old man, his hand outstretched, "Father, please..."
"No! Stay back! I will call on all the angels of Heaven to preserve me from the likes of you." The priest fainted dead-away at Max's feet. Max let his arm drop.
Tess was on her feet, her arm around Michael. She was trying to comfort him. "You did what you had to do Michael. He was going to hurt Bella. You had no choice." Michael pulled away from her and turned his back, leaning forward against a tree, his forehead propped against his forearm.
"Max, what are we going to do?" Tess implored him. Isabel had picked her way through the scattered corpses and slid her arm around Tess, who had begun to sob again.
Max stiffened his spine. He was still shocked by the destruction that Michael had been responsible for. Until this moment, he realized, none of us knew the power of which we are really capable. Be strong Max! He ordered himself. The others are depending on you.
"First of all, we are going to bury these men. Then we will return to the road and finish the journey to Nottingham." Max told the other three.
"Do you really think we should Max?" Isabel asked quietly, after they had buried the outlaws, gathered their horses and had started to make their way back to the road. They had left the priest where he had fallen, but only after Tess had connected with him, erasing his memory of the past hour's events. "I think that Lord Edmund needs to know of this." Max knew how worried Isabel was if she was considering going to Lord Edmund. Michael was several feet behind them, a brooding expression on his face. Max knew that her main concern was for Michael's state of mind.
"We are going to the Fair." Max stated firmly. "Michael, you were not to blame." He told his brother. Michael raised his head and stared blankly at him. "We will all forget this ever happened." The other three all just stared at him. Max gentled his tone. "It has never been more clear than it is today. We are visitors on this world." They had reached the road. Max mounted Evander and looked down at Isabel. "We have to behave normally. If anyone were to ever discover who we really are..." He let the thought trail off.
Tess' eyes widened in terror. Max knew that visions of being handed over to the Church as heretics were foremost in her mind. It had always been her greatest fear, since the day they had all realized that they were not normal. Isabel nodded her understanding, while Michael just looked broken.
"This never happened." Max repeated as the other three mounted their horses.
If only it had not. Max allowed the brief thought to wind it's way into his mind.
Part 3
Elizabeth had never seen such crowds in her life. Her life with the Queen had been sheltered to say the least and it appeared as if the entire shire had come to the capital for the Fair. Elizabeth gripped Alexander's sleeve and pointed to a mummer who stood on his hands a few feet away.
"I'd like to see you try that!" She teased him. Alexander looked down at her with twinkling eyes.
"So you've decided to talk to me again have you?" Elizabeth rolled her dark eyes and sighed.
"You know I cannot stay angry with you for long. You really should stop trying to embarrass Sir Kyle though." She chided. "You know that he has absolutely no chance of winning the archery competition." Alexander just smiled knowingly. Elizabeth frowned at him. "What are you hiding from me?" She demanded. "It has to do with Mary, does it not?"
Elizabeth had known that the story of Mary's illness was just that - a story. Now she was beginning to suspect what the story was meant to conceal. "She is not planning to..." Alexander placed a finger on her lips.
"Don't concern yourself Lizzy. You'll know soon enough." Elizabeth just shook her head. Alexander had only ever encouraged Mary in her rebelliousness. He was incorrigible. "Where did the brave Sir Kyle meander off to anyway?" Alexander asked.
"He went to procure me a sweet." Elizabeth responded, sighing again. "He is most attentive."
"Methinks you prefer it when his attentiveness means that he has to leave your side." Alexander raised a brow teasingly.
"Now do not start." Elizabeth scolded, "You know I am not happy about this match, but the Queen only has my best interests at heart. It is time for me to grow up. True love is only a fantasy the troubadours have created to earn their supper." Alexander just smiled knowingly.
"Stop looking like that Alexander Delucie!" She smacked him lightly on his mail covered chest. "You are going to drive me to lunacy with your teasing."
Elizabeth's lecture of Alexander was cut off abruptly as someone bumped into her. The crowds seemed to be pressing ever nearer, some trying to get closer to the mummer, others trying to get to the stall selling ale and meat pies. Alexander and Elizabeth had inadvertently stumbled into the busiest part of the Fair.
Elizabeth felt herself being jostled and suddenly Alexander was no longer at her side. She could see across several other people, but then he was gone, swallowed up by the crowd. She could still hear him calling her name though.
She felt panic begin to overtake her. Strangers surrounded her on all sides. They all seemed to be trying to head in the opposite direction from her. Elizabeth felt herself swept along in a tide of people, all pushing and prodding for position. Small in stature and unused to such physical treatment, Elizabeth could feel herself losing her footing. I'll be crushed! She thought frantically, trying to stay on her feet.
She suddenly felt strong arms grab her. Alexander! Thank the Heavenly Father. She was swept up against a broad chest. Alexander began to push his way through the crowd, elbowing the crowd aside. They suddenly broke through the periphery of the mass of people.
It was only then that Elizabeth realized that the man holding her was not Alexander. His cloak was a different colour and he wore no chain-mail. Elizabeth felt herself stiffen. The stranger was instantly aware.
"Please do not be concerned milady." His voice was deep, but reassuring. She felt herself relaxing instantly. "I will set you down as soon as we are further away from the throng."
A moment later, the stranger set her on her feet. She looked up at him curiously. It was impossible to see his face as the hood of his dark cloak was over his head, but there was something infinitely familiar about him.
"Thank you Sir." The gentleman did not respond, just stood where he was, motionless Although she could not see his eyes, Elizabeth knew that he was staring at her. "Would you be so kind as to remove your hood?" she whispered, her heart thundering in her chest. The stranger paused, but then very slowly reached up and pushed back his hood.
Elizabeth gasped. "You!" It was the man from her dreams. Every detail of his face was as familiar to her as her own. His hair was dark and curled on his forehead. And his eyes...They were the deep, soulful pools she had always seen in her heart. She reached out a hand to touch the beloved face.
Elizabeth suddenly realized what she was doing. Her hand snapped back to her side. The stranger was blinking, as though coming out a trance. He appeared to be trying to pull himself together.
"Do I know you milady?" He asked. From his tone, Elizabeth knew that he was forcing the words. He seemed to know her, just as she knew him. This is impossible! She reflected. He was a figment of my imagination!
Elizabeth shook her head, forcing herself to focus. "No! I mean, I apologize sir. I thought you were my betrothed." She saw the stranger's face tighten at her last words. "I am Lady Elizabeth deParkeville." She continued quickly, hoping to erase the sad expression that had appeared on his face.
"I am very pleased to make your acquaintance milady." He picked up her hand and pressed it to his lips. His eyes never left her face. "My name is Maxwell de...." He paused briefly. "Um, pardon me. My name is Maxwell of Huntington." Elizabeth frowned slightly. She wondered why he had not given her his family's name. She knew of Huntington however. It was a small town on the far side of Sherwood. She had passed through there with the Queen's party the day before on their way to Nottingham.
"Lord Huntington, I am most pleased to meet you. Thank you for saving my life." Lord Huntington reddened slightly.
"I am not a lord milady." He seemed to be searching for words. "Please call me Max. All my friends do. And please do not think on my helping you anymore. It was my pleasure." Elizabeth could tell that he really meant it. She felt her own cheeks heating up.
"I know it is not proper," she responded, "But I would be pleased to call my rescuer by his Christian name." She had no time to sat anything more because suddenly Kyle was at her side.
"Lady Elizabeth! Are you quite well?" He asked, concern in his voice. "I saw you being swept up in the crowd but I could not get to you." He turned to Max and offered him his hand. "Thank you sir. I saw you..." He trailed off and recognition dawned in his eyes. "Maxwell! You have come!" Kyle looked around nervously. "Are your sisters here?"
Elizabeth saw Max's eyes narrow. She wondered what this was all about. She looked at Kyle curiously.
"Yes, Sir Kyle. Isabel and Tess are with my brother observing the jester." He pointed towards a large group that was gathered around the Sheriff's fool. Elizabeth saw a graceful looking blonde girl in red watching them with interest. The smaller blonde beside her was laughing at the ridiculous antics of the jester, while a boy with tousled dark hair fiddled with the long bow in his hands. Max turned back to Kyle and Elizabeth abruptly. "I really must join them." He bowed stiffly and started to walk away. Elizabeth felt disappointment invade her to the bone. "Good day Lady Elizabeth, Sir Kyle."
Elizabeth watched him go, shock sinking into her. How can he possibly exist? What can this mean?
Sir Kyle offered her his arm. "Come my lady. We are wanted at the tourney ground. My lord Father wishes to begin the competition." Elizabeth placed her hand on Kyle's arm, without conscious thought. She turned for one more look at Max as Kyle led her away. She felt her pulse speed up as she met his grave eyes. He watched her go, no expression on his handsome face.
Part 4
Max watched Sir Kyle lead Lady Elizabeth away, feeling his heart begin to slow down as she disappeared into the crowd. He had been on his way to the stall selling meat pasties to provide a mid-day meal for he and his siblings when he had suddenly seen the young lady in acute danger. Always protective of Tess and Isabel, he had thought that it was just a natural instinct within in him to aid a lady in jeopardy.
That idea had quickly changed after he had swept Lady Elizabeth into his arms. It had suddenly felt as though he had found exactly what he had been looking for his entire life. He had known that she felt the same way when he had removed his hood and she had looked at him as though she recognized him. And he knew that she had - from the same place he knew her.
From his dreams.
Max had had a recurring dream his entire life. In it he was not a stranger on this world, but a regular human man, with a wife and children. The wife in his vision had the face of Lady Elizabeth deParkeville, his children were all small dark-haired, dark-eyed versions of her. He did not know how it was possible, but it was true. He had never seen her before today, but her face was as dear to him as those of Isabel or Tess, perhaps even more so. Neither Isabel or Tess had ever made his heart speed up as though it wanted to beat out of his chest, or made him short of breath, or made him feel that his whole world could end right at that moment if he could have just one kiss.
Max realized that Isabel was looking at him strangely. "Max, are you quite well?" She asked worriedly. The four of them had somehow been able to suppress the horrifying events of earlier that day and had actually begun to enjoy the Fair. Max forced himself to smile. He did not want to concern the others.
"I'm fine Bella. I just realized that I did not manage to acquire any food. We won't have time to eat before the tournament." Isabel did not look convinced, but she let it go. Tess turned away from the jester, a smile still lighting up her pretty face.
"Oh Max! Did you see the fool?" Max put an affectionate arm around her shoulders.
"No, I missed him. But I only want to see the archery competition anyway." Michael eyed him suspiciously.
"Was that Sir Kyle I saw you conversing with?" Max nodded, frowning slightly.
"Yes. He asked after you Bella." Max stared at her pointedly. Isabel tossed her head.
"Do you have a point Maxwell deHarding?" The other three all just looked at her.
"Fine." She acknowledged. "I know I should not be encouraging him. It just gets so lonely..." She trailed off, tears appearing in her dark eyes. Max knew that Isabel had no real interest in Sir Kyle deValence. He was just a distraction from her constant feeling of imprisonment at Castle DeHarding. Max decided to change the subject.
"Well, we'll just drop the whole matter and stay out of Sir Kyle's way." He decided aloud. Isabel nodded, and Michael and Tess looked relieved. They were both afraid of strangers to a certain degree. Tess, in particular, feared betrayal of who they were at all times.
Max led the way towards the tourney ground. He pushed his way through the crowd to the stands, securing seats near the front for Isabel and Tess. Tess was bouncing up and down in her seat with excitement, while Isabel was staring down the dirty man seated beside her, who was trying to get a little too close. Michael, as usual, was fiddling with his long-bow, an expression of longing on his face as he eyed the targets being set up on the field. Max knew that Michael was capable of winning the competition, but being the most careful of them all, he would not enter for fear of drawing too much attention to himself.
Neither Michael or Max had chosen to sit in the stands, preferring to lean against a fence closer to the targets. Isabel and Tess were in plain view. It would be easy for Max or Michael to be at their sides in an instant if any sort of trouble arose. Max knew that he could never be too careful with Bella. Her beauty but lack of position made her a constant target whenever she went into public, which was another reason that Lord Edmund refused to allow them to leave Castle deHarding. Tess was pretty enough as well to warrant unpleasant attention from men. The outlaw's attack earlier in the afternoon had only reinforced this.
Despite being on his guard, Max's thoughts began to drift. Who is Elizabeth deParkeville? He wondered to himself. How can I know her when I have never before seen her? What can this mean?
Just the thought of her made Max's breath catch. She really was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Her dark hair had been covered by a transparent veil, but had still managed to catch the light, reflecting red highlights. Her skin had been perfect, not a blemish anywhere, which was almost unheard of. And her eyes....They had reminded him of those of the doe Michael had allowed to escape when the two of them had been hunting a few weeks before. Large and dark and shining with intelligence, he had felt as though they were penetrating his soul.
Max was pulled from his reverie, when Michael elbowed him in the ribs. "Wake up Maxwell! They're about to begin." Max watched the nobles beginning to collect in the gallery reserved for them across from where he and Michael stood. He recognized the Sheriff of Nottingham, who was guiding an elderly lady, presumably Queen Eleanor, to the throne in the centre of the observatory. Max's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the young lady in blue who followed close behind the Queen. Lady Elizabeth took the seat beside the Queen, arranging her skirts gracefully, and smiling when the Queen patted her gently on the cheek.
The crowd quieted as the Sheriff moved to the centre of the tournament field and raised his hands. "Welcome people of Nottingham! We are pleased to welcome her Grace, the Queen Dowager, to our assembly!" The crowd cheered lustily for the brave Queen, who was a legend in her own time.
"Long live the Queen! Long live King Richard!" The Queen rose with help from Elizabeth and acknowledged the crowd.
The Sheriff again held up his hands. The crowd gradually settled. "The tournament this afternoon is to be an archery competition, as most of you are aware. However, entries have been short, so we have decided to allow a few more competitors to enter the field without registering. The prize is a golden arrow." The crowd began to murmur amongst itself. No one took to the field.
The Sheriff smiled. "Come now gentleman!" When no one moved, the Sheriff continued, "Well, it appears that more incentive is required. Therefore, I would like to make an announcement. My son Sir Kyle de Valence has recently become betrothed." The Sheriff indicated Sir Kyle, who was leaning on his bow near the noble's gallery, the few archery competitors gathered around him. The crowd cheered again and Kyle raised a hand in recognition. "His future wife is to be the beauteous Lady Elizabeth deParkeville."
Max's heart constricted painfully in his chest. She had mentioned that she was betrothed, but he had not realized that it was to Sir Kyle. How imbecilic are you? He asked himself bitterly. Was he not the one who came to lead her away earlier? Max glanced briefly at Isabel in the stands. He was surprised to see that she was staring at him, assessment in her dark eyes.
Meanwhile, Lady Elizabeth had stood up in the gallery, and was pushed forward by one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting. Max could not see whether she was blushing from the distance at which he watched her, but he could tell by the stiff way she held herself that she was not happy.
"Lady Elizabeth has graciously agreed," the Sheriff continued, "To present the golden arrow to the winner of the competition...."he paused for effect. "Along with a kiss." A roar went up from the crowd. "Thus, the competition will take place in ten minutes. Any gentlemen who feel that they can earn a prize as wonderful as a kiss from a beautiful lady should present themselves on the field immediately."
Max stood frozen. A kiss from Lady Elizabeth! How could Sir Kyle have agreed to this! Max could see that Elizabeth had retaken her seat. Her hands were clenched in her lap, but she appeared composed. Deep down Max knew that she was not though. He could see her eyes scanning the crowd and was shocked when they suddenly stopped on him.
Even from this distance, he could see her eyes widen. He gazed at her, unable to pull away. Then she gave him a brief nod. And Max deHarding knew exactly what he had to do.
To be continued...
As Max crossed the clearing he realized that there were not nearly so many outlaws as he had originally perceived. Only about ten men stood between he and Michael and Tess.
Michael was glaring at Max mutinously when he reached his brother and his betrothed. Tess threw herself into Max's arms. "Oh thank goodness! Max, are they going to kill us?"
Max disentangled himself from Tess's embrace. He always felt uncomfortable when Tess became too affectionate. While he accepted that he would marry her one day, he considered her more like a sister than anything else. Still, it was his duty to reassure her.
"We'll be fine Tess." He turned to stare at his brother. "But no thanks to you Michael. Why did you not just pay them and let it go?"
"I told him so my lord," this was from the priest, who looked relieved that it appeared that he was about to be saved. Michael rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to respond.
Michael had no time to speak though because suddenly a disturbance on the far side of the clearing caught all of their attention. Max whirled in time to see Isabel back off her horse and in the outlaw leader's arms. She was fighting him but he was quickly gaining the upper hand.
"Bella!" Max yelled, but was thrust back by the bows in the hands of the other outlaws.
"You just stay where you are milord." Max felt his anger mounting. Isabel was clawing at the outlaw's face and he suddenly thrust her to the ground.
"Think you're so special do you my lady?" Max could hear the outlaw as though he was Isabel cowering under him. Isabel had connected with Max and was sending him the information he needed to deal with the situation. But the problem was, Max had not idea HOW to deal with the situation. Ten brawny and cruel outlaws stood between he and Isabel.
Max's mind was whirling in a thousand directions. But all thought stopped as a bright light suddenly lit up the clearing. Max whirled to see Michael standing with his arm upraised, his palm glowing, an expression of absolute rage on his face.
"Michael! NOOO!" Tess tried to grab his arm, but he shook her off easily. She fell to the ground, sobbing. Max just stared, shocked disbelief on his face. "We are all betrayed!" He heard Tess cry.
Max could see the priest backing away from Michael, an expression of absolute terror mangling his wizened face. He started to cross himself frantically.
A moment later, it was over.
Where moments before there had been eleven threatening outlaws, there were now eleven bodies sprawled on the ground. Isabel was getting to her feet on the far side of the clearing, her face mirroring Max's own shock.
Max knelt beside the nearest outlaw, putting his ear to the man's chest. "He's dead." Max watched Michael's expression change from absolute conviction-filled anger to that of a scared boy, which he really was.
The priest spoke up. "You are all demons!" He cried in terror, cowering against a tree, still crossing himself repeatedly. "Blessed Father, preserve me. Mother Mary, full of grace, save me!"
Max took a step towards the old man, his hand outstretched, "Father, please..."
"No! Stay back! I will call on all the angels of Heaven to preserve me from the likes of you." The priest fainted dead-away at Max's feet. Max let his arm drop.
Tess was on her feet, her arm around Michael. She was trying to comfort him. "You did what you had to do Michael. He was going to hurt Bella. You had no choice." Michael pulled away from her and turned his back, leaning forward against a tree, his forehead propped against his forearm.
"Max, what are we going to do?" Tess implored him. Isabel had picked her way through the scattered corpses and slid her arm around Tess, who had begun to sob again.
Max stiffened his spine. He was still shocked by the destruction that Michael had been responsible for. Until this moment, he realized, none of us knew the power of which we are really capable. Be strong Max! He ordered himself. The others are depending on you.
"First of all, we are going to bury these men. Then we will return to the road and finish the journey to Nottingham." Max told the other three.
"Do you really think we should Max?" Isabel asked quietly, after they had buried the outlaws, gathered their horses and had started to make their way back to the road. They had left the priest where he had fallen, but only after Tess had connected with him, erasing his memory of the past hour's events. "I think that Lord Edmund needs to know of this." Max knew how worried Isabel was if she was considering going to Lord Edmund. Michael was several feet behind them, a brooding expression on his face. Max knew that her main concern was for Michael's state of mind.
"We are going to the Fair." Max stated firmly. "Michael, you were not to blame." He told his brother. Michael raised his head and stared blankly at him. "We will all forget this ever happened." The other three all just stared at him. Max gentled his tone. "It has never been more clear than it is today. We are visitors on this world." They had reached the road. Max mounted Evander and looked down at Isabel. "We have to behave normally. If anyone were to ever discover who we really are..." He let the thought trail off.
Tess' eyes widened in terror. Max knew that visions of being handed over to the Church as heretics were foremost in her mind. It had always been her greatest fear, since the day they had all realized that they were not normal. Isabel nodded her understanding, while Michael just looked broken.
"This never happened." Max repeated as the other three mounted their horses.
If only it had not. Max allowed the brief thought to wind it's way into his mind.
Part 3
Elizabeth had never seen such crowds in her life. Her life with the Queen had been sheltered to say the least and it appeared as if the entire shire had come to the capital for the Fair. Elizabeth gripped Alexander's sleeve and pointed to a mummer who stood on his hands a few feet away.
"I'd like to see you try that!" She teased him. Alexander looked down at her with twinkling eyes.
"So you've decided to talk to me again have you?" Elizabeth rolled her dark eyes and sighed.
"You know I cannot stay angry with you for long. You really should stop trying to embarrass Sir Kyle though." She chided. "You know that he has absolutely no chance of winning the archery competition." Alexander just smiled knowingly. Elizabeth frowned at him. "What are you hiding from me?" She demanded. "It has to do with Mary, does it not?"
Elizabeth had known that the story of Mary's illness was just that - a story. Now she was beginning to suspect what the story was meant to conceal. "She is not planning to..." Alexander placed a finger on her lips.
"Don't concern yourself Lizzy. You'll know soon enough." Elizabeth just shook her head. Alexander had only ever encouraged Mary in her rebelliousness. He was incorrigible. "Where did the brave Sir Kyle meander off to anyway?" Alexander asked.
"He went to procure me a sweet." Elizabeth responded, sighing again. "He is most attentive."
"Methinks you prefer it when his attentiveness means that he has to leave your side." Alexander raised a brow teasingly.
"Now do not start." Elizabeth scolded, "You know I am not happy about this match, but the Queen only has my best interests at heart. It is time for me to grow up. True love is only a fantasy the troubadours have created to earn their supper." Alexander just smiled knowingly.
"Stop looking like that Alexander Delucie!" She smacked him lightly on his mail covered chest. "You are going to drive me to lunacy with your teasing."
Elizabeth's lecture of Alexander was cut off abruptly as someone bumped into her. The crowds seemed to be pressing ever nearer, some trying to get closer to the mummer, others trying to get to the stall selling ale and meat pies. Alexander and Elizabeth had inadvertently stumbled into the busiest part of the Fair.
Elizabeth felt herself being jostled and suddenly Alexander was no longer at her side. She could see across several other people, but then he was gone, swallowed up by the crowd. She could still hear him calling her name though.
She felt panic begin to overtake her. Strangers surrounded her on all sides. They all seemed to be trying to head in the opposite direction from her. Elizabeth felt herself swept along in a tide of people, all pushing and prodding for position. Small in stature and unused to such physical treatment, Elizabeth could feel herself losing her footing. I'll be crushed! She thought frantically, trying to stay on her feet.
She suddenly felt strong arms grab her. Alexander! Thank the Heavenly Father. She was swept up against a broad chest. Alexander began to push his way through the crowd, elbowing the crowd aside. They suddenly broke through the periphery of the mass of people.
It was only then that Elizabeth realized that the man holding her was not Alexander. His cloak was a different colour and he wore no chain-mail. Elizabeth felt herself stiffen. The stranger was instantly aware.
"Please do not be concerned milady." His voice was deep, but reassuring. She felt herself relaxing instantly. "I will set you down as soon as we are further away from the throng."
A moment later, the stranger set her on her feet. She looked up at him curiously. It was impossible to see his face as the hood of his dark cloak was over his head, but there was something infinitely familiar about him.
"Thank you Sir." The gentleman did not respond, just stood where he was, motionless Although she could not see his eyes, Elizabeth knew that he was staring at her. "Would you be so kind as to remove your hood?" she whispered, her heart thundering in her chest. The stranger paused, but then very slowly reached up and pushed back his hood.
Elizabeth gasped. "You!" It was the man from her dreams. Every detail of his face was as familiar to her as her own. His hair was dark and curled on his forehead. And his eyes...They were the deep, soulful pools she had always seen in her heart. She reached out a hand to touch the beloved face.
Elizabeth suddenly realized what she was doing. Her hand snapped back to her side. The stranger was blinking, as though coming out a trance. He appeared to be trying to pull himself together.
"Do I know you milady?" He asked. From his tone, Elizabeth knew that he was forcing the words. He seemed to know her, just as she knew him. This is impossible! She reflected. He was a figment of my imagination!
Elizabeth shook her head, forcing herself to focus. "No! I mean, I apologize sir. I thought you were my betrothed." She saw the stranger's face tighten at her last words. "I am Lady Elizabeth deParkeville." She continued quickly, hoping to erase the sad expression that had appeared on his face.
"I am very pleased to make your acquaintance milady." He picked up her hand and pressed it to his lips. His eyes never left her face. "My name is Maxwell de...." He paused briefly. "Um, pardon me. My name is Maxwell of Huntington." Elizabeth frowned slightly. She wondered why he had not given her his family's name. She knew of Huntington however. It was a small town on the far side of Sherwood. She had passed through there with the Queen's party the day before on their way to Nottingham.
"Lord Huntington, I am most pleased to meet you. Thank you for saving my life." Lord Huntington reddened slightly.
"I am not a lord milady." He seemed to be searching for words. "Please call me Max. All my friends do. And please do not think on my helping you anymore. It was my pleasure." Elizabeth could tell that he really meant it. She felt her own cheeks heating up.
"I know it is not proper," she responded, "But I would be pleased to call my rescuer by his Christian name." She had no time to sat anything more because suddenly Kyle was at her side.
"Lady Elizabeth! Are you quite well?" He asked, concern in his voice. "I saw you being swept up in the crowd but I could not get to you." He turned to Max and offered him his hand. "Thank you sir. I saw you..." He trailed off and recognition dawned in his eyes. "Maxwell! You have come!" Kyle looked around nervously. "Are your sisters here?"
Elizabeth saw Max's eyes narrow. She wondered what this was all about. She looked at Kyle curiously.
"Yes, Sir Kyle. Isabel and Tess are with my brother observing the jester." He pointed towards a large group that was gathered around the Sheriff's fool. Elizabeth saw a graceful looking blonde girl in red watching them with interest. The smaller blonde beside her was laughing at the ridiculous antics of the jester, while a boy with tousled dark hair fiddled with the long bow in his hands. Max turned back to Kyle and Elizabeth abruptly. "I really must join them." He bowed stiffly and started to walk away. Elizabeth felt disappointment invade her to the bone. "Good day Lady Elizabeth, Sir Kyle."
Elizabeth watched him go, shock sinking into her. How can he possibly exist? What can this mean?
Sir Kyle offered her his arm. "Come my lady. We are wanted at the tourney ground. My lord Father wishes to begin the competition." Elizabeth placed her hand on Kyle's arm, without conscious thought. She turned for one more look at Max as Kyle led her away. She felt her pulse speed up as she met his grave eyes. He watched her go, no expression on his handsome face.
Part 4
Max watched Sir Kyle lead Lady Elizabeth away, feeling his heart begin to slow down as she disappeared into the crowd. He had been on his way to the stall selling meat pasties to provide a mid-day meal for he and his siblings when he had suddenly seen the young lady in acute danger. Always protective of Tess and Isabel, he had thought that it was just a natural instinct within in him to aid a lady in jeopardy.
That idea had quickly changed after he had swept Lady Elizabeth into his arms. It had suddenly felt as though he had found exactly what he had been looking for his entire life. He had known that she felt the same way when he had removed his hood and she had looked at him as though she recognized him. And he knew that she had - from the same place he knew her.
From his dreams.
Max had had a recurring dream his entire life. In it he was not a stranger on this world, but a regular human man, with a wife and children. The wife in his vision had the face of Lady Elizabeth deParkeville, his children were all small dark-haired, dark-eyed versions of her. He did not know how it was possible, but it was true. He had never seen her before today, but her face was as dear to him as those of Isabel or Tess, perhaps even more so. Neither Isabel or Tess had ever made his heart speed up as though it wanted to beat out of his chest, or made him short of breath, or made him feel that his whole world could end right at that moment if he could have just one kiss.
Max realized that Isabel was looking at him strangely. "Max, are you quite well?" She asked worriedly. The four of them had somehow been able to suppress the horrifying events of earlier that day and had actually begun to enjoy the Fair. Max forced himself to smile. He did not want to concern the others.
"I'm fine Bella. I just realized that I did not manage to acquire any food. We won't have time to eat before the tournament." Isabel did not look convinced, but she let it go. Tess turned away from the jester, a smile still lighting up her pretty face.
"Oh Max! Did you see the fool?" Max put an affectionate arm around her shoulders.
"No, I missed him. But I only want to see the archery competition anyway." Michael eyed him suspiciously.
"Was that Sir Kyle I saw you conversing with?" Max nodded, frowning slightly.
"Yes. He asked after you Bella." Max stared at her pointedly. Isabel tossed her head.
"Do you have a point Maxwell deHarding?" The other three all just looked at her.
"Fine." She acknowledged. "I know I should not be encouraging him. It just gets so lonely..." She trailed off, tears appearing in her dark eyes. Max knew that Isabel had no real interest in Sir Kyle deValence. He was just a distraction from her constant feeling of imprisonment at Castle DeHarding. Max decided to change the subject.
"Well, we'll just drop the whole matter and stay out of Sir Kyle's way." He decided aloud. Isabel nodded, and Michael and Tess looked relieved. They were both afraid of strangers to a certain degree. Tess, in particular, feared betrayal of who they were at all times.
Max led the way towards the tourney ground. He pushed his way through the crowd to the stands, securing seats near the front for Isabel and Tess. Tess was bouncing up and down in her seat with excitement, while Isabel was staring down the dirty man seated beside her, who was trying to get a little too close. Michael, as usual, was fiddling with his long-bow, an expression of longing on his face as he eyed the targets being set up on the field. Max knew that Michael was capable of winning the competition, but being the most careful of them all, he would not enter for fear of drawing too much attention to himself.
Neither Michael or Max had chosen to sit in the stands, preferring to lean against a fence closer to the targets. Isabel and Tess were in plain view. It would be easy for Max or Michael to be at their sides in an instant if any sort of trouble arose. Max knew that he could never be too careful with Bella. Her beauty but lack of position made her a constant target whenever she went into public, which was another reason that Lord Edmund refused to allow them to leave Castle deHarding. Tess was pretty enough as well to warrant unpleasant attention from men. The outlaw's attack earlier in the afternoon had only reinforced this.
Despite being on his guard, Max's thoughts began to drift. Who is Elizabeth deParkeville? He wondered to himself. How can I know her when I have never before seen her? What can this mean?
Just the thought of her made Max's breath catch. She really was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Her dark hair had been covered by a transparent veil, but had still managed to catch the light, reflecting red highlights. Her skin had been perfect, not a blemish anywhere, which was almost unheard of. And her eyes....They had reminded him of those of the doe Michael had allowed to escape when the two of them had been hunting a few weeks before. Large and dark and shining with intelligence, he had felt as though they were penetrating his soul.
Max was pulled from his reverie, when Michael elbowed him in the ribs. "Wake up Maxwell! They're about to begin." Max watched the nobles beginning to collect in the gallery reserved for them across from where he and Michael stood. He recognized the Sheriff of Nottingham, who was guiding an elderly lady, presumably Queen Eleanor, to the throne in the centre of the observatory. Max's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the young lady in blue who followed close behind the Queen. Lady Elizabeth took the seat beside the Queen, arranging her skirts gracefully, and smiling when the Queen patted her gently on the cheek.
The crowd quieted as the Sheriff moved to the centre of the tournament field and raised his hands. "Welcome people of Nottingham! We are pleased to welcome her Grace, the Queen Dowager, to our assembly!" The crowd cheered lustily for the brave Queen, who was a legend in her own time.
"Long live the Queen! Long live King Richard!" The Queen rose with help from Elizabeth and acknowledged the crowd.
The Sheriff again held up his hands. The crowd gradually settled. "The tournament this afternoon is to be an archery competition, as most of you are aware. However, entries have been short, so we have decided to allow a few more competitors to enter the field without registering. The prize is a golden arrow." The crowd began to murmur amongst itself. No one took to the field.
The Sheriff smiled. "Come now gentleman!" When no one moved, the Sheriff continued, "Well, it appears that more incentive is required. Therefore, I would like to make an announcement. My son Sir Kyle de Valence has recently become betrothed." The Sheriff indicated Sir Kyle, who was leaning on his bow near the noble's gallery, the few archery competitors gathered around him. The crowd cheered again and Kyle raised a hand in recognition. "His future wife is to be the beauteous Lady Elizabeth deParkeville."
Max's heart constricted painfully in his chest. She had mentioned that she was betrothed, but he had not realized that it was to Sir Kyle. How imbecilic are you? He asked himself bitterly. Was he not the one who came to lead her away earlier? Max glanced briefly at Isabel in the stands. He was surprised to see that she was staring at him, assessment in her dark eyes.
Meanwhile, Lady Elizabeth had stood up in the gallery, and was pushed forward by one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting. Max could not see whether she was blushing from the distance at which he watched her, but he could tell by the stiff way she held herself that she was not happy.
"Lady Elizabeth has graciously agreed," the Sheriff continued, "To present the golden arrow to the winner of the competition...."he paused for effect. "Along with a kiss." A roar went up from the crowd. "Thus, the competition will take place in ten minutes. Any gentlemen who feel that they can earn a prize as wonderful as a kiss from a beautiful lady should present themselves on the field immediately."
Max stood frozen. A kiss from Lady Elizabeth! How could Sir Kyle have agreed to this! Max could see that Elizabeth had retaken her seat. Her hands were clenched in her lap, but she appeared composed. Deep down Max knew that she was not though. He could see her eyes scanning the crowd and was shocked when they suddenly stopped on him.
Even from this distance, he could see her eyes widen. He gazed at her, unable to pull away. Then she gave him a brief nod. And Max deHarding knew exactly what he had to do.
To be continued...