† Even In Death †
THIS IS A STORY about love, lust, jealousy, and betrayal, and how our choices and actions echo throughout eternity. Even the smallest decisions can carry great consequences, as I myself discovered long ago.
I was born in the year 1443 in the land known as Transylvania, to parents of noble birth. Katrina Vorkovus was the name I was given, my surname having great power and influence in those years.
My mother had died when I was born, leaving just my father and I to keep each other company. My father, whom I loved and respected more than any man in the world, was a member of the Knights of the Holy Order. Nearly all respectable men of noble birth in those days belonged to the Holy Order.
It was through this Order that my destiny was to unfold, good or evil as it was to be.
My story starts in the winter of my fourteenth year, in one of the worst storms Transylvania had seen in years. My father and other knights of the Order were returning from a battle that had taken many of their men, but had ended in victory for them. Victory for God was all that mattered to them, and the men that had died were considered noble sacrifices to the cause.
I heard the men entering the castle early that morning, seeking a refuge from the storm until it passed. I threw on my riding clothes along with my warm fur-lined coat and hurried down eagerly to greet my father.
He stood there in the great entrance hall of the castle, snow blowing in the large doors violently as more knights continued in from the storm. Spotting me heading toward him, he smiled and opened his arms to embrace me.
"Safe trip father?," I asked smiling as he gave me a strong hug.
"Not for all of us, I fear," he replied looking around at the wounded men. "We lost many, but in the end we were victorious."
He released me, still smiling. "Now, I'll need you to see to the wounded. There are many who will need help as quickly as possible, and I need you to ensure that they get it."
"Of course, father." His smile returned to the serious look that he so often wore, and he nodded to me. Not wasting any time, I immediately called for the servants to help me in preparing a place for the wounded men.
It was as my father had said, there were even more wounded than I had imagined, and many who were beyond helping. The sight of wounded and dying men was nothing new or frightening to me. Since childhood I had aided the wounded that came in from nearby battles, and I could stand any sight that was put before me.
This day was no different, as I hurried back and forth, assuring that those who most needed help got it quickly.
It was at this point that I noticed a man sitting alone and unattended near the far wall of the room. He looked to be in his mid-twenties, with long dark hair and a handsome face. He was clearly nobility, judging from his armor and his posture. His left arm was badly cut, and I could tell that he had lost a large amount of blood. He looked up at me from across the room, and for a moment we merely stared at each other. I then realized my foolishness, and gathering a few clean bandages I made my way over to help him.
His eyes never left me as I approached him, and when I reached him he spoke. "There are others that need tending to worse than I," he said, looking down at his arm. "This is only a scratch."
I examined his arm and shook my head. "I think you are one of those who needs tending to. If this isn't properly bandaged and cared for, you could loose an arm."
He did not reply, but watched me intently as I cleaned and dressed the wound.
"There," I said, finishing. "Now you should be able to keep that arm, if you're careful." He smiled for the first time, and I felt my heartbeat speed up slightly.
"I thank you, my lady. And I would like to keep my arm, I'd be at a great disadvantage on the battlefield without it," he said, grinning. I smiled, and as I turned away he asked my name. "Katrina," I replied with a slight smile, then walked away to the next wounded knight. It was only much later that I would learn the true effect that meeting this man would have on my life and on the lives of others.
The rest of the day passed quickly and uneventfully. The storm still raged outside, making it impossible for travel. Evening came and the great dining hall was made ready for our guests. I put on one of my finest dresses and made my way to the dining hall, taking my seat to the side of my father as I always did.
Once the seats at the long table were filled, my father rose and gave a victory speech as was the custom. As he spoke I glanced down the table and noticed the young lord whose arm I had tended earlier. He was dressed very nicely in black, and his dark hair was pulled back neatly behind his head.
He was speaking with another young knight who sat beside him, and a very interesting pair they were. Just then he looked up and our eyes met. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I lowered my eyes to the table, and then felt very foolish.
My father's speech ended to applause, and the meal went by quickly. After everyone had finished the men, mostly lords, began to talk about wars and the previous battle. I excused myself and made my way out of the dining hall. I was not the only one to do so; it seemed that a few of the men were too tired for conversation and were retiring for the night.
I made my way up the stairs and in the direction of my chamber in the north tower. As I walked along a quiet and deserted passageway, I noticed a door that had been left open. It lead to the old armory, which contained weapons that had been in my family for years.
The door was usually kept closed, and as a drew nearer I could hear voices somewhere inside.
I could tell that one of these belonged to my father. He was speaking to another man, but I could not tell who. I quietly made my way inside, hiding behind a large weapon case as the voices came nearer. As he spoke I realized who the other voice belonged to….the young lord.
My father seemed to be showing him around the armory, and they were caught up in conversation about weaponry. And then the lord said something that caught my attention.
"You have a daughter I believe?," he asked my father. "Yes, Katrina," my father replied. "Have the two of you met?"
"Yes, I believe so. Your daughter is very talented in caring for the wounded."
My father laughed. "So she is. She is very precious to me, my only living child," he explained.
There was a silence, and then my father spoke again, this time seriously. "Soon, my daughter will be old enough to marry. She will need a good husband; a man that is well respected and kind to her." He paused and then added, "If it would please you, I offer you her hand in marriage."
For a moment I could do nothing, not even breathe. How could my father offer me so easily to a man I did not even know? It was the last thing I would expect him to do, and I was infuriated and to the point of tears at the same time. I waited for the other man's reply, and then it came.
"She is a very beautiful girl, and I am certain that she will be an excellent wife. I accept your offer, Lord Vorkovus, and I am extremely grateful for it."
My entire body felt like it was numb, and for a moment I considered stepping out from my hiding place and begging my father to take back his offer. But I knew it was done, and it could not be taken back.
"Katrina has retired for the evening, but tomorrow I will formally introduce the two of you," my father said.
THIS IS A STORY about love, lust, jealousy, and betrayal, and how our choices and actions echo throughout eternity. Even the smallest decisions can carry great consequences, as I myself discovered long ago.
I was born in the year 1443 in the land known as Transylvania, to parents of noble birth. Katrina Vorkovus was the name I was given, my surname having great power and influence in those years.
My mother had died when I was born, leaving just my father and I to keep each other company. My father, whom I loved and respected more than any man in the world, was a member of the Knights of the Holy Order. Nearly all respectable men of noble birth in those days belonged to the Holy Order.
It was through this Order that my destiny was to unfold, good or evil as it was to be.
My story starts in the winter of my fourteenth year, in one of the worst storms Transylvania had seen in years. My father and other knights of the Order were returning from a battle that had taken many of their men, but had ended in victory for them. Victory for God was all that mattered to them, and the men that had died were considered noble sacrifices to the cause.
I heard the men entering the castle early that morning, seeking a refuge from the storm until it passed. I threw on my riding clothes along with my warm fur-lined coat and hurried down eagerly to greet my father.
He stood there in the great entrance hall of the castle, snow blowing in the large doors violently as more knights continued in from the storm. Spotting me heading toward him, he smiled and opened his arms to embrace me.
"Safe trip father?," I asked smiling as he gave me a strong hug.
"Not for all of us, I fear," he replied looking around at the wounded men. "We lost many, but in the end we were victorious."
He released me, still smiling. "Now, I'll need you to see to the wounded. There are many who will need help as quickly as possible, and I need you to ensure that they get it."
"Of course, father." His smile returned to the serious look that he so often wore, and he nodded to me. Not wasting any time, I immediately called for the servants to help me in preparing a place for the wounded men.
It was as my father had said, there were even more wounded than I had imagined, and many who were beyond helping. The sight of wounded and dying men was nothing new or frightening to me. Since childhood I had aided the wounded that came in from nearby battles, and I could stand any sight that was put before me.
This day was no different, as I hurried back and forth, assuring that those who most needed help got it quickly.
It was at this point that I noticed a man sitting alone and unattended near the far wall of the room. He looked to be in his mid-twenties, with long dark hair and a handsome face. He was clearly nobility, judging from his armor and his posture. His left arm was badly cut, and I could tell that he had lost a large amount of blood. He looked up at me from across the room, and for a moment we merely stared at each other. I then realized my foolishness, and gathering a few clean bandages I made my way over to help him.
His eyes never left me as I approached him, and when I reached him he spoke. "There are others that need tending to worse than I," he said, looking down at his arm. "This is only a scratch."
I examined his arm and shook my head. "I think you are one of those who needs tending to. If this isn't properly bandaged and cared for, you could loose an arm."
He did not reply, but watched me intently as I cleaned and dressed the wound.
"There," I said, finishing. "Now you should be able to keep that arm, if you're careful." He smiled for the first time, and I felt my heartbeat speed up slightly.
"I thank you, my lady. And I would like to keep my arm, I'd be at a great disadvantage on the battlefield without it," he said, grinning. I smiled, and as I turned away he asked my name. "Katrina," I replied with a slight smile, then walked away to the next wounded knight. It was only much later that I would learn the true effect that meeting this man would have on my life and on the lives of others.
The rest of the day passed quickly and uneventfully. The storm still raged outside, making it impossible for travel. Evening came and the great dining hall was made ready for our guests. I put on one of my finest dresses and made my way to the dining hall, taking my seat to the side of my father as I always did.
Once the seats at the long table were filled, my father rose and gave a victory speech as was the custom. As he spoke I glanced down the table and noticed the young lord whose arm I had tended earlier. He was dressed very nicely in black, and his dark hair was pulled back neatly behind his head.
He was speaking with another young knight who sat beside him, and a very interesting pair they were. Just then he looked up and our eyes met. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I lowered my eyes to the table, and then felt very foolish.
My father's speech ended to applause, and the meal went by quickly. After everyone had finished the men, mostly lords, began to talk about wars and the previous battle. I excused myself and made my way out of the dining hall. I was not the only one to do so; it seemed that a few of the men were too tired for conversation and were retiring for the night.
I made my way up the stairs and in the direction of my chamber in the north tower. As I walked along a quiet and deserted passageway, I noticed a door that had been left open. It lead to the old armory, which contained weapons that had been in my family for years.
The door was usually kept closed, and as a drew nearer I could hear voices somewhere inside.
I could tell that one of these belonged to my father. He was speaking to another man, but I could not tell who. I quietly made my way inside, hiding behind a large weapon case as the voices came nearer. As he spoke I realized who the other voice belonged to….the young lord.
My father seemed to be showing him around the armory, and they were caught up in conversation about weaponry. And then the lord said something that caught my attention.
"You have a daughter I believe?," he asked my father. "Yes, Katrina," my father replied. "Have the two of you met?"
"Yes, I believe so. Your daughter is very talented in caring for the wounded."
My father laughed. "So she is. She is very precious to me, my only living child," he explained.
There was a silence, and then my father spoke again, this time seriously. "Soon, my daughter will be old enough to marry. She will need a good husband; a man that is well respected and kind to her." He paused and then added, "If it would please you, I offer you her hand in marriage."
For a moment I could do nothing, not even breathe. How could my father offer me so easily to a man I did not even know? It was the last thing I would expect him to do, and I was infuriated and to the point of tears at the same time. I waited for the other man's reply, and then it came.
"She is a very beautiful girl, and I am certain that she will be an excellent wife. I accept your offer, Lord Vorkovus, and I am extremely grateful for it."
My entire body felt like it was numb, and for a moment I considered stepping out from my hiding place and begging my father to take back his offer. But I knew it was done, and it could not be taken back.
"Katrina has retired for the evening, but tomorrow I will formally introduce the two of you," my father said.
