Disclaimer: I don't own any Sly Cooper characters; they belong to Sucker Punch Productions/Sanzaru Games.
Claimer: I own all of my original characters.
Well here's chapter 2! I know the first two are a bit boring, but things starting picking up in the next chapter. The first two are simply base setters for the plot before things actually start picking up. But, things will get more exciting, I promise. Anyway, please read, leave me some feedback on what you think, and enjoy! Thanks!
Chapter 2: To Plan a Heist
Nottinghamshire, England 1453 A.D.
"Lady Katherine," I called towards the princess as she maneuvered her horse across the green field, "I do insist that do not wander too far!" Katherine turned her head slightly, smiling devilishly in the process.
"Then I implore you to come along, good Sir! For I am not an animal that one keeps upon a leash!" she called back before trotting her horse forward, following behind her mother. I chuckled at her remark, finding that her responses have become wittier the older she becomes. I shook my head at the princess, finding it both a fulfillment to my duties as a knight as well as a personal desire. Katherine was an attractive woman and I found myself attracted to her. As a knight, I had to keep this secret to myself…or away from the king at the greatest. If King Hector VII was to find out that I was attracted to his daughter, then my head would roll. Seeing that Katherine and her mother were not planning on stopping anytime in the near future, Henry and I decided to start trailing behind them, to keep an eye on their welfare.
"Galleth, my old friend," Henry's voice started once we had begun to move, "may I give thee a piece of advice?" I turned to the wolf, waiting to hear what advice he had in mind.
"Of course, Sir Henry!" I exclaimed happily, "what advice dost thou have?" he chuckled and kicked at the sides of the horse, sending it into a trot.
"I do insist that thou sets thine sights upon another woman, good sir. For a knight pursuing royalty? Tis nothing but a waste of ones time." I glanced to my friend, finding his statement to be almost outrageous when considering the affections he had towards the queen.
"Tis nothing but a waste of ones time?" I remarked with a laugh, "Sir Henry Williams I believe that thou must reassess your situation in regards to Queen Isabel. For thou hast had eyes upon her for quite sometime now." My friend barked a hearty laugh and clicked the reins connected to his horse.
"The Queen? Galleth I do believe that your mind hast started to wander." I chuckled again, shaking my head as our brief conversations was interrupted by Henry's squire. The young man, only being about fourteen years of age, came riding in a hurried pace, stopping next to Henry's horse.
"Sir," the boy called out after stopping his horse, "the king has requested that thou returns Queen Isabel to the castle, now, Sir." My friend nodded his head slowly, removing his helmet to scratch at his head before glancing to his squire.
"Go forth, back to the castle, and tell his Majesty that I shall return his queen to him immediately," the squire nodded, ready to return, "And do not dally! If thou should create a problem with the king, thy head shall be in jeopardy!" the squire nodded his head swiftly as he galloped away, not wanting to keep the king in waiting.
"Alas, I fell as if my job has turned into a circus act." Sir Henry replaced his helmet, sighing again in the process, "And Galleth, I do plead that you heed my advice."
"I shall contemplate it, my friend." the wolf trotted forward coming up behind the queen with a bow of his head before alerting the royal raccoon to her husband's urgency. Queen Isabel turned her horse around, following Sir Henry out of the forested area.
"Fare thee well, Sir Galleth," she spoke as she passed by me on her horse, "Do keep your eyes upon my daughter." I bowed my head, accepting her request.
"Of course, your Majesty." She smiled softly before following Sir Henry back to the castle. I watched briefly as they ascended the hill to the castle.
"Sir Galleth," Katherine's soft voice pulled me from my thoughts as I turned to face the princess, "Shall thee accompany me?" I smiled at her invitation, giving no hesitation as I galloped beside her, ready to escort her throughout the woods.
"Of course, My Lady, t'would be a great honor to accompany such a fair and gracious maiden." She giggled, giving me a soft smile as we slowly strolled the meadow.
"Thou flatters me too much, Sir Galleth." I gave my head a shake, chuckling to the princess.
"One can never give enough flattery to a woman, My Lady, particularly to a princess." I could see a blush forming upon her cheeks as we continued to stroll, letting the sounds of the brook giving us ambiance as our voices stayed silent. Our white horses contrasted against the crisp, green grass of the meadow and gave a bright reflection against the clear, blue water of the brook beside us. Early morning sunlight poured against Katherine's features, giving the female more beauty. Katherine sighed deeply, slumping in her seat as we continued walking through the woods.
"Your Majesty," I spoke to the raccoon after another moment of silence, "Hast something been bothering thee?" she glanced to me, a bored expression etched across her features.
"Forsooth Galleth, I have become bored of late. Hast thou any suggestions?" I straightened my posture removing my helmet in the process.
"Well, My Lady, I know not what a princess of this find kingdom finds enjoyable." Katherine scoffed and shook her head.
"This fine kingdom? This kingdom has not been a 'fine kingdom' since my grandfather's grandfather, King Richard, ruled over the land. Once his brother, King John took the throne, this marvelous kingdom hath fallen greatly."
"Now, My Lady, Richard did return to the throne after he fulfilled his duties within the Crusades," she giggled again.
"Sir Galleth, King Softsword hast done just as much damage to this kingdom as my father has. Thou cannot deny the truth." I gave her a falsely surprised look, but smiling as I did so.
"Lady Katherine," I gasped, "I do not believe that I could allow such words to come forth from your lips." She smirked, glancing over her shoulder briefly before clicking the reins on her horse.
"Then how dost thou plan to keep them from coming forth?" her beautifully red lips curled into a smile, awaiting my answer. Her question caught me off guard and since I wasn't sure how to replied, I was lost for words. She stopped by the book, allowing her horse to drink from the water as she continued to wait for my reply.
"Well, your Majesty," I stuttered a bit, searching for the correct words, "I know not how to do so." She smiled, knowing she had me lost for my words.
"Then shall thee give me an answer upon a later time?" I bowed my head, answering her second question, "Then may I say, Sir Galleth, that I might know how to solve my problems."
"And how is that, my future queen?" she brushed her hair from her face, getting ready to answer.
"I hath heard from my father that another king shall arrive at the castle tonight, wanting to offer a deal to my father for my hand in marriage to his son for a political alliance. However, my father, who hast always loved his gold more than his own daughter, so he hath asked for money as well. If the king hast no money to offer my father, I shall not have to marry the son. Leaving me free to find my own prince…or knight." She winked, again awaiting my answer.
"Has my princess hinted at robbing a king of his money? T'would be a marvelous job, but I do not believe that my duties as a knight would allow me to let my lady do such a crime."
"Then by all means come along, Sir Galleth. I would need some assistance." Again, I bowed my head at her offer, accepting it graciously.
"Tis a great honor, My Lady. Where shall I meet thee?" she turned to her robes, eventually pulling out a sealed envelope, adorned with her stamp, handing it to me. I took it from Katherine, giving her a soft smile before slipping it inside my armor to read at a later time.
"Princess Katherine, may I ask thee a question?" she nodded once, closing her eyes as she did so.
"But of course, my brave Sir Knight." I took a deep breath, straightening my posture once again before opening my mouth to speak.
"I hath wondered for quite a while now…" I trailed off, noticing her horse starting to buck, obviously startled by some unseen force. She pulled at the reins, calming the horse briefly as we noticed the water of the brook start to ripple, the disturbance close. Even my horse started bucking underneath me, feeling the same presence as Katherine's. The ominous and fearsome roar and shriek of the beast that plagued out lands followed soon afterwards, alerting me that the three-headed monster was close. It did not take long for Katherine and I to start galloping towards the castle, not wanting to be captured by the beast.
And just for a note…I normally try to make my stories as historically accurate as possible…because I'm a history nerd…and I know that if you go by Disney's standards, Marian was the daughter of King Richard. However…King Richard was around during the Crusades in the 1180's-90's…and my story takes place in the mid fifteenth century. So, instead of vastly fudging dates…I made Marian the however many great grand daughter of Richard instead of the daughter. Just roll with me here…I have an idea going on with this. ;) And yes… Softsword was a nickname of King John.