A Tournament Knight

by A Tournament Knight (lit)

  Having reached the end of his patience, Terric slapped Edwin's hands away from his person. "Enough, Edwin. If you pull on my tunic anymore, you will put a hole in it."

  Edwin stepped back and gave Terric a thorough inspection. "I just want you to look perfect is all. You do not get married every day."

  "You have done a fine job, Edwin. Thanks to you, I will not shame Jacqueline by looking scruffy."

  How he was attired on this important day was all Edwin's doing. As Lady Elizabeth and her daughter-in-law labored over Jacqueline's gown, Edwin had been busy selecting what Terric would wear. Though he had few items of clothing, he did have outfits which were appropriate for the feasts after the tournaments he attended. His squire had gone through it all and personally mended and cleaned the items he picked.

  The tunic was black velvet, embroidered with gold threads along the cuffs, hem, and neck. Even though it was acceptable to have gems sewn onto the tunic, as well, Terric was never one to be so ostentatious. His hose was black, along with his boots. The belt strapped around his waist was plain black leather with a gold buckle.

  Hoping it would help to steady his nerves, Terric poured himself a goblet of wine. Resisting the urge to quaff it down in one large gulp, he made himself take a small sip.

  Knocking once, a very agitated Lady Elizabeth entered his chamber. The expression upon her face made Terric assume all was not well. He put his goblet down and stepped closer to her.

  "What is wrong, my lady?"

  "It is Jacqueline."

  Having only heard Jacqueline's name, a flood of worry washed over Terric. In his anxiety, he grabbed Lady Elizabeth by the upper arms and inadvertently squeezed. "What? Is she hurt? Tell me." Noticing how the older woman cringed, he realized he was hurting her. "My apologies, I did not mean to cause you pain."

  Rubbing her arms, Lady Elizabeth nodded. "I know you did not. Jacqueline is not injured. At least I hope she is not. It is just …. She is missing. She is not in her chamber and I cannot find her anywhere."

  "How can she have disappeared? Could she have gone to the chapel on her own?"

  "Nay, I checked already. She was not there."

  Unable to accept Jacqueline's just having vanished into thin air, Terric brushed past Lady Elizabeth and went to his intended's chamber. Edwin and Lady Elizabeth followed.

  Seeing the empty chamber gave Terric an eerie feeling. Jacqueline was supposed to be here happily preparing to pledge her love to him.

  Hoping to find a clue as to her whereabouts, he began to search her empty chamber. The other two people who accompanied him joined in the search, as well.

  They soon realized Jacqueline's wedding gown was missing. Presumably, she had it with her. There was no sign of a struggle either. It looked as if she had calmly walked away. Feeling frustrated, Terric sat down on the bed, leaving Edwin and Lady Elizabeth to continue in the search.

  Where could she have gone? He could not see Jacqueline leaving of her own freewill. She knew how much he loved her. But now, that he thought back on it, Terric sickened as he realized he had not once spoken those very words to her. He would have to rectify that error when they found her.

  Leaning back on his arms, one of his hands happened to slip under a pillow. His knuckles brushed up against what felt to him like a piece of parchment. Grasping it between his fingers, he pulled out the folded missive.

  Opening the stiff paper, Terric read the words written upon it. The more he read, the more he felt his heart shatter into a million pieces.

  His voice held no emotion when he asked, "My lady, is this Jacqueline's handwriting?"

  Moving to the bed, Lady Elizabeth glanced down at the piece of parchment Terric held in his hand. "Aye, it is. Where did you find it?"

  "Under one of her pillows."

  "What does it say?"

  Terric wadded up the missive in his fist, then jerked to his feet. "More fool I for believing I would be able to keep her. It seems your daughter has had a change of heart."

  Throwing the balled up parchment into a corner of the chamber, Terric stomped out the door.

  * * * *

  Something was dreadfully wrong, she just knew it. Hoping to get some answers, Beth went in search of her mother-in-law.

  She had waited at the chapel after making sure that the servants had everything under control for the meal to be served after the wedding ceremony. When Sir Guy was the only person to arrive at the appropriate time, she had started to become concerned. As the minutes ticked by and still the main participants had not arrived, she decided to see for herself what was causing the delay.

  Encountering no one in the hall, the feeling that all was not well increased. It was only after she entered Jacqueline's chamber and found Lady Elizabeth standing alone, holding a very crumpled piece of parchment, did she feel the full impact of uneasiness wash over her.

  "She is gone, Beth."

  "Who? Jacqueline?"

  Wearily, Lady Elizabeth nodded in affirmation. "Aye, she has gone. How could she do that to Terric? I never expected her to act in this way. She seemed so happy with him."

  "But she was …. I mean is. How do you know Jacqueline no longer wants to go through with the wedding?"

  The older woman held out the abused parchment for Beth to read. "She wrote this to Terric."

  Beth took the missive and read:

  Terric,

  I cannot marry you this day. I thought I could go

  through with it. But I cannot bring myself to be tied

  to a lowly knight for the rest of my life. I do not love

  you. I never did. You were just a means to an end.

  Now I have reached that end, making you an

  inconvenience. Do not look for me. I will only spurn you.

  Jacqueline

  Shocked, Beth read the missive once again. Even thought it was written in Jacqueline's hand, the words did not sound like her own. Jacqueline loved Terric. She would never hurt him so. There had to be a very good reason why she would do this, a reason that made her act so rashly.

  "Has Terric seen this?"

  "Aye." Lady Elizabeth sighed deeply. "I am afraid it was he who found it. He did not take it very well at all."

  The chamber door still stood open, so the sound of heavy booted feet descending the stairs could be easily heard. Beth raced out into the hallway in time to see Terric disappear down the flight of stairs.

  Edwin, who was standing at his master's chamber door, looked crestfallen. Noticing Beth, he sadly shook his head. "He has ordered me to pack his belongings. We leave this day."

  "Where has he gone?"

  "To the stables to ready the horses."

  Picking up her skirts, Beth ran down the hallway and rushed down the stairs. She did not slow her pace until she reached the stables.

  Stepping into the building, she waited a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the dim interior. Frantically, she searched the stable for any sign of Terric.

  She did not see him at first glance. It was not until he walked out of a stall leading his mount did she sigh with relief. He was still there.

  He looked her way, but chose to ignore her as he adjusted his saddle. Not at all deterred, Beth went to stand beside him. "She did not leave you, Terric."

  He snorted in disbelief. "Funny, but I thought that was exactly what she did. What do you take me for? An idiot?"

  "She loves you, Terric. You have to believe that."

  Pushing past her, Terric led his horse out into the bailey. Beth followed. Grabbing his arm, she pulled him to a halt. "Do not leave. We have to find her."

  None too gently, he plucked her restraining hand from his arm. "I have no intention of ever seeing Jacqueline again. She made her feelings perfectly clear in her missive. I am just abiding by her wishes."

  "Forget the damn missive! Just answer one question. In any way, has she ever caused you to doubt how she feels about you?"

  Terric let Beth feel the full force of his anger. "Enough!" he snarled.
"I will not listen to your nonsense any longer. She has made her choice."

  Swinging a leg up and over his horse's back, Terric mounted his steed. "Tell Edwin to meet me at the ferry. I can no longer tolerate being at Cairsbrooke. Give Lady Elizabeth my farewell."

  Adjusting his reins, Terric calmly walked his horse through the castle gates. Not once did he look back.

  Chapter Fourteen

  They had been traveling a few days now and Jacqueline had no inkling of their destination. Her father had stealthily taken her out of Carisbrooke and then deposited her in a covered wagon, one he had arranged to be waiting for him. The two men-at-arms who had been sitting atop the wagon were the earl's men. They each wore his livery.

  Once she was safely hidden from view, the earl had mounted his horse that had been tied to the back of the wagon. He had given a signal to the two men and with a slap of the reins, the wagon had lurched into motion.

  Now, alone in the wagon, Jacqueline had plenty of time to think-to think of what her father had forced her to do. She hoped Terric realized what she had written was a lie. But a small part of her knew he would not. Why would he? It was not as if she had ever said she loved him. Nor had he spoken those three simple words to her either.

  The more time she dwelled on it, the more unsure she became of how Terric actually felt about her. Maybe he was happy she was gone. He could now go back to the tournament circuit. Free to flirt with all the available women who flocked to him wherever he went.

  As the days went by and no one came to rescue her from the earl, Jacqueline felt her ponderings were more than just mere thoughts, but the actual truth. Terric was not coming. He was glad to be rid of her.

  Feeling as if her worst fears were confirmed, Jacqueline grew morose. Where her father was taking her was no longer important, for if Terric no longer wanted her, life was meaningless. It mattered not what became of her. So when her father told her what their destination was, Jacqueline could only feel it fitting. This would be the last humiliation. First Terric's betrayal by his not coming in search of her, and now this. The earl was bringing her to Nunney Castle, the home of Forwin De La Mare, the Earl of Somerset.

  * * * *

  The last night before they were to arrive at Nunney Castle, the earl led his party to an inn in a small market town. They would reach their destination on the morrow. That being the case, he of course wanted Jacqueline to look presentable, which could not be accomplished by spending the night sleeping out under the stars.

  Jacqueline, so deeply sunk in her own misery, barely noticed the name of the inn into which her father escorted her. The only reason she spared it a passing glance was the name of it. The Happy Bride. She could not help but sneer up at it as she passed the inn's sign. She was anything but that.

  The earl paid the innkeeper for the two rooms he requested, then the man led them above to the inn's upper floor. The room to which she was taken was sparse, but it seemed clean enough.

  After the innkeeper returned below stairs, the earl finally divulged his plans to her. "As you know, we will reach Nunney on the morrow. You will be respectful to Forwin. He is to be your husband. I want him to see what an obedient wife you will make him. He has graciously overlooked what transpired before."

  Only half listening to what he told her, Jacqueline went and sat down on the bed. There was no point in responding to the earl's dictates, so she remained silent.

  As the silence stretched between them, her father decided to continue. "This door will be locked from the outside. I will be in the room next to this one. As well, one of my men will be standing guard just outside the door, so do not even bother to try and leave." Heading for the door, he added one last demand. "I want you ready at first light." He then left her alone.

  She had no idea how long she sat on the bed, staring at nothing. It only seemed a matter of minutes from the time of the earl's departure till someone knocked on her room door. Once she bid them to enter, the door opened to admit one of her father's men carrying a tray of food. He placed it on the small table next to the bed, then promptly exited the way he had come in. Jacqueline heard the lock being turned on the other side of the door.

  Lifting the cloth that covered the tray, she found a meat pie along with a couple of thick slices of cheese and a tankard of ale. Picking up the tray, she placed it on the bed before her and methodically began to eat.

  The fare was simple but well prepared. Finishing every last morsel, Jacqueline returned the tray to the small side table. Stripping off her gown, so that she stood in her chemise, she looked at the state of her only garment. The gown showed the wear from days of travel. There was nothing she could do to remedy that. But she made use of the water provided in her room. She quickly washed some of the dirt from her body.

  Slipping between the bed sheets, Jacqueline hoped sleep would claim her. Surprisingly, it did come easily to her. And with it came a dream.

  In the dream Terric held her in his arms. He kissed her, holding nothing back. She kissed him in return with all the pent up passion which had built up inside her. She desperately clung to his muscular frame, afraid to let go of him, afraid he would disappear and she would loose him forever. The dream then shifted. One moment Terric was kissing her passionately, then the next he stood at a very great distance away from her. Jacqueline tried to reach him but each step closer she took, the farther away he seemed. In frustration, she called out to him. Terric turned his back on her, moving further into the thickening mist which began to envelope them both. Before he disappeared completely from sight, Jacqueline heard him speak. His voice sounded muffled, but what he did say turned her dream into a nightmare. He told her he could never love her. He could never forgive her for what she had done. With tears streaming down her face, Jacqueline screamed out his name, but it was no use. He still walked away, leaving her to mourn the loss of him.

  Jerking awake, Jacqueline could feel the tears on her cheeks. She roughly wiped them away, then looked about the room, trying to get her bearings. Nothing had changed. She was still in the small rented room and Terric was not there to take her away.

  Noticing the faint light seeping through the curtain covered window, she realized that dawn had come. The earl would be fetching her soon. Before this day came to a close, she would be facing her real life nightmare.

  * * * *

  Forwin had been expecting them, which did not surprise Jacqueline in the least. Her father would have arranged this meeting prior to taking her from her home. If Forwin had not been agreeable to the idea of making a match with her, the earl would have left her alone. Until another prospect presented itself, that is. Why expend energy on a useless cause?

  Standing in the hall of Nunney Castle, Jacqueline held herself stiffly while Forwin circled her. As he poked her here and there, she bit her lower lip until she tasted blood. The urge to slap his face was great. But she was no fool. Any defiance on her part would be dealt with swiftly by the earl.

  Forwin, satisfied with what he saw, nodded his head. "I find her acceptable."

  Smiling, the earl said, "She is yours then. I presume you have made the proper arrangements?"

  "Aye, all is at the ready. The priest will perform the ceremony on the morrow."

  "Excellent." The earl rubbed his hands together, apparently very pleased. "Now all that is left to do is sign the marriage contracts. If you can arrange a chamber for my daughter, we can then get down to business."

  Giving Jacqueline one last licentious glance, Forwin clapped his hands together. A young servant girl entered the hall a second later.

  "Alice, take the Lady Jacqueline to her chamber."

  Meekly, the girl nodded. Then, not waiting to see if Jacqueline followed or not, she crossed the hall to the stairway. Quite happy to be out of Forwin's presence, Jacqueline hurried to catch up with Alice.

  The chamber, she found, was sumptuously appointed. A beautifully crafted writing desk sat beneath the only window which was set high in one of the walls. The bed sat upo
n a raised dais. The bed hangings were a thick dusty rose velvet. A matching cover was spread across the mattress.

  The mental picture of what could possibly happen in that bed caused Jacqueline to shiver. If Forwin did try to consummate their marriage, she would fight him to the bitter end.

  Making a full circle around the chamber, Jacqueline walked back to the waiting Alice. The young servant girl refused to meet her eyes, keeping her gaze downcast. She was young. She seemed to be no older than three and ten, if that. Her fine brown hair was pulled back in a single braid, which fell to her waist. Her brown serviceable gown was made from homespun, and looked as if it had been made for a much larger woman. It hung on her frame so loosely that there was no way to determine the shape of her body.

  When the girl would not acknowledge her presence, Jacqueline asked, "Your name is Alice?"

  Startled, the servant girl jumped at the sound of her voice, which did not go unnoticed by Jacqueline. "Aye, my lady."

  "What are your duties in the castle?"

  Still keeping her eyes adverted, Alice answered, "I used to work in the kitchen, but now I am to be your maid. If you find me acceptable."

  Jacqueline could hear the slight tremor in the girl's voice when she spoke. It was not hard to guess what would befall Alice if she was found unworthy.

  Thinking it best to lay the girl's fears to rest, Jacqueline said, "I will not reject you as my maid. It will be a learning experience for the both of us. You see, I have always made do for myself."

  Having been spoken to kindly, Alice raised her eyes to meet Jacqueline's own. Her eyes were hazel. "Thank you, my lady."

  Jacqueline smiled at Alice and received a timid smile in return. She had an ally now, in the form of this young girl. She would not have to be totally alone after all.

  * * * *

  The rest of the day and night passed quietly. The only person Jacqueline saw was Alice when she brought up a tray of food for her, which she did not complain about. She did not want Forwin or her father intruding on what little privacy she had been allowed.