The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson (conclusion)

Here is the beautiful end of a touchingly powerful and beautiful novel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it -- a book that I always thought was intended for boys, but I see now was written for feeling and thinking readers of any age.  

"In the chancel they found Dick waiting, attended by a few young men; and there were he and Joan united. When they came forth again, happy and yet serious, into the frosty air and sunlight, the long files of the army were already winding forward up the road; already the Duke of Gloucester's banner was unfolded and began to move from before the abbey in a clump of spears; and behind it, girt by steel-clad knights, the bold, black-hearted, and ambitious hunchback moved on towards his brief kingdom and his lasting infamy. But the wedding party turned upon the other side, and sat down, with sober merriment, to breakfast. The father cellarer attended on their wants, and sat with them at table. Hamley, all jealousy forgotten, began to ply the nowise loth Alicia with courtship. And there, amid the sounding of tuckets and the clash of armoured soldiery and horses continually moving forth, Dick and Joan sat side by side, tenderly held hands, and looked, with ever growing affection, in each other's eyes. Thenceforth the dust and blood of that unruly epoch passed them by. They dwelt apart from alarms in the green forest where their love began."

The Black Arrow (Book V, Ch. 4, "The Sack of Shoreby")

In spite of Stevenson’s detailed and gory description of the battle scenes (very realistic descriptions, it would seem), I am thoroughly enjoying this part of the book. He is truly a master writer and storyteller. WIth his polished use of imagery, he brings me right into the heart of the story, but his development of characters is even more amazing. Now, nearing the end of the story, the protagonist, Dick Shelton, has had a major epiphany about the monstrous nature of war. He has seen the tragic effects of his theft of Captain Alblaster’s ship, and thus he has caught a glimpse of how hideous war can be. 

The Black Arrow

"Meanwhile Gloucester dismounted from his horse and came forward to inspect the post. His face was as pale as linen; but his eyes shone in his head like some strange jewel, and his voice, when he spoke, was hoarse and broken with the exultation of battle and success."

Stevenson, Robert Louis (2012-07-22). The Black Arrow : A Tale of the Two Roses (illustrated) (Kindle Locations 2568-2569).  . Kindle Edition.

The Black Arrow,by Robert Louis Stevenson

"The sun was now well up, shining with a frosty brightness out of a yellow halo, and right over against the luminary, Shoreby, a field of snowy roofs and ruddy gables, was rolling up its columns of morning smoke."Such beautiful imagery!