Chapter 1

An early morning fog hung over the valley, smearing the reds and purples of the sunrise as it slowly worked its way up and over the mountains. Though it was becoming warmer as the seasons turned from spring to summer, the mist kept the air damp until at almost mid-day. The air was slowly filling with the sounds of people waking up, animals pecking about for food, stomping at the ground, and the sound of the market place vendors preparing for their day. Without any doubt this was Peronell's favourite time of day, before the fort became crowded and bustling with people going about their lives, before work began. The morning belonged to her and her alone, for a short time at least

"Peronell? Peronell?!" Her mother's voice cut through the golden silence of morning, "Come and collect your siblings so that I can prepare our morning meal!"

Peronell hurried over to the kitchen where her mother was attempting to move around her 6 other children while locating the cheese, bread and ale that would sustain them through the morning's chores.

"Come here all of you and sit down!" Peronell order her siblings, collecting them much like you would herd cats, "Sit and wait and behave yourselves or there will be no food at all." That final threat usually did the trick and the children sat themselves immediately with nary a peep to be heard from anyone

Beatrix cast a grateful look towards her eldest daughter and brought the food to the table, grateful for the extra hands her daughter offered in assistance.

"Fendrel go and tell your father the food is ready." As the village blacksmith, Peronell's father and eldest brother were up and at the Smithy just before dawn to ensure the fire was stoked and ready for the day's work ahead. They would have to eat in shifts to ensure the fire didn't go out and when they were both present one of the younger boys would be responsible for keeping the fire going.

Although there were endless tasks to be done throughout the day, her family always came together for their meals. What followed would be a flurry of activity as the younger children were put to work tending animals or harvesting the smaller vegetables their mother grew, Fendrel and Father headed to the Smithy to begin their work and Peronell went to the local seamstress to learn her trade.

She had not yet been given the chance to make any actual clothing however she was becoming very skilled at quickly and accurately repairing any manner of rips and tears that appeared in clothing. She hoped to be given more challenging tasks in the coming months. Weaving her way through the various stalls, animals and merchants, Peronell arrived at the seamstress' stall shortly after sunrise.

"Good morning Mistress, how are you today?" Peronell enquired as she entered the woman's stall. There was a frantic energy in the air, along with the strong smell of......ale?

"Dear girl, thank heavens you have arrived. We have an astonishing number of shirts, pants and other clothing to repair, with no thanks to the events of last night!" Mistress Alys dropped a large pile of shirts in Peronell's lap along with a basket of needles and thread. "Get to work, knights first, followed by merchants, wives, you know the routine."

Peronell tied her long, brown hair back in a braid and got to work mending a variety of holes, tears and in some case, entire sleeves that had been almost removed.

"It must have been quite the celebration last night..?"

Alys threw a look at Peronell that was part eye-roll , part disapproving confirmation.

"One would think that men could celebrate together without coming to blows but evidently, this was not the night for such a thing," Alys shook her head disapprovingly, "Choose wisely my dear, when your time comes. This behaviour should all be noted....fools the lot of them...honestly...set me back a day of work with all this foolish mending." Alys continued the repairs, muttering away to herself.

Peronell could not help but smile. She had heard all the noise last night, had actually witness the beginning of it before her mother had whisked her off to bed. With enough ale, even the most subdued of men could be enticed to battle. It seemed the entire fort knew that Alys would be in a disapproving mood today as no one came to bother the ladies until mid-day when the air was warm and sweet with the smell of hay. Peronell had made quite a bit of headway on her pile and had moved on to the merchants clothing.

There was a gentle knock on the door frame, "I beg your pardon ladies, I was wondering if perhaps you had found the time in your busy morning to mend my shirt?" Peronell glanced up at the husky voice that came from the doorway. Tristan, one of Arthur's Sarmatian knights, was leaning in through the doorway, uncertain as to whether it was safe to actually enter. Turning her gaze to Alys, Peronell saw her take a deep, measured breath and look up at the knight with a smile on her face.

"Of course it is ready Tristan, Peronell is just finishing up the last of your shirts as we speak." Peronell gave a quick nod and snatched the shirts up out of her lap as Alys gestured for her to be quick about it, smiling all the while.

"I'm not sure which is yours Sir," Peronell kept her voice quiet and calm as her mother had instructed her to when speaking to a man. She glanced up at the tall knight who quickly began sorting through the tunics in her arms.

"Are those all ours?" Tristan looked from Alys to Peronell with a sheepish look on his face, "Ladies I am sorry for all this work we gave you. This one is mine." Tristan took a dark blue tunic from the pile Peronell held and prepared to go. Alys looked at him, cocking one eyebrow. "Perhaps I should just take all of them," Tristan stated, as he cowed before the firm gaze of the seamstress, "to save you ladies any further interruptions." He carefully removed the bundle of shirts from Peronell's arms, nodding politely as he backed out of the stall. "Thank you kindly ladies"

As he left, Alys and Peronell exchanged a quick glance. At 6 feet, Tristan was one of the tallest men in the village, and his dark hair and dark eyes made him a popular attraction with the women but he never seemed to seek out any one person. He was the type of man that you were invited to look, but not touch. Alys looked at Peronell from the corner of her eyes,

"Such an attractive man, but so.....odd. He really never speaks at all, and then suddenly he has something to say."

"Hmm, he is very attractive but you never know what he's thinking and he's so....mysterious. Almost a bit frightening but you know he would never really hurt someone. Still...."Peronell shook her head in exasperation.

Alys turned to look at Peronell with a look of shock on her face,

"Huh, has he claimed another heart then?" She winked at Peronell to show her she was only joking.

" I don't know what you're talking about Alys. I would never even consider it."

"Oh come on now," Alys teased her, "I saw the shy glance, the little hint of pink in your cheeks; you could barely even look at him!"

Rolling her eyes Peronell sat down and got back to work, hoping she hid the small smile that crept across her face.