Chapter I.
The trees spread for miles in each direction, seemingly forever. It was nowhere near the largest forest in France, though, as could be easily attested by the inhabitants of the castle. The towers that rose along the walls reached far above the trees, and from their majestic heights could be seen the whole expanse of the forest and the mountains beyond. It took no more than a minute to climb the stairs to the lovely view, and while it took a little longer to actually cross through the trees and underbrush of various sorts, it was still an easy journey compared to many others.
The sun was setting, and its last rays shone upon the few servants performing tasks outside the castle walls. Their numbers decreased rapidly, as no one wished to remain long outside in the dark, but the bustle and noise within the castle proved that none would be retiring to bed soon. Preparations for a feast were being made, and most of the inhabitants would be staying up into the late hours of night.
From the window of one of the towers, a young woman watched the proceedings. From her clothing, she was only a little above the common rank, probably belonging to the class of lower nobility, and her veil, while embroidered with fine needlework, was made of slightly rougher materials than higher ladies might be accustomed to. Her gloves, as well, while carefully crafted, were not costly, and she only wore a necklace about her throat. No other ornaments graced her body. She was a baron's daughter, and her name was Adelaide.
What she lacked in fine apparel, however, little impacted her overall appearance. Her hair, brown and wavy, framed a perfectly shaped face, skin pale, but glowing with healthy vitality. Her nose was small and straight, with a proper little point to it. Admittedly, her mouth was a little small, but it only served to make her large blue eyes appear all the wider. As she gazed out the window, a delicate smile hovered about her lips, and that, combined with the gracefulness of her bearing, made her seem more of a princess than others of much purer blood.
She had arrived at the castle early that morning, with her family and their small train of servants. They had been welcomed by the elderly Lord Malvoisin, who, despite his years, still presented quite a formidable figure. Lord Montemare, her father, planned to leave tomorrow, perhaps in the afternoon, perhaps later, depending on whether he allowed himself to be persuaded into further partaking of their host's hospitality. They were headed towards a location a good twenty miles from the castle, where there dwelt a family of good reputation with a marriageable heir. If all went well, Adelaide would be betrothed, and she would add her dowery, a section of the Landes of Bordeaux, to the man's current possessions. It was a decent enough deal for him, though her family would do better to find someone closer to home, perhaps close enough for the properties to be adjoined in place as well as ownership.
Adelaide was pulled from these reflections by a cold, wet breeze that began to blow. The sun had been completely swallowed by the distant mountains, and they in their turn swallowed by a heavy mist. As the sky darkened, the fog steadily approached the castle, swirling around the tops of the trees. The deprivation of sunlight changed the forest into something ominous, and with a slight shudder Adelaide turned from the window and lit a torch. Its orange flames cheered her, and she moved to exit the tower.
At this moment the deep, throaty voice of a horn sounded outside the castle, arresting the girl in her movements. It echoed about the walls and towers, glancing off and fading away into the forest. Adelaide returned to the window and leaned forward to discover the cause of the sound. From the edge of the woods, a group of horsemen made their way upwards and towards the castle entrance. There were roughly seven or eight in all; the one in front, sitting stiff and dignified, seemed to be the one who blew the horn, as he held something of the sort in his hands. The gathering fog obscured his face and those of the men around him, but she observed their strong figures and almost military apparel. These were no petty barons; of that she was certain. They moved with the confidence of those who have power and the means to maintain it.
Hardly had she finished her observation when the gates opened, allowing torchlight to spill out onto the visitors. The tall figure of Lord Malvoisin made its way out, followed by a few of his guards. He seemed to waste no time with precautions, however, despite the hesitation of his entourage, and proceeded enthusiastically to meet the leader of the group. They embraced with all the affection and trust of old friends, and Malvoisin welcomed him in a cheery voice, though his exact words were lost in the wind. He greeted the others with less warmth, but equal affection, and with a motion of his hands welcomed them through the gate.
As the men moved inside, the light from within spilled across their faces, and Adelaide unconsciously leaned forward, hoping to take advantage of the moment to observe their features. A tall, slender figure in the back of the group, alerted by her slight movement, turned his gaze suddenly up, and caught sight of her form in the bright window. She started, feeling embarrassed and strangely vulnerable because of the the unexpected attention she had attracted at a moment of so little self-possession. Her first instinct was to duck out of sight, but she feared that doing so would only further display her embarrassment. He held her gaze with dark eyes; the rest of his face was obscured by distance and darkness. Finally, he bent his head and shoulders in a low bow. She thought it best to curtsy in reply- indeed, her head bent forward to begin the act - but the moment his eyes left her face, her body moved to enact what her reason strongly protested, and instead of making the reverence, she sunk quickly to the floor. The hard stones were cold against her sweaty hands, and her pulse reverberated in her ears. For some minutes she remained in a strange kneeling position, torch clasped before her, and strained to distinguish any noise from outside. None made its way past the sound of her own heartbeat, and when her breath had calmed, she slowly rose and looked out the window once more. The courtyard was empty.
A/N: This is just part one of the first chapter. In the next week or two, I plan to post the rest of chapter one, just to test the waters and see how my little story fares. Please leave any thoughts/comments/constructive criticism, so I can see what I should improve on! (or if I should just scrap this and begin anew xD)