The Reluctant Dark Knight/Part 8

Please note that only Numbuh 404 may edit this page

Johan waited patiently for his friends to return; standing on the lowered drawbridge, he kept an eye on the road and the setting sun, judging it was creeping up on the sixth hour of the evening. A chilling breeze picked up, so he pulled the hood of his cape up and finally caught sight of them hurriedly approaching. He waved and called their names: “Peewit! Falla! Where have you been all this time?”

Several feet before him, she commanded Gentile to slow into a stop, and then she dismounted. Peewit hopped off his goat right behind her, munching on a loaf of bread – he took the reins of her horse and led it back into the stables while his friends talked.

“We were with the Smurfs, Johan,” she began, “I heard that Gerard’s Grand Ball will be formal, and I haven’t a thing to wear that isn’t already used for recreation, and I remembered that the Smurfs made his coronation outfit, so I went out to ask them if they could help me make my own.” The knight had his arms crossed while she explained. “When we got there it was about noon – later than I had hoped – and Peewit just had to stop to eat with them, so I asked Tailor, Smurfette, and Papa Smurf if they would help me. They said they’d be delighted, so I started drawing the initial pattern in the ground, Tailor copied it on paper, and Smurfette helped me fine-tune the details.”

For a minute there was silence as he stood still, keeping his face straight and his arms crossed; he tapped one foot slowly. Finally she tilted her head with a sigh, dropping her shoulders, and asked, “What’s wrong, Johan? I know you’re mad about something.”

“You left without telling me.” She looked down for a moment and straightened up as he continued. “I was worried because I had no idea where you had gone, and both of you know better. If anything had happened to you, I’d have no way of finding you in time, and Falla…” He put his hand on her shoulder, catching her eyes with a softened countenance. “You’re one of my closest friends. I’d certainly hate to lose you.”

Falla smiled sincerely, pulling him into a firm hug and whispered, “Same to you, big guy. What would we do without you?” She could tell he was smiling based on the light half-breath that lay in his chest against hers. They parted and he led her back into the castle, signaling the guard to raise the drawbridge once inside; they entered the tower and ascended the stairs to their rooms.

“It’s been a long day, hasn’t it?” he said, stopping by his door.

“Yeah…” She turned halfway around, maybe three or four feet ahead of him, and pointed to the nearest room over her shoulder. “I’m gonna tell Peewit a bedtime story before hitting the hay. He says he sleeps better when I do.”

Johan chuckled, pulling down his hoodie, and shook his head delightedly: “What a ham.” Then he entered his room and disappeared, so she proceeded to see their smaller friend. She knew he was waiting for her in his little red pajama robe, in bed – and she was right when she opened the door.