Title: A Future Unwanted
Author: Sam & Scarlett
A Light in the Darkness: 01 of ?
Rating: M: Violence, Language, Sexual innuendos
Story Summary: During the Kingdom's summer festivities, young women and men learn their destinies while others seek to change their paths. Grave danger rises and lurks in the shadows, seeking sweet revenge for a wrong nearly seventeen years old. But one will step forward to challenge this evil and a group of champions will rise in aid.
Setting: Set in a medieval time on Earth somewhere in Europe.
Introduced Characters & Ages: Sheila, 16 and Bobby, 13 (and their parents)
Chapter Summary: Sheila, who is ill, finds out she is betrothed against her wishes and will be traveling to the king's summer home for a tourney held in her honor. A summer of festivity is planned for her.
Spoiler: None really, this goes totally AU from the series.
Category: AU, Fantasy, Romance
Disclaimer: "Dungeons and Dragons" is a trademark of TSR and the cartoon is a creation of many peoples, including Marvel Productions, TSR inc, Saban Entertainment, and Wizards of the Coast. I am in no way connected with these people, and I do not claim ownership to these characters, lands, or names. I have borrowed them to share a story-and most likely not a story any of them would have written had they had the time or no. I am making no money from this, and it is just for my entertainment, and that of free entertainment to a select group of friends. Thank You.
Distribution: Please ask first?
Note: As this is set on Earth, and we could hardly use a horse in many shots, we have taken the liberty of making Uni a human. Sorry if that is disappointing. (Idea originated with 'The Never-ending Story' by Sam.) Also, Freddie (Terri's dog normally) is a human in this story.
Feedback: Please? I love comments.
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Richard O'Neil, a tall man with all the muscle a knight of the realm often sported after wearing seventy pounds of armor every day for the past twenty years, strode quickly through the echoing stone corridors. His blue eyes snapped with energy and his neatly trimmed blond hair reflected a man used to wearing a helmet as part of his normal working gear. He practically thrummed in excitement at the news he had.
Ignoring the woven tapestries which lined the walls to keep out the chill and add color to the grey walls, Richard put a large work-worn hand to his mouth and hollered "Woman! Children! Come to me now!" No one dared fail to obey the master of the baronetcy, and so Richard had no fear his family would not heed his summons if they could hear him. Finally, rounding a corner, the large man stopped inside the even larger dining hall. He surveyed the dark room, the scoured wooden table and chairs, the massive fireplace with the roaring fire, and the bustling simply dressed servant woman.
Rosalie put down the golden urn she had been dusting, curtsied, and left the room. The harried maid hurried into her young mistress's room, blowing to try to get some strands of dark brown hair out of her eyes. She stopped, hands slipping to her plump waist, and let her blue eyes rove over the neatly kept bedroom. "Miss Sheila? Sir Richard wants you down in the hall. We must get you dressed."
The maid scratched at the bedroom door attached to the main dressing room. She sighed softly then pushed it open, frowning as she gazed inside, wondering if her mistress was still abed . . . a fever had run through the household recently and even the lady of the house had been laid low. Lady O'Neil's hair had been shorn so short due to the fever tangles that her natural color was all but impossible to tell. Young Robert, the heir, had also been quite ill. All of the servants waited anxiously to see if their young mistress, too, would need the care of a leech . . . or of a priest.
"Miss?"
Behind the young servant, thirteen year old Robert shoved open the door very wide and shuffled in, panting slightly since he was still not fully recovered. "Sheila? Father's calling. Sounds like he's in a good mood."
The young redhead slowly managed to sit up in her bed at her younger brother's arrival. "Is he, Bobby? We will just have to go see what he is happy about, won't we?" Sheila smiled at him while quickly wiping away the band of sweat on her forehead, trying to hide any sign of weakness from him. "Why don't you go tell father I will be down in a moment." With a smile still on her tired face, she glanced at her most trusted maid, giving her a look that told her there was no sign of improvement.
Bobby frowned and nodded, glancing at the maid then back at his older sister. "I'll come back and tell you," he said. The young blond turned, blue eyes worried, and sprinted from the room, intent on getting this interview over as quickly as possible.
The maid looked at her mistress and nodded, taking in the feverish look, the sheen of sweat, the pale, clamminess of the young lady's skin. When the sound of young Robert's footfalls died out, the maid strode over to the bed and began straightening the bedclothes. "I know what his news is, if you don't mind my speaking out of turn, Miss Sheila."
The sixteen year old wondered what good news her father had. She felt hot and her back grew tired of sitting up. Knowing she wouldn't be able to make it down to hear the news for herself, Sheila nodded. "We both know I won't be able to make it down even if I wanted to. Go ahead, Rosalie, please?"
Rosalie nodded, pushing the bedclothes aside to sink down next to her feverish mistress. Patting her own cap, making sure it covered her brown braids, the green-eyed maid leaned forward to say in a low voice, "a betrothal miss. Sir Richard has found you a husband."
"A husband," Sheila echoed, wondering why her father would sell her freedom so quickly only a few short months after her birthday. "For certain? Do we . . ." Dizziness swept over over her instantly. Unsure of if it was the shock of the betrothal or the fever getting the better of her, she brought a hand to her forehead and shut her eyes. After a few deep breaths, she opened her teal green eyes and met her maid's worried gaze. "Do we know who he is?"
Nodding, biting her lip, Rosalie smoothed her hands over Sheila's bedclothes. "Lord Montgomery." She paused then looked at the younger woman. "Your father just received a message, and I heard him discussing it with the man that delivered it. He said Lord Montgomery is looking for a wife and, since he's related to the king, it was better than any other hope you'd have . . . Miss." She flushed at what could be easily taken as an insult.
"Rosalie, you are allowed to speak freely when no one else is around." Sheila's eyes wandered down to the covers of her bed, unsure of what to say. Dreams of true romance and falling in love were gone, and now true duty laid upon her shoulders. She now feared for what would become of Bobby. "Was there anything else?"
"Well," Rosalie nodded once more, "there is, Miss. The King has asked the family to go to his country palace for the summer. His alchemist is to attend to you." She ended with a hopeful note; surely an alchemist was better than a leech.
Before either girl could say another word, the door slammed open, and Sir Richard stood in the doorway, frowning. "Robert says you're not well still, Sheila?"
Sheila tried to sit straighter, but failed with a groan. She gave Rosalie another look then looked at her father across the room. "I am not," she replied with a frown.
Richard nodded and strode over. "Well, I have wonderful news for you, my pet." He beamed down at the girl, rocking back and forth from his heels to his toes. "The King has invited us to his hunting lodge for the summer. There will be a tourney in your honor, pet. What think you?" Her father looked delighted, though he failed to tell her why the King would honor her in such a way.
"This is wonderful news, Father," Sheila said, smiling up at him and trying to seem happy though she wasn't. Knowing she couldn't object to her father's wishes, she shoved her uncertain feelings aside and cleared her throat. "When do we leave?"
With a loud laugh that made Rosalie wince, the knight clapped both hands against his thighs. "That's my pet! Always up for adventure, aren't you? I'll have the house packed immediately and we'll leave in the morning. The sooner we get to the lodge, the sooner the King's alchemist can cure you." He grinned at the pretty redhead in the bed who looked so much like his wife had in her youth. "The King thinks his man can help you get over this fever." Nodding, the man turned back towards the door and stopped, as if he recalled something. Turning, he grinned wider. "Oh, pet, we'll have a grand wedding for you and Montgomery!" With that, he left, striding quickly out the door and down the hall.
Rosalie dared to place her hand over Sheila's, her face holding a sympathetic look. "I hear he's very rich, Miss, and has two little boys to raise."
"He has two children already?" Sheila asked quietly. "Bobby alone is a handful to keep up with, but two of them?" She let out a deep breath, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. "He'll want more. . . when I become his wife. Rosalie," she paused, her eyes focused on her covers, "am I ready for this?"
The maid forgot all sense of class and dignity. She slid her arms around her mistress and began to slowly rock her. "Oh, Miss Sheila, of course you are. Didn't you raise young master Robert the way he is, all brave and strong? You'll be a wonderful mother, Miss, and you'll love having your own babies to raise, too." Rosalie rocked the other girl, her manner that of someone much older than eighteen years of age. "Now let me get you some tea for your throat and that pot and cloth to steam the air back into your body, Miss. You'll be at the palace in no time and then you'll be pampered like a princess with not a care in the world." The young woman made no move to leave the younger girl, merely rocking her as she made soothing noises.
Sheila smiled a little at her maid's words, finding some comfort in them. "Thank you, Rosalie. I don't know what I would do without you," she said, pulling away from her hold. Looking at her maid, a thought hit her so quickly, making her smile fade. "You are coming with us, aren't you?" Fearing the answer to her question and feeling the tears form in her eyes, Sheila hugged her maid tightly once again.
With a soft laugh, Rosalie returned the hug. "Well of course, Miss. The King has no wife or daughters, does he? What would he have use of a lady's maid? So, it stands to reason he doesn't have one. You'll be needing me to dress your hair and press your clothes and draw your bath." She patted Sheila on the back then pulled away and stood, smoothing some of the wrinkles from her uniform. "So, naturally I'll be going to the palace with you. Now you rest, Miss, and I'll get the tea and steam." She gave the redhead a quick smile and turned to briskly leave the room.
The door had not even shut before it was opened once more, and Bobby rushed in and directly to the bed. "Sheila? Has father told you?" His anxiety showed in the way he practically vibrated. The thirteen year old stopped short, just shy of flinging himself onto the bed, but he certainly seemed agitated.
Sheila let out a soft laugh that quickly turned into a cough then leaned back onto her bed. Patting a spot on her bed for her brother, she said, "Yes, Bobby. Father told the news and plans for me." She smiled a reassuring smile. "You don't need to worry. Everything will be fine."
Bobby slid onto the bed and studied his sister carefully before finally settling. "And you aren't upset?" He frowned and glanced out the nearby window, down at the sun-dappled courtyard with the carts already being packed for their imminent journey. "I mean, I don't mind competing, especially for you, but I thought you'd want to at least know the man you're going to marry before your wedding. It hardly seems enough time to get to know him . . . it's only three months then the wedding."
Sheila was at a loss of words. No one mentioned that she would be married in three months, only that she was to be wed. She knew there was no use lying to Bobby, but did so anyways. "Three months is plenty of time to get to know someone. Remember the trip we took last spring? You met a boy named Alexander. He was the neighbor a road across from where we stayed. You two became friends in no time and that was only a month and a half. A lot can happen in three months, I suppose." The bedroom filled with silence for a moment. She could hear their father outside ordering around the servants. Everything was happening too quickly. Changing the subject from marriage, she said, "I heard he has two young sons. That means more friends. Perhaps you and Timothy will befriend them just as quickly."
Her brother turned back to her so quickly, the bed groaned and creaked. "What! Two sons?" He shook his head, blue eyes wide in horror. "I don't think you should marry someone who's already got children, Sheila. I can talk to father." He had no clue what he'd say to their autocratic father, but maybe he could play on the man's love of his only surviving daughter. "I'll tell him to wait until you feel better. Maybe one of the knights competing in the tourney will offer for you . . . one of father's friends?" of course, those men were most often their father's age, but Bobby thought it might be better than a complete stranger. "What about Sir Dekion? He's a widower."
"Bobby, I have to do this." Sheila couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth, and she was sure Bobby wouldn't either. "When you are older. . . when it is time for you to choose your own wife, you will be able to pick who she is and protest as much as you like if need be." She placed a hand on his arm. "Don't talk to father. We both know it'll be useless when he's got his mind set on his decision." She let out a breath. "And I can't stay here as much as I would like to. We're leaving early so that his alchemist can heal me. It'll be good for our family and for me to go through with this engagement. Besides, I'm sure those knights are well worthy enough just as this Lord Montgomery is."
Opening his mouth to protest, the words died in the forming at what his sister said. "What? Lord Montgomery? But . . ." He shook his head. "Father's betrothing you to Lord Montgomery? But . . . his sons are your age. I . . . I thought you'd be marrying one of them." Troubled, shaking with his strong emotions, Bobby jumped to his feet and started pacing, waving his hands around as he spoke, voice rising. "How could father do such a thing? He's already killed five wives. I'm not going to let him get you, Sheila. He can have someone else. No one's hurting my sister!" Bobby whirled towards the bedroom door.
Sheila paled instantly. Registering what her brother just told her, she quickly sat up, ignoring the side effects it had and being too concerned about her brother leaving. "Robert, come back over here this instant." Her voice was barely loud enough to sound authoritative. "I'm sure there is some misunderstanding, and I'm sure father has a good explanation for betrothing me to Lord Montgomery, if that is true."
Rebelliousness crossed his features but Bobby stopped, back stiff, hands clenched. He slowly turned and faced his older sister. "What?" His voice held challenge.
Sheila hated the fact that she was ill. She couldn't say what she wanted and have Bobby listen to her fully. Staring at him directly, she said in a soft yet firm voice, "If you say something in the matter you hardly have a place in, know that if you get in trouble by father, I won't be there to get you out of it. I'm in no condition."
Bobby glared a moment longer at Sheila then slumped, head bowing down. He walked back into the room, over to the bed, and stopped next to his sister's limp form. "I'm sorry, Sheila. I won't go to Father. But I want you to promise you'll let me go to him if you don't like Lord Montgomery after you get to know him." He raised his blue eyes, meeting her teal ones, worry reflected in his face.
Sheila looked away to her bed covers. She knew if she didn't make the promise to her little brother that he would certainly go talk to their father. If she did make the promise to reassure him, she would end up lying to him in the end. There was no choice either way, and if pained her. "Bobby," she paused, meeting his gaze, "I promise. If I don't like Lord Montgomery I will tell you immediately."
"All right," he still sounded reluctant, but he didn't make a rush for the door. Instead he sank onto the foot of the bed, far enough away that she couldn't get all lovey and cuddly if she got the urge . . . it was Bobby's opinion that his sister was overly affectionate. Not that he minded it, really, but he wasn't fond of public displays of affection. "So, will you watch me in the tourney, Sheila?"
"Of course I will watch you, Bobby. I'll be there cheering you on." Sheila smiled at him. "Not even the fever could let me miss such a thing." She wiped a band of sweat off her forehead then added, "Or Lord Montgomery. After all, it's being held in my honor."
Bobby turned the full force of his sunniest smile on his older sister. Seeming to swell with pride, he puffed out his chest and claimed "and I'll be chosen this season, Sheila! I'll start my knight training this time." Being a squire for his father had satisfied young Bobby until then, but he wanted more. At thirteen years, he felt it was more than time to break off on his own.
Sheila smiled at her brother's happiness. "That is exciting," she said, smiling at him. Seeing her brother happy made her happy. "I know father is proud of you. Are you nervous at all?"
"Nervous?" Bobby asked with all the false bravado he could. Glancing over to the door he looked back at his weakened sister and leaned forward. Whispering, he nodded. "Yeah, a little bit. But I'm going to make it. I'm not afraid." He grinned at her. Standing, Bobby tweaked the blanket to cover Sheila's feet better. "Look, I'm going to go downstairs and help. I'll come back later, all right?"
"Okay." Sheila frowned at her brother, not wanting to be without company. "Let me know if you find out anything, all right? Now go on. I'm sure they will be calling for you any moment."
The thirteen year old nodded and left, but he knew of Sheila's fear so made a stop first. He sent Rosalie up to keep her company. After all, the woman would need to pack Sheila's things, so it was a great excuse. Then Robert O'Neil made his way to the armory to select the armor and weapons he'd need to show his skills in the tourney to come.
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Continued in Chapter Two: when written