By Arrangement
This shows the aborted duel at arms between David and Morvan. It occurs right before his confrontation of Christiana in the bath.
David stopped his horse on the hill that overlooked a Suffolk manor house. Below, just past the house's outbuildings, he noticed a short slender woman speaking with Morvan Fitzwaryn. Her gestures and pose created a pantomime of exasperation.
David turned to Sieg. "Stay here, back behind the hill."
"David. . ."
"Do not come. Do not interfere."
The big Swede sighed. "Ja."
David trotted down to where Morvan waited.
The woman noted his approach and strode to him while he dismounted. A worried frown marred the perfect face beneath her white hair. "It is good to see you, Lady Elizabeth. It was generous of you to loan your country home to Sir Morvan this day."
"I didn't loan it, I insisted he use it," she said in a low, tight voice. "If I cannot stop this, at least I can see that the loser receives quick care for his wounds."
"Dead men do not need nursing, my lady."
She stomped her foot. "How can you jest? This is madness."
"I agree."
"Than stop this now, David."
"It is not for me to do so, Elizabeth. Morvan issued the challenge, not me."
She glanced back to where Morvan stood. "He will not hear me. I have told him that this will anger the King. I have suggested it is dishonorable because of your different degrees. I have said that his sister will not thank him. Nothing that I say. . ." She threw up her hands. "Still, I do not think he wants this. He expected you to withdraw from the marriage rather than meet him, and now he must do as he threatened. You must refuse to fight him, David."
"You know that I cannot do that."
The planes of her face shattered for an instant before she composed herself. She gave a little laugh. "I do not believe this. Two of my favorite men fighting a duel, and it isn't even over me. What will I do if he kills you, David? Who will advise me on the next marriage contract?"
"I think that you have the basic principles of those negotiations well mastered,."
She smiled ruefully, and glanced toward the house.
"Alicia is inside," she said.
"Give the lady my warm regards." He removed his sword belt from his saddle and began fastening it around his waist.
"She wants to see you before you do this. She was wounded by how you ended things."
He silently settled the sword in position and slid the daggers over to his left hip.
"She said that you were cold and abrupt. That isn't like you.".
"It was indiscreet of her to speak with Christiana, This girl is young, but not stupid."
"She only sought to help you."
"I do not doubt it, and for that I thank her. But she is lucky that Christiana does not gossip like everyone else at court. Alicia and I both could have found her husband's sword at our necks, and that man would not have issued any formal challenges first. Give Alicia my affection, and my apologies if she found me rude, but do not let her come out here."
Elizabeth looked again at the dark-haired knight standing thirty paces away. She stepped closer and her serious gray eyes, full of worry, stared at David.
"I can not bear to have him hurt," she whispered.
"I am the one in danger, my lady. The skill is all his."
"We know each other too well and too long for you to treat me like a child, David. I do not think that you came here to fall beneath Morvan's sword."
"In this match, I am capable of little else."
"I think that you are capable of whatever you choose to accomplish."
He reached out and caressed the troubled face. It was the first time in his life that he had touched her. Her snow-white skin felt surprisingly warm. He had always assumed from its color that it would be cool.
"If he is the man who you think he is, all will be well, Elizabeth. Now, go inside the house, and promise me that no one will watch from the windows, not even you. This could be very embarrassing for me, and I do not want an audience."
She turned to her old lover. Morvan's stance made clear that he was done with feminine entreaties. He made a gesture of dismissal toward the house that echoed David's own order.
Closing her eyes and heaving a deep sigh, she walked away.
David looked at Morvan and thought about what he knew of this young man. Strong and brave and highly skilled. Morvan had killed often enough in his profession and duty, but there was no indication that he enjoyed it as some knights did.
David walked toward him until they faced each other across a short span of the silent field. They said nothing to each other, for there was nothing to say. David's presence announced that he would not release Christiana. Morvan silently accepted that decision.
"Some think that he may stop after he draws first blood," Sieg had said while they rode over. During the last weeks Sieg had spent some time watching Morvan in the practice yard and on several occasions had tried to convince David that the girl was not worth meeting such a man. More usefully, David had learned from Sieg's observations about Morvan's numerous strengths and few weaknesses.
David unsheathed his weapon. He permitted himself a flash of annoyance at knights who settled every dispute with a sword, and a spike of anger at the dark-haired girl who had driven two men to this confrontation.
His own position was impossible. Should he win and kill or hurt her brother, Christiana would never forgive him. Losing was unacceptable for the obvious reasons. A draw would resolve nothing.
No armor or shields, Morvan's message had said. I don't want to waste all morning killing you. A nice touch, David thought. Elegantly intimidating.
Morvan raised his sword and brought it down with a flashing force and they engaged. The only sounds on the field were their heavy breaths and the ringing impact of steel on steel.
David had no illusions about his skill and he fought defensively, catching Morvan's sword on his own. He noted that Morvan wasn't trying very hard. The knight used none of the dangerous moves that Sieg had warned about, none of the subtle thrusts that could lead to a quick kill.
Shouts and horse hooves clamored down the hill, interrupting Morvan in mid action with his sword balanced over his left shoulder.
Sir Walter Manny reared up his horse and paced it between them. "I come from the King. It is his pleasure and command that you withdraw the challenge, Morvan."
Morvan held his position for a few moments, then lowered his sword. Walter dismounted and went to speak with him.
Walter then came over and stood in front of David.
"How did you know where to find us?"
"Lady Elizabeth sent a messenger when she heard the rumor about it being at London Bridge. Edward had already sent a man there when her man arrived with the truth. I almost killed my horse getting here."
David nodded. He had hoped that Morvan himself had let the King know the location so that it could be stopped. Since he had not, nothing was resolved.
"The King requires your attendance, David," Walter said.
"Tell him that I will be there shortly, after this is finished."
"Perhaps you don't understand, David. The King forbids it."
"The King forbids Morvan's challenge. But now I issue my own. This ends here, today."
Walter moved until he stood blocking Morvan's view. "Do not be a fool, David. It is settled with honor now. His order leaves Morvan no choice but to withdraw. His summons of you leaves you no choice but to depart at once."
David looked Walter in the eyes. "Tell the king that if God wills it I will see him soon. If not, my man will come and give my report. And be sure that he knows that whatever happens here, I forced Morvan to it with my own challenge. Leave us now."
"David. . ."
"Leave us."
"I will stay and observe and see that all occurs in proper---"
"Nay."
Walter looked over to Morvan who made an openhanded gesture of astonished disbelief and resignation. Shaking his head, Walter remounted his horse and rode away.
"You are brave enough, merchant, but also a fool," Morvan said. "What do you hope to gain from this?"
"I do not like men interfering with me and have no intention of dealing with your threats and intrusions once Christiana and I are married. Either kill me now, or stay out of my way where your sister is concerned."
Morvan smiled thinly. "You die for a woman who does not want you."
"Perhaps, but she belongs to me. I will not share ownership of her with anyone, even a brother."
Morvan's eyes glinted and he stepped forward. David let him come. He parried the thrusts and blows for several minutes. His adversary fought with more resolve now. Morvan’s sword fell with increasing force and David found himself backing up before the onslaught. Finally, Morvan raised the blade level with his left shoulder and swung fiercely.
David saw it coming. He had practiced against this move for hours. He twisted his arm and raised his own sword to meet the blow. The force of the impact sent the weapon flying from his hand.
He stepped back and Morvan did too. The younger man's blood was up and he glared hot-eyed.
David folded his arms over his chest.
"It appears that victory is yours, Morvan."
Morvan's hand grasped the sword dangerously. Beneath his folded arms, the fingers David’s right hand found the hilt of his dagger.
"Do it if you must. Save your sister. No one watches. No one will know that I was unarmed."
He could see Morvan debating his options. He had no illusion that an honorable decision was a forgone conclusion.
"The King has forbidden this. It seems he wants you to live," Morvan said.
"The challenge was mine."
"A minor point when a king is angry."
"Walk away now and you do so for good. I will not have you standing between her and me."
Morvan's eyes flashed. "If you ever harm or degrade her I will do more than stand between you."
"She is mine to use as I will. Accept that, or use your sword."
Morvan's anger spread from his eyes to his whole body. David shifted his hidden hand slightly.
"Use her ill and I will surely kill you."
"You have learned enough about me to know that is unlikely. Would you walk beside her for her whole life, choosing each step for her? Perhaps you would like to join us in the marriage bed to be sure that I pleasure her sufficiently too."
That did it. Morvan's sword rose. David's hand invisibly closed on the dagger's hilt. They faced each other for a frozen moment.
David saw a decision flash in the young man's eyes. Abruptly, Morvan sheathed his weapon and strode to his horse.
David waited until Morvan disappeared over the hill before claiming his own mount. Sieg rode down to meet him.
"I see that you are still alive," Sieg said as he fell in beside him.
"Aye, God knows if the man didn't kill me today he never will".
"Damn it, David. You are the smartest man I know, but twice now a pretty face has almost gotten you dead."
"This was different. Christiana has always been honest with me, Sieg. There was no betrayal here."
"Ja, well, you not be needing this, especially not now. And what of this girl, whom you marry against her will? Brother or no, there is naught but trouble there."
David smiled thinly. "I must go to Westminister and speak with Edward now, Sieg. He wants to know about my journey. Afterwards we will go to princess Isabele's chambers. If Lady Idonia is there, I want you to take her for a ride. Drag her off by the hair if you have to. I need to see my little wife alone. You are right. There are a few things to be settled with her this day too."
Copyright © Madeline Hunter
