Chapter 11

            It had been a long three days for Keelin in which it seemed she did nothing other than work.  In fact, she had barely slept or eaten because she had not the time.  Not a day had passed in which she worked less than sixteen hours straight and this day was no exception.

            The back of her neck was more sore than it had ever been and she groaned as she rubbed it with an extremely weary hand.  She knew that she should head straight back to her chamber and get some sleep, but she just needed a few moments to herself, a few moments of peace and quiet.  Keelin had very little time to think about her predicament with the prince during the day, but at night it hit her full force.  She needed to find a place where she could do some serious thinking.

            Keelin wandered her way into the castle's chapel.  She felt that there was no one else left to talk to, save for God.  She did not understand why she was in her current position and felt that her only option was to pray to God to alleviate the situation.  Keelin knelt for many minutes in front of the altar, praying silently, before rising awkwardly to her feet, crying out involuntarily at the twinge in her back.  She moved away from the altar and seated herself in one of the pews to continue her prayers.

            She did not know how long she sat, alternately praying and dozing, before she became aware of another presence in the chapel.  It was very late and she was certain that it could only be the priest.  She felt certain that no one else would be up so late and in the chapel.  She started to turn with the intention of speaking with the priest and asking him to help her repent her sins, when she saw that the other person in the chapel was the last person on Earth she had expected to see.

            Keelin and the prince stared at one another awkwardly.  She became very much aware of her coarse gown with its white apron that was stained with tiny spots of blood from where she had blotted her much-pricked finger.  A modest white cap covered her head, but could feel the multitude of ringlets that had escaped throughout the day as she had sweated over her work.

            The prince looked equally disheveled.  He wore a white shirt, black breeches, boots, and a jerkin, but his clothing looked wrinkled and worn.  His face was weary; his mouth appeared pinched with tension.  His auburn hair had been carelessly tied back with a leather thong.  She could see that he wore bracers and could not help but wonder if he had been training all the day long.

            "Forgive me," he said, speaking first.  "I did not mean to invade your peace."  He began to beat a swift retreat towards the chapel door and Keelin rose hastily in alarm.

            "Oh nay, Your Highness, 'tis I who should leave so that Your Highness may pray.  I have been here for a while and am finished with my prayers," she said, popping up from her seat and attempting to flee through the doors faster than him.

            In her haste, she cut too close of a path and bumped into him full force.  Overcome by weariness, she stumbled and nearly fell but, once again, found herself caught by the powerful grip of the prince.  As she moved her gaze to his, she felt her mouth go dry.  He was studying her with a strange intensity.

            "'Tis not God with whom I wish to speak, 'tis you," he admitted.

            Her mouth was too dry for her to be able to speak, so she simply nodded, her eyes wide with something like terror.

            "Come with me," he said, finally letting go of her, as he turned toward the door.

            Keelin followed mutely, her feet dragging with exhaustion as she tried her best to keep up with the swift pace of the prince.  He led her to his study and she gratefully accepted the chair that he offered her, collapsing into it as she felt her bones turn to water.

            "Are you quite well?" he asked her, concern evident upon his face.

            "Forgive me, Your Highness," she mumbled, almost unable to speak, so great was her fatigue.  "I am merely tired."

            The prince looked as if something had suddenly dawned on him.  "Have you been working very much as a result of the upcoming ball?"

            "We have worked ceaselessly for the past three days," she answered.

            "Then I shall not keep you for long as you must be nearly exhausted.  I merely wanted to tell you that I truly appreciate the information you have offered to me.  It has been most valuable.  You have done both your king and your country a great service," he said.  He seemed as if he wanted to continue, but his voice faltered.

            "There is nothing that I would not do in the service of my king and country," Keelin replied, feeling more awake by the moment.  She began to feel jumpy and nervous about where this little speech was going.

            "Aye, that is most proper," the prince murmured, almost to himself.  He did not speak for several moments.

            "Is there anything more Your Highness wishes of me?" Keelin finally asked.

            "Nay, nay…Once again, I thank you," he said.

            "I am not deserving of such thanks.  'Tis I who wish to thank Your Highness for the many great services that have been rendered on my behalf.  Forgive me, but if there is nothing more you wish of me, I ask if I may take my leave."

            "Oh, of course," the prince said, looking as if he were shaking himself back into the present.

            "Good night, Your Highness," Keelin said, feeling very confused.  She bowed low before him.

            "Good night, Keelin," he said, his voice soft. 

            Keelin felt herself freeze at the sound of his voice speaking her name in that manner and then she attempted to flee his chamber.  However, she was once again stopped by him.

            "I wonder if you would be so kind as to spare me more of your time for there is something I wish to ask you, if I may," the prince said.  Keelin turned to see that he had risen from his chair and had walked halfway toward the door.

            "Of course, Your Highness," she murmured.  She turned toward him and met his glance attentively, her hands folded into her apron.  His gaze fell down to it and he looked alarmed.

            "Why is there blood on your apron?" he asked.

            Keelin felt her face go bright red with shame and embarrassment.  "Forgive me, Your Highness, if my appearance offends.  I am afraid I am not always as nimble with my needle as I should be.  I pricked my finger several times today."

            "Your finger," the prince repeated, somewhat dumbly.  "Is it all right?"

            "'Tis perfectly well," she replied, blushing ever more furiously.  "It shall heal in a few days' time.  'Tis worth my small injury to know that I am helping to prepare for His Majesty's ball."

            "I am glad to know that 'tis not a more serious injury," the prince replied.  The response struck Keelin as very strange and a little alarming and she was eager to change the subject.

            "I believe there was something that Your Highness wished to ask me?" she prompted.

            "Aye, aye, indeed.  Please, be seated," he said, returning to his seat.  He waited until she was settled in her own before posing his question.  "I wonder, will you be so kind as to tell me about your childhood and your parents?" he asked.

            Keelin could hardly have been more shocked.  It seemed such an odd question and she wondered why he cared.  He normally only asked her about the earl and had only seemed interested in the details of her personal life that directly concerned the earl.

            "Why, certainly, if Your Highness wishes it," she said.  She knew that her surprise was evident in her voice but was simply unable to suppress it.  "What is it that Your Highness wishes to know?"

            "Was it a happy childhood?" he asked her.

            "Aye, 'twas very happy," she said, her voice softening and her body relaxing at such pleasant recollections. 

            The prince prompted her with a few more questions until she began to simply speak freely with him, telling him all about her childhood.  He listened very attentively and laughed when she laughed, was sober when she was.  Before long, she found herself talking to him very easily and the hours slipped away quickly.

*****

            Rhain hardly knew what had led him to this moment.  When he had seen Keelin in the chapel, he had asked her to come with him with the intention of making it clear to her that their acquaintance was at an end.  However, he had found himself so worried about her obvious exhaustion that he had been unwilling to let her go.  In fact, he had been unable to let her go without satisfying his curiosity and so he indulged himself by asking her about her childhood.

            At first, she had seemed very hesitant about speaking with him and had obviously wondered why he cared.  He felt pain at this, but could hardly blame her.  He had never before asked her anything about her childhood that did not directly relate to his line of inquiry about the earl. 

            He found himself charmed by her stories, his heart gladdened by the sight of the smile that lit up her entire face.  It was obvious to him that, although she had suffered much in her life, she had also enjoyed years of great happiness when she was a child.  The more she told him, the more he wanted to know and he found himself admiring the way her beautiful eyes shone when she was happy and the curve of her mouth as she smiled.  Suddenly, no one else in the world existed save the two of them.

            "I must thank Your Highness for the great kindness shown me," Keelin finally said, when her stories had drawn to a close.

            "Nay, 'tis you who has done me a great kindness," the prince replied.

            "Your Highness is very kind but I could not possibly have…" she protested, but he held up his hand and looked at her seriously.

            "Before I met you, I believe that I was extremely self-centered.  I am ashamed of how little regard I had for my people.  Were it not for you, I would never have opened my eyes to their plight, would never have seen them for the individuals that they are.  I could never have begun to understand their worries or their pain.  As chagrined as I am to admit it, I may never have even noticed them.  But you have opened my eyes to a whole new world and made me a better person for it.  For that, I shall be eternally grateful to you," he said, his voice very sincere.

            "That is very kind," Keelin replied, "although I do think Your Highness is much too harsh.  You have always been a kind and fair master and my service is but insignificant.  I owe Your Highness so much more for saving my life and for making me as comfortable as I am today."

            Rhain smiled at her.  "You shall never convince me.  I will always be certain that whatever small services I have rendered you could never compare to the very great one you have rendered me.  In addition to your opening my eyes to my people, I have also had a great deal of pleasure in your conversation."

            "I cannot possibly have anything of interest to say to Your Highness," Keelin protested, averting her eyes from his.

            "On the contrary, everything that you say interests me," he said, his voice very soft.  His feelings were very intense and he could no longer deny them to himself.  No matter how foolish or dangerous, he was falling in love with this woman.

            "That is my great good fortune," Keelin said, equally softly. 

            "The good fortune is all mine," Rhain insisted.  "Might I beg the privilege of calling you a friend?"

            "I shall always be a most loyal friend to Your Highness," Keelin said.

            "Is that because you feel 'tis your duty?"  It was so important for him to know.  More than anything else in the world, he desperately wanted her to acknowledge him as a man rather than a prince.

            "'Tis indeed my duty," Keelin replied slowly, and Rhain felt his heart sink.  "However, 'tis also my pleasure.  Your Highness has shown the kindest of concern and regard for me, as any good friend would do.  I am aware of how fortunate I am to have the friendship of a prince, but I am also aware of how fortunate I am to have the friendship of such a man as Your Highness."

            Her words warmed his heart and caused him to smile broadly.  "So you are able to look past my crown?" he asked her.

            She smiled back at him.  "I know only too well the pain of being taken for what one is on the outside rather than what one is on the inside.  I admit that there was a time during which I could not look past Your Highness's crown, but as time passed and our acquaintance grew, I could not help but see what lay inside of you.  I believe that those of us who are not much acquainted with the peerage often see its members as mere symbols.  I think perhaps we forget that the members of the peerage also have a beating heart and that they too feel, just as we feel.  'Tis unfortunate, but true.  I believe we are simply too much in awe and that we cannot believe anything that might make us feel that we are even close to being the equal of a member of the peerage."

            "You are my equal in every way and my superior in many," Rhain said.

            Keelin looked taken aback at this comment.  "I would never presume myself to be the equal of Your Highness and certainly never a superior."

            He smiled warmly at her.  "You are a most virtuous woman who has a perfect understanding of her place in this world.  Your conduct is beyond reproach.  However, I wish you to understand that I consider you in every way my equal.  Because I happened to be born the son of a king does not in any way make me superior to you.  Indeed, I know many women of considerable birth who are much less virtuous than you."

            "Your Highness is too kind," Keelin said.  Rhain could see that she was beginning to look uncomfortable and he was afraid that he might scare her off.

            "Forgive me for keeping you so long," he said, feeling truly concerned and more than a little selfish.  "I must allow you your leave so that you may get some rest."

            "I thank Your Highness," Keelin answered.  She rose from her chair and bowed before him.  "I am grateful to Your Highness for this night.  It has been most pleasant for me."

            "And for me as well," he replied, rising from his own chair and returning her bow.  He could see the surprise in her eyes.  "Farewell, my friend.  May God bless your sleep with pleasant dreams."

            "Your Highness's as well," she replied.  She smiled briefly at him before turning and walking through the door, closing it gently behind her.

            When she was gone, Rhain could fully feel the shock of what had passed between them.  This night had been one of the most pleasant of his life and he knew that he was unwilling to deny himself the possibility of another night like it.  Now that he knew he was falling in love with this woman, the last thing he wanted to do was to deprive himself of her company, which grew dearer to him by the moment.

            He was very much in trouble.  He had been certain that no woman would ever touch his heart, let alone a servant.  There could be no good that would come out of this.  He could never hope to marry Keelin but it was a truth that he could not bear to face.  He could not believe the cruel hand that fate had dealt him.  At long last, he was learning to love, but she was a woman that he could never hope to have.  It would torture him for the rest of his days.

            The prince left his study and went into his bedchamber, stripping off his clothes and pulling his nightshift over his head, even though he was certain that he would never sleep that night.  His fingers trembled as he tried to do his laces and he finally had to give up on them.  He untied the leather thong from his hair and ran his fingers through the mass of waves impatiently.  He paced for several moments before forcing himself to get into bed and to try to sleep.

            As soon as he closed his eyes, he saw her lovely face before him, just as it had appeared as she sat across from him that night in his study.  He imagined himself freeing her of her cap, imagined her hair tumbling about her as it had the night on the battlements.  He imagined what it would be like to allow himself the sweet pleasure of tracing the fine features of her face with his fingers, caressing her silken skin.  Rhain trembled as he imagined running his fingers over her full lips and then replacing his fingers with his lips…

            He sat up suddenly in bed, sweating and cursing.  This surely was torture.  With all his body and soul he wished for and longed for Keelin to be beside him, to know the paradise of holding her in his arms.  He ached to know what it was to hold her tightly, to bury his nose in her hair and inhale the scent of her, to lose himself in her.  He longed for her to come to him, for her to help him to forget that an outside world existed, just as she had that night.  Rhain longed to make her his bride and to spend every night happily ensconced in the warmth of her presence.  He knew that if he had that, he would not want for anything else in his life.

                These and other similar thoughts plagued him the entire night.  Just as he had suspected, he did not get a single wink of sleep.  He could think of nothing but his increasingly beloved Keelin.  Most dangerous of all, he began to hope with all his heart that she was suffering as he was.