Chapter 40

 

Cristiana lowered to sit on the soft, green moss and dipped her hands in the water. Cool and refreshing, it tickled her fingers as she moved them back and forth, creating little wavelets in the otherwise still pond. To her right, lit by the moon, streams of silvery water tumbled over a cliff into the pool, the gushing sound soothing her.

Beyond the waterfall, in their underground hideout, Cristiana had left the friar reading, Alexia, Jarin, and Ronar deep in conversation, and Thebe asleep. Unable to sleep herself, she had slipped out for some time alone—to think and to pray.

Above, stars winked at her through treetops, whilst from their branches an owl hooted. A frog leapt onto a log beside her and stared at her with dark round eyes ere croaking and jumping away. The scent of summer lilies filled the fresh night air, and Cristiana drew in a breath of it, pondering the amazing events of the day.

To think she’d almost married Sir Walter! ’Twould have been a life sentence of torture and misery for both her and Thebe. Even worse, Jarin had almost departed this world forever, taking her heart with him. But God rescued them all. Including Thebe, who now had a home of her own and people to love her.

“Thank you, Lord!” Cristiana stared up at the stars, wondering how far up heaven was and whether God could see her. But she knew the answer. God could always see her. He had never left her and never would.

In truth, they still had troubles. Luxley remained in the hands of evil men, Alexia and the knights were wanted for treason, and Seraphina was on a mission of great danger. But they were alive and safe, and God was on their side. Good would always win over evil in the end. She knew that now.

But what of Sir Jarin? How was she to endure living and working by his side day after day, knowing she would never be his? He had rescued her over and over, cared for her, protected her, and, dare she say, even loved her. But he had never asked for her hand. Alas, he had made it plain from the beginning he was not a man to settle down. Yet, against her will, against all reason, she had fallen so deeply in love with him, she knew she’d never find her way out.

A breeze stirred leaves around her into a gentle dance, and she hugged herself. “Lord, help me. Give me strength to merely be his friend.”

♥♥♥

Jarin was well aware when Lady Cristiana left the underground chamber. Instantly, both the room and his heart mourned her loss. He’d longed for a moment alone with her, but the day had brought such excitement, and Ronar insisted they catch up on all the happenings since they’d last seen each other. Indeed, ’twas good to hear of all the miracles God had performed on their behalf at Luxley. Nothing surprised Jarin anymore when it came to God’s love and power. They, too, were astonished to hear of all that God had done through Cristiana and of how He had touched Jarin.

“I’m so pleased to hear of my sister’s great faith and love.” Alexia snuggled up beside Ronar on the sofa. “Her heart has always been twice the size of mine.”

Jarin smiled, for he knew that all too well.

Alexia scanned the room. “Where is she? I should go find her.” She started to rise, but Ronar pulled her back down and winked at Jarin.

“I’ll find her, my lady,” Jarin said. “I have something I wish to discuss with her.” Leaving the two lovers alone, Jarin plucked a knife from the table, sheathed it, then headed out the door and through the tunnel.

He found the lady sitting on a bed of moss beside the pond, her gown spread around her, caressing the water with her fingers. Moonlight shimmered over her in glowing silver and set a halo of glittering diamonds around her head.

An angel, a creature filled with so much love, the world was unworthy of her.

Jarin swallowed. He was unworthy of her.

Careful not to frighten her, he leapt from a boulder onto the ground and made his way to her.

She turned at his approach and smiled—that smile that stormed through every sense, bringing each one to life. She started to rise, and Jarin extended a hand to help her.

“’Tis been quite a day,” she said, staring at him curiously.

Jarin nodded and stared over the water. Nervous! He could command an army against an overwhelming force, but he stood here before this woman as nervous as a squire at his first tournament. Now that she was back home with her sister, he feared she’d had time to realize she deserved far better than him, feared ’twas only the danger of their journey and her need for his protection that had made her feel anything for him at all.

“Thank God for your friends,” she said. “I almost lost you, and I…I…”

He met her gaze, searching her eyes, hope rising.

“Could not bear it,” she finally said, looking down, and lifting a hand to her heart.

He took that hand and raised it for a kiss, drawing her eyes to his again. A world of promise lived within their brown depths if only he could dive in and drown in the love he saw therein. He opened his mouth to pledge his love to her, his devotion, but found himself speechless once again, enchanted by this precious woman before him.

They searched each other’s eyes, the bond between them growing deeper and deeper. Jarin ran the back of his fingers over her cheek and moved his thumb over her lips, so soft and sweet, he longed to kiss them.

Her breath caught. Her chest rose and fell, and she took a step back, breaking the moment. “But we are finally safe,” she said.

“Aye, God watched over us. I see that now.”

“You are no longer angry at Him?”

“Nay.” A breeze tossed his hair, and Jarin glanced over the dark thicket of trees surrounding the pond. “He has shown me the world beyond this one—the real world. Where my parents and sister are now, happy and alive.”

She pressed a hand on his arm. “I am so pleased, Jarin. I, too, have discovered that God never left me, that He loves me…that he loves us so much.”

Jarin smiled. “’Twas you who helped me see His love. It shines through you so brightly, naught can hide it.”

She lowered her gaze. “We both learned much on our journey.”

“I learned other things as well,” he said. Placing a finger beneath her chin, he raised her eyes to his once again. “I learned that what I thought was living was not living at all, but a mask for my unhappiness. I also learned what an astounding woman you are.”

She stepped back from him. “You flatter me, sir. I can see why so many women have fallen for your charms.”

“But only one has won my heart.” Jarin went down on one knee and gazed up at her. His heart galloped in his chest, his future teetered on the edge of bliss or despair. “I am only a knight errant and you the daughter of a thane, but I must ask you for what my heart begs. Will you become my wife?”

She stared at him, wide-eyed and mouth slightly open for what seemed like an eternity, an eternity in which Jarin’s hope began to fade, his future slipping into despondency.

Tears pooled in her eyes “I will not force you away from your life of freedom and adventure, Jarin. I will not do that to the man I love.”

He took her hand and kissed it. “Love? As I do you, with all my heart!”

Hope appeared in her eyes even as a tear slid down her cheek.

Rising, Jarin wiped it away with his thumb. “My lady, I no longer wish that life. My only desire is to be by your side—to protect, to honor, to love you forever.”

“And Thebe?” Her smile was hesitant, her eyes sparkling with love.

“We will raise her as our own.”

Ere he finished the words, her lips were on his. Wrapping his arms around her, he drew her close and drank of this precious woman until he was full of love and life and hope.

Gripping her shoulders, he drew her back. “Is that a yes, my lady?”

“Aye, Sir Jarin, a forever-and-ever yes!”

 

 

The End

 

She Walks in Majesty, Book 3, is now available!