Emerald Knight

Ginevra closed her eyes, snuggling into the warm, comforting furs of Wolfe's bed. The coverlet smelled of him and made her body tingle with awareness. Taking a deep breath, she sighed. She tried to tell the king's guard that she had a separate tent, but he ignored her. The man escorted her to Wolfe's quarters and told her to go inside to wait for her husband. So that's what she did.

Looking around, she noticed Wolfe's tent was much smaller than her own. She recognized his trunk at the end of the bed and his armor lying atop a table. A portable tub still filled with water from his earlier bath was set in the corner. There was no fire within and so no light, except for the orange glow outside the thick wall. Shadows eerily walked by, deforming the shapes of the people who cast them against the sides.

Hearing footsteps outside, she sat up. Wolfe's skirmish with the assassin had successfully cleared her head of the wine fog. It was a small thing, to be sure, but she had never seen the like before. Her heart still pounded when she thought of Wolfe being in harm's way.

Scooting to the edge of the bed, her feet landed on the earthen floor as the flap to the tent was raised. She could see Wolfe's distinctive outline as he entered. He stopped to look at her in the dimness. Unable to read her face, he asked, "Are you all right? Did that man frighten you?"

"Frighten me?" Ginevra shook head with a wry laugh. She stood from the bed. "I was more scared for you. I don't think I like it when you put yourself in danger like that. Mayhap you should be more careful."

"That's the duty of a knight." Coming forward, he lifted his tunic aside to pull a main gauche from his waist. He laid the sharp dagger on the table. The weapon landed with a heavy thud. Then, bending over, he grabbed another blade from his boot and set it by its mate on the hard wood. "That and knowing enough about survival to stay alive."

"So is that what your life is like? Constant fighting and battles?" she questioned, knowing that was the reality of the world they lived in. She sadly shook her head. "It doesn't seem too ... enchanting."

He hid a smile and didn't answer as a blade from the back of his waist joined the two others. Lastly, they were joined by a leather pouch. Coming around to look at his wife, he studied her face.

Ginevra's heart fluttered. She could see the boy from long ago in his eyes. He was so familiar to her, yet such a stranger. She had known him her whole life, and yet he couldn't have been more of a mystery to her. Swaying lightly on her feet, she searched his expression, trying to hold back tears that welled in her eyes. "Were you never going to come back to Whetshire? You have stayed away so long."

"I've been at battle making a name for myself. I've been training."

"Rob has made it back. Will, too," Ginevra interjected. Her words weren't accusing, just heavyhearted. "Surely the king would've spared you these many years past."

Gently, he lifted a hand to her cheek. His eyes moved to her lips, as if desperately wanting to kiss her mouth. Whispering softly, he teased, "Tell me, Gin. Have you learned more about the marriage bed since I last saw you? Or do you still believe our marriage consummated with a kiss?"

Defiant, she jerked her chin away, not liking his tone. "Who do you think you are? Coming here after almost three years with nary a word or consideration! You dare to question my honor? You left me the morning after our wedding without so much as a by your leave. And, before that, you barely spoke to me except to order me about and call me a child."

"Ginevra, I did send word to you so don't act as if you are abandoned. I only meant--"

"Nay, I know what you meant and if you have no wish to hear honesty from my lips than you had best learn not to ask such sharply pointed questions of me. You don't have the right to question me. You don't know anything about me. And until tonight you haven't bothered to be around long enough to learn! Except through the connections of family, you're a stranger to me."

He dropped his hand, clearly displeased with her contrary tone. "You're my wife. I've known you since you were in a cradle."

"Oh, so you remember saying the vows. I've often wondered," she huffed, liquor making her words flow too freely. Her resentment over the past years ebbed to the surface. She crossed her arms over her chest, unconsciously pushing her breasts up.

Wolfe looked down at her exposed cleavage.