Chapter One
Several months after returning home Emeric settled at his home life and adjusted to his new role as Lord of the castle, he now lived in. He was happy to be back home with no troubles concerning him. All that was required of him now was the duty befitting a Lord of Ravens Peak.
It was not until the midst of winter that a new subject had approached him one day by one of his advisors at a table meeting. Dressing in fine garments and furs still felt foreign to him but they fit him and were comfortable to wear. He returned home gaunt and muscled from years on the road, but his new life gave him new comforts unknown to him for so long.
The advisors seated around him insisted out of nowhere on a normal day that he must find a wife.
Emeric was quiet for a few moments and thought of the idea of finding a wife and being married. Also the concept of having children and spending the rest of his life with this woman and his new family. An idea completely unknown to him.
"You expect me to marry so soon, I hardly thought of doing so for quite a while" he finally answered puzzling in his seat at the head of the table.
"You must understand that having a wife will provide you with heirs to succeed after you to carry on your name to hold this castle as well as other benefits" the lead advisor seated next to him counselled him one of the oldest at his table with years of experience and wisdom.
Emeric believed he should listen to this man and consider this proposal, but the thought of marriage daunted him.
"Still being married does not concern me at this moment I wish to attend my concerns elsewhere that need attention"
"Even so my Lord, having a wife is something your common folk will expect of you with the coming of time. I suggest you consider this and give it some deep thought. This concept shouldn't trouble you so" another advisor across the table suggested.
Emeric kept quiet and allowed them to speak, their insistence of marriage worried him, but he knew eventually that this task must be done for the future of this hearing his advisors council he called the meeting to a close. The wise old men under him left Emeric to his thoughts. Emeric strode over to the far window overlooking the courtyard and the moors beyond his castle leading to a white forest in the thick of winter. Emeric gave a deep breath and thought strongly of what the people thought he should do.
Marrying a royal lady did not trouble him as long as he thought that she was easy to tolerate and willingly did what he asked of her. He concerned that having a wife that he disliked would torment him for the rest of his days because the men above him that made the laws of this land will not permit a divorce. He didn't want to be trapped in a loveless union.
He knew he had to be careful and to choose wisely, to be more thoughtful of his bride's character more than her looks. It wasn't long before he finally came to a decision after a long period of deep thought. He was heavy in his cups of wine when he summoned one of his trusted servants. The young lad bowed before him.
"Cedric, I brought you here to command that you search the land for a woman to become my wife, I understand she must come from nobility, but I trust you will find a few good choices" Emeric turned to him from the fireplace with a cup of wine.
Cedric bowed in respect to him and promised him he will try his best. That was all Emeric could hope for.
A week later Emeric heard news that his servants scoured the lands for possible lady's to become his consort. A few had been chosen for him to approve of before a final decision was made. After breaking his fast Emeric went to his study where Cedric had returned with a few portraits of women he thought Emeric would find pleasant.
Cedric laid out a portrait for Emeric to see and gave him information. The first portrait was of a lady with curly blonde hair with high cheekbones with a prominent bust under her dress. A pair of hazel eyes looked back at him with haughty pride. She certainly came from royalty.
"Lady Helena of Ships Rest, she comes from a rich settlement next to the sea and offers a great dowry. She is also proud, elegant and sophisticated from old royalty"
Emeric believed she was high spirited and full of herself; she would be better suited to a groom with great wealth not his share of modest land. Emeric refused the first portrait and Cedric took out a second a put it on the easel.
"Lady Kiara of The Jade Isle, a young and honest woman from the islands of the south. She fetches a high price, and her mother was very fertile giving her husband seven children, five sons. She would be very successful in the marriage bed"
Emeric was humbled at the thought of sons, but he wasn't amused by Kiara's picture she was small with pouty lips and sad eyes. Also, she seemed too young for him at the tender age of fourteen.
Emeric bid Cedric continue and he presented the third and final portrait.
"Lady Sheara of Highfall, a lady from a castle in the mountains of the north. A modest girl with a kindhearted nature she will be obedient to you"
Sheara was a tall woman with a head of chestnut brown hair and warm eyes to match but most of her was plain and did not amuse him. Emeric was disappointed that the few choices for his hand were not appealing to him. Helena would fetch a high price and her father would expect a wealthy lord to marry her. Kiara was too young and melancholy for his fancy and Sheara didn't suit him either.
Emeric thanked Cedric and dismissed him; the selection process was over with no fruitful results.
In the last month of winter Emeric was one of many lords to be summoned to his liege lords castle for a day of festivities to celebrate his 50th birthday and three decades of lordship. Emeric was happy to attend and took a few servants and attendants to join him to the event.
Emeric mounted his horse and journeyed for three days to the lord Orwylle's castle. Once he walked his stallion through the front gates a fanfare of music and people dancing caught his eye as he went past them.
People feasted and gathered around an arena with high seats on either side with several onlookers watching the jousting competition. Emeric felt he didn't need to compete and already proved himself while away at war.
Emeric dismounted his horse and went to join the group of seated nobles watching the festivities, a showmanship of horse and lance as well as hands on melee. The competition fascinated Emeric as other nobles acknowledged him as the new Lord of Ravens Peak.
Emeric thanked them and sat watching the games until he decided to make an impression of liege lord Orwylle. Emeric approached and seat and congratulated him as well as complementing him on the festival. Orwylle was humble and thanked him.
"Lord Emeric, it humbles me that Ravens Peak is in your hands. Lord Godric was a capable Lord but while he showed promise he had no heirs. Which is why I urge you to find yourself a wife and marry for the future of your castle. Anything you need I will grant you"
Emeric bowed "You're not the first one with this advice my Lord. I'm currently searching but no progress yet. I'm just here to enjoy the showmanship"
Orwylle nodded his approval and bid him good day Emeric returned to his seat and socialised with other nobles for the time being while watching the spectacle of the arena as rival knights fought each other until there was a winner.
Hours later Emeric was enjoying the feast that was held at night as the men drank and sang in the great hall of Orwylle's castle. Emeric sat among fellow lords and got to know a few as he enjoyed roast pork and vegetables as well as cups of wine.
Time passed until something caught Emeric's eye and held his attention. It was a woman younger than him but still a woman grown. She was elegant and graceful, and she smiled with humility. She wore a pale blue gown which highlighted her sapphire blue eyes and raven black hair. He thought she was very beautiful, and she mesmerised him. He wondered if she had a husband or had come from royalty.
The lady was talking to other women of her station and laughing with a broad smile with a cup of wine. Emeric watched her with curiosity and then out of nowhere he beckoned over Cedric one of his main servants.
"That woman over there, I want you to find out about her, is she from nobility, is she married among other things"
"Of course, my Lord" Cedric bowed his head and left off into the crowd leaving Emeric alone with his thoughts. He spends the remainder of the night staring intensely at the young raven-haired woman with interest and curiosity. She held his attention and for the first time Emeric was intrigued by her in person rather than subtle methods of looking at her portrait. This meeting felt much more intimate and closer at hand. Emeric ignored the rest of the festivities, and the night soon ended late.
Emeric watched the beauty who looked past him, her sapphire eyes full of wonder and brightness. Emeric finally knew that if possible, she was his choice of consort. If fate favoured him this would be a good choice on his part. Her natural beauty suited him, and she appeared graceful eloquent and demure. She humbled him in a subtle way.
The day after Emeric finally got news back from his servants who researched the identity of the woman from last night the dark beauty who caught his eye.
"The lady's name is Alys, she is from minor nobility in the south but her home is fertile farming land and has been quite successful with benefitting the southern kingdoms. Both her parents have died when she was young so she was tutored under wise councillors to become the lady of her castle. She lives in a white castle in the south"
This information impressed Emeric, Alys the lady who had interested him was proven to be an independent noble lady of her own right. His interest was heightened, and he wanted to learn more.
"Alys is also a woman matured, young and well educated, she is also unmarried with a reasonable dowry" the servant added and Emeric's decision was finally made. He decided he was going to marry this young woman that interested him so much whose appearance mesmerised him and kept his attention for most of last night.
Emeric informed his servants at once to arrange a meeting and a marriage arrangement to Alys, he felt that the liege lord Orwylle would freely allow this match. Another period of waiting pervaded the day until late in the afternoon Emeric was relieved that Alys was still present at the castle and agreed to a meeting.
Emeric waited in a study near his quarters in front of the fire when Cedric and the other attendants met up with him and informed that Alys was coming to meet him. Emeric felt a little curious and anxious to see Alys after last night and now she was to see him in person.
Then finally a few old nobles acknowledged Emeric and it seemed to him that they were the ones in charge, that while Alys was the lady of the castle, she was being told what to do by her advisors. This made Alys seem more obedient to him than before.
Then Alys entered into the study with her head down and her hands clasped together, she did not meet his eye, and she looked both meek and demure. Emeric was surprised that she seemed different in person than the cheerful bubbly girl he looked upon before and admired. Alys' hair was pinned up in a simple but graceful style and she wore a midnight blue dress which almost looked black.
"Lady Alys your presence pleases me greatly" Emeric greeted her, Alys looked up at him with a small smile. The lead advisor of hers nudged her forward.
"Go forward my Lady, let him see you"
Alys slowly walked towards him and looked up into his eyes with nervousness before she stood before him and meekly curtsied to him.
Emeric smiled at her and nodded his approval to the lead advisor "Thank you, she is very beautiful, she'll do nicely"
"It has come to our attention that you wish to marry her"
Emeric nodded "I do"
"This is good news indeed it is about time that Alys has found a husband. It is quite humbling to us that her suitor would be the new Lord of Ravens Peak. How is your new title treating you?" The advisor said to him.
"It seems much simpler to me than a life on the road, I have just returned from battle as well, the Lordship is suiting me well" Emeric responded to him with a small smile.
"Alys also has a dowry of land that you could use for hunting, there is a forest outside her castle and near a lake there is a hunting lodge if you marry her, you could spend your honeymoon there"
"This is a good offer" Emeric responded.
"When do you wish to marry her if you do want to?"
"In the coming spring if not sooner, my advisors are insistent I wed as soon as possible" Emeric said back to the line of nobleman that tutor Alys in her position.
"That sounds good an incoming wedding will benefit us and Alys will make you a good wife"
"That's all the confirmation I need" Emeric agreed. And Alys looked at him worried and avoided his gaze, her eyes seemed far away as she was deep in thought. Was she daunted at the idea of being his wife surely she should be grateful or honoured.
Emeric then finally made the arrangements with Alys present seated near him and remained silent. Emeric signed the marriage document and the wedding was arranged to take place at the coming of spring which was a few weeks away at least. Emeric was relieved this settlement was finally completed and a wedding should take place soon. His duty to his land was finished and he could return to his life as Lord.
Now all Emeric had to do was to wait for his upcoming wedding to Alys, he was pleased at the choice he made and he knew that the match between himself and Alys would be successful. Alys left and didn't look at him once as she left the room with her noblemen who actively participated in her future. To him Alys appeared fearful and maybe sad. Emeric hoped that he didn't cause this reaction but he felt that Alys wasn't happy with the wedding and didn't want to marry him.
Emeric felt that Alys should be happy with her situation the life that awaited her is something that Emeric was giving her out of his good will. And the fact that he decided to wed made her seem lucky to him as he had refused all the potential matches before her. All the other noble women were refused, and she had been chosen.
She would become his wife and be bestowed the honourable title as the Lady of Ravens Peak.
