46

HENRY AND ELIZABETH

Henry was surprised at how much he wanted Elizabeth to go with him. He didn't really know himself what was wrong with him. But the need to always have her close, to protect her and to always be able to see her was overpowering. He didn't know himself how or when Elizabeth had become so dear to him. Yet it was so.

Raising his mug to his lips, Raven rinsed his mouth and spat. It was a beautiful morning. Elizabeth sat next to Robin and explained the situation to him. He smiled, impressed.

"And what are you doing with her in Nashville?" Raven asked, slicing his cheese into five pieces with his dagger.

"I do not know that yet." Henry looked at her. Her hair shimmered gold in the sun. ... Then listen to him...

"Is she still your squire?"

"Are you crazy?"

Raven laughed to himself. What she was to him was not clear to him himself. Except she wasn't a squire anymore. Elizabeth helped Robin renew his bandages. She did the same with Henry and Raven. Only then could they continue.

Riding through defeated France was not so easy. The peasants did not meet the English squad with hostility. They despise them. Therefore, all soldiers continued to be armed, kept watch when they set up camp, and rarely left camp alone. Because the peasants were many. And most of the soldiers were badly injured. If the peasants attacked them, they would even have a chance.

Finally back on English soil, a messenger reached the troop. Theo sent word to Henry that he expected to see Henry at his castle when he arrived. So the first shadow, weighing tons, fell on Henry's homecoming. If Theo sent a messenger, then something was up.

But Henry suppressed this thought, said goodbye to Robin and followed Raven to his castle. Because Raven was his employer. So there were a few things to complete there before he could ride to Nashvill.

When they reached the rolling hills, Henry took a deep breath. It was the small forest, the two rocks that wedged the castle, the slope in the back of the almost white castle, the lush green grass that was practically everywhere. He came here as a brat to be Raven's page. Here he was taught everything he could do today. Here was his true home.

Elizabeth was next to him, surveying the area enthusiastically. Still, he couldn't look away. "May I introduce; The Castle of the White Knights."

Her eyes shone. "Insanity..."

Raven grinned and rode up. The two followed him. But Henry couldn't avoid absorbing everything there was to see, hear or smell in the forest. The rustling of the treetops reminded him how he and Raven had raced. The distant rustling of animals in the undergrowth of his first hunt. Here he felt comfortable.

After passing through the gate, the sun-drenched courtyard spread out before them. Elizabeth widened her eyes and surveyed the mighty castle. "Impressive..."

Raven smiled and nodded. "Our grandfather built it. The Campbells have lived here ever since."

Suddenly, an adoptable one-year-old with a long brown mane trotted past inside. As if it were completely normal. At Raven's shocked face, Henry laughed. Then the young stable boy came along and took up the reins again. When he saw Raven, his eyes widened.

"My lord!" He hastily bowed his head in greeting. "Welcome back!"

"What is he doing here?"

The boy, his name was Tupold, seemed contrite. "He escaped me when the smith was about to make his hooves."

The blacksmith was an old farmer who didn't do a bad job, but he didn't do a particularly good job either. Raven nodded and put a hand on the boys shoulder. "Bring the horse back and tell the blacksmith someone else will do the hooves."

Tupold beamed at Henry. "You're just in time, Henry! All the nags will faint with joy because you're taking care of them."

Henry smiled, feeling Elizabeth's gaze keenly. But Raven, almost proudly, raised a hand. "It's not Henry anymore, it's Lord. He has a castle in Nashville now."

Tupold took an excited step forward so the horse pranced. "So we won the war?"

"If the king has enough gold to take the crown for good, I'll say yes."

Henry was fed up with war and politics. He took the one-year-old and glanced over his shoulder to motion for Elizabeth to come with him. Then they went to his forge. Not his, but almost.

I was impressed that Henry was a blacksmith, but not at all surprised. But the fact that he had so much sensitivity that he could calm the upset young studs without saying a word really blew me away. With an inner hardness and calm, he tamed every animal. Gently patted the nostrils and got to work. And he noticed every name, of all the nags tramping about here and there.

He stood shirtless by the flames, had thick gloves in which to carry the heavy tools around as if they weighed little more than straw, and grinned wider than usual at the banter of the stablehands.

"That was the last one." He threw the gloves aside.

"It's already dark outside. And you haven't eaten anything yet." He smiled with those charming dimples. "And you're hurt too. How did you do that?"

He modestly shrugged his shoulders and said nothing. He ran a hand through his black hair. "Glad you're here, Elizabeth."

I looked flattered at the toes of my boots. I agreed with him. On the journey back to England, we were closer than we had been before. We had kissed more often, had talked a lot to each other and slowly I had the feeling that I had completely fallen for him. Still, I was too shy to say it.

Then he suddenly stood in front of me. He looked me in the eye with a blank expression. He ran both hands through my hair and tilted his head down towards me. He smelled like horses and sweat, but it was the best thing I've ever smelled in my life.

"Henry! Elizabeth!" Raven walked into the forge just as Henry was slowly pulling away from me. "Oh, sorry. But if you still want something to eat, you should hurry up."

Henry grinned lewdly at me. But he just took my hand and led me into the hall.

GRANDFATHER CAMPBELL

The hall was full and busy. There were servants and maids everywhere who wanted to present their things to the long-absent lords of the castle. But the steward also sat at the endlessly long table next to Raven when he moved in and ate. Raven only got one bite at a time before he took care of the concerns.

There was goose prepared especially for Raven's arrival with beans and fresh loaves of bread still steaming. The wine was nice and cool and sweet. Just perfect.

"The tablet is... enormous."

Henry nodded and washed it down with a sip of wine. "The Campbells are actually a big family. My grandfather had over a dozen sons and daughters with two different wives with countless bastards." Oh damn. If they were all half as tall and sinister as Henry and Raven, they must have been impressive men.

"And your grandfather took all his bastards to his hall? Not many lords would do that."

"Hardly any, no. But he loved them all. God only knows how he remembered all those children."

"Where have they all gone?"

"Most of them are long dead. Ravens and my father were the two youngest married sons. Some died in the war, others from the plague, others from fighting the previous king... well, we're all very stubborn and headstrong. Not every king tolerates that."

I shuddered. "Unfair."

"Allegedly." He pointed to Raven. "He's the sole heir to this castle because his father was the eldest surviving son. My other cousins resent that and have gone into hiding. Wherever. But no one would think of killing him or anything. For that they have too much family ties."

It didn't sound like it to me, but yes. What did I know? I chewed on a string of beans and cocked my head. "Was your grandfather like Theo?"

Henry smiled bitterly. "No one is like him."

That got Raven to his feet with his plate in hand. "Good night!"

Grinning, Henry raised his hand. "It's about time he left. He'll never get to eat like that."

The steward got up and ushered the pack outside. Then he followed Raven. Well to continue working in peace. "My goodness, leave him alone..."

"You can forget that. Lords of the castle have many duties." It sounded slightly bitter. But he smiled as he leaned slightly towards me. "I guess I didn't think of that when I begged for a castle."

"Like you're not considering something. Grown as you are."

Henry raised a sarcastic brow and lifted a corner of his mouth. "I'm all grown, Nash?"

That period seemed so long ago to me. I pushed him away and finally drained my mug. Then I got up and was led to my room. The maid handed me a pitcher of fresh water and then left me alone.

The room was big. A window under which stood a chest, a fireplace at the end of the room and the bed at the other end. If I hadn't been so tired already, I probably would have been a lot more excited.

I put the jug on the chest and took off my tattered robe. It was still the trousers I wore as a squire and the thin linen shirt. But after I stopped binding my chest, I got myself a doublet. Underneath I wore a thin shirt that went far over my buttocks.

The sheet on the bed was already cool. It was a blessing to receive such small pleasures in this hot summer. As soon as I was comfortable, I heard a small knock.

I recognized him in the moonlight. He knelt down next to me on the bed and looked down at me. He smiled slightly. As I stroked his forearm, he tilted his head and kissed me. Then he sank down beside me and stretched out his legs.

His hand stroked my upper arm. "How do you like the room?"

"It's very nice. My family shared a cabin that was the same size as this room."

Henry lifted his head. "Do you miss your mother? Your father?"

I swallowed the imminent lump. "Yes. At first I was more dead than alive from grief. But now I have to survive. So I can't let myself go forever."

He gently stroked my forehead with his hand. "You like to act braver than you are."

I wanted to say something cheeky in reply, but suddenly I couldn't speak. In the dark I was suddenly lonely again. And even with Henry lying next to me, I still felt abandoned and empty. And before I cried again, afraid I wouldn't be able to stop, I cleared my throat and punched him lightly in the chest. He grabbed my fist with just one hand and brought it to his lips.

"What's happening in Nashville, Henry?"

He knew what I meant. Still, he thought for a moment. "To be honest...I don't know."

Me neither. "Then why do you want me to go?"

"Because the thought of riding there without you almost makes me sick."

That got my heart racing. "If I tell you I'll go in the opposite direction?"

I heard him swallow. "I don't want to imagine that."

"I'm confused. If you just take me to your castle. What does that mean? We kiss there a few more times and then I'll go my way again?"

"No." It sounded a bit harsh. "No... this is all new to me too."

"I can't say I'm not adventurous, but..." my heart was involved in the matter. What if it was all just a bitter disappointment?

Henry leaned down again and kissed me. "Don't worry about it any more today, Elizabeth. I can't tell you or promise you what will happen. I can only ask you to find out with me."

For a moment I thought about whether Henry would be worth throwing my feelings into the raffle. And yes, he was. In fact, he was very gentle in his own way. Although he was very rough.

"In order."

He kissed me again, more tenderly than just now. Like thanking me for my decision. Then he got up and went to the door. "See you in the morning."

Although he loved me, it was more painful to notice that I didn't like it anymore. And next time I wouldn't let him go.

THE FLIGHT

The sun sparkled through the treetops, the birds were startled and the forest floor was churned up by the horses' hooves. It was a great forest!

I rode ahead on my borrowed horse and stopped at an old-looking thick trunk of a pedunculate oak. Cheerfully, Henry came to a halt beside me. The trained knight didn't even snort. I dismounted and looked up at the old trunk. "Can you climb?"

"Naturally."

I threw a cheeky look over my shoulder, heaved myself onto one of the thick branches and immediately shimmyed onto the next one. Two branches later I looked down at him. Henry had tied the horses and was standing up to me, arms on his hips. "And now?"

"Follow me, sir!"

Supple and very nimble, he came to my height and leaned casually against the trunk. "And now?"

I leaned my chest against the branch in front of me and stretched out my arms. The wind rushed through again and hugged my heated body. It was divine. Henry raised his eyebrows and grinned. "What are you doing?"

"I let myself be pampered. Try too."

He hesitated for a moment, but then did the same. Only to let out a satisfied growl. "Good idea..."

"Let's get higher. It pulls more there."

Henry looked up skeptically. "And the branches are getting thinner."

"Anxious? I didn't expect that from you."

"Reasonable. That's something else entirely." But I was already climbing higher. "God... Elizabeth, you're breaking your neck."

"I'll be careful. While you were learning how to read and write, my friends and I were doing gymnastics on trees."

Henry nodded indignantly. "So now the jokes about my origins come up?"

Grinning, I grabbed a branch that was a little too thin and snapped.

"What was that!?" Scolded Henry immediately.

I discreetly let the branch disappear. "Nothing!"

"What are you up to!? Let's climb back down."

When I went a little higher, there was a sudden rustling next to me. I almost lost my footing in shock. When it rustled again, I heard a squeak. I carefully pushed the leaves aside. "Henry..!"

"Oh my god! Is everything alright!?"

"Don't yell like that...! A hurt baby..."

"To hell!?"

I cautiously wormed my way down to him. "A baby squirrel. Its mother is down on the ground."

"Are you sure?"

I pointed down and rolled the meager pile into my doublet. It was very light brown with black stripes between the pointed ears. His mother was lying on the floor below us. Unfortunately, it was only their meager remains. "I can't leave it here, Henry."

He sighed. "Taking animals from the forest is dangerous. If they are sick and infect us, it can even be fatal."

"You don't want to persuade me to leave it here?"

He raised one hand. "It's ugly. But we can save it from starvation. But taking it with you... I honestly advise against it."

The little animal weakly but panicked tried to flee from me. I couldn't just let it die.

"Don't look so sad. I know it's horrible."

"I can't, Henry... look at it. How am I supposed to wring such a small baby's neck."

"If you keep thinking of it as a baby..."

He was right. Forest animals could bring all sorts of diseases, fleas and other vermin. Besides, they were still wild. "You're probably right."

We slowly climbed back to the ground. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. Actually, I wanted to be strong enough to do it myself. But how should I? Still, I didn't want to bother Henry with it. At least I found it. I grew up in the country. It just shouldn't be that difficult for me! And yet...

Henry gently took it from my hands. With his long, slender fingers he cautiously held the little head and examined the eyes. I bit my lip in panic. But he only looked at it. He stroked the thin limbs carefully and examined the fur.

"It has ticks. But no rabies. And the eyes are clear. And the ears..." he examined the pointy things. "Dirty but apparently not full of bugs..." Then he handed the guy to me. "Maybe...you can try."

I swallowed my terror. For a second it had looked like he was going to end things. "You think it's healthy?"

He shrugged. "If you can get rid of the ticks in the forest, I think at least it has nothing transmissible."

I narrowed my eyes. "Are you sorry?"

Henry frowned. "I may not be a slime, but I'm not made of stone."

The little fellow raised his nose in interest and sniffed the wind. "Will I ruin the castle if I take him with me?"

"You don't care. I actually wanted to leave tomorrow after breakfast."

I raised the black and filigree animal to eye level. "I'll pick you up and make you strong. Today is your lucky day."

Henry grinned crookedly. "Time will tell. Poor little brat. Too weak to run."

I just ignored him and carried my new bundle back to the castle. There I warmed milk and felt it in a thin bag. The little Fratz got the hang of it very quickly and drank himself tired. So I was able to free his fur from the ticks and the few remaining animal things.

With a leather thong, I tied it to my bedpost and made a small nest for it at my foot end. Raven shook his head. "You can't be sent off alone."

"Don't pretend you're not charmed too. What else are you supposed to be doing here?"

Raven raised his hands in surrender. "You're right. It's cute."

"I thought I'd call him Chipi."

Henry groaned. "The cattle will never go again. Now he already has a name."

Raven laughed and left the room. Henry took my hand and pulled me to his chest. He kissed me softly and ran his hand over my forehead again. Apparently he had to touch me after a kiss as often as I touched him. "I'll wait for you at dinner..."

He was already turning away when I stopped him. I didn't just let him go this time. "Don't go, Henry." He grinned, apparently embarrassed.

"I should go."

"How so?" I pulled him back to me. I snuggled closer to him than before. "Stay."

Henry's hands went to my hips. Carefully, as always when he touched me. "Are you sure?"

Thank God I didn't have to say it first. I nodded and ran my hands up and down his chest. "I'm sure." My hands dropped to his hips and a little forward. I had already seen it and guessed what was waiting for me. "And curious..."

Henry smiled, but it was different. Even his dimple. It was lewd, challenging and confident. Everything in me was screaming for him all the more.

"I think I can help you there."

INTENT

Henry kept her hands where they were. However, he put his hands on her fantastic round ass and hugged her. He didn't want to rush because she was inexperienced. But the urge to finally take her made him impatient and only conditionally slow. Luckily she wasn't a shy thing, but probably found it quite nice to see him like that.

Even though she was biting her lower lip nervously, her eyes were wide and the mischievousness remained unchanged. A cheeky but shy smile appeared on her face. Her hands slid down his stomach to his chest and locked behind his neck.

As he placed his lips on hers, he cupped one hand on her breast to accustom her to his more intimate touch. She paused in the kiss for a moment, but soon got used to it. After a moment her breathing became a little heavier.

Henry might have wondered if he really should do it. Whether it was right to take her before marriage. Making her practically dishonorable in the eyes of the Church and the rest of the male world. But he couldn't even give it a thought.

All he thought about was being with her. As close as he could. Hearing her moans and gasps and claiming her. The idea made his blood boil.

When they parted, she bit her bottom lip again and looked up at him through her lashes. Nothing could dim this blue. She didn't break eye contact when he pulled off her doublet with the thin shirt underneath. He only saw her take a deep breath.

A little faster he took off his shirt and directed her to the bed. As gently as possible he placed the nest of cloths on the ground and pressed her down on it.

A few moments later, a few kisses and caresses later, he took off her and his pants. After that, her cheeks were pink. It looked so incredibly beautiful on her.

Henry spread her legs. When he touched her, she made a hoarse sound. Gone was his reticence. It was indescribable how she felt. How she smelled, what noises she made and how she looked at him like he was everything.

It had never been like this with any woman before. And after they found release a few moments later, pulling her close, he was sure she must be special. Because actually he detested physical contact...

The next morning, when he kissed my forehead and disappeared from the room so no one would spot us, I didn't feel any different, but better. As if Henry and I had torn down the last bit of wall. I wasn't aware of what was there, but now I could tell the difference.

At breakfast I took my little squirrel friend with me. Raven and Henry were already sitting at the table with bread and cheese. "After lunch? Are you sure?"

"Why should I put it off? My beloved father will be waiting for me the moment he gets here. In the meantime, I should show up in Nashville for at least a moment so people can see that their new lord doesn't always have broken ribs and a battered face. "

When Henry saw me, he winked, grinned and slid demonstratively. So I sat down next to him. He immediately put his large hand on my knee and squeezed it tenderly.

"Do you really think your father will fix you up again? That... he didn't do that in the camp either."

"Not anymore towards the end." Henry shook his head. "There's a reason he sent a messenger straight after me."

Raven nodded somberly and looked at me. "I hope you don't intend to ride there together."

Henry and I exchanged a look. Then I grinned. "Why not? I've already seen an ugly side of Theo."

"But that was as Nash. Now you're Elizabeth and... oh man, Henry..."

Henry just smiled mirthlessly. "As if the old man had looked so closely at an insignificant squire."

Raven could object to that. "Let me know what you need for the trip. An escort and money." Henry was about to decline, but Raven knew him well and just kept talking. "You are a ward of sorts to me. I am your master. It is my duty to take care of yourself. And I will not violate my duty for your pride."

Henry growled softly, but accepted it. So I spoke up. "Don't you have a wife, Raven? Are you all alone in this castle?"

"I got a wife. And four little brats."

I widened my eyes. Raven was a family father... Henry grinned crookedly, baring his white teeth. "Extremely well behaved. But damn loud."

Raven nodded proudly. "Where there are children, there must also be noise."

"And where are they all?"

Raven shrugged. "The boys and the little one have their chores to do. And my wife..."

"A swamp witch..."

"Lives with her lover somewhere."

One understands the nobility... "And that doesn't bother you?"

"I never wanted her. She was twenty years older than me. As long as we had fun together, it was fine. After that I let her go discreetly."

Even Henry raised his eyebrows in disapproval, but made no judgement. "And the children?"

"It doesn't give a damn. Your nurse is more a mother than your own. When she's here, Flora my wife, to keep up appearances, neither the children nor Flora are very fond of each other."

At the same moment a little girl darted into the hall. She had all black hair and brown eyes, obviously a Campbell. "Father!" She ran around her father to clear the door and clutched his arm.

Raven immediately lifted her from his lap and put his hand on her small head. "Liza. What's wrong with you?"

The next moment an angry cook followed. Furious, he pointed to the child. "She deserves punishment, my lord!"

"It's up to me whether I punish my child or not."

"Of course."

"What's the matter, Gotfried?"

Gotfrid was a sweaty plump cook who was probably not the gentlest soul of this house. "She stole my honey again and shared it with your sons."

Raven struggled to glare. But Liza was already remorseful. "You know Adam, dad. He's so fond of sweets. And because he's so unhappy with the new letters, I wanted to cheer him up. And I can't just snitch for him. So I've got Bram, Christopher and Danny brought something too..."

Even the chef lost a bit of his anger. Henry smiled maliciously at Gotfrid. "Go on. Smack her if you think it's right."

Godfrid returned the look as if there was an unpaid bill. But he went off comment. Raven shook his head and was obviously trying not to kiss his girl. But then he openly admitted: "I wish I could tell you that you were naughty..."

"I was."

"You were. But because you have a big heart." He kissed the little one's hair. "No more pugs, Liza."

"Yes, sir." She snuggled lovingly against his chest. You could see Raven growing in pride and melting in love at the same time. And that was the same man who beheaded three men with one blow of the sword.

Henry grinned at her. "You're a good little sister. And if Godfrid threatens you again then..." he saw Raven's warning look and broke off with a sly smile. "I'll tell you later. I know about him."