Meredith Deichler - 2nd place winner in Vindicator Love Story contest

Meredith Deichler won second place in the Vindicator Love Story contest. She won a $50 gift certificate to Sunrise Inn.

Of the entries submitted for our annual Love Story Writing Contest, here is the second-place winning entry to our fictitious love story, “Strangers in the Knight.” Click on the links in this story to read the first- and third-place winning entries.

Each was written in 750 words or less and received by the deadline.

The stories are in their original format.

Kim Welch wins 1st place - See winners in Love Story contest

Kate Bray - 3rd place winner in Vindicator Love Story contest

First, here is the beginning of the love story:

As their horses thundered down the Renaissance fair jousting field, Sir Hal considered his options.

Should he aim high on the breastplate, where his lance might strike the shield and be deflected harmlessly? Should he aim low, where he might strike below the waist and be disqualified? Should he deliberately strike the shield, so that his opponent would have more difficulty lifting it on the next pass?

Hal had a split-second to decide. The reigning champ opted to keep it simple. He aimed right for the center of the breastplate.

CRASH!!!

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Hal barely managed to deflect the incoming lance. But his own lance struck his opponent square in the chest and shattered, the foe taking all of the impact with silent, motionless stoicism.

Hal had never seen someone so strong, so confident in the saddle. He knew that there was no way he could defeat this foe, but he had to try.

But on his third pass, Hal was unseated. Victory would wait for another year.

Hal lay gasping on the ground as his foe wheeled the enormous horse around toward Hal, dismounted, and graciously offered him a hand up. Hal accepted, stood, and faced his opponent.

Hal offered his hand, conceding defeat. The crowd roared as these two plate-clad titans clasped hands like the excellent sportsmen they were.

Hal shouted above the din, “Might I look upon the face of so mighty a knight as to unseat the reigning champion?”

His opponent said nothing, but simply offered the audience a wave.

Hal again asked, “Please, might I have the honor of looking thee in thine eye?”

Once again, his foe said nothing.

“Thrice I ask and done, Sir Knight –”

“Dame!” the knight replied.

“I beg your pardon?”

“My title, good sir, is ‘Dame,’” the knight replied. With that, she deftly removed her helmet and arming cap, allowing her golden locks to fall. Offering Hal a dazzling smile under stunning gray eyes, she continued, “Dame Charlotte, at your service.”

Entry

Sir Hal’s eyes widened in shock. Not because he had just been bested by a woman – no, he had lost too many backyard wrestling matches with his sister to ever doubt the strength of a female – and not because this woman had the most amazing eyes he had ever seen; that shade of gray seen when the sky deepens before a storm. No, Sir Hal was momentarily speechless because he knew these eyes, had seen them dozens of times – all on the flat panel of a TV screen.

“Hal, you didn’t have to come,” his sister Renee had said from the couch, her attempted smile weak. “I’m not a little kid! My second wedding anniversary is next week!”

“And your husband is on a business trip to Houston. I’m not going to leave you to fend for yourself against this wretched flu bug!” He put a bowl of chicken broth down where she could reach it. “What are we watching?”

Renee’s smile broadened. “It’s the new episode of Love Discovery!”

Hal grimaced. He had forgotten his sister’s obsession with the reality dating show. Luckily, this episode was the third one of the season, with the awkward introductions over and the real action beginning. Charlotte’s captivating gray eyes stood out as the camera panned over the women surrounding this season’s bachelor, but the image faded as the drama of a private date unfolded. However, later when some contestants discussed their college years, Charlotte mentioned that she had ridden horses for two summers at a medieval dinner show. As an image obtained by the show’s producers popped up on the screen, Hal found himself intrigued by the blonde bedecked in Renaissance garb on the back of a white steed. He tuned in the next week to follow her story. Charlotte was firmly his favorite contestant.

The blonde became America’s favorite as well in week six, with the reveal of her backstory: dumped by a fiance who survived a near-death experience but decided he didn’t want her as part of his second chance at life, despite her dedicated presence over his four strenuous months of rehabilitation. However, in the finale, the bachelor picked sweet Nicole over independent Charlotte, a disappointment for the public. The reunion episode did little to settle lingering questions, as she did not make an appearance. Her social media was silent beyond a simple message wishing the new couple all the best. America and Hal were left with the big question: Where did Charlotte go?

While the tabloids continued to occasionally speculate, even six months after the final episode, Hal had hoped the best for the spunky blonde and moved forward with his life.

But now, facing those slate eyes, Hal could not deny that he was pleased to have received an answer to that question. Throughout the awards ceremony, as he conceded her victory, he kept sneaking peeks at her. As the last applause faded, he summoned his courage to say something more than “Congratulations.”

She beat him to it, bluntly saying, “You recognize me.” It wasn’t a question.

“I do,” he replied. “I got into Love Discovery because of you.”

Charlotte’s eyes dimmed.

“But recognizing your TV personality isn’t the same thing as knowing you!” Hal hurried to add, not wanting to leave his true thoughts unsaid. He took another breath to build up courage worthy of the knight he portrayed. “I would like the chance to get to learn who Dame Charlotte is, without the editing of a TV production crew.”

The spark was back in those brilliant eyes. “I would enjoy that, sir knight.”

“Wouldst thou join me for a cup of mead, then?” he asked, shifting his words to match her archaic style.

“Verily! I would be delighted to join thee,” Charlotte replied, eyes glowing as she took his proffered arm, and together the two champion knights strolled off into the fair.

–Meredith Deichler