Dream of Me/Believe in Me

It spun away on the cheers of the people and her own light heart, fading faster and faster until it was gone but for the faint wisp of mere memory. In its place was joy so great she thought if she just stepped a little more firmly, pushed a little harder against the restraining earth, she would soar right into the clouds. To prevent that, and simply because it felt so very good, she kept tight hold of Hawk. Escorted by the jovial throng, they walked the short distance to the great hall of the king, where they were engulfed in celebration.

Chapter NINETEEN

    S O NOW THEY WERE WED. THAT WAS FINE , just as he'd wanted it. A bit more complicated in the doing than he had imagined but done all the same. The second time for him but he wouldn't think of that. No memories would taint this union.
    Hawk ran a hand over his jaw, reassured himself it was still sufficiently smooth, and reached for the towel to dry his face. He was alone in the room he had occupied since coming to Winchester. Through the adjoining door, closed at the moment, he heard the laughter and fussing of the women who had escorted Krysta to her chamber. That he was alone was a feat of maneuvering in which he took just pride. With Alfred's connivance, he had slipped away from the bridal feast shortly after the bride herself took her leave surrounded by the ladies and flushing slightly from the ribald jokes that rose on air well scented with mead and ale. He wondered just then if she had reddened because the jokes embarrassed her or because she was restraining her laughter. With Krysta, he suspected the latter and was damned glad of it.
    His worthy lieutenants had held off the pack thattried to follow him and Hawk had made good his escape. Now he had nothing to do save wait. He glanced at the closed door and wondered how long. There was a flurry of sound and movement in the next room. The door to the passage opened, then closed. Quiet descended.
    The ladies were gone. That was good. Krysta no doubt awaited him. Also good, indeed he was profoundly relieved to be married to a woman he knew would not shirk the marriage bed. He'd just take a few more minutes to make sure he had himself under control. She was with child, after all. Never mind the burst of pride he felt at getting her that way so soon, he was still in a quandary about whether or not to tell her. On the chance that she had any fear of childbirth, he preferred to wait as long as possible. But she was an intelligent woman and she was likely to figure it out for herself. Whether she did or not, he was resolved to treat her with the utmost gentleness. It was astonishing that she and the baby both had survived the battering in the river, and he wanted no more chances taken with either.
    So he'd just wait. They had all the rest of their lives together. There was no point being in any hurry….
    The adjoining door flew open. Krysta stood there, barefoot, clad in a translucent shift of pure white silk, her glorious riot of hair tumbling over her shoulders, beaming the same winsome smile that never failed to make his heart catch. She looked like a very beautiful and very naughty pixie.
    “They're gone,” she exclaimed and flung herself into his arms. On tiptoe, dropping kisses along the curve of his jaw and at the corners of his mouth, she chanted, “Gone, gone, gone. We're alone!” Drawing back slightly, she bubbled on. “Wasn't the ceremony wonderful and the feast, I never imagined it would be so much fun. The jugglers were amazing and the acrobats, incredible! I'll never be able to thank Alfred and Eahlswith enough. AndAthelflad, to tell you the truth, I was a little intimidated at the idea of meeting her but she turned out to be so sweet. She says we must come and visit when we can. Her husband thinks the world of you, he goes on and on about how brilliant your campaigns have been. He was a little jealous that you got to kill Udell but he's over it now.”
    “Over it … ?” Surprised, and powerfully aroused by her nearness, Hawk struggled to grasp the torrent of words, failed, and promptly gave up. She was happy, that was enough. She was also tugging at his hand, leading him to the other room.
    “You have to see what they did. It's so lovely.”
    He paused at the threshold. The chamber was filled with candles, each flame a miniature sun gleaming in the softly shadowed darkness. Flowers were strewn across the floor so thickly that each footstep released their scent. The bed was hung with gossamer