Riding atop a sleek black horse, his squire walking next to him, Count Adhemar surveyed the scenery as he journeyed towards Rome. He was not prepared to unhand Sir Hucklesworth's top knights - they would be a powerful weapon against him. Instead, he had accepted the challenge and was headed for the battle.
His army were approaching Rome from the other direction, having just finished fighing in Athens. He would meet them before they attacked. In the mean time, he was riding through lucious Italian countryside; on a well-worn dirt track with thick trees either side.
Suddenly, a man ran out in front of his horse.
"I- I have a message for Count Adhemar..." he stammered.
"That would be me." Adhemar replied, somewhat impatiently.
"I have word from Lord Regindon; he says you will be wed to his daughter on the 21st of May."
Adhemar smiled, remembering William's face when he had told him that he would be marrying Jocelyn.
"Thank you." He said dismissively to the messenger, and carried on his way.
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"Sire, it has been reported that there is a large group of men heading for our base camp from the south; Adhemar's army."
Sir Hucklesworth turned to his worried looking advisor. "Gather the troops. Have them guard the camp from all sides, with the strongest fortifications on the south side. Prepare them to attack if necessary."
"Yes, sire." His advisor hurried away.
So, Adhemar was refusing to hand back the knights. He wanted to fight for ownership of them. So be it. Yes, without them, his army wouldn't be as strong, but strong enough to keep away Adhemar. Adhemar was past it anyway - just recently he'd been defeated in the jousting championships for the first time ever. He was clearly growing weaker with age.
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Adhemar watched as one of his own soldiers writhed in pain. The soldier was dying, any fool could see that, and he wasn't the first to die in this battle either. Adhemar was losing, that was for sure, and his top fighter had been seriously injured recently. What he needed was somebody strong, with power and spirit, somebody who could single handedly take out Sir Hucklesworth, who was stronger than many and a hard enemy to defeat.
William.
Where had that thought come from? It was true that William could probably take out Hucklesworth, but William fighting along side his arch enemy? It would never happen. Unless...
Slowly, a menacing grin spread across Adhemar's face. He would get William to help, alright. And he would win this battle and as many other battles as he wanted. He was unstoppable now.
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William walked alongside his sleek chestnut stallion, Roland next to him, Wat ahead, with another horse, and Geoff and Kate bringing up the rear.
They heard the horse cantering before they saw the horse, or it's rider.
It was Count Adhemar. For once, alone, without his faithful squire riding next to him.
"Sir William." He greeted Will. "So we meet again."
"What do you want?" William replied challengingly.
"I want your help." Adhemar said.
"Why would I ever help you?"
"Because if you don't," Here he paused to smirk, "Then Jocelyn will be mine and I'll arrange it so that you never see her again."
The realisation of the fact that Count Adhemar was right sank in. If he married Jocelyn, they could move anywhere in the world and settle there, without William knowing their whereabouts, and it would be the last he ever saw of her. But... this could be a trick. It probably WAS a trick. Adhemar probably planned to separate Will and Jocelyn anyway, and this was just his way of getting William to act as he pleased. Still...
"What kind of help?" he asked, cautiously.
Adhemar smiled again. "Have you ever heard of Sir Huckleworth? A powerful British knight, residing in Italy. He and I are currently at war, and I'm loosing. I need you to help me win."
"I'll think about it." William replied.
"Don't think for too long; the offer does expire." Adhemar warned, turning his horse the way he had come, and riding back into the forest.
"What's there to think about?" hissed Wat. "This is ADHEMAR we're talking about! Remember him? Your sworn enemy. The guy who had you put in prison. The man who made you the laughing stock of London! The one who tipped his lance so it would pierce through your armour! Are you out of your mind?"
"No! Helping Adhemar is the only way I can see Jocelyn once he's married her. I can't stop the wedding, but by doing this, I can stop him taking her away. At least that way she'd be in my life, even if she couldn't be with me."
"It's a trick Will! Don't you see?" Kate didn't understand why William was being so naive, why he was even considering this. It was clear to her, and no doubt anyone, that Adhemar was trying to take advantage. When had he ever kept a promise? Especially one to one of the people he hated most in the world.
"But what if it isn't? This is my only chance, Kate, I have to try!" William's voice was cracking as he said this. "I can't bear to loose her. And if helping Adhemar is the way to save her, I'll help Adhemar. I'll do whatever it takes."
Shaking her head in defeat, Kate carried on walking.
His army were approaching Rome from the other direction, having just finished fighing in Athens. He would meet them before they attacked. In the mean time, he was riding through lucious Italian countryside; on a well-worn dirt track with thick trees either side.
Suddenly, a man ran out in front of his horse.
"I- I have a message for Count Adhemar..." he stammered.
"That would be me." Adhemar replied, somewhat impatiently.
"I have word from Lord Regindon; he says you will be wed to his daughter on the 21st of May."
Adhemar smiled, remembering William's face when he had told him that he would be marrying Jocelyn.
"Thank you." He said dismissively to the messenger, and carried on his way.
***********************************************************************
"Sire, it has been reported that there is a large group of men heading for our base camp from the south; Adhemar's army."
Sir Hucklesworth turned to his worried looking advisor. "Gather the troops. Have them guard the camp from all sides, with the strongest fortifications on the south side. Prepare them to attack if necessary."
"Yes, sire." His advisor hurried away.
So, Adhemar was refusing to hand back the knights. He wanted to fight for ownership of them. So be it. Yes, without them, his army wouldn't be as strong, but strong enough to keep away Adhemar. Adhemar was past it anyway - just recently he'd been defeated in the jousting championships for the first time ever. He was clearly growing weaker with age.
************************************************************************
Adhemar watched as one of his own soldiers writhed in pain. The soldier was dying, any fool could see that, and he wasn't the first to die in this battle either. Adhemar was losing, that was for sure, and his top fighter had been seriously injured recently. What he needed was somebody strong, with power and spirit, somebody who could single handedly take out Sir Hucklesworth, who was stronger than many and a hard enemy to defeat.
William.
Where had that thought come from? It was true that William could probably take out Hucklesworth, but William fighting along side his arch enemy? It would never happen. Unless...
Slowly, a menacing grin spread across Adhemar's face. He would get William to help, alright. And he would win this battle and as many other battles as he wanted. He was unstoppable now.
***********************************************************************
William walked alongside his sleek chestnut stallion, Roland next to him, Wat ahead, with another horse, and Geoff and Kate bringing up the rear.
They heard the horse cantering before they saw the horse, or it's rider.
It was Count Adhemar. For once, alone, without his faithful squire riding next to him.
"Sir William." He greeted Will. "So we meet again."
"What do you want?" William replied challengingly.
"I want your help." Adhemar said.
"Why would I ever help you?"
"Because if you don't," Here he paused to smirk, "Then Jocelyn will be mine and I'll arrange it so that you never see her again."
The realisation of the fact that Count Adhemar was right sank in. If he married Jocelyn, they could move anywhere in the world and settle there, without William knowing their whereabouts, and it would be the last he ever saw of her. But... this could be a trick. It probably WAS a trick. Adhemar probably planned to separate Will and Jocelyn anyway, and this was just his way of getting William to act as he pleased. Still...
"What kind of help?" he asked, cautiously.
Adhemar smiled again. "Have you ever heard of Sir Huckleworth? A powerful British knight, residing in Italy. He and I are currently at war, and I'm loosing. I need you to help me win."
"I'll think about it." William replied.
"Don't think for too long; the offer does expire." Adhemar warned, turning his horse the way he had come, and riding back into the forest.
"What's there to think about?" hissed Wat. "This is ADHEMAR we're talking about! Remember him? Your sworn enemy. The guy who had you put in prison. The man who made you the laughing stock of London! The one who tipped his lance so it would pierce through your armour! Are you out of your mind?"
"No! Helping Adhemar is the only way I can see Jocelyn once he's married her. I can't stop the wedding, but by doing this, I can stop him taking her away. At least that way she'd be in my life, even if she couldn't be with me."
"It's a trick Will! Don't you see?" Kate didn't understand why William was being so naive, why he was even considering this. It was clear to her, and no doubt anyone, that Adhemar was trying to take advantage. When had he ever kept a promise? Especially one to one of the people he hated most in the world.
"But what if it isn't? This is my only chance, Kate, I have to try!" William's voice was cracking as he said this. "I can't bear to loose her. And if helping Adhemar is the way to save her, I'll help Adhemar. I'll do whatever it takes."
Shaking her head in defeat, Kate carried on walking.