The Queen & Her Knight

Chapter 4

"What were you thinking??" You whisper under your breath to Kendra as you both walk behind the King to the balcony.

"It's once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm not going to let it slip through my fingers..." You make a soft grunt at her. Soon you're on the balcony and you take the seats behind the King's throne.

"Lady Winters, Lady Bennett...please come sit in front" He gestures to the chairs next to him. You hesitate for a moment about which chair you should take until Kendra gently shove you to the chair next to the King. You try to act normal and sit down gently as if you planned it that way. The King sees you out of the corner of his eye and covers his mouth with his hand to suppress a chuckle.

"Thank you for joining me, Lady Winters, Lady Bennett"

"It's only our pleasure, Sire...*giggling*" You kick her on her shin and she makes a soft moaning noise. You look at her and give her evil eyes. She mouths at you "What??"

The parade walks past the King and they bow their heads at the King as they walk past. It's clear that they truly are happy to see the King at the games. He just nods his head at them as they go past and sometimes wave.

The first event is about to begin when the crowd starts to quiet down again. You see the King's face falling as Princess Catherine makes her way to her chair. You and Kendra jump up and bows as she enters.

"Ah...and who might you be?" The princess looks your way. "I'm Lady Winters and this is my good friend Lady Bennett. It's a pleasure to meet you, princess Catherine"

"It's nice to make your acquaintance" You bow at each other and take your seat again. The King stands and he kisses her hand. "I didn't know you would grace us with your presence today, princess?"

"Oh, it was a last-minute decision. I wanted to see what all the commotion was about"

"Of course, please have a seat" You see his face is filled with annoyance and shock. He helps her to her seat and then sits on his own. He put his arm on the armrest and clench the armrest with his hand until his knuckles turn white. You suddenly feel deep compassion for him and wonder what he's thinking.

Someone walks up to the balcony and speaks to the King "What's the odds that we will see the King at an event so beneath the high and mighty?"

The King smiles and stands up. He turns to give the man a hug. "How good of you to come, my friend"

Lord Harrison, the King's best friend answers "You know I'm always here to brighten up your day?" They laugh and slap each other on the shoulder. Then he turns his attention to the Princess."Always a pleasure princess"

"Likewise, Lord Harrison" He kisses her on the hand and then turns around to you and Kendra.

"Excuse me for being so rude. I'm Lord Harrison and may I have the pleasure of your names?"

You answer "Please to meet you, Lord Harrison, I'm Lady Winters and this is Lady Burnette" He scarcely see you and moves right to Kendra's hand. He kisses her hand and looks deep into her eyes. "Have my eyes cheated on me? Or is this truly a rare beauty before me?" Kendra swallows deep and almost falls off her chair.

"It's a pleasure, Lord Harrison"

"Would you mind if I sit next to you?"

"No, of course not" She looks at him as he sits next to her. You whisper to her."You have a little bit of drool on your lip there..." You gesture with your hand and she slaps it away. You laugh. The announcer goes to the middle of the field and introduces the first game, Jousting. Everyone watches as the game begins.

The King bends down to you "Do you enjoy the winter games, Lady Winters?"

"Yes, Sire. I find it very entertaining and you, Sire?"

"I used to love coming to these games, of course...*clearing his throat*..that was before my father passed. After that, I didn't see the use of coming here again, until now..."

"I'm so sorry, Sire. It must have been hard on you. What changed, that brought you here today?" He stares deep into your eyes and you feel yourself blushing. He nods a little bit to you. The princess puts her hand on his, demanding his attention.

"Sire, please tell me more about this event, they call jousting?" You feel your heart almost exploding in your chest. His attention is back to the princess and you try to keep your composure. You watch the games.

After a while, explaining to the princess the game of jousting, he excuses himself. You watch as the games unfold and the love that is blossoming between Kendra and Lord Harrison. You smile, happy that she found someone. Suddenly the trumpet sound and the announcer speak. "Make way for the King!!"

Everyone stands and starts to cheer him on as he comes riding on a horse. Lady Kendra sees the King and says "Wow, I never thought I'll see him on a jousting horse again. He was pretty good back then"

"What? Why can't I remember this?"

"Maybe because you were busy doing the nasty with Lord Patterson in your mother's carriage"

"Oh, yes! How could I forget? I'm so glad that they decided to buy land far from here"

The crowd goes wild as he put on his helmet and gets ready to charge. The trumpet blows and they're off. You feel nervous for him, suddenly. "Oh my...!!" You cover your mouth with your hand.

Kendra gasps "No!" As you see the King falling off his horse, after the knight got him in the chest

"James!" The princess runs to the grounds.

The crowd grows silent. Everyone is just staring at the King on the ground. Your heart is beating fast and you realize you're holding your breath. He just lies still on the ground.

(Get up! Get up! You can't do this to me, you can't be you and then...)

You want to run to him but Kendra stops you and nods with her head towards the princess, who's already close to him. Then it hits you, he already has a someone. He lifts his head and the crowd goes wild with cheering. He sits up straight and the princess hugs him. His gaze falls on you and he nods slightly. You smile with your eyes, filled with concern.

"Don't worry about that man, he falls a lot of his horse when we joust. I'm sure his pride is more hurt than his body" Lord Harrison laughs.

You smile and try not to show too much concern but you're breathing are struggling to go back to normal. Kendra then asks Lord Harrison "Oh, do you and the King joust a lot?"

"Milady, we are always playing some sort of game, of course, I win most of the games"

"My Lord....I beg to differ" You turn around and see the King and princess returns to their seats. He sits back on his chair and wince, as his hand goes to his shoulder.

"Sire, you took quite a fall?" Your eyes are filled with concern and it's like he knows your thoughts and he lowers his voice, moving closer. "Thank you for your concern, milady. I deeply appreciate it. I assure you, I'll be fine" You inhale sharply as you feel his breath against your ear. Then he stares into your eyes and hastily peel off his gaze from you. "I'm glad to hear, Sire"

"Sire, please tell me, how long will this event still carry on?" The princess looking annoyed at the King. "Until the last knight had a chance to take up the joust, princess" He frowns as he gives her the answer. She sighs and turns to her lady in waiting.

"Tracy, let's go and see about the people?" She bows at the princess. "Very good, my princess" They then make their leave and you see the Kings demeanor relax. He put his head against his chair, trying not to look too relieved.

"So you couldn't stay on the horse for one joust, now could you?" Lord Harrison comments to the King. "I think we should just confirm who stays on the horse when it's me and you and not me and a well trained knight?"

"I think we should settle this after the games, Sire?"

"You have a joust, Lord Harrison" They laugh and you look at him. He looks happy and relaxed and your heart goes out to him. He looks so unhappy when he's with the princess. He sees you looking at him and then you jerk your head back to the games. You hear him chuckle a little.

"Sire, I have to say it was very brave of you to joust against the best knight in jousting. I, for one, would have been very nervous" Kendra looks at the King. "I'm sure you would have been. If I'm really honest I was also a little bit nervous myself"

He winks at her and she giggles like a little girl. It's the end of the jousting and the winners stand before the King.

"Congratulations to each and every one! This doesn't just show that you're the best in jousting but also that you are the best in your knighthood. I salute you!" You can feel the power and authority that radiates from the King. They cheer and leave the grounds.

The King turns to you "Lady Winters, the sword fights is starting in half an hour. Will you honor me with your presence again?" You swallow hard and tries to compose your excitement. "As you wish, Sire" He moves closer to you and almost whisper, while looking deep in your eyes.

"I hope that it's not just me that's doing the wishing?" You hear him holding his breath, as if he's waiting for an answer, lifting his eyebrow. You smile and stand up. "I'll be right here, Sire...for the sword fighting"

He smiles and you take Kendra's arm. You walk down the stairs to the food court, laughing. Just then you bump into someone.

A blonde, beautiful build of a man, looks at you "I'm so sorry, miladies. Please forgive my incompetence?"

"We are the ones that should apologize my Lord, we didn't watch where we were going. So sorry, Lord..?" You smile shyly.

"Forgive me, it's Lord Jackson and you are?"

"I'm Lady Melissa and this is Lady Kendra" He takes your hand and kisses it and then Kendra's hand. "It's a pleasure meeting you. Did you enjoy the jousting event?"

"Yes, it was quite enjoyable"

"Would you mind if I accompany you to the food stand?"

"We wouldn't mind at all, Lord Jackson" Kendra jumps in. He nods his head and then takes his place next to you walking through the food court. "Lady Melissa, do you attend all of these winter games during this season?"

"I always try to attend them as time allows me and yourself?"

"I do enjoy these games and also tries to be here at every event. I'm also competing in some of these events if I may be so bold to say"

"Oh? Are you a knight Lord Jackson?"

"I am, milady"

"What an honor it must be, Lord Jackson? What events do you compete in?"

"I compete in sword fighting and also enjoy the hunting games. Will you be joining the hunting, this year?"

"Yes, I'll be riding with the party but not doing the actual hunting myself"

"Of course, there's a lot of ladies going along for the ride. I hope to see you there, if I might be so forward in saying"

"You may..." Kendra bumps her elbow in your arm and then she mouths "Oh.My.Goodness...he's hot!" You smile and blush a little.

"I'm so hungry, shall we eat?" You stop at the food vendor. "A Lady that's hungry... it's such a rare feeling to find someone like you, milady"

"My Lord, is there no woman you know that have been hungry before?"

"Oh, I've known a few women that's hungry but none of them have shown that they were"

"Well, then this will be a first for you, my Lord"

"This would be and my I say, what a beautiful trait it is, indeed" You smile and then you sit to eat.

"I'll leave you then to have your lunch, miladies"

"Thank you, my Lord"

"May we bump into each other again sometime, Lady Winters"

"Looking forward to it, my Lord" He takes your hand and kisses it. Then Kendra's hand. "Pleasure, my Lord." He turns and leaves. You turn to each other and Kendra laughs. 'It seems someone has a knight knocking at her door?"

"Yes and someone has Lord Harrison knocking at her door??" You both laugh and start to eat...