Chapter 1
A long time ago when the nobility ruled the world, the rivalries and alliances of nations were manifested in the quarrels and unions of the royal families, and vice versa. All too often, the union of nations occurred faster that the union of hearts.
We enter this story a month's eve of the noble lady Isana's wedding day. The lady had been betrothed to a prince however she knows almost nothing of her groom. Desperate to learn everything she can about her future husband, she has summoned her maiden Alicia.
The lady Isana paced the room awaiting the arrival of her maiden. Her chamber, although lavishly furnished, was of stone as was the rest of the castle. Her steps reverberated throughout the room. The pensive manor she wore on her face was as apparent as the exquisite dress that she wore on her body. There was a gentle rapping at the lady's door followed by the sweet voice of the maiden Alicia, "Ma' Lady, you sent for me."
"Yes I did. Enter," commanded the lady Isana. Here entered a plainly dressed maiden of barely twenty years age. Her submissive blue eyes fell to the floor as she curtsied before her mistress. Her golden hair reflected the sun's rays that shown through the window momentarily before she stood upright, but her eyes still remained on the floor.
"What do you know of my future husband?" Isana asked in an inquisitive tone as she began to slowly pace around Alicia.
"I… I know only his reputation, which undoubtedly is known by you ma' lady," replied Alicia in an uncomforted voice.
"What do you know of my future husband?" the lady Isana asked again, in a sterner tone this time. Her circular path around Alicia began to shrink in diameter.
Alicia's gaze lowered further "The prince Albert, son of your great father's ally King Dietrich is a said to be fine young man of exceptional intelligence and a patron of the arts… Um, he is said to be…"
"As you said I already know his reputation," Isana interrupted, "In fact, that is all anyone seems to know about him. I need you to find out more about him."
"Of course ma' lady," answered Alicia, "What would have me do?"
"Endear yourself to the captain of the guard," commanded the lady Isana, "Surely he has contacts in King Dietrich's court and would have information about the prince. Exploit the weakness of all men, learn of the disposition of my future husband, and report back to me."
"Yes lady," Alicia said obediently, "Is there anything else you require of me?"
"Yes, there is," the lady Isana tightened her circle around Alicia, slowing her pace, "After I am wedded, I will have to perform the duty of ever noble woman. I will have to produce an heir. The midwives have been informative, but first hand observation is a far better guide than any verbal account, besides I suspect there are omissions in their accounts." Isana ended her pacing and stood directly in front of Alicia, "When you 'exploit his weakness,' arrange it so that I may discretely observe so that I may fully understand my marital duties."
"I will do all that you ask ma' lady," Alicia's eyes were at the hem of her dress, and her cheeks burned already, embarrassed at the thought of performing her duty. Just then a soft palm caressed Alicia's enflamed cheek.
"Alicia, look up to me," Isana's voice now soft and calming. Alicia slowly raised her head and saw the caring warmth of her lady's deep brown eyes. The sunlight from the window illuminated the lady's head from behind casting a red corona though her auburn hair. The lady placed a gentle hand on the cheek of the maiden. "I know this will be hard for you, but you will be performing a great service."
"I serve at your pleasure ma' lady," Alicia answered fighting to maintain her composure. With that, Isana closed the distance between them and embraced her warmly as if to share her soul.
Isana whispered gently into Alicia's ear, "You are the steadfast rock of my life, Alicia. I will always love you best."
Chapter 2
We enter the scene at the end of a training session. The valiant knight had been instructing his men in the art of combat since the break of dawn. The sun had begun to make its decent towards the west from its midday height. The maiden Alicia stood in the gallery that surrounded the training field.
There were several pairs of knights sparing. Dressed in studded leathers and helmets and armed with shields and wooden weapons, they practiced their skills in mock combat. They were all saturated with perspiration. All the signs of heavy exertion were written upon them. Some of them even had bandages on what must have been wounds earned that day.
As she walked along the gallery, Alicia recognized the emblems upon their shields. She gazed among them in search of the knight Aldwyn: a blue fox, a red diagonal stripe, and a white field. She saw the emblem. She saw the knight. His display of technique and skill was impressive.
Although she had no training in the arts of war, Alicia could see as could anyone that his abilities were formidable. To her, it resembled a strange form of dance than anything she could imagine. The back and forth motions of thrust, parry, block, and such were powerful and quick. Her heart skipped a few times at the sound of a well placed hit. This was supposed to be mock combat, but by the ferocity with which they fought, one would think they were fighting for their lives.
After a few more minutes, the knight Aldwyn seemed to give a sign to his partner to cease combat. A second later, he gave a throaty bellow that could've been heard over any crowd, "Stay your weapons!" All at once, the din of simulated combat ended. Only the sound of heavy breath and groans of exhaustion were heard.
"Men, you have fought hard and well today. Today you have earned your rest. Go and rest, for tomorrow we will begin again at first light. That is all," and with that, the knight Aldwyn dismissed the group. Slowly they made their way off the field, to the baths that awaited them.
Of the men to walk off the field, Aldwyn was the last. As he walked off, he noted that a maiden was staring at him from the gallery and apparently had been doing so for some time. He thought he vaguely recognized her from court. He also noted that his maidservant was not present. This was highly out of the ordinary. Normally Sarah was would be waiting for him.
Just as Aldwyn was about to pass through the gallery towards the baths, the maiden he had noted from the gallery stepped before him, eyes bent low as she bowed before him. "Sir Knight," Alicia spoke reverently awaiting to be addressed.
"Maiden," Aldwyn asked, "do you know where Sarah is today?"
"She felt ill this morning sir. She asked that I take her duties for the day," Alicia answered.
"She isn't well?" Aldwyn asked sounding both surprised and concerned, "She mentioned nothing of it to me. Has a nurse been called?"
"There's no need of a nurse," Alicia's voice trembling slightly, "I'm sure a day's rest is all medicine that she needs."
Aldwyn's eyes narrowed on the bowed head of the timid maiden. "Look at me," he commanded.
"It would be disrespectful for me to look upon the features of a nobleman," Alicia's voice trembling even more.
"It would be a greater disrespect to disobey one," Aldwyn's voice was firm at first but then he softened his tone, "I wish to see you face. Look at me." Slowly Alicia's raised her head but only to where she stood up straight, looking into the Knight's broad chest. Aldwyn raised his right hand to her face and caught her chin between his thumb and index finger. Gently but firmly, he tilted her head up as to meet his gaze. Aldwyn's eyes looked for any sign lying in hers.
Alicia tried desperately to keep her hands and knees from shaking. The feel of the knight's roughened hand on her face and the intensity of his eyes upon her was most unsettling. Her skin crawled and her heart fluttered. Not only was this the first time a nobleman had touched her but this was the first time she saw the knight's face up close, and she found him breathtakingly handsome. The pronounced bones of his cheeks sat high, just below his deeply set green eyes. The sweeping black hairs of his brows reminded her of raven's wings. His jaw was firmly set with only a trace of stubble on his cheeks.
