Sadness invaded the heart of Venom for Brit was not a chaste lover. He enjoyed making love to many women and traveled a great deal, seeming unable to settle down. He was away from the castle as much as he was in residence, and many of the diplomatic decisions fell to Venom. Days and weeks dragged by when she had no word from him.
She cried at night while alone in her bed, and heard rumors of women that he was seen with. Time was spent at the desk penning messages to him written from her heart. She made every effort to appeal to him and repair a floundering relationship.
One day as she rode through the forest, sobbing in frustration, she came upon a clearing, where a warrior stood beside a shimmering brook. He was strong and wore colors of another realm. She realized that she had ridden too far and left the land of Brit. As the warrior turned curious blue eyes to her, she leaped from her steed, stripped off her clothing and dived into the water. He followed suit, and in wild abandonment she made love to a stranger.
Shocked at her impulsive behavior she told him that she did not want to know him. That it had only been an act of animalistic lust and there was nothing serious about it. She did not give up her identity but rode away toward home. She vowed to keep herself chaste for the man that she loved, but as time passed she returned to her mysterious lover. Somehow he was always there to satisfy her needs. He never asked questions, and she was lulled into a false belief that he did not know who she really was.
Venom tossed and cried out during the night in torment. Two men haunted her dreams. The blonde headed Brit, and the dark brooding Gahad. She knew she loved one, and could not deny that she lusted after the other.
Venom was brushing her long flowing tresses, when Brit entered her room for the first time since his return. He sank down on the bed and dropped his heavy boots to the floor with a thud. Her heart raced as he crawled into bed and placed his hands behind his head. She wore a long cotton gown with fine embroidered roses. It fell open at the throat displaying a generous portion of the rounded top of her breast. A lone candle burned beside her casting odd shadows on the wall. The rain penetrated her thoughts as it came down in torrents and bounced off the window anes. She paused for a minute, and then continued to brush her hair.
“Come to me,” Brit whispered. “I crave your touch. Don’t make me wait.” She did not hesitate but gave herself to him willingly.
Venom stood on the stoop with the huge uby weighing heavily in her hand. She looked around for the old man who had delivered it. where had he gone? Who had sent her such a magnificent gem?
"Lady Venom," the guard said. "Please return to the the castle. Lord Brit fears for your safety and is concerned that Lord Gahad will attempt to kidnap you."
"Yes, I shall," she replied still looking around for the messenger.
She placed the gem upon the mantle and sat down in her favorite chair to gaze upon its beauty. Something about the old man bothered her, his touch had lingered on her hand a fraction too long, and his eyes, how haunted they looked.
She was suddenly quaking with fear. His eyes had pierced her soul. She had not realized until it was too late that the Old Man had been non other than Sir Gahad. He had penetrated the tight security of Brit's Castle.
She rushed across the room to grab the ruby and hide it in her skirts, as she heard Brit enter the hall.
"So, who was the Old Man?" he inquired with one brow lifted. "What did he bring my beloved one?"
Her eyes widened for she was not a goold iar. She knew that should she attempt to deceive Brit, he would know it immediately. She opened her fist to expose the amazing jewel. "This is the gift," she said. "The old man was Gahad."
Brit turned red in fury, then swung around and rushed from the room. She could hear him barking out orders. He kept yelling at the guardsmen, threatening to take their lives. "You have endangered my queen!" he roared. "I should have you beheaded for this!"
The stress of the situation, and the rumors which were all around the village became too much for Venom to bear. She asked her closest friends to help her escape. She longed to find a retreat where she could hide until she decided how to calm the rage between Brit and Gahad. For instead of the situation getting better, tempers were ever hotter. It seemed that neither man intended to give up his pursuit of her. Although Brit was her husband and her first choice, her flesh was still weak and cried out for Gahad. It seemed inevitable that a war would be waged between the two realms, if a solution was not found.
Early one morning, the three women rode off in a loaded wagon carrying supplies and one servant. For once Venom was glad that Brit had not returned home the previous evening.
She was secreted away to a small cottage in the deep forest where her supplies were stored, before she was left alone with the servant.
Upon their return to the realm, her friends notified Brit of Venom’s decision to go into seclusion for a while. Since she had sworn them to secrecy, they would not disclose her where abouts despite the fact that Brit threatened to take their lives.
While out walking in the forest a few days later, Venom was confronted by Gahad. She was surprised that he had found her, and did not suspect that the ruby she carried with her had mystical powers. Turning to run from him, she tripped over a boulder.
Her head ached, and her hands were fiery with pain as she opened her eyes. She was being cradled in the arms of a Knight clad in full body armor. He guided the black horse through the forest in an even trot. Only his face was visible, and he seemed distant to distance himself from her. His grip tightened protectively when she moved to sit up.
"Be still, little one," he whispered. "For I do not want you to fall."
She lay back and tried to gather her thoughts. His face was covered with a full bristling black beard. His eyebrows were bushy and framed blue eyes. His cheekbones were high, and his lips chiseled. He appeared to be an experienced. She lifted her hand to gingerly touch the bruise on her forehead, wondering how she had come by it. It was swollen and a knot had formed there.
She wondered silently, Who the man was that was transporting her? Where was he taking her?
"Are you alright M'Lady?" he inquired. She noticed for the first time that he was a big handsome man.
"Who are you?" She asked him.
His grip loosened and she almost tumbled from the horse. He glared at her with mouth half open. "Do not toy with me M'Lady! For it is a cruel joke to play on one who loves you so dearly."
The warrior raised his hand and lowered his helmet, shutting himself off from her prying eyes. She frowned in confusion, for she can not remember anything except waking up in a strangers arms.
She grew weary of riding in her awkward position, and was happy when the Knight stopped and lowered her to the ground. They made camp beside a brook, and he was thoughtful as he took a cloth and applied it to the knot on her head. Later he spread his cloak upon the ground and invited her to rest.
"I did not mean for thee to be njured," he whispered. "Thee should know that I sooner die than to let M'Lady be hurt."
She remained silent, for she did know not what to say. Her mind was clouded, but she was at peace, and she trusted him. She lay back upon his cloak and sighed. She was tired and longed to sleep.
He studied her from lowered lashes before stretching out beside her. Gently he traced the outline of her lips with his thumb. "You are a lovely woman."
She smiled at his words and drifted off to sleep. She began to dream of another Knight whose eyes were hazel in color, and in her dream he is holding her. His embrace felt so right, a welcomed refuge from some untold danger that stalked her.
They finally arrived at a castle where servants escorted her up the stairway to a room in the tower. She crawled into bed and fell asleep.
Later the servant returned with her dinner. As she ate other servants filled a large tub with warm water and lay out fresh towels for her bath.
She sank into the deep tub and felt the warmth of the water envelope her. The servant had just finished washing her hair, when Gahad entered the room. He motioned the servant out, and closed the door behind her.
"Did you enjoy. your sup?" he asked.
"Aye, I did. The food was good."
He held the oversized towel as she stepped out of the pool of water, and wrapped his strong arms around her effectively making her a garment with the cloth. Caught up in his embrace she accidently swayed against him. "You are a temptress M'Lady," he whispered as his lips claimed hers and caused a flame to ignite in her body.
She discovered that she could not resist him, nor did she want to. It was he, who pushed her away. "I think M'Lady, wouldst enjoy my company more if I bathe."
She watched beneath lowered lashes as he shed his clothing and stepped into the tub. Sir Gahad was a handsome man. She moved over to carress his shoulders, and found herself planting kisses on his neck and face.
"M'Lady is not angry with me?" he inquired curiously.
"What would I have to be angry about?"
"You have not once asked me to return you to the cabin in the woods."
"The cabin in the woods?" she asked, consumed with passion.
"Perhaps you would prefer being with a different man tonight?" he asked, lifting a dark brow.
She watched as he lifted his nude form from the tub and stepped out. Opening the towel, she wrapped it around him, and pressed her body against his wet one, wrapping them snuggly together.
"I don't know any other warriors," she confessed planting kisses on his hairy chest.
"M'Lady, have you finally realized that I, Gahad am the one whom you truly love?"
"Haven't I always loved you?" she asked, as the warriors body began to respond.
Suddenly, he clutched her chin and tilted her face upward. "What is the Realm you come from M'Lady?" he asked her.
"I am from this Realm," she respond,
"This realm?" he mumbled massaging his chin thoughtfully. Then disentangling himself, he moved away from her.
In the flickering candlelight she knew that he was watching her. However, he appeared to be guarded and suspicious. She wondered if he was her husband? Surely she must be his Lady, for the servants acted as though they knew and respected her. They treated her like the mistress of the Realm, so she had to be the legal wife of Gahad, who was obviously the king. "I am your wife, am I not?"
"My wife?" he choked on his drink.
She retorted playfully. "Come and do your husbandly duty sir Gahad. Make love to me." With those coy words she tossed the towel to the floor, and slipped beneath the heavy blankets.
"My wife?" he coughed, and poured himself another drink with unsteady hands. He downed it and came to slide beneath the cover with her. As she began to stroke him, he penned her to the bed and gazed into her eyes. Brushing her hair back from her face with trembling fingers, he asked, "Doest M'Lady Cassandra, still love me after all these years?"
Cassandra? she pondered. So that was her name. She decided that it was a nice name, and she smiled. "How could you doubt me?"
He exhaled as though he had been holding his breath for too long. rolling onto his back, he pulled her so close that it was difficult for her to move. "Just lay still, and allow me to hold thee." However, before long his passion was a raging inferno, and he was lost.
Long after Venom fell asleep, Gahad lay staring at the ceiling. He was now positive that she did not know who she was. She believed that she was his wife and that her name was Cassandra. If only it could be true ! Gahad fell back heavily upon his pillow. He was certain of only one thing. It was just a matter of time before Brit arrived outside his gates. War was sure to follow. The only way to avoid it was to give Lady Venom back to her husband. However, he could not do it, he loved her too much. He groaned in despair and gently lifted her head onto his shoulder.
In an upper chamber at the Bluerock inn a secret meeting was in session. Wizard, Roch, Scarlett, and Nulen, attended. A plan was being concocted to rescue Lady Venom. Two powerful men were on the brink of declaring war to claim her. In order to complete a successful mission, each of those in attendance had to play their role perfectly. Their main goal was to liberate the woman in question without spilling blood. Numerous lives hung in the balance.
“Roch, you and Malea are rumored to be the best thieves in the realm. Can you penetrate the security of Gahad’s fortress and rescue Lady Venom?”
“We are the best!” Roch chuckled. “We shall bring her out and no one will be the wiser!”
“Aye, this is true ,” Malea agreed. “A small feat it will be for us.”
“Scarlett, you must cause a commotion with Gahad’s guards,” Nulen explained. “This will distract them while Roch and Malea sneak into the bastion. When you hear the cry of an owl repeated three times your job is finished.”
“It shall be just so,” Scarlett replied. “I can be demanding when I choose to be!”
“I will deliver Lady Venom to Lord Brit,” Nulen sighed. “Somehow I will convince him that I found her wandering in the wood. She must not remember anything except getting lost. That will be your responsibility Wizard, for you must caste a clever spell over everyone. If we succeed in our mission, a war will be avoided.”
“Will this really stop the war?” Wizard wondered aloud. “There has been bad blood between Brit and Gahad for years.”
“Why should we stop the war anyway?” Scarlett asked. “Let Brit kill Gahad, and be done with it!”
“Friends,” Nulen soothed raising his hand. “You do not know Sir Gahad, as I do. He is a fine and honorable man. The choices he made were because of his great love for Lady Venom. When a man is that deeply in love, he does not think straight. Naturally he is afraid of losing her. Gahad shall be in agony once she is gone. His cries will be heard throughout the Kingdom. Is that not punishment enough?”
"Then he will remember her?" Scarlett asked.
Wizard nodded his head. "I cannot make one forget such deep and intense love."
"What of Venom?"
"She will remember everything except being abducted by Gahad."
Roch nodded sympathetically. “If I lost Malea, I would not want to live.”
“Tomorrow night at a quarter to midnight we will meet in the thicket just west of here.” Nulen said.
The group took separate routes in order to avoid suspicion. Nulen dared not be
spotted until he arrived with Lady Venom at Brit's camp. With heavy heart and a silent prayer on his lips he slipped away undetected. To attempt to stop the impending destruction of two great dynasties was a heavy responsibility. If anything went wrong it could be utter devastation!
The Lady Venom was asleep when someone placed a strong hand over her mouth and shook her gently. She sat up wide-eyed and glimpsed an intruder hovering over her. The prowler was silhouetted by moonlight, and seemed poised to leap at the first sound. It was hard to distinguish anything unique about the unexpected visitor for they were clad in black. Venom's eyes searched the room in vain for Gahad. However, she was alone.
“Make haste milady, you must not tarry,” her visitor whispered, tugging on Venom's arm in an effort to coax her from the bed. Venom was frightened, for she did not recognize the stranger with the shadowy face, although it was clear to her that the intruder was a woman.
“Put this on,” she hissed tossing a coarse woolen garment onto the bed. “And be quiet about it.”
“Who are you?” Lady Venom whispered as she accepted the garment. It felt soiled and had an odor about it. She did not wish to don the garb, however, she slipped it over her head anyway reluctant to cause trouble.
“It is not important who we are. We are here to take you safely home to your family. Please get dressed swiftly."
“I am not Lady Venom! I am Lady Cassandra, mistress of this realm. Wife to King Gahad. You have mistaken me for another."
The mysterious woman with the shadowy face sucked in her breath. She moved over to stand close to her companion.
Lady Venom heard them whispering as the man continued to keep watch out the window. She suddenly heard a commotion at the gates, feminine voices arguing, and demanding entry. Then there was Gahad shouting for the guards to send them away. Then he was yelling. Although she could not make out his words the pain in his voice pained her heart.
“He's coming back,” she heard the strange man whisper. “I shall take care of him. You get the Lady ready to travel.” Venom knew without a doubt that her beloved Gahad was in danger. She screamed in warning to all that might hear her. Her screams echoed off the walls of the castle piercing the stillness of the night.
Swiftly and adeptly the female was beside her. She grabbed Lady Venom with strong arms and covered her mouth with one hand. “I did not want to hurt you,” she hissed. “But I will if need be.” With those words her companion tied a cloth around her mouth and bound her hands behind her back. She pulled Lady Venom toward the doorway of the tower, as the man disappeared down the hallway.
The two women descended to the dungeon where the female intruder forced open a small doorway that was concealed behind a great vat of wine. Lady Venom had to enter the narrow opening first and it was very dark inside. The woman lit a candle and the flickering light revealed walls of stone covered with spider webs and dirt. Lady Venom's heart was pounding with fear, for she did not know why she was being abducted. The two women waited only minutes before the man joined them. Lady Venom could not see their faces. She wanted to ask what the man had done with Gahad, but she could not speak because of the cloth that bound her mouth.
“He's out like a light,” the man chuckled. "Now we must hurry!” He took the lead, and the women followed, as he made his way through the tunnel. They exited near the moat, and Lady Venom could see a small boat waiting nearby in the water. The man assisted her as she gingerly stepped into the boat. Each abductor took an oar and began to row. They remained tense and guarded as they propelled away from the great castle of Gahad.
“Should I untie her?” the woman asked the man.
“No! She is less trouble this way.” he retorted. In a short time they were on horseback galloping into the forest.
Lady Venom saw a dark shadow of a man sitting atop a horse waiting, as they approached him.
“Aye, you have her,” he chuckled.
“Did you doubt us?” the man queried.
“You are indeed good at your skill,” the other admitted. The female jerked the cloth from Lady Venom's mouth and unbound her hands. Lady Venom decided to put up a fight and hit her kidnapper hard in the stomach. As the woman landed on the ground, the two men pounced on Lady Venom. She was being held with one on either side.
“Just put her under,” the stranger who had set atop the horse commanded. Suddenly the female tossed a bit of dust into Venom's face and it made her feel strange.
Lady Venom awoke to find herself being cradled in the arms of the stranger. He remained silently brooding as she glimpsed lights from many campfires just ahead. She could not remember anything except going for a stroll through the woods at the cabin. How did she get here?
They entered the camp cautiously. Most of the inhabitants were asleep. However, those Warriors who were awake had their weapons drawn as they surrounded them.
“It is I, Nulen,” the man snapped. “I have brought Lady Venom to King Brit!”
“Lady Venom?” the guard barked in surprise. He held a light up to her face. “Aye it is she. Come hurriedly to the tent of Brit.” Just outside a large tent the guard called the name Brit, and informed the warrior that Lady Venom had arrived. A crowd had gathered around them, half dressed, sleepy and obviously delighted to see her.
Brit, appeared through the entrance of the tent, and light reflected off his face. Suddenly Venom's heart soared at the familiar sight of her husband. His blonde hair was tousled, and he looked haggard. However, upon seeing her, his eyes widened, and he came forward to lift her off the horse.
Everything looked different now to Lady Venom. She recognized the warriors as they laughed, and came as close to her as they could. There was much rejoicing throughout the night.
“Oh, Brit,” she laughed. “What is going on?”
“You are safe my love,” he beamed.
“Was I in danger?” A hush fell over the group at her question.
Nulen stepped forward and bowed before her. She recognized him. She had fought many battles beside him in the forest.
“Aye milady,” he said. “You were in much danger, wandering alone in the forest.”
“Wandering in the forest?” Brit asked. “She was kidnapped by Gahad!”
“It appears the lady was lost and wandering in the forest Sire, for I came across her as I rode to join you in battle. See the very clothes she wears are soiled and tattered.”
“Is this true ?” he asked, peering into her eyes. She could not reply for she did not remember. She remembered nothing except going for a walk at the cabin to get fresh air.
“It is true ,” Nulen told him. “She did not know who she was. She was as you see her now. Obviously very tired and hungry. I recognized her and brought her to you immediately.”
“You shall be rewarded for your service to my queen!” Brit promised him.
“Come my love,” he said. “The night is late and you must rest.”
“What of the battle at dawn?” a warrior queried.
“There shall be no battle,” Brit replied dryly. “I have misjudged a fellow Knight. We will head for home early in the morn and leave Gahad and his realm in peace.”
Once inside the tent Brit held her close. She wrapped her arms around his waist and lifted her face for his kiss. It was a gentle and caring caress.
He rocked her back and forth and buried his face in her hair. “Oh my darling,” he whispered. “I was so worried. Yet so stupid! I should have been searching the forest for you instead of being here, preparing to go to war! Can you forgive me?”
"why were you going to war?
"I went to the cabin and the servant said you had been missing for three days, and I assumed the worst, that Gahad had abducted you."
"How did you find the cabin?"
"A merchant was contracted by your friends to deliver fresh supplies to you," he grinned. "I followed him."
Try as she might, she could not remember being lost in the forest.
“It makes me shudder in horror to think about the danger you were in!”
She could feel him tremble in her arms. “It's over milord, do not carry on so!” she insisted. “We are together and we must carry on.”
“We shall,” he laughed. With one great swoop he had her in his arms claiming her lips.
They were preparing to leave for home when Brit picked up a red ruby and placed it in her hand. “This is yours, my love. I found it in the woods near the cabin,” he whispered before leaving the tent. Suddenly, she remembered the stone, and the old man who had given it to her. He had really been Gahad in disguise.
An image of a cottage in the woods sprang up into her mind.
With the ruby held fast in her hand, she left the tent and strolled down to the lake. The early morning sun had come up, and the breeze teased her hair. It was a sun filled day with the unspoken promise of good things to come. She took one last look at the ruby shimmering in the sunlight, and then she flung it as far away from her as she could. She watched as it sank into the middle of the lake.
Brit had come up behind her, and she welcomed his embrace as he slid his arms around her. He kissed the top of her head and stood looking out over the water for long minutes.
“It was a beautiful gem,” he said softly.
“Yes,” she agreed with a sigh. “However, I do not wish to have anything to remind me of how close we came to losing one another.” She turned to face him and slid her arms around his waist. Looking up into his hazel eyes she knew that she had
caused him much pain.
“I love you, and I'm sorry for everything that’s happened,” she told him. “Please forgive me.”
“As I have told you before, we are only human my love, and as such, we are prone to make mistakes. If we didn't, then we would be gods.”
She nodded her head solemnly, and together, hand in hand, they returned to camp and prepared for the long journey home.
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Reviewed by Larry Low
7/27/2003
Typo: Her eyes widened for she was not a good liar. [good liar is garbled]
Ireland 1947. Seven weeks of relentless snow. Guard Eamon Foley is searching for a missing child.
At Toby Appleyard’s farm, he discovers the kitchen littered with dead cats. And the skeletal remains of a woman. Upstairs, Toby is dead in his bed.
Copyright © 02-2003
