A/N : Thanx to Dryad Dray for the review on chapter 1. Here's the next part.
(Disclaimer : see chapter 1)
Chapter 2
The guards led Will up to the stocks and locked him in the wooden frame. We stood around him, me, Watt, Roland and Geoff, desperate to stop the crowds from punishing him, and no-one more desperate than me. The hoards of people continued to throw insults as well as stones and old vegetables, even when Roland threatened them with a lump of wood and I stood the other side of the plinth with my hammers in my hands.
Watt began to yell at the crowd, which did no good at all, and Geoff came to stand beside me.
"Can't you say something to make them stop?" I whispered to him, knowing him to be perfectly capable of controlling a crowd simply with words and no violence at all. He just smiled at my request.
"I am sure you could find better words than I ever could" he told me. I wasn't sure if he meant simply because I had spoken so strongly the day before or because he sensed there was more to what I felt for Will than simply friendship or sisterly affection. I glanced down at the stocks and I knew what I must do.
"You think you can make them quieten down for a minute" I asked Geoff and he smiled again.
"Anything for the lady" he said, jumping up onto the higher part of the plinth and shouting down at the crowd.
"Ladies and gentleman, a moment of your time. I request just a moment of your time to hear this lady speak" he gestured towards me and I felt ill, but I was quite determined to say what needed to be said.
The crowd began to quieten down and I lifted myself up where Geoff had stood. He stepped down and gave me a wink, and it was good to know I had at least one person on my side. I did not dare look at Will, I was too nervous already.
As the sound from the gathered people hushed down to a murmur, I began to speak with force.
"Ladies and gentleman, I know you are angry and I understand that you feel betrayed by this man, but he is not a criminal and he does not deserve your cruelty, instead he deserves your praise. This man is not a knight on paper but he is a knight in his heart. He is living proof that our class does not have to determine who and what we are. He is a good man, a loyal friend and a great knight, no matter who his relations are or what is heritage may or may not be. What he has done, he has not done solely for himself but for you, the people, the real people, to show you just what an ordinary man can achieve if only he tries and believes in himself. He has won tournaments, not for himself, but for you, not for the money, but for the honour of competing in such events. And so I ask you, please do not treat him this way, do not treat anyone this way. Learn from the example he has set you and become better people, because I know now that it is possible for everyone"
As I finished my speech, the crowd remained silent. I stepped down from the plinth and I heard one lone man start to applaud. I turned to see Prince Edward, still clapping as a servant removed a hood and cloak from his royal figure.
The Prince came towards me and smiled.
"That was a very impressive speech, dear lady" he told me before turning to Will who was still in the stocks.
"I believe we have met before" he said with a slight smile, "and I seem to remember you did me a great favour. I think now would be a good time to return that favour. You may not be a knight on paper but, as this lady says, you are a knight in your heart. I knew that the day we first met, but even if we had never met before, I can tell that your men love you, as I believe this young lady does, and that is enough to convince me that what I'm about to do is right"
I was somewhat surprised by the turn of events. The Prince ordered that the guards release William from the stocks and he staggered down towards us. Watt and Roland helped him down as Geoff and I looked on. He glanced at the Prince and then at me and I smiled. Just seeing him free of his torture was enough to lighten my heart, but the way he looked at me then, with such pride, thankfulness and affection, I felt quite faint.
"Will you take a kneel, William" the Prince asked, taking out his sword. Wills eyes were taken from me then but I didn't mind. He knelt before Prince Edward and I felt such warmth and pride as the sword landed on each of his shoulders and the words "I dub thee Sir William" were uttered by the son of the King.
Finally, he had his wish. Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein may have been slain, but Sir William Thatcher's time was just beginning. I hoped, rather than believed, it might be the beginning of a new kind of relationship for Will and I, but I suspected that when Jocelyn heard about Will's knighthood, she would want him back and I had an even worse feeling that he would go back to her.
I suppose deep down I knew why all the men loved her so much. She was the ideal woman to them, with her perfect figure, her good looks, her riches and her refinements. I was just a blacksmith, just a friend, barely a woman to them.
I watched as Will shook the hand of the Prince and I sighed to myself. Apparently I was loud enough that Geoff had heard it.
"It'll happen Kate. Just give it time" he told me. I turned quickly, ready to deny everything, but I knew there was no point. It was about time I admitted to everyone, including myself, that I was completely, hopelessly, and eternally in love with Sir William Thatcher. All I had to do now, was tell the man himself.
A/N : Chapter 3 coming soon. In the meantime, please review.