I'm back with another chapter!  I'm also going to throw in another disclaimer: I do not own, nor did I create A Knight's Tale.  So please, don't sue.  Okay!  Now that that is over with, read on!

Sweet Revenge

By Tatiana

Chapter 22: Midnight Musings

The clip-clop of horses' hooves resounded through the night air.  There was no other sound, except for the high-pitched chirping of the crickets.  William glanced over at the riders around him.  Roland was staring blankly ahead, lost in thought, or half-conscious.  Chaucer was wide-awake, delighting in the torment of a dead-to-the-world Wat.  Wat was asleep on the back of his horse; his head was tilted back towards the stars, with his mouth hanging slightly open.  Chaucer, having grabbed a long blade of grass, was tickling Wat on the nose and at the ears with it.  Wat would swat at the stem of grass as though it were a fly.  Then Chaucer, thoroughly enjoying himself, did it all over again.  Gunther was driving the wagon behind them, while Jocelyn and Christiana slept in makeshift beds among the armor and jousting equipment in the wagon bed.

William and his entourage had been traveling straight through the night ever since their conversation at the fire.  Wat's words had made them all uneasy.  For once, Wat could very well be right.  They could only hope they were catching up to Adhemar and his men.  Several hours ago they left the manor of a nobleman called Lord Wesmark.  Adhemar's trail had led them there, and Lord Wesmark had confirmed their suspicions, telling them of the fine stallion he had sold to the Count.  The nobleman had been kind hearted and extremely friendly.  He had insisted William and Jocelyn stay for his daughter's wedding, which was scheduled to take place a few weeks later.  They had graciously denied his invitation, insisting that there was a pressing matter they had to attend to with regards to Count Adhemar.  Lord Wesmark, slightly curious at their excuse, had wished them well, and let them go.

William let out a long weary sigh.  They were on Adhemar's trail.  Of that he was certain.  Exactly how close were they to catching him?  Of that he was not sure.  According to Jocelyn, Adhemar and his men were very likely nearing her father's manor.  They would surely come upon Adhemar there within a few days.  William was not worried about whether or not they would catch up to him.  They were sure to eventually.  He was only worried about Kate and what exactly Adhemar's plans were for her, and whether or not he'd carried them out. 

" Hang in there Kate," William whispered, tilting his face to look at the moon. " We're coming for you."

*              *              *              *              *

Adhemar had distanced himself from the camp.  He was leaning against a large oak, several yards away from the light cast by the single cook fire.  Once again dressed in black, he had his arms crossed over his chest.  His shoulder rested against the rough bark of the tree's thick trunk.  His brooding green eyes stared blankly out into the darkness. 

What the hell had he been thinking?  All he had planned to teach Kate to swim, and repay the kindness she had shown him when she had taught him to dance.  The lesson had started off well, but where it had ended up, or had nearly ended up, had been way off track, to say the least.  What had come over him?   

One would think he would be able to resist the temptation offered by a woman.  Kate wasn't even that beautiful, especially when juxtaposed with Lady Jocelyn!  What the hell had he been thinking?  Kate's face entered Adhemar's mind.  He could not get her large silvery eyes out of his head, nor her smooth white skin, which was soft to the touch, or her full lips that begged to be… Adhemar emitted a groan of frustration and drug one of his hands through his black curls.

" Get a grip on yourself man," he growled ferociously underneath his breath.  He pushed off from the tree and began to pace.  His hands were clasped behind him as he strode back and forth.  " What the hell were you thinking?" he muttered darkly.

That was just it.  He hadn't the slightest idea what he'd been thinking.  That was the very reason Adhemar was so angry with himself.  As long ago as his early childhood, he had learned to control every aspect of his being.  His body never did anything his mind did not tell it to do, and his mind never did anything without calculated reason.  That is, until he met Kate.  For the second time in his life, she'd led Adhemar astray from his principles, from his plan.  It baffled him.  It also made him angry, not with Kate, but with himself.  Angry because he did not know why he was drawn to her, and why every time he looked at her, he wanted nothing more than to see her smile.

Adhemar had to get his attraction to her out of his mind, as well as his body.  They would reach the home of Lady Jocelyn tomorrow.  He doubted very much that Marquis Henri de Vaudemont, Jocelyn's father, would approve of any involvement with the female blacksmith, even if it were just for sport.  Adhemar slowed his back and forth pacing.  Sport was all it was, of course.  His attraction to Kate was merely a game, a challenge.  That was all.  Wasn't it?  His forehead furrowed.  He shook his head slowly from side to side.  What the hell had he been thinking?

If his father were alive today, he would surely be laughing at his youngest son tonight.  Powerlessness against a woman was surely not a trait valued by Phillipe de Vitry.  Adhemar could almost see his father's disdainful sneer at his son's flaw.  Kate was a weakness.  His weakness.  He must put her from his mind.

Adhemar let out a final snort of disgust and halted his pacing.  His lips fell into a firm line, and his eyes became hard as stone.  Rigidly squaring his shoulders, he forced Kate's image from his mind, and steeled himself against her return.  With that, he turned and went in search of Germaine.  Details of tomorrow's arrival needed to be settled.

*              *              *              *              *

The men sat silent around the campfires.  Their faces were somber and eyes downcast.  The abrupt manner in which their day off ended had left them all slightly unsettled.  That morning their master had been in the best mood they had seen him in a long time, if not ever.  In mid-afternoon Germaine had ridden into the small town that stood down the road from their campsite and gathered them all up.  They had a sobering walk back to camp where they promptly set off on their journey once again.  The change in Adhemar's frame of mind was drastic and easily noticed.  He barked orders, threatened punishment, and set a hard pace.

A few of the men noticed too, the Count's change of manner towards his captive.  He had completely ignored Kate for the expanse of the ride.  They set off in mid-afternoon and rode well after dusk.  Finally, Germaine took on a concern for the men, and asked Adhemar to stop for the night.  Most of the soldiers had been drinking earlier that day and were not in the best of shape.  Adhemar gave in, seeing that his men were very despondent.  So they had stopped and set up a crude camp, not unloading the normal equipment because Adhemar wished to have a quick and early start in the morning.

Kate sat by one of the wagons with her back resting against the back wheel, facing the primitive camp.  Only one fire had been made to cook a meager meal over.  The men were settling down for the night, one by one wrapping their blankets around their shoulders, and lying down on the hard ground.  As she watched them, she wished she could do the same, but her mind was racing.  Whenever she closed her eyes she saw Adhemar's face from this afternoon, smiling with green eyes shining.  Then she saw him after Germaine told him of the messenger, his face like stone. 

"Kate," came a hushed call from her left.

Kate jumped, startled. She turned in the direction of the whisper.

" I'm sorry," Germaine apologized, coming beside her.

" It's all right Germaine," Kate breathed; she was slightly relieved it was just him. " What's the matter?"

" I brought you some food," he replied. " I noticed you did not eat."  He squatted down beside her and presented a small plate of stew and a hunk of bread.

Kate's chest swelled at his thoughtfulness.  Her lips curved into a slight smile while, to her surprise, she found herself blinking back tears. " Thank you Germaine." she all but sniffed.

" You'll need your strength," he replied, pretending not to notice her choked tone.  In the dark she could not see his forehead wrinkle with concern. 

" Why?" Kate asked, accepting his offering of food.  Her stomach rumbled deeply.  She hadn't realized how hungry she was.

" Didn't Adhemar tell you?" Germaine's tone was surprised.

Kate took a bite of her dinner, mopping up the stew with the hunk of bread. " Tell me what?"

" We reach our destination tomorrow," he replied.

Kate swallowed her mouthful of food with a deep gulp. " We do?"

" Yes, Jocelyn's father's manor lies about four hours down the road," Germaine continued. " We should arrive there by midday tomorrow.  Adhemar will no doubt wish you to begin his armor immediately."

She turned her eyes to stare into Germaine's through the darkness. " I will not make him armor Germaine."  Her tone was as serious and unwavering as her gaze.

" But you and Adhemar have an understanding," Germaine shook his head, confused.

" A truce, yes.  An understanding, no." Kate stated flatly.  She turned her face away from Germaine and let her head fall back against the spokes of the wagon wheel. " I don't know if I could ever understand him."

" That isn't what I meant," the herald interjected.

" I know what you meant," Kate laughed a soft, humorless laugh. " No.  We did not come to an understanding.  I will not give him my armor."

" But I thought that you…" Germaine's voice faded away.

" What?" she asked.  She shifted her eyes to his crouched figure once more.

He shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.  His eyes darted from her face to the ground. " Nothing." His face was troubled.

Kate straightened.  Her forehead wrinkled.  She opened her mouth to ask Germaine what he had been about to say, but was interrupted by a clipped call from across the camp.

" Germaine!"

It was Adhemar.  He stood on the far side of the camp, beyond the fire.  His hands were on his hips in an impatient stance.  Germaine sent her an apologetic glance and jumped to his feet.  He hurriedly headed over towards his master.  Kate's eyes followed Germaine as he strode across camp.  Her gaze then shifted to the man who had summoned him.  She found him watching her, his stare was intense, even across the distance she could feel the weight of it.  She inhaled a deep breath, her chest felt as though it were about to explode.  Her heart was suddenly filled with mixed emotions, only two of which she could identify.  One was overwhelming dread, and the other…

Her heart nearly stopped as a realization slowly seeped into her being. 

" I do Germaine," she whispered, her gaze still locked with Adhemar's.  He turned abruptly on his heel and stepped into the shadows.  Kate tilted her face heavenwards and closed her eyes.  The traces of a single escaped tear glistened on her cheek.  Her voice was filled with aching despair. " God help me, I do."

*              *              *              *              *

I have no words.  Allow me to let Kate's words echo in your mind, " God help me, I do."

Okay!  I do have two words.  Happy Anniversary!!!  Those of you who have been reading since the very first date I posted, October 27, 2002, have been reading for a whole year.  Wow.  I never realized how long it would take to tell this story!  But, never fear for we haven't too much further to go.  We are well over half finished, that's for sure.  So sit tight.  It's just getting interesting.

Whoa, that ended up being way more than two words!  Oh well.  I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.  Thanks so much for all of your reviews!  I love hearing what you think!  See you next time!