Page 36 of Promises Made at Midnight
Taking his helmet off his head, he threw it upon the ground before taking hold of Bridgette’s arms. Her chest heaved whilst he shook and shook her, as if the vibration could instill some common sense into this stubborn woman.
“What the bloody hell were you thinking, Bridgette?” Ulrick’s voice boomed over the now silent field where only moments ago was a fierce battle. Everyone stopped what they were doing to see what commotion had caused Ulrick’s rage.
She took her own helmet off before reaching to cup his face, searching all over his body to ensure he was not injured. “Thank God you are safe!” she said, before hurtling herself into his arms. “When I saw that guy about to stab you in the back, I knew I’d made the right decision to follow along.”
He pulled her close before holding her at arms-length for his own inspection. She appeared as well as could be expected, given the woman had also been fighting for her life. His arm wrapped around her waist yanking her forward until she was up against his chest. “You follow me into battle as though your life has no meaning. What would I have done if you had been killed,ma petite?”
“You needed me, just as I predicted,” she whispered, even as her voice shook as she began to realize what she had done. “Oh my God… I killed all those men…”
“…and lived to see yet another day,” Godfrey finished her words as he came to stand next to them.
Dristan had also arrived, and the clearing of his throat caused Ulrick to release Bridgette from his grasp. Steel grey eyes swept over the woman until his brows narrowed. “My eyes must be deceiving me. Is not that chainmail and helmet—”
“Aye, ’tis your wife’s,” Bridgette answered, with a sheepish look. Since others were listening in on their conversation, Ulrick was pleased she remembered to speak like a twelfth century woman. “Do not be upset with her, my lord. I insisted.”
“She will be dealt with on our return to Berwyck, as will you, Lady Bridgette,” Dristan warned. “For now, we have the dead to bury, the injured to see to, prisoners to chain, and a village to look over to ensure its survival.”
“I am here to help in any way I can, Lord Dristan,” Bridgette murmured lowering her head and eyes.
“Then see who yet lives. Godfrey… you did well. Go with her,” Dristan ordered.
“Aye, my lord,” Godfrey said, taking Bridgette’s elbow to steady her as they walked through the muck beneath them.
Dristan and Ulrick stood silent for several moments, watching them begin the task of inspecting the men on the ground crying out for aid.
Dristan’s aggravation rumbled from his chest. “You have your hands full with that one, Ulrick. I hate to admit it, but she is much like my dear wife, who I swear will not hear the end of my anger for her part in this fiasco until the end of our days.”
“You will forgive her much as I will forgive Bridgette. She saved my life today, Lord Dristan. I never thought a mere woman would show so much bravery in the face of such danger. If not for her, I would not be standing here talking to you,” Ulrick replied in awe at what Bridgette had done, all in the name of keeping him safe.
“Aye… well… there is that, I suppose. Do not think our conversation is finished where my ward is concerned, Ulrick, but we shall leave that discussion for another day. Come… there is still work that must needs be done.”
“Aye, my lord,” Ulrick said, before falling into step with his liege lord. With one last glance at the lady who had risked all for him, he began assisting with the cleanup of another bloody battle. The Devil’s Dragon and his men had won the day. Another tale of their miraculous victory would be told for all those who cared to listen upon their return to Berwyck.
CHAPTER24
The severe downpouring of rain had turned into a dismal drizzle souring the mood of not only Bridgette but the entire company of knights around her. There was a disgusting smell in the air, causing Bridgette to cover her nose with a shaking hand. Burning flesh wasn’t something you could easily dismiss. Her gaze fell upon what was left of the village that had been razed to the ground. The sound of dripping rain falling on hot spots sizzled while smoke rose from the charred ashes.
Her heart cried out at the loss in front of her. There wasn’t much left. A few men and women walked about, but they clearly were in a stupor at the destruction of their homes and lives. Zombies… they were like the walking dead, even as children wailed out for their missing parents. The fact they still lived must be a miracle.
Pulling on the reins of her horse when Dristan raised his hand for his men to halt, Bridgette could barely sit in her saddle any longer. Her stomach churned at what she had done this day and she was unsure how she hadn’t thrown up whatever was in her stomach. She was weary to the bone and beyond exhausted. She knew her legs would fall out from underneath her when she made the attempt to stand upon solid ground. Earlier, Bridgette didn’t have the strength to even heave herself up onto her horse. She had to have Ulrick lift her into her saddle. She didn’t have much energy left. She had given it all on the battlefield.
Battlefield!Sweet Jesus!If someone had told her a year ago she’d be wielding a sword to keep herself alive, she would have asked what that person had been smoking. Flashes of men falling at her hand caused tears to well in her eyes. She cast her eyes downward, not that anyone was paying much attention to her at the moment. No one would be able to tell if she began sobbing her head off right now, would they? Surely her tears would mingle with the still falling rain. She began to wonder when the shock of the situation she had willingly placed herself in would finally hit her. God help her if she lost it in front of these knights!
Dristan began ordering his men to one task after another and the knights dismounted and began to obey his orders. Their horses were led away by squires who stood ready to perform such a function. She watched in amazement as they went about their duties as though they hadn’t just been in the middle of a mighty battle for their lives. Unaffected… they were simply going about what they did on a daily basis. Bridgette, unfortunately, could not erase the day from her mind, nor her actions.
She hadn’t noticed when Dristan also dismounted and came to stand beside her horse.
“Bridgette.” He said her name softly and she looked down upon him with sorrowful eyes. When he stretched out his hands, she leaned over to place her own hands upon his shoulders. He lifted her down. Her knees buckled and she fell into his chest while his arms of steel wrapped around her to offer her his support until she found her balance. It took longer than she would have liked before she was finally able to stand on her own two feet.
“Thank you, my lord,” she whispered raising her eyes to his.
He took off one of his gloves before reaching over to run his thumb across the tears silently leaking from her eyes as they connected with the rain on her cheeks.
“You have done well this day, Lady Bridgette, although you disobeyed your liege lord when you placed yourself in the middle of a battle where you truly did not belong.”
“He needed me,” she replied in a breathy whisper, hoping Dristan would understand.
“Mayhap, but if you place yourself in danger, then you must needs toughen your heart to what will be required of you and what you have done this day. Tears and signs of weakness do not belong on a battlefield nor amongst my knights.”
