Disclaimer: No AKT characters are mine - fic is purely for fun.
The first day of the tournament dawned bright and clear, and Ismene hurried down to the lists to see who she had been drawn against. Along with a dozen or so other squires she stood on tiptoe to see properly - 16 knights were in the first round of the sword-on-foot, the colours on their bright plaques clashing as they hung from poles behind the judges' table. Thomas's emblem - a black lion on a grey background - hung beside that of a red rose; the sign of the House of Lancashire. Wondering who the knight was, she jumped when someone grabbed her shoulders.
"Thomas!"
"Morning - who're you up against?"
"Lancashire"
"Oh.isn't he that scrawny one? I think I saw him yesterday - didn't look like he could hold a sword very well."
"I hope so" Ismene said. She looked back at the lists. Villeux's joust was near the start of the tournament, as was her fight. She and Thomas began to walk back to the inn.
"Have you prepared everything?"
"Certainly. Your mail's polished, the outfit looks pretty good, and I've sharpened your sword. Is there anything else?"
"I don't think so.what time am I on?"
"Yours is the second fight, so about 10 o'clock"
They had three hours to kill, and spent the time in a state of nervous agitation. They had no-one to talk to except each other - their only friends at the tournament were no doubt readying Count Villeux for the joust, and Kate was busy making last-minute bits of armour. Even the bartender was nowhere to be seen. As it neared 9 o'clock, Ismene and Thomas retired to their rooms to get ready.
Ismene pulled on black breeches, a tight leather jerkin over which she donned her mail, and a black shirt with her emblem emblazoned on the breast which covered this completely. Soft shoes allowed her quick movement, which she relied upon to make up for her lack of strength. She met Thomas in the hallway - he was dressed exactly the same, the only difference being the sword at his hip.
They wandered down to the swordfight ring, pushing through the scores of peasants and townsfolk who'd turned out for the occasion. The nobles sat in raised boxes to one side of the ring where they would gain the best view of the show. Although the joust was by far the most popular event, there was still a large crowd, and Ismene felt more than nervous.
~**~
Geoffrey was expected by his lord shortly, but he'd stopped off at the sword ring to here Ismene speak. He'd found out when Count Thomas was fighting just so he could see her oratory skills in action - it was unfortunate Villeux was on at the same time - he wouldn't be able to talk to her afterwards.
The first fight ended with one knight on the floor, a blade at his throat, the crowd going wild with the anticipation of blood. A knight with a green emblem was declared the victor, and he hauled his opponent to his feet so they could walk off together, chatting sportingly.
~**~
Under the shadows of the stand, Thomas took off his sword belt whilst Ismene pulled on a black mask - it was like a balaclava, covering all her face except for the eyes. Black mesh covered her mouth and nose, obscuring them but allowing her to breathe. It was unusual to have her face covered, but the crowd would take it for a gimmick. Her hair was caught up tightly and the clothes hid her form so well she could have passed easily for Thomas. He handed her the sword, winked, and ran out to the applause of the crowd. With his hair slicked back and unshaved, he was almost unrecognisable as the Count who'd signed up the day before.
~**~
Why was Thomas out already? Geoffrey wondered. Perhaps there was some problem? He listened as the man began to speak.
"Hear me! I introduce to you a man I know well - I met him hunting in Switzerland, that most beautiful of countries - he drank me under the table at a feast that night and I've been his herald ever since!" The crowd cheered, and Thomas grinned. "I give you.Count Thomas of Bavaria!"
Cheers and applause greeted the figure who walked into the ring. They were dressed completely in black; even their face was covered. Although of a similar build to Thomas, he was acting as herald. Geoffrey's jaw dropped as realisation hit him - *that's* what she was hiding!
~**~
Ismene weighed the sword in her hand as she circled her opponent. Thomas was right - he was only a few inches taller than herself, and looked nervous - he was holding his blade defensively. Cat-quick she shifted her weight onto her front foot and slashed down - the attack was barely blocked and the knight had no time to retort as she cut sideways, then back and upwards, almost disarming him. He jumped back a few paces and seemed to steel himself, before coming back at her wildly. She parried his blows with little difficulty and thrust back, unbalancing him. It was a one-sided fight, and when Ismene finally tripped him so he fell onto his backside, he yielded before the question was properly out of her mouth.
She bowed to the crowd, making them applaud even louder, and hurried off as the booing began for the fallen knight.
"That was great!" Thomas enthused as she handed him back the sword.
"You mean it was easy!" Ismene was barely out of breath.
"Well it doesn't matter - I won a cartload on you"
"Great, you can buy me a drink!"
~**~
Geoffrey was forced to hurry off to the joust before Thomas left the ring, but what he'd seen was on his mind all through Villeux's event. Wat and Roland couldn't get through to him - he just looked at them dazedly when they spoke and they thought he was either mad or had just found a king's ransom. Villeux won quickly, but it wasn't until a victory lap of the stadium and a long soliloquy from his herald that the knight allowed said man to leave. Geoffrey went straight to the sword-on-foot ring, where he asked a peasant who had won the previous fight.
"Count Thomas!" the peasant grinned. "I might have a flutter on him next time, if you know what I mean?"
Geoffrey just nodded - he was looking round for any sign of the pair, but couldn't see them by the stands or in the crowd.
*Where would I go if I were them?* he thought. Then he knew - Kate's.
~**~
"So I pushed him back, but he came at me again and I blocked him and turned and slashed." Thomas was acting out his victory for the blacksmith's benefit. "I tripped him and he was on the floor with my sword at his throat." he paused for dramatic effect. "and I asked him; 'do you yield?'"
"Did he?" Kate asked, wide-eyed.
"Of course! He yielded and I."
"You're not a Count!" a breathless Geoffrey appeared at the tent entrance, looking wild, coat-tails catching up with him a moment later. He strode into the forge and took Ismene roughly by the shoulders, but he was grinning. "You darling girl, you fooled them all!"
"What the.Geoff!" Kate exclaimed. "What are you on about?!" She looked from her tall friend to Thomas, whose expression was one approaching fear. "Thomas?"
"You fought." Geoffrey was still intent on Ismene. "He's your herald, not a Count." he paused, breathing hard from his run over, remembering how Will Thatcher had pulled practically the same stunt. "You forged your papers.it's wonderful!"
"WHAT?!" Kate exploded, shoving Thomas away from her side. "You're not a Count? You *lied* to me?!"
"I.erm.yes." Kate glared at him; tears came to her eyes and she stormed out of the tent. Ismene, her heart beating wildly, desperately wanted to be anywhere else - they'd been discovered - it was all over before it had really begun. She broke free of Geoffrey's grasp and hurried out of the forge in the opposite direction to Kate.
"Does everyone know?" Thomas asked after a few moments' silence in which he and Geoffrey just stared at each other.
"No." Geoff thought. ".unless anyone else would have recognised you as a Count introducing himself?"
"No." Thomas looked terrible. "Do you think Kate'll forgive me?"
"You lied to her. I don't know.I like you Thomas, but if you hurt her I'll kill you."
Thomas nodded. "I'd better find her. Go and look for Ismene - if she thinks we've been discovered she might high-tail it out of here."
~**~
Well, that's that for another chapter. Mistress of the Pen: thanks for your review! I've actually finished this fic but was waiting to see if people liked it before posting the whole thing. My poor frail ego.
Anyway, please excuse all historical inaccuracies (I'm sure there are many) and bear in mind I've not seen the film for a while so I apologise for anything out of character. Until next time.R&R!
The first day of the tournament dawned bright and clear, and Ismene hurried down to the lists to see who she had been drawn against. Along with a dozen or so other squires she stood on tiptoe to see properly - 16 knights were in the first round of the sword-on-foot, the colours on their bright plaques clashing as they hung from poles behind the judges' table. Thomas's emblem - a black lion on a grey background - hung beside that of a red rose; the sign of the House of Lancashire. Wondering who the knight was, she jumped when someone grabbed her shoulders.
"Thomas!"
"Morning - who're you up against?"
"Lancashire"
"Oh.isn't he that scrawny one? I think I saw him yesterday - didn't look like he could hold a sword very well."
"I hope so" Ismene said. She looked back at the lists. Villeux's joust was near the start of the tournament, as was her fight. She and Thomas began to walk back to the inn.
"Have you prepared everything?"
"Certainly. Your mail's polished, the outfit looks pretty good, and I've sharpened your sword. Is there anything else?"
"I don't think so.what time am I on?"
"Yours is the second fight, so about 10 o'clock"
They had three hours to kill, and spent the time in a state of nervous agitation. They had no-one to talk to except each other - their only friends at the tournament were no doubt readying Count Villeux for the joust, and Kate was busy making last-minute bits of armour. Even the bartender was nowhere to be seen. As it neared 9 o'clock, Ismene and Thomas retired to their rooms to get ready.
Ismene pulled on black breeches, a tight leather jerkin over which she donned her mail, and a black shirt with her emblem emblazoned on the breast which covered this completely. Soft shoes allowed her quick movement, which she relied upon to make up for her lack of strength. She met Thomas in the hallway - he was dressed exactly the same, the only difference being the sword at his hip.
They wandered down to the swordfight ring, pushing through the scores of peasants and townsfolk who'd turned out for the occasion. The nobles sat in raised boxes to one side of the ring where they would gain the best view of the show. Although the joust was by far the most popular event, there was still a large crowd, and Ismene felt more than nervous.
~**~
Geoffrey was expected by his lord shortly, but he'd stopped off at the sword ring to here Ismene speak. He'd found out when Count Thomas was fighting just so he could see her oratory skills in action - it was unfortunate Villeux was on at the same time - he wouldn't be able to talk to her afterwards.
The first fight ended with one knight on the floor, a blade at his throat, the crowd going wild with the anticipation of blood. A knight with a green emblem was declared the victor, and he hauled his opponent to his feet so they could walk off together, chatting sportingly.
~**~
Under the shadows of the stand, Thomas took off his sword belt whilst Ismene pulled on a black mask - it was like a balaclava, covering all her face except for the eyes. Black mesh covered her mouth and nose, obscuring them but allowing her to breathe. It was unusual to have her face covered, but the crowd would take it for a gimmick. Her hair was caught up tightly and the clothes hid her form so well she could have passed easily for Thomas. He handed her the sword, winked, and ran out to the applause of the crowd. With his hair slicked back and unshaved, he was almost unrecognisable as the Count who'd signed up the day before.
~**~
Why was Thomas out already? Geoffrey wondered. Perhaps there was some problem? He listened as the man began to speak.
"Hear me! I introduce to you a man I know well - I met him hunting in Switzerland, that most beautiful of countries - he drank me under the table at a feast that night and I've been his herald ever since!" The crowd cheered, and Thomas grinned. "I give you.Count Thomas of Bavaria!"
Cheers and applause greeted the figure who walked into the ring. They were dressed completely in black; even their face was covered. Although of a similar build to Thomas, he was acting as herald. Geoffrey's jaw dropped as realisation hit him - *that's* what she was hiding!
~**~
Ismene weighed the sword in her hand as she circled her opponent. Thomas was right - he was only a few inches taller than herself, and looked nervous - he was holding his blade defensively. Cat-quick she shifted her weight onto her front foot and slashed down - the attack was barely blocked and the knight had no time to retort as she cut sideways, then back and upwards, almost disarming him. He jumped back a few paces and seemed to steel himself, before coming back at her wildly. She parried his blows with little difficulty and thrust back, unbalancing him. It was a one-sided fight, and when Ismene finally tripped him so he fell onto his backside, he yielded before the question was properly out of her mouth.
She bowed to the crowd, making them applaud even louder, and hurried off as the booing began for the fallen knight.
"That was great!" Thomas enthused as she handed him back the sword.
"You mean it was easy!" Ismene was barely out of breath.
"Well it doesn't matter - I won a cartload on you"
"Great, you can buy me a drink!"
~**~
Geoffrey was forced to hurry off to the joust before Thomas left the ring, but what he'd seen was on his mind all through Villeux's event. Wat and Roland couldn't get through to him - he just looked at them dazedly when they spoke and they thought he was either mad or had just found a king's ransom. Villeux won quickly, but it wasn't until a victory lap of the stadium and a long soliloquy from his herald that the knight allowed said man to leave. Geoffrey went straight to the sword-on-foot ring, where he asked a peasant who had won the previous fight.
"Count Thomas!" the peasant grinned. "I might have a flutter on him next time, if you know what I mean?"
Geoffrey just nodded - he was looking round for any sign of the pair, but couldn't see them by the stands or in the crowd.
*Where would I go if I were them?* he thought. Then he knew - Kate's.
~**~
"So I pushed him back, but he came at me again and I blocked him and turned and slashed." Thomas was acting out his victory for the blacksmith's benefit. "I tripped him and he was on the floor with my sword at his throat." he paused for dramatic effect. "and I asked him; 'do you yield?'"
"Did he?" Kate asked, wide-eyed.
"Of course! He yielded and I."
"You're not a Count!" a breathless Geoffrey appeared at the tent entrance, looking wild, coat-tails catching up with him a moment later. He strode into the forge and took Ismene roughly by the shoulders, but he was grinning. "You darling girl, you fooled them all!"
"What the.Geoff!" Kate exclaimed. "What are you on about?!" She looked from her tall friend to Thomas, whose expression was one approaching fear. "Thomas?"
"You fought." Geoffrey was still intent on Ismene. "He's your herald, not a Count." he paused, breathing hard from his run over, remembering how Will Thatcher had pulled practically the same stunt. "You forged your papers.it's wonderful!"
"WHAT?!" Kate exploded, shoving Thomas away from her side. "You're not a Count? You *lied* to me?!"
"I.erm.yes." Kate glared at him; tears came to her eyes and she stormed out of the tent. Ismene, her heart beating wildly, desperately wanted to be anywhere else - they'd been discovered - it was all over before it had really begun. She broke free of Geoffrey's grasp and hurried out of the forge in the opposite direction to Kate.
"Does everyone know?" Thomas asked after a few moments' silence in which he and Geoffrey just stared at each other.
"No." Geoff thought. ".unless anyone else would have recognised you as a Count introducing himself?"
"No." Thomas looked terrible. "Do you think Kate'll forgive me?"
"You lied to her. I don't know.I like you Thomas, but if you hurt her I'll kill you."
Thomas nodded. "I'd better find her. Go and look for Ismene - if she thinks we've been discovered she might high-tail it out of here."
~**~
Well, that's that for another chapter. Mistress of the Pen: thanks for your review! I've actually finished this fic but was waiting to see if people liked it before posting the whole thing. My poor frail ego.
Anyway, please excuse all historical inaccuracies (I'm sure there are many) and bear in mind I've not seen the film for a while so I apologise for anything out of character. Until next time.R&R!