Chapter 47: El Cid, the Death Knight [4] - Dona Chimene Diaz

Chapter 47: El Cid, the Death Knight [4] - Dona Chimene Diaz

Upon hearing his father's words, Rodrigo couldn't feel more blessed than he did at that moment. With a simple smile, he turned to the Emirs and walked towards the lean man.

"Do you solemnly pledge never again to attack King Ferdinand's country?"

"I do."

As soon as the Emir said that, Rodrigo pulled out a short dagger from his boots and cut the tied ropes open. Seeing Rodrigo ready to release them based solely on their words, the Emir couldn't help but look at Rodrigo in a new light.

Just imagine how many people are there who would do that? Rather than seeking fame, they would forgive the sinners. Either it would be foolishness or mere unbiased kindness. 'Yeah, he is a fool,' even Allen thought the same as he saw this happen.

The Emir, after being freed, gave a small smile. His eyes reflected utmost respect that he saw in Rodrigo.

"Among our people, we have a word for a warrior... with the vision to be just and the courage to be merciful."

"We call such a man, 'El Cid.'"

"I, Mu'tamin, Emir of Saragossa..."

"Pledge eternal friendship to the Cid of Vivar... and allegiance to his sovereign lord, King Ferdinand of Castile."

"May God strike the eyes from my head and the flesh from my bones if I ever break this pledge!"

Rodrigo couldn't help but smile as he heard this. He didn't doubt his judgment at the moment. Mu'tamin, who had pledged, thought it was right to kneel down in front of Cid, who was like a god figure as he had spared his life. Not hesitating even one bit, in the presence of the crowd, Mu'tamin knelt on the ground, showing his loyalty to his now new friend, the Cid of Vivar.

"No, get up…" Rodrigo instantly pulled Mu'tamin's shoulder and helped him stand up. He wasted no time in hugging the man, delighted by what he had done.

Breaking the hug, and during the crowd's murmurings, Rodrigo turned to the second Emir, who said nothing more than just a few words, "In the name of God." Hearing that, Rodrigo freed him as well, not exactly demanding anything more from the second Emir, Kadir.

Ordonez, angered by what happened, turns around and with a fit of rage, mounts his horse. Before departing, he makes an announcement.

"In the name of Ferdinand... King of Castile, Leon and Asturias…"

"I charge you with treason."

"Within seven days, you will appear before the King at Burgos, to answer these charges."

As Ordonez announced that, Rodrigo didn't even flinch as he continued freeing the last Emir. Seeing this, Ordonez was even more angered as he thought his words were taken lightly. But controlling himself, he turned around with his horse and left the place with his men.

The Father of the church, who saw this happen, didn't want Rodrigo to be demotivated by the event, after all, it was a good day for him. Therefore, he took measured steps towards him, saying what he truly felt.

"You did take the shortest road, my son. Not to your bride, but to your destiny. Don't be disheartened… it's God who sent you to us."

Rodrigo felt the old man's sincerity and maintained a small smile on his face, but inwardly, he knew what he had in store in the future.

Ordonez was definitely not going to sit quiet.

…

"Rodrigo!", a beautiful young lady, wearing a white gown, opened the door of her room and rushed out, turning her head to left and then right.

"That's weird… I thought I heard Rodrigo's voice…", she turned her head a few more times, re-checking if Rodrigo was present there or not.

Realizing that she might have mistaken, a pout appeared on her face. She turned back and walked back inside her room, "He should have been here by now."

"Why is he so late?", she shut the door close as she walked towards another woman who sat on the floor, close to a chair inside the room.

The woman, with her gentle voice, said, "He is not late, my lady. He was to be here at sundown. It's barely noon now."

"Yes, that's right… it's barely noon, but you don't really understand how time feels to a person in love.", the beautiful young lady said as she twirled heir long hair with her fingers.

She then stared at another maid, who was weaving cloth.

"Later means sooner… Sundown means Noon. And, being a man of his stature, it should have been well within his capabilities to arrive here early, even before noon."

"But it's a pity… his horse can move only so fast. Sigh, no matter how in love a man is, it would be impossible to come here instantly, when the heart remembers.", the maids noticed the lady's eyes, which showed how deep in love she was.

She was picking up flowers from the tables and was looking at them with gentle gaze. She would then stand up, twirl around, move here and then there, just like a little maiden who found her first love.

The two maids exchanged glances, seemingly understanding each other. It was as if they were saying, 'Here she goes again… like a free butterfly, trying to find her nectar.'

"Ah! You know what? I had some bad thoughts yesterday… Some invaders ambushed him… or some madman attacked him! I also thought about him falling sick… Maybe only thats how he would be late…"

"But who am I kidding with? A great man as Rodrigo will never falter to such simple means."

She made up hypothetical situations and was then contradicting herself…

"Aish, I-"

And as she was going to continue with her ramblings, all of a sudden someone knocked at the door.

She turned back towards her maid, one of whom came and put on a white coat-like garmet, after wearing which, the maids went forward and opened the door.

"Her majesty is entering.", two other maids, wearing green aprons, arrived and stood inside the door, announcing at the same time.

Hearing that, the lady and the two other maids with white garments, bowed slightly.

A different lady, who wore Royal Green outfit with a Sitara-like pearl headband on her head, walked in with elegance.

"Long live your majesty.", the lady and the maids said in synchrony.

The princess however ignored that, as she walked around the young lady. Spotting few grapes in a basket placed on a table, she grabbed one and placed in her mouth, simultaneously adding, "The gown… looks beautiful."

Hearing that, a smile appeared on the lady's face as she said, "Your highness… is gracious. It is not everyday that we are honoured."

"Well, it is not an ordinary day today, is it?"

As the princess said this, the lady blushed a little. With lowered voice, she said, "Wedding…"

The princess paused, hearing what she said, with a smile sly, she asked, "Chimene, could it be that, you've not heard?"

"Not heard? Not heard what, you're highness?", Dona Chimene, Rodrigo's soon wife to be, was surprised with what the Princess said.

"Why don't you take a guess?", the Princess said as she put another grape in her mouth.

"Um, Rodrigo? Is it about Rodrigo, your highness?"

The maids in the background couldn't help but facepalm themselves because their madam always thought about Rodrigo. Even now, it could be some important news but she blurted out Rodrigo. But little did they know that it was indeed related to him.

"Of Rodrigo."

"The gown is quite beautiful.", she instantly muttered this as she once again scanned the gown and started walking towards the exit.

Chimene, worried and flabbergasted at the moment, rushed forward, "Your highness…"

"Your highness."

"Can… can you tell me, what-"

"What has happened to Rodrigo?"

The princess turned back and smiled at Chimene.

"You knew that Rodrigo was on his way here, ri-"

"Yes."

"Then you must be knowing that there was a battle."

"A battle!?", Chimene took a few steps back, surprised, as if she had no prior idea regarding this.

"Yes, a battle. And I'm afraid…"

"No, nothing has happened to him… Nothing has happened to him, has it, your highness?"

"…"