Page 13 of Chivalry in the Meadow (Hope Runs Deep #2)

Chapter Five

A fter a pause, Sir Alaric answered her. “Finn isn’t a woman alone in a tent. And these events are open to the public. Anyone can pay to get in. It only takes one person with ill intent, and they’ll look for the vulnerable. What we call a soft target.”

“Soft target,” Mia said. “You sound like a police officer or a military man.”

“I’m a warrior at heart,” he said and gave her a bow. “If you need me, call out. Now I must prepare for the upcoming joust, and I hope you’ll enjoy every bite of your breakfast.”

“Thank you, Sir Alaric,” she said. “I will.”

They watched him leave as Mia nibbled on her bacon.

“That man looks just as good going as he does coming,” Lilly said. “He has, as my neighbor says, ‘a fine behind.’”

“Lilly! Shh, he might hear you!” Mia said.

“He’s long gone,” Lilly said. “And you have to admit he has a fine behind.”

“Yes, I agree,” Mia enjoyed every bite of her breakfast, thinking of him while listening to Lilly talk about the schedule for the day.

Just the time she’d spent with him and he with her, made her feel happy.

After she finished eating, they walked, about taking in areas of the Ren Faire where they hadn’t been before.

In the children’s area, there were games, pony rides, face painting, apple bobbing, a pie eating contest with whipped cream on the pies, archery with rubber tips for kids, and a place where they could play with wooden swords.

For teens and adults there was axe throwing, a kiss the wench booth, and a dunking booth, where a man sat saying insults and daring men to dunk him.

In another area, there was henna painting for ladies, and the Tarot card reader.

“We could have them paint some henna on us,” Lilly said.

“But we’re wearing long sleeves,” Mia said. “Where would they put it?”

“Our shoulders or our hands,” Lilly suggested.

“No, I’d rather save my money for something else that will last,” Mia said.

“Okay,” Lilly shrugged. “It was just a suggestion. We should do anything we’ve always wanted to do or try.”

“I wouldn’t mind trying archery,” Mia said. “Shooting a wooden arrow would be cool.”

“It would,” Lilly agreed. “Okay that is on your yes list. What is on yours.”

Lilly smiled and almost didn’t tell her, but then she let it burst out quietly. “Kissing a handsome knight.”

Lilly laughed. “That’s it girlfriend! Now you’re talking. Me too. Let’s make that happen.”

“I will try,” Mia giggled, feeling like a teen again.

Being around Lilly often did that. Her enthusiasm and encouragement just the way it had been in high school.

Sometimes it seemed strange that Lilly was often so practical.

But then they were both grown women now and had both learned to be.

It was Lilly who clung to her teenage dreams.

There were so many sights to see and so many types of character at the faire. Jugglers walked about, and stilt walkers took long strides through the faire, while women dressed as fairies flittered about entertaining children.

Off to the back of the faire, and up closer to the entrance were rows of porta potties with signs that said ‘privies.’.

Mia was glad the workers had their own, back closer to their tents, especially at night, or in the morning when you really needed one.

They didn’t have to wait in line with the paying Faire visitors.

Throughout the faire, there were singers, drummers and guitar players, playing in staged areas. Many vendors selling merchandise or food. There were even stocks in the middle of the faire, though no one was currently in them.

The faire was so much larger than Mia had imagined it would be. She was glad they had all weekend to look around. There was no way to see it all in one day.

Lilly led her to a tent where ribbons and trinkets were sold. “This is where we’ll buy favors,” she said.

“Oh yes, I meant to ask you about favors last night, and then forgot,” Mia said. “Did Finn explain what favors are?”

“Yes, he did,” Lilly said. “I think the cheapest would be to buy a simple ribbon in whichever color represents each of us and then to tie them in our hair.”

“Oh, that would be pretty,” Mia said. “I didn’t know we needed to choose a color.”

“Yes, like the knights have colors, so can we,” Lilly said. “Okay, so we bestow our favors upon the knight we favor in the lists. He will tie it about himself somewhere and then wear it into battle, wearing our colors just as he wears his.”

Mia lit with happiness. “Oh, that is so romantic! Yes! I want to do this!”

They spent time picking out ribbons. Lilly held back deciding until Mia chose hers.

“I thought you would choose a green one,” Lilly said. “You wear green so often.”

“Green is a good color for me. Because of my hair,” Mia said. “But I’m feeling pulled toward this pretty sky blue one because my fancy dress is blue.”

“It will look good in your hair,” Lilly said.

They purchased the ribbons, and then headed for the jousting field.

At the far end of the fair, was a large area roped off where the Jousting would be held, in front of a viewing stand for the royalty to sit and watch.

“Hurry, the joust tournament is about to begin,” Lilly said. “We took too long picking out ribbons, and we need to get good spots where we can see. I think near the viewing stand, as they will stop in front of it, before they joust, and then after. We’ll see them closer that way.”

“Okay,” Mia said, picking up the pace, as she saw people starting to gather around the ropes, and more fairgoers like the two of them, heading toward the jousting field.

The summer sun now turned the lists to gold, casting long shadows over the tournament field. Pennants snapped in the breeze, each bearing a knight’s colors, bright against the blue sky.

The crowd’s chatter swelled with anticipation, their eager faces watching.

Mia and Lilly moved through the crowd, as the populace pressed close to the ropes.

The horns blew, and the herald wearing bright red and purple, stood on the viewing stand.

“He’s very colorful,” Lilly said.

“Yes, he is,” Mia said.

“Hear ye, hear ye!” he said. “Welcome, my lords, my ladies, and gentles.”

The crowd quieted to listen.

Cheeks flushed with excitement, Mia and Lilly found a spot near the front, next to the viewing stand, close enough to smell the leather and horse sweat.

“This first joust of the day brings together six of the bravest and strongest knights from the surrounding kingdoms. Let the tournament begin!”

The ground vibrated beneath their feet as the first two destriers pawed the turf before the list. They wore draped cloths in colors to match their knight’s tunic and pennant.

Sir Cedric entered first, his golden hair glinting beneath the open-faced helm, that golden hair catching the light like a storybook hero’s. His white and gold surcoat streamed behind him, and he raised his lance in salute, directly toward Mia, his blue eyes intent upon her.

Her breath caught.

His roguish grin, directed at her, flashed just before the visor on his helm dropped.

He still had the ability to dazzle her with his appearance and performance, even though he’d lowered the esteem she’d felt for him with his behavior this morning.

From the opposite gate came Sir Rowan, Sir Cedric’s long-standing rival, riding in clad in red and black. His visor was already down, his shoulders taut with readiness. Where Sir Cedric moved with theatrical grace, Sir Rowan was all precision and cold efficiency.

The tension between the two was tangible, like a drawn bowstring.

The marshal dropped the flag. The two chargers surged forward, hooves pounding, lances lowering in perfect synchronization.

The impact cracked like thunder, making Mia jump as Sir Rowan’s lance splintered, shattered across Sir Cedric’s shield, but Sir Cedric stayed firm in the saddle, his own strike glancing off Sir Rowan’s pauldron.

The crowd roared, but Mia barely heard as her heart hammered.

This didn’t seem like acting. Not when real pieces of wood hit hard like that and broke. Were they following a script? They must be. Otherwise, they could seriously hurt each other.

Soon Sir Cedric was declared the winner according to his points.

The next tilt brought Sir Alaric forward.

Her eyes and her heart lit at the sight of him.

The dark, brooding knight whose silver-gray metal armor gleamed like wet steel, rode astride his destrier, a massive black warhorse that moved with predatory power, carrying the colors of black and gold.

His black horse was much more intimidating than Sir Cedric’s white horse. She couldn’t help but think of his stallion as a warhorse, even though it was all make-believe at the ren faire.

Or was it?

Across from him waited Sir Alaric, dressed in black and gold, his easy smile hidden behind the visor. He too was handsome, but not as handsome as Sir Cedric. He seemed so calm sitting there on his horse.

Both were quiet, being still.

In that quiet moment of waiting, Mia watched them and held her breath.

The charge which followed was like watching a storm break.

Sir Rowan’s lance struck first, but Sir Alaric twisted with inhuman grace, at the last moment, his counterblow catching Sir Rowan’s shield with such force that it sent him reeling in the saddle.

Gasps rose as Sir Rowan barely righted himself, before reaching the end of the tilt.

Mia caught a flicker of movement behind an oak near the lists. Something low and quick, darting between the roots.

What was that? Some kind of animal?

She heard Sir Alaric announced as the winner of this bout.

By the time the final pairing rode in, Sir Gareth in deep green, and Sir Elias, Sir Alaric’s ally, clad in bronze with a sunburst, Mia’s attention was split.

Lilly’s gaze sharpened at Sir Elias’s appearance.

There was something in the way he carried himself, as if the pomp of the tournament was a mask for something quieter.