Chapter Five
By Amythest Stone
AN- Wow, O_O lots of reviews! ^______^ THANKS SO MUCH! Here's the next chapter for all my reviewers to enjoy!
~*~
Kate Blacksmithson's days were relatively the same. Every morning she would wake up around seven, dress and go to the kitchen. From there she would fix the morning meal for herself and her husband. The two of them would eat, and then go about their separate jobs. James would work in the forge while she cleaned the house, did the chores and took care of the small odds and ends that needed to get done. When she was finished she would go help him get his jobs done. They would eat again when the night rolled in then go to bed.
It was always the same, very repetitive, and Kate loved it. She loved her life, she loved her husband, she loved her repetitive schedule, she loved her small two roomed house, she loved the forge, and she loved the three chickens and cow they owned. But out of all of those, it was her husband that made her happiest.
He was the kindest man she had ever known, caring, loving, and hard working. He was always there for her, taking care of her, talking to her. Nothing was too good for her in his eyes. She didn't think she was ever happier than she was when she was with him.
It was one of those days with a slight difference. James was still working hard in the forge because of a job that needed to be done by the next day. It was long, tiring and he was working hard at it. He had insisted that Kate should rest a bit and finish a few things that had been overlooked because of how single minded they had been about the job. Kate listened.
She always listened to him.
She was stitching a torn tunic when there was a pounding on the door of the house. This was very rare for she lived on the outskirts of town. Their nearest neighbors were two miles off and if someone needed a job done they would've gone to the forge. Standing up, she walked to the door uncertainly. She wasn't sure if she should open it. It could be anyone, and even with her abnormal amount of strength from the metal working, she was only a sixteen year old girl.
Gathering her courage, she cracked open the door and peered out. She was taken by surprise by what she saw. Standing in the door way, was a soaked man (for it was raining) carrying a very wet child.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, my lady," the man said, in a refined manner. He was obviously of higher class. "But I must beg your assistance."
He looked ready to say more but Kate interrupted. The boy in his arms hadn't moved at all. Something was obviously wrong.
"Come right in, sir," she said immediately, waving them in. "It's bitterly cold and the rain won't help!"
The man stepped in, dripping water and dirt onto the clean floor. Kate didn't take notice, running to get something to dry the two off with. She rushed back into her bedroom, searching for some dry blankets and a towel or two. By the time she had returned, the man had settled himself on the ground, gently resting the boy in his lap.
The man was older than her by a great deal and older than her husband as well. He looked like he was in his late forties or perhaps early fifties, grey very obvious in his hair. His face was drawn, very tight with fear, so perhaps she could be over shooting. She wasn't sure.
The boy that he had been holding was not really much of a boy at all. He was quite close to her own age from what she could tell, only a few years younger at the most. His face was very pale with the exception of brilliant red spots that stood out on his face. He had a high fever from what she could tell. Her father had been a surgeon, and she had picked up more than one thing from him.
"Here, quickly, dry yourself and I'll take care of the boy," she said, handing him the towels. "Go through that door to the forge. Tell my husband to get a surgeon."
The man obeyed her quickly, drying himself off, keeping a careful eye on the boy the entire time. Kate watched, wondering what exactly had happened to the boy, and how exactly he was related to this man. The way the man was treating him was fatherly and she wondered if perhaps, he was his father. It was unlikely though, so it was more logical that this man was the boy's master. The man looked at her with thanks very clear in his eyes.
"I don't know how to thank you," Sir Ector found himself saying for the second time that day.
"Think nothing of it!" Kate exclaimed, kneeling next to the boy, gently dabbing off his face and arms.
"My horse...." The knight stuttered, looking down at his ailing apprentice, feeling fear build up. He was looking so pale and ill.
"May my husband use it?" asked she. "We don't own one."
"Of course!" Sir Ector stood, shaking his head clear. He walked to the door, glancing back quickly for a reassuring glance from the young woman before entering.
James Blacksmithson knew his wife's footsteps quite well. When the door opened however, that was not what he heard. He heard the heavy footsteps of some intruder, coming up behind him. There were many things that rushed through his head.
Where was his wife? Why was someone sneaking up behind him? If this person was here for a job, they most certainly would not come through the house! He pushed the thoughts down however, and prepared to make his move upon whoever was trying to get the better of him.
The footsteps came a bit closer, more tentatively now. James tightened his hand around the piece metal he was working on. The footsteps stopped and the blacksmith turned swiftly pressing the white hot steel against the neck of the intruder. The man behind him stiffened, standing perfectly still.
"Who are you? What the hell were you doing in my house?" he asked, pressing the steel closer to the man's exposed throat.
"I was just-" The man stuttered.
"You were just what? Trying to kill me? Knock me out? Rob me?" James interrupted, eyes glowing angrily. Who was he? Where was Kate? Was she dead? No, no bad thoughts.
Ector, for the first time in his life, found himself with a half finished, incredibly hot sword pressed to his throat. He kept himself still as he watched the obviously angered man looking for an explanation. Hadn't the girl just told him to ask her husband? Was this her husband? Had he misheard her? Suddenly, he felt all of his years weighing upon him heavily. This simply was not his day.
"James!" The girl shrieked, running into the room after hearing the noise. Ector could not hold back his sigh of relief. He wasn't going to loose his head today.
"Kate! Thank God!" The man called James pulled the heated sword away from the knight's neck. "I was worr-"
"Are you alright, sir?" Kate asked, ignoring her beloved husband for the moment. Sir Ector nodded mutely, wondering if perhaps this was some strange fevered dream. Maybe he had, had too much wine.....
"James!" The girl was at it again. "This is our guest! Now put that thing down! Don't chop his head off." Like a disobedient child, James put down the almost finished sword. The girl, Kate, was looking at him critically. "That's good. I need you to go into town."
"Kate, what's-" Kate loved her husband but she was being the boss right now. The boy needed help badly and she wasn't enough.
"Fetch the surgeon. This man's boy needs help." She waved her hand at the much older man before her. "Off with you! Go on now!"
James blinked at her, rather confused, but obeyed. It was his wife after all and when she was being this pushy, it most certainly meant something was up. Slinking off into the rain, James Blacksmithson crawled on to an unfamiliar horse and road into town.
Kate, with some help from Ector, managed to get Will situated near the fire, on a makeshift bed. Kate had gotten a few of her own herbs and put them at a boil. They were supposed to help the boy's breathing if nothing else. Even so, he didn't seem to be getting any better.
She pursed her lips as she thought about his chest. It was obviously infected but it was also bruised very badly. More than one rib was broken, and it wasn't helping this situation at all. She let out an irritated sigh, as she poked the fire slightly. It flared up then calmed down, burning brightly.
Behind her, Ector was quiet, sponging his apprentice's forehead. The boy was whimpering slightly, his head tossing a bit. He was very much caught up in the illusions of fever, and no doubt the pain in his chest.
How could he have not seen this? The boy did not just become so ill after the fall in the river. He had been ill, most likely for a couple of days. Now, he was so sick. What if he were to die? No he could not even consider it.
Trying not to let his emotions show, the knight kept wiping down his apprentice's sweltering body, hoping that James would return soon with a surgeon.
~*~
The next chapter should be up eventually! ^______^ Love you people! Keep up the work!
To my reviewers:
....- interesting name you got there. No, I suppose Jocelyn isn't THAT bad. She's just pretty bad. But, Will loves her so I suppose she isn't THAT bad! Thanks for the review and I'm glad you like the story!
Whizzothecrunchyfrog- LOL! More more for you! Can I ask where you got your name? LoL! It's so cool! I laugh whenever I see it! I hope you liked this chapter! I worked hard at it!
KarateElf- Nope, no killing. ^_^ I'm trying to keep this as realistic as possible. ^_^ Will is in for hell but he'll live, don't worry! Keep up the reviewing!
Alaman- Yes, poor, poor, Will. Things are going to get worse but alls well that ends well! ^_^ Thanks for the review! Keep reading for me!
QWB- I was afraid I didn't do a good job with Chaucer. He is such a hard guy to personify. Paul Bettany is a one in a million actor. That's his actual personality! ^_^ it's too cool! Anyway, enough of my jabbering. I'd never beg you to go away! I'm glad I don't get rid of you easy! I love people! I love reviewers! I'll stop jabbering! Thanks so much!
Glad you all liked it! Keep on reading and reviewing and I'll keep posting! Dunno when the next post will be. Soon I hope but no promises. School sucks.
Next chapter: Of Wat and Roland
This should prove to be interesting.
By Amythest Stone
AN- Wow, O_O lots of reviews! ^______^ THANKS SO MUCH! Here's the next chapter for all my reviewers to enjoy!
~*~
Kate Blacksmithson's days were relatively the same. Every morning she would wake up around seven, dress and go to the kitchen. From there she would fix the morning meal for herself and her husband. The two of them would eat, and then go about their separate jobs. James would work in the forge while she cleaned the house, did the chores and took care of the small odds and ends that needed to get done. When she was finished she would go help him get his jobs done. They would eat again when the night rolled in then go to bed.
It was always the same, very repetitive, and Kate loved it. She loved her life, she loved her husband, she loved her repetitive schedule, she loved her small two roomed house, she loved the forge, and she loved the three chickens and cow they owned. But out of all of those, it was her husband that made her happiest.
He was the kindest man she had ever known, caring, loving, and hard working. He was always there for her, taking care of her, talking to her. Nothing was too good for her in his eyes. She didn't think she was ever happier than she was when she was with him.
It was one of those days with a slight difference. James was still working hard in the forge because of a job that needed to be done by the next day. It was long, tiring and he was working hard at it. He had insisted that Kate should rest a bit and finish a few things that had been overlooked because of how single minded they had been about the job. Kate listened.
She always listened to him.
She was stitching a torn tunic when there was a pounding on the door of the house. This was very rare for she lived on the outskirts of town. Their nearest neighbors were two miles off and if someone needed a job done they would've gone to the forge. Standing up, she walked to the door uncertainly. She wasn't sure if she should open it. It could be anyone, and even with her abnormal amount of strength from the metal working, she was only a sixteen year old girl.
Gathering her courage, she cracked open the door and peered out. She was taken by surprise by what she saw. Standing in the door way, was a soaked man (for it was raining) carrying a very wet child.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, my lady," the man said, in a refined manner. He was obviously of higher class. "But I must beg your assistance."
He looked ready to say more but Kate interrupted. The boy in his arms hadn't moved at all. Something was obviously wrong.
"Come right in, sir," she said immediately, waving them in. "It's bitterly cold and the rain won't help!"
The man stepped in, dripping water and dirt onto the clean floor. Kate didn't take notice, running to get something to dry the two off with. She rushed back into her bedroom, searching for some dry blankets and a towel or two. By the time she had returned, the man had settled himself on the ground, gently resting the boy in his lap.
The man was older than her by a great deal and older than her husband as well. He looked like he was in his late forties or perhaps early fifties, grey very obvious in his hair. His face was drawn, very tight with fear, so perhaps she could be over shooting. She wasn't sure.
The boy that he had been holding was not really much of a boy at all. He was quite close to her own age from what she could tell, only a few years younger at the most. His face was very pale with the exception of brilliant red spots that stood out on his face. He had a high fever from what she could tell. Her father had been a surgeon, and she had picked up more than one thing from him.
"Here, quickly, dry yourself and I'll take care of the boy," she said, handing him the towels. "Go through that door to the forge. Tell my husband to get a surgeon."
The man obeyed her quickly, drying himself off, keeping a careful eye on the boy the entire time. Kate watched, wondering what exactly had happened to the boy, and how exactly he was related to this man. The way the man was treating him was fatherly and she wondered if perhaps, he was his father. It was unlikely though, so it was more logical that this man was the boy's master. The man looked at her with thanks very clear in his eyes.
"I don't know how to thank you," Sir Ector found himself saying for the second time that day.
"Think nothing of it!" Kate exclaimed, kneeling next to the boy, gently dabbing off his face and arms.
"My horse...." The knight stuttered, looking down at his ailing apprentice, feeling fear build up. He was looking so pale and ill.
"May my husband use it?" asked she. "We don't own one."
"Of course!" Sir Ector stood, shaking his head clear. He walked to the door, glancing back quickly for a reassuring glance from the young woman before entering.
James Blacksmithson knew his wife's footsteps quite well. When the door opened however, that was not what he heard. He heard the heavy footsteps of some intruder, coming up behind him. There were many things that rushed through his head.
Where was his wife? Why was someone sneaking up behind him? If this person was here for a job, they most certainly would not come through the house! He pushed the thoughts down however, and prepared to make his move upon whoever was trying to get the better of him.
The footsteps came a bit closer, more tentatively now. James tightened his hand around the piece metal he was working on. The footsteps stopped and the blacksmith turned swiftly pressing the white hot steel against the neck of the intruder. The man behind him stiffened, standing perfectly still.
"Who are you? What the hell were you doing in my house?" he asked, pressing the steel closer to the man's exposed throat.
"I was just-" The man stuttered.
"You were just what? Trying to kill me? Knock me out? Rob me?" James interrupted, eyes glowing angrily. Who was he? Where was Kate? Was she dead? No, no bad thoughts.
Ector, for the first time in his life, found himself with a half finished, incredibly hot sword pressed to his throat. He kept himself still as he watched the obviously angered man looking for an explanation. Hadn't the girl just told him to ask her husband? Was this her husband? Had he misheard her? Suddenly, he felt all of his years weighing upon him heavily. This simply was not his day.
"James!" The girl shrieked, running into the room after hearing the noise. Ector could not hold back his sigh of relief. He wasn't going to loose his head today.
"Kate! Thank God!" The man called James pulled the heated sword away from the knight's neck. "I was worr-"
"Are you alright, sir?" Kate asked, ignoring her beloved husband for the moment. Sir Ector nodded mutely, wondering if perhaps this was some strange fevered dream. Maybe he had, had too much wine.....
"James!" The girl was at it again. "This is our guest! Now put that thing down! Don't chop his head off." Like a disobedient child, James put down the almost finished sword. The girl, Kate, was looking at him critically. "That's good. I need you to go into town."
"Kate, what's-" Kate loved her husband but she was being the boss right now. The boy needed help badly and she wasn't enough.
"Fetch the surgeon. This man's boy needs help." She waved her hand at the much older man before her. "Off with you! Go on now!"
James blinked at her, rather confused, but obeyed. It was his wife after all and when she was being this pushy, it most certainly meant something was up. Slinking off into the rain, James Blacksmithson crawled on to an unfamiliar horse and road into town.
Kate, with some help from Ector, managed to get Will situated near the fire, on a makeshift bed. Kate had gotten a few of her own herbs and put them at a boil. They were supposed to help the boy's breathing if nothing else. Even so, he didn't seem to be getting any better.
She pursed her lips as she thought about his chest. It was obviously infected but it was also bruised very badly. More than one rib was broken, and it wasn't helping this situation at all. She let out an irritated sigh, as she poked the fire slightly. It flared up then calmed down, burning brightly.
Behind her, Ector was quiet, sponging his apprentice's forehead. The boy was whimpering slightly, his head tossing a bit. He was very much caught up in the illusions of fever, and no doubt the pain in his chest.
How could he have not seen this? The boy did not just become so ill after the fall in the river. He had been ill, most likely for a couple of days. Now, he was so sick. What if he were to die? No he could not even consider it.
Trying not to let his emotions show, the knight kept wiping down his apprentice's sweltering body, hoping that James would return soon with a surgeon.
~*~
The next chapter should be up eventually! ^______^ Love you people! Keep up the work!
To my reviewers:
....- interesting name you got there. No, I suppose Jocelyn isn't THAT bad. She's just pretty bad. But, Will loves her so I suppose she isn't THAT bad! Thanks for the review and I'm glad you like the story!
Whizzothecrunchyfrog- LOL! More more for you! Can I ask where you got your name? LoL! It's so cool! I laugh whenever I see it! I hope you liked this chapter! I worked hard at it!
KarateElf- Nope, no killing. ^_^ I'm trying to keep this as realistic as possible. ^_^ Will is in for hell but he'll live, don't worry! Keep up the reviewing!
Alaman- Yes, poor, poor, Will. Things are going to get worse but alls well that ends well! ^_^ Thanks for the review! Keep reading for me!
QWB- I was afraid I didn't do a good job with Chaucer. He is such a hard guy to personify. Paul Bettany is a one in a million actor. That's his actual personality! ^_^ it's too cool! Anyway, enough of my jabbering. I'd never beg you to go away! I'm glad I don't get rid of you easy! I love people! I love reviewers! I'll stop jabbering! Thanks so much!
Glad you all liked it! Keep on reading and reviewing and I'll keep posting! Dunno when the next post will be. Soon I hope but no promises. School sucks.
Next chapter: Of Wat and Roland
This should prove to be interesting.