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but there was no need. Although the audience was regretful, not even the king insisted. However, he again came down from his chair of state to speak to Rhiannon. Simon could not quite get through the crowd to reach them, but he was quite close enough to see Henry give Rhiannon a beautiful ring from his own finger and hear him again try to convince her to join the court. |
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Rhiannon shook her head slowly, making her heavy, jewel-laden earrings swing and flash. "I could not, even if I so wished, my lord." |
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"You mean because Simon's lands are in Wales? But that is nothing. I can give him" |
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"No, indeed," Rhiannon interrupted emphatically. "It is nothing to do with Simon. I love my father, but I could never abide even his court for very long. I need the empty space, the hills, and the forests. My lord, you may catch and cage a lark and it may livebut it will never sing. If you leave me free, I will return to you, often and gladly, for you love in your heart what I do. That is a sure lure and the mead I crave far more than this precious ring you have given me. I beg you, do not try to cage me." |
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"But if you go back to your hills, it will be very long before you come again, no matter how willingly." |
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"And that would be a very great loss to us all," the Bishop of Winchester added smoothly to Henry's protest. "We must find such inducements as will make our Welsh lark desire to nest in an English meadow. Larks fly high, but they do not stray from their nests. Thus, Lady Rhiannon may be free and we may still hear her sing." |
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Rhiannon would have stepped back, away from the black eyes that transfixed her, but a hard body blocked her move, and a hard hand encircled her arm. She uttered a soft, shocked cry, but before she could pull away from the restraint she feared, Simon's voice identified the man behind her. |
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