Hello all! This is my first ever submission so be kind to me!! I was inspired to write it after reading the legend of Sir Guy. It is supposedly about a young knight like the hero of my story, who takes shelter during a storm at Dumbarton Castle. But alas makes the wrong choice (you'll understand when you read the story!) and is forever doomed to haunt the ruins of the castle still searching for the lady he lost (you can find out more on the internet!). But hopefully my hero and heroine will have a much happier ending!
Hope you enjoy it, any comments/suggestions/votes would be very much appreciated. Thank you!!
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Blinded by the driving rain Sir Guy of Embleton led his weary and terrified horse to the crumbling ruin on the cliff side. To think only a few hours previously the weather had been warm and sunny, but being a native of Northumberland, Guy was used to the unpredictability of the weather particularly on this north east reach of England. He had only just returned from the wars to his own castle not too many miles away and had taken the opportunity to ride his favourite stallion across the stunning coast line.
Dunstanburgh Castle loomed ever closer. Nobody had resided there for over a hundred years, and it had already started to decay with age, but it would have to do until the storm calmed. He guided his horse across the rocky and dangerous path and took shelter underneath what used to be the gatehouse. A flash of lightening across the sky lit up the jagged stone work of the towering walls of this once great fortress. Guy was a fearless young man, but he shivered glancing all around him, half expecting for something hideous to reach out and grab him. What he saw next would stay with him for the rest of his days.
The sky had darkened and the air around him seemed to crackle with some unknown and unseen energy. Guy shrugged off his growing unease, telling himself he was a battle hardened warrior not a child still afraid of the dark! As he backed himself more against the wall holding up the once proud and ornate gatehouse out of nowhere appeared a glowing terrifying figure hovering several feet off the ground. The shade stood in the doorway directly next to where the portcullis would have been. Guy stopped breathing unable to comprehend what he was seeing. The figure cried out to him in a rasping ghastly voice that seemed to echo off the walls of the crumbling castle
"Sir Knight, Sir Knight,
If your heart be right
And if your nerves be firm and true,
Sir Knight, Sir Knight,
A beauty bright,
Endurance, waits for you."
The ghostly figure held out a bony hand and beckoned him to follow. Sir Guy's horse reared and fled from the ruin leaving Guy truly alone. As if pushed by some invisible force he found himself following the figure deep into the castle. In his mind a voice was screaming "What are you doing turn back and run! This could be a demon an evil spirit waiting to carry you away!", but Guy's legs moved of their own accord, as the figure glided down the trecherous staircases and fallen bits of masonry into the bowels of the castle.
Suddenly it stopped near a doorway where a faint glow emanated from the room within. As if in a trance Guy stepped into the room. In the room slept at least a hundred knights in full armour, some were lying on the floor, others were propped up against the walls of the large, damp room, but that was not what held Guy captivated. In the middle of the room, in a glass casket, lay the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. Whilst the sensible voice in his head was still screaming at him that this was all a mirage, the red blooded male in him knew on some deep instinct that this was no trick, this woman would be his if he had to fight single handedly against all the knights in the room to get her.
On top of the casket lay a sword and a horn. The figure turned to Guy and told him that he could only release the Lady from her endless sleep by making the right choice – the horn or the sword? Guy stealthily crept over the sleeping warriors to the beauty, his hand went to reach for the horn, but stopped. He had to make the right choice, the blade would surely frighten the maiden but it would make much less noise and he could use it to defend himself and his lady. He slowly picked up the sword, and lifted the lid off the casket. His breath caught in his throat, every muscle in his tall well built body held in tight ready to attack any who might try to stop him from taking her from this place. The water dripping from his dark hair fell onto the girls bodice. Guy took a moment to look upon her beauty more closely. She had chestnut brown hair that flowed down her back to her waist, breasts that heaved with every intake of breath and strained against the green and gold bodice, and full rose pink lips. He shook himself from his reverie to concentrate on the task in hand. Holding the blade towards the lady's throat he pressed the cold steel gently being careful not to break the pure white skin, he bent towards her ear and whispered softly "Awaken." With a great intake of breath she opened her lovely eyes and stared straight up at him almost into his very soul. She opened her mouth wide as if she made to scream, making Guy clamp his hand across her mouth. He quickly looked around the room making sure nobody was awake; he looked to the doorway and saw that the ghostly figure had gone. Guy turned to her,
