The knights Lady

Alinore went to bed without taking dinner in the hall. In the morning she awoke smiling. Today she would make her love of Guy known and he would ask her father for her hand. She put on her favorite green dress and ran down to the hall.

As soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs she knew something was wrong. The servants all looked rushed and nervous. Why was the kitchen maid carrying jugs of ale out to the courtyard? Alinore scanned the room for more clues, and found them. Her father the Baron was wearing his armor, and so was Robert. They were leaning over a trestle table looking at a map. Alinore walked over to them and gave her father a look that communicated her worry and her question. What was happening?

"Alinore, We must ride out. DeMontfort's men at the Hessen are under siege and they need re-inforcements. We ride out as soon as we can. Stand back and help prepare supplies." The Baron bent back to his map and Alinore stepped away. The dread that always crushed her heart when the men of the Castle rode out to battle threatened to steal her breath, but she forced herself to breath and walked toward the kitchen to do as her father bade.

Before she could reach the big doors to the kitchen, the dread doubled in her breast. She saw guy in his silver armor and black and gold surcoat stride in from the courtyard. Surely he was not well enough to ride off to war. His eyes met hers and the longing and pain of separation already set in. She knew he was leaving with her father and that it would be weeks before she saw him again.