Her Knight at the Museum

Epilogue

Six Months Later

“This is such a cute house!” Rose said as she stepped inside.

“Thank you!” Emily said. “I mean, it’s really Griffin’s.” They’d just moved in a few weeks before.

Andy greeted Rose in his usual fashion, by putting his paws up on her legs. “I bet you like it here, too,” Rose said, giving him some ear scritches.

“He’s so happy to have a big yard!”

That had been a plus, but they’d chosen the house almost completely based on location. It was just a few miles to the train station that took her downtown to her full-time job as an Objects Conservator at the Art Institute of Chicago. It was also close to her parents, and even closer to Medieval Legends; to the amazement of his coworkers, Griffin walked to work. Emily’s dad had given Griffin a couple of driving lessons, early in the morning when there was no traffic in the suburbs, and while it hadn’t gone especially well, they all figured he’d get the hang of it eventually.

Rose dug into her purse. “Here, I made you two a blessing ball.” She held out a clear glass globe, like a large Christmas ornament, filled with crystals and dried plants and hanging from a loop of jute rope. As Emily took it from her and held it up to the light, Rose said, “It’s got black tourmaline to absorb negative energy, obviously, and selenite to cleanse the space, and sage and bay and St. John’s wort.”

“I love it,” Emily said and gave her a big hug. “I’m going to hang it in a window.” For the time being, she set it on a high bookshelf, out of Andy’s reach.

Rose peered around the corner into the kitchen. “Can I get a little tour?”

“Sure! But I still haven’t unpacked all my boxes.”

Griffin had been able to buy the house outright. Though it was a midcentury brick ranch, she’d given it a few old-world touches, like the replica of the fifteenth-century tapestry on the wall in the living room.

She expected to do a little more decorating once she got the settlement money for her wrongful arrest from the Chicago FBI. That had taken a lot of time, but her lawyer, Steve, said they were hammering out the final details. In the absence of clues or leads, the headlines about the art theft had dwindled to almost nothing.

“I love the desk,” Rose said when Emily showed her the office.

“Yeah, look. It has griffins.” Emily pointed to the carved legs. “I wanted him to have a good desk for studying.” Griffin was taking two courses at the nearby community college.

“How is that going?”

“It’s a lot on top of work, but he likes it. He can read modern books really well now. He’s thinking about becoming a high school history teacher.”

“He would be amazing!”

They finished the tour and headed out to the front porch. As Emily was locking the door behind them, she said, “I’m kind of surprised you wanted to go to Medieval Legends a second time.”

Rose grinned. “It’s a great show.”

Soon after, they were sitting in their front-row seats in the Green Knight section, wearing gold cardboard crowns and eating roast chicken with their fingers. Children in the crowd waved glowing plastic swords; parents, dating couples, and groups of girlfriends chatted and drank colorful cocktails.

A recorded trumpet fanfare filled the arena. Griffin’s friend Dan, who had recently been promoted to the Lord Chancellor role, emerged on his horse, shouting a welcome to all the lords and ladies. Everyone cheered. He told them it was time to introduce the brave knights who would fight in the great tournament.

Emily told Rose, “Griffin’s going to be the third one.”

Dan hollered, “Are you ready to face the talons of the griffin?”

Emily laughed. “Never mind! I guess he’s first today!”

Dan raised his arm. “Give it up for the Green Knight!”

Their section exploded into cheering and banner-waving. Through a cloud of dry ice mist, Griffin emerged on a galloping black steed, holding a banner aloft, his golden hair flowing behind him.

As he slowed to a stop in the middle of the ring, Emily realized she’d been holding her breath. It was her fourth time at the show, but she was never going to get used to that dramatic entrance. The first time, she’d actually gotten dizzy.

“And next,” Dan said, “get ready to meet the—”

“Stop!” Griffin yelled. His voice seemed to echo from the rafters.

Dan turned to him. “Green Knight, why dost thou…interrupt our ceremonies?”

Oh no. Emily’s heart was in her throat. In the first few weeks that he’d had the job, she’d worried that he might go off script. He seemed to be doing that now.

“Forgive me, Lord Chancellor, and all my lords and ladies!” Griffin said. Wait…he had a microphone! Everything was all right. This was just a new bit.

“Before I face this deadly battle, there is one thing I must do,” Griffin went on.

“And what might that be, O Green Knight?” Dan asked.

“I must ask the lady I love to be my wife!”

“Oh my God ,” Emily said as the crowd cheered. She turned to Rose, who was bouncing in her seat and squealing. She knew!

Griffin tossed his banner to Dan, who caught it easily, and rode over to their section. The other knights on their horses emerged from the wings. Griffin dismounted, strode over to Emily, and got down on one knee.

“My lady Emily Porter, when first I met you, it was as if I was in a dream.” Emily gave a choked laugh and covered her mouth with both hands. “And the first time we kissed, I felt as though I had come to life again.”

“That’s so romantic ,” a woman sitting behind Emily moaned.

Love shone in Griffin’s eyes as he gazed up at Emily. “Your kindness, wisdom, and beauty are without parallel, and to you only would I be steadfast, loyal, and true. Will you do me the great honor of being my wife?”

“Yes!” In case they couldn’t hear her in the back rows, she lifted her arms in the air and shouted it again at the top of her lungs. “Yes!”

Cheers rocked the arena. Griffin stood, and she leaned over the railing and kissed him.

“I love you,” she whispered, and he wiped away one of her tears with his thumb. She kissed him again, her heart overflowing with joy. How was it possible that not so long ago, she’d thought this kind of romance was as fake as the cardboard crown on her head? Dreams did come true, lives did start anew, and right in Chicago, she’d found her very own knight in shining armor.