Page 115 of Pippa of Lauramore
I don’t dare breathe. Archer looks shocked, and he’s shaking his head as if he doesn’t understand.
Father scrunches his forehead, running his hand along the lines. “Even so, he would have had to participate in the tournament.”
“He brought back the dragon treasure,” Irving calls out.
Galinor steps forward. “King Ewan, he competed for me in both the hand-to-hand and the joust when I was injured.”
At hearing this news, Father gives Galinor an incredulous look, and the prince once again shrinks back.
“It’s true,” Percival says.
“He brought back all the items in the scavenger hunt, as well,” I say. Excitement begins to build in my belly, but I try to tamp it down, not wanting to get my hopes too high. “He killed the grim boar, he found the maid-of-the-shadows, retrieved the inger egg, and he figured out the sheep!”
I glance at Mother and Leonora. Their eyes are huge and hopeful.
“I didn’t secure the Eldentimber resin,” Archer says, finally finding his voice. No one pays him any mind.
“He didn’t compete in the archery tournament,” Father says.
“He did!” I jump up from my seat, unable to contain my joy. “He demonstrated every round—he even shot the arrow from the air. If he had been officially competing, he would have won.”
Irving rolls his eyes, taking it in stride that I just ripped his only win away from him.
Father’s eyes meet mine, and he rubs his chin. “How many points is that, Percival?”
“Four for the scavenger hunt,” Percival says, taking away the point for the win and the Eldentimber resin. “Six for the archery tournament, four for the dragon treasure, six for the joust, and four for the hand-to-hand, giving him a total of?—”
“And my two chosen points!” Archer raises an eyebrow when I call it out, making me flush.
“Twenty-six points,” Percival says.
Irving whistles at the impressive number. Even without my chosen points, Archer would have beaten Lionel by four points.
I stare at my father. He must give Archer the win.
He must.
“Lord Archer of Errinton is our champion,” Father says finally, his voice loud and clear.
The crowd erupts with applause and cheers, but I am rooted to the spot. My eyes are on Archer, and I’m scared to believe this is truly real.
“King Ewan.” Archer’s eyes never leave mine. “May I marry your daughter?”
I break eye contact and turn to Father. Suddenly my father’s laughter rings through the air.
“Go on,” he says, motioning to Archer.
I leap forward, wrap my arms around my father’s neck, and then rush to Archer, moving as fast as I can run. He meets me halfway and lifts me into the air, wrapping his arms around me so tightly I can barely breathe.
“Let’s perform the promising ceremony now,” Percival says. Leonora clings to his side, and he wraps his arm affectionately around her shoulders.
Archer and I separate, and Father steps behind us.
“Lord Archer,” Father says, and a thrill runs through me when I hear it. “It is your right as the tournament champion to claim Pippa’s hand in marriage. Do you wish to marry her?”
“With all my being,” Archer says.
“Pippa, do you agree to marry Lord Archer in a month’s?—”
