The following morning Ruth and Harry again awoke limbs entangled with each other's.
"Harry, I think today I would like to explore the castle ruins."
"Ah. The lure of Arthurian legend." Harry smiled at the thoughts of knights and their ladies. He decided he could leave the handcuffs at the cottage this time. Then turned his attention to what Ruth was saying.
"Well, there is more to it than that."
A short time later they were making their way toward the ruins, having parked the roadster at a distance. Ruth was talking non-stop about its history. "It's believed to have been occupied during the Roman-British period, but the interesting fact is no Roman era structures have been found. It's highly unusual, if not nearly impossible, that the Romans would not have built anything. They always built structures to leave their mark on the land. Then there is the legend of it being the birthplace of King Arthur. Many claim Arthur's legendary father, King Uther Pendragon,conquered Tintagel Castle from another legendary figure, Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall. Since that point, a many poets and novelists have continued to fuel the talks associated with the Castle as relates to Arthurian legends."
Ruth paused for a moment and looked to Harry, who was walking to her left.
"A pleasing land of drowsy-head it was,
Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye;
And of gay castles in the clouds that pass,
Forever flushing round a summer-sky,"
Ruth was impressed to hear Harry quoting, The Castle of Indolence is a poem written by James Thomson. "Quoting a Scottish poet of the 18th century? Very good Harry." She smiled. It was that smile he lived for.
"Ruth, I do know a bit of poetry."
"Yes, and that particular section is a favorite of writers," said Ruth rambling on a bit more than necessary and. "This castle is on an isle formation. In its day, I'd call it very defendable."
"Would you call it the Grid of its time?" asked Harry.
There was that smile from her again. "Yes, I think I would. The Romans ignored it. Perhaps it was from here the English would create operations to disrupt Roman rule." Although Ruth knew the prevailing theory was that the castle was of little importance, she also knew it had to be built for a reason, and loved letting her imagination run wild if only for a while.
They walked on in silence. Then Ruth spoke "I never liked long walks, but I find walking with you lifts my spirit."
"Milady, I'll always try to lift your spirit," said Harry with a flourish of his hand, to bring home his emphasis. She had kept him at such a distance for far too long. They strolled along the site, and eventually settled on a site overlooking the village below.
She lay against his chest. He leaned on one arm and with his free hand stroked her hair. It was tranquil. They were comfortable in this silence. Eventually, the rallied from their tranquility and mutually decided it was time to leave before darkness overtook them and they'd have a difficult time finding their car.
As they got in the car Ruth said, "Harry, I need to pick up a few items from the market we passed. Do you mind?"
"No, I'll wait in the village pub though, if that's all right?"
"Fine, yes that will be fine." Ruth knew Harry trusted her not to run away. She had long since forgotten any ideas of leaving him. She was happy. He was happy. What more could anyone want?
As Ruth entered the store, she didn't notice the couple who seemed to be watching them at a distance. The unknown man followed Harry into the pub. The unknown woman followed Ruth.
It was the stranger who first spoke to Ruth, "I never know which vegetable, will stay fresh longest."
"I know what you mean. It's hard to buy for just one or two people," Ruth made the comment without a thought, just chit-chat for her.
"So you are here on your own?" asked the stranger.
"No." Now Ruth was paying a bit more attention as they were at the back of the store and no others about. Something didn't seem right.
At that moment she felt a sharp pain. All went dark.
The unknown man walked up to the bar behind Harry after a few minutes and said, "Are you with the woman who went in the market?"
"Yes." Harry was curious, but didn't understand what it had to do with this man.
"Well it seems she has fallen. Probably just a spring to her ankle, but she called for you. You are Harry?"
"Yes," Harry was not suspicious. He knew Ruth could be a klutz at times. However, she rarely fell and injured herself. As he stepped outside and they passed a dark alley, he suddenly went on alert. It was too late. He too felt the shock of what he knew to be a stun gun. Then all went dark.