Chapter Eleven
William picked up the sword and then walked to the knight who had lost it. “The next time you ever cross swords with a guest in my hall, other than on a practice field, you will no longer be welcome at court. Leave me.” The knight gave a quick bow and then left the room.
He could not believe what he had seen. She had disarmed a man twice her size with a simple flick of her wrist. He found it utterly amazing.
The other occupants of the hall left one by one until only Broc and Ranulf remained with William. Broc went to the hearth and kept his back to them.
William quietly spoke to Ranulf. “Find Wulf. He ran out of here without a cloak. If he stays out there too long, he will become ill. Tell him I want to speak to him in my chambers.”
Ranulf bowed before he quickly left the hall. William turned to Broc. “I can understand why you knighted the boy. He is a natural.”
“Aye.” Broc appeared lost in thought. Once he seemed to get his emotions back under control, he turned around. “I would like to apologize for my actions this evening.”
William casually waved Broc’s words away with a swipe of his hand. “You should be saying those words to Wulf. You hit him, not I. What I do not understand is why. I thought you liked the boy.”
Broc shrugged. “I do, maybe more than I should.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” William could see how affected Broc was by all that had taken place as his friend tugged at his sword belt.
“Not particularly, but there is one thing you can do for me.”
“What is that?”
“I have come to the decision that I am ready to take a wife. I should start begetting heirs now that I have land to pass on. Do I have your permission to marry?”
“Of course. Do you have anyone in mind?”
“Not at the moment. I will tell you when I have made my choice.”
Broc left, and William shook his head. That did not bode well for the girl. He only prayed Ariel would reveal herself to Broc before it became too late. If she did not, his friend would not have a very happy life ahead of him.
* * * *
It took a few minutes, but Ranulf finally found Wulf in the stable. He sat inside one of the empty stalls in the clean straw with his legs drawn to his chest. His head rested on top his knees. At the sound of footsteps, he jerked his head up. Tears streamed down his face. With a jolt, Ranulf realized Wulf was not what he first appeared to be.
Ranulf wondered why he had not seen it before. “Wulf” was too pretty, even for a boy. Her features too delicate for a man’s. Those eyes, shimmering with tears, were a breathtaking blue. All he could do was kneel before her. The girl automatically tensed.
She guardedly looked at him. “What do you want?”
“The king sent me to fetch you. He wants to speak to you in his chamber.”
She closely eyed him. “All right.”
She stood and scrubbed her face with her sleeve. Ranulf watched her every move. She gave him a questioningly look, then brushed past him and headed to the hall. He matched her pace so he could walk beside her. He was still at her side when she reached the king’s chamber. At her knock, William opened the door and stepped aside for her to enter. Before he could close it, Ranulf stepped inside as well. William stared at him, then shut them in.
“I see you have made a new friend. May I ask why you have decided to stay, Sir Ranulf?”
Ranulf pulled himself up straighter. “Aye, sire. I think Wulf is not what he seems.”
The girl gasped in surprise.
“At least one of my knights can see what is staring him in the face. It looks as if young Ranulf has seen through your disguise, Ariel,” the king said.
Shock shot through Ranulf. “You know her, sire?”
The king chuckled. “Aye, I do, Sir Ranulf. I see you have made the girl quite speechless.” William stepped closer to Ariel, put his arm around her shoulders, and turned her to face Ranulf. “Sir Ranulf, this is Ariel of Elmstead, or should I say Sir Ariel.”
Ranulf opened and closed his mouth a few times before he could bring himself to speak. “You mean she really is a knight?”
“That she is. You saw her performance in the hall. It would be a shame to waste such talent.”
“Sir Broc willingly knighted a woman?” Ranulf was scandalized, thinking such could take place.
The king pulled Ariel even closer as she stiffened under his arm. “Sir Broc turns out not to be as observant as you. All he sees is a young Saxon boy, not the woman.”
“How?”
William shook his head. “I have no idea. Let us talk about what happened in the hall. How is your jaw, Ariel?”
Ariel pulled out of the king’s grasp and stepped away so she faced both of them with hands on her hips. That position made the curves of her body seem more pronounced. There could be no mistaking her for anything else than what she was—a woman.
“My jaw is not broken, but it still hurts.”
“Excellent. Are you going to tell Broc who you are?”
“Nay! You know I will not tell him.”
“Your silence will only escalate this situation into an unmanageable problem if you do not speak now.”
“I have done some thinking. I would like your permission to go home. You are correct. If I stay, everything could easily get out of hand quite quickly. The less I see of Broc, the better.”
William’s brows drew together. “Then what will you do when Broc returns to Elmstead?”
“My father has a separate hall from the one Broc occupies. I will live there with my father.”
Sighing, William appeared to think over Ariel’s request, then nodded. “You may leave, but only on the condition you do not go alone.”
“That is not necessary, sire. I can find my own way to Elmstead.”
“I realize you can protect yourself. I would just feel better knowing you did not travel alone, that is all.”
This was a chance to get to know this unusual woman better, so Ranulf spoke up. “If it is acceptable with you, sire, I would like to accompany Ariel to her home.”
A smile formed on the king’s lips. “All right, Sir Ranulf. You may go, and you may stay at Elmstead for as long as you wish. I have heard of your interest in learning more of the Saxon way of life. What better way to learn than from Lady Ariel?” William put up his hand before Ariel could protest. “I will hear no more. I suggest you leave with the dawn. Both of you get some rest. I will tell Broc on the morrow of your departure.”
* * * *
The hall was empty, except for the king, who sat in his chair on the dais. He sipped ale from a tankard. He motioned Broc to sit with him.
“Well, Broc, how do you feel this morn?”
“As well as one can feel after making an utter ass of oneself.”
William chuckled. “Do not beat yourself up too much about it. I am afraid the others are applauding you for striking a Saxon, especially one who had the impertinence to become a knight.”
Broc’s face became grave. “They really think that way about Wulf?”
“Aye. I have to admit I made a mistake asking you to bring him to court. At least the problem has been rectified in a way that will suit everyone.”
“What do you mean?”
“I sent the boy to Elmstead. After how you treated him last night, he asked to go home. To avoid any more problems, I gave my consent. Do not worry about him going off alone. I sent Ranulf with him.”
Broc did not seem all that relieved that he would not have to confront Wulf. “Why did Ranulf go with Wulf?”
“The pair has struck up a friendship. Ranulf asked to accompany Wulf, and I could think of no reason he should stay here. I gave him permission to remain at Elmstead as long as he wished.” William knew what he was doing to Broc, but the man needed a little prodding in the right direction if he was to be happy.
A full range of emotions flitted across Broc’s face—regret, anger, then finally acceptance. “Since you wish him to stay at Elmstead, I have no objections. If you will excuse me, I would like to reacquaint myself with London.”
“Go ahead, my friend. We will talk later.”
* * * *
At the sight of Elmstead, a sense of wellbeing washed over Ariel. She was home and there she planned to stay from now on. She had been away from Colwyn too much in his short life. He was her future, and he deserved better. Starting now, her son would be her first priority. Reaching the outskirts of the village, she pulled her horse to a halt. Ranulf brought his mount up next to hers.
“This is where you live?” Ranulf asked as he looked around.
“Aye, this is Elmstead. I know it is probably smaller than what you are used to, but at least the food is good and the people will welcome you.”
“I will be glad for the change. Court life loses its luster after a while.”
Ariel understood exactly what Ranulf meant. “My short experience there has led me to believe it is not all pomp and glitter.”
She turned in her saddle and looked at Ranulf. On their travels he had treated her with respect. Not once had he tried anything inappropriate toward her. Having reached her home, Ariel felt she had gained a new friend. So much so, she felt she could trust Ranulf.
“Ranulf, there is something I must tell you before we go to my father’s hall.”
He had twisted around in his saddle and intently looked at her. “What might that be, my lady?”
Ariel took a deep breath and then spoke. “There is a reason I hide my true self and pretend to be a man. It is in my father’s hall.” She looked right into Ranulf’s eyes before she plunged ahead. “I have a son, and his father is Broc.”
Ranulf’s eyes widened. “I do not understand. You told me Broc knew you only as a man. How can you have had a son by him?”
“I first met Broc when he came to England when Edward was still king. He simply does not recognize me this way.”
Ranulf shook his head in what appeared to be wonderment. “To put it quite bluntly, Broc is a fool. If it had been me, I would be able to see through your disguise. You are too beautiful to be a man.”
At his words, Ariel felt herself flush. “Well, Broc must not think the same way you do. For after taking what he wanted from me, he left without so much as a backward glance.”
“All the more fool is he. I never would have left you.”
Ariel grew uncomfortable at Ranulf’s words. She had to admit she did find him attractive. He was a good-looking man. If she had met him before Broc, she might have let nature take its course. After all she had gone through with Broc, she did not think she could give herself to another man.
Ariel sighed. “Be that as it may, Broc must never know about Colwyn. I trust you to keep my secret.”
“It is safe with me. Besides, it is not my place to inform Broc.”
That was what Ariel had wanted to hear. After giving him a quick nod, she started into the village. Ranulf followed as she greeted the villagers she past. Showing their loyalty to her, they all called her by the name she had given herself.
The village was small, but she hoped Ranulf would notice that the huts were well-maintained, which showed her father’s goodwill toward his people. She led him past the main hall and took him to the smaller one that sat a short distance behind the village. As they neared, she saw her father stood outside with Colwyn in his arms. Seeing that a stranger accompanied her, he pulled the blanket that was around Colwyn over his head.
She practically jumped off her horse and ran. Ariel threw herself into her father’s arms. Ranulf slowly dismounted as she greeted Swein. She took Colwyn out of Swein’s arms and then walked to where Ranulf stood, waiting. She pulled the blanket from Colwyn’s face.
From Ranulf’s shocked expression, Ariel knew he could see the resemblance between father and son. Colwyn was so much like Broc. She hoped he understood why she had kept Broc from Colwyn, especially now that he had seen Broc’s treatment of her while at court.
“Ranulf, this is my son, Colwyn.”
“My god, Ariel, he is the very image of Broc. I do not see how you will be able to keep him a secret for very long. You cannot keep him locked away for the rest of his life.”
“I know. I will decide what has to be done when the time comes. For now, a blanket will suffice.”
* * * *
With the Norman away, Swein could almost believe their lives had gone back to what they once had been. A smile absently formed on his lips as he watched his daughter playing with her son. He did have to give the Norman credit, though. He had given Ariel a beautiful child.
Now another Norman had come to Elmstead. Sir Ranulf was younger than Broc, and truly seemed to be forthright and honest. He did not share most Normans’ attitudes that Saxons were of a lower class. Not that Broc had ever treated them that way, but he had taken Elmstead as his own. This other man seemed interested in the Saxon way of life. If his old eyes saw clearly, the young man also seemed extremely interested in Ariel.
Ranulf sat on the floor beside Ariel, sharing in a game with Colwyn. Swein had to admit to himself, he could find nothing to really dislike about this Norman. In some ways, the young man would be better for Ariel than Broc, but his daughter was not responding to him in that way. It was a shame, because Ranulf seemed to treat her better than Broc had, so far.
He had seen the bruise on Ariel’s jaw, even though she had tried to hide it from him. It was not hard to guess who had left the mark on her. Broc’s continued absence told all. Why else would he still be at court and Ariel return home before the expected time? Even though he had pushed his daughter to tell him what had happened, it had been Ranulf who had told him what had taken place. She would never have told him.
The sound of Colwyn’s laughter filled the hall. It was a sweet sound, one that Swein had missed through the years. His wife had only been able to give him Ariel. He sighed. His wife would have loved her grandson very much.
Ariel brought playtime to an end and picked Colwyn up. “It is time for this young man to get ready for bed. Can you entertain Ranulf, Father? I have to bathe Colwyn before he goes to sleep.”
Swein nodded. “Aye, Daughter. I am sure we will find something to keep ourselves amused.”
Ariel disappeared into her chamber, leaving them alone. After signaling Ranulf over, Swein poured two goblets of mead and then handed one to him. Ranulf sat next to him at the trestle table.
“How do you find Elmstead? I am sure it does not compare to London.”
Ranulf smiled. “What I have seen of it so far, I find appealing. It is nice to get away from the court once in a while.”
“Ariel told me you have come to learn about the Saxons.”
“Aye, we must live together. We should have a better understanding of how each of us lives.”
“Not too many of your countrymen would agree with that. They only have one interest in us—taking what lands we have and make them their own.”
“That is why I wish to know more of your way of life. Maybe with the knowledge I learn here I can make the changes easier on your people.”
Swein laughed. “I am afraid that will never happen. We are a proud people. We have been on this island for generations. I can tell you, William will never have a peaceful moment now that he has made himself king. We never wanted him in the first place. He takes away our lands to give to others as he sees fit. We will fight him.”
Ranulf’s eyes narrowed. “Are you saying you would fight against him?”
Swein chuckled. “Nay, I am too old for such goings on. Besides, I must think of Ariel and Colwyn. I would never jeopardize them in that way. Broc, so far, has treated us well. I have no complaints. I would not like another to take his place.”
“William respects him. He even calls Broc a friend.”
Swein refilled their goblets. “I did not know Broc was so close to the king.”
“He is. The friendship started shortly after Broc came to court. He is a younger son, so he will inherit no lands from his father. What else could he do but go to court? I do not know much about Broc. He mostly keeps to himself. I would not say we are friends, more like acquaintances. What little I do know about him, he will not be too pleased having me stay here. Even with the king’s permission.”
Swein had a feeling Ranulf would be not too far off the mark with that. Especially if Broc saw how well Ariel got along with Ranulf. “Just how long do you plan to be at Elmstead?”
“However long it takes to learn what I need to know.”
“It should prove interesting when Broc comes home.”
Ariel returned to the hall. She sat on the bench next to Swein and then accepted a goblet of mead he passed to her. “How did the bath go?”
“Very well. He had fun soaking everything in the chamber as well as himself. Now he is asleep.”
“Ranulf told me that he will be staying at Elmstead for a while. Since he will be here for the Christ mass, we will be able to show him how we Saxons celebrate the season.”
“It would only be the proper thing to do. With Broc still at the king’s court, we should be able to celebrate without having to pretend what we are not.”