Chapter 4
That night, in the poorer part of town, Beth and Wilfred slept together in the same bed for the first time. Both were rather nervous about it, neither having done this before. In the small twin bed, with the moon shining through the window, the two of them slept fully clothed and talked to each other, knowing it would be a while before they would get to see each other again.
"I am amazed to see a cleric like this on top of me in bed," Beth said, smiling.
"Well, just because I am a cleric does not mean I took a vow of chastity. It only means I vowed not to have sex before marriage, which is an entirely different sort of promise," Wilfred said.
"Well, I have not known many clerics in my time. You will have to forgive me," Beth said jocularly.
"That is just a part of my normal job," Wilfred winked. "You see, clerics can be romantic and humorous. There is nothing in the Holy Book that keeps religious people from having a romantic heart or a sense of humor, despite what you may believe. The key is just to hold God above all else, and to follow the law of God with all your heart and all your spirit. That does not mean that one cannot be a friendly and loving person. It is a shame that people think of the religious as self-righteous and rigid. To be righteous is good, to be self-righteous is wrong, and there is a difference."
"Yes, there is. I have much to learn about the faith," Beth said.
"I will probably be gone at least a couple of months, so you will have plenty of time to learn while you wait for me," Wilfred said as he gave her a kiss.
"Don't remind me," Beth said with mock displeasure. The giggled and then kissed each other again.
"I will miss that while I go hunting for this book," Wilfred said somewhat wistfully.
"I will miss you too, honey. Who would have known that a poor girl working as a bartender in some tavern could fall in love with a cleric who seeks to unravel the secrets of the beginnings of mankind? My friends will not believe me when I tell them, but they will be happy when they see for themselves," Beth said smiling bittersweetly.
"I am sure they will be happy for you as well. How many young ladies have worked so hard and waited so long for love as you have?" Wilfred said.
"I am so glad I have found you," Beth said as his body was on top of hers, both clothed.
"I have never felt this way before," Wilfred said.
"Neither have I," Beth said. "Do you think you will feel the same about me when you return?"
"I am sure I will. For true love does not diminish with distance, but small love does, and I believe ours is true love," Wilfred said honestly.
"Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me," Beth said exuberantly.
"I hope you will always be my woman, and I hope I am always your man. I would like to marry you when I become a full cleric," Wilfred said.
"Let this not be a promise in the dark," Beth said.
"This promise will be in the light," Wilfred said as he slipped a band around her finger.
"Oh, thank you so much," Beth said, crying in joy as she kissed him passionately.
"I was waiting to give this to you after my return, but I decided to give it to you now since the moment came up," Wilfred said.
"Thank you so much," Beth said again ecstatically.
The two of the talked some more about love and then went to sleep next to each other, for though they were in love, and though they were both passionate people, neither of them sinned that night. When the morning came, Wilfred and Beth kissed again and then Wilfred headed off to the port, where he would go off to enemy territory, hoping to return in one piece unharmed.
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