I Will Be the Greatest Knight

Chapter 506: It’s Time

"Are you sure it’s alright for you to be out here like this?" Celia asked, glancing between the men on either side of her at the circular table. "I don’t want to overstep."

It was early in the evening, and Henry sat with his mother and Callum at the inn. They were enjoying a drink before the two would head back to Hydrogia the following day. It felt like the last few moments of warmth Chemois would experience as autumn drew near.

For now, Henry’s guilt was divided between Callum, his mother, and Irene, but they were more than understanding of all the time he had been hiding away in the guest house with his wife, who was deeply grieving.

"She’s asleep," Henry admitted, grasping his mug a bit more firmly. "In fact, she was the one who told me I should spend time with you before you leave. She also voiced her worries that she wasn’t doing her duties as a daughter-in-law by hiding away while you’re visiting, but I assured her you two are the least likely to worry over such a thing."

"I don’t mind at all," Callum was the first to say. "The loss of a knight like Arthur was felt even when he was merely stepping back from the knighthood."

Celia nodded before adding, "Make it up to me by visiting Hydrogia with Irene. I find her presence relaxing, and I want to get to know her more in depth, but I understand why right now isn’t a good time."

Henry laughed lightly at that.

"I think she will insist we go south considering Callum has put in Arne’s head that he wants to join the Knights of Hydrogia," Henry admitted. "I also have to get married in the King’s presence to make it recognized by the kingdom."

"I see you’re still not letting His Majesty make decisions for you," Callum observed as he took a sip of his ale.

"If he wants me to continue to act as the Duke for a place he neglected since it was absorbed by the kingdom, I would like to see him try to have an opinion on who I choose to marry," Henry admitted. "If I’m being honest, though, Irene is a wonderful choice for a wife based on Chemois’ hierarchy. A noble daughter from the greatest knight. Some might think I did this out of duty and not love."

"But we know that isn’t the truth," Celia added teasingly, reaching towards her son so she could pat his cheek.

"Mother..." Henry uttered, accompanied by a sigh.

Even as a duke and no longer a teenager, he couldn’t get out of his mother’s teasing. As much as he would prefer to stop her, he relented for now. She only had so many days with him anymore, after all.

"Sorry, I just can’t help myself," Celia gushed. "I thought I had seen you in love before, but apparently I hadn’t. You’re much sweeter now and far more protective. Such a beautiful woman is surrounded by knights all day, it’s no wonder you’re protective."

Henry and Callum exchanged looks. They both knew that Irene was far too rough around the edges for most knights to ever want to look in her direction. In fact, Henry was the only one who had been swayed by her in all her years of being involved with the knights, at least as far as anyone knew.

"Sure, mom," Henry relented.

He decided not to say that his protectiveness was because Irene threw herself into situations that could get someone killed. That was the job of being a knight, but now that he had put all this hope and dreams into this woman, it was hard to accept the fact that she put herself through difficult trials just as much as he did—if not more, considering all the stories he had heard from her.

However, the environment took on a more serious turn as Celia’s voice became quieter and she leaned closer to the table.

"Please just make sure she’s eating," she requested. "I remember how hard it was to eat after I lost your father. Those were dark days, but I have since found new ways to be happy."

She resisted glancing at Callum. It would be too obvious. Their long history that went into both of their childhoods was a story for another time.

"I will," Henry assured her. "I’ll do anything I can to bring her back down to earth and do what she loves, which is being with the other knights."

As the evening set in, the three realized it was time to get themselves together. Celia and Callum would be off very early. He wanted a good start to the day because the higher elevations were going to start getting cold, especially at this elevation.

The next day, Henry sent off his mother and former Commander and he returned to Irene to sleep for a little bit longer.

He couldn’t help observing her for a few moments before he settled in. How he missed her, but how bad he felt to voice it knowing she couldn’t help the mental strife of grief she was experiencing.

However, a few hours later when the sun was higher in the sky, Henry jumped when he felt a hand touch his chest. He was up with a start and staring down at Irene, wondering if something was the matter.

She had been awake for a half hour, ruminating over her experiences the past couple of weeks. There was a new clarity and it felt like the color had returned to her surroundings. Even though her father was not there, she had to continue to live for the people left all around her.

As Irene turned to her husband who slept next to her as always, she felt a tightness in her throat at the sight of him. He was so beautiful and so understanding. She hadn’t appreciated him nearly enough since the couple of wonderful days they had after their wedding.

The first words Irene said to Henry when he woke up, staring down at her with all the concern in the world as if she was injured, were, "I want to go home."

Henry rolled onto his side, and one arm slid under Irene while the other hugged her close to his chest.

All the worries that had been piling high within him had been chased away by just one sentence. He was so relieved that she wanted to move forward. These weeks had been difficult, but he knew they could do it together.