Chapter Nine #2
Joselyn lifted her shoulders, chewing her bread as if it were made of sawdust. Stephen watched her as she forced herself to eat, fighting off a grin.
They finished eating in silence. Joselyn had, in fact, finished long before he had, unable to stomach more to eat.
Her thoughts were dark, lingering on what Kynan had told her, formulating a plan that would save her husband. She could think of little else.
When Stephen finally finished eating, it was well into evening but he was not tired, having slept all day.
He had duties to return to but was reluctant to leave his wife.
Not simply because of their conversation of the past several minutes but because, quite simply, he did not want to be without her.
In spite of what happened up on the wall, he rather enjoyed having her with him.
But she could not go with him where he needed to go and he stood up with his wife still on his lap, scooping her up as he rose.
Without a word, he carried her over to their bed and set her gently upon it.
“I must return to the walls for now,” he told her. “I will return in a few hours.”
She stood up from the bed, her eyes big as she gazed up at him. “Do you fear more trouble this night?”
He lifted his shoulders, moving for the armor he had propped up against the wall earlier in the day. He began to methodically don it.
“Not in particular,” he replied, watching her as she moved forward to help him with his leather buckles. “But we must be vigilant.”
She focused on fastening his greaves to his shins as he held the armor in place.
There was hesitance in her voice as she spoke, as if she did not want to rehash everything they had so recently discussed.
He knew her fears on the subject well enough.
It would do no good to repeat them. Moreover, she did not want to make him suspicious that Kynan had told her more than she had let on.
“I would have you be careful, then,” she said softly. “As I said, you are the Guardian Protector of Berwick. It would be a great prize for a Scots to plant an arrow in your chest.”
Stephen felt her mood, the sorrow she was radiating, and he began to feel some remorse for having so strongly resisted her attempts to help him.
When he should have been glad that she was not arguing with him about it, he began to feel some regret.
Truth be told, he was deeply touched that she was so concerned for him.
He’d never had someone so deeply concerned for his welfare.
“Have no fear, wife,” he said softly, watching the top of her dark head. “I have a reason to survive the night.”
She looked up at him with questioning eyes. “What is that?”
He smiled warmly, pulling her to her feet and into his arms. “I have you,” he brushed his lips across her nose. “You give me reason enough to live.”
Her mood relented somewhat and she put her hands on his cheeks as he kissed her face. “I am sorry I disobeyed you,” she whispered. “I never wish to upset you. But if my disobedience can save your life, I will gladly make that choice every time.”
He stopped kissing her long enough to fix her in the eye. He sighed heavily. “We are never going to agree on this subject.”
“I fear not.”
“You are a stubborn wench.”
She lifted her shoulders with a proud flair. “I am Scots.”
He pursed his lips as he shook his head. “Scots has nothing to do with it. You are a woman, that is reason enough.”
A twinkle of mirth came to her eye and the hands on his cheeks pinched them gently.
“I am a woman in love who would do anything to keep you safe,” the mirth from her eyes fading as she gazed into his cornflower blue orbs.
“Please remember that, Stephen. Everything I do, I do because I love you and would do anything to ensure we have a long and happy life together.”
He nodded in resignation, kissing the tip of her nose again as he gently released her. “I know,” he reached over for the breast plate propped against the wall. “Let us not delve into that subject again. Help me finish with this. The sooner I take the wall, the sooner I will return to you.”
She watched him as he donned the remainder of his armor, not at all sure that he truly understood her position.
More and more, she knew what she needed to do.
She needed to help end this conflict because every time her husband took the wall or went on patrol, the chance of his death was magnified.
Every time he returned to her whole, she considered it a stroke of good luck.
She feared that the luck would not hold out indefinitely.
With every second that passed, she felt more and more strongly that she must protect him. She had to do something.
Stephen noticed that she would not look him in the eye as she finished helping him with his armor.
He attributed it to the fact that she was upset with the events of the evening.
When she finally finished securing the last strap on his torso armor, he put a finger on her sternum.
When she looked down to see what he was doing, his finger came up and bopped her gently on the nose.
Rubbing her nose, she looked up at him only to see that he was grinning at her. Reluctantly, she grinned back.
“You will stay here where I know you are safe,” he put his big hands on her upper arms. “Lock the door after I leave. Is that clear?”
“Aye,” she nodded as she stopped rubbing her nose. “But I was hoping to check on the fawn.”
He shook his head. “I am sure the fawn is safe and fed in the kitchens where you last left him,” he told her. “If it will make you feel better, I shall go and check on him myself.”
She agreed. “Thank you.”
He winked at her, bending down to kiss her sweetly on the lips. Joselyn threw her arms around his neck and met his kiss passionately, to which Stephen quickly succumbed. Hungrily, they licked and suckled at each other until he finally groaned and pulled away.
“Any more of that and I shall never make it to my post,” he growled, although he stole one last kiss. “I shall return.”
She nodded, gazing up at him with her pale blue eyes and kiss-swollen lips.
She looked quite demure and obedient as he picked up his helm and winked at her again as he quit the chamber.
Dutifully, she bolted it after he left. She purposely bolted it loudly so he would hear it and then she leaned against the door, her ear pressed to the wood as she listened to his footfalls fade.
Moving to the lancet window, she peered outside to the portion of the bailey she could see from her vantage point and was rewarded by the sight of her massive husband as he crossed the bailey towards the kitchens.
Just watching him walk made her feel warm and giddy.
The man’s stride was confident and powerful.
Every moment that passed saw her love him that much more.
And she had to protect that love at any cost. She only hoped he could forgive her for her necessary deception.
Quickly, she went to work. Stripping off her surcoat, she dressed in one of her newer surcoats, the dark blue with the long, belled sleeves.
The dark color would blend well into the night.
She dressed warmly, finally wrapping herself in the dusty Seton tartan.
All the while, she planned in her mind over and over what she was to do, where she was to go.
Kynan had told her to head south on the main road towards the cemetery.
She knew the area. She was to seek the priest at the church near the cemetery.