A Duty Fulfilled

Chapter 14

                  What had Peter been thinking? He didn't really know. But what he did know now was that he felt unquestionable guilt, he'd done almost exactly what James had warned him not to do. And if Avelina hadn't stood her ground, he would've kissed her and maybe even asked her to marry him on the spot. Perhaps not that extreme, but close enough. He'd had time to think over the last day or so and he'd begun to realize that James hadn't been too far off with his assumptions. 

He'd never meant to betray Phillipa and he wished he could apologize. He knew he had to break the betrothal, despite whatever consequences would arise. Phillipa's father could decide to complain to the king about Peter's broken promise. 

Yet, he was willing. He didn't know what would happen between him and Avelina, but he couldn't find out without dishonoring Phillipa. Thus, the betrothal had to be broken. 

                   Peter watched helplessly as Avelina lay curled across the fire. Her back was turned to him, her blanket wrapped tight around her. He was sure she was crying, and he wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and tell her everything would be alright. That they would defeat Lord Richard and live happily ever after. But he couldn't. He didn't know if they would overcome Lord Richard, in fact he almost doubted it. And even if they did, would Avelina even want to be with him? She would have everything she wanted------her freedom, and her family if they still lived. 

He believed she cared for him, she had too by her reaction. Did she love him? Did he love her? Was love even enough? 

He sighed and shook his head moving towards his bedroll. There were too many unanswered questions and not enough clarity to solve them. Besides, Avelina would still be there in the morning and hopefully, both of them would have clearer minds. 

                                                                                                     ....................

                 Avelina wished her mind was clearer the next morning as she and James roamed close to camp looking for wild game. But it was as if sleep couldn't clear much anymore. Her relationship with Peter weighed heavily on her mind. And it was clouding her ability to think. Twice, her foot slipped on the wet boulders that littered the forest scaring away a couple of pheasants. 

James noticed but didn't say anything, just patiently watched as Avelina shot at a rabbit. The arrow shot through the air and landed in the brush behind the animal, missing it completely. 

''I'm well, I swear.'' Avelina shook her head and pulled another arrow from her quiver to reload. 

''You do not need to pretend with me, my lady,'' James said softly also reloading his bow he'd received from Adam. ''I was falling asleep when he came next to you by the fire.'' 

Avelina shot a look at him. He'd been there? How much had he seen and heard? Her face flushed red with embarrassment. He'd likely seen and heard everything. 

''We didn't.......it wasn't.....'' Avelina stumbled, unsure of what to say. 

''As I said, you need not pretend with me.'' James continued walking through the trees. 

                Avelina's face burned, and she turned away. She wished she'd stayed on her pallet last night, but she could still feel Peter's touch. His nearness. And how much she liked it. But they couldn't be together, she knew that and he knew that. And she would never admit to anyone but herself how much that thought tore at her heart. 

''You had a brother with my namesake if I remember correctly,'' James said quietly but obviously giving up on the idea that they would be able to catch any kind of game. 

Avelina allowed a slight smile to edge up the side of her mouth. Though he'd been her brother, she hadn't really known him, but Avelina did still look back on the memory of James fondly. He was a fighter, like her and father. 

''I did, my father always loved the name James after the disciple in the Bible.'' 

''You miss them very much-----your father and brother.'' James said softly. 

Avelina sighed heavily, the weight on her heart deepening. 

''I do, more than I can explain.'' She said it shortly, not wanting to feel those painful feelings that never seemed to heal. 

              ''Peter was never close to his father,'' he surprised her by speaking of Peter. ''Baldric pushed him to be the best he could possibly be. Margaret, his mother, was a gentle creature, loved him deeply but was taken too soon.'' 

''I remember hearing her name in my household, my mother was a close friend of hers.'' 

''Aye, Peter tells me she was a friend to all.'' James offered a hand to her as they climbed up a boulder, bringing them to level ground in a clearing. 

Avelina accepted it, then bit her lip. She wanted to press James for more information, but how much would he be willing to share? He obviously didn't approve of her being with Peter. 

''Who is Peter?'' 

James looked at her and frowned, considering his words. Avelina wondered if perhaps the question had been too forward, but she was starting to realize just how little she knew about Peter Chamberlain, Duke of Holt. After all, if their plan was successful, he would be ruling over her. She wanted to know about a man with that kind of power. 

                ''Peter is a man trying to make up for the past. He wants to leave a legacy and an island known for peace and prosperity. He wants to prove to his people that he has not forsaken the people of Holt.'' 

''But we don't believe he forsook us, we believed him dead.'' Avelina frowned. 

''That may be true, but he still deliberately stayed away from Holt for as long as he could.''  

''He said himself he wasn't ready and too young.'' 

''And he blames himself for that,'' James said softly, ''it will take more than you or I to tell him otherwise.''       

A branch cracked loudly behind them and Avelina suddenly realized how quiet the forest had grown. Her fingers tightened on the bowstring and she turned sharply towards where she'd heard the snap. 

Her eyes instantly fixated on an archer man aiming a crossbow at her. Her fingers started to release the string, but James wrapped his arm around her and brought her to the ground with him. Just as an arrow flew over their heads. 

                 Avelina opened her eyes, prepared to send another arrow back to the shooter. But she froze when she saw not only the man with a crossbow standing above her and James but another ten or eleven on horseback standing at the edge of the clearing. Lord Jonathon sat tall and proud on a gray steed. 

Her heart sank and her hands shook. This was a dream. Surely, it was a dream.  

''Well now, this is a surprise,'' Jonathon flashed a sickening smile and dismounted his horse. He was tall and broad. Warrior like. His black hair reached to his collarbone and nearly a full beard coated his chin. He wore the colors of Lord Richard's guard and was covered with chainmail, a scabbard hanging from his hip. The sword he held in his hand. 

''We expected to find the rebel woman and Duke Peter,'' Jonathon lowered his sword towards James who was lying on the ground behind Avelina. ''But you are not the cousin I remember.'' He moved the blade to Avelina, tapping it against the skin on her neck. His eyes were narrowed but he seemed pleased at what he'd caught. 

Avelina itched to reach into her boot and snatch her dagger. She wanted desperately to scream and attack the man who bore his father's face. But any sudden movement could trigger an arrow or sword into her chest or James'. She swallowed hard, the metal edge cold against her skin. 

''He's dead.'' She said bitterly, then allowed big, angry tears to fill her eyes and fall down her cheeks. ''Duke Peter is dead.''