Redemption
In Willshire, the capture notice spread like wildfire.
Everyone was out searching for them. Why not?
The ransom was a life’s fortune for most!
In Schillingburg, Amelia prepared for the meeting
with David. She had waited for this meeting for so
long. All was placed in position and she would
finally be returning home or so she thought.
Amelia and Sir Guillaume prepared the horses
early that evening so they would not be noticed
late that night. Amelia was very nervous, King
Erich acted very suspicious with her lately. She
reacted over and over what she would say to him
so he would not doubt her. She finally took a deep
breath and made her way to the throne room.
Amelia entered the room where King Erich was.
She entered slowly and bowed.
“My dear King, I shall retire early to my quarters,
my head aches. I will see you in the early morn.”
Amelia said.
“Your head aches? Are you sick?” King Erich
responded suspiciously.
“No not sick, just a normal headache, I have not
been able to relieve it. I think sleep will do
wonders for it.” Amelia responded.
“Ok my Lady, I hope the sleep will help you. I will
send in some pain relief tea for you” King Erich
replied.
Amelia hurried up to her quarters.
Guillaume was waiting near her door. They both
entered the room. Amelia automatically kissed him
with excitement. “Guillaume, it is almost time.”
She said joyfully.
“All is in place, we shall depart soon.” Guillaume
whispered. Minutes later there was a knock the
door. Amelia jumped in bed and Sir Guillaume took
his place by the door.
“Amelia? It is I. I have your tea.” King Erich said.
Sir Guillaume opened the door and bowed.
Amelia sat up slowly and said “Thank you so much
my grace, I am hoping this will help.” “I am sure it
will, drink it and rest.” King Erich said as he walked
towards the door.
He suddenly stopped and said to Sir Guillaume
“Keep an eye on her.”
To Sir Guillaume it seemed strange like a warning.
As soon as the King left the room, Amelia spit out
the tea.
“Oh my, that was awful!” Amelia said.
“Did you drink a lot of it? Here have some water.”
Sir Guillaume responded. “King Erich is being
suspicious, you never know what he may have put
in that tea.” Sir Guillaume ended.
King Erich felt anxious.
He went to his room but the edgy feeling would
not let him rest. He laid down but quickly rose. He
kept hearing strange noises and felt something
was terribly wrong.
He opened the door and looked down the dark
passage way.
He suddenly heard horses. He ran to his window
and looked out. He could see two horses but not
their riders. He ran over to Amelia’s room and
knocked loudly. When there was no response, he
pushed the door open to find no one inside. He ran
down the stairs yelling “Prepare my horse”.
Charles came out of his room and said “My Liege
what has happened?”
“I must followed them” King Erich yelled as he ran
and jump on his horse.
Charles had no idea what was going on.
Amelia and Guillaume rode fast towards Landford.
They did not know King Erich and every criminal
were on their heels. In the moors, they could see
David waiting for them. As they got closer,
Guillaume jumped off his horse and helped Amelia
off hers. They walked over to him. Amelia ran over
to David and hugged him. “My brother, how I have
missed you.” She said.
Sir Guillaume turned quickly to the sound of
hooves.
Right behind King Erich rode up.
He stopped and yelled “How dare you betray me
like this?”
Amelia frightened turn towards King Erich and Sir
Guillaume pulled out his sword to protect her.
“There is no betrayal here, Amelia just wants to go
home.” David yelled.
“She is home” King Erich replied.
“My grace, Schillingburg is not my home, I
appreciate your hospitality but my home is
Landford.” Amelia replied.
Suddenly a voice from yonder yells “There are the
fugitives.” The moors were covered with men on
horses.
Sir Guillaume grabs Amelia around the neck and
puts a dagger to her chest.
“What are you doing, Guillaume?” Amelia asked.
“Stand back, all of you or I will kill her!” Guillaume
yelled.
Amelia was terrified. She could not understand
what was happening.
“Sir Guillaume I command you to lower your
weapon” King Erich shouted.
“You are not my King, so keep your distance” Sir
Guillaume responded.
“David, remain there!” Guillaume shouted as he
moved closer.
“Amelia, I have a duty by my Kingdom to kill a
traitor.” Guillaume said as tears streamed down
his face. “Guillaume, what are you saying?”
Amelia asked.
“Please trust me my lady.” Sir Guillaume
whispered.
“In the eyes of Willshire, you are envisioned as a
traitor for the release of the murderer of our King
Michael, so for my King Paul and Willshire, I will
pour your blood in these here moors. I am sorry,
my Lady.” Sir Guillaume said.
At that moment he pierced the dagger into her
side. Amelia screamed. He then picked her up and
put her on his horse. At that same moment the
men attacked King Erich’s men and David.
Sir Guillaume with Amelia rode off towards St.
Vangaltier.
She was screaming and wiggling to get loose. In
between short breaths Amelia said “What are you
doing Sir Guillaume, why did you do this, I love
you.”
“I am saving you, just be still my Lady,
explanations will follow, I promise.” Sir Guillaume
whispered. They rode fast. They could not do
anything but watch Sir Guillaume ride away with
her. David turned and yelled at Greyson, who was
riding towards them. “Follow him and if you catch
him, make his blood flow as he did Amelia’s.”
Greyson followed but lost them near Willshire.
As they approached St. Vangaltier, a mob of
people were making their way towards the castle.
Sir Guillaume covered his face and Amelia’s as he
rode towards them.
“What is going on, my man?” He asked.
“We plan on overthrowing the King, he has put out
a bounty for his own sisters head. She is in
Schillingburg and we do not want King Erich to
invade us because of a stupid decision.” Sir
Guillaume bowed his head and slowly rode away.
Amelia was terrified of this news and she knew
King Paul had no compassion for her without
protection she will be killed.
In the moors, the battle continued.
Schillingburg and Landford soldiers fought these
men. David grabbed one of the men and asked
who sent him. The man answered King Paul has a
bounty for Amelia’s head. David retreated back to
the castle in horror.
As David entered the castle, he bumped into
Thomas.
“What has happened to you, my brother?”
Thomas asked.
“I just fought 100 men who are out to kill Amelia.”
David replied as he wiped blood from his face.
“What?!” Thomas responded.
“King Paul has put out orders for her death.” David
affirmed.
“He must have gone mad, are you sure?” Thomas
asked.
“As we speak there is a battle going on in between
the moors of Schillingburg and Landford.” David
confirmed.
“Then to complete it all, Amelia’s guard injured her
and rode away. I sent Greyson, hopefully he
caught them.” David ended.
“Unfortunately they got away my Lord.” Greyson
added as he entered.
An angry King Erich entered his castle.
“I WANT HIS HEAD!!!!” King Erich yelled.
“My Liege, what has happened?” Charles asked.
“Sir Guillaume has taken Amelia, he was a hired
Knight ordered by King Paul to come get her and
kill her.” King Erich yelled.
Charles was confused.
“Therefore HIS HEAD IS MINE!!!! King Erich
shouted. Charles could not believe what was
happening. Sir Guillaume never seemed to be a
traitor.
“Why would King Paul order a Knight to kill his
own sister?” Charles asked.
“Who knows? He’s an idiot!” King Erich responded.
In St. Vangaltier, Sir Guillaume and Amelia arrived
at his mother’s home. As they got off the horses,
his mother noticed he was injured.
“Guillaume, my son you are hurt, come inside.” His
mother said.
Amelia helped Guillaume indoors.
“Mother, this is Lady Amelia of Landford.”
Guillaume said in between moans.
His mother bowed and smiled.
“How did this happen?” His mother asked.
“Mother, I had to get Lady Amelia away from
Schillingburg, the only way was to make them
believe she was injured by injuring myself and
removing her from that situation.” Guillaume
answered while his mother cleaned his wound.
“My son, I have been worried, King Paul has set
forth an order for yours and Lady Amelia’s capture.
Why is that?” His mother asked.
“My brother is King Paul of Willshire. He claims I
betrayed him by releasing the murderer of my
other brother. It is such a big mess, my dear lady,
but Guillaume has nothing to do with it.” Amelia
answered.
“Oh my” His mother whispered concerned.
“I made an oath to protect her and I have grown
to love her, Mother.” Sir Guillaume said.
Amelia reached over and grabbed his hand and
said “I have grown to love you as well, Guillaume.”
While his mother bandaged his wound, she
commented “It is not as bad as it seems, it is just a
flesh wound.”
Sir Guillaume smiled and responded “Fleshy but
still painful Mother.
Sir Guillaume knew they could not stay there, it
could be dangerous for his mother.
Knowing that many were out to capture them
made it hard to know who were actually on their
side. Sir Guillaume had many friends but for
money those friends became scarce.
King Erich called his soldiers into formation. He
had decided to send a few of them into St.
Vangaltier. He knew Sir Guillaume’s mother live
somewhere in that small town.
“Sir Omaur, get together your best men and
prepare them for a trip to St. Vangaltier. They will
visit every house until Sir Guillaume is caught. I
don’t care if it takes days and I don’t care who gets
upset, I want him bought to me alive.”
“And Lady Amelia, my grace, what do we do with
her if found with him?” Sir Omaur asked.
“Kill her!” King Erich replied.
King Erich watched as Sir Omaur chose and
prepared his soldiers, they were all ruthless killers
and King Erich knew they would complete the task.
He tapped Sir Omaur on the shoulder and said
“Wonderful choices, let us have sport, we will give
Sir Guillaume and Lady Amelia a night to find a
good hiding spot then we shall surprise them.
Prepare to leave in the early morn.”
In Landford, things were a bit different. Thomas
showed no worries, as David was consumed by it
because he knew if they were found they would be
killed.
“So what are your plans?” David asked.
“My plans for what?” Thomas answered.
“Your plans about Amelia? What are we going to
do?” David asserted.
“We are not going to do anything. Brother, she
does not want to be here and I am not going to
force her to come back. She chose her destiny.”
Thomas responded.
“What the hell are you talking about, Thomas?
How did she chose what has happened to her. That
Knight took her.” David answered.
King Thomas walked towards the window and
looked out.
He turned to David and said “Those are my orders,
like it or not. No harm will come to her if she
returns to Landford but I, you or my soldiers will
not go for her.”
David could not understand Thomas’ change of
heart.
“Are you serious? You are just going to let her be
killed?” David asked.
Thomas shrugged his shoulders and walked away.
He knew his decision was harsh but what else
could he really do.
David yelled behind him “This is unacceptable
Thomas! You cannot do that to her!”
Thomas stopped and yelled back “I CANNOT DO
WHAT? Let Amelia die? WHAT!? What can I not
do? I DO NOT THINK YOU REMEMBER, I CAN DO
ANYTHING I WANT, I AM KING! And as I repeat
myself once again, she will find no harm in
Landford if she chooses to come back here but we
will not help her come back.”
“I cannot believe you are so cold. You know, yes I
can, I thought you had changed but as always it
was a farce.” David replied.
Thomas laughed and said “She chose this David,
she knows what she is doing, let her live with her
choice. Landford will not intervene.” Thomas
ended.
He began to walk away then stopped and warned
David “Oh and if you decided to go for her
remember you are not needed in Landford either, I
will dispose of you like tomorrows trash.”
David walked up to Thomas and said “You do not
scare me brother. You should be more afraid than
I.” Thomas laughed and shook his head.
David walked away angrily.
In St. Vangaltier, Guillaume and Amelia said their
goodbyes and went on their way. They were
fugitives so they had to travel at night. After a few
miles, they stopped near at the divide. There they
found a cave where they can have some shelter for
the time being.
“Amelia, you can rest in there, I will be at watch!”
Sir Guillaume said.
“My sweet man, we can both rest in there, we are
both alert enough to watch together.” Amelia
answered.
“Where shall we go? We can head east past
Willshire to Alistair or west to Wynnfrith. You
choose?” Guillaume said.
Amelia laughed “It does not matter, where will we
really be safe?”
Guillaume took a deep breath and responded
“Truth? I do not know.”
Amelia smiled and put her arms around him.
Morn had come quick.
The quiet town of St. Vangaltier was being taken
over by Schillingburg Soldier’s looking for Sir
Guillaume and Amelia. Guillaume’s mother was
returning from the bakery when she saw Soldier’s
setting her home on fire. She could not do
anything but watch in horror from a distance. As
they rode off a few townsmen came to her aid and
put the fire out but most of her home was
destroyed. The town looked like it had been
through a war. Dead bodies, burnt homes and all
for nothing because Guillaume and Amelia were
nowhere to be found. As Guillaume’s mother tried
to collect her things, Sir Omaur approached her.
“Who are you?” Sir Omaur shouted.
“This is my home, sir” Guillaume’s mother replied.
“Oh so you are Sir Guillaume of Schillingburg’s
mother ay?” He added.
She nodded her head in agreement. He jumped off
his horse and approached her.
“Where is he?” Sir Omaur asked.
Guillaume’s mother remained silent.
He grabbed her arm and shook her and whispered
“Your son? Where is he?”
She closed her eyes and said nothing.
“Do not make me hurt you old lady, where is he
and Amelia?” He whispered ominously.
“SPEAK” He yelled.
He threw her to the ground and slowly removed
his sword.
“Well since you will not speak, I will leave a
message for him that I am sure will make him
respond.” He stated.
He pierced her chest with his sword. He slowly
walked passed her and spit towards her and said
“Your son is a traitor and will die as one.”
King Erich was not happy with the news that they
had gotten away. He sent out his soldiers to patrol
into Landford. He was not giving up on finding
them.
Guillaume and Amelia had decided on going to
Wynnfrith. It was a beautiful small town along the
coast.
In between St. Vangaltier and Wynnfrith were
miles of dense forest so their travels were going to
be treacherous. They knew they would probably
confront many perils.
David could not let this rest like it was. Amelia was
his sister and he felt he had to protect her no
matter what. Thomas had another idea though.
“David? DAVID!” Thomas said as he came
knocking on his room door. When no answer he
opened it and Landford guards pushed their way
in.
“WHERE IS HE? Thomas yelled.
“Tear this castle apart until you find him and arrest
him!” Thomas ended.
Greyson ran in quick and asked “What is going on,
my Lord? What did David do?”
Thomas approached him and whispered
“Unfortunately, he was born.”
He then motioned to his guards to grab Greyson.
Greyson struggled against his guards. “What is
happening, why are you doing this, my Lord?”
Greyson requested.
Thomas laughed and said “You do not know? I am
charging you and my brother with treason, in
advance, of course. I am preparing myself for your
betrayal which would probably come in the next
few days. Knowing you both so well, I suspect you
have planned or will plan a way to help Amelia
and why wait for that. Makes my life so much
easier.”
Thomas returned to his room as Greyson was led
away.
“Where the hell is David?” He said to himself. As
he looked out his window he noticed the stables
doors were open. He quickly ran to the stables.
“Guard, where are these two horses?” Thomas
said as he pointed at two empty stables.
“Lord David and Lady Elizabeth went out for a ride,
they should be back shortly.” The Stable hand
answered. “Ughhhh” Thomas responded.
As Thomas exited the stables he yelled “Sir Jurian,
Sir Augustine prepare my soldiers, I will return
with your orders.”
Both Knights bowed. Thomas made his way to the
dungeon to speak with Greyson. Upon arriving he
saw Greyson’s cell door open and no one inside.
“Where is the prisoner?” Thomas asked.
“He has escaped my grace but we are in pursuit.”
The Guard replied.
“This is unacceptable! Must I do everything
myself!” Thomas shouted as he returned to the
yard where his soldiers were lined up.
“Men, I need you to retrieve David, Elizabeth and
Greyson.” Thomas yelled.
‘’They have betrayed your King, bring them to me
alive so I can remove their heads myself or if they
happen die in transit, so be it.” Thomas
commanded.
David had sent Elizabeth to Alistair to be with
family. He knew his plan would enrage Thomas
and he would some after them. Upon reaching St.
Vangaltier, David came across all the destruction.
He could not believe King Erich had commanded
his soldiers to kill. As he rode, he heard a muffled
moan in the distance. He looked about and saw
nothing. He then heard it again. David got off his
horse and walked towards a burnt home, in the
distance he could see someone but they did not
look alive. As he got closer, the moans became
more apparent.
“My lady, are you in need of assistance?” He
asked. The lady was terrified and began crying
hysterically.
“I will not hurt you, I am here to help, if needed.”
David asserted. As he came up to her, he could see
she was wounded badly. He bent down to assist
her. She kept mumbling but David could not
understand. He wiped her face and asked “Who
did this?” She moved her mouth slowly so blood
would not fill it and whispered “Help my son and
Amelia.” David covered the injury with a piece of
cloth but it was too severe.
“Where are they?” David asked.
She looked in the opposite direction and repeated
“Help my son and Amelia.”
David nodded his head in agreement.
David grabbed her hand as she passed on.
In her hand was a small shield with Sir Guillaume’s
crest on it. David looked down at it as she had
pressed it against his hand. He then looked
around. He gently laid her head down and got up.
He noticed heavy hoof prints going towards
Schillingburg and a few in the other direction.
“They are going to the divide” David thought.
He ran to his horse and jumped on. He rode fast
towards the divide. “Please still be there” David
kept repeating to himself.
Guillaume and Amelia had decided to wait out a
few days then slowly make their way to Wynnfrith.
Moving out too fast could cause alarm and that
could cause them to be captured.
Extremely tired, David kept on riding.
He needed to find Amelia. After riding into the
night, he slowly made his way into the forest to
find an area to rest. He thought to himself “If I
were Amelia, were would I hide.” His eyes were so
tired but he made out an image in the darkness.
He jumped into a bush to hide.
“Is that Amelia?” He thought. “If that is her she
will recognize you girl.” He said to the horse.
He tapped his back and whispered “Go Princess,
get Amelia.” The horse slowly walked towards the
darkness. David suddenly heard a whisper “Oh my
Guillaume, this looks just like Princess, my brother
David’s horse.” Amelia said.
“Why would it be out here in the middle of
nowhere?” Guillaume asked.
At that time, David came out of the bush and just
collapsed. Amelia was startled but ran towards
him. “David!!!” She lifted his head as he laid on the
ground.
“Bring some water, Guillaume please.” She added.
She placed the water near his lips so he could
drink. “What are you doing here? How did you find
us?” Amelia asked.
He smiled and whispered “we have that
connection, remember?”
She giggled and replied “Rest, we can talk when
you are less tired.”
Guillaume helped David to their cave.
“Here, sit here David.” Guillaume requested.
“St. Vangaltier is in shambles. King Erich sent in his
soldier and they destroyed the whole town looking
for you both.” David said.
“Did you see my mother?” Guillaume asked.
David lowered his eyes and replied “I do not know
if she was your mother but she gave me this and
said to help her son and Amelia.”
“Was?” Guillaume asked solemnly.
“Yes, I am so sorry. She passed after she directed
me this way.” David responded.
Amelia put her arm around Guillaume and
whispered “This is all my fault.”
Guillaume nodded no and hugged her back.
“No, it is definitely King Erich and King Paul’s fault
for making such an unnecessary ruckus.” David
responded.
“You never said what you were doing here?”
Amelia asked.
“I am here to find you. Did you think I would just
let you deal with this alone?” David replied.
Amelia smiled.
“I just wish you would have told me you had
Guillaume on your side, here I am believing you
were his prisoner.” David added.
“I am sorry David, things just happened so fast
there was not time to do anything.” Amelia