A Knight's Pride

Noon. The sun shined brightly overhead, lighting the single path the knight traveled atop his steed. The journey had been long, but it was his duty to carry out the word of his Lord. Alas, the beautiful sight of Tratoix had made the weeks journey worth it. The Kingdom was very different than his own. It was bright and green. Vast fields of livestock stretched into the horizon, there was a small river winding through the land with several bridges connecting paths on one side to the other. The homes of the common folk dotted the landscape, swirls of smoke rising from their chimneys. Farmers worked in the fields, turning the land and planting crops, readying the earth for the next harvest.

As Sir William gazed upon the land, a warm feeling settled in him. He was the one entrusted to bind his land to this one. Through the sacred bond of marriage, his Lord's influence would stretch to this place, and he smiled at the thought of frequenting this beautiful kingdom. Will pulled the reins of his horse and it trotted forward, down the spiraling path from the mountain that led to the castle in the middle of the kingdom. As he grew closer to the castle gates, he found himself wondering how fair a beauty would be joining Argis Dalmus in marriage.

'To be the son of a Lord, and have a wife given to you must be a strange luxary.' The young man thought. 'One avoids the trouble of courting, but will know nothing of the one they shall spend the rest of their life with. Perhaps Lord Dalmus will assign me a bride for my loyal services one day. Alas, I would like to get to know my mate before being bound to her till death.

William shook these thoughts from his head and focused on his task before him. He was to collect the Lord's daughter and bring her safely to Dalmus. The wedding would be grand, including an extravagant feast and a selection of ales vast enough to quench the thirst of even the driest of throats. It would be a time of celebration, and Sir William was to be commended for a successful quest. His heart soared with the thought of the look on his Father's face when his son lived up to the family name of Sal'Hara. Perhaps, William too, would earn the title 'The Great'.

It had been 3 weeks since word had arrived of a knight being sent to escort Lorelle to meet her husband to be. She knew roughly how long it took a messenger to travel the treacherous route and had been mentally marking the days in her head. Her servants had packed a wagon with her trunks to be sent ahead of her and were all a-twitter about her impending marriage. Most of the girls she’d grown up with and it was difficult not to become infected with their enthusiasm, no matter how unseemly that was. She wandered the long hallways of her home wondering what her husband to be looked like. Was he old? Was he handsome? Would he be kind? It frightened and excited her curiosity at the same time.

She only saw her father once in the intervening weeks. He and her brothers had been out riding through the land to assess the progress of the farmers and to see how the families on their land were recovering after the plague that had taken so many. Her two younger sisters were busy with their lessons and her step-mother while kind had little comfort or information to give her. Her marriage had been arranged as Lorelle’s was. In the case of her step-mother, it had been a good match; for Jeorge was a good man who only drank a little and treated the women in his family gently. It was his sons that he demanded the most from. Care for the land and the people on it were their duty. And duty was the one thing Jeorge D’Armitage stressed over and over again.

As the day drew closer to the time when the knight might arrive, Lorelle’s stomach began to tie into knots. She dreaded the knight’s arrival. She didn’t wish to leave her home. She knew nothing else. She’d never left the manor grounds but once before. That had been to accompany her mother to visit the Parish priest. At the time it had all been a grand adventure that had turned out, in reality, to be quite dull. But this. This was different. She would be leaving Tratoix forever. She would be living in a land where knights and war were the norm. What if they were attacked? What would she do?

Lorelle moved from her soft, goose down bed to the large casement window of her room and looked out over the scene she’d so grown to love. Her heart was heavy with sadness, but she squared her shoulders bravely. “I am Lorelle D’Armitage. And I am not afraid.”

Time had passed rather quickly given the distance from the mountain pass to the castle gates. William supposed it was due to all the scenery he took in along the way. The common folk greeted him warmly as he trotted pass them and children had asked if they could pet his horse. Luthur, who was a Clydesdale, was a large war horse with dark brown fur. Will supposed this peaceful kingdom hadn't seen many horses such as Luthur, given all the horses they had past were the common work horse. None the less, the kingdom had it's own charm, regardless of how it seemed shut off from the rest of the world. Again, a sense of honor and duty filled Will when he realized his kingdom would aide these people and protect them. He imagined himself training these very boys to be great knights, instilling the code of honor and duty into their young minds, turning them from mere farmers into great warriors. Luthur halted before the drawbridge. A watchman peered over the lookout tower down at the knight. William dismounted his steed and looked up at the watchman.

"I am Sir William Sal'Hana from the Kingdom of Dalmuscus. I have been sent on an errand by Lord Dalmus. I am to collect the maiden Lorelle D'Armitage and escort her to Dalmuscus. Lower the drawbridge, guard, so that I may tend to my errand." William took Luthur's reins in hand as the drawbridge lowered. More guards were posted behind the bridge. They stood in simple leather coverings, and they looked in awe at William's gleaming armor and war horse. William walked across the bridge and stood in the entrance grounds of the castle.

"You there, guard, inform your lord of my arrival. The journey has been long, inform him that I require a room for the night and I will depart with the girl in the morning. My horse needs tended to and my supplies refilled. Tend to this with haste, guard, I'd like to rest until supper is served." Will turned his back on the guard, expecting him to do as told. He was a Knight of Dalmuscus, and these guards were below him. This sort of behavior was common in Dalmuscus. Being a Knight meant nobility and superiority. You answered directly to your Lord, everyone else was graced by your presence. It wasn't that William was rude or egotistical, this was simply the manner of things. He patted Luthur on the neck and stroked his mane. A guard approached the horse, taking Luthur's reins and leading him to a stable.

Word went out that a knight had arrived at the gate. It flew on wings more swift than any hawk. Mouth to ear, one after another as gossip often does. The stable boy told the kitchen maid who whispered to the turnspit boy, who in turn, told the footman. In no time, the entire manor was a-buzz with the news that the expected escort had come for Lorelle to accompany her to her new home. Eventually, word reached Lorelle’s maids and through them to her.

Lorelle heard the news of the Knight having arrived with some trepidation along with a great deal of excitement. She primped and fussed with her dress as if the Knight were her future husband rather than merely his representative. She took one last look in the mirror before joining her Step-mother in preparing an appropriate meal to welcome their guest.

In the stables, the young boys took the reins of the large war-horse from the guard and went about the task of rubbing it down and feeding it the best grains the lord’s stables had to offer. In the meantime, the guards showed Will to a room that had been prepared for him and sent a runner to find Lord D’Armitage so he might return home to greet his guest. The entire manor seemed to be on high alert to provide their guest with the best they had to offer. Will was led to comfortable guest quarters with fresh, hot water provided so he might make his toilet in preparation for dinner.

By the time dinner was announced, Sir Jeorge had returned from reviewing his lands to greet his guest. In truth he wanted to reassure himself that his daughter would be safe in her trek to her new husband. He barely had time to bathe and change into appropriate clothing before descending the main stair to the dining hall so he might meet his gust before Lorelle made her appearance. He stuffed himself into a courtly costume that hadn’t seen the light of day since his second marriage. He stepped into the main dining hall about half an hour prior to the assigned dinner hour so he might spend some time with his own thought and his guest should he also arrive early.

Lorelle, on the other hand spent her time agonizing over which of her dresses still unpacked, she should wear when meeting the representative of her husband to be. She peered at herself in the small hand-held mirror wondering why she cared if the knight thought her worthy; he was naught but a messenger. But she couldn’t help herself and found herself nervously snapping at her maids when they dressed her hair in a softer curl that hung to her waist. They seemed unperturbed, however. What bride wasn’t nervous prior to meeting her betrothed?

Sir Jeorge sat at the head of a large finely-made dining table in the large, comfortably appointed dining hall, a large tankard of his land’s ale in hand while he contemplated the future of his and his daughter’s futures.

Tratiox was truly a magnificent place, and the castle was the crowned jewel of it all. Will found himself in awe of the beautiful stone architecture that seemed so similar yet so very different than that of the castle in Dalmuscus. The large arching windows in the corridors filled the entire structure with sunlight. He was lost in its beauty and had completely forgotten about the man leading him to the guest room, nearly knocking him over when he stopped suddenly.

"I hope this room is acceptable. Our Lord offers you one of the finest guest quarters we have in the castle." The man seemed nervous, as if he were a criminal awaiting his sentence at a trial. Will smiled at the man and stepped through the door. The room, just like the rest of the castle, was breathtaking.

"Send my compliments to your Lord. This room is above acceptable." This seemed to calm the man down and he stepped inside. A few moments later a servant entered the room with a bucket of fresh hot water. She set it down, bowed, and left the room. Will's smile widened and he turned back to the man who led him to the room.

"Dinner will be served shortly. Lord Jeorge D’Armitage awaits your arrival as we speak." The man bowed and started to leave, Will called for him to stop.

"Wait outside a moment." Will sat down his satchel next to the bed. "Allow me a few moments to change into a more suitable garment and I'll meet you in the corridor. Then you can lead me to the dining hall. I wouldn't want to keep your Lord waiting for too long." He pulled out a simple linen garment of trousers and tunic, removed his armor, washed his face and rinsed his hair, toweled off, changed into the garment, then walked back out of the room all in a matter of five minutes. He smiled at the man once more, who seemed to have lightened up a great deal with the formalities around Will. This was the affect he had on others, and before long they were jesting back and forth, sharing one an other's best puns all the way to the dining hall. They quickly hushed their fit of laughter before the man opened the door of the dining hall.

"My Lord, may I present Sir William Sal'Hara, Knight to Lord Dalmus, ruler of the kingdom of Dalmuscus." William stepped into the room and immediately bowed.

"It is truly an honor to be a guest in your Kingdom. The accommodations are lovely and I give you my compliments Lord D'Armitage. Now then, before we dine there is a message my Lord wanted me to deliver personally. Lord Dalmus would like to extend his kingdom to you not only through a bond of marriage, but also in friendship. As a sign of good faith, he has sent a wagon of gifts that he insists you accept. Among these gifts, a silk garment made by the Lord's personal tailor that he hopes you will wear on the finest occasions, made quite large so that it may be custom tailored to your fitting, of course. A ruby encrusted sword forged by our best blacksmith, may it be a symbol of great strength and leadership in your hands. Lastly, a chest of gold, jewels, and other treasures from the royal treasury. Lord Dalmus has heard of your struggles with the plague, and that it even took your beloved wife, and hopes that you may use it as you will to help rebuild your kingdom. This wagon is due to arrive tomorrow. My Lord also insists that you send no gifts in return, so much in fact that any wagons or gifts you may send will be turned away at the kingdom gates." William ended his message and bowed again to the ruler of Tratiox.

The man before Will had the bluff, ruddy complexion of a man often outdoors. His back was straight and his shoulders as yet unbowed by age, despite the liberal amounts of gray showing in his ashen hair and heavy beard. He wore a deep wine-colored tunic, trimmed with fur at the collar and hem. Beneath the tunic, he wore a simple linen shirt without the usual ornate embroidery so many nobles favored. A studded leather belt around his waist was also simple and still supported the frog that would ordinarily have held his sword. He rose when his guest was announced and raised a heavy brow when his welcome was interrupted by the young knight’s speech. Jeorg’s eyes glittered in disguised amusement at the lad’s bold manner.

Once Will had finished, Lord D’Armitage lifted his hands palms up, “I thank your Lord for his thoughtfulness and you understand my predicament. I cannot accept such generosity without a gesture in kind.” Here he paused, his smile finally blooming on his broad face. “But that is not your worry, is it, Sir William?” A sweeping hand gesture invited the young knight to take a seat at his right hand. On the large trestle table a large plate of cheeses, fruits and bread were already set along with large jugs of the ale that Tratoix was famous for.

Lorelle’s Father took his seat and then looked the young man over more sharply. Lowering his voice slightly, he leaned slightly toward Will. “I know you are here as a duty for your Lord. But, when you leave you will have my dearest possession in your care. I beg you care for her as I would. Not only would it have long term effect on our two kingdoms. But it would bring devastation to my house if harm came to her.” Jeorg made sure that he met Will’s gaze and held it.

Any further conversation was pre-empted by the arrival of a young maid who announced that Lorelle D’Armitage had arrived. Such formality was unusual for her home. Her Father never before had stood on ceremony. But, then, this was the first time he’d made an alliance with another land. Lorelle touched her long hair nervously as she approached the table, her eyes flitted from her Father’s serious expression to the young man that sat beside him. Approaching the young man, she curtsied deeply, then rose to offer her hand to him. “I am Lorelle D’Armitage. It is my honor to make your acquaintance.” She said in the gentlest of voices.

William had been so caught up in his duty to deliver the message that he completely forgot the formalities of meeting a Lord for the first time. His face turned a slight red in embarrassment when he had realized his mistake. He quickly took the seat that Lord D'Armitage had gestured towards. When the Lord lowered his voice, Will knew he wasn't speaking as a Lord, but as a father. After he finished speaking it really sunk in how important his daughter was to him. To agree to send her away must have been a hard decision to make. A new sense of duty filled him, this wasn't like any other quest he had, some one's life was in his hands. Not just any person either, his host's daughter. This man was entrusting her life to him, and he would not be let down.

"My Lord, I have served my kingdom ever since I was old enough to wield a blade. I hope you take comfort in the words I next speak, I will see your daughter as the many faces of friends and family I have in Dalmuscus, and will watch after her as I would them. Your daughter is in the best hands Dalmuscus has to offer. They would send no mere foot soldier to protect the future wife of Argis Dalmus." As Will finished these words, a maid entered the hall and announced the arrival of Lorelle D'Armitage. He looked up, and into the most beautiful face of any woman he had ever seen. It was as if an angel had descended from the heavens and graced them all with her presence. She curtsied, and formally introduced herself, extending her hand. William stood, bowed politely, then took her hand and placed a soft kiss upon it.

"The pleasure is all mine my Lady. I pray that our journey is swift and without trouble." William returned to his seat beside Lord D'Armitage. His daughter was a true maiden, and Will's quest suddenly became more complicated.

The young knight stood to press his lips to her knuckles softly. How handsome. Lorelle thought idly as he spoke. His prayer that their journey be swift and safe brought her back to the here and now. She smiled and gently removed her hand from his warm, if calloused, one. As she passed her father, she bent to kiss his cheek and he smiled in acknowledgement. She took her seat across from the young knight then poured two tankards of ale, handing one first to Will and the other to her father before speaking. “I hope your journey here was a pleasant one?” She broke off a small sprig of early grapes, then added, “How do you find our land? Is it much different than the land of my betrothed?”

Jeorge watched the interplay between young Will and Lorelle with some trepidation. His daughter was not accustomed to such formal meetings and he hoped she would comport herself well. As Lorelle handed the two tankards of ale to him and the Knight, Jeorge smiled. She was a grown woman now and her mother had taught her well. At her question, the Lord also looked to Will to see how he might answer Lorelle’s query. Two servants, including the man assigned to care for Will brought out roasted meats and vegetables on enormous serving platters. The meat smelled enticing and appeared spiced with expensive herbs that were grown in this very valley.

Lorelle smiled gently, but rarely raised her eyes to Will as was proper for a maiden of her station. A bold woman was usually an undesirable one in court. But she found it difficult not to glance up to the young stranger who would soon be escorting her through quite difficult lands to be safely delivered to his liege. Her own lands had no Knights; only stout men who rarely had to take up arms to defend themselves. The isolation and natural defenses in the form of mountains made her home quite safe. Her mind drifted slightly wondering about how different things would be.

Will quickly reminded himself that he was having a formal dinner with the Lord of this land, and on top of it all he was representing his home land. He returned to his seat beside Jeorge and waited patiently as Lorelle poured their ale.

"My journey was pleasantly uneventful. These lands are far different than Dalmuscus. Here, the sun peaks over the mountaintops and shines down into the valley in an almost poetic manner. Dalmuscus, however, is located in a vast plain surrounded by forests teeming with wild beasts. I feel at ease here, and it is a strange sort of comfort. Don't get me wrong, Dalmuscus is far from a dangerous place, and it does have a beauty all it's own. We see a great assortment of weather, though rain is most common. The sun is usually blocked out by overcast skies, but there is always a beautiful sunset at dusk. It sounds depressing, but there's a strange calm in the rain. The way the cold drops of water splash on your face as you ride horseback on patrol..." Will had started to trail on, talking more to himself than the others. "Apologies my Lord and Lady, I did not mean to ramble. I suppose you'll see for yourself when we arrive."

Just then, the servants had entered with the main course. The wonderful aroma of seasoned meat drifted into Will's nostrils, and his stomach gurgled with hunger. He had survived off of wild game and water during his journey, and this meal was sure to be delicious. "My compliments to your chefs my Lord. If this meal tastes half as wonderful as it smells Lord Dalmus will have to request that your chefs prepare the wedding feast."

Listening to the young Knight describe his home was at once exciting and frightening to Lorelle. Overcast? Rainy? It sounded horrible. And yet he spoke with a fondness that was almost poetic. She hoped to see more of the forests he spoke of. In Tratoix, most of the land was cleared for farming except in the higher elevations. She dipped her chin in agreement when he stated she’d see her new home soon enough.

Jeorge smiled at Will’s description of the rain on his face while on patrol. As a man who spent much of his time in the saddle himself, he could certainly understand the appeal it held to a man of younger years than he. “You will find that a warm fire and a good meal at the end of the trail will appeal more and more as time passes, good knight.” He reached out to help himself to some roasted beef and turnips before continuing. “What concerns does Dalmuscus have that your Lord may not have wished to address with me in our initial negotiations? I would like to know what I should be prepared for in the coming years.” He knew he was putting Will on the spot, but he was curious if Lord Dalmus had been truthful with him.

Lorelle glanced up at her Father when he questioned the young Knight. She had no idea that there were still some questions in her Father’s mind about his alliance. But, then, her Father had always been a conservative man when it came to the safety of his holdings. His people were much like his family and he took his appointment very seriously. Briefly, her eyes dared seek the Knight’s directly as if to gage whether he might speak the truth as he knew it or if he would merely ape what he’d been told to say.

Will had filled his plate with a sampling of all the foods that lay before him, eager to taste all the different flavors that were sure to be delicious. He picked up his tankard and took a sip from it, tasting the strange ale he had heard so much about. It was smooth, yet flavorful, and it was very satisfying. Will listened closely to Lord D'Armitage as he spoke. He could understand why one would think Dalmuscus to be a dangerous place.

"You are wise to have your suspicions Lord D'Armitage, but I assure you any dangers we have are not a concern to you or your people. It is true that our land does suffer from bandit raids on the occasional trade wagon, but this is why we have trained our Knights and guards in the manner we have. Currently, it is a time of relative peace for our kingdom. I wonder if your grace is familiar with Frudric The Merciless? My father, Aragis Sal'Hara, vanquished him with a handful of my Lord's Knights about ten years ago. Since then, none have been so bold as to outright attack our kingdom. We are a kingdom familiar with war Lord D'Armitage, but you need not worry about your people. We will defend them as we would our own. Beyond bandits and raiders, we have no true enemies and Lord Dalmus is a man that detests war. A trait he has passed onto his sons as well. Why, the Ladie's husband to be is an accomplished scholar who spends a great deal of his time in the study rather than practicing swordplay."

Will took another drink from the tankard and sampled a few of the seasoned meats, all of which were delicious. "We hold no secrets from you my Lord. If you'd wish to journey to our land and see for yourself you are more than welcome. Lord Dalmus can even set up a private quarters for you, if you'd wish to stay an extended period."

Jeorge sat back in his chair with a piece of rich cheese in his fingers and his tankard in his other hand to watch Will as his spoke. If this was the best of Lord Dalmus’ knights, it did indeed bode well for both their kingdoms. When Will relayed the tale of Frudric the Merciless, Jeorge lifted his chin in acknowledgement. “Ahh yes. His reputation reached even here. But as we are able to bar the narrow pass easily, we had no intrusions by his army. Jeorge was impressed with the young knight and it bode well for the future alliance between Dalmuscus and Tratoix.

Lorelle listened attentively to the talk between the two men. She was especially eager to hear of her betrothed. He was a scholar and detested war. It sounded very romantic to her inexperienced ears. She smiled shyly and interjected a soft question, “If I may, Sir knight? What does my husband to be look like? What interests him?” Her cheeks colored lightly with her bold questions, but she couldn’t help her curiosity. The invitation for her Father to visit and perhaps even stay for a time buoyed her heart immensely. Perhaps she wouldn’t be as isolated as she’d feared.

Jeorge also smiled at the open invitation to visit Dalmuscus. “That is heartening to hear, young Knight. I would indeed be pleased to meet Lord Dalmus. Though I feel I have grown to know the man through our many letters, I would welcome the opportunity to share an ale and some good conversation with him.”

"Unfortunately Dalmuscus has little to no natural protection against attackers, this is why we're forced to learn the sword. It does have it's benefits, however. I'm sure my Lord would gladly send warriors to your kingdom to teach the sword to your people. I will be truthful and say that allying with our kingdom would make your kingdom known to certain unfavorable people. However, any invaders would have to pass through Dalmuscus to reach the path that leads to Tratoix." Will was rather enjoying his conversation with Lord D'Armitage and Lady Lorelle. Of course, how could talk of one's homeland over a delicious feast be any other way?

"I must apologize, my Lady. I do not know much of Lord Argis, having only encountered him on formal occasions. As I said, he spends much time in the castle study, sometimes locking himself in it for hours on end, turning away servants who come to check on him. But, this much I do know. He Lord Dalmus' eldest son, nearing 28 years of age. He is tall and thin with long, straight black hair. His face is long and thin, coming to a point at his chin. I hear from the servants that he writes often, though of what I am not sure. Beyond that, I'm afraid I know little. Much of my time is spent outside the kingdom in the village on patrol." It seemed rather strange, even to Will, that he knew so little of Lord Argis. But how would one know of a man that hardly makes his presence known?

William turned back to Lord D'Armitage, who was speaking of visiting Dalmuscus for some time. "Yes, and I know my Lord would be most interested in coming to Tratoix as well. I know for sure he'd be most interested in trading for this wonderful ale you brew. Why, perhaps we could even get the recipe! Then we could serve it at The Harvest's End. But, I speak too far into the future. In time, I'm sure our kingdoms will be as one. Let us have a toast to a long, healthy alliance between our kingdoms!"

Both Jeorge and Lorelle fall into an uncomfortable silence at the thought of their land’s bucolic peace being disrupted by the incursion of knights and ideas of the glory of war. The thought of farm boys taking up arms was disturbing. Even if said enemies of Dalmuscus that might target Tratoix had to go through Dalmuscus first, it was a sobering thought. Jeorge sipped from his tankard while Lorelle twirled a ribbon from her sleeve absently.

But then, Will moved on to do his best to describe Lord Argis to her. She was grateful that he wasn’t terribly old. It had been one of her deepest fears. He didn’t seem terribly social and intensely involved in his studies. She wished she knew more about him. His appearance seemed fitting with his scholarly pursuits, but somehow not very satisfying in the end. She smiled and nodded at Will’s attempts to tell her of her soon-to-be husband. “It seems I will have to learn of my Lord’s interests in my own time. Perhaps I might be the influence to ensure his health is not compromised by his habits.” Her smile was sweet and almost hopeful when she looked at the young knight.

Dinner passed with more warm conversation, ale and sweets to finish the meal. It grew late and Lorelle reluctantly excused herself from the table as they would be leaving in the morning. “Good evening, Sir Knight. I hope you rest well. I shall ensure the kitchen prepares a good breakfast and travel supplies to nourish us on our way. Thank you for you most excellent company.”

"Thank you, my Lady. I shall meet you on the castle grounds in the morning." Will had thoroughly enjoyed his dinner with the nobles of Tratoix, and the time had gone by rather quickly. He looked over to Lord D'Armitage, who still sat next to him.

"If you'll excuse me my Lord, I believe I will follow the lady's example and retire for the evening. I trust I'll see you before we set out, and look forward to sending a runner to your castle with good news of a safe arrival in Dalmuscus." With that, Will bowed to the Lord of Tratoix and followed the servant in charge of tending to him back to his quarters.

The pair walked down the now dark corridors, continuing their share of puns they had started earlier until they arrived at Will's guest quarters. He bid farewell to the servant and headed inside. He changed into his night robes, laid down in the soft bed, and rested for the evening. The road was sure to be long and perilous, but he was up for the challenge.

Lorelle returned to her rooms, which were more barren now as she prepared to leave than before. Still the servant girls were there to help her prepare for the night and as they brushed her hair, they discussed the entire dinner conversation above her head as if they’d been present. Lorelle was used to how fast rumors and information flew about the manor. She wasn’t surprised that they knew everything. As they chattered about how handsome the knight was and how the Lord Argis must be very smart and what a wonderful surprise that Lorelle could read and write would be to her new husband. They prattled on, but all Lorelle could focus on was the fact that she really was leaving. She went through the rest of her preparations in a bit of a daze and the servant girls cast knowing glances at one another. Just as she began to drift off to sleep, she registered something said about how Lorelle would be out in the wilds with the most handsome of men and no chaperone to protect her. She fell asleep, but her dreams were disturbed.

The morning came far too soon for Lorelle. She rose before the sun peeked over the horizon and again, her servant girls were chattering away over her head as they groomed and dressed her for her long trip. Rather than the fine clothes she wore the previous evening, todays dress was a warm wool surcoat with a plain linen chemise beneath it. A warm cloak and leather belt with soft leather boots finished her dress. Similar clothes were packed for her long journey.

After dressing, Lorelle spent a brief time with her brothers and sisters. Saying good bye was tearful and hard. But she knew she was doing the right thing. A stop in the kitchen to ensure foods were packed into sacks or baskets followed her good-byes and she finally stepped into the court yard where her Father and her dun gelding waited. Lord D’Armitage bent so she might kiss his cheek and he smiled gently. His arms went round her in a tight hug. “I shall miss you, little bird.” He mumbled affectionately.

Lorelle was surprised by the hint of tears in her father’s eye. “But, we shall see one another again, Father. You will come to the wedding and to visit. It is not the end.” She certainly prayed not at least. He nodded, “Of course. Of course. And Young Sir William will see to your safety, I am sure of it.”

William had spent a very restful night in his room. When he awoke the next morning, he put on his armor and secured his weapons. Time for resting was over, and it was back to work. He walked out to the main grounds of the castle where everyone was already waiting. Lorelle and Lord D'Armitage were already saying their parting words when he arrived.

"Hope I didn't keep everyone waiting too long, I wanted to get another look at the castle before we departed. I was uncertain how long it would be before I returned." A servant had come from the stables, Lukus' reins in hand. The war horse seemed excited to see his rider again, and trotted over to William. "I trust everything is packed and ready? Then let us be off, I want to cover as much ground as possible before nightfall." Will secured his pack in place behind the saddle and mounted Lukus, who reared in excitement. He guided the horse over to Lord D'Armitage.

"We shall ride to the next town and take rest at the inn before nightfall. I'll personally see to it that you are sent a message and escort to Dalmuscus when I arrive." With that said, Will dropped all formalities and seemed to change into a completely different person. He was no longer there to make an impression, he was there to protect someone from any and all dangers. "Raise the gates, and let us be off." He glanced behind his shoulder at Lady Lorelle. "You have nothing to fear my Lady, you are in good hands." The castle gates rose, William kicked Lukus' side, and they were off.

Lorelle looked up when William appeared in the grassy court yard. He cut quite an imposing figure as he strode confidently toward them. She smiled and nodded her head to his inquiry. “Yes, the kitchen has packed supplies that should last a few days at least.” She assured him.

Her eyes grew large when Lukus was brought from the stable; she’d never seen such a large creature before. When William mounted and he reared in excitement, the poor stable boy scrambled away in fear. Her father made a cradle of his interlaced fingers so that Lorelle might mount her own horse, and she hooked her leg under the saddle’s horn so she might sit side-saddle comfortably.

The change in the knight’s demeanor did not go unnoticed. It reassured Lord D’Armitage and he nodded to the young man’s plans. “God speed and watch over you both.” He said as he lifted his hand in a wave. But, Lorelle wasn’t certain how she felt about the new, more authoritative attitude the knight had assumed. Certainly, he knew better than she about the ways of the journey before them, and she had no intention of causing him undue worry. But, she would reserve judgment whether he overstepped his bounds or not. Along with this new worry, the thought of leaving her life-long home needled her incessantly, threatening to turn her stomach inside out should she think of it too long.

One last look to her Father and Lorelle nudged her mount forward, following the knight past the gates of the manor. Her gelding trotted comfortably up to the side of William’s Clydesdale and they rode in silence for a time. She wasn’t sure what to talk about. Normal dinner conversation seemed woefully out of place here. It made her cheeks color softly for a reason she couldn’t quite fathom. Finally, looking to Lukus, she smiled, “What do you call your mount? He is fair large. I have never seen a mount like him before.”

William had been looking at the path that led into the mountains, surveying the sky for any signs that their might be people camping out not far off the main path. Smoke billowing into the sky would mean a camp, more importantly so, people lying in wait plotting a kidnapping. Fortunately, his experienced eyes saw no signs of such a threat. He was brought out of this trance like state by a soft voice coming from along side him.

"Oh my apologies my lady, I was looking for possible dangers ahead. Signs of smoke in the sky could have meant ambushers waiting for us to pass them by. Fortunately, I saw no such signs. I think our way will be clear all the way to Drugna village, where we will be taking rest for the night." Will listened to Lorelle's inquiry about Lukus, and he smiled as he explained.

"Lukus is a Clydesdale horse. Their size is intimidating to potential attackers. Since the seat is so high, it's easier to attack dismounted soldiers with a sword as well as providing a good vantage point for shooting arrows as well. Lukus has been my horse ever since he was trained to obey a rider, and we have been through a lot together." Will reached forward and stroked Lukus' neck. "I know his size is intimidating, but I assure you he is a kind steed."

Lorelle’s eyes also lifted the horizon, looking for any signs of people being out in the wilderness. Other than the smoke William mentioned, however she wouldn’t even begin to know what to look for. The idea of bandits made her tremble slightly. But the thought of staying at the Inn tonight helped with that.

William was already quite tall and sitting astride Lukus, Lorelle felt like her own mount was naught but a pony in comparison. Thankfully, the great beast plodded along gently despite his rambunctious display when they’d first prepared to leave. She nodded as the knight explained the advantages of having such a huge horse when one was fighting. “He seems gentle enough now.” She agreed.

Another silence fell on them as they rode and Lorelle wondered about the Knight’s life. How it must have been growing up in a land potentially at war with its neighbors. “Would you mind…telling me about your family, Sir William? You mentioned your father. Have you no other family? I cannot imagine a life such as yours and I do admit to a great curiosity.” She smiled, shyly, “Our own country must seem quite bucolic and dull to you.”