She was everything they wanted her to be, everything a warrior was made of, but I knew she was lonely as she stood by the king’s side at his throne. She stood near with her light methril armor glimmering through her knightly clothing. I never saw a woman with such a status on a throne.
I kneeled, keeping my head down in my respect towards my newfound king and peeked up every now & then to look upon her beauty, but her sadness over threw me and I stood weakened as I was told to rise.
“I am honored to be here sire” I said pronouncedly, I was hoping she would hear me and take notice but she didn’t move a muscle from her straight face looking forward. “It’s an honor to have you Jarod! Please relax and enjoy my kingdom, my lady servants shall help you to your room” The king was young, about my age and although this man was inexperienced he had the mind of his father. “Thank you sire, and I must say that your kingdom is lovely! I have never seen such beauty before” I smiled as politely as I could and bowed stepping back. I could feel my sword being bumped accidentally as the servants rushed over to take my bag’s, They stepping back looking up at me as if I was a giant and then rushed out again. I looked around as another servant came in, he was more relaxed then the others as he bowed lowly to me introducing himself. “Greetings sir Jarod, I am Ralph. ‘Tis a grand pleasure to have you here with us, I will be at your beck-n-call if you need any assistance so do not hesitate to call me. I shall now show you to your room” His voice was so reassuring, as he showed me out and up the stairs. I walked slowly as he walked beside me, the silence in the air made my mind hurry with questions about that girl, that knight, my idol, but I did not know who to ask about her. The surroundings in the castle were bright, open, clean and colorful, with wild jasmine filling the air. As we walked down a hall, Ralph told me about each major painting on the walls, they filling in the gaps of the naked walls.
“Tell me Ralph, what is the story with our lady knight?” we slowed to a stop in front of a door with elvish carvings on the top. Ralph opened the door slowly, and stood back for me to go in “The story sir?” he said not understanding what I meant. I looked inside the room and smiled as I saw my bags on the bed. I walked to the bed and I ran my fingers over the richly colored, velvet bed cover. Jasmine flowers were growing around the four posts on my bed, neatly trimmed and settling the air in a jasmine scent cloud. Blood red material set across the top of my posts, they making the jasmine flower’s glow against its color. “Yes the story, she looks sad, why so?” I opened the long hanging curtains and saw the beautiful courtyards out of its gothic frames, with the maidens running around happily on their lunch break. “She was taken away from her father when she was young sir Jarod…” He stepped forward a bit from where he stood near the door and rested his hands together in front of himself. I looked to him shocked,
“Taken away!? Why?”
“It’s was a set course. Her father had the gift as dose she, and he owed this kingdom” Ralph explained softly, not really wanting to talk about it.
“How could someone give away their own daughter?” I felt a sad sinking feeling in my chest as I started to see the whole picture. “I don’t know sir, It’s all he had to give, will there be anything else I can do for you?” Ralph’s shoulders tensed up then relaxed back down again. “No, just call me when dinner is served, I shall just walk around for a while”
Ralph bowed low and walked out, closing the door behind him. I could see the Elvish writing up high on the walls near the roof, wondering what they meant I ran out quickly and down to the old library. It was the quietest room in the whole castle, with only few servants in the corners cleaning. Looking around I spotted a figure, a figure I knew but could not put a name to it. “Hello?” I walked around a bit to see the person’s face and stopped in shock.
The figure turned around to face me with a smile, “Jarod! Remember me?”
“Ah…yeah…Jesse? What are you doing here?” I stood perfectly frozen to my spot, amazed to see my long lost friend again. “I was passing by and heard you might be coming so I staid a while…I guess they weren’t lying about you being even more handsome then before” Jesse’s eyes looked me up and down in a flirtatious way. Racing to me, she greeted me in a large warm hug. I held her tightly and could smell her beautiful perfume. I swung her around in our hug and put her back to her feet looking down to her fragile little body.
“I’ve missed you Jarod! Where have you been these last 7 years?” Her smile was just as beautiful as I remembered it 7 years ago. Growing up with her made me realize how precious women really are to me. Taking in a deep breath I sighed and smiled slightly, “I’ve been learning the expertise of Archery, Sword, Spear and Axe fighting” I felt so big saying that, I felt all grown up. She giggled her innocent little giggle and looked up to me with playful eyes, “Well I am due to be wed. I can not wait” She spun around in a Joyce dance. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets, my little Jesse is due to be wed, my most best friend in the world. “Wow!” I was lost for words, as I sat down in a near by chair she sat on my lap as she always did and smiled to me, “What of you? What are you doing here?” How could I answer her, if she knew I was here to join the king’s royal army she would be heart broken. “I’m here in the beckoning of the Kings service. That’s all I will say for now” My voice seemed harsher then usual, but Jesse didn’t seem to mind. “Well I hope its nothing dangerous! I’d die to know your going to get hurt in the process! But anyway, I must go…It was great to see you again! I will send you an invitation to my wedding when the day comes!” She kissed my cheek lightly and jumped off, and almost pranced out the door. I could tell she was on cloud nine, but her happiness always made me happy.
*
Later on I found myself in the courtyards, I roamed around happily hearing the giggles of the maidens all around me. I could hear slight whispers, and I started to believe that these girls never get to see many men around in the garden. I felt like the center of attention, but as I walked further to the training grounds the whispers softened and the sound of two swords clashing together echoed off the stone walls. I raced over to see who it was, and to my surprise it was she, The Lady Knight. She was fighting against another warrior three times her size. In her right hand she held an unidentified weapon and in the other was a dagger. Her two weapons fought off the swords held by the other warrior skillfully, them making loud crashing noises as they both moved around the training circle. I watched closely behind a shrub, watching her every reflex, they quicker then any man on this planet.
They both suddenly stopped, weapons crossed in with each other, entangled in a vicious glance towards each other. “Last Chance!” The warrior spoke cruelly, “Last chance for what!?” Her voice sounded heavenly with a dark side to it. “Your last chance to give up these silly games girl! You have no place in a mans world!” He scorned her, his hatred towards her helped him untangle his weapons. She jumped back but not in time to escape a cut across her arm. Unprotected it slightly started bleeding, she looked at it and spun around quickly, yelling out angrily, as she struck the warrior hardly with her weapons. He fell to the ground in agony, crying out, the armor not stopping the deadly force from her rage. Blood poured out from beneath him. Trying to get to his knees she pushed him to his back and pressed the mysterious weapon to his neck. “You are nothing! Nothing to me! I am not playing games! This is me! And you shall see the truth in due time” She kicked him and walked off, dropping her weapons to the ground. Servants raced out to the wounded warrior, healers racing out and stripping him down. I watched them as I walked past, following her to the other side of the training grounds. She walked out into the grassy field and stopped, crossing her arms.
“Sir Jarod…” she turned around slowly, anger in her eyes made them flame “…What a surprise! I did not know you were one for spying or stalking”
I was dumbstruck and came closer to look upon her face. I bowed lowly to her, speaking as politely as I could “I meant no disrespect M’Lady! But I admire your statistics! You are my idol” Knowing that I sounded like a total fool I stood up straightly and smiled to her shyly. Her arms still staid crossed up against her chest. “Your idol…” She paced around me slowly, looking me up and down “… do you take me for some kind of an idiot Sir Jarod? If you want to be on my good side I suggest you stay out of my way…I hate being spied on…” Her voice was cold, yet I could still see her hurt inside her eyes.
“Yes M’Lady! Sorry M’Lady!” I bowed as she stormed away into the back of the castle.
*
I roamed the gardens again after leaving the training center and found a small sitting area under a willow tree. The chairs were carved out of tree stumps, with small ferns growing on the rock path were below. The rock path was steep and only a few feet away from a waterfall hidden by the tall deciduous trees. The little stream up the top of the garden led right into this waterfall, which ended up as the beginning of the Crystal River. I stood at the top of the waterfall on the rock path and looked down into and distant mist of the falling water, ferns grew out of the cliff face, they ending up as a tropical forest around a small cave entrance. I climbed down to it, my feet slipping every now and then on the wet rocks. The cave went in behind the waterfall. Small puddles glowed blue as the darkness of the cave glowed dimly of fire lights.
I could hear distant voices coming from inside, clutching my sword I tread slowly into the cave’s darkness. What would I find? I could feel my heart start to race, and my palms getting sweaty, then with a sudden jump I lunged behind a rock as a shadow came near. I peered from my hiding place, to see who it was. To my surprise it was she, the Lady Knight. Her eyes were red from crying, with dried tears down her cheeks. She wiped them away and sat on a rock near the cave entrance, staring out of the falling water to the land she never got to know. She wasn’t wearing her methril or her knightly clothes, only a light white dress. She stood and I could see the wonderful woman inside, reflecting in the afternoon sun. A man walked past, I hid quickly, and watched him walk up to her. He laid his hands on her shoulders and ran them down, only to be shoved away by the Lady Knight.
“You will do as I say girl! You have no choice in the matter!” His voice was unkind and mean, as he grabbed her and made her face him. Her hair fell down past her shoulders and away from her face, she was a prisoner. “You can’t keep me here forever! I will run away one day!” Her voice was the sweetest thing I had ever heard she was strong enough to say this to her peer, I smiled. “You will never get out of here alive! Your mine!” He said whilst pushing her up against the cave wall. She cried out in pain, then was dropped. She fell to her knees sulking as the man walked away. As she bent down more and more to cry into her lap, blood started to lightly seep through her the top of her dress. I waited till he was gone and stepped out of my hiding place, releasing my hand from my sword and quietly went to her. I kneeled down next to her and stroked her hair.
I felt her shake to my touch, then sit up expecting me to be that man. She looked to me, her emerald green eyes shinning through her tears. They softened and she held onto me. Her head rested on my shoulder lightly as she cried. All I felt I could do was hold her tightly until she stopped, but something came over me. “Why do you stay here?” I asked in a whisper.
“I have no choice…” she whispered as her crying calmed down.
I sat her up and lifted her chin to look at me, “But you do have the choice…” I kissed her forehead, then felt her hand on mine. “You have no idea what its like!” She suddenly stopped in a dead silence and looked back into the cave’s darkness. “Quick! Hide…” She jumped to her feet as I did. Hiding behind the entrance of the cave I listened to the sounds. But something was wrong, two set’s of heavy footsteps echoed. I could hear chains rattling and the Lady Knight’s breathing getting heavier.
*
“You do this to yourself Genita, I don’t mean to hurt you… but you belong to me” That was it, I had found her name. And what a name it was, Genita. I could hear Genita’s breathing getting heavier in fright and the mans hands grabbing hers. “You can’t do this! It’s not fare! I won’t co-operate!” I heard the chains being jingled together, closer and closer. I filled with rage, and then I snapped. Genita’s cry out was silenced quickly with a whiplash of the chains and I saw her hand fall to the ground. Grabbing my sword I jumped out, and held my sword at the two men. The chain lay next to Genita’s unconscious body, on the ground. I looked at her then the two men, “You Pigs!” I yelled, swinging into the darkness. The man ran as he saw the other fall. After Shoving my sword into the mans flesh -killing him, I cried then raced over to Genita’s body. I slipped my hand under her head to lift her up to me. A cut across her forehead and cheek started bleeding. Wiping it away with my sleeve, I picked her up and ran out of the cave.
Jumping to safer ground down below the waterfall I laid her body on the soft grass. “Genita? Genita!?” I gently shook her body. “Wake up Genita!” I Held her closely once more, kissing her head then. I heard a muffled cough, and sat her back a bit in my arms. “Genita!!! You’re alright!” I studied her face, it was cold and tired. “Come on M’Lady lets get you somewhere safe…” A small smile came to her beautiful lips, her smile was perfect.
I carried her weak body to the nearest tavern, renting a room upstairs. I laid her in the bed and rugged her up. She was a sleeping beauty, a precious gem. But why was she so mean? And why was she a prisoner? I wanted to stop this pain. I left her there to rest as I went down stairs to the bar. It was dirty and full of drunks. I sat down at the bar, ordering a rum, hanged my head and rubbed my neck. Then a voice next to me spoke up, “Run into some trouble son?” The voice was old and tattered. I looked up to see an old man beside me, drinking out of a dirty beer jug. “Umm…yeah…” I sighed as I sipped my drink. “Don’t you worry, by the time this is over, she’ll be fine…” I spat my drink back into my glass “…How do you know…” I looked to him but he was gone. Nothing was left. Looking a little bedazzled I swung around to all the people and looked down to my sword, still with the blood on it. What was going on?
The tavern sounded loud with music, and laughter, and the scent of alcohol overwhelmed me. Walking back too my room, I spotted a royal guard, quickly running upstairs and hiding behind a post, I examined him as he approaches the bar. People stumbled around me, distracting my examination but his behavior seemed more relaxed then searching. I made my way too the Genita’s room and closed the door behind myself quietly so not to disturb her. Her still body reminded me of a flower, blooming in winter, and fighting against all the elements in her life. How could her father give her up? Why was she so special?
*
The sun shone through the mangled curtains hanging over the window, its rays lightly shinning throughout the room. I had fallen asleep in the chair across from the bed, and as I glanced over too the bed, a lump of sheets laid there, where was Genita? Jumping out of the chair I ran out of the room, and raced down the stairs. The tavern was empty, floor sticky with spilt beer and broken glass. “Genita! Where are you?” I started to feel my heart pound in my chest, if she had been found who knows what kind of trouble she’s in. I walked cautiously, listening for any voices and then I heard light giggles and music. Drawn too the unusual sounds, I found myself standing in a small area outside the tavern, where Genita, the other guests and the bar tender all gathered around a table and we’re eating steamy porridge and milk.
The music seemed happy and joyful, and I could not resist the scent of the porridge. Seating myself next too Genita I looked her, her smile seemed to brighten the darkest day. My head started to get dizzy in the wonderful smell of fresh food. I haven’t eaten a good meal ever since I left my home in Kormelidona- A far off kingdom, alley with most. A bowl was dished up to me and I dug in, forgetting my manners my meal was gone in seconds, and laughter filled the air.
No one seemed to be sad, and all your worries or pain just seemed to drift away into this wonderful surrounding. Genita made a toast, “I speak for the King, and my fellow friend I have made her this morning, May all unhappiness drift away in our thundering laughter and may all past memories pass us by…Too Life!! And Love!” A loud cheer rose and mugs rose in the air with the echoing ‘To Life!! And love!’. Sipping on my fresh milk, I laughed and smiled, I felt at home! Genita was more then any warrior, she was a woman with an amazing gift to make anyone feel more then what they are.
*
After eating a long breakfast, Genita insisted on looking around the town. Worried about her well being, I wrapped a cloak over her shoulders and walked her into the town’s market circle. Never had I seen such a cheery kingdom. Genita’s eyes widen with excitement and raced too the nearest shop, touching anything she could. Everyone didn’t seem to notice who she was, I was amazed yet pleased- finally a girl has a chance to hold jewelry in her hands! And that’s what she did. Holding a magnificent piece, so simple and yet so beautiful. It made me milk skin glow like an angel. I placed it onto her bare neck and showed her in the mirror. Her smile grew, then her eyes looked up to me. She was sweeter then sugar, how could I refuse? I reached into my pocket and pulled out some gold coins as she raced off too look at another store. The store clerk smiled at me, “She is very beautiful, and the will make her even more beautiful…” I smiled watching her “No… She is already as beautiful as they get, that just proves how wonderful she really is” patting his hand I walk off after her, thanking him.
“Genita? What are you looking at now!?” Walking solemnly up to her, and the scent of something sweet caught my nose. Sniffing the air I followed it to a little store out of he towns market. Like a magical spell I followed it into the small store. Flower petals carpeted the floor and fresh flowers layered the stores shelves. I looked around, finding a blue rose. It’s rare beauty took my breath away, and touching its petals sent a warm sensation through my body.
“It is truly magnificent, is it not?” A voice comes out from behind a velvet curtain. I jumped in fright but calmed myself as a young looking lady floats out. Her hair was decorated with many flowers, and her eyes we’re pure blue. I lost all my words, mumbling softly “It is something else!” Her hand rested upon my shoulder, and as I looked towards her she smiled. “it is magical- it protects you and gives you life of the immortals. Only those who deserve it can wear such a flower” Her voice was so gentle and weird. “Where do you find such a beautiful flower? Its scent is so sweet!” I sniffed it, feeling light headed I stumbled backwards a bit. “No one can find it if you search, it finds you!” Taken by her words I picked up and placed it into my hand, “I wish to buy it, for someone special…” I placed it upon the counter and started pulling out coins from my pocket once more. Her hand gently stopped me, “no need to pay me, it is a gift…you will need it” Speechless I took the flower within my grasp once again and smelt its wondrous scent. “Are you sure?” I felt almost touched, but I couldn’t stop wondering why was everyone so nice?, “I am positive! Please… be careful, a journey awaits you”
*
A journey awaits me? What did that mean? I made my way back too Genita who was looking at some interesting dresses. Something didn’t seem right, grabbing Genita by the arm I raced her too a alley way and held against the wall in darkness. Just as I did more royal guards came threw the town, checking anywhere, where people might be hiding. Worried I drape the cloak around Genita and tell her to lie low. Walking out, a royal guard approaches me, highly armored. “What is going on here?” I asked him softly, “Lady Knight is missing, we’re trying to find her, have you seen her sir?” His eyes scanning behind me. “No, but if I find her I’ll let you know!” I smiled softly as he grunts and storms off. I had never lied like that to a man of the law before, all of a sudden I felt a presence behind me. Resting their hand on my shoulder I jumped, Looking around Genita starts tugging at me. “Come On! Its not safe here!!” She starts running, dragging me behind her into a group of town’s people.
*
Looking around, I could see that the people were afraid of what could happen. Everyone running into their homes and closing all doors and windows. Genita ran faster and harder ahead of me as the sound of hoof prints became louder behind me. Suddenly the scream of a horse barricades me and I fall back onto a wall with a sword at my throat. I was trapped by one of the men I saw in the cave. I looked too where Genita was running too and another horse was ridding after her. We were captured!
“You are a very foolish boy Sir Jarod! Did you honestly think that you could escape with what is rightfully mine?” The man upon the horse un-mounted and stared at me, his eyes were cold and full of rage. “How can you keep a person prisoner!? Your Sick!” I spat into his face and knocked his sword back. Stunned the man attacks, flying at me with two small daggers in his hands. Slashing at me, I duck continuously until I have the chance of tripping him. Falling flat on his back, I mount his horse quickly and ride off after Genita, who is still running.
I rode harder and harder, after the second rider. Reaching too my side dagger I fling it into his back, and watch his shocked body fall off the horse and be trampled. Genita hears the fall and stops, only just jumping out of the way of the fierce horse. I ride up to her and pull her up onto the horse behind me, and ride into the shadows.
After stopping and settling the horse, I turn to look at her, holding her chin in my hands and checking her soft face for any cuts. Her eyes were always white, turning her face away I held her. “Why don’t you accept my care?” I ask almost crying, trying no too. “I am a warrior… I don’t need care…but I thank you” her voice becoming harsh once more. Becoming outraged I sit her up to look at me, shaking her a little “Your not just a warrior, you’re a woman…you don’t deserve this!!” I couldn’t understand her, and it drove me insane. I wanted to help but she didn’t want it, what could I do?
“Just because of my sex, doesn’t mean I am not strong..” She starts to pout. “I am not saying that you aren’t strong, I just believe you need protection” I tried smiling to her, the ease our harsh discussion. She smiled softly and pushed me lightly, “Listen I’m sorry M’Lady, we’ll ride till night, and we shall set up camp- I will take you where ever you wish!” Never had I seen someone’s eyes change colour like her’s- from white too her wonderful green they changed. Her arms held around my chest, her grip soft but secure and I rode on until dusk.
*
To be continued…
Lady Knight
So old this i don’t even really remember it! There are a lot of spelling errors (and im too lazy to fix them all) but give it a read. I have no intentions of completely this short story…. but it was an idea i had to get out. Please excuse the writing style as i was 14 when i wrote this.