Ralph shook his head.
"It isn't a scheme and I will not renounce it Father. This is the wise Lady's will and we are going to see it through. You have to know I am speaking the truth Father. If not, then use your ability to detect lies and you will see I am not making this up." Ralph told him.
"Well you aren't running off with our daughter, Ralph and that is the end of it." Frank told him even as Gemma nodded.
"The decision to join me has already been made by Patty, Frank. Patty has been an adult for three years now, she lives on her own. Working to pay her own way in this world while she waited for time to catch up to me so we could marry and begin building our lives together. Now, by virtue of my graduation, not to mention being knighted, I am an adult as well. And we have made the decision that is our right to make." Ralph told them again with Patty now standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
"We've obeyed every rule, we've observed every requirement and restriction of us to this day. Both societal and the tenets governing Paladins of the wise Lady. Now we must continue on as we see fit. Please understand this. We don't want this conflict between us. We love you all so much." Patty told them.
"You're just a child." Frank got out before Ralph stepped up in his face.
"She is not a child sir and I will not stand by while you speak in such a manner to my betrothed. Do so again and you shall have to defend those words." Lord Ralph said using his commanding voice.
Frank's eyes went wide as he stuttered.
"Ralph, do you really want to alienate your soon to be Father in law?" Paige asked him even as she worked to keep Walter calm.
"Did Father ever let anyone speak to you or act discourteously to you before you were wed Mother? I still remember quite clearly one of the first lessons Father taught me when his own company tried to take a stand against you that first night. Have you ever seen the damage to his desk? The huge crack that was poorly repaired? Father did that because of their words and attitude towards you. And that was before you even had your first date. I have done my best to incorporate everything my Father has taught me these past eight years, Mother. Patty is the love of my life and I will defend her in all ways with every breath I take." Ralph told his Mother as she smiled in pride at her son.
Sir Cabe, Happy, Sylvester and Toby all stood there listening and blushing as the memory of that night came back full force. Allie frowned looking at her husband and what she felt from him.
"Your Father has always defended me Ralph, even when I technically didn't need him to. Such as was the night after we all returned from Wheeler's Ridge and the incident that happened after you'd been sent to your room. I am so proud of you Ralph." Paige told him lovingly.
"Well I don't care. We're going to need more proof of what is going on. We're not followers of Athena. I need to know that this is right." Frank said hotly.
"That is enough of this." The temple Mistress said as she stepped out of the Keep.
"How dare you." Frank fumed.
"I dare on the orders of the wise Lady. My Lord, you might out rank me, but I am the messenger of the wise Lady. If any of you interfere in her plans it will be at your peril." The Mistress told them as she stepped out standing together with Lord Ralph and Patty.
"We've been together multiple times today Mistress and you couldn't be bothered to address this with us?" Paige asked.
"I was advised not to, my Lady. This was a test in addition to instructions for Lord Ralph to proceed on for his life. And he has passed it. Patty passed her test first by accepting the wise Lady's call to her. Much as you yourself did my Lady over 8 years ago in the valley of those mountains as you journeyed to Wheeler's Ridge. Then she accepted the vision that Ralph was given for their lives before she stood here defiant of any designs to force them to alter that." The Mistress told her.
Lord Walter was struggling to bite back what he felt. He was being overwhelmed, not only by the defiance to him as Lord of the lands but as Ralph's mentor and as his Father. He knew he had done his job as Ralph's Lord and mentor. He knew as a Paladin that what Ralph, Patty and now the temple Mistress said was the truth. But as Ralph's Father his heart was being ripped out of him. Paige could almost feel him vibrating when he suddenly dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
"I surrender and bow to the will of the wise Lady." Lord Walter finally said as he gave it over to her.
"Arise my knight." The Mistress spoke in a voice of choral proportions. "Well pleased am I with you, for this was also a test for you. Your children are growing and you must learn to let go so they can venture out where they will. They are learning well by the examples set by you and my daughter as well as all those who serve and live here. Ralph and Patty are not the last of your children that will go out at my bidding. Continue to trust in me. I know how much your children mean to you my Lord. You lost out a lot in Lord Ralph's childhood and it pains you to think you won't be there to watch this part of his life as well. You also lost a lot of your childhood and the love of your parents during that time of your life, ultimately for my will. Will you continue to trust me, my knight?"
"Your will, my Lady, be done." Lord Walter replied, still bowed to the ground.
"Thank you my daughter for already giving in to my will. I know as Lord Ralph's Mother it isn't easy to accept such a risk." Athena smiled at Paige as she reached up and stroked her cheek.
Athena turned and regarded the twins as they stood there staring open mouthed at her.
"A-Are you, re-really the wise Lady?" Aine finally asked.
"My littlest knight. I have merely taken possession of my daughter for a moment." Athena said, smiling at her and then held out her hands.
Aine stepped out and into her hands and Athena picked her up and kissed her cheek.
"Your life is wide open before you my littlest knight. Listen well to the words and pay attention to the actions of your parents. They have corrected you perfectly. Your path, if you choose it, will lead to many things. She who had been Lady Bethany when she walked these lands was not a fit role model for a knight of mine. Your Father might have a few edges that have burrs but you will not find a better example of who to model after. Likewise your brother will be a fine example you just won't have him around as much to be guided by." Athena told her sweetly. Her hand dropped and tapped Lord Walter's shoulder and he looked up.
He instantly stood and took his daughter from her.
"Be not overly sad my son, for you took a young and at times willful boy and you helped to raise him into this fine young man before us today and my latest knight. You and my daughter are raising so many lovely children who will grow strong because of you both. You have many, many years of Fatherhood before you." Athena turned and smiled down at Daithi.
"Little Daithi." Athena said with love and held her hands down and he stepped up and she picked him up and kissed his cheek. "I know your heart, my precious little one. Never fear for you have a right to decide even at your young age what you would like to be. Bards hold a special place in my heart too as I enjoy singing, playing music and telling stories." Athena smiled at Lady Paige and nodded. Paige stepped in and took Daithi from her. Athena touched herself between her breasts.
"My daughter here has made a request and I have consented. Lord Ralph, she will journey with you and Lady Patty. She will be your temple Mistress. She will stand as a confidante and trusted friend for both of you. She will help guide and strengthen you on your journey."
"Frank of the house of Logan and Gemma of the Philippines. Both of your stories are known to me and you are free to walk as you wish. But Patty is now my daughter. By the laws of man, she was of age and able to decide for herself. She has consented and accepted my claim upon her. She must now move to a different calling in this life. I can not offer, to you, the same peace I do my children. So I simply say to you, trust in our children." Athena told them.
The temple Mistress began coughing as the possession faded and Lord Ralph was quick to step up and take her arm in his hands even as Patty stepped up on the other side and took her other arm and between them helped her to stand until she regained her own strength.
"W-Was that, was that, really her? The wise Lady?" Gemma stuttered out.
"Indeed it was." Lord Walter said simply as he reached over and took Paige's free hand. "My family has been blessed beyond measure by the wise Lady."
"So we're just going to accept this and let our children run off into the wilds? The area they are going to is dangerous territory. Three caravans have been savaged in the last six months. Very few of the people from them have returned alive." Frank was gesturing wildly.
"Frank, please." Gemma became embarrassed.
"This topic is a tender one, let us go up to our private chambers and talk." Lord Walter said softly.
Frank grumbled under his breath as he waited until everyone else had either entered the Keep or went about their normal lives. Finally he started to step in and saw his wife waiting on him.
"I know what you are going to say Gem, but she's our little girl." Frank complained.
Gemma smiled and reached up and stroked his cheek.
"Our Lord is having problems with this, what makes you any different? Do you think you are better than he is? Of course she is, she'll be our little girl when we're on our deathbeds at 100. But she's a young woman and an adult. And she's older than I was when you convinced me to run off with you. To go to Los Vargus of all places. Talk about dangerous places. Sometimes I wonder if our bug getting so sick wasn't the wise Lady protecting us. Her husband is a Paladin of the greatest Paladin we will ever know. Who better than the son of our Lord, raised up as a knight to the wise Lady to protect her wherever they go?" Gemma told him.
"Soon-to-be husband. Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Frank corrected as they walked up the stairs.
"Don't you ever talk that way again. We might as well have let them marry when he turned fifteen. He's been her husband in every act and word except for one." Gemma slapped his arm pretty hard.
"Yeah? How do you know they haven't done that?" Frank asked.
"Because if he had he wouldn't be a Paladin right now nor would he be able to become one in the future." Sir Cabe said as he stepped out of the great hall after they'd passed.
"Sir Cabe!" Frank exclaimed. "I didn't know you were about."
"So I gathered. I would seriously recommend you find another topic to bandy about. The halls of Lord Walter's Keep are not the place for such words. Especially by someone who works for the Lord. I'd wait until you were home, if ever, to voice them again." Sir Cabe told them.
"Cabe?" Allie called out.
"Coming my love." Sir Cabe said as he nodded to the couple and walked back into the great hall.
"Ah, there you are." Lord Walter said as he opened the door.
"Sorry my Lord. We just needed a moment to talk." Gemma said as she kissed his cheek and walked on in.
"Forgive me my Lord for not kissing your cheek." Frank said as he stepped within.
Lord Walter laughed as he shut the door.
"Please have a seat Gemma, Frank." Lady Paige gestured to the spots still free in the living room.
Veronica tugged on Paige's gown and Paige smiled down at her and picked her up. "What is it, my little heart?"
Veronica made a smacking noise.
"Now? Can't you wait a little bit?" Paige sighed.
Veronica shook her head even as her hand reached for the front of Paige's gown.
"Okay my Lord, you'll have to carry on without me for a few. Someone is hungry." Paige said, turning instantly and going into their bedroom.
"Despite my initial objections to the two of you, well three of you now, seeking out this adventure I support you in this endeavor." Lord Walter said as he stepped over and sat down after everyone was seated.
"But we don't even know what all the risks and threats are that they will face. What if we never see them again?" Frank voiced.
"Frank I know you are not a man of faith and so you can't understand what motivates us in this. But I am well trained and disciplined as a Paladin. I am well equipped to handle things. I admit there is a risk here but I can't turn my back on this. Now while I wouldn't want to make this journey without her, I would be willing to go alone, if she wanted to wait a while before we married and she came to join me." Ralph said softly while holding her hand.
"There, that's reasonable to me. Good, we got that settled with no problems." Frank said as he clapped his hands together.
Patty almost growled as she glared at her Father.
"Yes, we do have it settled. Ralph and I will be married in seven days and then we are leaving Scorpion Keep with the Mistress and doing what the wise Lady wants us to do. If you have a problem with that then it is your problem and you know where the door is Father." Patty told him after she'd jumped up.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well! Here I thought I'd be working on finishing Aine's story while posting this but a few days ago I had this idea for a new type of Scorpion story. I didn't exactly like the idea so I've been ignoring it. Well today it decided it wasn't being ignored any longer and so I wrote the first 2 chapters. lol But I'm not sure I'll ever share it. It is one of those stories that, is problem better left unsaid.
Railman - Well looks like very minor fireworks and Lord Walter gave in to the wise Lady's calling. Poor guy, just doesn't want to lose his son yet.
Susan - hehe Thank you, so glad you are loving it already. Yep, Lord Walter is slowly giving it up...so difficult to let them fly alone.
LouBe - You're welcome, I'm so happy you are excited for it! Knight's Tale and Lady Knight are as big of a draw with the fandom but it is for readers such as yourself I continue to share them. I hope you continue to enjoy and I'm honored you have read the previous stories multiple times!
To the Adventure! -Tim