Eleanor's POV

I had never attended many tourneys before. Even as a princess of England which led to me wearing a veil. No one here had seen me as the princess so I could just be myself. No one has even realized that I'm the princess. Today though in Rouen I was simply Lady Ella who was going to pray for the safety of the men in the joust. I prayed for my brother to be safe. What I didn't see was the young knight following me.

"Would you speak to me?" He asked.

"Ah, to speak ... but sir, my sex are marked by their silence." I replied.

"Oh, I would hear you speak if it cost me my ears." I smiled.

"That is well, for I do not want silence in my life."

"Tell me your name!"

"Would you care if I were ugly?"

"Why yes! I mean no ... I mean if ..."

"You desecrate the house of God!" I looked over and it was the priest! The young man had rode his horse into the church after me!

"Oh ... oh! ... Tell me your name, woman!"He asked as the friars pushed him out.

"Call me Ella!" I smiled.

"Thank you Lady Ella! I will see you at the joust hopefully!" He rode out. I laughed along with my maid Anya.

"Does this not shock you, ladies?" The priest asked.

"Certainly, my lord. We just ... we only laugh just to keep from weeping." I covered.

"Beauty is such a curse. Pray your years come swiftly, pray your beauty fades that you may better serve God."

"Oh, and I do, my lord. I pray for it all the time. Why, God, did you curse me with this face?" I had to stop myself from laughing.

"God's will has a purpose but we may not know it."

"I agree father Anya come let's pray our rosaries and go ready for the tournament." She followed me as we knelt saying our quick prayers before leaving. In my chambers I changed into a pale blue gown with one of my older necklaces from my mother god rest her soul and went to the joust. I only hope to see that handsome knight again. I personally loved the joust. I had learned so much about it after Edward began to compete.

"I will win this tournament for you milady." One knight said as he passed by the stands.

"My lady." I turned to see a herald. "My lady, may I present Count Adhemar, winner of the joust in Florence and high champion at Saint Emilion." He said. I knew Count Adhemar already and my brother did not favor him as his armies were nothing but pillagers.

"All such moments forgotten, when standing before the most beautiful woman in Christendom."Adhemar said walking towards Anya and I.

"Do you only pretend to fight, Count Adhemar? Or do you wage real war as well?" I quipped.

"I am leader of the Free Companies. My army is in southern France, for the moment. How do you like the joust?"

"I've always admired it the strength, the power." I said trying to act properly for Edward's sake. He was next in the lists along with my good knight from earlier. I was trying to pay attention with great difficulty to Adhemar when my knight rode towards us.

"Lady Ella might I ask to wear your favor?" He asked.

"I do not even know your name good sir." I replied.

"Sir Ulrich Von Lichtenstein of Guilderland."

"Yes you may good Sir Ulrich." I stepped down towards him and tied my golden ribbon to his lance. As I returned the count began to speak.

"Your Armour sir." He started.

"What of it?"Ulrich replied.

"How stylish of you to joust in an antique. You'll start a new fashion if you win. My grandfather will be able to wear his in public again. And a shield, how quaint." I felt bad for Sir Ulrich and angry at the count. 'I'm Sorry' I mouthed to him before he rode away. Introductions began with Edward's herald who was very proper and then it was Sir Ulrich's.

"My lords, my ladies..."He turned to the peasantry. "and everybody else here not sitting on a cushion! Today, today, you find yourselves equal for you are all equally blessed for I have the pride, the privilege, nay, the pleasure of introducing to you a knight sired by knights, a knight who can trace his lineage back beyond Charlemagne." He was very interesting to listen to. I first met him atop a mountain near Jerusalem, praying to God, asking his forgiveness for the Saracen blood spilt by his sword. Next he amazed me still further in Italy, when he saved a fatherless beauty from the would-be ravishings of her dreadful Turkish uncle. In Greece, he spent a year in silence, just to better understand the sound of a whisper And so, without further gilding the lily and with no more ado, I give to you the seeker of serenity, the protector of Italian virginity." That one made me giggled. "The enforcer of our Lord God, the one, the only, Sir Ulrich von ... Lichtenstein!" I cheered along with the crowd. The count was not as impressed and looked at me as if I were possessed. As Edward and Ulrich jousted I Was concerned for both. That was until my brother withdrew and they did a ceremonial wave.

"A draw. And Colville is hurt." Adhemar's herald observed.

"Colville withdraws, Ulrich advances. Why didn't Ulrich finish him?"ADhemar asked.

"He shows mercy with the ceremonial pass." I countered.

"Then he shows his weakness. That's all mercy is."

"Mercy is honor. I Must leave Count Adhemar, good luck tomorrow."I said curtseying and leaving with Anya. As night fell I readied for bed.

"Count Adhemar sends word. He says he will win this tournament for you."Anya said handing me my hairbrush.

"He's won many tournaments. He wins them for himself and for his own honour, so it's nothing to say that he wins them for me." I replied.

"He wishes to speak to you again."

"He is a pig, I wish more for Sir Ulrich to win but not for me." I replied. "He asked for my favor yet did not tell me he would win for me, but he also has honor." I looked at the handkerchief I held in my hands. "Anya give him this in the morning." I said and she nodded. That night I dreamt of my good Sir Ulrich.