BDISCLAIMER: The only characters in this story that I own are Sir Hucklesworth, Lord Regindon and Annabelle. I do not our Count Adhemar, William Thatcher, Jocelyn, Geoffrey Chaucer, Wat, Roland, Christiana, Kate or any other character that might be mentioned./b
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Still in shock, Count Adhemar picked himself off the floor. The cheers were deafening. Streamers rained down all around him. And the whole celebration was for Thatcher. The peasant who thought he could make it as a knight. The country boy who had knocked Adhemar off his horse and won the world jousting championship.
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But it wasn't over. Not yet. Adhemar had never been beaten before, and he wasn't about to make this the first time. So William had won the championship. Adhemar was still the one who would marry Will's one true love; Jocelyn. Smirking to himself, Adhemar walked away.
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William raised his arms in triumph again. The crowd roared! He loved it, every bit of it. Being a world-famous knight, defeating his arch enemy, reunited with his father, and with the girl of his dreams. Life couldn't be more perfect. Or so he thought...
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Pacing his room angrilly later that night, Adhemar was interupted by a knock at the door. Marching over to it in his usual fashion when he was in a far from happy mood, he threw the door open, prepared to take his anger out on whoever stood the other side if they so much as looked at him the wrong way.
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His squire was waiting outside.
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"My liege," he said, "Sir Hucklesworth sends word. He says if your army holds his knights captive any longer, he will be forced to take action."
"Let him take action then." Adhemar snarled, "See if I care!" He strode back into the room, slamming the door as he went.
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Gazing out at the stars, Jocelyn, with Christiana by her side as always, thought of Will. After so many pathetic knights trying to win her heart, who only wanted her because of her looks, she had at last found who she was supposed to be with.
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"Jocelyn."
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Her father's voice startled her out of her thoughts. She turned to greet him.
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"My daughter, I have found for you your future husband. You shall be wed by May."
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Jocelyn was speechless. It was already November. In just 7 months time, she and Will would be married? Together for the rest of their lives?
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"Oh, father, that's terrific!" she said, engulfing him in a hug.
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"His name is Count Adhemar. I think you'll like him. He's a very well-known knight, and leader of the free companies."
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Jocelyn looked at him in horror, her eyes widening. iAdhemar?/i That's who she was to marry? That brutal swine who had done everything in his power to defeat, shame and humiliate William?
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Seeing her expression, her father asked, "My dear, what's wrong? Just a moment ago you were so excited!"
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"I cannot marry Count Adhemar!" Jocelyn cried, defiantly. "I cannot and I will not. William is the one for me!"
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"My dear," her father began, slightly sternly, "I'm afraid it's not your choice."
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"It should be my choice! Who are you to choose my future for me? Am I just am object to be handed from one man to another? Why can I not marry Will?"
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"Jocelyn, you deserve better than Will. Noble he may be, but he comes from a poor background. My daughter, married to the son of a thatcher? You deserve so much better. Adhemar can provide for you where William can't."
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Knowing she was defeated and no longer able to speak, Jocelyn fled the room in tears. Christiana solemnly followed her mistress.
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William was sitting around a bonfire with Wat, Geoff, Roland and Kate when he heard the quick footsteps and the sobs. Wat, suspicious as always, picked up his dagger and headed towards the noise. Jocelyn ran into the clearing.
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"Jocelyn, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Tell me!" William said, alarmed to see her in such a state.
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"My father..." she said breathlessly, through her tears. "He says I am to marry Adhemar. He says you're not good enough for me, coming from such lowly origins, and that I have no say in the matter."
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"So it's true! I thought he was just saying that!"
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"You mean you already knew about this?"
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"Before the tournament, he told me that he'd entered negotiations with your father and that he was going to make you his bride. I thought he was trying to distract me in the hope that I might not do as well when fighting him. I can't believe this! What are we going to do?"
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"What ican/i we do? I have no choice!"
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"No, there's always a choice. Run away."
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"Bit hypocritcal, aren't you William?" piped up Roland. "You yourself refused to run away from being arrested."
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"That was different, I'm a knight! Knights are not cowardly." William retorted
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"And neither am I!" added Jocelyn. "Come, Christiana, we must go."
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Watching them walk back through the forest, William sank to his knees. How could everything have gone from being perfect to being in devastation in just a matter of hours?
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Still in shock, Count Adhemar picked himself off the floor. The cheers were deafening. Streamers rained down all around him. And the whole celebration was for Thatcher. The peasant who thought he could make it as a knight. The country boy who had knocked Adhemar off his horse and won the world jousting championship.
br
br
But it wasn't over. Not yet. Adhemar had never been beaten before, and he wasn't about to make this the first time. So William had won the championship. Adhemar was still the one who would marry Will's one true love; Jocelyn. Smirking to himself, Adhemar walked away.
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br
**********************************************************************
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br
William raised his arms in triumph again. The crowd roared! He loved it, every bit of it. Being a world-famous knight, defeating his arch enemy, reunited with his father, and with the girl of his dreams. Life couldn't be more perfect. Or so he thought...
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**********************************************************************
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br
Pacing his room angrilly later that night, Adhemar was interupted by a knock at the door. Marching over to it in his usual fashion when he was in a far from happy mood, he threw the door open, prepared to take his anger out on whoever stood the other side if they so much as looked at him the wrong way.
br
br
His squire was waiting outside.
br
br
"My liege," he said, "Sir Hucklesworth sends word. He says if your army holds his knights captive any longer, he will be forced to take action."
"Let him take action then." Adhemar snarled, "See if I care!" He strode back into the room, slamming the door as he went.
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***********************************************************************
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Gazing out at the stars, Jocelyn, with Christiana by her side as always, thought of Will. After so many pathetic knights trying to win her heart, who only wanted her because of her looks, she had at last found who she was supposed to be with.
br
br
"Jocelyn."
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br
Her father's voice startled her out of her thoughts. She turned to greet him.
br
br
"My daughter, I have found for you your future husband. You shall be wed by May."
br
br
Jocelyn was speechless. It was already November. In just 7 months time, she and Will would be married? Together for the rest of their lives?
br
br
"Oh, father, that's terrific!" she said, engulfing him in a hug.
br
br
"His name is Count Adhemar. I think you'll like him. He's a very well-known knight, and leader of the free companies."
br
br
Jocelyn looked at him in horror, her eyes widening. iAdhemar?/i That's who she was to marry? That brutal swine who had done everything in his power to defeat, shame and humiliate William?
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br
Seeing her expression, her father asked, "My dear, what's wrong? Just a moment ago you were so excited!"
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"I cannot marry Count Adhemar!" Jocelyn cried, defiantly. "I cannot and I will not. William is the one for me!"
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br
"My dear," her father began, slightly sternly, "I'm afraid it's not your choice."
br
br
"It should be my choice! Who are you to choose my future for me? Am I just am object to be handed from one man to another? Why can I not marry Will?"
br
br
"Jocelyn, you deserve better than Will. Noble he may be, but he comes from a poor background. My daughter, married to the son of a thatcher? You deserve so much better. Adhemar can provide for you where William can't."
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Knowing she was defeated and no longer able to speak, Jocelyn fled the room in tears. Christiana solemnly followed her mistress.
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************************************************************************
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William was sitting around a bonfire with Wat, Geoff, Roland and Kate when he heard the quick footsteps and the sobs. Wat, suspicious as always, picked up his dagger and headed towards the noise. Jocelyn ran into the clearing.
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"Jocelyn, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Tell me!" William said, alarmed to see her in such a state.
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"My father..." she said breathlessly, through her tears. "He says I am to marry Adhemar. He says you're not good enough for me, coming from such lowly origins, and that I have no say in the matter."
br
br
"So it's true! I thought he was just saying that!"
br
br
"You mean you already knew about this?"
br
br
"Before the tournament, he told me that he'd entered negotiations with your father and that he was going to make you his bride. I thought he was trying to distract me in the hope that I might not do as well when fighting him. I can't believe this! What are we going to do?"
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"What ican/i we do? I have no choice!"
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"No, there's always a choice. Run away."
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"Bit hypocritcal, aren't you William?" piped up Roland. "You yourself refused to run away from being arrested."
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"That was different, I'm a knight! Knights are not cowardly." William retorted
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"And neither am I!" added Jocelyn. "Come, Christiana, we must go."
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Watching them walk back through the forest, William sank to his knees. How could everything have gone from being perfect to being in devastation in just a matter of hours?
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