I had been on the road all day. The sun was beginning to go down. I was tired, my chainmail was chafing, my horse was thirsty, and I really needed some food. I was headed for a small fortified town called Blackwell where I was supposed to meet with some other knights to discuss a possible journey to The Holy Land. Personally, I didn't give a hoot if we got the Holy Grail back or not, but I knew I was expected by my King to participate in this pointless exercise, so I obeyed, as is always the duty of a knight.
I knew I should have arrived at Blackwell some time ago, so I was certain I was lost. I came around a bend, and saw a large stone building ahead of me. It was not fortified, but it had large doors clearly meant to discourage. It was surrounded by beautiful flower gardens, and covered from top to bottom with ivy. It was certainly no pub. But I was in desperate need of mead, gruel, and a bath, which I had not had in 4 days. So it was here, or spend the night on a blanket outside in the cold.
I dismounted and sighed with relief. If my horse could have sighed, he would have. I approached the large door and knocked. A minute later it opened, and I was met by a group of cloistered nuns!
"Dear sisters, I am so sorry. I have been traveling for several days trying to find Blackwell, and have become hopelessly lost. May I impose upon your hospitality? I am faint from hunger, and I am ashamed to say that I am unwashed since Sunnenday."
The Mother Superior stepped forward.
"My son, you are most certainly lost. Blackwell is quite a distance away. We have not seen a man come down this road in many a year, unless it is a father bringing his daughter here to join our cloister. Ordinarily, I would not permit a man to enter these sacred walls, but you are a knight, and I trust that you will follow the sanctified commandments of your calling."
"Dear Mother Superior, I am an honorable knight. I would do nothing to stain the noble reputation of all Knighthood."
"Then please come in," she said. "I will have your horse looked after."
As I entered, I was instantly surrounded by giggling young nuns, many of whom had probably not seen a man in many years, and may never have seen a knight.
Mother Superior barked "get back to your vespers, all of you, except sister Ophelia and sister Alma. You two are assigned to treat our guest with respect and to address his needs."
The other nuns scattered, and Mother Superior turned to me, "Ophelia and Alma will take you to your quarters, where you may bathe and then join us for evening suppers."
"Thank you, Mother Superior, I am forever in your debt."
I followed the sisters down the hall. They were respectfully quiet, with heads bowed. Ophelia opened a door and led me in. Alma followed. The room was larger than I had expected, with what appeared to be a comfortable bed, a cast iron bathtub, a stove on which water was already boiling for the bath, and two high up windows that let in the fading sun. Three candles were lit on a table nearby.
I turned to the sisters: "You have been most gracious. I will bathe now. Will you come to get me in a little while, as I don't know how to get to the suppers table?"
"We will," giggled Alma, and they backed out of the room, and closed the door.
I didn't know whether to fall on the bed from exhaustion, or remove my chainmail first. I chose to take off my clothes. It was a project. I was used to getting help from my squire, but he was unable to accompany me on this journey, as he had severe illness in his family.
After several minutes of struggle, I was finally naked. I scratched and adjusted and rubbed all over to try to sooth my aching muscles. I poured the hot water into the tub, refilled the pots so that they would be boiling again for the next bath, and added cool water from the cistern to the bath. When the temperature was right, I got in. Almost instantly dirt and grime from my body turned the water murky.
I reached over the side to get a cake of soap, and when I pulled my head back up, Alma and Ophelia were standing in front of the tub. They carried what appeared to be clean clothes, a robe, and towels.