Gentle Warrior

Geoffrey was just leaving the stable when Elizabeth arrived. He did not acknowledge her, though he was immensely pleased that she had come in search of him. Already she seeks me out to give me her apology, he thought with satisfaction.

Her husband rode past her without a word, and that suited Elizabeth just fine. She didn't even give him more than a passing glare as she ordered her mare saddled for her.

Geoffrey was gone before she commanded the stable master to saddle her horse. The stable master incorrectly assumed that the lord had given his permission and hurried to do Elizabeth 's bidding. No doubt the master was waiting outside for his wife.

The doors to the walls were being pushed shut when Elizabeth galloped full speed through the narrow opening.

She would not ride far, she reasoned as she raced down the winding road, knew even in her anger and frustration how foolish it would be to take such a chance. No, she would only make a half-circle of the area, stay within sight of the walls for protection, where the outlaws would never dare to venture.

Geoffrey paused in his ride, heard the sound of horse and rider approach, and turned back. The sight of his wife riding at a neck-breaking pace down the winding road almost unsaddled him. A yell of fury escaped him before he remembered he was ignoring her, and he found he had to shake his head again at his own behavior. He goaded his stallion and took out after his wife, hoping to intercept her before she reached the narrow path only wide enough for one horse.

Elizabeth saw Geoffrey approach and braced herself for another confrontation. She pulled her mare to a stop, gasping for breath, and waited.

'You defy me again, wife,' Geoffrey bellowed when he was within earshot.

'I do not,' Elizabeth yelled back. 'You never-'

'Silence!' It was a roar she could not dismiss. She nodded agreement, finding herself quite afraid suddenly. The outlaws now seemed preferable to her husband, she thought a little desperately. Would he beat her? she wondered. The look in his eyes when he reached her side told her he was capable of it. Still, she did not think he would. It was a common enough practice for husbands to batter their wives into obedience, but Geoffrey was no common husband.

'You will not hit me.' Her calm statement was like a slap at Geoffrey's pride. Of course he would not, he almost yelled. He took a deep breath and grabbed the reins she clutched in her hands.

'I would not,' he admitted in a low voice. 'I am a reasonable man, Elizabeth, and reasonable men do not beat their wives. They may wish to, but they do not.'

He waited for her to absorb what he had just said and then continued, 'Now tell this reasonable man why you ride unescorted. Were you thinking to catch up with me?'

She dared not smile. Odd, but she wanted to, and realized her anger was gone. She saw the control he was seeking to maintain and decided that meekness was called for. The problem, of course, was that she wasn't sure if she knew how to show meekness. 'My answer, if I tell you the truth, will probably anger you,' she said with eyes downcast.

'Impossible,' Geoffrey contradicted. 'I cannot become any more angry. And you must always tell me the truth, Elizabeth.'

'Very well,' Elizabeth said with a sigh. 'I was not trying to catch you, Geoffrey. I just needed to ride, to feel free from my worries and my burdens for a time,' she admitted with a rush of honesty and an open gaze. 'I do not like yelling at you… or you yelling at me. It is most distressing for a new marriage.'

The intensity of her speech astonished him, pushing all residues of his anger aside.

'It is important that we try to keep our silence when we think harsh words. I learned that from my mother, Geoffrey. Elsewise this marriage will be most unpleasant. You would say things that you would later regret but then it would be too late. The hurt would have already been inflicted.' She graced him with a small smile then and added, 'Of course your words could not hurt me as I, I mean, we do not share a deep love like my parents. But if that is to happen, I mean… Oh, I make a mess with my explanation.' She busied herself with arranging her hair behind her shoulders, embarrassed that she had spoken such thoughts. It was too soon to tell him such things.

'It is your wish that we love each other?' He seemed amused at his question and Elizabeth thought that his eyes fairly sparked with arrogance.

'I did not mean that,' Elizabeth stammered. 'I only wish to get along with you, and not as your servant, Geoffrey. I am your wife and should stand beside you… not hovering somewhere in the background. I think your ideas about marriage most unusual.'

'This is my opinion of your views, wife. It is your ideas that are most unusual,' he argued in his defense. 'And it is because you are so very difficult to deal with that I find myself losing my patience. Think this will change when you are settled in my home?'

Elizabeth shrugged a reply. 'It would seem that you are the one with the problem, my lord, for you have just admitted that you have trouble keeping your patience.' She smiled at her logic and the expression on his face. 'I will be happy to help you overcome this problem,' she added, 'if you will allow it.'

'I am not the one with a problem,' Geoffrey responded. He smiled and said, 'You try to make me yell again, don't you? What is your aim?'

Elizabeth did not immediately answer. She lifted her shoulders and turned her gaze away from him.

'You bite the lion and chance being swallowed by him,' he said, rubbing his chin.

'And you are the lion, my lord?' Elizabeth asked, thinking to set another trap.

'I am,' Geoffrey acknowledged, seeing the sparkle in her eyes and wondering at the cause.

'Then that makes me your lioness, does it not?' she inquired with a soft voice.

'I had not considered it, but yes, it would make you my lioness,' he said with a chuckle.

'Interesting,' Elizabeth told her husband. 'Did you know that the lioness is the one who hunts and brings the food to her husband?'

'Only because he allows it,' Geoffrey stated with conviction.

'And will you allow it for this one day?' she asked.

Geoffrey frowned. 'What is it you ask of me?'

'To ride with me into the forest. I will hunt for you and fix your meal and then we will return to our duties.' And perhaps, she thought, you will tell me your plans for Belwain when we are alone and you are not distracted.

Geoffrey threw back his head and laughed, causing his mount to prance in agitation. 'You think you are so capable?'

Elizabeth nodded and he laughed all the more.

There was much work to be done, orders to be given, Geoffrey knew, weighing his responsibilities against the pleasure his wife was offering. Ah, but it was too good an opportunity to let pass by, Geoffrey decided with extreme smugness, this chance to show Elizabeth her limits as a woman.

'Lead the way, lioness,' he said, throwing the reins back to her. 'Your lion is hungry.'

Elizabeth laughed with delight, feeling very much like a child about to play a new game. All the problems would still be there when the game was ended, but the respite was welcome. For this one day, Elizabeth decided, she would rest from her burden. And show this arrogant husband a thing or two in the process.

She spurred her horse into motion, anticipation taking hold. Geoffrey stayed right behind her, letting her set the pace, as she rode into the forest, her golden hair flying with the wind behind her. He caught her laughter and found himself laughing too. Her enthusiasm was catching, he thought to himself, feeling a lightness of spirit he hadn't known he possessed.

Elizabeth finally grew tired of the race and pulled to a stop. She slid from her horse before her husband could reach her side. It was she who grabbed his hand and led him to a sturdy-looking tree and commanded him to sit and rest while she saw to their food.

He could not allow that and said as much. 'I will not interfere with your hunting but I must stay by your side. That is the way of it,' he added when he saw she was about to protest.

'Then do not make a sound or you will have no dinner,' she warned.

Geoffrey watched her take an arrow and position it against the string of the puny bow, and he could not contain himself. He started to laugh again. 'You intend to use that… toy to catch our game?' he asked. 'I do,'