kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第63部分

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he　could　get。　Hugging　her　arms　across　her　breast；　she　stared　blindly　out　the　window　for　several　seconds；　her　long　hair　cloaking　her　to　her　knees。　When　first　she　tried　to　speak；　her　voice　broke。　Embarrassed；　she　turned　the　strangled　sound　into　a　nervous　cough。
〃Do　I　…　correctly　discern　a　proposal　of　marriage？〃　she　managed　to　ask　at　last。
〃You　do；〃　Kelson　replied。
〃And　does　the　king　truly　ask；　or　does　he　mand？〃　she　whispered　bitterly。　〃If　I　refuse；　will　he　take　me　by　force？〃
Kelson　managed　a　mirthless　smile；　choosing　to　ignore　the　jibe。
〃Here；　in　front　of　witnesses；　my　lady？〃　he　said　lightly。　〃And　a　bishop；　at　that？〃
〃A　Deryni　bishop；〃　she　countered；　lifting　her　chin　defiantly；　〃who　has　already　bent　my　brother　to　your　will。　Why　should　he　not　do　the　same　to　me；　if　you　desire　it？　Or　you　could　do　it　if　you　wished。　We　have　heard　how　you　won　your　crown　with　black　magic。〃
Duncan　glanced　at　the　king　indignantly；　but　Kelson　shook　his　head；　his　own　denial　already　forming　on　his　lips。
〃Do　you　truly　believe　I　would　force　you　into　marriage？〃　he　asked　softly。　〃Or　that　a　bishop　would　countenance　it；　much　less　be　part　of　such　coercion？〃
〃You　are　Deryni　…　both　of　you。　I　do　not　know　what　you　might　do。〃
〃I　would　not　use　any　power　at　my　mand；　whether　physical　or　Deryni；　to　force　you　to　an　act　against　your　conscience；　Sidana。　Marriage　is　a　sacrament。　That　means　something　to　me　…　something　very　important。　But　also　important　is　what　our　marriage　might　mean　to　our　two　lands：　an　end　to　the　bloodshed　over　disputes　of　succession；　peace　in　our　time。　Is　the　thought　of　being　a　queen　so　abhorrent　to　you？〃
She　bowed　her　head；　her　shoulders　shaking　silently　for　just　a　moment。
〃What　of　my　parents？〃　she　asked　at　last。　〃And　my　brothers？〃
Kelson　glanced　at　the　motionless　Llewell　and　sighed。　〃I　would　offer　Llewell　the　opportunity　to　renounce　his　rights　to　the　Mearan　titles　your　family　claims。　Once　I　had　his　parole；　I　would　honor　him　with　all　the　estate　appropriate　to　the　brother　of　my　queen。〃
〃And　Ithel？　My　mother　and　father？〃
〃I　know　what　you　desire　to　hear；〃　he　replied；　〃but　I　cannot　offer　you　any　false　hopes。　One　way　or　another；　if　there　is　to　be　a　lasting　peace；　I　must　break　the　succession　ahead　of　you　so　that　there　will　be　no　question　of　the　right　of　our　heirs　to　rule　both　Gwynedd　and　Meara。　The　fate　of　your　parents　and　your　brothers　is　dependent　upon　their　further　actions。　I　do　not　seek　their　lives；　but　I　shall　not　hesitate　to　take　them　if　it　will　save　hundreds；　perhaps　thousands　of　others。〃
〃I　see。〃
Slowly　she　glanced　at　her　brother　and　moved　listlessly　to　the　window　itself；　laying　both　hands　flat　against　the　glass　as　she　gazed　out　at　the　freedom　of　the　hills　beyond　Rhemuth；　white…bronze　in　the　dying　sun。
〃I　have　no　true　options；　then；〃　she　said　after　a　few　seconds。　〃Whether　or　not　I　refuse　you；　my　family　is　doomed；　as　is　my　country。　We　posture　grandly；　but　we　are　a　small　land　pared　to　Gwynedd　…　and　human。　We　cannot　stand　against　the　might　of　a　Deryni　overlord。　I　have　known　that　all　along；　I　suppose。　Our　cause　was　lost　before　it　began；　even　if　my　mother　would　not　recognize　it。　And　regardless　of　what　I　do；　I　know　the　rest　of　my　family　will　die。　They　will　not　surrender。〃
〃Then；　think　of　your　people；〃　Kelson　murmured；　standing　slowly　to　gaze　at　her　and　wishing　he　could　offer　further　fort。　〃Is　it　so　terrible　to　be　the　instrument　of　peace？　Could　you　not　find　some　contentment　in　being　queen？〃
〃Queen　of　a　land　besides　my　own　…　〃
〃Queen　of　a　land　which　enpasses　your　own；〃　Kelson　amended。　〃And　wife　to　a　man　who　would　do　his　utmost　to　make　you　happy。〃
〃In　a　marriage　of　state　and　convenience；　wed　to　the　enemy　of　my　people；〃　she　replied；　lowering　her　eyes。　〃A　pawn　in　the　game　of　dynasties　and　kings；　as　has　ever　been　the　fate　of　women。〃
〃As　has　ever　been　the　fate　of　kings　as　well；　my　lady。〃
Trembling；　Kelson　removed　his　circlet　and　set　it　aside；　sinking　to　one　knee　behind　her。　He　longed　to　reach　out　to　her；　to　touch　even　one　strand　of　the　shimmering　hair　but　he　was　too　nervous；　all　too　conscious　of　Duncan　sitting　silently　to　his　right；　with　Llewell　sprawled　quiet　but　aware　across　his　lap。
〃I　am　…　as　much　a　pawn　in　this　as　you；　Sidana；〃　he　continued　softly。　〃Father　Duncan　will　tell　you　that　I　always　hoped　to　marry　for　love；　or　at　least　affection；　but　I　have　also　always　known　that　dynastic　considerations　must　e　before　personal　desires；　when　eventually　I　took　a　wife。〃
He　cleared　his　throat　nervously。　〃Still；　even　a　marriage　of　state　can　be　one　of　at　least　contentment。　I　cannot　promise　that　you　will　be　happy　if　you　marry　me。　I　do　give　you　my　word　as　a　king　and　as　a　man　that　I　will　deal　fairly　with　you；　and　try　with　all　my　might　to　be　a　kind　and　gentle　husband　…　and　pray　that　love　might　grow　between　us　in　time。　Perhaps　it　is　not　all　you　would　have　wished　for　…　it　is　not　all　I　would　have　wished　for　…　but　it　is　all　I　have　to　offer。　Will　you　at　least　consider　my　proposal？〃
For　a　long　moment　she　did　not　move；　and　he　was　sure　she　would　refuse。　Against　all　prudence；　he　reached　out　with　his　mind　and　read　a　little　of　her　turmoil：　helpless　anger　mixed　with　duty　and　honor　and　just　a　hint　of　passion；　which　gave　him　cause　to　hope。
Withdrawing；　for　her　emotions　were　too　intense　to　bear　for　long；　read　unbidden　and　without　her　knowledge；　he　raised　a　hand　to　brush　one　errant　chestnut　lock　caught　in　a　fold　of　her　gown；　intending　to　beseech　her　further。　Its　touch　was　like　captive　lightning；　jarring　him　so　profoundly　that　he　nearly　gasped。　As　if　stung；　he　jerked　back　his　hand　and　stared　up　at　her　face　set　in　profile　against　the　darkening　glass；　swaying　a　little　on　his　knees。　He　dared　not　allow　the　thoughts　which　went　coursing　through　his　mind；　but　he　could　not　stop　them。　If　she　continued　to　refuse；　he　knew　the　possibility　of　force　was　not　wholly　ruled　out；　regardless　of　what　he　had　said　before。
He　was　saved　from　himself　by　Sidana's　own　action；　however。　After　a　few　seconds；　though　she　still　did　not　look　at　him；　her　right　hand　dropped　to　her　side　and　opened。
〃I　will　marry　you；〃　she　whispered；　a　tear　at　last　trickling　down　her　cheek。
Reverently；　not　daring　to　speak　for　fear　of　changing　her　mind。　Kelson　took　her　hand　and　kissed　it；　damping　the　surge　of　relief　and　pleasure　which　coursed　through　him　anew　at　her　touch。　Even　so；　she　felt　some　of　it。　As　he　turned　her　hand　to　press　his　Ups　against　her　palm；　he　felt　her　shudder。　He　rose　with　new　confidence；　keeping　her　hand　in　his　as　he　turned　awkwardly　toward　Duncan。
〃Will　you　witness　the　lady's　consent；　Father？〃
Nodding；　Duncan　shifted　Llewell　to　a　sitting　position　and　stood；　laying　his　priestly　hands　on　their　joined　ones。　Llewell　stirred　slightly　and　opened　his　eyes；　but　could　not　seem　to　summon　sufficient　will　to　do　more。
〃Have　you　a　date　in　mind。　Sire？〃
〃Twelve　days　hence；　at　Epiphany。〃
〃A　fitting　day　to　crown　a　queen；〃　Duncan　said　gently；　with　a　passionate　smile　for　the　trembling　princess。　〃Sidana　of　Meara；　do　you　promise　and　covenant；　of　your　own　free　will　and　desire；　to　contract　honorable　marriage　with　Kelson　of　Gwynedd　twelve　days　hence；　according　to　the　rites　of　our　Holy　Mother　the　Church？〃
Her　eyes　brimmed　with　tears；　but　she　swallowed　and　gave　a　quick　dip　with　her　chin。
〃I　do　promise　and　covenant　it；　so　help　me　God。〃
〃Kelson　of　Gwynedd；　do　you　promise　and　covenant；　of　your　own　free　will　and　desire；　to　contract　honorable　marriage　with　Sidana　of　Meara　twelve　days　hence；　according　to　the　rites　of　our　Holy　Mother　the　Church？〃
〃I　do　promise　and　convenant　it；　so　help　me　God；〃　Kelson　said　steadily。
〃Then　I　do　witness　and　affirm　that　a　contract　to　marry　has　been　solemnized　between　Sidana　of　Meara　and　Kelson　of　Gwynedd；　to　be　joined　in　holy　matrimony　twelve　days　hence；　according　to　the　rites　of　our　Holy　Mother　the　Church。　The　banns　shall　be　published　on　the　morrow。　And　this　covenant　shall　be　as　binding　as　the　vows　of　matrimony；　and　shall　not　be　put　asunder。〃　He　made　the　sign　of　the　Cross　over　their　joined　hands。　〃In　the　name　of　the　Father　and　of　the　Son　and　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　Amen。〃
＇＇＇ She　drew　her　hand　away　at　that；　to　turn　and　sink　sob…〃mg　to　the　cushions　by　the　window。　Kelson　would　have　tried　to　fort　her；　but　Duncan　shook　his　head　and　summoned　Meraude　and　Richenda　instead；　telling　them　briefly　what　had　happened　before　leading　Llewell　and　Kelson　out　of　the　room。　The　dazed　Llewell　he　placed　in　the　custody　of　a　guard；　to　be　returned　to　his　own　quarters。
Kelson　he　led　back　to　the　royal　apartments；　where　Morgan；　Dhugal；　and　Nigel　waited。　There　he　and　Kelson　told　them　what　had　been　decided；　and　the　king　manded　preparations　to　go　forward。


CHAPTER　NINETEEN
I　merry　heart　doeth　good　like　a　medicine：　but　a　broken　spirit　drieth　the　bones。
Proverbs　17：22
During　the　week　and　a　half　that　followed。　Kelson　avoided　all　further　contact　with　his　bride…to…be；　hopeful　that　time　for　reflection　would　win　her　to　less　tearful　acceptance　of　both　their　duties。　Richenda's　continued　presense　proved　a　godsend；　for　Sidana　soon　preferred　her　pany　over　that　of　any　other　lady　at　court；　despite　the　undisguisable　fact　that　Richenda　was　wife　to　a　Deryni。　Kelson　did　not　ask　whether　Richenda　had　helped　the　relationship　along　in　any　extraordinary　way；　the　knowledge　that　his　own　wooing　had　been　acplished　wit