Thanks to Robin for beta reading for me. I hope you all enjoy. Char :-)
ONCE UPON A TIME: PART 3:
It was in Richard's nineteenth year, that a summons was received which troubled Lord Bruce. King James was summoning all the knights to Gotham. Bruce would have to take his eldest two sons with him. It was with a heavy heart that Lord Wayne led his sons from their home toward Gotham
Alfred moved toward young Timothy who watched forlornly as his father and brothers rode away from their home. He placed his hand around the boy's shoulder. "One day 'Sir' Timothy will ride off as well."
Timothy smiled as he looked up at his uncle. "But until then, 'Squire Timothy'," he said mocking his brothers' title for him, "stays at home."
"Well, we need a young knight protecting our castle. And I suppose that's your job until their return."
"I can handle that," Timothy replied with a smile.
"I never doubted that you could," Alfred replied as they turned and walked back toward Castle Wayne.
Richard and Jason mingled with the other young knights in the courtyard of the king. There were more people and excitement here than the two young knights had seen in many many years.
"Richard, look at all this," Jason said excitedly.
"I see brother. I just don't know what to do first."
Jason smiled at his older brother as he inclined his head to the left, "I think that's a good place to start."
Richard looked in the direction Jason indicated and saw three young ladies walking toward the fountain. It was the red-headed beauty in the center of the trio that caught his eye. He felt as if he couldn't breathe. He had never seen anything as beautiful as she was. Her porcelain skin, her emerald eyes she was perfect.
Jason laughed as he placed his arm around his brother's shoulder. "Richard. Richard! Would you like to move?" he continued to laugh as he waved his other hand in front of his brother's face.
"What?" Richard said, as if coming out of a dream.
"Move? Closer to the ladies."
"Yes," Richard said with a smile.
"I think you need to work on your conversation skills on the way over," Jason laughed as they headed toward the fountain.
As the brothers walked toward the fountain, the three girls saw their approach and giggled something to one another.
"Can we help you with anything, mi'ladies?" Jason began as he approached smiling at the three giggling young girls.
"Excuse my brother's rashness," Richard began as he stared intently at the beautiful red head.
Jason noticed which of the three had caught his brother's eye. There was no doubt, she was the most beautiful of the three. Then he noticed the taller of the two blondes was smiling at him.
"My brother also forgot his manners," Richard continued. "I am Sir Richard of Wayne and this is my brother Sir Jason."
The red head held her hand out to him in a graceful manner. Cautiously he took it, and gently brushed his lips against her fingers. He took in the soft floral scents of her as he did.
"We are pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Barbara, daughter of King James and these are my ladies, Dinah and Stephanie."
For the second time in a few short minutes, Richard felt as if he wasn't breathing. The Princess. The King's only child. He and Jason were both aware that part of the reason all the young knights of the realm had been summoned to Gotham was because the king was seeking to introduce his daughter to the eligible young nobles. Yet, he and Jason had met her on their own. And ... she was ... perfect.
Immediately, Richard bowed before her, her hand still in his. She smiled at his gallantry and his handsome features.
"Will you be at the celebrations in the Great Hall this evening?" she boldly asked him.
"Yes, Your Highness," he replied as he smiled at her.
"Good. We would like to see you there."
"And you my Lady Dinah?" Jason asked the blonde girl as he took her hand in his.
"Perhaps," she said with a smile.
Richard and Jason were enjoying themselves when Richard spotted their father. The Duke motioned for them to come to him. "Your Highness, Ladies, our father needs us. We will see you tonight."
With a courtly bow, the young knights took their leave of the ladies. Princess Barbara followed them with her eyes. At least, she followed the eldest of the two knights.
"Stephanie, I do believe that our Princess is infatuated with the young knight wearing the totem of the Bat."
"Which one?" the youngest of the three girls asked her older sister.
"Sir Richard. Our Princess didn't see Sir Jason," Dinah laughed. She was happy at that too, because it was Sir Jason that intrigued her.
Barbara blushed at her friend's comment and started for the castle. She stopped, glancing back at the dark haired youth who had captured her fancy.
Bruce paced around their quarters as his sons watched him. He had argued with the King at the Council meeting and was still angry about it. Alfred had told him to mind his tongue, but Lord Bruce had a hard time doing so.
"His border policies are completely inept. He has absolutely no security from the Picts to the north. The border is unpatrolled. And if I make a suggestion, he is intent on doing the opposite."
Richard looked up, daring to speak, "Why Father?"
Jason rolled his eyes as his brother broached the subject. They all knew their father and the king had problems, but they never questioned why.
Bruce stopped and looked at his eldest son. Crossing the room, he placed his hand on his son's shoulder. "Many years ago, the king and I had a 'disagreement' regarding a criminal's punishment. It affected my status. When we return home, I'll tell you more about it. Hopefully, the king's disdain for me will not affect the two of you."
Richard and Jason looked at each other. Affect them? How? They knew their father, and trusted his judgment. If the king disagreed with their father, then the king must be wrong.
"Father, we're loyal to the king, but our first loyalty is always to you and our family," Richard replied as Jason stood nodding his agreement.
Lord Bruce smiled at his sons. "You two make me very proud."
"We met the Princess today Father," Jason stated, somewhat changing the somber direction of their conversation.
"Indeed," Bruce said as he raised an eyebrow at his son's statement. "And what did you think of the fair princess?"
Jason smiled as he looked at Richard. His brother was intently watching him, waiting for his response. "She is certainly beautiful father. I think Richard would agree with that. BUT, there is another I'm more interested in. One of the Princess' ladies in waiting."
Bruce smiled. Yes, ladies in waiting would be much better suited for his sons than King James' daughter.
Richard and Jason enjoyed the celebrations at the Great Hall. Early in the evening, they sought out and found the princess and her ladies. Sir Richard happily monopolized Princess Barbara's evening until it was almost time for the meal. They danced and they talked and they laughed. And they were happier than they ever remembered being.
King James had been occupied with his nobles. It was rather late in the evening when he spied his daughter with the raven haired young knight. The king watched them carefully from the moment he found them in the crowd. When the young man turned, he saw the symbol of the Bat on his dark blue tunic. To King James, that would not do. He started walking towards the young couple.
"Barbara, my dear," the King began as he approached.
"Father," she said sweetly as she kissed him on the cheek.
Richard turned his head to the king. He had never personally met King James before. His stomach was fluttering. He bowed low before his liege lord before standing again. He waited for the king to speak to him.
"Have you been enjoying yourself daughter?"
"Very much, father," she replied with a twinkle in her eyes. "Have you met Sir Richard, father?" she asked indicating her young knight.
The king turned toward Richard, "You're one of Lord Wayne's sons?"
"Yes Your Grace."
"Hm, yes. Well. Daughter, I think you should spend some time becoming acquainted with some of the other young knights," King James said as he gently placed his arm around his daughter and led her away. "We have a guest from Gaul, Sir Jean-Paul of Azrael."
"The Gaul heir? He's here? Father, you hadn't told me you had invited him," she said as they walked into the crowd.
From the alcove, a shadowy figure
intently watched the unfolding events involving
the king and the young knight.
Forlornly, Richard watched as she disappeared into the crowd away from him. He felt as if the king didn't want him near the princess. Was it his father's problems with the king? He looked about the room his brother was entertaining Lady Dinah with his wild stories of supposed knightly quests; his father was in a group of nobles and here he stood alone.
Early the next morning, the brothers escaped the retinue of young knights and their father's watchful gaze sneaking outside the City gates. Only a shadowy figure seemed to see them, and followed the Wayne heirs.
Making their way along the river's edge, they found a secluded spot. With mischief in their eyes, the brothers quickly went for a swim.
"Are we having to cool ourselves off from thinking of the princess, brother?" Jason asked with a wicked grin.
Richard splashed his brother, "If you'll concentrate on Lady Dinah, you'll be fine. Leave the princess to me."
"Everyone was leaving the princess to you last night, until the king interrupted you."
"You saw?" Richard said with a sigh as he shook water from his coal black hair.
"Yes, I noticed. Only a blind man wouldn't have noticed," Jason replied splashing his brother back.
"I'm afraid "
"Of what? You've never been afraid of anything."
"I'm afraid the king won't allow Barbara and I to "
"Barbara? Just, Barbara? No Princess, highness? You were moving rather fast last night weren't you?" Richard rolled his eyes as he started out of the river. Jason followed him anxiously awaiting his answer. "Well?" Jason nagged as they started dressing.
"What well?"
Jason laughed a loud hearty laughter. Richard shook his head, but ended up joining his brother's good spirits. He stopped as he started looking through the brushes near the bank.
"Have you seen my tunic?" Richard called.
"You had it with your other clothes. Why?"
Richard walked from behind the brush, "It's gone. An animal must've gotten it."
"That's the bat tunic. Father is NOT going to be happy."
"I know! Let's get back. If Father asks, I spilled something on it or ripped it. Uncle Alfred will help me when we return home, he'll get me another."
Jason shook his head. They all knew they could never fool their father, but yet they always continued to try.
The brothers headed back toward the city gates.
"The Picts have been raiding our borders, raiding Wayne lands. And they will continue and will come closer and closer to Gotham if we don't strike out and stop them now," Bruce, Lord Wayne, forcefully stated as his fist slammed down on the meeting table.
"Your men should be able to patrol your lands, Lord Wayne," King James replied.
"My men are already spread thin, your grace. Wayne lands are your northern most border. You need to supply additional men to protect our boundaries and "
"Silence! I've heard enough. If you need extra men to patrol my northern borders, then take your two sons and go."
Bruce's blue eyes glared at the king as his anger grew.
"These Picts are savages, no?" the young Gaul asked. "No real threat to you, your grace."
'They are a VERY real threat. The fact that they are savages makes them MORE of a threat," Bruce roared.
"Enough. Lord Wayne it is time that you leave Gotham."
Bruce's eyes bored into the king before he turned and stormed from the council's chamber. Stomping through the halls toward his chambers, he felt frustrated. Ten years that man had held a grudge against him for ten years. And now, he was letting that grudge affect the safety of the kingdom.
The Dark Knight would do what he could to protect his lands. And if it protected the rest of the kingdom, then so be it. Although the thought of helping a king who didn't want to help himself angered him.
Bruce had tried, these many years, to get past his differences with King James. Hadn't it been he who had been more wronged? Yet, he tried for Selina, for Alfred, for his sons. Nothing he did seemed to please or appease the king. And, while he never would admit it, it bothered him to have fallen from the king's favorite young knight to the noble the king barely tolerated.
Opening the large oak door, he entered his chambers to see his eldest son dressing again. "Richard, why are you changing?"
Richard and Jason turned wide blue eyes toward their father. Taking a deep breath, Richard calmly tried to reply, "I ripped my tunic. I'll have it repaired when we return home father."
"Which will be today," Bruce added as he walked further into the room.
The brothers turned to face each other. "Today, Father?" Jason asked. "But the jousting tournament doesn't start until "
"The king has 'requested' that we return home and ensure the safety of our northern borders."
Richard stood there forlornly. He had hoped to use the tournament as a way of gaining more favor with the king's daughter, and perhaps, with the king himself. There was an ache in his chest that he was unfamiliar with as he and his brother started gathering their belongings for the trip back to Castle Wayne.
A scream echoed throughout the halls of the great castle of the king of Gotham. A scream that tore through the fabric of the black night. There was a great commotion in the castle. Soon, the young Gaul led out a contingent of the king's guards into the night. They were riding hard and fast, and they were heading north.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
