Page 7 of Chivalry in the Meadow (Hope Runs Deep #2)

Chapter Three

F ull of tents, weapon racks and banners, there was no mistaking who was staying in each of these knight’s tents.

“The horses must be somewhere else,” Mia said. “I don’t see them here.”

“Finn said there was a barn for them, somewhere,” Lilly said.

“It might be fun to visit them tomorrow,” Mia said.

“Yes, I think so too,” Lilly said.

As they passed a tent decorated with the colors Sir Elias had on his pennant, Lilly nudged Mia. “I’m calling dibs on Sir Elias. Did you see how he helped that little girl? And how her sweet face lit up?”

“Kind of like yours did, when you saw him,” Mia smiled. “You go for the kind ones, and the ones who are good with children. I’m surprised you aren’t married already.”

“The last two turned out to be not so kind,” Lilly said. “It was all for show. One didn’t even like children.”

“True,” Mia said. “I remember that. Those two were so charming at first, then it was like both changed a few months in.”

“Next time, I’m paying attention to how he treats others from the beginning, not just to how he treats me.”

“Very sensible,” Mia said. “As for me, I still want the fairy tale, the white knight, one who won’t let me down.”

They wandered past the next tent, a black and silver one with a pennant bearing the crescent moon.

“That must be Sir Alaric’s tent,” Mia said.

“You’re right,” Lilly said. “He’s quite handsome, in a dark, mysterious way.”

“Yes, he is,” Mia said. “I’m looking forward to watching them joust tomorrow.”

As they passed, Mia could’ve sworn she felt someone watching, but when she glanced back over her shoulder, the tent flap was still, and she saw no eyes watching.

Still, she’d felt it, and her feelings were not usually wrong. So far today she’d already had three of her knowing’s.

Plus, Madame Merlina had told her to listen to her feelings and for any messages.

These knights had her feelings all stirred up, which so easily lead into imaginings and dreams. Likely her dreams tonight, after she went to sleep, would be vivid.

“I wonder if I’ll dream about a handsome knight tonight?” Mia said.

“Knowing you, the answer is yes,” Lilly said. “The question is, which one?”

That was a good question indeed.

Mia slowed her steps. “Maybe we should stop for a while and call it a night, before I start imagining I’m living in a fairy tale and get carried away.”

Lilly laughed. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” She grinned. “I thought you wanted romance and adventure this weekend.”

“Well, yes, but I’m not feeling ready for an adventure just yet,” Mia said. “I’ve taken in a lot, and I haven’t had any rest since I got off work.”

“We’ve only got an hour before Finn’s fire show,” Lilly said. “He’s expecting us to be there. We can always call it a night afterward, if you still want to.”

“Oh, yes, of course,” Mia nodded. As their host, they should go to all his fire shows each night to show their support. “I’m looking forward to his show. I’ve never seen fire breathing. I’ll be ready after a short rest. Just need to gather myself together.”

When they reached Finn’s tent, he was just leaving to go prepare for his fire show.

“Looking for me?” he asked.

“Mia wants to freshen up before we head back out,” Lilly said.

“Oh, right. Porta potties are over there,” he pointed. “And I’ve got a water tub and soap in the tent, and cold-water bottles in the cooler. It’s okay to bring a water bottle to the show. They’re selling food and drink nearby as well, if you want that.”

“Thanks,” Lilly said.

“Here,” he grabbed a map out of his pants pocket and handed it to her.

“I already have a map,” she said. “They gave it to me when we came in.”

“I circled my stage on this one, so you can find it,” he said.

“Perfect,” Lilly said as she looked at the place he’d circled.

“I’ve got to go now,” he said. “See you at the show.”

“See you there!” Lilly said.

They went into his tent and sat down, after Lilly fished two water bottles out of the cooler. “Finn is the best,” she said. “I was getting thirsty.” She handed a water bottle to Mia.

“Me too,” Mia said. “You’re lucky to have such a nice cousin.” She took the bottle and drank down half her water with a thirst she hadn’t realized was so strong.

“Yes, I am,” Lilly said.

Mia put the lid back on her water bottle and laid it down on her cot carefully. She looked up at the tent ceiling, as Missus McCullers’s reading ran through her mind along with images of the handsome knights on their steeds. Remembering how their gazes felt upon her.

“You’re quiet,” Lilly said. “Feeling all right?”

“Feeling all sorts of things,” Mia said. “Too many to sort out right now.”

“Hmm,” Lilly sat on her cot and pulled out her phone. “Twenty minutes for us to nap. You’ve been on the go since you got home from work. I think we need to pace ourselves. It’s only the first night and we have two more nights to go.”

“You’re right,” Mia said. “I was up early. A nap sounds good.”

“Setting the timer now,” Lilly said. “No more talking.”

Lilly closed her eyes, and taking long slow breaths, hoped to get a nap in. If her mind would slow down enough.

Sounds from the Ren Faire in the distance caught her ears attention, and she listened.

It was quieter here, with Finn’s tent being on the end of the row, the quietest spot.

She must have dozed, for soon, Lilly was shaking her shoulder gently, saying, “Wake up Sleeping Beauty, your handsome knight awaits.”

At that, Mia opened her eyes. “Which one?” she asked.

“Which knight?” Lilly smiled. “Which one do you want? Did you dream of one?”

“Sir Cedric, I think,” Mia said. “Though I didn’t dream of him, or any of the others. I was zonked. Really needed that twenty-minute nap.”

In her mind’s eye, Sir Cedric seemed the white knight in shining armor on a white horse. The one she was most likely to dream about. Though one could never tell with dreams.

“He is handsome,” Lilly nodded. “And you did catch his attention.”

“Yes,” Mia said. “Their horses are all huge, and the knights seem large and intimidating while riding them. I wonder if they’ll seem different when down on the ground on our level.”

“They’re all quite tall,” Lilly said. “None appear short. And all are fit.”

“Yes,” Mia nodded. “They are.”

“Let’s watch my cousin’s performance, and then see if any of the knights are about, now that we know their horses will be in the barn for the evening. We could ask them about seeing the horses tomorrow. That would be a good conversation starter.”

“Do you suppose they take care of their own horses?” Mia cocked her head to the side. “Or are the horses borrowed, like we’ve borrowed these dresses?”

“That would be a good question to ask,” Lilly said. “I’ll ask about where the horses and about seeing them, and you ask who takes care of them.”

Mia nodded.

“Feeling more rested?” Lilly asked. “Got your second wind?”

“Yes,” Mia said.

“Let’s get going,” Lilly said. “it’s a bit of a walk, and we want to be sure of getting seats.”

Mia drank down the rest of her water bottle and then said, “I’m ready.”

They left the tent and found it much darker outside.

The moon had slipped behind a cloud. Tiki torches lit the merchant areas for the public, but back here, where the entertainers lived, it remained dark, and the tents seemed to be empty.

“It’s too early for people to be going back to their tents,” Lilly said. “They’ll all still be working, or maybe having a pint in the pub. I think I’ll find us a flashlight after the show.”

“That’s a good idea,” Mia said. “Maybe we can ask Finn where we can get one.”

“I’ll ask him,” Lilly said. “He might even have one in his tent. I just didn’t see one.”

When they neared the first Tiki torch at the edge of the public area, Lilly stopped to look at the map again and get her bearings. “This way,” she said, and Mia followed her directions.

The air buzzed with the scent of roasting meat, and the faint tang of woodsmoke as Mia and Lilly wound their way through the crowded fairgrounds.

Music drifted from the nearby minstrel’s stage, but the deeper hum of voices drew them toward a roped-off circle, where a small crowd was gathering.

Dressed in leather breeches, and a loose white shirt rolled at the sleeves, he moved with the sure confidence of someone who owned the space. At his feet lay an assortment of strange tools; long steel rods, capped torches, and a battered brass jug that sloshed when he shifted it.

They sat on a wooden bench nearby.

Finn’s stage was lit by two tall torches on each side, and it appeared he was nearly ready.

“Do you ever wonder if we just... missed the part where our real life started?” Mia asked.

Lilly threw her a sideways glance. “What do you mean?”

“I spend my spare time at home reading about romance, true love, and magic,” Mia said.

“Yes, but what’s wrong with that?” Lilly smiled. “That’s so you.”

“The rest of my time is spent looking at people’s checking accounts, and bill payments.”

“And that part is the real life that isn’t so you,” Lilly said.

Mia nodded. “I’m not sure how I ended up with this kind of life. It just happened.”

“And now you want the magic.” Lilly smiled.

“Yes, I think I do.”

“And I went from wanting to explore the world, to working a front desk for that dude.”

“What’s he been up to lately?” Mia asked.

She prepared to hear another tale of ‘You won’t believe what that dude did today.”

“Same old stuff,” Lilly shrugged, surprising her. “Hitting on any female that moves.”

“You need this escape weekend too,” Mia said. “Thank God for three-day weekends off.”

“Yes.” Lilly sighed. “I’m glad Finn invited us here, for a fun weekend.”

“Me too. I needed this,” Mia admitted. “I haven’t... felt anything real in a long time.”

Lilly nodded. “So maybe we flirt, maybe we dance, maybe we even kiss a knight.”

“And what if it’s more than that?” Mia asked softly.

Lilly’s eyes sparkled. “Then we hope he’s got a horse, a house, and a pension plan.”

The same herald who’d announced the knights during the parade, stepped into the circle.