Arrow To The Heart (De Bron Saga) (34 page)

Rowena's hands traced his spine.  She had thought never to be able to touch him again, but here he was and she was so thankful.  Savoring him with hands and lips, she forgot all else but this man whose life was so very dear to her.  If her behavior was wanton, then so be it.  This day had proved to her how precious was every hour.

Rowena cherished her lover as expertly as she had her bow, until Kendrick was taunt with his need of her.  He in turn played upon her curves  as tenderly as a harper plucks the strings of his harp.  She felt an aching longing as their bodies touched full length.  She shuddered.

Kendrick tugged her down to lay beside him, helping her undress, peeling off his own clothes.  They lay motionless for a minute.  Rowena felt her mind racing, was caught up in a trance of unforgettable pleasure.  Then, slowly he began to make love to her, molding her, shaping her, enfolding her in a web of desire.  She felt her heart move.  This was what she had been born for.  To be Kendrick's mate.  To love him, cherish him, to be at his side for the rest of her days.  How could she ever have thought anything was important compared to being with him like this?

"Marry me, Rowena?" he breathed.

"Marry you?"  She closed her eyes, trying to think of something coy to say.  Instead she merely whispered.  "Yes, I will."
             

Chapter Thirty-One

Wreaths of mistletoe and pine bedecked  the outlaws hideout.  A wedding uniting  Kendrick de Bron and Rowena Fitz Hugh in holy matrimony was to be held amidst the boughs of the trees.

The hum of lively talk and robust laughter were carried through the forest by the breeze.    Friar Tuck bustled about making preparation, singing as he worked.  Not only would he conduct the ceremony, but he had promised to see
to the wedding feast as well.  Robin, who had agreed to be Kendrick's best man, was in an unusually romantic mood, picking a bouquet of wild flowers that he presented to  Lady Marian, who had been asked to be Rowena's maid of honor.   As Marian looked into Robin's eyes, it was plain to see that soon there would be another wedding.

Maid Marian had aided Rowena in finding a proper dress for the occasion, sewing a magnificent creation out of a lace tablecloth and a large piece of white satin which had been stolen from a very rich merchant in league with Prince John.  Kendrick would be married in his hose of green and a new tunic which was likewise  pilfered.  If the bride and groom were not bedecked in elegant attire of brocade, if jewels did not adorn their person, nonetheless they made a handsome couple whose glowing eyes and smiles made them as regal as any king and queen.

Only one thing marred the happiness of the day, that the king of England was still in danger of losing his throne.  Word had been bandied about that Prince John planned to have himself crowned king before his brother could set foot upon English soil again.  It was even rumored that although he was already married, John would seek the hand of a foreign princess as his queen.

"John goes too far, if you ask me," Edwin Greybeard declared.  "Me thinks even his own followers will turn against him soon.  Why, he has agreed to give away a large part of
Normandy to the French king if that monarch will aid him in his quest for the throne."

"Then God speed the rightful king back to
England," Rowena declared.  She had no doubts but that the path back to his rightful realm would be strewn with many rocks and pitfalls for Richard.

"Aye, God speed him."  Kendrick brushed her hair back from her ear, nibbling that pink shell gently.

Rowena leaned against him.  "If only Richard were on the throne we would not have a care in the world."

"I know, but we are helpless to aid him.  It is in God's hands."  He hugged her tightly against him.  "Our new friend Greybeard says that Philip of France has tried desperately to prevent Richard's return."

"Phillip?"  The news was disappointing.  "So poor Richard has more enemies than he knows."

"Aye.   And John is ever the clever fellow who knows that the clink of coins can soon turn friend against friend."  A look of worry crossed his brow.  "While in my cell I learned of John's cunning.  Though the ransom has been sent, he finally persuaded the Austrian emperor to change his mind about letting our king go.  Orders were sent to bring the king back to the emperor. But  luckily the ship had already sailed."

Rowena's eyes held hope.  "Then Richard is on his way?"

"Let us pray so, but anything can happen." 

Rowena reached up to gently caress Kendrick's face and found that it was slightly stubbled with a beard he had not yet had time to shave.   She teased him about it as he gathered her into his arms and kissed her, but as his tongue found the softness of her lips she forgot all else except his mouth.  For a moment all thoughts of the king were forgotten.

"I wish we were alone,"  Rowena sighed, looking in the direction of the lake.

"Yea, but we have a ceremony to think about.  We must prepare ourselves, my love."  Kendrick cupped her face in his hands.

She smiled.  " I do not need any ceremony to feel married to you.  Perhaps in truth we have been married these past weeks just as surely as if the good friar had spoken words over our heads.  We were married in our hearts that first time we made love."

They had forgotten the presence of anyone else in the world, that is until Edwin Greybeard sneezed.  Quickly they pulled apart, but he reassured them.  "It does me good to see two people so in love.  Reminds me of my Margaret."

Kendrick gave Rowena over to Marian.  "Make haste with my future bride's preparation.  I do not like to be parted ere long."

Seeking the shelter of a grove of trees near the lake, Rowena stripped off her garments, her hands trembling as she pulled her hosen and tunic over her hips and legs.  She was unprepared for Marian's playful push that sent her tumbling into the water. Laughing, she sputtered as she came up, brushing the hair out of her eyes.

"Here!"  Marian had procured some soap from Robin's stock of stolen merchant's goods.

While the two women talked "women" talk, Rowena gave herself up to the joy of her bath, lathering her arms and legs, washing her hair.  When at last she stepped out of the pool  Marian helped her dry, then helped her slip a soft chemise of white linen over her body.  The lace and satin wedding dress was next, belted by one of Marian's own sashes.

"Let me do your hair, Rowena."

She felt the tug of a comb through her short  tangled curls as the young woman arranged her hair atop her head in a froth of curls.  A wreath of leaves held a sheer veil in place.  Rowena had entered looking like an outlaw, now she left it looking like some woodland princess.

"The lady of the lake," Kendrick dubbed her.  Had he looked beneath her gown, he would have had to stifle a laugh.  Having no shoes to put on her feet, Rowena wore her archer's boots.  She resolved not to pick up her skirts too high lest she reveal to all her only manly apparel.

Kendrick was handsome, Rowena thought as her eyes moved over his rugged features and broad shoulders.  His dark hair shown ebony.  His roguish grin promised many delights when they were alone.  Oh, how she wanted to be his wife and yet at the same time she felt a twinge of apprehension.  No matter what anyone said marriage would curtail some of her freedom.  Was she ready for that?  Her heart answered for her
.  Yes
.

The forest rumbled with the sounds of revelry.  A wedding was a wonderful excuse for a celebration.  The outlaws had great fun telling ribald stories, but their voices faded to mere whispers as they looked towards the somberly dressed monks that were now entering the camp.  With them they brought a tall, well-muscled man in the guise of a wanderer.  He hid in the shadows, content to watch the proceedings from there.

Rowena looked towards the stranger, wondering why she had the feeling she had seen him somewhere before.  Her eyes questioned her father, who was among the monks and friars.  He merely nodded his head to tell her that all was well and that the man could be trusted.

The harp of Allan-a-Dale strummed a processional as Rowena wa
lked arm in arm with her father towards the man who was to be her husband.  In her hands she carried a bouquet of early blooming forest flowers which blended with the fresh scent of spruce and pine.  She could see the eyes of the archers upon her as they stood tall and straight, holding their bows of yew erect in a sign of respect.  She felt the touch of Kendrick's hand upon her own as she knelt before the oak log which was to be their altar.

Stepping forward, Friar Tuck began the words of his Latin mass, uniting Rowena to Kendrick for all eternity.  When the blessing of the couple was completed, Kendrick took from his own finger a ring of gold and emeralds which held his family crest.  Putting it upon Rowena's finger,  he kissed her gently to seal their vows.  Then they drew apart.  Friar Tuck held forth the bridal cup.  They sipped from it to cheers of approval from the outlaw men.

"Oh, that I had seen her first," shouted Drawbow.,

"Long life," shouted another.

"I wish you happiness," exclaimed Little John.  "And long live King Richard.  We must remember him."

"Aye.  Long live the king." 

It was then that the stranger stepped forward.  The shouts of the archers stilled as they eyed the man warily.  Who was he and why was he here?

"Why do you toast King Richard when it is John who rules
England?" the dark clothed man asked.

"Because Richard is our king now and always will be," answered Little John.  "We will never bend our knee to another."

"Our loyalty is to Richard," Robin added. "We would ride to the realm of hell and back for our king."

The archers crept closer to the man who wore wanderer's attire.  Suspicion reigned that he was a spy for Prince John.  Tempers were on edge.  Hands were poised at swords and bows.

"Who are you?"  Rowena asked what the others pondered. 

"A man who has come to you for help in ridding this land of the king's enemies."  The man stepped forward.  "What do you say to that?"

Robin answered for them all.  "If you are loyal to the king, then our arrows and bows will be at your command."

"Then come.  Your king has need of you in
Nottingham where the Prince of England holds the shire and castle without thought to yielding it to the rightful owner."  As he spoke, the wanderer slowly removed his hood.  His blonde hair gleamed in the light of the day, his blue eyes flashed like fire.  With stately grace he held his head proud.  The Plantagenet profile was shown to all.

"The king," came the whisper. 

"It is the king."

Falling upon their knees they paid their homage.

Rowena looked into the proud yet kind eyes and remembered the first time she had seen Richard at his castle when she was a tomboy child.  It
was
Richard.

The King was welcomed with wild acclaim throughout the land.  Church bells rang out, people filled the streets and the air was rent with shouts of joy for the return of the rightful king.  It had been an easy matter after all for the king and his loyal followers to recapture the castle of Nottingham.  With his knights on his left hand and the archers of Sherwood Forest on his right, Richard, King of England, took back what was rightly his.

Rowena and Kendrick
rode on horseback behind their king and delighted in the pomp and pageantry of the welcome.  Richard was going to have himself crowned a second time just to prove to his adversaries that he was king now and forever more.  Until death parted him from his crown. 

When at last they arrived at
Westminster, Kendrick helped his lady off her horse. "It will take some time for me to get used to wearing skirts again," she confided, practicing her womanly grace.

"You don't have to wear skirts for me," Kendrick teased.  "Me thinks I preferred you in hosen anyway.  Skirts do not divulge your nicely rounded....."

"Kendrick!"  She blushed as his hand sneaked a pat at that beloved flesh.  Oh, how could she ever have thought not to like married life?  Or have thought that Kendrick de Bron would be a typical husband?  Most certainly he was not.  He was surely more passionate, considerate, loving and exciting than any other man could be.  But most importantly he accepted her for the way she was.  He didn't want or plan to change her.  More importantly he was the consummate companion, even going so far as accompanying her when she was in one of her "wilder" moods and wanted a daring dash through the forest.

"I hope Rob and Marian will be half as happy as we."  He delighted in patting her on the behind again, grinning roguishly at her when she might have scolded.

Robin Hood and Lady Marian followed closely behind Kendrick and Rowena.  The outlaw and all his archers had been given a pardon by the king.  They had aided the poor, befuddled the prince, and thwarted evil at every turn.  How could he not grant them abstinence.  With their help, his ransom had been gathered and his realm guarded from his brother's evil hand.  From this day forward Richard declared they would be the king's men.

There was a feeling of anticipation now as the king bid them enter the doors at
Westminster.  There in his throne room with all there to see, he reached for his sword.  "Kneel Kendrick de Bron," he said solemnly.  "Swear that you will serve me faithfully from now on."

Kendrick's voice tr
embled with emotion. "I do, my king.  God as my witness, I do."

"Then rise, Earl of Nottingham."

"Earl of Nottingham?"  Rowena's eyes misted at the honor given her husband.  He was an Earl, though she loved him just as much when he had been an outlaw.

"Robin of Sherwood."  The king beckoned him.  "Swear that you will serve me faithfully."

"I so swear, my Lord."

"Then rise, Earl of Huntingdon."  The king looked about at the archer's of Robin's band who had crowded in to watch.  Each of them was knighted in turn with a merry order to be royal archers.  "And you jester," he added with a wink at Lankless.  "It will be Sir Lankless from now on."

The little man knelt before his king in homage.  What he lacked in height he made up for in spunk and bravery.

Kendrick returned to his wife's side.  She felt his strong arms enfold her and heard his whispered words of love.  "You are my love, my life," he whispered tenderly.

Rowena placed her hand in his.  They had a long life to look forward to together.   "Our love will endure forever."  And from that love would spring forth future generations of de Brons to listen to the stories of Robin Hood and the outlaws of Sherwood Forest.  It was as if she could feel the seed of the future begin to grow within her.