Page 49 of Chivalry in the Meadow
These men are just playacting. None of this was real.
She dropped her aching forehead into her hands as she moaned. “Oh, Lilly, why did you talk me into this weekend? What was I thinking? Life isn’t a fairy tale.” she said morosely, wanting to believe, but knowing fairy tale like things never happened to her.
“Because you can’t sit around waiting for the love of your life to swoop in to carry you off,” Lilly said with a shake of her head. “And because this weekend is supposed to be fun for you and me.”
But that’s exactly what Mia had been doing before this weekend. Passively waiting for her prince to arrive.
“Why not? We’re surrounded by knights in shining armor,” Lilly said. “Two of them seem to be interested in you, so maybe one of them will carry you off into happy ever after.”
Usually, it was Mia carrying this line of thought, but right now she just didn’t have it in her. She was surprised that Lilly had picked the fairytale up and was carrying it for her, as if it was something important to Mia that she had dropped.
Lilly usually the practical one. She’d had to become practical after her mother died when she was young, and she’d become the one to cook and to look after her other siblings, to help her father. The eldest, she’d become mature at an early age.
The only time she cut loose was with Mia. And Mia didn’t know what she would do without her. Lilly was the best friend she had ever had.
“I’m not saying it can’t be one of them,” Lilly said. “But you expect the perfect man to drop into your lap without lifting a single finger. That’s not going to happen. You must let the guy know you’re interested. Try to get to know him. See if things can grow from there.”
“They’re all just,” Mia sighed. “So intimidating. And being argued over makes me want to run away from them.”
“But it hasn’t made you run,” Lilly pointed out. “You’ve stood still and handled it well.”
“It’s not exciting, the way it is in my books,” Mia said. “This rivalry between them. There’s something which feels bad about it. Something is off here, between these knights.”
“Really?” How would you know this,” Lilly said. “I think you’re letting your imagination run you into a different direction than usual. Think what are the facts.”
Mia took a deep breath. “The facts are, I went to the barn, was going there to see the horses, but then I heard Sir Cedric and Sir Alaric talking in the barn, so I hid.”
“Mia!” Lilly exclaimed. “You didn’t!”
“I did,” she said. “And I could hear them. They really don’t like each other. It’s not all for show. In fact, it’s probably the truest thing they’ve showed us. And they’re both interested in me. I feel like I’m accidentally stepped into some kind of private war.”
“Now youarebeing fanciful,” Lilly said. “These guys are hired to come here and act like they’re at war, play acting. They may both be interested in you and that’s causing friction, but I very much doubt there is some kind of actual war going on.”
“Well, I don’t like the way it makes me feel,” Mia said. “Like some prize thing to be won and lorded over the other man.”
“Then let them know that, and tell them to stop,” Lilly said.
She made it sound so easy. Her practical advice always did.
“I’ll try,” Mia said. “It’s so hot in here. I need to cool down.”
Mia stood up and removed her sweaty skirt, chemise and bodice. Standing in her underwear had never felt so good.
“We need more air. This unusually warm spring day would make anyone cranky, and no wonder you have a headache. Keep drinking your water.” Lilly cracked the back flap on the tent, on the side which faced the woods, so any breeze might enter.
“Thanks,” Mia said. “I don’t know why I thought this tent would be cooler. But then I’ve never stayed in a tent before.”
“I thought it would too,” Lilly said. She’d undressed down to her underwear. She pulled all the water bottles out of the cooler and took the cooler out through the back tent flap.
Mia assumed Lilly was going to dump the water. “I guess you’re not worried anyone will see you in your underwear,” she called as she started giving herself a fast sponge bath with a couple of bottles full of water.
The cool water felt so good on her overheated skin.
“Nope, not back here,” Lilly called back. Then she shrieked and Mia heard water being dumped on the ground.
“Anyone who heard you will come running,” Mia said as Lilly stepped back inside, soaking wet, and carrying the empty cooler.
“Well, that’s one way to cool down,” Mia said with a laugh.
