Chapter Nine #3
The crowd went wild. Bree stood and clapped as well.
It was quite a victory. The winning contestant came forward and knelt before the throne.
Rowan took Bree’s hand and led her down the steps to the ground below.
Then he handed her his sword, which was still shiny and new, having come straight from the blacksmith for his ceremony a few days before.
Bree walked around the platform, to the kneeling man as he removed his helmet.
She could only see the top of his head, in which his thick brown hair was drenched in sweat from the combat.
She recited the oath, which she was happy to have memorized perfectly.
The man repeated her words. Then, using the sword, she performed the taps in the same order that Sir Nicholas had.
Finally, she lifted the sword into the air and slammed it down into the ground at her feet.
“Congratulations to our victor!” Bree said. “I am happy to announce that on this day, the kingdom of Junacave has earned a new champion. I now present to you, Sir…”
“Reeve.” The man said, as he rose and pulled the sword from the ground.
“Sir Reeve!” Bree shouted to the crowd.
When she turned back, she froze, staring at the face before her. Reeve turned toward those cheering and lifted the sword up, further enticing noise from the crowd. Then he turned back to Bree and held the sword out to her.
At first, she couldn’t move but forced herself to take the sword. Her eyes never left his face though. He smiled at her, which surprised her and caused her to blink. She narrowed her eyes, trying to make sense of it all. The resemblance was too close to be coincidence…
It was then that Rowan noticed something strange about the new knight also. He took a step closer then stopped, the hair standing up on his arms. What in the realm? Who was this man? And why did he look so… familiar?
Reeve could feel the many pairs of eyes on him.
Whatever he’d been expecting, this was much more intense.
This was only his second week in Junacave, having set out just three weeks ago to fulfill his mother’s last request. He’d decided to join the tournament on a whim and never expected to make it to the last day, let alone to finish victorious.
And this certainly wasn’t the way he intended to introduce himself, but nevertheless…
“Please accept my apologies, Your Majesty,” Reeve said, bowing his head. “I have yet to introduce myself. My name is Reeve. I came here from Hosselly, to seek my father.”
Bree had a sinking feeling that she knew exactly what Reeve’s next words would be as he turned toward the throne, but it still didn’t prepare her for what he said next.
“Sir Nicholas, I am your son.”
Silence fell.
Even the horse who had been led forward by a squire somehow knew to be quiet. Bree turned around to the platform behind her, hoping that her aunt, mother, or someone would give her a clue as to what she should do now. But everyone just looked stunned and confused.
“Perhaps, we should move this to a more… private location. Yes, that’s what we’ll do.
” The queen turned back to the gathering of people before her and raised her arms up in the air.
“Citizens of Junacave and our esteemed guests, I would like to thank all of you for attending and participating in our annual tournament. Per tradition, we will celebrate the victory of our champion at dusk!”
The people cheered once more then began to disperse. Bree took Reeve’s arm, turning toward the castle. “Come with me.”
“Well, this just got interesting,” Finn said, walking up to Rowan.
They watched as Bree marched past, then they fell in step behind her.
All of them walked in silence until they reached the gatehouse and followed the queen up to the second floor.
She gestured to the table and Reeve walked around to take a seat.
Rowan snuck into the back of the room and stood against the wall.
Immediately after, Cicilly entered the room, followed by Sir Nicholas, who sat across from Reeve, the man who had just claimed to be his son.
At first, no one spoke. The tension in the room was astounding.
Bree couldn’t remember feeling this level of intensity since the moment during her coronation when she’d first spotted Rowan.
At least she wasn’t at the center of the situation this time.
However, since no one else seemed brave enough to ask…
“Sir Reeve, could you please explain why you think Sir Nicholas is your father?”
“My mother told me that Sir Nicholas of Junacave is my father,” Reeve replied.
“She must be mistaken,” Rowan said, drawing everyone’s attention to the far side of the room.
“Are you insinuating that my mother was lying?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time that a woman lied about having a child with a man of noble blood.”
“My mother wouldn’t lie about something like this.” Reeve curled his hand into a fist.
“No one is accusing your mother of speaking untruthfully,” Bree interjected, glaring at Rowan.
“However, as I’m sure you can understand, this comes as a bit of a shock.
” The fact that he looked so much like Rowan was enough to make Bree believe his story.
However, she would have Dagan check him for magic later on, just in case.
“I do understand,” Reeve replied, nodding. “I only found out three weeks ago myself, just prior to her passing.”
“Please accept our condolences,” Bree said, frowning. “So if we can assume that you speak the truth, then who was your mother?”
“My mother’s name was—”
“Giselle,” Nicholas finished.
“So you remember her?” Reeve asked.
“I do. How, if I may ask, did she die?”
“Illness. Came on suddenly and she was gone within days.”
“I don’t understand.” Rowan left his place against the wall and crossed the room to sit beside his father. “Did you know that you had another son?”
“I did not,” Nick replied, turning toward Rowan.
“I only spent one night with Giselle. It was six months after I married your mother. I was sent on my first official mission, to accompany Prince Frederick—as he was then—on a trip to the coast for hunting. There, we set up our camp near a small town called Hosselly. A late-night visit to the town’s tavern is where I met her. ”
“Are you telling me that you were unfaithful to my mother?”
“I was, yes. Once.”
Rowan looked at his father in disbelief. He’d always held his father in high regard. This behavior seemed so unlike the noble knight who had always doted on his mother and grieved her so heavily after she passed. “You are the most honorable man that I know. How could you have done such a thing?”
“I won’t make excuses for myself. I was young and made a mistake.
I can’t even explain the guilt I felt after returning to your mother.
The first night home, I confessed and begged her forgiveness.
And she did forgive me, which was fortunate because we found out later that winter that she was pregnant with you. ”
“This is unbelievable. Holy hell,” Rowan said, closing his eyes and shaking his head.
It was quiet again for a moment, then Nick looked across the table at Reeve. The resemblance to Rowan was remarkable. They had different colored eyes. Reeve’s eyes were green, like Nick’s. Rowan had his mother’s soft brown eyes.
“You said you only found out who I was three weeks ago?” Nick asked.
“Yes,” Reeve nodded. “My entire life I was led to believe that my father died at sea. It wasn’t until my mother realized she would not survive the year that she finally decided I should know the truth. Her last request was that I come here and find you. I realize this is a lot to take in.”
“That is a prize understatement,” Rowan grumbled.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Finn stuck his head in slowly, trying to gage the mood of the room, then he stepped in. “I’m sorry to interrupt. The tournament celebration…” he reminded them.
“Oh, yes. Yes, I completely forgot,” Bree said. “Sir Reeve must attend his celebration.”
“Your Majesty,” Reeve said. “I completely understand if you would prefer that I resign my position—”
“Absolutely not! Your performance was certainly impressive and deserving. You have earned it.”
“I will go get ready for the celebration then.” Reeve stood and bowed, then left the room.
“Your Majesty,” Nick began with a frown. “I must apologize and beg your forgiveness as well.”
“Whatever for?”
“My transgression against your crown.” When she gave him a blank look, he continued, “I have broken the knight’s code—”
“Any offense made was to my grandfather, Sir Nicholas. Not to me. In my opinion, the only two people you should apologize to are the holiness and your wife. Since your wife forgave you and I cannot speak for the holiness, I would say that your debt is paid.”
Nick bowed and left the room.
“Are you coming, dear?” Cicilly asked, putting her hand on her daughter’s shoulder.
“In a moment, Mother,” Bree replied.
Cicilly stepped out, leaving Bree, Finn, and Rowan alone.
“What did I miss?” Finn asked.
“We know you were listening from the other side of the door,” Rowan said, dryly.
They looked over at Bree, who was sitting quietly with her hands folded on the table. She tried to suppress a giggle, but it escaped. Then another. Suddenly she burst into a fit of laughter. It was uncontrollable, even after she slapped her hand over her mouth.
“Has she gone mad?” Finn asked, eyes wide.
“Bree, this really isn’t the time…” Rowan started.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Bree said, in between breaths. “It’s just that… Rowan, you’ve found out that you have a daughter… and a brother… all in a month’s time! What are the odds of this?” She burst into laughter again then sighed, taking a deep breath to control herself.
“She has gone mad,” Finn said, shaking his head.