"Ring around the rosie, a pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes..."

William looked panicked, trying to run through the circle of children and reach Jocelyn, who was laying quite still in the middle.

The children laughed at his efforts. He had nothing to fight with, no time to spare. The children kept singing.

"We all fall DOWN."

William sat up in bed, startled. It took him a moment to realise where he was. Rain was pounding on the roof, and leaking on to his floor.

He rubbed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief as he saw his father's house. He could hear his father in the next room, snoring. It had been a dream. Just like all the others.

But it had been so real. The children had taunted him, over and over... he shook when a breath of cool air came in through his window, and he curled back under his blankets. He would not be getting any sleep tonight.

He reached his hand out under the covers and grabbed at a silver ring sitting on his table. It slipped over his pinky easily and he sighed. It was so tiny. He would have given anything to let the disease take him, make him miserable until he could hardly fight it anymore.

When the Black Death had swept over the land, it had not been a chooser. It had taken almost everyone with it in its path.

It had taken Jocelyn with it.

William buried himself further under his blankets. The sound of the water dripping on the floor made him feel anxious, and when he could hardly stand it, he got out of bed and eyed the roof. It was fixable, and could be repaired in a short time. He also needed the fresh air. Besides, his father would be pleased.

His father. He had been living with him in his hovel for two years since Jocelyn's death. He had stopped entering tournaments, much to Roland and Wat's dismay. Besides being their friend, he was their source of income. He had let them down. He had let himself down. He loved nothing more than competing, but he did not feel the need anymore. He had no one to prove his skills to, no one would be waiting for him after another victory, loving him with their all and willing to give up their life for him. How ironic it had been.

William walked quickly by his father's room, trying not to make much noise on the wood floorboards. He grabbed a handful of nails and a hammer and went to the window, looking out. He could not see far through the rain, but he knew the land well. It had proven to be an excellent medicine over the years. It was quiet in the spring, when the grass was growing in full and flowers sprung up through the ground. Now, in the fall, there were many people coming to London. A new tournament would be starting in two months and people were trying to take residence.

William swung himself out the window and onto the roof. He made his way up carefully, watchful of slick areas where he could fall. He worked steadily on the spot that was starting to cave in.

William almost hit his hand with the hammer when he heard the loud noises of horses along the road. Obviously, other people heard it too, as lanterns were lit next door, and people walked to their windows, muttering at the racket.

William looked down and laughed. The horses were leading a carriage with a coat of arms on the side, and the squire's leading it appeared to be lost.

One of the men looked up and saw William. When he cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, his voice was distressed. "Good man! Can you please tell me where we are?"

William chuckled and yelled back. "You're in London!"

The man scowled at William's cheek. "I know that, can you tell me which direction I need to take to get to the Falhurst residence?"

William paused. Wat must have done something illegal, that was sure, for someone of such importance to be going through the area looking for him. He wasn't sure if he should try to outrun them and warn his friend, or stay where he was.

"And who is asking?"

"My name is Thomas, I am the squire for Cora von LaMotte. Falhurst's sister."

William let out a yelp and almost fell off the roof. Obviously they were mistaken. Wat did not have a sister. He never mentioned anyone but himself.

"Falhurst does not have a sister. I am sure of it."

"May I come up and speak to you then?"

"If you can make it up to the roof, then alright!"

"Please, let me come inside. The lady is tired and wants to see her brother."

"Let the lady come in then, if she is so anxious. I have nothing to say to you, squire."

"It is raining, surely you can come down here and speak to her?"

William sighed. Maybe they would pay him for his help. He climbed down the roof and back through his window. A few moments later he came out the door, his boots sinking in the mud on his first step.

The squire rushed forward and shook William's hand. "Thank you...?"

"Sir William Thatcher."

The man looked surprised, and with good reason. It would be hard to guess William for a knight.

"Yes then, Sir Thatcher." He opened the door to the carriage and William stepped inside. He could hear the squire gasp at the mud being trailed in on the carpet.

The woman, though, looked unfazed. She was covered with a cloak, and when she dropped it William was shocked to see a head full of ginger hair.

"Sir Thatcher, you know of my brother Wat?"

William paused. "Yes... but I am not sure he knows of you."

"I suppose he wouldn't. Another family took me in, soon after I was born. My mother, Wat's mother, was ashamed of me. I was not born with the same father."

William stayed silent as he processed the information. It was too odd, at any hour. "Wat knows nothing of you?"

"No. I only just found my mother a year ago, but she was plagued with the Black Death. Everyone was."

She paused and William cleared his throat, trying to hurry her along. He did not want to dwell on his own thoughts.

She took the hint and continued. "Before she died, she told me that I had a brother, Wat Falhurst. I have spent the year searching for him."

"I do not want to disappoint you, Lady LaMotte, but Wat is my squire. You are royalty."

"I was taken in by Sir LaMotte. He rules an area in northern Scotland. My mother left me there. I grew up as a stable hand until I was eighteen, and then I was able to learn the ways of being a lady."

William looked at her once she was done. Even if she hadn't told him of her relation, he would have thought it himself. Her features were so much like Wat's it was as if he was looking straight at his friend. The ginger hair, brighter than his good friends, the blue eyes and thin frame... he could hardly believe that he had doubted her at first.

She seemed impatient of his searching eyes, and started to speak again, in a quiet, but rushed voice. "So you can see, Sir Thatcher, the importance that I find my brother."

"Please, call me William. Or Will, if you like. I will show you where he is."

She grinned and laughed anxiously. "Good! Does he live far?"

William smiled as well. He would have a hell of a time seeing Wat's reaction. "No. But he is most likely asleep or drunk at this hour, so ignore most of the things he says."

"I'll take the advice. When will we leave?"

William opened the door. "Now." He stood outside and held out his hand for her.

She raised her eyebrows as she looked outside. "In the rain?"

William lowered his hand. "What, are you afraid? I thought you were raised as a stable hand!"

"These shoes," she said with determination, "are from France. They are worth more than any prize you have received while jousting."

"Then take them off if you're so worried."

She looked at him, scandalized. "And walk barefoot in the mud?!"

"What, did you think I was going to carry you?"

She hesitated, and looked outside again. "Alright. Fine. Sure." She took off her shoes and grabbed a hold of William's hand. Her pale green cloak turned dark from the water and mud. The squires looked at her curiously, but said nothing as she stood with Will in the rain.

"You sure it's not far?" She yelled through the rain.

"It's just around the corner," he said, dragging her along.

"I don't want to look like a mess when I meet him!"

"Trust me, Wat's seen worse!" A few moments later they were in front of a small house. No lights were on; there was no sign of life.

"Are you sure he's home Sir Thatcher?"

"William, and yes, I'm sure."

William opened the door and walked inside, and dropped Cora's hand once he realised he was still holding it.

"His bedroom is upstairs, I'll start a fire and be back with him."

She nodded nervously and sat on a stool, watching William as he lit a fire and then disappeared up the stairs.

There was a loud crashing noise, making Cora jump, and then the sound of heavy footsteps walking down the stairs.

"I'm your friend William, but this is torture, I- hello." Wat said, as he reached the bottom of the stairs. A smile played on the corners of his lips as he looked at Cora.

He walked forward towards Cora, and kissed her hand. "William, where did you find this exquisite creature?"

William stifled a laugh and looked at Wat. "Meet your sister, you prat."

Wat looked at the two of them and punched Will on the shoulder, laughing. "Good joke, Will. If you wanted her for yourself, you could have said so."

Cora took off her cloak and Wat stopped laughing.

"She..."

"Hello Wat," she said, holding out her hand again. "I'm Cora von LaMotte. Your sister."