That Most Precious Gift Read online

CHAPTER FOUR

  “Grand morning, princess! Art thou ready to be blessed for yet another week?” said the knight while meeting her outside the large cathedral.

  “Good morning.”

  “Thou slept well, I hope.”

  “I was one with the stars, my knight,” sighed the princess passively.

  Once entering the church, a murmur of gossip seemed to follow the pair. The mass proceeded as the two shared homage to the Lord. Unknowing to Maxwell, Lenee's heart was very heavy from the message she had received last night .

  “Are you unwell, my lady?” questioned the knight, sensing an illness within her soul.

  “I am fine, thank you,” whispered the princess.

  They retreated out to the lawn once the service had ended.

  “My fine knight. I must speak of seriousness,” began the lady. “Last night, I received a dire message placing consequence between us.”

  “What was the message, my love?”

  “A past suitor, one in whom I find of no interest and who I thought had disappeared in my past, sent word to me. He wrote that if I didn't find favor in him, he would surely take his sword and pierce the heart which gives him life. That without me at his side, my love, this world would have no meaning.”

  Maxwell became silent and shook his head slowly.

  “I truly felt that this suitor was far from my heart,” she paused. “Being invited to the banquet, as you were, he came when I was most vulnerable, and we spent moments becoming closer. In due time, my heart spoke truth of the relationship, that my love for him was not what I had imagined love to be at all. Unfortunately, I was unclear to the reasons for sending him away. Now I must answer to my actions,” she said as a small tear fell from her eye. “I cannot live knowing one had died due to my fickled ways. To release this guilt, my love, I must ask that you leave me in my misery; but to one day come back and maybe rekindle this feeling which we have found.”

  As if the world had crumbled around him, the knight stood motionless, unbelieving what it was he had heard. His heart broke with every word spoken by the princess. Anger quickly consumed his whole being.

  “Damn, Lenee, I don't want to lose this power we have discovered. So many times and so many paths have crossed my own heart that I had learned to keep my heart tightly guarded. Though now that I found a stronger love in you, I sent the guards away knowing that I would never lose you. Let me seek out this poor soul which you speak of and end his misery with my sword!” spoke the knight while reaching for his weapon. “For none will I let come between us! NONE!”

  “I am truly sorry, my lord,” said Lenee.

  “So, how long must I have to wait till thy heart is prepared for our love? This love which I know is true.”

  “I cannot speak of such things at this time. All I see are the problems of a scorned heart,” said the princess.

  “Since my heart now stands before thee broken in two, is there any other troubling which I dare to know?”

  “My heart, sweet knight, I am fearfull of the power which our hearts make. How can love become so strong so quickly? Why must love come to me at this difficult time?”

  Maxwell dropped his head further as he realized the unforeseen truth.

  “My love, we have no powers when it comes to love,” he said quietly. “How are we to know, or even control, when Cupid may or may not approach? The feelings of the heart are timed only by God. If we were to be given such control, the world would never discover love's true magic, for it comes to us by fate, by chance. If I have learned anything from this time with you, it would be this fact!”

  The princess turned away and walked quickly to the castle.

  “Love is patient. Love is understanding,” continued the knight. “Though I have found and lost its magic before, I know that I will never lose these feelings which I hold for you. I shall always be there for you, my love. Always!” sounded the knight.

  “And I, for you,” whispered the princess as she ran inside. “I, for you.”