Reynard smiled sadly, a gloved hand reaching up to lightly brush one curl away from her brow to tuck it behind her ear. What did she think he was, some faery lord to take her away from the world and its woes? She was young and full of fancy for all of her common upbringing, and the woman he had started to think of as his own Greensleeves made his heart beat hard when she giggled and smiled at him so. Her body was all too soft and warm in his arms. To think that such a midnight ride would bring this village girl such joy! He felt some guilt as he realized he may have unintentionally deceived her, but now that the masque had begun and the orchestra of the night played for them, he was loathe to leave that dance. But still, he had to remain truthful. Some core of truth had to be at his words, for she had saved him and deserved nothing less.

“I am as real as you need me to be,” he murmured to her, “and I will be fair with you, Greensleeves.” The horse shifted underneath them, huffing as though anxious to be off again. Reynard, on the other hand, had decided there was nowhere else in the world he would rather be just then. As Bess leaned back against him, he boldly embraced her with both arms about her waist and held her close. The breath of his voice tickled her ear as he spoke in hushed tones. “And these are my lands. Or at least they once were.”

“Only you can’t stay here forever, Greensleeves, believe me,” he sighed sadly. “You might say that sights such as these last only a single night and then are gone forever. There’s a magic to it that can not be held by mortals save in their hearts, can not be captured save by dreams and song and poetry. Come the morning, you will have to return to your daily life, Greensleeves. But it will be different, that I can promise you! You shall no longer look upon anything quite the same way again. Because this night will remain in your heart until you are old of age and bouncing grandchildren upon your knee. Because when the winter winds blow cold, this memory will warm you. Because when you are weary and tired, you will recall that a fallen lord found some measure of peace in seeing you smile with delight beneath the moonlight.”

Leaning down, he kissed the crown of her head through her dark curls. “This night will be gone soon, Greensleeves. But there will be other nights with different sights… if you wish them.” He gestured back towards where they had come, back towards the forest grotto where they had first met. “At the rise of each full moon, I would wait for you. I would trust you with my existence, and gift you with whatever you might find most desirable within my ability to grant. I will be your secret. For you saved my life, and for that I do not think I can ever reward you fully.”

Reynard loosely flicked the reins that dangled in his fingers, and his mount turned about to slowly walk back along the path they had traversed. It was a slower ride now. What had passed by in a blur of excitement before now crystalized clear before her eyes to reveal the beauty of the lands up close, all made silver in the moonlight as though just for Bess to enjoy. He kept both strong arms about her waist as they travelled. Reynard only let go long enough to snatch at the edge of his cloak so he might wrap them both against the late night chill, and then she was secured in his embrace again.

Back at the grotto remained the food basket and french wine he had secured, the wicker lid fastened tight against any wildlife. There they would pique-nique until near dawn and share in one another’s company. For now, though, Reynard held her fast and let her have her midnight fancy. “Tell me of your dreams,” he whispered, “Tell me what you might desire and what you might imagine in the darkness of the night by your lonesome, Greensleeves. Do not worry for ponderous words, but speak plainly! For a liar I would be if I did not say that I would know you.”