Squire to the Rescue
by
deathworks
Chapter 1 : Dark Clouds Rising
The raven- haired man on the ebony throne looked down at the man kneeling at the
base of the stairs leading up to him. The throne's occupant couldn't be older
than 30 years with a soft and boyish face and was attired in a blue tunic with
brown trousers, the plain look of which underlining his youthfulness. The
crimson robe with white trimming attached to his shoulders and the simple,
golden crown on his head were in stark contrast to that average appearance as
were the wrinkles above his eyes. His thin lips hid any emotions he might have
had, while his green eyes were fixed on the man below. That man was quite the
opposite of his sovereign. He was thin to the extreme and looked worn- out
beyond belief. He certainly counted at least 60 years, but no one could say for
sure, how many more, as his pale face was a maze of wrinkles and scars. His hair
was white seemingly shining before his black robes. Next to his right hand,
there lay an ebony staff, the head of which was carved to resemble a blazing
sun. Although he was old and showing his respect, there was a gleaming in his
brown eyes telling of inner strength and defiance. Neither he nor his sovereign
cared about the guards and courtiers surrounding the scene in silence. And no
one dared to move or even whisper a word to his neighbor.
After this short pause, King Gerald III continued to speak:
"Have you understood what I ask of you, bishop Jeremiah? What is your answer and
what payment do you desire?"
"I have understood my task and I understand the necessity of the subject to obey
his lord. I will do as you have asked, but there are some things I need to be
able to finish the ritual. As your subject, I can't possibly expect you to give
me any other reward than your enlightened rulership. The Holy Mother Azkata is
another matter, though. All the power I have comes from her, and it is her
generosity that helps us prevail, although she had been betrayed by her
children. Therefore, I have to beg your Highness to have a great temple built in
honor of the holy mother so that I may spread the wisdom of the past among the
people."
"A request most fitting for a holy man like you. The ritual's success would
without doubt bring safety and peace to our lands. How could I possibly fail to
acknowledge the Holy Mother's generosity that helped us in that time of need.
Succeed in the ritual, and I will built a worthy Great Temple of the Holy Mother
here in the capital. And I will also erect subsidiaries in Greenriver, Stormedge,
and Willowshade. Once they are under our control and the populace pacified, I
will see to the building of temples in Redsand, Deepswamp, and Brightcloud. I,
King Gerald III, ruler of Stormrock, promise to do all this if the Holy Mother
would look favorably upon my request."
"Then I am sure that your prayers will be answered. As for the things I require,
it's a complete list of all people in the castle and the lives of two men for
each one of them."
"Rest assured that I will see to it that everything will be as you need it. You
are dismissed."
"Thank you, my Lord."
Using the staff to carry most of his weight, the bishop rose to his feet, bowing
his head before his sovereign. Then he turned around and left the audience
chamber. Both men knew that there had been no other way things could have
developed. And both men knew that Jeremiah's submissiveness was more show than
anything else. The necromancer was probably the only living creature King Gerald
was afraid of, but he needed him and his powers. Needed them too much. As the
old man disappeared from sight, the sovereign wondered, when the necromancer
would rise against him - and if he would be able to prevail. But that was the
future, he had to see to it that his spies gather the information the magician
had asked for. Very soon, he would own Blackberry Fields as well. And he would
have his bride, fair Elizabeth. At this thought, a smile crept onto his face.
Chapter 2 : A Common Squire indeed
"Ah, fair princess Elizabeth. If only I could be among the lucky ones that are
allowed to climb the stairs of the tower to wait on you. Just seeing your
distant face at the window makes me comprehend that there can't be a fairer
being in the world." THUD! A wooden sword smacked the young man's side, making
him return to reality from his day dreams and sending him into the court yard's
dust. It hadn't rained for two days now, so that his sudden impact sent grey
clouds into the air, making him cough. The dirt immediately covered his green
tunic and trousers, as well as his brown hair. The man whose sword had struck
him, couldn't help but laugh at the sight of this. This little pause wouldn't
last of course.
"What were you thinking, John? It is an honor to become a royal knight's squire,
and you should be grateful for anything I, your master and mentor, are teaching
you. When we are practicing the fighting arts, your thoughts should only be with
your sword and your foe. Had my sword been real, and I your enemy, you would be
dead by now. Get up, so that we may continue and pay attention this time." Sir
Humphrey Ironshield was one of the well- known royal knights protecting
Blackberry Fields from any threats. He was a broad- shouldered man of 44 years
with black hair having a slight grey shining to it. Well- trained, his body was
strong and agile, and few would have claimed to be a better swordsman than him.
The tales of his deeds are many, the most reknown of them being his fight with
Goldenfang, the dragon, a terrible beast that invaded the country and tried to
conquer it 12 years ago. It is said that, although he had been accompanied by 20
most formidable knights, it was him alone who dared to enter Goldenfang's lair.
The other knights, ashamed of their cowardice, couldn't abandon him completely,
so they waited outside the cave, hearing the sounds of a fierce battle. After
two hours, legend has it, Sir Humphrey emerged, carrying Goldenfang's head in
his arms. Being only 16 years old, John Fields could hardly judge whether this
was true or not, but if a mortal could defeat such a terrible beast, Sir
Humphrey would be most likely. John was lucky indeed that his father somehow
knew Sir Humphrey and had been able to convince him to take John for a squire.
Otherwise, his chances of getting this close to the royal court would have been
naught. And he would never have been able to see princess Elizabeth.
Princess Elizabeth. The only child of King Rupert II of Blackberry Fields, her
beauty had already become a legend. It is said that she is a gift from Lord
Fukar, the Creator, himself. After testing the King's devotion for many years,
and having him wait for an heir, he had finally found him worthy of such a
wonderful boon and had Queen Margarita give birth to a child as fair as can be.
She had black hair, glistening in the sun, while her skin was slightly pale with
only a rose tinge like snow on a winter morning. Her eyes were of a deep blue
and her voice more enchanting than those of the most wonderful birds. King
Rupert was of course the happiest father one could imagine, but soon he became
convinced that he had to shelter his precious daughter from the dangers of the
outside world. He kept her in a big tower he had added to the castle, and only
the most reliable and loyal nobles were chosen to wait on her. Still, her form
looking down from the tower's windows had enchanted several men, and so word of
her beauty had spread even to distant kingdoms.
For the next hour, John kept himself focused and tried to beat the old man. But
no matter how well he tried to protect himself, the knight always found the flaw
in his defenses. And no matter how hard or fast he attacked, the knight's sword
was always there to parry his weapon. John had just hit the floor again, his
muscles aching and pain surging through his body, when a messenger, a boy of
John's age in a white tunic approached the fighters.
"Greetings, Sir Humphrey. I am here as a messenger to arch wizard Michael. He
wants to inquire, if you could spare your squire this afternoon, as his
assistance would be very helpful. Arch wizard Michael hopes that you appreciate
the importance his tasks have."
"Go tell arch wizard Michael that I will send John to him after lunch. He isn't
really concentrated today, so lessons would be lost on him anyway." After
hearing these words, the messenger bowed and turned around heading back to the
castle's buildings. With an angry scream, John jumped towards his master trying
to hit his left side. The two swords met, entangled each other, and suddenly
John's sword went flying through the air, while the squire lost his balance and
pushed his face into the dirt once more. "Much too slow and unfocused."
Chapter 3 : An Interlude of Dark Tidings
"Here, your Highness. The list of all persons residing and working at Blackberry
Fields castle. It counts 124. The King also tells you that the main hall of the
castle and 248 men are ready for the ritual. The King hinted at the fact that
haste would be greatly appreciated." Finishing that sentence, the young
messenger, who was already kneeling down, bowed his head nearly touching the
ground with it, while his outstretched arms presented a roll of parchment.
Bishop Jeremiah approached him and fetched the scroll. Unravelling it and
studying its contents, the necromancer started to speak:"Yes, this will do.
Squire! Tell His Majesty that my preparations will be finished the day after
tomorrow. Before that day's noon, I will start the ritual, so that the King's
men will be able to claim the castle that same day. You are dismissed." Without
any further comment, he sat down at one of the tables in this smoky room. Taking
a quilt, he started copying names from the scroll. Thankful for the order to
leave, the squire retreated. Visiting the bishop's abode always made him feel
weak and insignificant. A man to be feared, no doubt, with powers mortals are
not meant to have.
Chapter 4 : Doomsday
"Ah, it is good that you could come, John. I have heard that you are a healthy
boy and not the weakest squire at the castle. I suppose you know who I am and
what my purpose here is." "You are the royal arch wizard Michael, advising King
Rupert II and helping the royal knights defending our country from any dangers."
The old man was obviously pleased with John's quick and correct response as a
smile filled his wrinkled face. Although his white hair and sick complexion told
of a life that had lasted for too long already, the arch wizard was obviously
still very strong and energetic. His laboratory was a large room filled with
tables upon which diverse pots and bottles with the most bizarre of ingredients
were stored. Smoke from two fire places and an oven filled the air, but its
owner didn't seem to notice. John, on the other hand, found his surroundings
bewildering and more than a bit scary. But this was the King's arch wizard. He
was their ally, therefore John had to trust him.
"I have summoned you, because I needed to test a new spell I have devised for
His Majesty's knights. If it succeeds, I will be able to grant you the strength
of a hundred men. Currently, our spies are reporting that King Gerald's men are
gathering at the border. His attack will begin very soon, so I have to get this
spell finished now. Don't worry, there is no possibility that harm could befall
you. Just stand over there and wait until I am finished with the incantation."
John moved to the clear spot the old man had pointed at while the latter began
murmurring strang words of magic. King Gerald of Stormrock. He was a very famous
man. It was said that he had to ascend the throne at an early age after his
father had been killed by an assassin. The plan of the usurper to steal his
heritage failed, though, but King Gerald had learned how to fight. He had been
ruling his country with an iron fist. As it would seem, he had heard rumors
about princess Elizabeth. Being impressed even by those oral descriptions, he
had sent a vast treasure together with a message asking for the princess's hand.
Considering what a dangerous man he was, and the dealings he had with
necromancers and other creatures that would certainly lead to heavenly
punishment one day, all counselors concurred, and King Rupert denied King
Gerald's request. That King Gerald wouldn't accept 'no' for an answer was
something everyone had been apprehensive about. John was glad, of course, that
the princess wouldn't be handed over to such a monster who was believed to steal
his peasans' children for dark offerings to the necromantic gods.
John suddenly felt strange. It was a feeling just as if a lightning storm was
about to begin. The sensation filled his entire body. Although not really
unpleasant, it was odd. Looking around, he noticed that the arch wizard had
stopped with his chanting and was examining him. "Grab that iron bar and try to
bend it. No normal mortal could do that bare handedly, so if you are able to do
it, your strength has certainly been increased." Looking at the heavy iron bar,
the squire got a bit dishearted. He certainly didn't feel stronger, and the mage
was certainly right about no one being able to bend that metal bar without
applying fire and hammer. Sighing with resignation, John still tried to pick up
the pole. It certainly was heavy and he really felt it. He had to try, though,
just to make sure. Holding the iron with two hands, he started to push using all
his strength. All his muscles tensed and blood rushed into his head, but the bar
wouldn't change a bit.
"Stop. It is no use, the spell has failed. I will have to UNGH! ..." The old man
was never able to finish that sentence as flames suddenly erupted from his body,
turning him into a living column of fire. The flames hungrily ate at their prey
and the heat was intense. Within a few seconds, the wizard was reduced to ashes,
overwhelmed before he had any time to act.
In distant Stormrock, in the castle's main hall, an old man chanted arcane words
and invocation while lifting the blood covered knife in order to slit another
man's throat.
John was stunned only for a second by the shock. Then he recovered. "You are a
royal knight's squire. You have to inform your master and his liege about this
incident. You have to defend the castle, the king, the princess" He kept telling
himself these words so as to keep himself from thinking about the fact that he
had just seen a respected man spontaneously burst into flames and die within
mere moments. Hastily, he ran up the stone stairs leading to the castle's ground
floor.
During the afternoons, Sir Humphrey was always in the court yard practicing with
the other knights or telling the squires about the duties of the knights. He was
a hero. He would certainly know what to do. Missing his footing, John fell just
as he reached the top of the stairs. Instinctively, he put his arms in front of
his face so as to stop his fall, but the impact was still very hard and he cut
open his left hand. "No time for that. Just hurry and get some help." There was
the door to the court yard. He opened it and was greated by screams. Looking
around, he was only able to see two of the squires sitting in the dirt and
holding each other in their arms while screaming at the top of their lungs. But
no sign of the knights.
Then terror gripped him as it dawned to him. Looking to the ground, he saw them.
The knights' suits of armor, terribly burnt and molten to dark clumps of metal,
they were still able to confirm his fears. This wasn't just a backlash of the
wizard's spell. This must be some kind of divine punishment - or attack! King
Gerald's necromancers! Could it be that they had such terrible powers. If that
was so, the princess would be in danger. This last thought gave the squire the
goal he needed. Saving the princess, becoming her hero, her knight, her ...
He ran back into the main building. Running through the corridors, he just came
across two places where the fine carpet was still smoldering and a disgusting
stench of burnt flesh lay in the air. There was the door to the princess' tower.
It was open and two clumps of molten metal told of the guards' dire fate. Right
behind the door, a charred tray lay on the floor among shards of a tea pot and
some cups, no doubt. Sugar dissolved in the pool of liquid upon which some ashes
were still drifting. This was all just too unreal, this couldn't be happening.
Understanding the urgency and the imminent danger, John climbed the stairs as
fast as he could. As he came across a window facing the yard, he was able to
witness a gruesome sight. The two squires had still been in the court yard, too
scared even to move. Suddenly, one of them burst into flames. The other didn't
seem to notice, he still held him in his arms as the flames ate away, burning
his flesh. Once the fire was gone, the surviving squire suddenly burst into
flames and was released from his miserable existance. As the flames died down
leaving behind an empty court yard, John realized that he had stopped to watch
the incident. A stupid mistake, there wasn't any time left.
Just as he was nearing the top of the stairs, with the open door to the lady's
chambers in sight, John was gripped by terrible pain. Searing heat filled his
entire body, he couldn't breath, he couldn't think. He only knew that this was
it. This was the fiery death the others had already suffered. He wouldn't get to
wait on the princess after all. He wouldn't even become a knight. What a lousy
fate.
Chapter 5 : A Great Triumph
"Your Highness, there is no doubt. It's our horn signal we are hearing." "Good,
the ritual is finished then. Sir Winston, have the army advance. Blackberry
Fields is ours. If there is any futile resistance, crush it mercilessly, but I
don't think that anyone would dare oppose us." "Yes, my liege."
King Gerald III watched as the knight rode his horse to the front of the army.
Then his soldiers began moving towards the border. It was an awesome sight, a
great army that no one could resist. Blackberry Fields stood no chance
especially without any leaders to rally the troops. "Yes, princess Elizabeth is
mine. But it wouldn't do to rush things. There is nothing she could do, so I
better stay calm and first see to it, that word of my conquest gets to all
corners of Blackberry Fields. Then, I will go and collect my bride." The king
was very pleased with himself. He set his horse into motion, following slowly
his army, only accompanied by his royal guard.
Meanwhile, his forces had reached the enemy border towers. While most soldiers
fled upon seeing the army advancing, some valiant archers remained firing away
at the enemy unwilling to allow them to enter their country. They paid for their
bravery with their lives, as the army crashed into the towers sweeping away the
gates like the tide rushing in. None of the defenders that had stayed was
spared.
The refugees had reached Greenbeech with the news of the attack. The village had
no defenders in addition to the border patrols, so that the populace panicked.
People gathered their family and the things they needed most before running off,
either along the road towards Redsand or into the forests, hoping to escape King
Gerald's wrath.
Blackberry Fields was small and rather densely populated. Therefore, the first
refugees hit Redsand just as the sun was touching the horizon. The terrible news
spread immediately. The city had its own forces though, which would be able to
hold off the enemy for a short while during which reinforcements from the castle
and the rest of the kingdom may be summoned. Thus, the city prepared for a siege
and sent messages to the other cities and the castle.
In the meantime, King Gerald and his men kept on moving slaying anyone who tried
to put up resistance. Greenbeech had been burnt to the ground as this lack of
respect angered King Gerald. He ordered the village burnt and all its residents
slain when found. He would have this people obey him, no matter what the cost.
Chapter 6 : An Impossible Situation
John's head was on fire. He shouldn't have had that much wine with his master.
Being a hero, that man certainly also knew how to drink more than a mortal. And
he would soon have John get up and start practicing with him. Why couldn't John
be like him a great hero, a strong knight protecting the kingdom. It was no use,
he had to get up, no matter how much his head hurt.
He opened his eyes. "Strange, I don't recall having such a high ceiling. What
did we drink last night?" Raising his torso, the squire wiped the sleep out of
his eyes. The pain in his head was lessening, and his thoughts were more focused
again. Looking around, he couldn't recognize his surroundings. He had been lying
on a stone floor, obviously built of gigantic granite boulders. Off to his left,
the floor ended after a few meters, while a fifteen meter wall limited the plain
to his right side. Forwards and backwards, unbelievably high wall rose into the
sky in the distance.
Puzzled, John got to his feet and walked over to the edge where the floor
suddenly ended. Looking down, he saw a plain similar to the one his was on
fifteen meters below. And below that one another and another, going on and on.
Just like a titanic staircase. Staircase. He knew there was something about
stairs. Stairs he was climbing.
Then his memory returned and he was shocked. The people being turned into living
torches. The death. His wish to save the princess. The pain. His death? No, he
was still alive. But if this was the princess' tower and he was on its stairs,
then he must have ... No, that can't be right. He must be mistaken. He can't
have been shrunk. But then there was the arch wizard's spell. Maybe it did have
an effect after all.
He could sort this out later. If this were the right stairs, he would have to
climb up in order to check on the princess. If she was still there, he would
have to get her out of here before she gets hurt. Pushing away all his doubts
and fears about the situation, filling his mind with a vision of the fair maiden
in distress, he approached the wall.
Steep as it may be, it was still roughly hewn stone, especially to him. Many
holes and ridges allowed even an unskilled climber like the squire to overcome
this obstacle. Reaching the top, he was confronted with a sight sending both joy
and chills down his back. An open wooden door of impossible size loomed up
before him. There was no doubt about this being the princess' tower just meters
away from the goal. There was also no way to ignore the fact that he was tiny,
an imp. Still, the princess was probably in there, and he had to get to her.
Running past the door, John came to a halt. There were three more doors after
the first one. Since only the most priviledged courtiers were ever allowed to
see the princess, John had never been here, and therefore couldn't tell where
the doors would lead. Since the door closes to him was still fifty meters away,
he wanted to figure out which would be the best choice before starting off. But
how should he figure out such a thing.
Just then, the central door opened. Light flooded into the room and in that
light, he saw a gigantic tower. When his eyes had recovered from the sudden
change, he realized his mistake. It was an angel in a white dress, soft features
and blue eyes. Her pale face was surrounded by perfect, black hair. Even her
incredible size couldn't hide her perfect proportions and her cuteness. John
couldn't breathe, he was simply stunned by princess Elizabeth's beauty.
The princess had stopped a moment and was obviously thinking about something.
Then she began moving forward. Certainly, she took just small steps as was
fitting for a princess, but to John, it looked as if she advanced at tremendous
speed. The white wall of her dress rapidly approaching was just frightening
enough to the shrunken squire to make him recover from his reverie. As loud as
he could, he shouted:"Your Highness! Stop! Down Here! Your Highness!" She
paused. She turned her head as if trying to find the source of some faint noise.
John shouted again.
Then she looked down and saw him. A soft smile formed in her face, and she
looked at him as one would look at a young animal whose cuteness makes one want
to protect it. She bent down and John shouted again "Your Highness!". She
paused. A cute frown was building on her face. John was puzzled. "You talk?"
"Your Highness! I am ..." "You are a gremlin, aren't you? My nurse had told me
everything about you. You steal little babies and naughty children. Be gone, You
won't find anything here you could steal." She began to rose again. "No! I'm no
gremlin! I'm a squire." She halted. "I am Sir Humphrey's squire John Field!" "I
know Sir Humphrey, he is a tall man, and his squire is a normal- sized boy. How
could such a small creature like you be a royal knight's squire." "I shrank just
this afternoon. After the arch wizard's spell failed and everyone got - " John
stopped in mid- sentence. he couldn't just tell her that they were probably the
only living things in the castle. This was all absurd. What could he do? She was
right, at his size, he couldn't be a squire, he couldn't even defeat a mouse,
much less a human adversary. How could he hope to protect her? But he could try
to help her escape. If this really was King Gerald's doing, he would certainly
come here in order to catch the princess and force her to marry him.
"You do look nice." John was startled by the princess' voice booming directly at
him. While he had been thinking about the future, she had been kneeling down all
the way and was examing him closely. "My nurse always told me that gremlins were
small and ugly. But though you are small, you are quite hansome, like the
courtiers usually attending me. You started saying something about 'everyone'.
Do you know what has happened? The afternoon tea has never arrived, and no one
has come to look after me for what must be hours. They have never forgotten
about me before."
"Well, Your Highness. There was an emergency. And everyone had to leave. And I,
and I was sent to fetch you, but then I shrank and was delayed. The castle isn't
safe anymore, so we have to leave." "Ah, so that is the reason. But why aren't
there any other servants to help with the lugagge?" "It's an emergency, we have
to leave immediately. Without lugagge." "What!? Is it really that bad? Well, if
father thinks it is that important, then let us not wait any longer." The
princess started to rise again.
"Your Highness!" "Yes?" "Well, I am a bit ashamed, but under these
circumstances, could you, could you - could you carry me?" The princess was at
first surprised, but then she smiled gently at him and put down her hand next
him. John was quite embarassed while climbing onto it, but what choice did he
have. He was just a centimeter or so high and would just slow them down if he
tried to run on his own. Elizabeth carefully rose after seeing him sit down in
the middle of her palm and started walking down the stairs holding the hand
carrying the squire in front of her chest.
Squire to the Rescue (Part 2)
by Deathworks
Chapter 7 : Interlude at Redsand
King Gerald's army had reached Redsand just two hours after the refugees. They
found the city as prepared as possible and the tall gates in the stone walls
firmly closed. Neither side started attacking the other, though, as the army
awaited its king's orders and the city hoped for reinforcements.
It was King Gerald himself who broke the silence. He rode up in front of the
gates and shouted at the defenders:"Behold my form and recognize King Gerald
III, king of Stormrock, who has come to claim ownership to Blackberry Fields. Is
there anyone on those walls with the authority to represent the city of
Redsand?"
"There is, Your Highness. I am Sir David Armstrong, Knight of Redsand and its
protector. I make all the decision at Redsand as requested by King Rupert II.
Your invasion is ill- advised. Blackberry Fields Castle is noot far away from
here, and they have been informed about our plight. Surely, a formidable army
led by the best knights we know is already on its way. You are better off
leaving this kingdom peacefully. We don't want any unnecessary bloodshed, but we
will protect our city from any attack. And we will certainly be able to hold the
walls more than long enough to see the King's men drive you away."
"Well- spoken, proud knight. I am sure that there will be a good position in my
realms for you after your city's surrender. I can assure you that King Rupert
and his knights are all dead by now. There is no need for you to fight me. The
last member of the royal family alive is princess Elizabeth who will become my
bride. I know that you can't simply trust my word in this case. Therefore, I and
my men will wait before your city's gates until your messengers return. They
will confirm that there are no mighty knights that will come to your rescue. I
will come to accept your surrender tomorrow noon." With these words, the king
returned to his men and ordered them to prepare a camp, a normal military camp
without any siege preparations. He knew that the war is already won, so there
was no need for haste.
Chapter 8 : On a Lonely Road
Being carried by a 100m princess really needed some getting used to. Her skin
was soft and warm, and it was giving off a sweet smell that was making John kind
of drunken. It could have been the most wonderful ride one could imagine,
especially since he could always look up and see her beautiful face high above
him, if she wasn't climbing down a long chain of stairs. She took only gentle
and small steps, being a well- raised princess and all, but even her slight
movements became gigantic leaps to the shrunken squire.
Finally, they reached the base of the tower. The princess couldn't fail to
notice the broken tea set on the floor. She paused. "Don't worry. They - they
just heard about the emergency and were so surprised that they dropped the tray.
And then everyone had to leave and no one had time to pick things up and, and,
and everything will be alright." "Yes, of course." John wasn't sure if he had
been able to convince the princess. "Her answer was too short. She has doubts.
Or maybe that's just my imagination going wild. How could she possible guess at
what had happened here? I'm just too worried. Everything is going to work out
fine. But how will it work out fine? Where should I take her? Who could help us?
If we left the kingdom, we might get another king's protection. But wouldn't
that king want to marry the princess himself? Surely, he couldn't help himself
seeing such a wonderful being. No, we need some help here. Maybe someone who
could give us some advice, like a wizard, or a sage. Yes, that's it! Wasn't
there some sage living near Deepswamp. If we could just get there, he may help
us to figure out what happened and what to do next."
"Where to now?" John was startled by the voice. Soft and sweet as it may be, it
became booming loud to his reduced form. Looking around, he realized that they
were in the castle's court yard. The sky was already turning crimson as the sun
was about to hand heavens over to the moon. "Can you ride, Your Highness?" "No,
I have never learned it, as it was considered not appropriate for a princess to
do so." "In that case, we will have to leave on foot. Just go through the main
gate and follow the road. I will tell you where to go. Please trust me." "A -
Alright ..."
John looked up at the beautiful face. The fading light drew dark lines of shadow
over it, making it look as if she was frowning. "She isn't sure if I am telling
her the truth. But I can't tell her now. She might refuse to go on. And how
could I save her then. I couldn't even move her little finger much less her
entire form if she doesn't want to move. I am so sorry, princess."
The road they were travelling on was miles wide it would seem. Formerly, there
had been a merchants' village around the castle's entrance. Then news came about
how an intrigue involving such a merchants' village led to the death of King
Robert IV of Seasight, and King Rupert decided that the village was to be
removed. Both the merchants and the castle's servants were not happy with that
decision, but they couldn't help it. Thus, the village had been torn down and
the path leading up to the castle reduced in width. Only John's small size made
it look to him like a gigantic plain. But it helped the squire to get a feeling
for their speed now. As he had been afraid, the princess just couldn't move very
fast. And she was bound to get tired soon. Besides, the sun's light was nearly
completely gone, so they would have to stop soon.
"Now comes the crossroads. Please take the route to the left. Only a few more
meters, than you can rest, Your Highness." "Thank You." Princess Elizabeth
sounded tired. She wasn't used to running around that much, she hardly ever got
out of the tower, so who could blame her?
After some more twenty minutes, John bid Elizabeth to step into the woods beside
the road. Being tired, she put up only few words of resistance before agreeing
to lie down leaning at a tree. Although there were animals in the woods in
abundance, none of them would hurt a human, they wouldn't even approach them.
As the princess lay down, she was still holding the squire in her hand. John
wasn't sure whether she was simply too tired to notice or didn't really mind,
but everything suddenly tilted and he landed on the bosom of her dress as she
lay down. The fabric was soft, and the princess' hand above him was like a warm
blanket. Before he knew it, the exhaustion of the day overwhelmed John and he
was fast asleep.
Chapter 9 : Interlude at an Abandoned Castle
Later that night, a sole horseman rode up to the castle. When he came near the
gate, he shouted: "Alarm! Invaders! To Arms!". But only silence answered. There
were no lights, no music, no life. Certainly, the night was still young and
there would be court activity. The messenger was puzzled. The gate was wide
open, so they weren't preparing for an attack either, so why was there no one
around?
He entered the court yard. No servants came to greet him, no one came to take
care of the horse. He knew that the main building was in front of him, but there
were no candles or torches to show him the way. The moon was already very thin,
but it still provided him with a little light. After getting off the horse's
back, the messenger was able to tie it to a pole at the stable's entrance.
Making his way to the main building, the horseman nearly fell as his foot caught
something heavy lying in the middle of the court yard. Even in the moon's light
it looked dark. It felt like dirty metal, although its shape was terribly
twisted. He just couldn't imagine what purpose it would serve. Leaving the heavy
object alone, the messenger continued towards the main building, cursing his
forgetfulness that has kept him from getting a new torch after having used up
his last one the day before. On the other hand, there should have been people
here to greet him.
Searching his way through dark corridors, he finally found some red glimmering.
Some wood already reduced to coals as the last survivors in an abandoned
fireplace. Just minutes before, the man had found some candles. Pushing the wick
into the hot ashes, he was able to get some light. Now that that was taken care
of, he could try to figure out where everyone had gone.
Chapter 10 : Gerald's Glorious Day
King Gerald slept peacefully and satisfied this night. After all, the last day
has not only provided him with a greater kingdom, it has even sent him on his
way to fetch the most lovely bride in the world. He really was a fortunate man.
He dreamed of the beautiful princess he had yet to meet in his real life. He
would shower her with presents, he would conquer the world if she asked him to.
He would stop the sun in the sky and give her the moon. And she would return his
feelings, would be his loving wife. He would finally have someone to share his
life with, someone to trust.
He awakened to some change in his surroundings, he couldn't quite place. Looking
around, he can see the vast interior of his tent, complete with two tables,
chairs, chests with clothes and everything. Light came in through the partly
opened entrance, and next to the bed, Sir Winston knelt. "Good morning, my
Liege. Your Highness have asked to be woken an hour after sunrise, which is now.
The royal bath has been prepared as has been the royal breakfast."
King Gerald looked down at his knight. "Ah, a loyal knight indeed. He is doing a
good job as my general thus far. Yes, I think I can give him Blackberry Fields
Castle, once things have settled." Out loud he said:"I think, I will start with
the bath." "Yes, my Lord." Sir Winston left the tent only to return seconds
later accompanied by four soldiers carefully carrying a wodden tub filled with
water. They were followed by two women carrying sponges and brushes.
After setting the tub down, the knight and the soldiers left. Stepping out of
his bed, the sovereign allowed the maids to remove his night gown before he
stepped into the tub. "Yes, this will be a fine day."
An hour later, the king had just finished eating breakfast, a knight approached,
kneeling down. Nodding, the sovereign asked him to speak. "My Lord, the town has
opened its gates and a delegation has left in order to bargain about the terms
of their surrender. Sir Winston is currently watching over them and is asking
for permission to send them over to Your Highness, so that they can directly
surrender to Your Majesty." "Good timing indeed. Have them come over here. I
will personally attend to this matter."
"Everything is going according to plan. I am just glad that that Sir David is a
man of reason. He could have felt like being a martyr or something sending his
men to certain death, but he has chosen the wiser path. I will really need to
find a job for him in my kingdom. Conquering Blackberry Fields turns out to
become more and more fortunate by the minute."
"Greetings, King Gerald III, Sovereign of Stormrock. I, Sir David Armstrong,
Knight and protector of Redsand, have come in peace." "Welcome noble knight. I
wager you have received news by now that have made you change your mind?"
"Indeed. Earlier this morning, our messenger to Blackberry Fields Castle
returned. He had reached the castle after sundown and there had been no lights,
no people to greet him. Searching the entire castle, he didn't find anyone at
all, although the horses and arms were still there. Considering this
development, there is no point in fighting the inevitable. All by ourselves, we
can't win against your army, even if the other cities assissted us. Therefore, I
beg you to spare our people, citizens and soldiers alike, as we are willing to
surrender without a fight." "Well, then hear my words. I accept your surrender.
From now on, Redsand and all its inhabitants belong to Stormrock. For the time
being, Sir David Armstrong is allowed to keep control over the city in my name.
See to it that the citizens are informed and that my rulership is enforced. You
are dismissed - for now."
"'...didn't find anyone at all.'? Well, he probably failed to check out the
tower chamber. I shouldn't really worry about it. Besides, I will be at the
castle myself this evening, embracing my bride, so everything will be alright.
Conquering the princess will be just as easy as conquering her kingdom."
Chapter 11 : A Confession
John awoke, feeling an immense pressure on his body. Opening his eyes, he
started looking around. The squire was startled when he saw that he was
suspended several meters above the ground. Looking around, he first saw a white
wall not far from him, obviously tilted to a dangerous degree as it turned into
a ceiling above him. Looking down along his body, he saw that he was entirely
enveloped in the grasp of something of a faint pink color, warm and soft. Only
his head was free. Then he remembered what had occured the day before. "Ah, the
princess must have rolled over in her sleep. If she hadn't instictively held
onto me, I would have fallen to my death. I was really lucky. I have to be more
careful at this size. But we have to get going now."
Although the princess' hand was soft and delicate, her grip on him was still too
firm for him to break or escape. After vainly trying to extract himself
directly, John started to move as much as he could, effectively wriggling in her
hand. Even giving everything he had, he wouldn't really move an inch.
Fortunately, his movements had an effect, as he heard a distant moan. The
princess came to. After yawning and wiping the sleep out of her eyes, the former
being a fearsome sight in spite of her beauty, as her mouth opened wide, showing
teeth just as big as he was, the princess realized her squire's predicament and
set him down on the trunk of a fallen tree.
"I will need some privacy for a moment. I'll be right back." With these words,
princess Elizabeth disappeared between the trees. The squire couldn't help but
admire her. "Just think about it, she has had her every need taken care of for
all her life. And now she is suddenly cast into the outside world. Yet, she
remains calm and puts up with things. She is really strong. Still, she seems
tired and a bit pale. I don't think we can make it to Deepswamp by foot. Ah,
we'll find a solution, I am quite sure of it. While she is gone, I should relief
myself as well."
Just moments later, he heard twigs breaking as his lady returned. Hastily, he
got finished and walked away from any evidence. (Not that he really expected her
to notice, the difference in size was just too big.)
"They are all dead, aren't they?" John was startled, not by the volume of her
voice, but by her words. "I may be inexperienced in the way of the world, but
this is the only reasonable explanation for this entire situation. Something
happened, and they have all been killed. I know that you want to protect me, but
you can't hide the truth forever. Tell me, if I am right." The squire looked up
at her face. She wasn't angry, she didn't blame him. There was just sorrow in
her eyes. He couldn't hurt her, but she was right, he would have to tell her
sooner or later. With a sigh, he answered: "Yes - I think that we are the only
ones who got out of the castle alive. I didn't lie about the arch wizard's spell
though. Probably it was that spell which saved me. I saw ..." He broke off, as
he saw the tears running down her face. Then she turned and went into the woods.
"Your Highness!" No use, his voice wouldn't be heard. He couldn't catch up to
her either. All he could do was just wait for her to calm down by herself. If he
only weren't that helpless.
Chapter 12 : Interlude on the Eastbound Road
Getting the army ready to continue towards Blackberry Fields Castle had taken
ages, King Gerald had felt. After having had lunch, he had grown more and more
impatient. He finally wanted to see his bride. Only forcing himself to stay
calm, he was able to restrain himself. After all, he wanted to impress the
princess by coming to the castle at the head of a formidable army.
Now it was two hours after noon and they were finally on their way towards the
castle. Although the sovereign knew that they would definitely reach their
destination before sundown, he was excited. He knew that he would get his treat
soon, and that there was nothing that could stop him, but he just couldn't wait.
"Your Highness, is everything alright?" Sir Winston has brought his horse
alongside his sovereign's. "Ah - yes, yes." "Should I ask the men to hasten?"
"Mmmmhhh - that won't be necessary. Just leave me alone a while."
Watching the knight returning to his men, King Gerald considered this incident.
"He really is a loyal subject. And he understands his lord very well, even to
the point that he needn't be told about his king's feelings. Is this a good
thing, or a bad thing, though?"
Chapter 13 : Heading towards Deepswamp
After long minutes, an hour perhaps, John was startled out of his daydreams.
Being unable to do anything else, he had reconsidered their situation. The king
and the major knights were all dead. The cause of this was some fould magic.
Yet, he and the princess had miraculously survived and had been able to escape
from the castle. Actually, he was very fortunate. A few days before, meeting the
princess was only something he could do in his dreams, but now he talked to her,
had even touched her soft skin. And he was the only one she could really relie
on, the only one left to protect her. Yeah - right, protect her. Even a sewing
needle would be a major lance to him. What could he possibly do at his size. He
couldn't even go looking for her and console her in her grief. But then again,
he was able to guide her, tell her how to get by in the outside world she had
never visited before.
Thus, he had just come up with some plan of how to continue, when the princess
returned. She seemed to be in control of herself once more, although there were
dried tears on her cheeks and a sorrowful look in her eyes, mingled with
defiance. By now, her dress was looking just as if it was trying to sympathize
with its owner's feelings. Its edges had been torn, and twigs and dirt had
fastened themselves to it. Although she was obviously miserable, the princess
still had a fighting spirit. The squire was impressed.
After finding him on the tree trunk, the Elizabeth knelt down so as to get her
face closer to her last courtier. "I guessed it already when we left the tower.
Things just didn't add up. But I didn't want to believe it." Her voice was
faintly quivering, but she stood strong. "I am a royal princess, though. And as
it seems I am about to ascend to the throne as queen. I have to be strong, as I
have to be there for my people and my country. I am very grateful for your
efforts, but I can't just keep on following you blindly. Yet, I have little
experience in matters of state, much less in the affairs of the world outside
the castle. Therefore, I ask you to be my counselor."
John was surprised by this turn of events. He had been afraid that the princess
would have been broken by his revelation. But she seemed to have overcome it and
grown. After a stunned pause, he raised his voice. "As you wish, my Lady, I will
do anything to serve and protect Your Majesty. The road we have been following
is leading towards the city of Deepswamp. A sage is said to live in that area.
Since I am but a simple squire, I don't really know what course of action would
be the best for us to take. Therefore, I suggest that we seek out that wise man
to ask for his advice. However ... " He fell silent. "However?" "However, Your
Higness is obviously not used to long travels. My diminished size puts all the
burden on my Lady's shoulders. Besides, we don't have any provisions or any
other things needed for the days to come. Therefore, we seem to need to ask for
help from the peasantry. For food, maybe a ride on a cart, for - for other
clothes for your Highness." "What? Why would we want to do that?" "Beautiful
though it may be, this dress is certainly not fit for travelling. Besides, if
the cause of the disaster that befell the castle was really an alien king, they
would certainly be looking for a princess in expensive clothes soon. But even
the greatest beauty could be hidden with the coarse clothes of the peasantry.
Please forgive me, but this is what I deem necessary." "Your words make sense.
We will try it your way. Step aboard, so that we may continue." Gently holding
her hand next to the trunk, the princess allowed the squire to climb onto it
again. Then she rose carefully and was back on the road seconds later.
An hour later, the quire was already getting hungry, and he noticed that the
princess was also slowing down, they saw the beginning of fields of to the
right. Envigorated by new hope, the princess walked faster again. Soon
thereafter, they were able to see a farm house and a barn. They had already
talked about the John's reduced size. Explaining it would take a lot of time,
and he might still scare the farmers. Therefore, they had come to the
conclusion, that he was to hide in the princess' ear only showing himself if
absolutely necessary. Thus, the Elizabeth lifted her hand to her left ear and
waited for him to climb off. A tickling sensation told her that she could lower
her hand again.
For the squire, this was another new experience. The entrance into the princess'
ear was just as high as he was tall. After walking in a few steps, he had to
kneel down, though, as the ceiling grew lower. It was quite hot in there, and
the soft floor and walls were covered with fine hairs. While being carried on
her hand, he had been surrounded by air full of the forest's smell. Now, the air
was warm and filled with a sweet smell. As he moved around, the ground shook a
bit and there was distant giggling. Obviously, the ear was rather sensitive. Not
wanting to cause his beautiful host any discomfort, John sat down and waited for
things to develop.
Just after putting down her hand and the tickling sensation from within her ear
had stopped, the princess saw a woman stepping out of the barn and walking
towards the house. Raising her right hand and waving, the princess shouted
"Hey!" and came closer. The woman turned in her direction, hesitated and then
ran towards her.
"Who are you? Those clothes, such lovely blue eyes. It couldn't be!" The woman,
obviously in her thirties threw herself into the dirt kneeling down before the
girl. "Rise. I need your help. And I don't know how urgent things are." "Yes, of
course, - Your Highness?" "Princess Elizabeth, yes, but let's talk inside your
house." " - - Yes, yes. I'll just prepare it for you." The farmer got back up on
her feet and ran back to the house, nearly tripping over her own feet.
The house had but one room featuring a single table, some stools, a fire place
and some straw on which the family could sleep. In a corner, a child of no more
than three years was playing with a ball made of straw, wearing naught but a
shirt. Next to it, there was a chest. On a board attached to one of the walls,
wooden spoons and bowls waited. The woman was wearing a simple brown dress and
an apron, both well- worn and patched at several places. Many wrinkles filled
her face adding years she actually hadn't passed yet.
She and the princess were sitting at the table. Dried fruit and bread were lying
on it, provided by the host on the princess' request. The latter was watched by
sympathizing eyes as she explained that the castle had been attacked by some
strange magic, and that she had been the only one able to escape. She ended her
tale by asking for the farmers' help, namely food, some clothes and help in
finding a ride to Deepswamp. In return, she couldn't give much but the dress she
was currently wearing, although she would certainly remember their help, once
the crisis was over. At first, the older woman said that a princess couldn't
wear peasant's clothing, but the princess insisted, so that the senior gave in.
Opening the chest, the woman brought forth her most expensive dress, stating
that though it wasn't really fit for a princess, it was the best she had. The
princess hesitated, then asked if she couldn't give her something more plain.
Reluctantly, the woman handed her some simple brown dress. In addition, she gave
her a scarf she could use to hide her features. After helping her to change her
clothes, the woman excused herself, saying that she would get her husband since
he could help her with a ride.
The princess used the chance to consider the situation. The dress was coarse and
itchy, hurting where it touched her bare skin. It certainly was different from
what she wore at court. Fortunately, her undergarments covered most of her body,
protecting her quite well from this wretched thing. She then told herself that
she shouldn't think bad of the peasants. They didn't have much more than this,
and helping her would certainly cause a lot of trouble to them. She should be
grateful for their effort. Elizabeth felt ashamed of herself.
John had established himself quite well inside her ear. Although there had been
one or two close calls when he was nearly expelled as she turned her head, he
was rather safe. He was thankful for his restraint as not to try and watch as
she changed clothes. One of the close calls had been while she was doing exactly
that, and he would certainly have dropped to his death, hadn't he been that deep
inside her ear. Now, he had heard that the peasant had left. Though it may be
considered inappropriate, hunger won over etiquette with him. "Could Your
Highness please be so kind as to share some of the food with the Lady's
servant." The princess blushed, remembering her little guest and that he must
have been hungry all the time. Quickly, she broke off some crumbs from the what
was left on the table and offered them to the squire. He took a gigantic piece
of apple and another big piece of bread from her hand, and returned into her
ear, thanking her for the kind gift. Sitting down, John started to eat his
treat.
Although she felt a bit guilty because of her lack of foresight, Elizabeth had
to smile at the thought of her tiny guardian sitting in her ear, eating his
meal.
The peasant wife returned with her husband and their two other sons. The men
were rather tongue- tied and even a bit afraid, but the father explained that he
had a cart that could be drawn by his oxen. If the princess really wouldn't
mind, he could take her to Deepswamp. The princess was really happy, her feet
still hurting from all the walking of the past two days and agreed.
Thus, the princess and her invisible squire were off to Deepswamp in a farmer's
cart. Two days ago, She had been in her tower, kept safe as a precious treasure.
Now she was clad in what was little better than rags and thrown up and down on a
dirty cart. The only courtier left was so small that he was able to sit inside
her ear right at that moment. Her parents were gone. And she had to be strong
and fulfill her role as a royal princess ...
Squire to the Rescue (Part 3)
by Deathworks
Chapter 14 : At an Empty Cage
"Ah, there it is, Blackberry Fields Castle. A nice castle indeed, though not as
well- built as Stormrock Castle. But I have come to claim a beautiful bride and
not an army, so it is appropriate for the occasion. And they left the gate open,
how nice of them." King Gerald enjoyed the sight before him. After travelling
for gruelling hours on the dirty roads, constraining his wish to hasten towards
his bride, his destiny lay before him. Grey battlements designed to protect the
kingdom's ruler seemed white as the sun's full force hit them. Beyond the open
gate, glimpses of the gleaming white main buildings could be perceived. Again,
the sovereign felt the urge to rush forward. And again, he suppressed it.
"Your Highness, is everything alright?" The king was startled as Sir Winston
addressed him, a worried frown on his face. Obviously, he had been caught up in
his own thoughts, looking at the castle. "Of course. Let's go inside and claim
my prize." Angry at himself for showing weakness before his men, the king
ordered his horse to enter the yard.
No living soul was to be seen. It wasn't quiet,though, since the horses in the
stable became aware of the activity outside and demanded to be fed and taken
care of. The king dismounted. Immediately, a soldier appeared next to him and
took the horse's reins. Behind him, Sir Winston dismounted as well and walked up
to his master.
"Whatever the Bishop's flaws may be, it seems as if Mother Azkata's blessings
are really strong indeed. Look at what little evidence of this castle's knights
survived her wrath." The king pointed at the charred armors lying in the dirt.
"All those strong men, these high battlements, and yet they were defeated
without a fight by miraculous powers. The bishop is indeed a powerful man. Who
knows what else he could do to attain his goals." "Indeed, Sir Winston, what
else will he do to reach his goals? Let's concentrate on our current mission,
though. Have the old banners replaced by ours and have the castle searched for
any survivors, looters, or whatever. And have someone tend to the horses, that
noise is getting to me. I will examine my royal quarters and the princess's
chambers, which should be in that little tower here." "Consider it done, my
Lord."
While Sir Winston returned to the soldiers, giving them commands as requested,
the sovereign entered the main building. There was no one here as well, of
course. Everything was quiet and peaceful, only some weak wind blowing through
the corridors caught the monarch's attention. Although he had never been to this
castle, King Gerald figured that the royal quarters were on the left side of the
building, as the small, fine tower that must have been the princess's resident
was attached to that side.
For a moment, he considered visiting the tower last, but then came to the
conclusion that his appearance at the castle had been good enough. Besides, the
princess must be starved by now and worried. As her future husband, he should
take care of her first. Empty rooms and beds can wait. Looking out through the
windows to his left, he was able to see his men do as he had ordered. The yard
was bustling with activity. "How much more activity there will be at my wedding
- all of them are so eager to please me, especially Sir Winston ... Ah, this
must be it!" Finally, the king had arrived at an open door. Two charred sets of
mail lay before and a tray and shards of expensive pottery just beyond. With a
pounding heart, the king began his ascend.
"Why did he have to do this? If we are unlucky, this conquest may worry the
neighboring lords enough so that they could forget their petty bickering and
attack us in an allied force. And for what? A worthless bride?" While overseeing
the cleaning up on the court yard, Sir Winston allowed his worried thoughts to
drift. He wondered if his monarch would regain his senses, once he had seized
the princess and the euphoria of conquest had left. His eyes travelled towards
the building and up that wretched tower. The sun was setting, her fading light
turning the tower crimson red. Sir Winston knew he didn't like the looks of
this.
Just then, a chair flew out of the upper most window and shattered on the floor
below. Before anyone else had a chance to react, Sir Winston was racing into the
main building. Behind him, soldiers gave his disappearing form and the debris
that had once been a finely crafted chair puzzled looks.
Chapter 15 : A Family on the Road
Princess Elizabeth felt rather uncomfortable. She had grown used to the smell
during the past hours, and even the motion of the cart, the jumping at every
rock, every hole in the road, but the situation worried her. Neither she nor her
tiny squire knew what exactly had happened at the castle. They were on their
own, and although he had said that he'd be there to defend her, she knew that
she was responsible for herself and the squire, and for the entire country in
the long run. She was afraid that she might not be up to all of this.
John felt his host was feeling uneasy. This caused him more distress than the
bumpy ride. Although he had advanced deep enough into her ear so as not to be in
immediate danger of falling out, he still jumped up to the ceiling at every
bump. Had it not been for the softness of the surrounding flesh, he would
certainly have broken each and every bone in his body. But his problems were
terribly small when c
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