The Taking of the Moon Maiden Ch. 04

"You think this does no change our bargain? I think we best talk tomorrow. For now you sleep, I will return later to you." He rose from the bed and looked to Daniel to follow him from the tent.

Daniel and Ronen stood outside the tent quietly talking while Ronen found a close bucket of water and washed the smeared blood and their juices from himself.

Daniel explained that earlier he had found Hilda crying outside the tent, she refused to tell him why until the noises from the tent began to get louder.

Daniel smiled at Ronen and said, "You are a very noisy lover my friend." Ronen did not answer so Daniel continued.

Daniel explained that it wasn't until they heard Emmaline's cries that Hilda broke down and told Daniel that the woman was not the Lady Matilda, but her sister Lady Emmaline.

Before Daniel could figure how to best let Ronen know of the situation the sounds from the tent became loud enough that Daniel had no choice but interrupt Ronens pleasure and see to the maids suffering.

Ronen had just started to question Daniel on anything else Hilda had said, when the tent flap blew slightly open and the words in the tent could be heard clearly for a moment.

It was Hilda's voice sobbing her apology to Emmaline, "I am sorry, Emmaline. How will we fix this? What will your father do when he discovers our deceit? Will he force you back to Duncan? Maybe it would have been better to have stayed in your father's care?"

The two men outside the tent exchanged glances, obviously the two women were hiding more, than Emmaline's innocence.

"Hilda, don't ever say that again. Duncan often told me of cruel things he was going to do to me. Things that I could never repeat and Ronen could never imagine."

Before Daniel could register Emmaline's words and interpret their meaning, Ronen had marched into the tent, the rage in his eyes the only emotion on his face. The thought that there was a man that had tortured his Emmaline with words of cruel lust was driving nails through his brain.

"I will ask you this again, and I expect an answer who is Duncan?" He asked with a raspy voice as he could barely breathe.

"You will find out this spring when he comes to take me from you."

Emmaline's answer floored Ronen, "no one is taking you from me. Your father is coming to sign the wedding contracts. He is not bringing anyone named Duncan. It would not matter if he did, NO one is taking you from me."

"I do not want to speak of it. I just want to be left alone." Emmaline's words were so soft; Ronen had to strain to her whispered plea.

"Please everyone just leave me be." Emmaline turned her face away from Ronen and let out a little sob. Ronen walked over to Emmaline and softly pushed her hair from her face. "Rest love, I will protect you from now on."

He kissed her cheek and left her to sleep. She yawned and snuggled amongst the skins, letting the healers potion drift her into slumber.

Ronen took Hilda by the arm and led her from the tent. "We will talk tomorrow. For now see to the bairn. I will take care of My women tonight." Ronen had raised his hand to silence Hilda when she went to interrupt him.

"Go now; do what I say." Hilda turned to find Moira and keep her to rest with Hilda for the night.

"You know this changes everything?" Daniel's voiced what Ronen had been thinking.

"You married the Lady Emmaline in good faith. Earl de la Humes, can no take her from her. Since the Lady Matilda is dead, the King may even make 'Earl de la Humes' honor his previous bargain and give you the promised lands. As the Lady Emmaline's husband you can grant her wish and keep her father from her person. But no court in the land will deny 'Earl de la Humes' right to the lass Moira."

Ronen sighed his frustration at Daniel. "I know what this means. I know what this means to my woman, and I know what it means to our marriage as well." Ronen wished there could be another way, but he could not see one.

"If she would but trust me enough to tell me why she does not wish for her or the lass Moira to see her father? She will not even trust me enough to tell me who this Duncan is that her father is bringing that she fears so. If she will not do this, how can I help her?"

Daniel watched Ronen turn and walk towards the tent. Daniel wondered if Ronen had noticed how quickly he had accepted that the girl he believed to be the Lady Matilda was not the Lady Matilda at all, but the Lady Emmaline?

Daniel watched as the camp members moved quietly preparing for sleep. He half noticed Gert talking to Lomas as he yawned, Daniel needed rest.

Worry seemed to rob him of his sleep he thought when she passed in his line of vision towards the unmarried women's tent. He knew her even in the shadow. Worry and thoughts of her had robbed him of his sleep as much as worry over Ronen. Thoughts of his woman, thoughts of Llewath.