The Knight of Nottingshire
By Alyson-Louise Belle
"Come on, then, Maggie. You had better be glad we let you come, since you're a lady. You could at least keep up." Magdalena frowned at Edric, and Will laughed at her. The girl, seven years old and small, struggled to stay on the big horse her wealthy father had bought her. She had named him Cherry because of his reddish-tinted coat. The young boys, brothers, nine and ten, were already exceptional on horseback, because they were both pages, training to be knights. Finally, Maggie caught up with Will, who waited for her while Edric continued on through a wood in Nottinghamshire.
"I wish I were a lad," Maggie pouted. Will, the younger of the boys, laughed.
"Why?" he asked. Maggie adjusted the skirt of her one piece dress.
"I hate wearing dresses," she started, "as much as I hate not being able to ride with you." Will's smile softened and they began to trot.
"I think you'll make a great and beautiful lady one day," he said. Maggie looked at him for a moment, then they both began to laugh. They both caught up to Edric and the three continued on. Finally, they reached their destination. Will and Edric looked up into the oak tree and Maggie gasped. The boys had built a house in the tree. A tree house, Maggie thought. The boys immediately dismounted their horses and tied them to one of the smaller trees, and Maggie tried to follow. Her dress got caught on a thornbush, however, and it ripped. She frowned, frustrated, and she simply tore the dress up to her knee. Will and Edric laughed at her as she began to climb up the tree in her bloomers.
Nineteen year old Maggie came out of her recollection. She was in the north tower, as she often was. She heard her name being called, otherwise she wouldn't have come out of her memory. It had been four years since she had seen either Will or Edric. They were men now, her mother had told Maggie before the woman died. They had men's duties to complete in the war. Maggie had heard people speak of the Holy Wars, but she never liked to think of Will and Edric in the Holy Lands where they could be killed by the Islamic soldiers. Maggie finally sighed and left the tower. She had always lived in this citadel, as her father was Lord Porfirio du Pree, who was a French duke. Maggie inherited her dark blue eyes from her father, as well as her tall and limber body. Maggie's mother, the Baroness Gwendolyn of Lancashire, died when Maggie was thirteen, shortly after Will and Edric went to the Holy Lands. Maggie inherited her beautiful long blond waves from her mother. Maggie had, in fact, become the great and beautiful lady Will predicted she would become, although she was humble and caring, looking after small orphans who lived in the village just south of the citadel. She also payed the servants secretly, although she knew if her father found out, he would not be pleased. Maggie stepped into the darknessof the night. The moon light was the only light she walked by, and as she turned a corner, ready to walk into the courtyard, she stopped and dashed around the corner. There were two men silhouetted against the wall, and she heard them say her name. She listened intently and heard her father's voice.
"What does he plan to be the bride price?" Lord Porfirio said.
"He says forty ducats," the other man replied in Italian inflection. Lord Porfirio appeared to be dissatisfied.
"She's my eldest daughter, my lord," he said wearily. "I need more. Forty ducats will not be enough to keep the citadel going." Maggie gasped. Her father was planning to marry her off to some stranger! Maggie had hoped this day would never come, yet, here it was. She dreaded who it might be. Recently, her father found out of an inherited debt his father had left. If he could not pay this debt, he would be stripped of his title and his citadel. Maggie knew a bride price could save the citadel. However, Maggie would rather die than marry a cruel wealthy man.
The next day, Maggie's suspicions were confirmed when she found a letter from some Roman emperor's nephew mentioning a bride price that would save the citadel and more. She sat in the kitchen on the summer day, with her youngest sister, Etheldreda, and her father.
"So," she said. "Who is he?" Maggie looked at her father while she braided Etheldreda's curly, thin blond hair.
"Who is who?" Lord Porfirio echoed, though Maggie knew he knew of what she spoke. She blinked and he continued. "He's a general in the Holy Land. He is a relative of the Roman emperor's son. He's been here lately, and he's seen you playing with the children and feeding the fatherless children in the village." Maggie tried to ignore the cold lump in her throat. How could her father simply give her away like this? She wished Will or Edric would come and whisk her away, to their tree fort, where they could travel to the Far East, and meet a band of Gypsies. She knew all of this would be make-believe, but when she was younger, it was all truth to her. She finished braiding Etheldreda's hair and sent her outside to play with the other children. When the child was out of earshot, Maggie stood and went to kneel beside her father's chair, at which he was sitting. She took his hand gently and looked him lovingly in the eye.
"Papa," she began. "I would rather marry for love and be a pauper than marry an evil man and be wealthy. Can you not see? I love Will and Edric." Lord Porfirio looked away, frustrated.
"But apparently neither of them wish to ask for you, my daughter," he said. Maggie frowned and stood. She turned and walked briskly outside, her hair blowing gently across her face in the breeze. She headed in the direction of the stables, to realize she was being followed by her younger siblings. She had four of them altogether, the youngest being Etheldreda, who was six years old and who looked the most like their mother. Maggie heard them walking behind her, their little legs moving quickly to keep up with her. Finally, Maggie hid a smile, and without looking at them, she asked, "Who wants to see something special?" She turned around and walked backwards to look at them, all short and blond-haired. Everyone of them raised their hands and clapped merrily. Maggie laughed. "To the buggy, then!" she said, turning back around. The children, all but one, ran ahead of her. Only Theodoric, Teddy, as he was known, stayed with Maggie. Maggie knew, of course, why this was. Teddy was crippled, and his left leg did not work correctly. He had used a crutch for all the ten years that he could walk. Maggie looked at him.
"I need some company, Teddy," she said, patting his shoulder. He looked up at her.
"I heard you and Papa," he said in his frail voice. "Are you going to go away?" Maggie gave him a small smile, then looked away.
"Perhaps," she replied. "But I do not intend to. I will find a way to get out of it." Teddy looked at her.
"I will help you find a way," he said. Maggie smiled at him and they reached the stable, where a buggy was waiting. The younger children had already hitched a pony to the two-wheeled wagon, and they were already in the wagon, waiting for Maggie and Teddy. Maggie helped Teddy in and Maggie walked beside as they started toward the oak tree. As the pony, Phil, pulled the wagon full of children, Maggie drifted off into another flashback.
" Magdalena du Pree, since when do you go swimming?" Maggie looked at Will as she stripped down to her underdress.
"Since it was so hot out," she said. "Now let's get to the waterfall spring before the water evaporates." The tomboyish eleven year old ran ahead of Will and Edric. They raced through the woods and finally came to the small waterfall which flowed into a cool, deep spring. Maggie lept into the pool, followed by Will. When they were both in, they saw that Edric was hesitating.
"Come on, Ed," Will encouraged. Edric sighed.
"I think I'll just sit out on this one," he said. "I'm not that hot anyway." But Will and Maggie could see the sweat on Edric's forehead. He quickly wiped it away and Will walked out of the water to Edric. He motioned for Maggie to splash the older boy. Maggie smiled while Edric wasn't looking, then prepared to splash. When he looked at her, she sent a spray of water rushing at Edric. He looked irritated for a moment, but began to laugh. Will climbed a tree which hung over the spring, and he jumped from the tree into the spring. Edric and Maggie laughed and finally, Edric was persuaded to enter the water. Just as he jumped in another time, Will let out a cry of pain. Maggie and Edric stopped laughing and turned to Will. He started toward the bank and Edric and Maggie followed. When he sat on the bank, they saw that Will had stepped on a clay shard. His foot was bleeding heavily. Maggie bravely pulled the shard from his foot and Edric lifted Will into his arms. Will frowned and protested, "I can walk," but Maggie looked at him.
"Shut-up, Will," she said. "You cannot walk, otherwise you'll be putting unnecessary pain on yourself. You don't have to show off to me." Edric laughed, but Will continued to frown. They carried him back to the citadel, where Maggie's mother, the Baroness, mended Will's wound.
"No more swimming in that spring," the Baroness warned. Edric nodded, but Will and Maggie just looked at one another, knowing that neither of them would obey.
"When will we get - " Etheldreda started. But, they were there. Maggie smiled as all the children piled out of the wagon and scrambled up to the tree fort in the oak tree.
"Why did you bring me?" Teddy asked, looking at Maggie. She smiled.
"You can do it," she said. "I'll help you." Teddy frowned, but followed Maggie to the foot of the tree. She took his crutch from him and he leaned on the tree for support. Maggie handed the crutch up to the other children, and they took it and laid it on the floor. Then Maggie lifted Teddy up to the tree fort. The other children reached down and grabbed onto his hands.
"Pull him up," Maggie encouraged. They did, and soon, Teddy was in the tree fort. Everyone clapped and Maggie smiled at Teddy's overjoyed look. She sat at the foot of the tree for a moment, but was soon pulled into the Battle of Jericho. Half the children pretended to be Joshua's army, marching around the city of Jericho, while the other half were the guards in the city.
Later that night, after the younger children were asleep, Maggie sat with her father and the dressmaker in the dining room. While eating a late supper, the three - not so much Maggie as Lord Porfirio and Billings, the dressmaker - were discussing Maggie's wedding gown. Maggie poked at her food silently and when neither of the men were looking, she gave bits of food to the two dogs sitting under the table. The conversation, which was becoming boring to Maggie, was interrupted by a young page who came into the dining room. He gave a little bow, and Maggie smiled at him.
"I've come with a letter from Sir William Caradoc," he said. No sooner than the words left his mouth had Maggie went to the boy. She gave him a penny and sent him on his way.
"Magdalena," Lord Porfirio warned, with a glance at the dressmaker.
"Excuse me, please," Maggie said, although she knew her father didn't want her even reading the letter while they had a guest. Maggie took the letter to her bedchamber and sat on her four-poster bed. The bed had thick, red velvet curtains, and a red satin bedspread with gold threads. Maggie unfolded the letter and saw that it had been sent five months before. Her hands shook slightly as she held the letter, for she hadn't heard from neither Will nor Edric in a year and a half. She was afraid to read the letter, for fear of reading something she didn't want to read.
Dear Maggie,
I deduce that you're afraid something might be wrong, but that's not true, so rest assured that we're both fine. I should tell you I was wounded mildly - a little cut on the underside of my forearm - but other than that no major damage. The general says we should be able to come home soon. How soon, I don't know, but we - Edric and I - presume within the next year. We miss you, and anxiously await our return home. I'm afraid we only have ten minutes to write a letter, and mine are nearly up. Both Edric and I wish you our best and we both miss you. Don't do anything impulsive. I know you might. Love, Will
Maggie sighed in relief at the fact that they were both alive. Setting the letter on her bed, she went to the window and pushed the organdy curtains back. She let the breeze blow her hair and she folded her arms across her chest. As she looked up at the moon, she thought about what Will had told her when he left.
"Why do you have to go? You're only fourteen." Maggie pushed her wet hair off her face and looked at Will. They sat in the tree hanging over the spring - the spring the Baroness had told them not to swim in - both dripping wet from just getting out of the water. Will had a slight limp from the shard that cut his foot. The moonlight shone and made an enchanting reflection on the water. Will looked away briefly, up into the sky, and back at Maggie.
"I can fight," he said simply, but quietly. "Every able bodied man who can fight has to. The Moors are taking over Jerusalem, where the Jews are supposed to live in peace. Someone has to fight with them." Maggie got angry for a moment and slammed her fist on the tree bark.
"Why you?" she said, her voice getting louder. "Why not the older men? The men who don't have families to look after and friends to be with." Will raised his voice.
"That's how war is, Maggie. If they need you, you go. It's my duty as a man - "
"You're not a man!" Maggie interrupted. Then she softened her tone. "You're only fourteen. You're not even a knight, yet. I don't want you to go." Will blinked and looked up at the sky again.
"See the moon?" he said. Maggie nodded. "It's the same moon I'm going to be looking at in the Holy Lands. I think if you remember that, you'll remember we're not that far apart." Maggie swallowed and nodded, but she looked at her lap, not convinced.
Maggie was convinced, now that they had been apart for five years. She wondered if Will could see the moon in Jerusalem. She turned and sat on her bed again with a piece of parchment and a pen and ink. When the letter was finished, she ran down the stone staircase to the entrance hall, and then to the courtyard. She was looking for the page who had delivered Will's letter, and after a few minutes of running, she found him in the village. She grabbed his shoulder and looked at him, handing him the letter.
"What is your name, boy?" she asked.
"Christian, my lady," he replied quickly. Maggie looked into his big green eyes.
"Listen, master Christian," she said. "I want you to get this to the harbour and make sure it gets to Sir William Caradoc in less than two months." She gave him a heavy purse full of pennies. "Give this to the messenger and tell him what I said. Tell him I said it, and if I find out you took some of this money, I'll have you locked in the dungeon." Of course, Maggie knew the boy wouldn't take the money, and she would never lock a child in the dungeon. She gave him a little push and he ran as quickly as his long, slender legs would carry him. Maggie watched him run and sighed. Then she started toward the stable. She went to the stall where she kept her horse, Cherry. She gently stroked the horse's nose and looked into his big black eyes.
"Do you remember Edric and Will, Cherry?" she said softly. "Do you remember Edric riding you through the woods? He was always so kind to you. Of course, you must remember him. Any horse whose master was good to him would remember that master." Maggie entered the stall and mounted the horse after draping a dark green saddle blanket over the horse's back. "Let's go for a ride," Maggie said. She gently squeezed the horse with her legs and Cherry started at a trot out of the stable. When they were in the woods, Maggie said, "Run. Ride with the wind." The horse, obedient to his master, took off at a full gallop. Maggie's hair flew behind her as she seemed to glide through the trees; dogwoods, cherry trees, rowans, chestnuts, and willows, among others. The bright moonlight peeked through the trees every now and again, and it shone on Maggie's hair and sparkled in her eyes. Soon, she came to the spring. She dismounted Cherry and undressed as she walked down the bank. She entered the water and it was cool and sparkling. She felt refreshed, and she backfloated across the water. She stopped in the middle of the pool and dipped her head back, getting the hair out of her eyes. She went under briefly, and when she came up, she looked toward Cherry to see that her dress and shoes were gone. She looked around frantically, staying in the water up to her neck.
"Who's there?" she called to the darkness. Suddenly she heard laughing from the tree overhanging the spring. She spun around in the water and looked up in the tree. Someone was sitting on the thickest branch, holding her dress in his lap. "Who are you?" Maggie repeated. "Show yourself or I'll scream." The person climbed down the tree and stood on the bank, and Maggie saw his face in the moonlight.
"Will!" she exclaimed, her voice ecstatic and irritated at the same time. Will smiled and Maggie frowned at him, refusing to show joy until he gave her clothes back. He lay them on the bank near the water, then turned around, so that his back was to her.
"I won't look," he said. "Go ahead." Maggie couldn't help but smile, and she kept the water to her neck as she went to her clothes. She quickly got out of the water and quickly slipped her dress over her head. When she had done so, she tapped Will's shoulder, grinning. He turned around and she threw her arms around his neck. He returned the tight hug, and they hugged for several seconds.
"Your personality has not changed at all," Maggie said into Will's shoulder. He laughed and held her at arm's length. Maggie smiled and shook her head. "But you've grown so," she said. "Look at you. I just sent a letter to you this night. I received your letter, as well." Will's auburn hair was wavy and hung down his forehead, and his eyes, which Maggie had always considered "neither blue nor green, yet, both blue and green" were still as mischievous as they always had been. He was taller than Maggie by a head and she looked up at him, while when she was thirteen and he was fourteen, they were the exact same height. His limp was completely gone, as well.
"What?" Maggie asked when Will was staring at her.
"I was exactly right," he said, looking her from head to toe. "Remember when you were seven and I said - " Maggie nodded and laughed.
"What are you doing here? Let me see your arm. Where is Edric?" Maggie flung the questions at him as they went to Cherry.
"First, I said in my letter that we were expected to return within the next year, and that was nine months ago," Will started. "Second, my arm." Will rolled his sleeve up to reveal a severe scar that went from the middle of his upper arm to the middle of his forearm. Maggie looked at it in horror and she put her hand on his arm.
"Will, that isn't little! What are you - " she began. Will put his finger on her lips and she looked at him, brow furrowed.
"And third, Edric is at an inn in town," he said, looking into her eyes. "Shall we go see him?" Maggie nodded and Will took his finger off her lips. Maggie walked Cherry and Will walked beside her. She put her arm around his shoulder and he put his around her waist.
"I am glad you're back," she said. "But..." She thumped his arm hard.
"Ow!" Will exclaimed. "What was that for?" Maggie looked satisfied.
"That was for taking my dress," she said. Will laughed and they continued toward the village.
When they arrived at the inn, Will and Maggie tied Cherry up and went to Edric's room. He was staring silently out the window, but when he saw Maggie, they embraced one another. Edric, now twenty-one, was tall, strong, and his dark hair reached his shoulders. His eyes were brown and he wore a little stubble.
"Ed, you look so grown up," Maggie remarked. She looked contentedly at Will and Edric. "My father will be so pleased to see you both." Maggie suddenly remembered her father. He would not only be upset that Maggie was out this late, but he would also be upset because they had had a guest concerning her wedding and it was disrespectful for the women not to see guests off. This made Maggie think of her wedding. She took Will's hand in one of hers and Edric's in the other.
"Let us go to the citadel," she said. "You think you have come home from the battlefield and you do not get to sleep in the bed of your neighbor's house?" Edric and Will followed Maggie out of the inn and into the darkness.
Edric and Will went to two of the extra bedchambers when they got to the ciatdel, and she went to bed, because it was late at night - or early in the morning - and her father had already retired. Lying in bed, Maggie wished she could be with Edric and Will instead of sleep. She battled herself over whether she should tell the boys - men - about her marriage. Maybe if she told them, she would not have to marry the general. Although, if she did tell them, and they wanted to marry her, which she deemed impossible at this moment, she would not know which brother to marry and everything would be a mess. She finally decided she would tell them when the new day came, and soon, she was asleep.
Maggie awoke to the sun shining on her face and Will standing over her.
"Wakey, wakey," he said. Maggie frowned and sat up to see a wooden tray of breakfast at her feet. "I let the cook have a break this morning and made you breakfast." Maggie's frown turned into a smile and she rubbed her eyes sleepily.
"William Caradoc, since when do you make breakfast for a lady?" she asked playfully. Will sat on the edge of her bed as Maggie put the tray in her lap.
"Since I was in the presence of one," Will said. Maggie thought he was joking, but she looked at him and saw he wasn't smiling. He just looked at her, and suddenly, Maggie found herself leaning toward him. Just as their lips were going to touch, Will backed away and took a breath.
"I got you this," he said. He handed Maggie a burlap satchel and she took it from him. Looking inside, she pulled out a gold chain with a charm of garnet embedded in gold. She smiled and looked at Will.
"Thank you," she said. "I love it. I'll wear it today." She laughed. "Just get out of my room and I'll get dressed." Will chuckled and gave her a mischievous smile. Then he left her room and closed the door behind him. Maggie held the necklace in her palm and looked at it. Then after eating her breakfast, which was excellent for a knight who had just returned from the battlefront, she changed into a gown that matched the necklace and she brushed her hair. When she was finished getting ready, she went to Edric's bedchamber, but neither of the brothers were there. She went back to her room and looked out the window. To her surprise, she saw Will on the ground below her window on horseback. He looked up at her.
"Come down, Maggie," he said, waving for her. Maggie hurried down the staircase, through the entrance hall, past the courtyard, and around the corner to where Will was waiting. Cherry was tied to a nearby dogwood tree and Will was riding his own beloved Spanish mustang, Diablo. Maggie frowned slightly, not sure what mood Will was in. But then he smiled at her.
"Ride with me," he said. He did not have to say anymore, and he and Maggie were quickly engaged in a race through the trees. Having lived in Nottinghamshire longer than Will, Maggie knew her way around the forest better, and soon she had lost Will. She turned her horse around and decided he might be at the spring. When she arrived at the waterfall, she had decided correctly, and Will was sitting on the bank.
"Did I not tell you, my lady?" Will said mockingly. "We were racing to the spring." He laughed and Maggie dismounted her horse, smiling ironically. She sat beside him and they quietly listened to the chirping of the birds and the breeze blowing through the tree branches. Maggie looked at Will and he looked back at her.
"I did not stop thinking of you the entire time I was in the Holy Lands," Will said softly. Maggie blinked, unsure of what Will was getting to. He continued. "I would wake up before dawn each morning and reflect on the dreams I had about you the night before. Then as I sharpened my sword at the smithy I would look out into the yellow desert and wish you were there to fight along side me, because I knew you could."
"Will..." Maggie started, looking away from him.
"And then at night, if a battle was over and we could sleep, I would lie there looking at the moon and wonder if you could see the moon here in Nottinghamshire," Will said. "Did you not as well?" Maggie swallowed and did not know how to cope with Will's sudden amorousness. She had always known him to be a playful and mischievous boy, always looking for someone on whom to play a prank. Finally, the butterflies in Maggie's stomach went away and she looked at Will.
"You have become a man, Sir William Caradoc, Knight of Nottinghamshire," she said with a small smile. Will returned her smile.
"And you have become a woman, Lady Magdalena du Pree, Daughter of the Wood," he replied. Maggie gave a little laugh.
"Daughter of the Wood?" she repeated. Will laughed and again, Maggie found herself being drawn closer to him. Their lips barely touched when Edric came galloping up on a horse.
"Maggie," he said, breathing hard. "It's your father. Something has happened to his heart." Maggie and Will stood and mounted their horses and sped away, although Maggie was in the lead, as usual. She hurried to the citadel and to the hall, where her father had been holding a banquet. Maggie was supposed to have attended, because the emperor's relative was there. She ignored the other guests and ran to her father's chair at the head of the table.
"Papa," she said, out of breath. Will and Edric entered the hall and stood in the enormous doorway. "Papa," Maggie said again. He had fallen out of his chair. Lord Porfirio clutched at his chest and looked his daughter in the eyes.
"Maggie," he wheezed. "Forgive me, my daughter." Maggie's eyes were blurred with tears as she held her father's head in her lap.
"There is nothing to forgive, Papa," she said, smiling softly. "What would you have me do?" Lord Porfirio gasped, as if the pain in his heart was too much to bear.
"Take care of the children," he said, his voice growing weak. "Do not grieve for me. I go..." he wheezed "...to my fathers. Forgive me." With one last gasp, Lord Porfirio was gone. Maggie held her father close and began to sob into his shoulder. A tall, dark man stood up and went to Maggie's side.
"Magdalena," he said in a strong Italian accent. "Why do - " Maggie felt Edric's hands on her shoulders and she stood, backing slowly away from her father. The Italian man stood to his feet and showed himself to be as tall as Edric, although his eyes shone eerily, and it made him seem bigger.
"Who are you?" Edric demanded as Will took Maggie's hand.
"I am Maurice Castilettio. I have come to meet my bride," the man said. Maggie's chin continued to quiver and she gave Castilettio a face of disgust. As if he had a suspicion, Will let go of Maggie's hand and went to Lord Porfirio's cup, which he had dropped. Will touched the spilt wine and smelled it.
"Poison," he said, mostly to himself, but Maggie heard it over Castilettio's voice.
After Lord Porfirio's funeral pyre was built, and his body cremated, Maggie spoke to no one. Her younger siblings went to stay with Maggie's aunt in Derry, in Ireland (it's called Londonderry, now) for while. Maggie woke up a few gray mornings later expecting to see Will or Edric at the foot of her bed, as they had since her father's death. Instead, Castilettio stood by the window. Maggie frowned and lay back down, pulling her sheet to her chin.
"Why do you lack vitality?" the man said from the window, without looking at Maggie. He turned and Maggie felt his eyes on her back. "Can you not see who Sir Caradoc really is?"
Maggie spoke without looking at Castilettio. "Where are they? Where are Will and Edric?" she demanded. She heard his footsteps coming around the bed.
"They have gone. They went back to the Holy Lands. Were you so naive to think they would stay and save you from me? They have deserted you, love," Castilettio said. Maggie threw the covers back and got out of bed.
"Do not call me that," she said as she walked briskly out of the room. She slammed the door behind her and went to her mother's old room. There, she dressed in one of the baroness' gowns and she brushed her hair with her mother's brush. She looked in the mirror at her necklace. She never took it off, even when she went to bed or swam in the spring. Maggie hurried out of the citadel and walked around the perimeter in the light rain once. Then she put her plan into action. She walked nonchalantly to the stables, as if nothing were wrong, and she went to Cherry's stall. Just as she had thrown the saddle blanket over the horse's back, someone grasped her wrist firmly.
"Trying to run away, are we, my lady?" an Italian soldier stood beside Maggie and she swallowed.
"She was planning an escape, my liege." Maggie stood in the hall before Castilettio. He sat in her father's chair as if he were the duke. Castilettio looked at Maggie, although she kept her eyes averted from his.
"Is this true, love?" he asked. Maggie didn't answer. She felt disgust in the presence of this man. Castilettio stood from his chair and sauntered toward Maggie and began to circle her.
"Why do you despise me, daughter of the wood?" he asked, stopping in front of Maggie. He took her chin in his hand and she jerked it away.
"Where did you hear that name?" she asked, her voice relatively quiet. Castilettio continued walking.
"I have many more . . . resources than you know," he said with a glance at Maggie. "You still have not answered my question." Maggie watched him as he circled her.
"You murdered my father," she began. "You say Will and Edric have deserted me, but I know them better. I know you were involved in their sudden dissapearance, but how, I have yet to figure out. You are a greedy man with a lust for naught but riches and power. You have a rank and fetid smell, as well." Castilettio grabbed her arm and dug his foul, long fingernails into her skin.
"I will have enough of your insults and sass," he said. "You will grow to love me or I will slit your throat." He kept a firm hold on her arm and dragged her to her bedchamber. Throwing her in violently, she landed on the floor.
"The wedding is in three days," he said. "Let me tell you, I have no desire to marry you except for your castle and your beauty. I had no castle in Italy. And no beauty, either. Your dress is being made, and when it is, I expect you to wear it with radiance, for you know what I will do to you if you do not. Understand?" Maggie, whose body ached from being thrown so hard, winced and nodded, her eyes welling up in tears. Castilettio shut the door and Maggie heard it lock. She lay helplessly on the floor, curled up and gently touching her necklace.
"Will?" Edric sat up and nearly gagged at the foul smell of the darkness. When his eyes were accustomed to the light, he saw Will lying on the floor at his feet, unconscious. Will's forehead and nose were bleeding, and his arms and legs were bruised. He had been stripped of his armor and his shirt was ripped. Edric was, in fact, in much better condition than his younger brother. He had only a minor bleeding scratch on his hand and a few bruises, but he could stand. He realized they were in the cesspit, underneath the streets of the village. Edric remembered what had happened.
"Will, would you hand me my sword?" Edric asked as he sat at the smithy. Will did so as he took a bite of his apple.
"What should we do for Maggie?" Will asked. "She has hardly spoken to anyone since her father died." Edric glanced at him as he sharpened his sword.
"You know he was poisoned," he assumed. Will nodded silently.
"Maggie knows, as well," he said. "I - "
Suddenly, Will was interrupted by the sound of galloping.
"You're under arrest in the name of Lord Maurice Castilettio," a man in armor said, riding up to Will and Edric. Will drew his sword and Edric raised his, but before either of them could even speak, they were knocked over the heads with the hilts of two of the Italians' swords.
"Will?" Edric said again. He knelt beside his brother and gently touched his arm. It must have hurt Will, because he winced and his eyes opened.
"Where's Maggie?" were his first words. "Where are we?" Edric helped his brother sit up. Will flinched and gasped at the pain in his body.
"Castilettio has us in the cesspit," Edric said. Will frowned.
"Where is Maggie?" he repeated. Edric began to rip the bottom of his shirt off and tie it around Will's arm, where the bleeding and bruising were worst.
"I know not. She can take care of herself."
"Not in the presence of that brutal swine," Will protested, trying to stand. He nearly fell back over, and Edric steadied him and supported him.
"I will get out," he said. "Then I'll save you and we'll rescue Maggie together. You cannot move in this state." Will frowned, but knew Edric was right. Edric helped Will sit back down. He then began to follow the dark tunnel.
The next morning, Maggie heard her door unlock and Castilettio entered, closing the door behind himself. She sat on her windowsill and she looked at him. He held a white linen gown up. It was trimmed at the sleeves and the waist in gold, and Castilettio held it out to Maggie.
"Try it on, love," he said with a wicked smile and shining eyes. Maggie snatched the dress from his hands and went behind her changing screen. As she changed, she heard Castilettio walking around her room.
"Who is this, the drawing on your desk?" he asked, and Maggie heard the paper crinkle.
"My mother," she replied shortly. Maggie put the gown over her head and stepped out, wearing an expression like that of a tomboy wearing a pink and frilly dress.
"Ah," Castilettio said, putting the drawing back on the desk. Maggie looked out the window as Castilettio circled her once, then stopped to face her. "Beautiful. You know," Castilettio said, bringing his long fingernail to Maggie's cheek. She clenched her jaw as he ran his fingernail down her neck. He continued. "You know, you should think yourself lucky. Your father was clever to betroth you to me, considering he was going to lose this place anyway. As soon as we're married, you and I are going to go to Rome, where we shall do what we please. I hear tell of a manor bigger than this citadel there, and I mean to dwell there to the end of my days."
"I will never leave Nottinghamshire, nor will I ever marry you, you brutal pig!" Maggie replied coldly through gritted teeth. Castilettio drew his sword swiftly and pointed it at Maggie's throat.
"I believe I told you I will have enough of your sass," he said, his voice raising. Maggie swallowed.
"If you kill me now, you will gain neither my beauty nor my wealth," she warned. Castilettio did not lower the sword, but he looked at Maggie's necklace.
"What's this?" he asked. Maggie did not reply, and Castilettio ripped the necklace off her with his sword. Maggie squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed again. Castilettio leaned down and picked up the necklace.
"One of the Caradocs gave this to you," he speculated. Maggie opened her eyes and watched Castilettio put the necklace in his pocket. With a slight nod, Castilettio left Maggie in her room, locking the door as he went. Maggie sank onto her bed and lay there, crying quietly.
Edric found his way to the entrance of the tunnel and looked frantically for a way to get out. He saw through the bars of the drain a girl, about twelve or thirteen years old. Knowing he would scare the daylight out of her if he touched her foot, he called out to her softly. She looked around for a moment. "Down here," Edric said. The girl looked down and gasped quietly.
"What are you doing in there, sir knight?" she asked, setting down the basket of laundry she carried.
"My business is mine own," he replied. "I need you to help me get out of here."
"How do I know you are not a villain locked in there for some vile crime?" the girl asked.
"What is your name, lass?" Edric asked.
"Philomena, sir, but everyone calls me Mena."
"Mena, I need to get out of here because my brother's true love is about to be forced to marry a corrupt villain, who put me in here in the first place. Will you not aid true love?" Edric said exasperatedly. Mena frowned.
"Why did you not tell me so?" she asked, leaning down. She unlatched the door and Edric climbed out.
"Mena," he said, putting his hands on the girl's shoulders. "My brother is still down there, injured badly and unable to move. If you get him out of there some how, I'll pay you in pennies."
"No need for pay, sir knight," she said. "Go save the lady and I'll get my brothers to help." Edric nodded and was about to be on his way, but the lass touched his arm. He looked at her. "You may want to wash before you go. No offense intended, sir, but you smell unimaginably. My father owns a washtub. Tell him I sent you and he shall let you use it. He shall give you clean clothes, as well." Edric nodded and thanked her and hurried away.
Before dawn the next morning, Maggie awoke and sat on her windowsill, watching the moon slowly wane. She swallowed and went to her bed, where she got down on the floor. Reaching under the bed, she pulled a box out and set it on her desk. She ran her fingers over the Germanic runes and said them to herself.
"To Magdalena with love. May you use this in your most dire need. Father." She opened the box slowly and removed the silver dagger, which had a Bible verse from Jeremiah written on it in the same runes. Then she went to her window again and gazed outside, letting the cool breeze blow her hair. Gradually raising the knife, she aimed it downward at the middle of her collarbone. Just as she was about to plunge the dagger into her neck, a strong hand gripped her wrist.
"There shall be no need for that," a voice said. Maggie swallowed and her hand let go of the dagger. It fell to the floor with a clang.
Shortly prior to this, Edric found his way into the citadel. Sneaking about, trying to get to Maggie's room, but having to avoid being seen by Castilettio or any of his men, Edric had found his way to Castilettio's chambers. He stayed out of the bedchamber, but heard voices inside.
"I need a new sword forged in two days," Castilettio was saying in Italian. (Edric had learned Italian when he was in the Holy Lands.)
"What is your plan, my lord?" another voice said.
"I certainly cannot have the girl with me while I make my living in Rome. I mean to kill her the night of our wedding." That was all Edric needed to hear before running to Maggie's room.
Maggie looked behind her to see Edric. She embraced him and kissed the corner of his mouth, then looked at him.
"Where were you? Have you any idea what I have been through?" she asked. "How did you get in? The door was locked." Edric held his index finger to her lips.
"We're getting out," he said. "Follow me." He took hold of her hand and she followed him out of her room. She glanced back as they hurried quietly down the corridor and saw an unconscious guard. There's how he got in. Edric led her out to the courtyard and to the stables. They both mounted Cherry and rode out of the stable into the waxing sunlight. They had not ridden to the village walls before they were suddenly surrounded by Castilettio's soldiers, who all aimed arrows at Edric and Maggie. Castilettio himself rode up on horseback.
"I should kill you both now," he said, drawing his sword and pointing it at Maggie.
"What stays your blade?" Edric asked defiantly. Castilettio moved the sword to Edric's throat and put slight pressure on his skin. Maggie saw a drop of blood trickle down Edric's neck.
"Only the humor you bring me in trying to rescue the girl," Castilettio replied. Edric chuckled and Castilettio sheathed his sword.
"Take them both to the dungeon," he ordered the other men. Maggie saw Edric wink at the bushes near the gate. At first, she thought he must not have been in his right mind, but then she realized it was a signal. She gasped as arrows flew from all directions, all at the soldiers. Amidst the chaos, Edric whispered to Maggie.
"Go back to the citadel," he said. "This is plan 'B', and I'm afraid we have to use it." Maggie nodded, although she was not completely sure about it. Edric dissapeared amongst the falling soldiers and Castilettio's yelling became louder when he saw Maggie going back to the citadel. She galloped down the road and to the stables, then after dismounting Cherry, she ran as quickly as her legs would carry her back into her bedchamber. There, she hurriedly put away her dagger and placed the box in its safe place under the bed. It was not long before Castilettio stormed in and drew his blade.
"I suppose you thought that was incredibly cunning," he said, cornering Maggie and placing the sword at the side of her neck. She felt the cold steel ready to cut her throat at any moment.
"Am I really worth the trouble?" she asked, trying to remain calm and nonchalant. Castilettio took a step closer and Maggie felt his foul, hot breath on her face.
"I'm beginning to wonder," he replied through gritted teeth. "I will kill those brothers myself, if it's the last thing I do!" Maggie swallowed and Castilettio sheathed his sword and left the room in a fume. Maggie let out a sigh of relief that he did not harm her, although she was terribly worried for Edric and Will.
Edric stood in the only room of Philomena (whose surname was Gamdred), pacing while Mena's brothers looked on. There were four brothers, and all of them were very fond of Edric, thus they had become good friends with him. Will was hiding at Mena's grandmother's cottage, about six leagues south of Mena's home. Finally Edric stopped when there was noise from outside. He and the others ran to the window and saw that three of the six houses on the road had been set on fire. Mothers frantically ran away with their children, and they were all screaming.
"They're looking for me," Edric said grimly. He looked at the boys, all of whom ranged from fifteen to nineteen. "Go help the women and children." They obeyed and Edric ran outside to face the men on horseback. Altogether, there were sixteen of them. Edric mounted his loyal horse and drew his sword, along with a torch in his left hand. He rode toward Castilettio's assembly without flinching, prepared to take on all sixteen.
Will's eyes opened and he saw that he was in a small cottage. He sat up and touched his aching head. It had healed completely, and his bruises were gone.
"Where am I?" he said, more to himself. A beautiful old woman emerged from the kitchen. Her hair was silvery and flowed about her and onto the floor. She wore a long white gown and she had scarcely any wrinkles, like any old woman might. Her blue eyes and smile were what made Will like her immediately.
"You are in the house of Eriel, White Lady of the Wood," the woman replied in a deep, mellifluous voice. Will looked at her and she continued. "I am the grandmother of Philomena Gamdred, daughter of Hameth Gamdred, and you are in my house. You were badly wounded, sir knight. I have healed you." Will frowned slightly.
"White lady of the wood?" he repeated. He thought for a moment, thinking he had before heard the name. He looked at her again. "You're the sorceress, the enchantress, of Sherwood Forest," he said finally. The woman gracefully poured a cup of ale without looking, and her eyes caught Will's.
"They call me an enchantress?" she asked. Will nodded and she laughed melodiously. "I am no enchantress."
"What are you, then?" Will asked as she brought him the ale. He took it and drank it thankfully, although he thought it tasted strange.
"I am . . . My family calls me a white witch," she said after a moment. She noticed Will's thoughts of the ale and said, "It has aniseed in it." Will furrowed his brow, although he did like the ale.
"You, sir knight," Eriel said, "have a lady to save. There is a horse waiting for you just outside, and there will be a muster of my companions waiting for you at the castle gate. They will not fail you." Will nodded and set the ale down. When he pulled the covers off himself, he saw that his tattered and dirty clothes were gone and he wore clean, white, linen garments. He went toward the door and Eriel said his name. He looked at her.
"You are forgetting your armor," she said with a smile. Will looked back toward the door and saw a pile of armor. He looked at Eriel with a content, but slightly confused, smile.
The morning Maggie awoke with Castilettio standing over her would later be called the worst day of her life. It is hard for someone like Maggie to exaggerate.
"Get up," Castilettio commanded. Maggie obeyed and stood still as he threw her wedding gown at her. "Today's the big day," he said. "Not the best weather for a wedding, but we'll make it." Maggie swallowed and held the dress as Castilettio left the room. She changed quickly and brushed her hair, while occasionally glancing out the window, looking for Edric. When she was dressed, she went down to the courtyard, where a gathering of young women of the village, who had likely been paid by Castilettio to attend the wedding as Maggie's bridesmaids. The maypole was set up, and the pretty pink, white, and green ribbons hung down, ready to be twirled around the pole. White tents were scattered about the courtyard, and a jester juggled clumsily near the gate. Maggie swallowed as all of the attendants stopped what they were doing to watch her. Soon, the priest came and Maggie was led to the altar to stand beside Castilettio. She wondered frantically where Edric was. The priest began his long ceremony.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony..."
Will rode with great haste toward the citadel. The armor fit perfectly, and the great white steed Eriel had given him was loyal and obedient. He was given a new sword, which was long and sharp, and had Germanic runes engraved into it. Will rode through the forest with the wind.
"...which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in Paradise..."
Edric rode with Mena's brothers and her brother's friends north to Maggie's citadel. The sky overhead was cloudy and the air humid. Edric knew rain would come. He drew his sword as they neared the citadel.
"...and into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined..."
Will approached the citadel. He saw coming from the east Edric and eight men. Waiting for him at the gate, as Eriel had said, there was a large assembly of armed men on horseback. Will gave Edric a wry smile and Edric looked proudly toward the gate. Thunder boomed and a flash of lightning filled the sky.
"Therefore, if any man can shew any just cause, why they may not be lawfully joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter hold his peace forever." Maggie swallowed and gritted her teeth as the priest waited and the sky poured the rain like a gardener watering his garden.
Will gave his men a signal, and they charged through the citadel's gate. When they were inside, and everyone stared, Will said, "I have a cause." Maggie looked at him in surprise and relief, but Castilettio realized who had arrived. He drew his sword and held Maggie in a headlock, with the sword pressed against her stomach.
"Take a step closer, and I will kill her," Castilettio said. Will blinked and the attendants of the wedding gasped. Suddenly, the feeble old priest took a step and knocked Castilettio over the head with the big Bible. Of course, it did not injure Castilettio, but it did startle him, and he let go of Maggie. She ran to Edric and grabbed a sword from one of the attendees. Edric swept her onto the back of his horse and she rode with him through the courtyard, in a battle with Castilettio's many men. Maggie looked toward Will and saw that he was in a one-on-one swordfight with Castilettio.
"Edric," she said as she defeated yet another of Castilettio's men. The commoners had fled the courtyard and Castilettio's men kept coming out of the castle. Edric looked in the direction of where Maggie was pointing. Castilettio was moving in on Will, and if Will took only a few more steps, he would fall off the drawbridge and into the moat. Edric tried to ride to Will's aid, but there were too many soldiers in the way. Maggie dismounted and made her way to where Castilettio and Will fought. Finding herself engaged in defending herself from three Italians, she tried to see Will. Finally she yelled.
"Will!" she warned. Will looked over the soldiers' heads and saw Maggie. For a moment, there eyes were interlocked and Maggie saw an unfamiliar look of fear and defeat. She swallowed and brought her attention to the Italian trying to get to her. She fought persistently, trying to make her way to Will.
"Maggie!" Maggie turned and saw Edric looking for her. During the one moment she looked away from Will, something horrific must have happened. When she looked back, Castilettio's sword plunged into the right side of Will's stomach. Castilettio removed the sword and stabbed at Will again, this time in the left side. Everything moved in slow motion for Maggie, and she cried out, both in terror and in pain from the sword that sliced at her right arm. She put her sword in her left hand and fought past all the men who were trying to get to her. Finally, she charged at Castilettio herself. Just as she was about to stab him, he turned and raised his sword. But an arrow shot through the air and pierced Castilettio's heart. He gasped, and fell to the ground. Maggie ran to Will and caught him as he was about to fall off the drawbridge. She helped him stagger to his feet and they moved to the wall, where Maggie sat with Will's upper half in her lap. He was gasping instead of breathing, and as if all things were about to end, the courtyard was quiet with the death of many.
"Will," Maggie said, her voice feeble. Her hand shook as she gently stroked his cheek. He looked at her and blood began to trickle out of the corner of his mouth.
"I failed," he said, breathing heavily. "I failed you, Maggie, forgive me." Maggie shook her head as her eyes were blurred with tears.
"You fought valiantly," she insisted. "There is nothing to forgive."
"I could've triumphed," Will said, his breaths becoming shorter. "I paid no attention, and I failed -"
Maggie continued to shake her head and stroke Will's pale cheek and his hair.
"You are a true knight of Nottinghamshire," she said, looking him in the eyes. Maggie heard Edric approaching, but she did not take her eyes off of Will.
"And you a daughter," he said after a few gasps. "I would have loved you to the end . . . My Magdalena." Will's breathing came to a stop and he spoke no more. Maggie leaned down and gently kissed Will's mouth, then she held him to her chest and began to sob quietly.
Will's funeral was that of royalty. Maggie and Edric were at the head of the funeral procession as they journeyed to the eastern shore of England. Maggie wore a black dress with a veil, and she hardly spoke to anyone. When they were about sixty leagues from the Wash, Edric looked at Maggie.
"I found this in Castilettio's pocket," he said softly. Maggie looked at him and he held his hand out to her. In his palm, completely unharmed, was the garnet necklace Will had given Maggie. She swallowed and touched it while it was still in Edric's palm, and then after gently taking it in her own hand, she rested her head on Edric's shoulder.
"I thank you," she said. Edric stroked her hair soothingly and their journey continued.
Epilogue
Will's body was lain in a punt, with his hands folded across his chest and his sword under his hands. Maggie and Edric were the ones to push the punt into the water, and it floated away, into the North Sea. Maggie and Edric were married after Maggie's mourning period of sixty days. Maggie always wore the necklace Will gave her, but that does not mean she was not in love with Edric. This is inaccurate beyond all means. They loved each other deeply and eventually went on to have three children, the oldest being a boy named after Will. Maggie and Edric raised Maggie's younger brothers and sisters, and they paid off the debts of the citadel and lived there happily till the end of their long days.
Thus, we reach the end of the story of the Knight of Nottinghamshire.
To Read More Stories by Alyson-Louise Belle, go to
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