This story picks up where the last one left off. AND bear with me here. There is a reason why I wrote it like I did. Spelling aside….BTW: I DID use spell check! So for those of you who have used the wrong to or too can throw the first stone. HA! Got ya… Anyway after this chapter it will all start to make sense, I promise. Now on to the story…
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Baron Geller promised Chandler all of that two years ago. And he kept up with writing Monica every chance he got. If she did not get a letter from him every couple of weeks she got worried.
Before Chandler could become a knight, at the age of seventeen, he saw battle. And was knighted on the battlefield. By the king himself after he saved his middle son, Prince Jamie. That led to a lifelong friendship between both Chandler and the young prince. Everyone thought highly of the young prince and wanted him to be the next king.
Everyone except his older brother, Prince Edwin, who was next in line to the thrown. But, Prince Jamie was steadfast loving, and loyal to his father and brother and would hear of no plots for him to take the thrown away from his father and brother. And because of that, his brother knew that he would not take away his thrown. And he was also grateful to Chandler for saving his younger brother.
Prince Edwin was twenty six and Prince Jamie was twenty two and that was his first time of being in battle as well. The knight that was having Chandler as his squire was killed early on and Chandler saw a soldier from the other side with a mace sneaking up on the young prince and took a crossbow he found laying on the ground and shot the mace man through, thus saving the prince. Everyone around saw what happened, including the king and the prince. And the king rode fore ward and knighted him right there on the battlefield and Chandler took up arms and rode as a knight.
Ross was at the royal castle to be with the soldiers that were looking after Queen Margaret and the other ladies. Including Prince Jamie's new wife, Princess Elizabeth. An eighteen year old girl who married him when she turned sixteen. So he was very happy for his best friend when he heard. He just wished that he could have been there.
After that happened, Prince Jamie went to Italy to the court there to help settle down a rebellion with Prince Ferdinand who he was a friend of. He took Chandler with him, informing everyone that he wanted his kind of loyalty with him to watch his back. To Chandler, there was no greater honor than to be a knight at the young prince's side.
While there, Chandler made a friend for life in a young infantryman by the name of Joseph Tribbianni. He came from a lower background. His father was a tavern keeper. He knew that he could never be a knight with his lowly background. But he wanted to be a soldier.
His father tried to talk him out of it. But his mind was made up. He became an infantryman. He could only hope to make a captain or to the commander of the guards. He was an easy going guy that loved the women and was a good friend when he made friends. But he did not have that good of an education. He mainly went to watch the soldiers practice when he was younger after his chores where done. And Chandler found a friend in him. Because he was raised by servants and could see past the rank and status quo.
They became friends because Chandler helped him out of a tavern brawl. And stuck up for him. Joey was talking to a pretty young woman and her boyfriend came over. Joey had no idea that it was her boyfriend. Her boyfriend happened to be a quarry man. He had nothing but muscles. And was very intimidating.
Chandler who saw what happened helped Joey get out of there and had him to stay at the castle with him. Since he was a knight he was given a room in the castle not too far from the prince. Joey was very grateful. He also believed that Chandler had saved his life as well that night. That man and his friends went looking for Joey to finish him off. But since they could not find him, left well enough alone. After finding out that the girl flirted with every guy out there.
So when Chandler got ready to leave, Joey asked if he could join him as a soldier under his banner. Chandler said yes and Joey said good bye to his sisters and father and mother and left with him.
While Chandler was there, he went to the ships on the harbor and traded some goods and made arrangements to have them go to the northern city where the fortress was at to trade goods. The owner of the ships name was Peter Becker and he was also a rich landowner. Of course Chandler was not going to get rich off of it. He just found an easier way of getting it to the different markets. Now all he had to do when he got back was to start seeing Monica again.
They were just friends, but her father told him that if he accomplished everything that he dictated, then they could marry. The friendship could be built upon. It was a writing friendship. That was all they did was exchange letters. He found her thoughts to be insightful and creative. He could barely wait to get back.
Besides there was some bad news, his father's lands were being held by the king because of a scandal that Sir Charles Bing was a part of. He had to get back home and take care of that and try to get the family name back to rights again. And try to find a way to get the family lands back from the king. Right now all the extra income from the Bing lands was going to the king's treasury.
The scandal involved his father financing the king's uncle when they went to war with each other. But since Chandler and his mother were both loyal to the throne, the king did not strip them of their ranks and the Tyler lands. His father left with a young prostitute to a different land and left Chandler and his mother pick up the slack.
He even told Joey of what lay ahead of them and how hard it was going to be and Joey still stuck by his side. That was a month ago. They then got on a boat and left Italy and arrived in England. Once arriving in London, Chandler went straight to the royal palace to see the king.
Joey stayed out in the court chatting with the women. Chandler was shown to the inside of the royal apartments. He went and knelt down before the king. And hoped that the king would not blame him for something that his father did those many years.
"Everyone out!" The king's voice boomed. Everyone left. They all felt sorry for the young knight. Who knows how it would go. The king turned toward Chandler and frowned. "What do you think I should do about you? My wife is your mother's defender. But who do you have? Answer me!"
"No one, your highness." Chandler replied softly. "And I think that it should be up to you to decide what to do about me."
The king continued to look at him and concentrated on his thoughts. "Hmmm…Well, unfortunately for you, your family name is ruined. You can only hope that YOUR children do not have to live with the shame for very long. Oh wait, you do not have children." The king eyed him, suspiciously. "And not too many lords would want to marry their daughters to you." Chandler's face paled considerably. The king seeing this went on. "OH, so you wanted to marry a certain young lady. What is her name?"
"Monica Geller, daughter of Baron Jack Geller." Chandler stated to the king.
"You asked her father's permission?" Chandler nodded yes to the kings question. "He will take it back. He is too proud a man to let his children marry into a family with a scandal. Honor to him is everything." Chandler's face paled even more when he realized that Monica would not be able to marry him. The king looked down at Chandler and bit his bottom lip. "Well, since you are not like your father, and have proved your loyalty, you will return to the Tyler Fortress and run it. There is problems with the border and bandits are becoming even a bigger problem. So leave."
Chandler got up and left the audience room. He was lucky he got off that easily. The king could have blamed him for what his father did and could have put him and his mother in the dungeon. Once walking out he saw Ross.
"Hi, Ross." Chandler walked up to his old friend and smiled. Ross turned around and walked away.
Before he did, "Father says that he does not want you to write to Monica anymore. And you are not to ask her to marry you." Ross walked off.
Joey came over and stood beside him, "What did the king say?"
"We are heading up north to the Tyler Fortress tomorrow." Chandler then started to walk out with Joey following him.
That night Chandler informed Joey of what happened with Monica and Ross. They were in the dining room at the inn and there was two empty pictures of beer and a new one and two tankards and roast beef and bread on the table.
"Joey, I want you to go back to Italy. I am going to get Monica as my wife if I have to kidnap her and marry her by force." Chandler decided on a plan.
Joey looked startled. "What?"
"That is the only way I can marry her than so be it." Chandler informed his friend.
"You are really going to do this? Then I am coming with you." Joey decided.
"Joey, if we get caught…." Chandler left off.
"That is a risk I will take." Joey decided aloud. "But either way, I am coming with you. And do not try to talk me out of this. Because it won't work. And anyway, you will need help."
"Fine. But you know what will happen if they catch us. We will be kidnapping a young noble lady and forcing her into a marriage against her father's wishes. Her father is a friend of the king as well, so it may not turn out good for me as well if we get caught. And it may be better if you did go back to Italy." Chandler surmised.
"You are my friend and I am staying with you." Joey insisted.
Before they could go on, a heavy knock was heard at the tavern door and the tavern keeper ran in. "Bad news, my lord. The king and his older son both have come down with the pox that is going around. The young Prince Edwin is dead and the king they say will soon be as well. The best thing for you to do is to get out of the city and to the countryside. And hurry before you catch it!"
"Prince Jamie and rest of the royal court?" Chandler asked frightened for his friends and his mother.
"Queen Margaret, and the rest of the royal court that was well left already. Except for Prince Jamie, who will not leave his father and the capital. The Princess Elizabeth was forced to go by Prince Jamie himself. She did not want to leave his side. And some members of the royal court are dead." The keeper informed the two men.
Chandler closed his eyes and drew a deep breath, "The queen has a Lady in waiting by the name of the Lady Nora Tyler Bing. Does she still live?"
"Yes, she left with the queen and the princess to the Bing Stronghold in the countryside. Prince Jamie felt that that was far enough into the countryside so that the sickness would not reach there, yet it is not unreachable and too far away and has a nice town with plenty of shops for the ladies. So there was something for them to do and it was safe." The tavern keeper repeated what he heard. He then ran around the inn and started to awaken everyone to get them on their way so that he could be on his.
Joey turned to Chandler, "What do you want to do? Go up north?"
"No, go and see Prince Jamie. And help him out. He is after all my friend." Chandler looked at Joey. "Maybe it would be better if you did go back to Italy or to the countryside."
"No, I am going with you." Joey then got up and followed Chandler and left the tavern.
They found the prince and members of the army burning blankets, and other infected articles and in some cases even dead bodies to help prevent the plague from traveling. Chandler and Joey didn't even wait, they ran forward and started to throw things on the fire.
Finally after a night and half a day, they had helped stopped the disease from getting it started even worse. Chandler and Joey both were seated down and drinking some cool and clean water that had to be brought in from a country well. And trying to rest their aching bodies.
It was then that Prince Jamie walked up to them. "I thought my father said he wanted you to go up north." He stated as he crossed his arms. He was tired and he just got done giving the orders to bury his father, who just passed away a couple of hours ago. He did not want him to be buried so soon, but felt that having him out would also cause the sickness to stir.
"He did, Prince Jamie. But I thought that this was more than pressing. I mean everyone was busy last night, so…" Chandler left off.
"I see." Jamie smiled. Chandler was a good young man and a trusted noble, to him anyway. "Now, I suggest that that you get up there as fast as you can."
"Can I at least go and get my bride?" Chandler asked innocently enough.
"Hmmmm…I do not remember hearing that you were betrothed." The prince narrowed his eyes.
"Well, her father made a couple of conditions first." Chandler explained.
"You last talked to him before the scandal was known about. Didn't you?" The young man asked.
"Yes." Chandler looked defeated. "I asked Baron Geller his permission two years ago."
"Fine then, we will ride to Baron Geller's hall together after I am crowned king. And since I am the new king, now, he will obey me and give his daughter to you in marriage." Prince Jamie or King James stated aloud. "Now come on." And then looking at Joey. "Oh, and who is your friend?"
Chandler then introduced the young king to his friend. They set off the next day to the hall after the coronation, with a group of guards and some of his army that just got done swearing allegiance to their new king.
King James wanted Chandler married as fast as he could. One to get him up to his northern lands and two to have him and his new wife start on a family, which was an obligation for Chandler and his wife. He really needed him to protect the northern lands from invasion, besides he needed someone up there who was loyal to him and would lay down the law and would help keep order. And Chandler proved that he was not only loyal but trust worthy.
Finally, three days later, King James and his guards as well as Chandler and Joey all arrived at the hall. Baron Geller and his son, Ross rode out to meet him. Neither one expecting who was with the young king and what he had on his mind.
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Baron Geller promised Chandler all of that two years ago. And he kept up with writing Monica every chance he got. If she did not get a letter from him every couple of weeks she got worried.
Before Chandler could become a knight, at the age of seventeen, he saw battle. And was knighted on the battlefield. By the king himself after he saved his middle son, Prince Jamie. That led to a lifelong friendship between both Chandler and the young prince. Everyone thought highly of the young prince and wanted him to be the next king.
Everyone except his older brother, Prince Edwin, who was next in line to the thrown. But, Prince Jamie was steadfast loving, and loyal to his father and brother and would hear of no plots for him to take the thrown away from his father and brother. And because of that, his brother knew that he would not take away his thrown. And he was also grateful to Chandler for saving his younger brother.
Prince Edwin was twenty six and Prince Jamie was twenty two and that was his first time of being in battle as well. The knight that was having Chandler as his squire was killed early on and Chandler saw a soldier from the other side with a mace sneaking up on the young prince and took a crossbow he found laying on the ground and shot the mace man through, thus saving the prince. Everyone around saw what happened, including the king and the prince. And the king rode fore ward and knighted him right there on the battlefield and Chandler took up arms and rode as a knight.
Ross was at the royal castle to be with the soldiers that were looking after Queen Margaret and the other ladies. Including Prince Jamie's new wife, Princess Elizabeth. An eighteen year old girl who married him when she turned sixteen. So he was very happy for his best friend when he heard. He just wished that he could have been there.
After that happened, Prince Jamie went to Italy to the court there to help settle down a rebellion with Prince Ferdinand who he was a friend of. He took Chandler with him, informing everyone that he wanted his kind of loyalty with him to watch his back. To Chandler, there was no greater honor than to be a knight at the young prince's side.
While there, Chandler made a friend for life in a young infantryman by the name of Joseph Tribbianni. He came from a lower background. His father was a tavern keeper. He knew that he could never be a knight with his lowly background. But he wanted to be a soldier.
His father tried to talk him out of it. But his mind was made up. He became an infantryman. He could only hope to make a captain or to the commander of the guards. He was an easy going guy that loved the women and was a good friend when he made friends. But he did not have that good of an education. He mainly went to watch the soldiers practice when he was younger after his chores where done. And Chandler found a friend in him. Because he was raised by servants and could see past the rank and status quo.
They became friends because Chandler helped him out of a tavern brawl. And stuck up for him. Joey was talking to a pretty young woman and her boyfriend came over. Joey had no idea that it was her boyfriend. Her boyfriend happened to be a quarry man. He had nothing but muscles. And was very intimidating.
Chandler who saw what happened helped Joey get out of there and had him to stay at the castle with him. Since he was a knight he was given a room in the castle not too far from the prince. Joey was very grateful. He also believed that Chandler had saved his life as well that night. That man and his friends went looking for Joey to finish him off. But since they could not find him, left well enough alone. After finding out that the girl flirted with every guy out there.
So when Chandler got ready to leave, Joey asked if he could join him as a soldier under his banner. Chandler said yes and Joey said good bye to his sisters and father and mother and left with him.
While Chandler was there, he went to the ships on the harbor and traded some goods and made arrangements to have them go to the northern city where the fortress was at to trade goods. The owner of the ships name was Peter Becker and he was also a rich landowner. Of course Chandler was not going to get rich off of it. He just found an easier way of getting it to the different markets. Now all he had to do when he got back was to start seeing Monica again.
They were just friends, but her father told him that if he accomplished everything that he dictated, then they could marry. The friendship could be built upon. It was a writing friendship. That was all they did was exchange letters. He found her thoughts to be insightful and creative. He could barely wait to get back.
Besides there was some bad news, his father's lands were being held by the king because of a scandal that Sir Charles Bing was a part of. He had to get back home and take care of that and try to get the family name back to rights again. And try to find a way to get the family lands back from the king. Right now all the extra income from the Bing lands was going to the king's treasury.
The scandal involved his father financing the king's uncle when they went to war with each other. But since Chandler and his mother were both loyal to the throne, the king did not strip them of their ranks and the Tyler lands. His father left with a young prostitute to a different land and left Chandler and his mother pick up the slack.
He even told Joey of what lay ahead of them and how hard it was going to be and Joey still stuck by his side. That was a month ago. They then got on a boat and left Italy and arrived in England. Once arriving in London, Chandler went straight to the royal palace to see the king.
Joey stayed out in the court chatting with the women. Chandler was shown to the inside of the royal apartments. He went and knelt down before the king. And hoped that the king would not blame him for something that his father did those many years.
"Everyone out!" The king's voice boomed. Everyone left. They all felt sorry for the young knight. Who knows how it would go. The king turned toward Chandler and frowned. "What do you think I should do about you? My wife is your mother's defender. But who do you have? Answer me!"
"No one, your highness." Chandler replied softly. "And I think that it should be up to you to decide what to do about me."
The king continued to look at him and concentrated on his thoughts. "Hmmm…Well, unfortunately for you, your family name is ruined. You can only hope that YOUR children do not have to live with the shame for very long. Oh wait, you do not have children." The king eyed him, suspiciously. "And not too many lords would want to marry their daughters to you." Chandler's face paled considerably. The king seeing this went on. "OH, so you wanted to marry a certain young lady. What is her name?"
"Monica Geller, daughter of Baron Jack Geller." Chandler stated to the king.
"You asked her father's permission?" Chandler nodded yes to the kings question. "He will take it back. He is too proud a man to let his children marry into a family with a scandal. Honor to him is everything." Chandler's face paled even more when he realized that Monica would not be able to marry him. The king looked down at Chandler and bit his bottom lip. "Well, since you are not like your father, and have proved your loyalty, you will return to the Tyler Fortress and run it. There is problems with the border and bandits are becoming even a bigger problem. So leave."
Chandler got up and left the audience room. He was lucky he got off that easily. The king could have blamed him for what his father did and could have put him and his mother in the dungeon. Once walking out he saw Ross.
"Hi, Ross." Chandler walked up to his old friend and smiled. Ross turned around and walked away.
Before he did, "Father says that he does not want you to write to Monica anymore. And you are not to ask her to marry you." Ross walked off.
Joey came over and stood beside him, "What did the king say?"
"We are heading up north to the Tyler Fortress tomorrow." Chandler then started to walk out with Joey following him.
That night Chandler informed Joey of what happened with Monica and Ross. They were in the dining room at the inn and there was two empty pictures of beer and a new one and two tankards and roast beef and bread on the table.
"Joey, I want you to go back to Italy. I am going to get Monica as my wife if I have to kidnap her and marry her by force." Chandler decided on a plan.
Joey looked startled. "What?"
"That is the only way I can marry her than so be it." Chandler informed his friend.
"You are really going to do this? Then I am coming with you." Joey decided.
"Joey, if we get caught…." Chandler left off.
"That is a risk I will take." Joey decided aloud. "But either way, I am coming with you. And do not try to talk me out of this. Because it won't work. And anyway, you will need help."
"Fine. But you know what will happen if they catch us. We will be kidnapping a young noble lady and forcing her into a marriage against her father's wishes. Her father is a friend of the king as well, so it may not turn out good for me as well if we get caught. And it may be better if you did go back to Italy." Chandler surmised.
"You are my friend and I am staying with you." Joey insisted.
Before they could go on, a heavy knock was heard at the tavern door and the tavern keeper ran in. "Bad news, my lord. The king and his older son both have come down with the pox that is going around. The young Prince Edwin is dead and the king they say will soon be as well. The best thing for you to do is to get out of the city and to the countryside. And hurry before you catch it!"
"Prince Jamie and rest of the royal court?" Chandler asked frightened for his friends and his mother.
"Queen Margaret, and the rest of the royal court that was well left already. Except for Prince Jamie, who will not leave his father and the capital. The Princess Elizabeth was forced to go by Prince Jamie himself. She did not want to leave his side. And some members of the royal court are dead." The keeper informed the two men.
Chandler closed his eyes and drew a deep breath, "The queen has a Lady in waiting by the name of the Lady Nora Tyler Bing. Does she still live?"
"Yes, she left with the queen and the princess to the Bing Stronghold in the countryside. Prince Jamie felt that that was far enough into the countryside so that the sickness would not reach there, yet it is not unreachable and too far away and has a nice town with plenty of shops for the ladies. So there was something for them to do and it was safe." The tavern keeper repeated what he heard. He then ran around the inn and started to awaken everyone to get them on their way so that he could be on his.
Joey turned to Chandler, "What do you want to do? Go up north?"
"No, go and see Prince Jamie. And help him out. He is after all my friend." Chandler looked at Joey. "Maybe it would be better if you did go back to Italy or to the countryside."
"No, I am going with you." Joey then got up and followed Chandler and left the tavern.
They found the prince and members of the army burning blankets, and other infected articles and in some cases even dead bodies to help prevent the plague from traveling. Chandler and Joey didn't even wait, they ran forward and started to throw things on the fire.
Finally after a night and half a day, they had helped stopped the disease from getting it started even worse. Chandler and Joey both were seated down and drinking some cool and clean water that had to be brought in from a country well. And trying to rest their aching bodies.
It was then that Prince Jamie walked up to them. "I thought my father said he wanted you to go up north." He stated as he crossed his arms. He was tired and he just got done giving the orders to bury his father, who just passed away a couple of hours ago. He did not want him to be buried so soon, but felt that having him out would also cause the sickness to stir.
"He did, Prince Jamie. But I thought that this was more than pressing. I mean everyone was busy last night, so…" Chandler left off.
"I see." Jamie smiled. Chandler was a good young man and a trusted noble, to him anyway. "Now, I suggest that that you get up there as fast as you can."
"Can I at least go and get my bride?" Chandler asked innocently enough.
"Hmmmm…I do not remember hearing that you were betrothed." The prince narrowed his eyes.
"Well, her father made a couple of conditions first." Chandler explained.
"You last talked to him before the scandal was known about. Didn't you?" The young man asked.
"Yes." Chandler looked defeated. "I asked Baron Geller his permission two years ago."
"Fine then, we will ride to Baron Geller's hall together after I am crowned king. And since I am the new king, now, he will obey me and give his daughter to you in marriage." Prince Jamie or King James stated aloud. "Now come on." And then looking at Joey. "Oh, and who is your friend?"
Chandler then introduced the young king to his friend. They set off the next day to the hall after the coronation, with a group of guards and some of his army that just got done swearing allegiance to their new king.
King James wanted Chandler married as fast as he could. One to get him up to his northern lands and two to have him and his new wife start on a family, which was an obligation for Chandler and his wife. He really needed him to protect the northern lands from invasion, besides he needed someone up there who was loyal to him and would lay down the law and would help keep order. And Chandler proved that he was not only loyal but trust worthy.
Finally, three days later, King James and his guards as well as Chandler and Joey all arrived at the hall. Baron Geller and his son, Ross rode out to meet him. Neither one expecting who was with the young king and what he had on his mind.