When I came to my senses I was back in the strange high backed chair, unable to move surrounded by darkness. Before my eyes was the evil mirror, its carved demonic faces leering back at me.
Through the mirror I could see the great stone hall of a manor or castle. It was lit only by the light emanating from great fireplace and from a chandelier filled with candles. In this room I could see my darling wife Dee. She was dressed in a green renaissance style gown; it was low-cut with a laced-up bodice, which showed off her lovely bosom. Her hair was curled and piled up on her head in a most attractive fashion. She was a vision of loveliness but in her eyes I saw anxiousness or maybe even fear as she gazed at the heavily barred door to the hall.
Then I saw why. There a was a loud crash and the door shook on its hinges, the heavy wooden bar that held it closed nearly splintered. My darling looked around for some means of escape. There were others fleeing the room, servants I thought. She tried to escape through small wooden door but it was locked. Then she tried to follow a servant through an iron gate, but he locked it before she could reach it.
She begged him to let her in but, he sorrowfully shook his head and said.
"The Baron comes for you lady. Maybe, if we give you to him he will leave us in peace."
She shook the bars and called out to him to open the gate to help her, but he fled into the darkness, leaving her alone and trapped in the great hall. There was another crash and her head whipped around to see the great wooden doors burst asunder. Into the hall strode men armed and armored for war. There were thirteen of them, but only three were of note. One man, his armor more ornate and gold chased than the others was clearly a nobleman, another carried a mace instead of a sword and wore a helm very reminiscent of a bishops' miter, the third was the largest of the men and wore a helm with the face of a ravening wolf. Following them into the room was a finely dressed woman of about forty years of age. It was Lydia again.
My wife stood brought to bay by these intruders in her own home. She was trembling slightly but tried to keep her voice steady as she spoke.
"Why have you attacked my home? What do you want?"
The men laughed, but Lydia hushed them with a look.
"My brother, the Baron Otto wants your lands my dear lady Dee And since you have spurned his generous and honorable offers of marriage, it became obvious that we must take matters into our own hands"
The baron removed his helm and smiled coldly at Dee. He was about forty as well heavy-set, but not unhandsome. His hair was jet black as were his beard and moustache. His gaze lingered on her face, but took in the rest of her form appreciatively.
My darling tore her gaze from him, but saw that indeed all the men present were eyeing her with ill concealed lust.
Lydia continued. "We brought the Bishop of Nydaman here to officiate at the joyful joining of you and my brother the most noble Baron Otto."
My wife seemed ready to protest but Lydia raised one hand to silence her and continued. "Before you speak let me say plainly what the consequences of such a refusal will be. First, this house shall be razed to the ground. Second, any person's attached to the household shall be put to the sword at once. "Thirdly," and here Lydia smiled very coldly at Dee "You will be given to our men, to be their plaything...until they tire of you."
"You wouldn't dare!" My wife's eyes flashed with defiance and anger. "I am nobly born as you Lydia that would be an infamous crime. The king would not forgive you or your brother."
"True." Otto said in his smarmy voice. "But the King is far away and no one will be alive to bear him the news." He waited a moment for the words to sink in. "Lady I have waited for months for us to be joined in holy matrimony. I will not wait a moment longer. Say you will be mine or I shall unleash my men on this House, your people and your body."
My darling close her eyes in horror at the devil's bargain being force upon her. Then nodding slowly she looked at the baron and spoke. "My people and I will be treated with honor?"
The baron smiled, gloating, he knew now that his case was won. "Of course my dear lady; you shall be treated with all the honor you deserve." He gave a sidelong glance to his sister, who responded with a thin wicked smile, which sent chills down my spine. I wanted to call out to Dee, to warn her that they had no intention of honoring any bargain, but my voice was stilled again.
The Bishop removed his helmet to reveal his baldhead and corpulent features. His beady eyes squinted as he pulled out a rolled parchment, which he examined before laying it open on the table before my wife. "This is the marriage contract Lady. It requires only your signature, my blessing and of course the consummation for your marriage to be legal and binding under the laws of God and man. We can have a full ceremony at a later date" He lingered suggestively over the word consummation and I could see my darling barely repress a shudder of disgust. Sign it she did however while her enemies looked on with satisfaction.
Baron Otto then took her by the hand and together they stood before the Bishop who said the necessary words to wed my beautiful Dee to this awful man. I could see the distress in my darling's beautiful face as she pronounced the words "I do."
"Now to the marriage bed." Otto said after he had kissed her full on the lips. "I am eager to exercise my rights as your husband." My wife stoically accepted these words and let him lead her by the hand.
"Wait brother!" Cried Lydia in a commanding voice. "There are older customs here that must be observed. The good Bishop and I, as well as Your man Wulfstan shall witness the consummation of your marriage to ensure this Lady does not enscorcell you with her wiles and to ensure that it is you and you alone who put the seed of your heirs into her belly."
