Lord Walter sat sipping his second brandy and talking with his bride and Lord Beyon and Lady Juniper when he noticed his left arm began throbbing as he continued to relax. He found it very painful to move it and he realized he had done some serious damage to it. Not wanting to call attention to it he sat his glass down and discretely reached over with his right hand and squeezed the sleeve just above his elbow. At the same time he moved his chair a bit so the sound was considered the chair sliding on the stone floor. The sleeve dented, narrowing so it wouldn't slip down his arm.

He looked over at Ralph who had finished his ice cream, "Ralph step over here. While you have learned how to properly clean and polish the armor it strikes me that you haven't yet learned how the armor is fastened together."

Ralph nodded and stood. He placed his dish back on the serving tray before he gave Lord Walter his attention. Lord Beyon watched as Ralph followed Lord Walter's directions and began removing his armor starting at his feet and working up as Lord Walter stood there.

"The lad shows good attention to detail," Lord Beyon nodded in approval.

Lord Walter smiled, "He is my delight. Just from observation and faith he was able to summon forth Athena's own power to empower my hammer in the battle against the Amatan that was Lady Bethany. He not only bought time for me to recover but he destroyed a goodly number of undead that were with her when the hammer struck her." Walter laid his hand gently behind Ralph's head and smiled at him.

Lady Juniper stared at Ralph, "This young man was able to do that?"

Paige smiled, "He was, scared me to death. As far as we knew Walter was unconscious in our tent when from the other side we saw the hammer fly out and struck the Amatan and destroyed the undead. I ran over to the other side to find our son kneeling on the ground, scared me to death."

Ralph blushed as he continued to remove the pieces of Lord Walter's armor. As the last of the buckles under the breastplate came free Walter stopped him, "There seems to be a problem with my left sleeve Ralph, take a look."

Ralph stepped around him and looked at it carefully, "It looks like it is dented Dad."

Walter nodded, "You'll need to separate it from the breastplate. When we get back to the Inn Happy can remove it." He showed Ralph how to unhook the sleeve.

"What inn are you staying at?" Lady Juniper inquired.

The Lady Paige looked at her, "We're staying at the Bronze Dragon Inn. It is quite remarkable."

The Lady Juniper nodded, "It is one of the favorites of visiting dignitaries unless they stay here at the castle. Speaking of which, didn't you consider staying here?"

Lord Walter shook his head, "No, since we weren't here to visit in an official capacity it didn't seem prudent to intrude upon your good graces."

Lord Beyon waved it off, "You are always welcomed to stay here at the castle whenever you visit my Lord."

Once his armor was off and put into his bag from his belt Walter held out his hand to Paige and she slowly stood, "We thank you my Lord and Lady for your hospitality but we should return to our friends. We'll probably be leaving for home in the morning."

Lord Beyon stood as Lady Paige did. Lady Juniper stood, "Thank you both for all you have done for us this day. We'll look forward to coming to your state wedding. We wish you well in your lives together."

As Walter and Paige stepped out of Lord Beyon and Lady Juniper's private quarters with Ralph, Paige stopped for a moment and began rubbing her left arm.

Walter looked at her, "Are you okay my Love?"

Paige frowned, "Yes, but for some reason my arm is hurting but I don't recall doing anything to it."

Walter nodded, "Perhaps something you did in the fight and now that you relaxed the muscles are tender."

Paige smiled as she took his right arm again and nodded, "Perhaps."

They headed back down to the great hall. They found the company all standing around waiting for them. Lord Walter smiled and gestured and they all fell in behind them as they made their way out of the castle. As they neared the entrance to the castle Paige began feeling anger but she couldn't understand it. She was happy, she was with the man she loved, and she had been saved along with her son from the foul treachery of King Merrick so why was she feeling angry?

They reached the cobble stone street when Walter unbuckled his sword belt and handed it to Ralph before he turned to face Toby and Sylvester.

They both blanched as he towered over them and the look of anger on his face. He threw a right cross and his fist smashed into Toby's jaw. Toby fell and tumbled across the street. Sir Cabe quickly grabbed Allie and pulled her back out of harms way. Happy stood there with a grin on her face watching as Kaylee danced back. Paige gasped as Walter turned on Sylvester and threw another punch.

Sylvester gestured and a red energy shield shot up in front of him and intercepted Walter's punch but instantly cracked and faded out. Irritated even more, Walter threw an upper cut and before Sylvester could react caught him under his chin and dropped him to the street.

Allie noticed that Lord Walter's left arm had remained mostly down and tight against his body and she frowned.

Walter stood there over them glaring almost with hate, yelling and daring them to get up again. "Walter, stop," Paige demanded as she realized it was his anger she was feeling.

Ignoring Paige he pointed his finger at them both. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't send you both packing from my lands," Walter demanded.

Paige stepped in between Walter and the boys, "Walter, it was just as much my fault. If I had just gone with them when Toby wanted an ale this wouldn't have happened."

Walter shook his head, "This isn't your fault. It is theirs. Regardless of what you did. They knew damn good and well what my order was and they chose to disregard me as if I was some simple whining child instead of their Lord. And they knew the consequences of not listening to me."

Paige stuck her chin out, "Well then, you need to hit me too and if you are going to cast them out of your lands, you have to cast me out too, because I didn't listen to you either."

Walter glared at her before looking back at the two men on the ground. For long moments he stared at the two men who hadn't moved an inch from where they landed on the street.

Several guards from the castle had come down and Sir Cabe intercepted them and kept them from getting involved.

Walter finally looked back up at Paige. Slowly he reined in his anger before his eyes began to soften looking at Paige, "Let us return to the inn."

As everyone else began walking down the street Happy stopped and bent over and patted both Toby and Sylvester's faces where Lord Walter had hit them, "You better be thanking our Lady. She saved your asses. Personally I would have let him beat the crap out of you some more." She grinned and turned to catch up with the rest of the company.

Allie leaned over towards Cabe, "I think our Lord is hurt."

Cabe nodded, "He certainly took what they did as an insult for sure."

Allie shook her head, "That's not what I mean. Look at his left arm at the way he's holding it. And when he attacked the boys back there, his left arm didn't come up into a normal defensive position. It left him vulnerable if someone was to attack from his left. And it is the only piece of his armor he is wearing."

Cabe looked a little harder and nodded, "You're right. Maybe he pulled a muscle?"

Allie shook her head, "I think it is much more severe than that." She saw some benches up ahead along the street and she took several quick steps to catch up to Lord Walter. "My Lord, can we take a moment up here at the benches?"

Walter looked over at Allie and then up at the benches and nodded. As Walter slowed to stand by the benches Allie took his right arm and gestured for him to sit. Looking puzzled Lord Walter finally sat down. She took hold of the armor sleeve of his left arm and began to try and remove the armor sleeve when she saw it wouldn't go past his elbow. She rotated it slightly and saw the dent in it, when he stopped her, "What are you doing?"

Paige stepped up, "Allie?"

"I believe our Lord hurt himself trying to get to you and I want to see how much damage was done before he hurts himself more." Allie told her.

Paige looked at Walter in surprise, "Why didn't you say something?"

"It's of no moment," Walter told her.

"Of no moment," Paige glared at him. "Happy, examine our Lord's sleeve, what is causing it from coming off?" Paige demanded.

Happy slowly, with apprehension stepped up and looked at it and looked up in his eyes and swallowed hard.

The Lady Paige looked at her, "Well?"

Happy looked at the Lady Paige and back to Lord Walter as she knew the dent was a perfect fit for his thumb and forefinger.

Lady Paige began to grow impatient, "Happy, don't look at him. I'm asking the question."

"It's dented, perhaps when he hit the wall outside of the great hall," Happy continued to look at Lord Walter.

The Lady Paige's eyes narrowed, "Is that your professional opinion as a master blacksmith?"

Happy whispered, "I'm sorry my Lord."

Lord Walter smiled, "It is okay Happy, I dented it myself my Love. I had to keep it on to protect my arm."

The Lady Paige sighed, "Happy, will you remove it please?"

Happy looked into Lord Walter's eyes and he nodded.

Happy gently slipped her fingers between his arm and the dents and pressed using all of her strength until the dents popped out and she was able to slide the sleeve down his arm.

He grimaced as Allie tried to get the sleeve of his tunic past his elbow. "That isn't good my Lord," Allie said as she tried to feel around his arm and he winced even more as she applied pressure just above his elbow. "You broke your arm again when you hit that wall didn't you," Allie asked rhetorically.

"Walter," Paige exclaimed. "Why didn't you say something?"

Walter shrugged, "Until I had relaxed I didn't realize it was hurt, I just figured I pulled a muscle."

Paige shook her head, "Why don't I believe you? At least now I know why my arm is hurting." Paige looked at everyone else, "Please go stand over on the other side of the street guys."

Allie began massaging his arm and he grimaced, even more after the bones slipped back together. Allie looked at Paige, "Do you want me to go stand with the others my Lady?"

Paige shook her head as she sat down next to him, "I'm of half a mind to let Allie immobilize your arm and let it heal naturally."

Walter smiled, "If that is what you prefer my Love. It would not be the first bone that had to heal naturally on me."

Paige slapped his right arm, "That isn't the point my Love. You are supposed to rely on me as I am supposed to rely on you. How would you feel if I didn't let you know if I was hurt?"

"I would not appreciate that," Walter admitted.

"Then don't do this again, I understand you getting hurt but I want to know you are hurt so I can do whatever I can to relieve the pain and heal you. Now, why didn't you keep your armor on instead of removing most of it," Paige asked.

Walter grinned, "It was the fairest I could make the fight between me and the boys. Armor would be bad form and with only one arm to fight with it was their best chance to defend themselves against my physical assault."

Paige grinned in spite of herself and she slapped his arm again, "You are terrible." Paige looked at Allie, "May I heal his wound now?"

Allie smiled and nodded.

Paige looked at Toby and Sylvester and gestured and they both stepped over as Paige lifted up her lute and began playing and singing. The music soothed Walter's ache and healed his arm as well as Toby and Sylvester's jaws.

Lord Walter and the Lady Paige lead the company back to the market after his arm healed. As they approached it Paige whispered, "Ralph and I still need to do some shopping."

Walter smiled, "It will be my pleasure to escort you both through the many booths."

Paige shook her head, "No, we can hardly buy a surprise for you if you are with us."

Walter stopped dead and turned to face her, "After what happened, you expect me to trust the safety of you both to someone else?"

Paige looked him deep in the eyes, "With Merrick dead what does it matter my Love?"

"Bounty hunters won't know he is dead yet they will still be going off of wanted posters." Walter pointed out.

Paige smiled, "Is there no one else you would trust to escort us?"

Walter sighed, "Sir Cabe."

Sir Cabe stepped up, "My Lord?"

"My Lady still desires to shop in the market without me. Would you consent to escort her and my son?" Lord Walter asked gently.

Sir Cabe nodded, "It would be my honor my Lord."

Lord Walter looked pointedly at Sylvester, "You will accompany my Love and if ANYTHING happens you will summon me instantly. Is that understood?"

Sylvester nervously nodded his head rapidly.

Paige shook her head.

Walter looked at Paige and pulled her in tight against him. Placing his forehead against hers, "I'm really uncomfortable with this. I really don't need or desire any such gift when I have your love."

Paige smiled, "We will be fine my Love."

Walter drew in a deep breath as he nodded and let her step away. Ralph stepped up and hugged him, "We'll be okay this time Dad."

Walter smiled, "I'll be standing at the center of the market to try to minimize my reaction time if something happens. Come find me when you are done."

Paige smiled and blew him a kiss as he watched her walking away with Ralph, Sir Cabe, Sylvester, Happy and Allie. His stomach in knots, he turned and made his way around the crowd trying to calm himself. Kaylee watched him for a moment before following after Lady Paige.

Toby kept his distance but followed after Lord Walter. At the center of the market there were a number of food carts offering all kinds of meats and unhealthy faire to eat. Toby smiled and stepped up to one of the carts and ordered three meat sticks and an ale. As he dug out his coin sack he saw an arm reach out and lay a gold coin on the counter of the wagon. He didn't need to look up but he did and saw Lord Walter as he turned and walked away.

Toby swallowed hard as he picked up his meat sticks and his ale. He turned and saw Lord Walter as he stood toward the center and occasionally turned around watching for Sylvester's signal just in case. "Thank you my Lord," Toby said quietly.

Lord Walter barely nodded as he continued to look about.

Toby swallowed hard, "I'm really sorry."

Lord Walter's glare shut him up instantly, "I'm not ready to hear your apology."

Toby nodded and quietly walked over and sat down on one of the benches and ate his meat sticks and drank his ale quietly.

Hope everyone is doing good! Still doing okay here. Tomorrow will be chapter 3 of the new story 'Chances', and I think it may be 4 chapters instead of 3. I may not post Sunday, so this story will continue Monday if that is the case. To the Adventure! -Tim