Nights of the Round Table [NaNoWriMo2012]

Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

He took off his cloak and chainmail. The sun was almost below the horizon and the night creatures of the forest were starting to wake. There was a distinct rustling in the bushes, and then a blood-curdling howl.

‘I am not sure I want to leave this place in the dark anyway,’ Seren said. ‘I don’t suppose you have anything to eat or drink, do you?’

‘Yes!’ There was a pause. ‘On my horse.’

‘Oh.’ Seren went over to the window and whistled loudly. There was a pause and then Elyan’s horse appeared from out of the trees. ‘Now . . . we need a hook,’ and she looked round the room.

It was Elyan who spotted the filigree on the bed and wrestled with it to remove a curled ending. In the meantime, Seren was now able to tear strips from the part of the sheet that had remained in the room and fashioned a thin rope. She took the curling metalwork from Elyan and attached the sheet rope.

Elyan’s horse was waiting patiently underneath the window as Seren carefully lowered down the makeshift rope. She had to lean out a fair way. ‘Elyan, can you hold me?’ she asked.

He took a firm grip on her hips as she swung the rope closer to the saddlebags. She just needed to . . . It took a while before the hook caught under the loop of the saddlebag and she managed to lift it free of the horse. She raised it slowly, Elyan offering to help but she kept him holding onto her as she lifted it over the window ledge.

‘Dinner is served,’ she said.

There wasn’t much, but there was water and bread with some cheese wrapped in herbs. Nothing had tasted more delicious to Seren.

Once they had eaten, she turned her mind towards the seduction. She could not complain that she did not have his full attention, but to seduce him would require subtlety, it was only the second time she had done this, and Elyan was a true knight. She may not even be able to entrance him at all.

She leaned back against the headboard of the bed next to him. ‘So, tell me about you and Guinevere.’

He sighed. ‘Not much to tell. She was the best sister a boy could have. Especially after our mother . . .’

She took hold of his hand and squeezed it. ‘You are close?’

‘Well, she has Arthur now.’

‘And you have . . .?’ He shrugged. ‘No one special? I am surprised. A fine man like you.’

‘You think that of me?’

‘Yes! Yes, of course. You are one of Arthur’s finest knights. He would be lost without you. And your sister is very proud of you.’

‘You say the kindest things, Lady Seren.’

‘I merely tell the truth, sir knight.’

‘It is good to hear it. Especially from you.’

‘From me? Why me?’

‘You are a beautiful and intelligent woman.’

‘Now who’s saying the kindest things?’

He laughed and that seemed to be the trigger. She looked up at him, lifting her chin, presenting her lips to him in the rapidly fading light. His skin was glowing dusky and smooth, like the ebony comb she owned. He responded, his pupils dilated and then he was returning the kiss, softly, gently. Sliding his hand behind her neck and pulling her against him, she melted into him, feeling small and vulnerable against his bulk. He laid her back onto the bed, not stopping kissing her, his emotions now released.