A Wager Of The Heart

22. The knight, the Lady and the dragon seeker

:::Charity:::

I watched Geri picking idly on the fringe of her sleeve, her mind, no doubt lost to thoughts of love and happy endings. She has been sitting in just such an attitude since we found out Kent would be out this morning with his father. I nudged her with the toe of my shoe and she turned to smile at me. "I know you hate sitting in doors for so long Chari, why don't you go wander the gardens?" Geri asked as she turned her head toward me.

"Because I want to be with you." I said with a smile on my face, trying to coax her out of her low spirits.

Geri smiled weakly and turned back to stare out of the window. I heard the door to the library open and I turned from my forlorn sister to the noise. "Lady Edith." I said in greeting.

She smiled but looked passed me with worry on her face as she observed my sister. "Amelia has disappeared again and I must find her before we are late for our appointment with the dressmaker." Geri didn't respond so Lady Edith turned to me. "Brandan has just returned from his estate, is it okay with being left here with him?"

I nodded and Edith smiled warmly at me. "He might like to walk in the garden with us." Geri said absently.

Lady Edith smiled and nodded. "Or if you are feeling adventurous you could take a brisk walk in the woods. Brandan and Kent used to play there all the time as boys." 

"A walk in the woods sounds wonderful, Lady Edith, thank you." I said over-enthusiastically as I jumped to my feet. 

"Please child, call me Edi."I turned back to see her watching me carefully. 

I smiled and bowed my head to her, "Of course, Edi." I turned back to Geri and pulled her to her feet. "Come now Geri, how often have we wished for a wood to explore, after all," I said almost desperately trying to see a smile light her face. "We could find the lost palace of a fairy tale princess." With great force of will I kept the cringe building up within me from showing on my face. I wanted nothing more than to see the gloom wiped from my sisters face, regardless of how foolish it made me seem.

Geri stood, still holding my hands. "You do not believe that." She observed.

I saw her smile, if only a little. "How dare you doubt me?!" I questioned dramatically. "I have always believed in such nonsense." 

Geri's laugh was joined by another, deeper laugh and I turned to the door to find Lord Brandan standing there smiling like an indulgent child. "What for of nonsense are we deciding to believe in today?"

I abandoned the last of my pride and forced more excitement. "The best kind, or course." 

"Which is?" He asked with a twinkle in his green eyes.

Geri laughed her real laugh for the first time that day. "The kind worth believing in."

His laugh joined hers as I elaborated. "A lost palace in which rests a beauty beyond compare desperately awaiting her prince. Or an even greater find, we could find the hoard of a dragon, left abandoned these thousand years."

Lord Brandan laughed again and asked, "Where do we begin our search Dragon Seeker?"

"The woods of course." I exclaimed.

He bowed gracefully and faced me with mock seriousness and devotion, "I will follow you anywhere, brave leader, and protect you with my very life."

I laughed and saw a smile grace his handsome features. "If it comes to that, Faithful Knight, I will honor your sacrifice with the greatest battle ever fought on this land." I said with a measured tone. Geri and Lord Brandan laughed and I smiled in return. I turned back to Geri and pulled her forward. When the laughing subsided, I molded my face into a mask of concern and disapproval. "You must await us here, Faithful Knight, Lady Beauty must accompany us on this journey but she is frightfully under dressed."