(Author's note: I wish to acknowledge Janette Marie Freeman, whose article "4 KEYS to Developing Courage" helped me in developing elements of this story.)
"Sir William, help me!" Lady Sarah dangled precariously from a tree limb, desperately trying to hang on as the ferocious wolves snapped at her heels. It took all of his strength, but Sir William managed to overcome the beast that had been attacking him and took up his sword to fight off the rest of the pack. They were no match for him. The last beast fell as the lady lost her grip, and Sir William turned just in time to catch the beautiful golden-haired maid and set her gently on the ground. "My hero!" she said with a swoon, "You are the bravest knight who ever lived and I love you forever."
William sat down and set his sword on the ground. It was, in actuality, a stick. He kicked over the carcasses of the dead wolves which, in reality, were baskets for the summer vegetables he was supposed to be harvesting. Five-year-old Sarah sat down beside him and affectionately rested her head against his arm. She was twenty years his junior, the daughter of a common farmer (although to William there was nothing at all common about her), and in sad reality had recently become an orphan.
"Sarah, where are you? It's time for supper!" Sarah's older sister, Eliza, stepped out of the woods, and William suddenly felt as if he had been hit in the head with a lance. Again. He felt completely stupid whenever the lovely 19-year-old was near. Again he found it hard to breathe. Again he felt completely awkward in his own skin. Again he suddenly didn't know what to do with his hands and had to put them behind his back. "Hello William," she called to him cheerfully. "Thanks for looking after Sarah." William could think of absolutely nothing to say, so after an awkward moment he just nodded lamely. "Have a good night!" the older beauty called, and both girls disappeared into the woods.
William covered his face with his hands. Once the girls were out of earshot, he shouted: "I am an idiot!"
"Have you known this for a while, or are you just figuring it out?" laughed a voice.
Startled, William looked up. A lean young man with short dark hair and a likable clean-shaven face emerged from the woods on the opposite side of the field. "I saw what just happened. Definitely idiotic. But you're not the first man to be confounded by a beautiful woman, and you certainly won't be the last." He approached with a grin.
"Merlin!" William jumped up, caught his hand, and shook it vigorously. "Well met! It's good to see you! How have you been?"
"Oh, no worse than last time you saw me. Still slaving away as Arthur's lackey and Gaius' dogsbody. How about you?"
"I am well," William said. "Though I'm obviously going to die a lonely old bachelor."
"Both of us, I'll wager," said Merlin with a laugh.
William had met Merlin the previous summer while travelling the road to one of the villages located about 20 miles from Camelot. Each had an errand there, and they had walked almost 18 miles together the first day, and the same distance together on the return trip the following day. It had been a distinct pleasure, and the two of them had parted good friends.
"What brings you to our village?" asked William.
"I came to ask a favor of you. I need your help." His face became playfully mysterious. "Actually, it is Prince Arthur that needs your help."