Chapter 57 We were basking in the midsummer's day sunshine,
Reluctantly deciding it might be a good idea to pack everything up and return to my cottage for something to eat and a rest following the revels of the night,
When I first noticed them approaching.
Something struck a chord in my heart,
Although at the time I could not understand why,
But I suddenly felt chilled in the warmth of the sun and glanced around,
Grateful to be surrounded by so many friends,
Although they were all inside the chapel at the time.
There were four of them,
Dressed in black,
Big men the sort I felt with a shiver you would not wish to encounter on a dark night.
The gate clicked as one by one they entered the enclosure and stood gazing silently at the chapel,
Then the eyes of the biggest and the blackest alighted on me,
Sitting alone on the wooden bench.
I shrank before his gaze as something inside me shriveled up,
Fighting the urge to run,
Wanting to call out to Dan,
To anyone who might come to my rescue,
But I was frozen in time,
Trapped in a moment which had its roots centuries before and was unable to drag my eyes away.
It must have been the blood pounding in my head or my heart beating,
But I could have sworn I heard the sound of hoofbeats and the call of a bird in the distance reminded me of voices crying in the night.
He glanced around again and I noticed the tattoos upon his forearms,
Dragons writhing and twisting,
As he took out a roll-up,
Which he slowly lit,
And took one long deep drag,
A look of satisfaction crossing his face.
Johan.
Why I called Johan at that point I never knew,
But he was the first to come into my mind.
Johan,
I repeated,
Panic beginning to grip me,
Although I was trying not to show it.
I rose to my feet,
Aware I was still alone,
And then the man spoke.
Awesome place,
He murmured.
He withdrew the roll-up from his lips,
Looked at me,
And then he laughed,
His blue eyes crinkling in his whiskery face,
The sound ringing around the valley.
Ain't it grand?
He turned to his companions,
Who nodded and began to advance towards me,
But the moment the first man had spoken I knew there was no danger,
For it was as if the clouds had rolled away,
Revealing the bright,
Shining sunlight.
Art.
Johan appeared from the chapel,
A look of delight upon his face.
How you doing,
Mate?
Art gave Johan a manly hug which almost crushed him.
Brought the lads,
Just like you said.
The lads,
Almost but not quite as burly as Art,
Nodded,
Appearing to be men of few words.
Johan turned to me,
His face alight with excitement and pride.
This is Arthur,
He began,
But everyone calls him Art,
And this,
He gestured towards me proudly,
Is Rowena.
Johan ushered me forwards and Art took my hand gently in his.
Charmed,
I'm sure,
He murmured softly,
And his blue eyes twinkled.
Will,
Sean and Stu,
Art gestured towards the others,
Who only moments before had appeared so dark and foreboding,
Now smiling and handsome in the morning sunlight.
Young Johan here asked us to look over,
Seems you need a few jobs doing,
Clearing and such like,
And we'll be glad to help out.
He grinned,
We've plenty of muscle between us and do a fair bit of this sort of thing,
Clearing land,
Felling trees,
All for the good of the environment of course,
Call ourselves the Green Knights we do,
Although afraid we're dressed in black today on account of being at the re-enactment last night,
But we're ever so nice really,
But for you,
For a friend of Johan's and for this awesome place.
He took another drag,
Gazing around as if he was unable to believe how lovely everything was.
We're happy to help you out for nothing,
Be a pleasure.
I did not know what to say,
But could only do what I had done so many times in the past,
Invite them in and offer them refreshment,
Which they gratefully accepted.
I really think we must be getting back now,
I commented,
After the Green Knights had met everyone and appeared more than impressed with the Maidens.
Great,
Isn't it,
Commented Johan.
We were sitting together on the bench once again and I felt a sudden rush of gratitude towards him.
Johan,
I began,
You've done so well,
You've found the lost Maidens and you've brought the Green Knights,
Although I must admit I was pretty scared for a few moments when they first appeared,
But you've brought them here to help me with the work which needs doing.
I just don't know how to thank you.
Oh,
It's alright,
You know I'd do anything for you.
Johan looked shy and I put my arms around him,
Giving him a hug and a big kiss on the cheek,
Making him blush even more.
I'll tell you what,
I began,
All this talk of duty and feeling you have to do the right thing,
Well you've fulfilled your duty as far as I'm concerned and now I think you should be free to do whatever you want in life,
Whether it's being a solicitor or a builder or a brain surgeon or.
.
.
As it happens,
Interrupted Johan with a slight smile,
I've been thinking of doing something along the lines of art and his mates,
Maybe to help the environment,
You know even change my college course or possibly take an apprenticeship,
But to do with protecting the land and making sure it's treated the right way.
And art says I can help them out any time,
What do you think?
Oh Johan,
I gave him another hug,
It's a brilliant idea and just the sort of thing I can imagine you doing.
Dan'll be delighted,
You know how he loves the countryside.
Come on everyone,
Time to get home.
Cornelius's voice broke the moment and I rose from the bench,
Feeling everything I ever wished for had come true all at the same time.
Picking up our stuff,
We made our way back along the valley,
A long struggling line of maidens,
Knights and guardians,
Until we reached the church car park where Johan had left his car and art and the green knights their vehicle,
A huge black 4x4 gleaming in the sunlight.
But on the ground beside it lay three bicycles and,
To our horror,
Three youths attempting to break into the truck.
Oi!
It was Mawenna who spotted them first and broke away from the rest of us,
Running towards the car park.
Stop them,
She yelled,
It's the yobs who took our stuff.
The youths looked up,
Grinning smugly at the sight of her.
Then their smiles faded as art appeared,
Surprisingly nimble on his feet,
Followed by the rest of the green knights.
Not so fast,
Art's arms shot out and grabbed the largest of the lads around the neck.
And what do you think you're doing,
Eh?
The youth wriggled and squirmed,
But it was no use,
And then the others were firmly captured by Stu and Sean,
While Will checked to see if any damage had been done.
It's them,
Repeated Mawenna,
Jabbing her finger,
Eyes wild with rage.
Tamsin and Demelza nodded in agreement.
What did they do?
Questioned Sean.
Stole our food,
Our map,
Our cups,
Tamsin glared at them,
Left us in the middle of nowhere with nothing to eat or drink and no way of finding our way.
Not a very nice thing to do,
Was it?
Asked art,
And the lad he was holding shook his head mutely.
I think,
Said Will,
After discovering no real damage had been done,
They'd better come along with us for a bit,
Don't you?
Art nodded thoughtfully,
Nothing else for it,
He agreed.
Stu glanced at me and winked,
Don't worry,
He said,
We'll sort them out.
