Robert and Rosalyn had been fencing again. They were in Rosalyn's backyard and now sat together on a swing, gently swaying as they rested. They were still breathing hard from teh fight, but they had smiles strung across their lips. Robert kicked absentl-mindedly at the ground, making the swing sway more.
"Ha, that was a good bout, lady," he said randomly, trying to break the silence.
"Yeah," said Rosalyn, her smile growing. "Can we have an encore?"
Robert shrugged, still looking straight ahead at the two wooden swords idly resting on the lawn. "Could be...Probably. You weren't going to give up now, were you?"
"Me? No," she said. She shifted position to be a little closer to Robert. "I'm just getting started." She slowly and gently wrapped her arm around his shoulders.
Robert looked at her in mild surprise. "Oh? Good," he said, oblivious to her tone. "Shall I get my sword, then?"
"You already have it, don't you?"
"No, it's--" he began, but Rosalyn kissed him and thus cut off the sentence. "But I--" he tried again when he was released and got kissed yet again. Robert pushed Rosalyn away as gently as he could, but still firmly. "It's nice, but I really can't--" he began.
Rosalyn grinned. "Do you want me to try again?"
Robert froze. "Ye--n--I," He stuttered. There was a long pause as both waited for the answer to come. Finaly,"My lady, you have stolen kisses from me before, and you still have not learned that stealing is wrong."
Rosalyn looked at him sweetly with wide eyes.
"And yet," he continued hastily, "you are the only thief I know of who can make a man glad he's been robbed, and right under his nose no less."
"I could return to you all I have stolen, plus interest," Rosalyn suggested.
Robert slid to teh very edge of the swing, finally realizing Rosalyn's full intent. "And you would steal more, and break what cannot be repaired in the process," he accused.
Rosalyn's shoulders fell in disappointment. "Robert, my knight, what are you afraid of?" she asked.
"Me? I am afraid of nothing that I can't face," Robert declared, pressing himself as flatly as he could against the armrest of the swing. "I'm a knight at heart, like you said. But I cannot--I will not--"
"Then why do you fear me, Robert? If you fear nothing, let's go."
"I will not."
"If you truly love me, as Lancelot loved Guinevere, then why do you hesitate so?" Rosalyn scooted closer to Robert and put her hand on his leg.
Robert slid off the swing and stood up, staggering away. "That was not true love!" he exclaimed in a strained, high voice. "And see where it got them! I would not have that, not for you, not for me!"
"But Robert, I want it! There's no one around, it's a really nice day, and I love you. I'm sick of just stealing kisses. I want more. I want you to love me," Rosalyn complained.
Robert whimpered helplessly. "I...I do love you, and that's why I won't," he said with struggle written across his face. "Rosalyn, you're...You're impossible. I don't know how to reply to you, I mean...You taught me what a knight should be and if it weren't for that, I would, but... And yet, here you are, asking me to... I won't. A knight must be strong, even when his lady fails," he tried.
"Lancelot wasn't."
"Yes, well, Lancelot... He's no role model, that's certain. Rosalyn, here I must be stron and protect you. A knight must protect his lady, even from himself. You are a virgin, Rosalyn, and I cannot violate that, and I won't let anyone else, either. It is one of the noblest things a lady can be, and you, Rosalyn, are teh most noble of ladies in my sight. I will not spoil it, and there are other risks...I mean, supposing someone found out? Then were would your reputation be, my lady?" Robert explained.
Rosalyn stood up and advanced on him. "But, Robert, I don't care. I'm going to have to stop being a virgin some day--" she began.
"When you're married," Robert muttered under his breath.
"--And that day may as well be today, and I want it to be with you." She embraced him warmly and gave him a long, passionate kiss. He took it in turn, gingerly wrapping his arms around her, finding it impossible to fight her. They remained in the embrase even when the kiss had ended. "Don't you want that, too, Robert?"
Robert looked into her eyes. He shook his head. "I won't lie to you," he said. "I do want it, oh, how I do, but we can't. I won't hurt you; I won't take anything away from you. It is against all that you have taught me, and all that I now stand for. I want you to save that passion; you'll need it someday, for your husband. A lady must save her passion for her lord."
Rosalyn's eyes glossed, now very moist indeed, and she looked up at him desperately. "But I want you to be my lord, Robert."
"And that may well come to be," Robert said sweetly, in a voice of sugar. "But it is not so now. Wait, my lady, and your reward will come."
"You?"
"If that is how fate plays it."
"And you will wait for me?"
"Always, my lady."
"Then may I have another kiss?"
"Yes, and you won't need to steal this one. I give it to you my lady, an innocent kiss of innocent love," Robert said, and kissed her long and hard, almost anything but innocent
"Nice..."said Rosalyn, her sly smile spreading across her face triumphantly.
"Shall we fence," Robert asked, a new edge to his voice.
"En garde," Rosalyn agreed, and they innocently fenced.
(c) 2002, Angela Cox
