A Knight Of Honour Part 21

'Its previous owner claimed it was so, but I never found it gave me any special power,' Stefan said and smiled. 'It was too light for me. My sword is much heavier.'

'Then perhaps the magic was in Alain's mind?'

'Yes, I think it may have been,' Stefan said after some consideration. 'He was determined to win to save my life and to gain glory for himself-and he achieved both. Besides, I do not think he needed a magic sword to win against that oaf. I might have beaten him even as I am.'

'Just why did you allow Alain to fight for you?' Elona asked. 'I was afraid that you would refuse both your father and your brother's offer to stand as your champion.'

'I would have refused my father,' Stefan said. 'Orlando too, for l know that he has plans to marry if the lady will have him.' A little smile touched his mouth. 'Think you Marguerite would entertain his suit?'

'I believe she might,' Elona said and smiled in answer to the teasing look he gave her. 'But what made you accept your brother's offer when you would have refused the others? Alain was but an untried youth...'

'I could not refuse Alain, for I knew that he would consider it an insult. He would have thought that I did not trust him to win for me, and that would have wounded him. Besides...' He looked at her lovingly. 'I thought of you, Elona. My leg is not yet healed enough to be certain that I would have won. Despite all that I endured I could not make it so, and I knew that it would break your heart if I died-and I wanted to live for you and our child.'

'Our child?' She looked into his eyes as he rose from the bed and came to her. 'You knew that I carried your child?'

'You would not tell me because you knew it would worry me,' Stefan told her. 'But others were not so careful of their tongues. Your women scolded me for upsetting you at such a time. Bethany told me that I did not deserve you. Mary told me that I was a fool to throw away all that I should hold dear-and in truth I did not wish to fight. I left the Duke's service and came home because I wished to live in peace and raise a family of my own.'

'Because you had no family life when you were young?'

'How well you know me,' Stefan said and bent to touch his lips to hers. 'I was starved of affection when I was a child. Harald of Wotten was a good man, but he believed that young lads should be treated harshly to make them stronger of mind and body.'

'And what of our children? Shall you send our sons away for their education?'

'Not at so tender an age,' Stefan said. 'I know that it is the custom and that I was fortunate to receive such a good training at my kinsman's hands, but our sons shall learn first from me, and then, when they are old enough to understand, they shall go or stay as they choose.'

Elona smiled up at him, her heart overflowing with love. 'That is exactly as I would want for them,' she said. 'For if they learn honour and compa.s.sion from their father, they are halfway to becoming worthy men.'

'And they will learn how to love from you,' he said, tipping her chin up so that he could kiss her lips. 'Between us, we shall give our children all that is necessary to make them happy, Elona.'

'As I am happy with you, my love.'

A teasing light came to his eyes. 'I have not forgot your scolding tongue, Elona, nor that I promised to teach you how to respect your husband. I dared not spend what little energy I had in your arms, or I should not have been here to meet the King's challenge-but I am feeling much stronger now. There will be nothing to stop me chastising you when we return home.'

'I am ready to take my punishment, my lord,' she said and a gurgle of laughter bubbled up inside her; she knew that somehow this last day and night Stefan had turned a corner.

He was truly mending and soon would be as strong as ever.

'For I know that you will treat fairly with me, my lord-my most beloved and honourable knight.'

'I think that my brother will surpa.s.s me,' Stefan said. 'I have behaved with chivalry and honour, though there are things I have done that I would prefer to forget. But I believe that Alain will be a true knight, perhaps the truest in Christendom, and I look forward to hearing of his fame.'

'His fame has already begun,' Elona said and reached up to touch his cheek with loving fingers. 'When Alain was so kind to me in my despair I thought him a true knight and I shall always be grateful to him for what he did for you. Stefan.'

'I am grateful for the love he bears me-and for my father's love,' Stefan told her and there was a look almost of humility in his eyes at that moment. 'It is a most precious gift, Elona, and one I never hoped to have.'

'You are more than worthy of their love,' she said, pressing her lips to his in a sweet kiss that promised so much more. 'And of mine...'

'You have given me a rare gift,' Stefan told his wife as he looked down at her and the children she held in her arms. 'I would have been happy with a daughter-but two healthy boys! Had I known that we should have twin sons, I should have been mad with fear for your life, Elona.'

'Then it is as well that you did not,' she said and smiled at him. 'As you see, I have managed it quite well.'

Stefan knew that the birth of his sons had caused her much pain, but the physician he had brought from court to care for her was certain that, because there were two of them, they were smaller and therefore easier to birth than one large child. Yet his fear for her life had caused Stefan much grief and he was glad to accept the advice of his physician, who had told him ways to avoid having another child too soon.

'I love you so much, my dearest,' Stefan said and bent to kiss her. 'I think I must have died if I had lost you.'

'You did not lose me, nor shall you,' Elona told him. 'Befor my good nurse died, she read my fortune and told me we that should have two sons and a daughter, and that we shall both live to a great age in happiness and content.'

'I wish I might have rewarded her for such a blessing,' Stefan said. 'You miss her still, I think?'

'She was the mother I lost,' Elona said. 'But she was old and tired, and now I have you and my children. What shall we call them, Stefan?'

'I should like to name one of them for my father,' Stefan said. 'For I believe that would please him.'

'And the other shall be named for my father,' Elona said and gave the babes to their nurse. 'And now, my love, tell me what you have been doing since I was brought to bed?'

i hunted for deer,' Stefan said. 'And then I wrestled with one of my men-I fear he beat me, but at least it was a close thing. A month ago I would not have made a match of it. I grow stronger every day.'

'But you are truly well again?'

'Yes, my love. I am truly well.'

'Then I am content,' Elona told him. 'Forgive me, but I am a little tired and would sleep, my lord.'

'Yes, you must sleep,' he agreed. 'Now that I have seen you and know that all is well, I shall go and send the news to my father. I am sure that both he and Alayne will want to see you as soon as you are churched.'

Elona's eyelids were heavy. She felt the lightest of kisses on her forehead and was aware that he had gone out, closing the door behind him. She gave a sigh of content. Stefan was almost himself again, and she had given him the sons they both desired. She had a loving family and would be glad to see Alayne once more, and to hear news of her son if there was any to hear.

Sir Alain was with Duke Richard and soon now the crusade against Saladin would begin. She would pray that her brother-in-law gained all the glory he desired and returned to them safely, for she would never forget the part that he had played in her happiness.

'May G.o.d bless and keep you,' she murmured as she drifted into a peaceful sleep. 'I hope that you too will find content one day...'

end.