Unending Love by Kathryn Le Veque Page A

attention was
elsewhere before directing her daughter to quit the keep. 
    A fog was rolling in once again from the east as
Adalind entered the bailey.  The air was cold and moist, and the sentries on
the wall with their dogs and torches were eerily shrouded in mist.  She pulled
her cloak tight as she headed for the knight’s house, a small building set
against the massive fortress wall that housed the army commanders.  There were
four good sized rooms and then a bigger common room.  She knocked politely on
the door, her stomach in knots.
    After several additional knocks, it was clear
that the quarters were empty.  With a slower pace, she headed back across the
bailey towards the enormous feasting hall [J11]   that was built all by itself in the southeast
corner of the castle.  It was only used for big events; the rest of the time,
the soldiers tended to gather in it to eat their meals or sleep.  The family
almost always used the smaller, more private hall in the keep. Thinking Maddoc
might be in the bigger hall, she made her way towards it.  She was just into
the shadows of the structure, shielded from most of the bailey, when she heard
a voice from behind.
    “What are you doing wandering out here?”
    Adalind recognized Maddoc’s tone as she whirled
around to face him. He came up behind her, the bright blue eyes glittering as
their gazes locked.
    “’Tis cold,” he said, his voice softer. “Why are
you not inside supping with de Burgh?”
    Adalind found she was rather breathless at the
sight of him.  Her heart was beating so loudly against her ribs that she was
sure he could hear it.
    “Probably for the same reason you are not
supping with him,” she said. “I do not wish to be near him.”
    He gave her a half-grin. “That is the truth,” he
agreed. “But in my case, it is more likely that your grandfather forbade me
from going anywhere near the man. I am therefore assigned to the night watch so
I can stay away from him.  I am supposed to stay away from you, too.”
    Adalind shrugged, as if she hadn’t time for such
nonsense. “That does not seem natural to me.”
    “Nor to me.”
    It was a warm and perhaps leading answer.
Adalind gazed at Maddoc with a rather wide-eyed stare. It was the man she’d
always known, the man she’d loved from her earliest memories, but as she gazed
at him, she could only think of one thing to say to him.
    “Maddoc, why ?”
    He cocked his head. “What do you mean?”
    She swallowed hard for her mouth was dry. Nerves
were causing her to tremble. “Why…?” she swallowed again. “Why did you say
those things earlier?”
    His grin broadened. “I believe I was quite
clear.”
    She shook her head. “But it does not make any
sense to me,” she said, almost pleadingly. “As a child I would follow you
around until you would chase me way. Do you remember? You would tell me to go
away or you would turn the dogs on me.  Then I would run off and hide for a
time before writing you notes in the dirt apologizing for making you angry.  Do
you remember that as well?”
    His gaze was warm. “Of course I remember. You only
knew a few words so your notes were mostly gibberish, but I will tell you a
secret about them.”
    “What?”
    “They always made me smile and then I would feel
tremendously guilty for being so harsh with you.”
    She smiled faintly, but just as quickly sobered.
The subject at hand was too serious to get off course with other recollections.
    “Maddoc, please do not toy with me,” she begged
softly. “Tell me why you have changed your mind about me.  Surely you must know
how this has affected me.  All my life… all my life I have dreamed of you and
now….”
    She trailed off, unable to continue as she
averted her gaze.  Maddoc could see how confused she was; in truth, he had been
confused as well.  He’d spent the entire afternoon reflecting on what he’d
said, and a good hour discussing the situation Christina.  The woman’s only
concern