Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended, fic is just for fun.
The final of the joust was the last event to be held the following day, which was lucky for Villeux had not returned home early that night. After dropping Ismene off at the inn he had gone on to a private party, consoling himself with wine after she refused to so much as kiss him goodnight. His squire now shook him awake.
"Sir? Sir!" Roland sighed as Villeux grumbled and turned over. "It's past lunchtime – you should be up."
"Go away!" Came the reply in French.
"What's he saying?" Wat asked, peering over Roland's shoulder.
"I don't know...Come on now sir." He pulled the bedcovers away and Villeux reluctantly opened his eyes. "Get some coffee" he told Wat, who hurried off to oblige.
"Mon Dieu" Villeux exclaimed, rubbing his head. "What happened?"
"Too much mead, I think. The joust's in just a few hours, you need to get up."
"Alright, alright!" The knight pushed away Roland's hands and sat up, swinging his legs out of bed. He groaned and stood slowly. "I am going to the privy."
"Right you are" Roland shook his head as his master disappeared. It would be his own fault if he lost today – stupidity had kept him out all night. Geoff had returned late too, and now Roland went back to the smaller tent they shared with Wat, only to find his friend had just woken and was getting dressed.
"Mornin' Geoff"
"Good morning Roland" Geoff smiled. "How does this beautiful day find you?"
"I'm fine...but its no beautiful day, its starting to rain outside – are you ok?"
"I'm wonderful!" he pulled on a shirt and sat down to put on some shoes. "Life is wonderful!"
Roland was a shrewd man. "Did something happen last night?"
"Maybe, maybe" Geoff remained cryptic. "How's our master? I heard him singing in the middle of the night..."
"He's hung-over, the silly beggar. Wat's gone for some coffee."
"I hope he's fine in time for the fight." Geoff said. "If he's not we can tie him to the horse and make him joust anyway."
Roland went back to tend to Villeux, leaving Geoff to his happy thoughts.
~**~
He wasn't the only one who woke up feeling good – for the second time in as many days Thomas awoke with Kate's head on his chest, and sighed in contentment as she stirred. He stroked her hair, thinking about what they would do after the tournament.
He wanted to stay with her, but would she go to London? His thoughts were cut short as she pushed herself up onto her forearms to kiss him sleepily, and it wasn't until the joust final was about to begin that they finally hurried out of bed.
They arrived, breathless, at the stadium and were allowed into the knight's private area thanks to Wat threatening the guards. He and Roland were busy saddling up the horse, but Geoffrey was nowhere to be seen.
"He's out back, I think" Roland told Kate, motioning behind the stand. She pulled Thomas with her to say hello to him, but stopped dead when she turned the corner. Thomas bumped into her, and she shoved him backwards before he could see anything.
"What?" he demanded, trying to push past her.
"Nothing, come on!" She dragged him away, refusing to tell him that she'd just seen Geoff and Ismene locked in a passionate embrace, oblivious to all around them.
A minute later they appeared, but before anyone could ask where they'd been Geoff was called by Villeux, and ran out into the ring.
"You and Geoff?" Kate had gone to stand next to the other woman, and now whispered the question whilst everyone else was distracted.
"Huh?" Ismene looked confused.
"I saw you just then..."
"Oh..." she blushed. "Yeah..."
"I'm happy for you" Kate smiled reassuringly.
"I'm happy for you too." Ismene smiled back, and they turned to watch the show.
~**~
On the first run Villeux took a glancing blow, but was unhurt and quickly ready with his next lance. This time he hit his opponent, but this was also not a square contact, and the tension grew as the joust looked increasingly even. Villeux once again called for his longer lance, and this time managed to wound his opponent, who clutched at his arm and had it bandaged for support before the fourth run. Villeux paraded round the ring while he waited, blowing kisses to the crowd. When the other knight was ready, the horses charged once again.
"He's winning!" Roland cried as Villeux scored another direct hit. There was just once run left now and the Frenchman was grinning as he took his lance and closed his visor for the last time.
The stallions thundered towards each other, the brightly-painted lances lowered, and the crowd gasped as Villeux, so far the victor, was knocked backwards and almost unhorsed. His steed slowed to a trot and Wat and Roland ran out to se if he was hurt.
"Lord!" Villeux exclaimed. "He almost got me!"
"It'll go on points now!" Roland said, leading the horse back to where Geoff and the others waiting. The crowd had begun to chant; some for the Frenchman and some for his Scottish opponent. In the knight's private area, their entourages were silent, until a flag was raised above the hut in which the judges sat protected from the elements.
"We've won! We've won!" Roland started jumping around and Villeux spurred his horse forward to receive his prize. Thomas and Kate hugged, and Geoff kissed Ismene, drawing a curious glance from Wat, who was grabbed by Roland and forced to dance about before he could remark on what he'd seen.
"I can't believe it" Geoff said. "He's so damn lucky!"
"So are we – this means we get paid!" Roland grinned happily.
"We should celebrate" Wat said. "with drink!"
"As much as I hate to say it, you're right" Geoff took Ismene's hand. "I'm sure the Count won't mind if we slip off."
Villeux was indeed busy, graciously accepting gifts from his fans and praise from his lady admirers.
~**~
Ten minutes later found them firmly ensconced in an inn, drinking mead and talking of the fight. Soon however, the conversation turned to what they would do next. Now that the joust was over, they had little reason to stay at Oxford.
"Villeux should pay us well...I might buy myself a house down in Will's fiefdom"
"You already have a house there" Geoff observed.
"I mean a bigger one."
"I'll buy an inn, or two!" Wat mused. "Maybe a brewery!"
"How about you Thomas?" Kate asked. "What'll you do now?"
"I don't know...I want to set up shop in London, but it depends...What are you doing?"
"I'd quite like a smithy in the city" she said, taking his hand. Everyone else smiled at each other knowingly – it looked like they were in it together for the long haul.
"Are you still going to France?" Thomas asked Ismene when he realised that everyone was watching him.
"Yeah...I have to" she said. "For a while, anyway." She looked at Geoff a little sadly, but he put his arm round her shoulders.
"I don't know...it could be a nice holiday." He smiled, and Ismene narrowed her eyes.
"You'll come?"
"If you'll have me"
She reached out and pulled him down by the front of his shirt so she could kiss him, drawing a whistle from Roland and a cough of disgust from Wat.
"I think I will" she said.
~**~
That night Geoff, Roland and Wat were paid and discharged from Villeux's service. Over a week had passed since they'd left Will, and it would take them a few days' travel to return to his fiefdom. Guessing he'd had enough time alone with Jocelyn, they saw nothing wrong in going back.
Thomas and Ismene sat under the stars as they'd done so many times before – this could be the last chance they'd have to be alone for a long, long time.
"So you and Kate will stay in London?" Ismene began.
"Yeah, at my father's house, god willing, until we get a place of our own. We'll travel with you until then – unless you plan on seeing the city, that is?"
"No, I think the boys want to go home."
"What will you do?"
"Geoff says I'll be welcome at Will Thatcher's house. I think we'll stay there for a while until we sort out travel arrangements."
"Are you and Geoff serious?"
Ismene smiled. "I don't know...I hope so. I think he's really special."
"Well, I hope it works out. And I hope you find your father's legacy. Don't you wonder what it could be after all these years?"
"It could just be a few pennies. But then I wonder why they went to the trouble of tracking me down all the way over in England if its not something important. I guess I'll find out soon enough." She lay back on the grass. "I hope your business does well."
"Me too. It's weird – when we first met we were both penniless and friendless – now we have riches and lovers. We've come a long way."
"We have..." Ismene agreed. "...but I don't think our adventure's over just yet."
"Yours may not be – I look like I'm settling down!"
"Nonsense! I'll always be here to try and drag you into the unknown."
"I guess I can never resist" he laughed.
"Think of this as a breather then. I'll be back for you one day."
~**~
Kate spent the night packing up her equipment, and the next morning she harnessed her shire horse to the large cart and led it through the camp to the London road. Wat and Roland had their own horse and cart on which they sat, with Ismene and Geoff holding Plato and Orthos, letting the horses graze while they waited. Kate waved, and Thomas appeared grinning from behind Plato. He helped her up to the front of the cart and jumped up beside her.
"Is everything ready?" he asked.
"Yes, if you lot are."
"Let's be off then!" he called, and Wat jiggled the reins he held to make his chestnut mare walk on. Geoff and Ismene mounted and rode side-by-side behind Kate's cart, through the City of Oxford and out towards London. Will's land was south of the great city, and in two days they would leave Kate and Thomas to start a new life there. A further two days would bring them to the village, and Will's loyal herald and squires looked forward with joy to interrupting his honeymoon.
A/N: Well, what'd you think? Thanks to everyone who read this fic, I hope you enjoyed it – I *may* have another in the pipeline, if the muse descends. Be sure to check out some of my other stuff!
The final of the joust was the last event to be held the following day, which was lucky for Villeux had not returned home early that night. After dropping Ismene off at the inn he had gone on to a private party, consoling himself with wine after she refused to so much as kiss him goodnight. His squire now shook him awake.
"Sir? Sir!" Roland sighed as Villeux grumbled and turned over. "It's past lunchtime – you should be up."
"Go away!" Came the reply in French.
"What's he saying?" Wat asked, peering over Roland's shoulder.
"I don't know...Come on now sir." He pulled the bedcovers away and Villeux reluctantly opened his eyes. "Get some coffee" he told Wat, who hurried off to oblige.
"Mon Dieu" Villeux exclaimed, rubbing his head. "What happened?"
"Too much mead, I think. The joust's in just a few hours, you need to get up."
"Alright, alright!" The knight pushed away Roland's hands and sat up, swinging his legs out of bed. He groaned and stood slowly. "I am going to the privy."
"Right you are" Roland shook his head as his master disappeared. It would be his own fault if he lost today – stupidity had kept him out all night. Geoff had returned late too, and now Roland went back to the smaller tent they shared with Wat, only to find his friend had just woken and was getting dressed.
"Mornin' Geoff"
"Good morning Roland" Geoff smiled. "How does this beautiful day find you?"
"I'm fine...but its no beautiful day, its starting to rain outside – are you ok?"
"I'm wonderful!" he pulled on a shirt and sat down to put on some shoes. "Life is wonderful!"
Roland was a shrewd man. "Did something happen last night?"
"Maybe, maybe" Geoff remained cryptic. "How's our master? I heard him singing in the middle of the night..."
"He's hung-over, the silly beggar. Wat's gone for some coffee."
"I hope he's fine in time for the fight." Geoff said. "If he's not we can tie him to the horse and make him joust anyway."
Roland went back to tend to Villeux, leaving Geoff to his happy thoughts.
~**~
He wasn't the only one who woke up feeling good – for the second time in as many days Thomas awoke with Kate's head on his chest, and sighed in contentment as she stirred. He stroked her hair, thinking about what they would do after the tournament.
He wanted to stay with her, but would she go to London? His thoughts were cut short as she pushed herself up onto her forearms to kiss him sleepily, and it wasn't until the joust final was about to begin that they finally hurried out of bed.
They arrived, breathless, at the stadium and were allowed into the knight's private area thanks to Wat threatening the guards. He and Roland were busy saddling up the horse, but Geoffrey was nowhere to be seen.
"He's out back, I think" Roland told Kate, motioning behind the stand. She pulled Thomas with her to say hello to him, but stopped dead when she turned the corner. Thomas bumped into her, and she shoved him backwards before he could see anything.
"What?" he demanded, trying to push past her.
"Nothing, come on!" She dragged him away, refusing to tell him that she'd just seen Geoff and Ismene locked in a passionate embrace, oblivious to all around them.
A minute later they appeared, but before anyone could ask where they'd been Geoff was called by Villeux, and ran out into the ring.
"You and Geoff?" Kate had gone to stand next to the other woman, and now whispered the question whilst everyone else was distracted.
"Huh?" Ismene looked confused.
"I saw you just then..."
"Oh..." she blushed. "Yeah..."
"I'm happy for you" Kate smiled reassuringly.
"I'm happy for you too." Ismene smiled back, and they turned to watch the show.
~**~
On the first run Villeux took a glancing blow, but was unhurt and quickly ready with his next lance. This time he hit his opponent, but this was also not a square contact, and the tension grew as the joust looked increasingly even. Villeux once again called for his longer lance, and this time managed to wound his opponent, who clutched at his arm and had it bandaged for support before the fourth run. Villeux paraded round the ring while he waited, blowing kisses to the crowd. When the other knight was ready, the horses charged once again.
"He's winning!" Roland cried as Villeux scored another direct hit. There was just once run left now and the Frenchman was grinning as he took his lance and closed his visor for the last time.
The stallions thundered towards each other, the brightly-painted lances lowered, and the crowd gasped as Villeux, so far the victor, was knocked backwards and almost unhorsed. His steed slowed to a trot and Wat and Roland ran out to se if he was hurt.
"Lord!" Villeux exclaimed. "He almost got me!"
"It'll go on points now!" Roland said, leading the horse back to where Geoff and the others waiting. The crowd had begun to chant; some for the Frenchman and some for his Scottish opponent. In the knight's private area, their entourages were silent, until a flag was raised above the hut in which the judges sat protected from the elements.
"We've won! We've won!" Roland started jumping around and Villeux spurred his horse forward to receive his prize. Thomas and Kate hugged, and Geoff kissed Ismene, drawing a curious glance from Wat, who was grabbed by Roland and forced to dance about before he could remark on what he'd seen.
"I can't believe it" Geoff said. "He's so damn lucky!"
"So are we – this means we get paid!" Roland grinned happily.
"We should celebrate" Wat said. "with drink!"
"As much as I hate to say it, you're right" Geoff took Ismene's hand. "I'm sure the Count won't mind if we slip off."
Villeux was indeed busy, graciously accepting gifts from his fans and praise from his lady admirers.
~**~
Ten minutes later found them firmly ensconced in an inn, drinking mead and talking of the fight. Soon however, the conversation turned to what they would do next. Now that the joust was over, they had little reason to stay at Oxford.
"Villeux should pay us well...I might buy myself a house down in Will's fiefdom"
"You already have a house there" Geoff observed.
"I mean a bigger one."
"I'll buy an inn, or two!" Wat mused. "Maybe a brewery!"
"How about you Thomas?" Kate asked. "What'll you do now?"
"I don't know...I want to set up shop in London, but it depends...What are you doing?"
"I'd quite like a smithy in the city" she said, taking his hand. Everyone else smiled at each other knowingly – it looked like they were in it together for the long haul.
"Are you still going to France?" Thomas asked Ismene when he realised that everyone was watching him.
"Yeah...I have to" she said. "For a while, anyway." She looked at Geoff a little sadly, but he put his arm round her shoulders.
"I don't know...it could be a nice holiday." He smiled, and Ismene narrowed her eyes.
"You'll come?"
"If you'll have me"
She reached out and pulled him down by the front of his shirt so she could kiss him, drawing a whistle from Roland and a cough of disgust from Wat.
"I think I will" she said.
~**~
That night Geoff, Roland and Wat were paid and discharged from Villeux's service. Over a week had passed since they'd left Will, and it would take them a few days' travel to return to his fiefdom. Guessing he'd had enough time alone with Jocelyn, they saw nothing wrong in going back.
Thomas and Ismene sat under the stars as they'd done so many times before – this could be the last chance they'd have to be alone for a long, long time.
"So you and Kate will stay in London?" Ismene began.
"Yeah, at my father's house, god willing, until we get a place of our own. We'll travel with you until then – unless you plan on seeing the city, that is?"
"No, I think the boys want to go home."
"What will you do?"
"Geoff says I'll be welcome at Will Thatcher's house. I think we'll stay there for a while until we sort out travel arrangements."
"Are you and Geoff serious?"
Ismene smiled. "I don't know...I hope so. I think he's really special."
"Well, I hope it works out. And I hope you find your father's legacy. Don't you wonder what it could be after all these years?"
"It could just be a few pennies. But then I wonder why they went to the trouble of tracking me down all the way over in England if its not something important. I guess I'll find out soon enough." She lay back on the grass. "I hope your business does well."
"Me too. It's weird – when we first met we were both penniless and friendless – now we have riches and lovers. We've come a long way."
"We have..." Ismene agreed. "...but I don't think our adventure's over just yet."
"Yours may not be – I look like I'm settling down!"
"Nonsense! I'll always be here to try and drag you into the unknown."
"I guess I can never resist" he laughed.
"Think of this as a breather then. I'll be back for you one day."
~**~
Kate spent the night packing up her equipment, and the next morning she harnessed her shire horse to the large cart and led it through the camp to the London road. Wat and Roland had their own horse and cart on which they sat, with Ismene and Geoff holding Plato and Orthos, letting the horses graze while they waited. Kate waved, and Thomas appeared grinning from behind Plato. He helped her up to the front of the cart and jumped up beside her.
"Is everything ready?" he asked.
"Yes, if you lot are."
"Let's be off then!" he called, and Wat jiggled the reins he held to make his chestnut mare walk on. Geoff and Ismene mounted and rode side-by-side behind Kate's cart, through the City of Oxford and out towards London. Will's land was south of the great city, and in two days they would leave Kate and Thomas to start a new life there. A further two days would bring them to the village, and Will's loyal herald and squires looked forward with joy to interrupting his honeymoon.
A/N: Well, what'd you think? Thanks to everyone who read this fic, I hope you enjoyed it – I *may* have another in the pipeline, if the muse descends. Be sure to check out some of my other stuff!