Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 09:10:04 +0100
From: Amy Redek <adultreading@gmail.com>
Subject: Once a Knight. Part Nine.

  Part Nine

     I had a dreamless sleep and woke up full of vigour. So much so that I
rolled over on top of Louise who yawned at this attack but suffered my
attack as I got her legs open and ploughed in seeking only to satisfy
myself this time. I came with full force as I ground my pelvic bones up
hard against hers as I did so. She gasped and even whimpered when I pulled
out.

     `You must do battle more often if that's how I'm to be awoken,' she
said as she got out of bed to douche herself. I too got out of bed and
shouted out for someone to fetch Breech. He must have slept outside in the
corridor or had been up early for the door instantly opened and he was
there. Lady Louise was already back in bed so he didn't see her nakedness
as he came in and washed me down and helped me get dressed. It was still
dark outside as we went down to eat some breakfast, the other members being
alerted that the master was up and about, so there was food ready for me to
eat.

     I hadn't armoured myself before eating, Breech bringing it all down to
the hall while I ate and as soon as I had finished, he helped me get fully
dressed in this heavy armour for the fighting that would be taking place
this day.

     I went out onto the steps of the keep and was pleased to see that the
place was alive with movement and that the battlements were already manned
as the sky was now perceptibly lightening. I went up to them to see over
the walls that the opposing forces of de Marchand had moved closer and that
there was activity in their camp. It was also noted that the women had done
their part for up there were piles of rocks for throwing down on the forth
coming assailants.

     Our portcullis for the inner courtyard was down but I had deliberately
left the drawbridge down to draw them into the close confines of the outer
courtyard where they would be easier targets for the bowmen I had left as
well as the rock throwers. It was heartening to hear the cheer that came up
when I was spotted out on the steps. Another cheer rang out and I looked
round and saw that Louise had come and stood by me.

     `Take heart you men of Fontaine Castle,' she cried out in a loud
voice, `for you are not alone nor will you be for very long. To you women,
support your man and if you haven't got one, you'd better move fast and
grab one.' There was much laughter at this and it was followed by whistles
and cheers at her little speech as she held onto my arm and gave me a kiss
on the cheek.

     `Now they will fight to the death which is not going to happen because
they now have real faith in you,' she whispered into my ear. I smiled my
thanks at these words and went off to see Michael that all was ready for
the onslaught to come.

     That wasn't long in coming either for while I was up on the wall we
could see them start to form up and begin the march towards us. I estimated
that they numbered about two hundred and I could see that they were wary
when they saw that the outer drawbridge was down and envisaged it being a
trap. I would like to have set one but nothing had come to my mind, and I'd
rather have them come right into that narrow passage than scale the walls
from all points of the compass.

     A few men were sent in first to see if there indeed was a trap but
they were signalled that all was clear, the rest began to surge
forward. That was when the bowmen started loosing off arrows as fast as
they could, bringing down nearly as many men as arrows that were fired into
the thick of men that came through the arch.

     It was when they reached the gate to the inner courtyard that we
really began to retaliate, throwing rocks, spears and whatever would be
harmful to the attackers. Though they used shields to protect their heads,
we still managed to fell quite a few before they retreated to parley as to
how they could scale the walls or break through the archway.

     At this standoff, I could see in the distance a horseman leave the
tented area that flew the black flag and guessed by the size and the way he
rode, that this was the half brother of the man I'd killed, one Sir Henry
de Marchand. He rode up to the drawbridge and stopped there and called out
to his captain who hurried outside to talk.

     Their talk was interrupted by the sounding of a horn from back at his
camp and I saw them both turn and I too looked up to see in the distance,
outriders of a column of men approaching from the same direction they
had. The trumpet sounded again and there were hurried words between Sir
Henry and his captain and Sir Henry wheeled his horse round and rode
off. The captain was quick to shout orders and the men down there started
to move out of the castle.

     `It's father!' Louise cried out, suddenly appearing by my side. `He's
come! He's come!' she shouted, jumping up and down as she hung onto my
arm. `Now's the time William. Seize the chance!'

     I didn't need to be told for I was already shouting my orders down to
the courtyard to saddle up the horses and prepare to go to battle. What a
bustle there was going on there as I got down and went to where my horse
was being held ready for me. I was helped up into the saddle and given my
helmet which I put on with the visor up.

     `Give Mungo a horse,' I cried and held the horse from skittering
around at my loud cry. I hadn't thought of asking before if he could ride
but being a land boy, he must have learned something of the animals. As it
happened, he hadn't, but he got on and it was only because the horse had
been trained, that it followed the rest of us out of the castle, him
holding onto my flag and the reins in a tight and frightened grip. I reined
back to come alongside him.

     `Hold the reins firm Mungo so that your nag doesn't follow us when we
charge. Keep him back and keep that flag flying whatever you do.' his face
was white but he nodded and pulled the reins tight up to his chest.

     The others of the castle were now pouring out and I shouted to them
that we must follow and see that we catch them before they could regroup
and be under control. I wheeled my mount round and caught up with the rest
of the troop and dropping my visor, led them into a charge at the
stragglers of Sir Henry's army.

     We caught these and cut them down and then slowed to let the rest of
our men catch us up and I found that Sir Henry couldn't have picked a worse
place for himself for his night's camp. It was at the base of two slopes
with us now crowding the side closest to the castle as Sir Edmund, Louise's
father and his men came over the top of the opposite rise. What a sight for
sore eyes that was, to see the purple and white flag of de Arras there and
I got a wave from the leading horseman and instinctively knew that it was
my future father-in-law. I waved back and pointed with great exaggeration
at Sir Henry's camp and he understood the message for I saw him turn to his
flag bearer and this was waved from side to side.

     `So men, let's finish this once and for all,' I cried and pointed my
drawn sword down the slope and led the men forward. I had time to see Sir
Edmund's men come over the rise and estimated that he had around two
hundred men which balanced up the fight in respect of numbers. The
difference was we had them surrounded in a hollow of the land and went at
them from two sides.

     Me and four of my men hacked our way through the milling mob of men
that were not putting up much resistance and broke through to be not more
than a hundred feet or so from the tents.

     Sir Henry was there, on foot with his personal guard before his tent
and banner as I pulled my horse up and slithered out of the saddle to also
be on foot as I approached him. I heard him tell his men to hold back as he
wanted me for himself.

     I hadn't realised that he was as big as his brother had been though I
knew he was at least ten years younger and therefore more agile than his
brother had been. His shoulders looked as broad as mine and I knew I was in
for a hard fight.

     I kept moving forward and told myself to treat this like a tournament
fight and to keep calm and not let my temper rise. His sword was in his
hand and he made the first move of a sudden forward slash to follow up with
another swing back which made me jump back rather quickly. Then came the
clanging clash of iron upon iron. Such was the force of the two blades
coming together, broke both. We both jumped back and sought fresh swords
which I was as quick to be handed one as he was. I saw in that brief
instance that the red coats were getting closer all the time and that my
banner wasn't far behind.

     I swung round in time to counter his swing and return the parry and
force him back, noting the similarity of his arm movement to that of his
late brother. This I tested several times in our cut and slash at each as
we circled about and knew that they had both been trained by the same man
which gave me just the slightest of edges having fought Sir Gregory.

     With just those few minutes of fighting, we were both breathing
heavily for I could hear his rasping breath when we were up close and I'm
sure he was sweating as heavily as I was underneath the armour we wore. But
these were only fleeting thoughts as I had to concentrate on watching the
tilt of his head to try and see which way he turned it which gave me again
a slight edge to know which way he was going to swing his arm.

     It's difficult to fight and see properly through the slit in the visor
with sweat running down into your eyes, so it was always a twitch of the
head from both of us when we broke apart. The sight that gave me heart was
to see the white and purple banner come right up close to the tent of the
black banner and in a turn to see my men behind me now and knew that we
held the field and it was up to me to complete the victory.

     I cursed myself for this waver of my attention for he caught me just
above the gauntlet of my right arm and it felt as though he'd paralysed
that arm enough for me to drop my sword. There were gasps from those that
were now surrounding us and I had to dodge two slices of his sword as he
moved in closer.

     `Sire!' I heard the cry and darted back to take the proffered sword in
my left hand. I heard the muffled shout from Sir Henry when he saw me take
up my position again in front him now carrying the sword in my left
hand. He came in fast and I was able to parry his blows and still get a
resounding clang when my sword bounced off the side of his helmet before we
separated to regain our breath. I was flexing the fingers of my right hand
as fast as I could to try and get feeling back into the hand as he came in
again which I countered and drove him back, surprising him of being able to
handle a sword with my left hand as good as my right.

     I could now feel my fingers responding to my wishes and knew that the
muscles and tendons hadn't been cut or severed. As I moved back in towards
Sir Henry and lock swords, I drew the dagger from its sheath at my side and
keeping our blades locked, rammed it up by the side of his codpiece, into
his groin and lower belly.

     He gave out a cry and slowly bent forward as though he was bowing to
me and I twisted the blade as I pulled it back making him cry out again and
bringing the dagger up between the small gap between us, rammed it up under
the rim of his helmet and into his lower inner head.

     He snapped his head back and my dagger came free which I sheathed as
he staggered back, bending his body again as though to hold the pain in
from his stomach wound. With his head coming down it was a reflex action on
my part to lash out with my boot and connect with the base of his helmet to
send him back upright and totter for a moment before crashing over onto his
back, His arms went wide and his sword fell from his hand and I could hear
a gurgling coming from his helmet and I quickly bent down and pulled it
off. His eyes were already glazing and unseeing as blood kept coming out of
his mouth and I realised that he was already dead and this was just the
lungs expelling the air and blood which was making this strange noise.

     That was all that could be heard for a moment before there began a
loud cheering and I now looked up and lifted my visor to see I was surround
by red tunics now being mixed up with those of a white and purple
colouring. An armoured man with the same coloured crest on his helmet came
forward and grasped my arm.

     `Sir William I believe,' he said and I could see his eyes twinkling
through his raised visor.

     `Sir Edmund. You were a sight for sore eyes. Thank you for coming,' I
panted.

     `I wouldn't have missed that fight for all the gold in
Christendom. Right hand and then left hand and the use of the dagger,
sweet.'

     `Thank you again sir for your timely arrival. I think the Lady Louise
will be most pleased to see you,' I said.

     `From the letter she wrote I think she'll be more pleased to see you,'
he said enigmatically with a laugh. `Now let's to horse and ride to your
castle in style. Let the men pick over the bones of the carrion.'

     A horse was brought forward for me and I was helped into the saddle as
was Sir Edmund and I then saw the beaming face of Mungo, all grins as he
somehow managed to get his horse to come up alongside mine.

     `Well done sire, well done!' he cried, and I couldn't help but grin if
he only but knew that he was praising his own half brother. So he followed
half a horse length behind me with his banner being proudly held aloft
while I had Sir Edmund on the other side with his banner man proudly
displaying his emblem.

     We were a scarce half mile from the castle and they that had stayed
behind had all watched from the walls and they were most vociferous in
their cries of glee and welcome at Sir Edmund's arrival and my defeat of
Sir Henry.

     As befitting her station, Louise was standing on the top of the keep's
steps with Lady Annette and my cousins just behind her to welcome her
father but finally showed her affection for him by suddenly running down
the steps as we dismounted to fling her arms about him before embracing me.

     `Welcome, welcome my two heroes,' she cried, literally, for the tears
were pouring down her face. Kissing me full on the lips for I already had
my helmet off before she turned to kiss her father's cheek after he'd
removed his.

     `My, my. Imprisonment seems to suit you daughter, for I've never seen
you so radiant. Could it be love?' he asked with a chuckle. She hugged his
arm and almost dragged him up the steps and into the keep.

     `Oliver!' I called out and he was quickly to my side. `See that three
or four oxen are slaughtered and roasted and that all of Sir Edmund's men
get the choicest morsels. After ours of course,' I said in a low voice and
with a grin, `and lots of ale, for they have all deserved it. I will
address the men in one hour, so see that they all get a good drink first
and be ready out here at that time.'

     `Yes sire,' he said with a huge grin on his face and I paused at the
top step and waved at the brave men that had fought for me and got a
resounding cheer from them all before I went into the keep.

     But Oliver knew better and had followed me inside and soon had pages
and servants scurrying around to place chairs at the top table and see that
flagons of ale and wine were soon on the table as well as food for us to
pick at. Only when he saw that we were being looked after properly did he
leave to issue out my orders for the seeing to of the men outside.

     `Father, you don't know at how pleased and delighted we were to see
your banner coming forward this morning. I thank God that you were in
time,' Louise said as she took a deep drink and then hiccupped for
swallowing too fast. I echoed her words.

     `What more could I do than answer my daughter's cry for help to aid my
future son-in-law,' he said with a smile.

     `I beg your pardon sir?' I asked, not quite sure that I heard aright
what he had said. He looked at his daughter who cast her eyes down.

     `What's this daughter? Hasn't he asked for you yet?' he said to her.

     `Well, not exactly. He has been rather busy for the last month since
he freed me,' she said now looking up at him before looking at me. `I
rather think he wanted to ask your permission first.' Her face had gone a
little red and I felt mine go the same way as he looked first at me then at
his daughter before looking back at me. The crafty sod knows I've already
bedded her, I thought as I cleared my throat.

     `Apart from my thanks for your coming here today on such short
notice. I...I...er, well, since releasing the Lady Louise from
imprisonment, I... I er, have come to admire her feistiness and... and. Oh
shit! Sir, can I marry your daughter?' I finally blurted out, not being
able to put into words all that I wanted to say for I knew that if carried
on I would really make a fool of myself in front of those present around
the table and in the hall.

     `Has he been honourable?' he asked of Louise who looked him straight
in the eyes and said yes, and I had to stifle a laugh at the old joke, that
she offered her honour and he honoured her offer and all night long he was
on her and off her. I lifted my cup of ale up to my mouth to hide the grin
and winced for I'd used my right hand and blood poured out of my gauntlet
and splashed onto the table.

     `Oh, you've been wounded,' cried Louise as she jumped up from the
table and was quickly by my side to start pulling off my mailed glove.

     `It's not bad,' I said as the glove came off.

     `Breech!' she shouted. `Fetch water and cloths,' and she began undoing
the straps of the lower cannon which was a protective covering for the
forearm. It was badly scored were the sword had sliced down and gone under
the gauntlet. The flesh just above my wrist had been sliced open and she
then asked one of my cousins to fetch needle and thread.

     So to the amused Sir Edmund, he watched his daughter fuss over my
wound and me to stifle any noise as she began to sew the flap of skin back
before washing it again and then covering it with a clean cloth before
tying it to keep the wound clean.

     `So now that the wounded hero has been patched up,' Sir Edmund began
and I looked up quickly but didn't see any mockery in his face as he spoke
again, `I'll continue. In answer to your question, is that if you are
willing to take on this truculent daughter of mine who constantly has
disobeyed me and think you can tame her, my answer is yes, and may you both
be very happy.'

     Louise turned from me and hugged her father before kissing me on the
cheek and then went and sat down next to Annette and began talking about
the wedding.

     `Well my boy,' Sir Edmund turned to me. `Whilst having your fight,
your captain told me of how the reduced the other side to half its number
with only a fraction of losses yourself. I wished I could have seen
it. Brilliant tactics, brilliant.'

     `It wasn't my idea sir. I copied it from an old manuscript here about
some of Caesar's campaigns in Gaul,' I admitted.

     `Good job the other side hadn't read it then. Now what are you going
to do with de Marchand's castle?'

     `Take it over, for there aren't any other offspring to contest me.'

     `What about the land?'

     `Half is for you for your timely intervention sir.'

     `Oh I don't need it! I've got enough as it is, but I'll accept it and
then give it back to you as part of my daughter's dowry.' I stammered my
thanks, forgetting all about the question of a dowry.

     `Now as to the wedding,' he went on, `I would like it to be at Arras
Castle for her mother would have liked that. In ten days time? I don't
think we should leave it much later than that,' he said with a twinkle in
his eye and it confirmed that he knew that we'd been to bed already. That's
when he showed me her letter.

     `Minx,' I muttered under my breath when I read it. `I've been hooked!'
he laughed and slapped me on the back.

     `Now, can we stay for a few days for my bones are weary of that hard
ride and then the fight?' he queried.

      `Most certainly,' I replied, shouting out for Oliver. `See that rooms
are prepared for Sir Edmund and accommodation for his men.'

     `It is now being done sire,' he answered with a smile.

     `Good man, and are the men assembled outside?'

     `Yes sire.'

     `If you'll excuse me sir,' I said to Sir Edmund rising from the
table. `I must speak to the men and thank them for the fine effort that
they have put in over the past few days.' He acknowledged this and a
servant was detailed to show him to his chamber whilst I went out onto the
steps of the keep with Oliver behind me. I gave them a short speech of
thanks and then spoke to Oliver so that they could hear what I said.

     `Every man is to be given two pieces of silver. Two pieces of silver
are to be given to the mothers of single men that fell in the battles and
four pieces to every wife who lost a husband.' There were big cheers at
this and Oliver nodded with a beaming smile on his face. `We'll ransack Sir
Henry's place for his silver to make sure we don't lose out on the deal,' I
said as an aside for his ears only. I gave a wave to the men and went back
inside feeling very tired and weary and with a now throbbing right forearm.
I shouted for Breech and was told that he was already up in my chamber
preparing a bath for me. Which I sorely needed for I felt sweaty and filthy
under my heavy armour as well as covered in the blood of the men I had
killed.

     What a relief it was to be out of the armour and feeling quite light
headed, sank down into the hot water and let Breech wash my hair as well as
my body. I was that tired I couldn't even get an erection when he washed
the family jewels, and it was a relief to lie on the bed and close my eyes
and drift off to sleep.

                                                           *