Chapter 37 - The Maiden and the Knight

Something in that voice gave Lex the certainty that it would happen, tonight. He didn't lie, he'd come to kill her. She pushed the curtain away from the bed with the rosary in her hand and faced the man.

All he saw was the warrior with long tousled dark hair and beard, his armor covered in blood, and the bloody sword in his hand.

Dark eyes scanned her as Lex knelt in front of him, slowly, and looked into his face, not really seeing the person, just what he meant.

"Warrior, then come and set me free. I can't stand being with the living anymore, if it's Heavenly will, set me free from my torment, I beg you."

She then closed her eyes and bowed her head, awaiting the coup de grace.

That didn't come.

Then Lex opened her eyes to face him and saw the warrior in the same spot, standing with his sword ready but still staring back at her.

"Knight, set my soul free, I beg," but this time, if Lex was honest with herself, her desire to give her life was a little less intense.

"Sire, sire, don't do it, don't do it!" they both heard a trembling, loud voice interrupt them, and Alexa turned to see the puffy, brave entrance of the old deaf woman, who threw herself beside her, on her knees as well,

"Sire, sire, take this useless old woman instead, not this holy girl!"

"Is she really a woman? Aren't you a man?" he turned to Lex again,

"Poor girl, this unfortunate soul only bear pain in this world, she has lived in this room for a year, look at the shackles at her feet, sir! Someone gave her a man's name, but she's a perfect girl, and is a maiden indeed! She defended her virtue with her own strength! Only God's protection explains this miracle, sir, that she was not touched by sin here in this den of debaucheries. Nothing touched her, not even a mosquito touched her! It's not her fault, it's them trying to corrupt her day and night, to no avail!"

Lex was less impressed by the all bullshit said so sincerely by the deaf nurse than by discovering that she really wasn't deaf at all! 'How shameless! She wasn't even deaf! ' the maiden was looking at the old woman in amazement. But when the man told the old maid to shut up, something in Lex chest imploded and the maiden just started crying, crying nonstop, still not understanding what was going on.

The unknown warrior broke his chain with his sword and picked her up, as if the maiden weighed the same as a feather, and pulled Lex out of her prison.

Lex saw nothing but blurs on her way out of Palazzo Ottieri. It just seemed that her dream was real, and a Divine Judgment had fallen upon the place of debauchery. She stuck her face in the stranger's neck, wanting to avoid seeing the angry or upset Shades she would inevitably see in the massacre.

When she returned to herself, the maiden realized that she was inside a church. It was still night, and the man still protected her with a hug. Lex didn't know she had so many tears inside her.

"Sire!" She noticed that he was staring at the altar. More than that, he was in deep prayer.

Her body looked light, and she realized it was because she no longer had to drag a chain. It made her so happy! She looked again at the altar, and the man beside her.

To be honest, he reeked.

He reeked of sweat and blood. But he seemed so calm in his prayer! He really seemed in communion.

She stood for a moment from his side, and went to the holy water sink, tore off a piece of the her nightgown hem, and wet the cloth; then returned back to the warrior's side.

Without him asking or her getting permission, she began to wipe his face, which surprised him. He opened his eyes and frowned,

"What are you doing, milady?"

"Shhh! Don't you think He'd probably want to see your face without all this blood?" she scolded him lightly, continuing to wipe his forehead, cheeks, and beard as best she could. He patiently endured what seemed like a torment, then took both her hands in his. The girl realized that her hands simply disappeared into his.

"Why did they do this to you?" he asked, his strong English accent showing through each syllable.

It was a tricky question, but Lex knew she didn't want to die anymore. The depressing feeling had faded the moment this man had slammed that door open, freeing her from her prison.

"Maybe so we could meet, you and I," was her reply. It made sense then. Maybe they were destined.

He smiled after a while, and she saw his perfect teeth, thinking he should be as good a warrior as Michalis. He hugged her again and placed her beside him, covering her with his cloak, in the silent church.

The maiden probably dozed off as she awoke with the movement of his body and the creak of armor. But she was quiet, pretending to continue sleeping. He heard the deep voice speak low, as did the other.

"Did you get the madonna's money back?"

"Yes master, almost all the value. Here are 13,120 golden ducats, Sire. Should we return it to the bank?"

"No. This was the lady's ransom money. I will donate it to the Church."

"But, Master! "

"It is decided."

"Yes, Master."

"Has the Archbishop been notified?"

"He comes at dawn, Sire."

Lex opened an eye discreetly, trying to see the face of the Man with the money bag. She knew that because she was able to sniff the smell of gold anywhere. But honestly, that amount of money was too much for a church gift! 'I was the victim, can't he give me a part of it?!' the maiden wondered, quite outraged, pretending to yawn and wake up. The warrior released her from his embrace, still holding her wrapped around his cloak.

"Feeling good, milady? What should I call you? Alexios?"

"Please don't call me by a man's name anymore, it's just not right," she said, rubbing her eyes dramatically.

"Iain, provide a place."

"About that, Sire… Doge Farnese sent the guard to look for those who caused the…" the man with the gold sacks at his feet seemed to hesitate and look for words to soften the fact. The knight just said,

"Whatever. Let's wait for the Archbishop then. And turning to Lex, said, "Have patience, little one, it'll be all sorted out."

She nodded, curious about who he would be, but he was back in a contemplative state, or maybe wondering what to do. Alexa looked back at his hands, tanned from sun exposition and full of scars, and her heart filled with gratitude.

This stranger, this man-at-arms and with a heart hard enough to be a good warrior, had come to kill her, because she was the unholy madonna. It was the duty of a good Christian, apparently.

But he didn't kill her.

She held his hand tightly, wanting him to feel her gratitude. In fact, her throat was knotted out, and her chest hurt with emotion. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't express the gratitude that was in her chest.

"Milady, what do you think if we get married? Will you accept me as a husband?" the warrior's deep voice seemed to resonate inside the church, and Lex opened her eyes in astonishment.

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