*~ Disclaimer ~* I do not own any of the characters, language, plots, or locations from A Knight's Tale.

Someone else holds all rights to A Knight's Tale and this story is only created for pleasure, not profit.

Author's Note: This part ends the movie-verse. The next chapter is my own epilogue. Enjoy!

Harsh Truth and Crowning Glory

This was quite possibly one of the worst moments of his life. Chaucer had been the bearer of bad news in the past, even beyond his position as herald for William. There were even times where he relished bringing bad news, such as when Jocelyn would not be present for a tournament or some such thing. But now, his pleasure and paradise was over. Their charmed lives were coming to an end.

Will was talking nonstop as he entered the stable with Jocelyn. "Alive. Can you imagine? And I thought he was dead, which is mad because he was always so strong. Very strong. I remember… Geoff. Jocelyn. This day just gets better and better." Geoff could barely look at him, not only would he be delivering the bad news, he had to deliver it at the height of William's joy. He pointedly ignored that it was partly his arrival that had brought William such joy, most of the credit surely went to Jocelyn.

Finally it seemed that Roland could not take the gloom any longer. "Did somebody die?"

With a heavy heart, Geoff made himself say, "Sir Ulrich Van Liechtenstein."

It was the most painful thing in the world, watching William's face turn from overjoyed, to concerned, to disbelief. "What?" Geoff found that he could not speak, luckily, Jocelyn chose then to put her twopence in.

"Ademar followed you last night, to Cheapside. He says he saw your father." William's face became even more filled with fear and denial. Geoff had to tell him and he carefully let out the news.

"Will, they asked me for your patents. They're waiting for you in the lists. They're going to arrest you. A dozen royal guards. They'll put you in the stocks." The stocks, one of the worst punishments the guard had ever thought up. Geoff knew there was little worse than being handed over to the public mob.

William had an anguished look on his face. "Ah, but I face Ademar in five minutes time."

Geoff could nearly cry. Even in the face of danger, William could think of his upcoming challenge with his rival. "No, you forfeit. They've already marked it down." This information probably hurt William more than being discovered. He had never backed down before, and now he was being denied the chance to prove his worth, to his rival and to himself.

Roland spoke up, then. "Saddle the horses, they can arrest your baggage, not you." Everyone quickly began to put their things together, ignoring the fact that William had not moved until…

"Hold." Even now, they were under his influence, such was their respect for him, Geoff thought bitterly. William had truly won them over beyond reason, and Geoff listened as he spoke to Jocelyn. "So, what do you think? Now that you know what I am?"

Jocelyn looked at him with love in her eyes. "Oh, to know what you are, William, would take a lifetime. One I am most willing to give. But right now, you've got to run. There is nothing else to do. Run and I will run with you." Geoff could admit that it was a beautiful idea, romantic, to run away together, but that was not something William could do without a fight.

"Oh Jocelyn. I cannot run. I am a knight, and I will put myself to the hazard." Knightly words.

"A knight in your heart but not on paper and paper is all that matters to them." Roland spoke bitterly, knowing that William had the virtues of knighthood, yet unable to do anything about it. They all knew that William deserved this life and were wretched to find that it would be denied them after all their hard work. Geoff could only listen as William tried to deny this fate.

Jocelyn tried to convince him, "William I love you. I love you. You. And I'm sorry but I won't see you bound away for the stocks."

"But you would see me run, no!"

"Damn your pride, William. It is you and only you that will not see you run."

"My pride is the only thing they can't take from me." Geoff could almost believe him, the way he said it, but he also knew what a jeering crowd could do to a person… pride is something that can be taken away.

Jocelyn knew it too and told William, "They can take it and they will. Oh, they will. But love they cannot take." Of course, Geoff wished they could take love away. Either for himself or for Jocelyn, he wasn't sure, but Geoff didn't think he could bear much more of this. Downtrodden and unwilling to leave, he listened as William poured out his heartbreak.

"Then, then where will we live? In, in my hobble? With the pigs inside in winter so they won't freeze?"

"Yes William, with the pigs, with the pigs. The poor can marry for love." By the tears in her eyes, Geoff could not be sure that Jocelyn would not regret such a pledge later. She was a rogue noblewoman, he could admit that now true enough, but she had lived in comfort her entire life, whether she wished it or no. Geoff had a hunch that she would not be able to last long under the conditions of a poor family.

"Oh Jocelyn, you speak of what you do not know." Apparently William agreed with him. Even William, in his love of Jocelyn, could see that she did not truly understand the consequences; that she could not understand until it happened. But she held firm to her ideals.

"William, I beg you. Please. Run, do it for love." William could argue with her no longer, it seemed, and Geoff felt a small relief as he turned towards his men, his men who loved him and served him with love of their own.

"Roland, you would see me run?" Roland dipped his head in consent. He had been with William the longest and Geoff knew that they were the closest friends and Roland could not see William in pain if he could help it.

"And you, Geoff?" William turned those soulful eyes on Geoff next, ripping him apart.

"Yes, William. I wish it too with all the pieces of my heart." Even if it contradicts his nature, Geoff could not help but wish for William to go, to run from this pain, even if it meant taking Jocelyn.

"Wat. You and I, we're not runners." William looked at his fiery friend with such hope, that one of us would back his wishes, his need to stay, and remain knightly. To live the false dream.

Wat choked out, "Yes. William today we are." William's face was crushed. His last resort of hope was failing in seeing the energetic, fierce redhead tell him that he would back down from a fight.

"Run, William," Kate encouraged, as well. Geoff could never be certain of her will, as women were so mysterious, but it seems that her own love of William would wish him his safety over honor.

But their arguments were in vain. "No! I will not run. I am a knight." William said this desperately and Geoff knew that all of his hopes that William could use the commoner's sense and self-preservation had failed. William would be the knight that he was in his heart, and they could no longer contradict him. He had decided. Jocelyn, with a tear-stained face, held his gaze seriously and seemed to accept his decision, though whether she would stand by him, Geoff could not tell.

"Well boys, all good things must come to an end. Let's end them together." Well put, Roland, Geoff thought. We shall end them as men. And though he did not like pain, Geoff would follow William anywhere, even to face the royal guards, it seems.

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They walked, as a group, toward the lists. Geoff could not help but glance over at William, striding confidently, even now. William had never seemed more knightly than he did today, head held high and ready to face whatever consequences might befall him due to his beliefs and actions. One of the officials approached and they tensed for what was about to happen.

"You will remove yourself from this position of honor."

"I am here to compete." William could not back down, would not back down, and Geoff saw the condemnation of the official in his eyes.

"You are here to be arrested." For a moment, Geoff thought that there would be a fight, but with the guards surrounding them and their spears, they were efficiently separated from William. Geoff watched numbly as they dragged William away, away from him and away from any chance of a future. He was mildly surprised when they were dismissed after William's removal. He had expected to be questioned and taken away, but apparently some stroke of luck had befallen them and the official did not think that they were significant. Exchanging glances with the others, Geoff felt at a loss as of what to do. Slowly, they made their way back to where they were camped and waited.

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The next day of William's sentence had arrived. Geoff saw William's golden head caught in the wood, bowed before the crowd, forced to bend to their will. He watched as a child ran up and smacked William upside the head. It was probably one of the very same children who had cheered William days before. Then Roland appeared on the scene. He took a stance next to William and held a club threateningly. Clearly, he was there to protect William as much as he could. With sharp hearing, Geoff heard William try and make his request of Roland.

"Leave Roland, let them have me."

"God love you William, and so do I." Geoff's heart clenched, 'And so do I,' his mind echoed.

Wat was next to appear, in his usual fierce manner. "Go! Go! Or I will fong you! As Jesus crossed the Nazareth and His most holy mother the Virgin Mary are my witnesses, I will fong you! I will rip, Pain! Loads of pain!"

Apparently this was only egging on the crowd more. This was no way to get them to calm down and leave William alone. Kate also came up to take a stance at William's other side, armory tools in hand. The crowd's mutterings grew louder and they all tensed, prepared to fight for William, while he could not. It was time to try what Geoff could do with them. The crowd had loved Geoff before, had listened to him avidly, and he would make them listen now.

"Listen to me! Listen to me, listen! Listen!" The crowd turned silent and Geoff gladly took this opportunity. "You're cut from the same cloth, you and he!" He watched as some unidentifiable, rotten food blemished his shirt. Geoff calmly ran a finger through the mess and tapped it to his tongue. He looked up and searched the crowd, mockingly. "Mother? Is my mother here? I'd recognize this cooking anywhere."

Geoff was never more relieved to hear the crowd laugh. He smiled and tried to appeal to the mob's new mood. "Mother, please you at least go home. I'll tell you tonight how it turns out. I hope that it is good news Mum. I hope that I can tell you that I managed to convince these good people to leave my lord William unharmed. For I have never seen a heart like the one that beats inside this man. Swollen with all the virtues risen of pride, fought, free, courageous, constant and most of all, filled with hope. At least until today." He walked around passionately, trying to show the crowd everything that he had seen in William. He tried to show them that the knight they had seen on the field yesterday and the man before them today was still the same person. Inevitably, he found himself drawn to William, and he took a moment to stand in front of him and gently rested his hand upon William's head. How it hurt, that he could not look his William in the eye as Geoff poured his heart out. Composing himself, he addressed the crowd once again.

"I ask you what makes a man noble? His lineage or his heart? Thank you very much Mother, you can go home now." Geoff wanted to stop, wanted to crowd to go away, but they needed more. And so he gave them more. "And what are knightly virtues and who decides who may possess them? My lord, it's true was born in Cheapside, London and so what? For he is his true esteem, no, truer. For he is like gold, to me." Finally, his heart had spewed his feelings forward. Geoff wondered what William was thinking now. He wondered if William did know, or if perhaps in his naivete, William truly thought Geoff said all of this as merely a friend. Tears began to make themselves known and he used all of his strength to continue. "He is like gold, and you and I are merely iron. And yet you people, you would come to see him rust. For shame, shame on you. Leave him. Go home. Leave him." Geoff once again moved to stand before William. To try to look him in the eye. He had to show William that every word was true, prove to William that he was indeed a knight to Geoff. His knight, his everything. There was no truer knight to Geoff. Geoff hesitated, however. He tried to compose himself enough that he would at least be able to see William through his tears. In these moments, Geoff heard the crowd beginning to chant behind them. Cries of "Ulrich!" began to distinguish themselves and Geoff found himself with more fury than he knew what to do with. He quickly turned and burst out.

"His name is William!"

This quieted the crowd once again until the chant started up again, this time in the name of William. Geoff, rather surprised that they had truly listened, could barely move and simply let the sounds of William's true name being chanted in his honor. Even Wat began to get caught up with the crowd's chanting and Geoff relaxed. They had seen his worth and now they would not harm him. He had done everything he could for William and was relieved that he had succeeded. Perhaps, with some more arguing, they may even be able to have William released. Suddenly, Geoff saw a few dark hooded men in front of the crowd push back their hoods to reveal Prince Edward, and he was paralyzed. He did not know why the prince was here, but if something should anger him, there was nothing Geoff could do to stop it. Geoff tensed, as Edward approached William, nearly kneeling to face him.

The Black Prince spoke to William, "What a pair we make. Both trying to hide who we are, both unable to do so. Your men love you. If I knew nothing else about you that would be enough. But you also tilt when you should withdraw. And that is knightly too." Geoff saw William look at the prince in confusion and felt the sentiment reflected in himself. He waited for the prince to speak again. "Release him." It took no more words for Geoff. Once he saw William being released, he could stay away no more. Geoff quickly moved around and offered William his support. Grabbing William's arm, he could not get enough of giving William his comfort and he listened to the words of the prince, as William focused on Edward as though the prince was his future, which he was. "He may appear to be of humble origins, but my personal historians have discovered that he is descendent from an ancient royal line. This is my word and as such is beyond contestation." The prince's glare was enough to stop anyone stupid enough to argue. Then he turned back to William, "Now, if I may repay the kindness you once showed me, take a knee."

"Geoff!" It was little more than a rough whisper, shocked and pained from the events, but it was his name that William had spoken. It gave Geoff the warmest pleasure to support William's arm as he kneeled before the Black Prince, who finished what he started.

"By the power invested in me by my father, King Edward, and by all the witnesses here, I dub thee, Sir William."

Geoff sat, head in his hands, relieved in all ways. Finally, William could get the recognition that he deserved. No more pretending to be someone else. No longer would he be torn between what he was and what he knew he could be. His pleasure in William's pleasure was all there was in the moment. Now William could have the future he desired, Geoff hoped that he could make himself a part of that future.

"Arise, Sir William. Can you joust?"

"What?" Geoff nearly laughed, the prince was being playful, fancy that. Had he not just saved William's future, he might've been jealous. As it was, because he had just saved William's future, Geoff was still inclined to be a little jealous, but still glad for his newly knighted William.

"There's my tournament to finish," the prince reminded William. "Now are you fit to compete or shall the forfeit stand?"

"Oh I am fit." Of course William was fit, Geoff nearly laughed again. To face Ademar, William would always be fit.

"I shall have your opponent informed of it. You look for his shield on the lists at once."

"Thank you, my Lord." Geoff silently echoed the sentiments as he moved to help William prepare for the upcoming match, his first as Sir William.

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Finally, William was ready to face off with Count Ademar. Geoff could practically feel the man shaking in his anticipation and need to prove his worth. William had looked for Jocelyn in the seats, but only saw Christiana and looked a little downtrodden. Geoff felt for him and gave the best advice he could give in the moment.

"It's a small target, Will. But aim for his heart."

Geoff went off to the side to let William focus on the joust. He watched as William thundered down the track, felt the strength of his heart fail as he saw the hit that William took to the chest. Something was terribly wrong, as Geoff watched William sway awkwardly around in the horse. He rushed over to see that the lance had stuck in William and was causing him significant pain.

"Oh, god. I'll fetch the surgeon, Will."

"Roland, you're the surgeon now." William could not restrain the cry as Roland tugged out the lance. Geoff felt sick at the sight of William's drawn face and the blood adorning the broken tip. Kate took a hold of it and looked outraged.

"He's tipped it." Surprisingly, William did not react to this; it was almost as though he knew it from the moment he was hit with it. He spoke to Kate.

"Kate, get me back to one. I don't and we forfeit." Kate quickly began to lead him back to the start with Roland as Wat took a look at the lance tip and his fury doubled.

"Filthy son-of-a-bitch." Even such few words held exactly the same anger that flowed through Geoff now and he wanted to be like Wat, just once, and go knock the daylights out of Ademar.

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Geoff watched helplessly, painfully, as William rode the second time and dropped his lance. He must've been in agony for him to be unable to take out his rage with Ademar, Geoff thought. He then saw Jocelyn and William's father come up the stands and take their seats. Geoff moved out onto the field to tell William the news as he was taken back to the start again. Geoff saw Ademar pause and say something, more than likely insulting William and he approached, ignoring the cursed count.

"She's here, William. And so is your father." Geoff watched as a faraway look came to William's eyes and knew that he was not about to give up.

"Change the stars. Let's dance, you and I," William challenged a confused-looking Ademar.

Geoff was pleased to see William's spirits come up again and heard Roland's next words with a mixture of hope and fear.

"It's two lances to none, you must unhorse him or kill him. It's the only way to win."

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Not a minute later saw William delayed at the start as Wat began to lash the next lance to William's arm. Geoff looked worriedly at the flagman, about to show the start of the third round. Quickly, he made his way up to where Prince Edward and the nobles were seated and flung his arm out dramatically, praying silently that this would work.

"Good people, I've missed my introduction!" The crowd cheered and Geoff's fear abated as he saw the squire rest the flag upon the ground. Geoff went on, showing the same amount of passion as he had for the crowd at the stocks. "But please, please I pray you, hear it now. For I would lay rest the grace in my tongue and speak plainly. Days like these are far too rare to cheapen with heavy-handed words. And so I'm afraid without any ado whatsoever (excuse me, my lord), here he is! One of your own! Born a stone's throw away from this stadium, and here before you now, the son of John Thatcher, Sir William Thatcher!"

It was probably going to be one of his last speeches, and it was definitely one of the most important. He watched as William looked his way, breath catching as he did, then turn towards Wat to hear him speak something. Quietly, Geoff whispered, "Godspeed William." Geoff could only pray that the last round with Ademar would not kill him, as vulnerable as he was with his pained chest and no upper armor.

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Geoff's heart soared as he saw William knock Ademar to the ground, as he had so many times promised to do. William's cry as he rode echoed through his mind, the pride and honor in that one word saying more to Geoff than any hundreds of words William had said before. He quickly moved down to celebrate with the others, all moving to hug William.

"You beat him, Will!" It seemed that William's eyes could not get any brighter than in this moment. He had won everything he had ever wanted and done so in his own name with his own strength. William had changed his stars to fit everything he was in his heart. Geoff could not even feel bad as he saw William step away and run to embrace Jocelyn, even knowing that those two had just begun their future together. He even smiled, knowing how a tale like this would make a wonderful book.

"I'm going to have to write some of this story down," he mused aloud.

"Like the part about the prince and the knights?" Wat asked. Wat could be very proper sometimes about what was worth writing about. Geoff laughed to himself.

"No, no, all of it. All human activity lies within the artist's scope. Maybe not yours." Geoff grinned as Wat flung an arm around his shoulders and playfully shook him. Apparently miracles do happen, and Geoff and Wat finally understood each other. Maybe, Geoff mused, maybe there was still a miracle waiting to happen. He felt his heart pound as he watched William and Jocelyn embracing in a world of their own, for now. Perhaps he would wait around to see how things turned out. It was his style, after all.

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