"The Maiden´s Knight_early01" by Chelsea Castonguay

                                The Maiden’s Knight

                                                                (second edition)

                                                                    Preface

            Who are my parents? This is a question I have pondered for so long…. I have long since known their legendary names and the fables about them, but never really knew who they were. When my uncle Richard gave me these two journals, which he said belonged to them; I was hesitant to read them. Perhaps my parents had secrets they wanted to keep?

            Uncle Richard says that they were merely children in love, and that love makes you do crazy things. He himself was once married to a dairy girl who died on their wedding night! Though he has since remarried, he will sometimes tell me of her. He says she was much like my mother; in fact, they were sisters. Both born daughters of a lord, one raised in privilege and the other beaten and humiliated, reduced to servitude.

            I have been told that my mother gave me to Uncle Richard when I was a babe; she and my father had to leave Britain for some reason, but she promised they would be back for me. They have never been heard from since. I am now sixteen, the same age she was when she wrote this journal. My father was only a year older then she was.

            I wonder, will I ever meet them? And if I do, will I be like them? Will we love each other? I hope so. I miss them.

                                                                        May

            May 1^st

            It is my unfortunate luck to be trapped in doors on the most beautiful day of spring. Of course, it is my own fault, being the clumsy fool that I am. How it came about was this:

            This morning, it being May Day, I snuck away from my mother and her ladies, who have become obsessed with sewing clothes for the babe my mother carries. I am fifteen, and ever since the death of my twin brother Rowling and younger sister Odelle seven years ago, my mother has attempted to have more children.  She had near given up when she finally conceived; my new baby brother or sister will be born in late September, if all goes well.

            Well, I should probably explain how I came to be cloistered here in the solar, with the shudders closed and the fire built up. After I succeeded in getting out of the house, I ran down to the village, hoping to get there in time to see the Maypole dance. It is my favorite event of the whole spring and summer, and usually I do not get to see it, because my mother thinks it is too undignified for me to mingle with the commoners. I wonder why it was all right for me to play with the village girls when I was a child, but now that I am nearing womanhood, my mother has forbade me to associate with any of my old friends. I miss them terribly, as I hardly ever see anyone outside of the Manor, with Nottingham being so far from Court.

            I was terribly excited as I joined the villagers as they crossed the bridge leading to the town square. In all the excitement of the chattering crowd, no one took notice of me and I was jostled to the edge of the bridge. Suddenly, a boy came galloping through the crowd on the back of the miller’s donkey. In their haste to get out of the way, the villagers pushed me right into the filthy, stinking river!

            I came up choking, and gasping for air, reaching frantically for something to grab on to. I could hear villagers screaming above me and I tried to call for help, but my lungs were too full of water. I slipped back under the water, and I thought for sure I was going to die among the broken crates and fish guts.

            Suddenly, I felt an arm grasp me about the waist and I was hauled onto the sandy shore. I coughed up all the disgusting water, and looked up into a pair of the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen…

            Here comes my nurse Agnes with another one of her smoky goblets of potion. I only hope this one tastes better then the last; dung is never a treat. More later. – Ella

            May 1^st

            How could I imagine that today I would save Lord Henry’s only daughter? This morning was the same as any: I rose and went on my way to the fields, even though the rest of the village was celebrating May Day. As we crossed the bridge, I watched as Lord Henry’s daughter, the Lady Ella was shoved off the bridge. No one else could swim, and she was sure to drown, so I did the only thing I could; I jumped in after her.

            I pulled her out of the water, and thank God she was fine. Someone had run to the manor to tell her father, and before long he was riding down the road, looking worried and afraid. He wrapped her in his cloak and set her on his horse, while I stood aside, my clothes already drying in the hot sun. He turned around, looking through the crowd.

            “Who saved her?” he finally asked, quietly, but every one standing on the riverbank heard him. Before I could speak up, one of the blond, buxom wenches from the local tavern pushed her way through the crowd, and caught my elbow.

            “Mi’Lord,  t’was Robin. He saved her.” I started, slightly frightened. Perhaps Lord Henry would think I had pushed her in, too? But my fears were unfounded; suddenly, he was grasping my hand in both of his.

            “Thank you, Robin. You have saved my daughter, and that I owe you a great debt. I recall that your parents are dead four winters past, am I right?” I nodded, wondering what he was getting at. He smiled widely, and turned from me, to speak to what seemed the entire village. I looked up, and Ella was seated on the horse, smiling at me. I blushed and turned my attention back to Lord Henry.

            “In return for saving Lady Ella’s life, it is my intention to take young Robin into my home and train him to be a knight.” At once, everyone around me was clapping and cheering, patting me on the back and shouting my name. My mind was a whirl, as I tried to take in everything Lord Henry had said. It is very rare for a penniless serf to be trained as a knight, even one who could read and write like myself.

            During the commotion, the Lord had swung up onto his horse behind Ella. The sun was behind him, and I squinted, trying to see him.

            “Come to my home tomorrow. We shall have a banquet to celebrate you joining our family.” Without another word, the Lord swung his horse back onto the road, taking his beautiful daughter with him.

            The excitement now over, the villagers turned and walked back towards the Maypole, leaving me alone beside the sparkling river with my thoughts and confusions. How quickly things can change! What would my mother have thought if she was here now? I wish I knew.  –Robin

            May 2^nd

            He is here!! My father has adopted him and will train him as knight! I am so excited that I can barely contain myself, but perhaps I’d better explain this from the beginning. Surely someday I’ll want to remember this clearly.

            Last night, after Agnes had tucked me into bed (while it was still light out!) my father came to my chamber. He sat on my bed beside me, and took my hand.

            “Ella, you know the young man that rescued you today?” he asked. I nodded; I have been daydreaming of his blue eyes and silky red-blond hair all day.

            “He is going to come to live in the manor. I shall have him trained as a knight, and he will also be a companion for you. I wish you could see more people your age, but your mother insists that you remain here instead of being sent to Court. Anyway, she will need your help with the baby coming this autumn…” I smiled vacantly, waiting for him to come to the point. With most people, my father is articulate and succinct, but with me it always feels as though he is talking to me as if I am a young child incapable of following a conversation. It frustrates me, but I know he does it because he wants me to stay young forever.

            “You don’t mind, do you, Ella? I know he is a peasant, but he is a very nice boy. His parents are dead,” he added unnecessarily. All today, when they thought I wasn’t listening, my mother and her ladies gossiped about the boy (his name is Robin) and his family. It seems his mother was a noble lady and a distant cousin of the king. She married Robin’s father, who was a blacksmith, and they moved here when Robin was a babe. His father died when a horse he was shod-ding went wild and kicked him into a vat of boiling iron! And his mother died just a few months after of a fever. Robin has been living on his own ever since.

            “Tomorrow we shall have banquet in his honor. I want you to sit beside him and keep him entertained. Be kind to him and be his friend until he learns his way about the manor.” I nodded, trying to appear too eager. Although my father is usually very open to new ideas, I know he would not permit a relationship between his ‘lady’ daughter and a knight. He still believes in marriage by station. I think the practice is old and outdated, but what can I do?

            “Can you do this for me, Ella?” he asked. I smiled and nodded my consent. My father grinned widely and tousled my hair.

            “I knew you would. You’re my best girl.” Leaning over, he kissed my cheek and then left the room. I had a precious hour to myself, but I knew Agnes would be along shortly to make sure I was sleeping. She is such an old duck sometimes!

            Anyway, I finally got to sleep, and I woke early the next morning. The sun was just barely peeking through the trees at the edge of the forest when I was already dressed and down in the Great Hall, eating my breakfast. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear anyone behind me. Suddenly, a hand touched my shoulder and I jumped right out of my seat. I turned and saw Robin standing behind me, a bemused smile on his face.

            “Pardon me. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” I pretended to be huffy and aloof, but I couldn’t hold the façade. Something about him made me nervous and I smiled back.

            “It’s all right; you just took me by surprise.” Robin nodded and gestured to the seat beside me.

            “Is this seat taken?” he asked, slinging his leg over the bench. I smiled slightly and turned back to my breakfast. Robin accepted the plate that was set before him, and began to eat quietly.

            “Are you nervous?” I asked. Robin looked over at me, one eyebrow raised slightly.      

            “Why should I be?” he replied. I shrugged my shoulders.

            “You’ve never trained to be a knight before. I imagine I’d be nervous in such a position.” Robin grinned broadly as he dipped a crust of bread into a mug of cold ale.

            “I have always been skilled with a bow and arrows. My father was a rather skilled archer, and he taught much before he died.”

            “I thought your father was a blacksmith.” I said. Robin nodded.

            “He was, but he was also trained as an archer to defend his village should the need arise.” Just then, I heard my mother calling for me from the solar. I turned to Robin and said quickly,

            “Directly after noon, meet me at the stables. I want to show you something before the banquet.” I could scare believe I was being so bold, and I could tell by the surprised look on Robin’s face that he could hardly believe it either.

            “I shall be there,” he replied. I turned and ran up the stairs before my mother could come down and see me speaking with him. Despite my father’s wishes that I befriend Robin, I know my mother won’t approve. – Ella