Page 62 of A Knight To Call My Own
“He is already here, Ian. Open your mind to the gift that is afore you and enjoy the moment,” she murmured softly. She tugged on the sleeve of his tunic, and when he leaned down, she gave him a quick kiss upon his cheek. “I will leave you two together. I am sure there is much you must needs catch up on.”
Ian was confused as she left him standing there very much alone. “Daft woman,” he grumbled aloud as he watched her depart.
“I heard that,” Amiria called over her shoulder afore she continued walking inside the castle gate.
Ian took up his stance of watching over his wife. He had not been standing there long afore a fierce wind blew across the land, causing him to rock on his feet. He brushed back the hair that had fallen across his face and began to rub his eyes from the grains of dirt that had attached itself to his skin. As he began to get his eyesight back, he had a moment of startled surprise when he saw a vague, ghostly, transparent image begin to take shape next to him. “By all that is holy! It cannot be!”
“Hello, my friend,” the ghost whispered inside his head.
“Rolf?” Ian at last managed to gasp out. “God’s Wounds! What trickery is this?”
“’Tis no trickery, and I will not appear to you for long, so my time with you is short,” Rolf answered brusquely. “This state of being takes some getting used to.”
Ian’s gaze shifted up and down the ghostly apparition in disbelief. “Why are you not resting in peace, Rolf? You did your duty. Lynet is safe. You must needs enjoy the heavenly delights that are yours by right for saving the woman you loved.”
Rolf’s attention went to the woman who was rising from the ground and hastily making her way towards them. “Aye, I loved her, but she will never see me as I am now. ’Tis the vow I made when I asked the angels to allow me to stay at Berwyck to watch over its people. You may feel that I did my duty, but in my heart, I know I failed in my quest to keep Lynet safe. ’Twill be the penance I will gladly pay to watch over the castle for all time.”
“She would want to see you and, at the very least, hear one last time that you loved her,” Ian urged, still mystified that he was having this strange conversation with a spirit not of this world.
Rolf gave a cocky smile. “You tell her for me, my friend. You will take good care of her.”
Ian watched in amazement when Rolf began to fade the closer Lynet came. “How can you ask that of me? You should know I will protect her to my last dying breath.”
Rolf gazed only once more towards Lynet afore he vanished, “’Twas really not a question, Ian, but more of a fact. God Speed, my friend.”
Ian stumbled forward after he felt a hearty slap upon his shoulder and upon hearing Rolf’s last words to him rumbling around inside his head. The damn ghost surely was most amused, as he listened to Rolf’s cheerful laugher. He had no further time to ponder such strange happenings, for Lynet came up to him, and he pulled her into his arms.
“Is all well with you and the babe, Lynet?” Ian asked, kissing her forehead. Her brow was furrowed, and he reached out to smooth the wrinkles.
“I had the strangest feeling come over me when I was finishing my prayers. I looked up towards you, and I thought I saw…someone…”
“Who?” Ian asked quietly as they began to make their way toward the bridge of the castle.
“’Twas nothing, I am sure, and just my imagination. But still, I could have sworn I saw…Rolf,” she said with a look of stern concentration on her features, as if she was trying to determine whether her mind was playing tricks on her.
“I could not resist letting her see me just once, however slight, Ian,”Rolf’s voice whispered inside his head.“I am certain I will pay for such an offense against my vow.”
Ian brought Lynet’s fingers to his lips. “I am sure, if you think you saw him, then you did, Lynet,” he answered reverently.
“You will think me daft afore this pregnancy is over,” she said in delight and began twirling around with a brilliant smile set upon her face. ’Twas as though the sun began to shine all the brighter because she was so happy. “It feels so good to be home, Ian,”
“I am glad you are happy, my sweet.”
“How could I not be? I always wanted a knight to call my own, and not only do I call him my husband, but he’s also a Scottish laird. With your child growing inside me, I would say our lives are just about perfect.”
“Aye, I would have to agree with you, my dear wife, for I have my own nightingale to call my very own, as well. I love you, Lynet, ’til the end of time.”
“I swear, I will never tire of hearing you say those words to me. I love you, too, Ian. Our souls shall always find a way to each other so we can forever and a day be together.”
She pulled upon his tunic ’til he leaned down so she could capture his lips in a searing kiss. He groaned, knowing they had hours yet afore they would be able to excuse themselves and make their way to their bedchamber.
Ian watched her skip ahead across the bridge and under the barbican gate. As he made to follow her, Rolf’s ghostly figure appeared standing guard afore the entrance to the castle. He appeared as he always had been, strong, tall, and proud to be part of the Devil of Berwyck’s guardsmen.
When Ian drew closer, Rolf withdrew his sword from his scabbard and hoisted it in a salute to his comrade in arms. Honored by such a gesture, Ian gave the knight a courtly bow afore taking his own sword and returning the gesture. Rolf gave one last cocky grin, returned his sword, and disappeared from view.
“Ian? Whatever are you doing, my love?” Lynet called out. “I thought you were going to assist me in the garden?”
Ian sheathed his sword with a flourish. “I am coming,” he answered and watched as his wife disappeared inside the outer bailey.
Whistling a merry tune, Ian began to follow her to help her with whatever task she had in mind. Only God knew for sure what He had in store for them in their future together, but one thing was certain. Ian would follow Lynet to the ends of the earth if he needs must. For Ian had indeed found love in the arms of a small slip of a wonderful woman whom he now called his wife. As far as he was concerned, that was not a bad place to spend one’s life and all of eternity…
