Chapter 13
1527 Words
The queen spent most of her time in the chapel praying for the men fighting. She left only when she was called on by Lady Rothschild, who would come to get her. But on this day, it was Lord Rothschild who came for her.
"Pardon me my queen, but we have need of you." He said in his old and cracked voice.
"What is it Lord Rothschild?" She asked as she looked at the old lord.
"Two more villages have arrived from the border country. My wife is giving them jobs to do as soon as they are settled."
"How many people are there?" She asked and motioned for the old man to sit down beside her.
"Nearly two hundred more." He said and looked at her. "We'll be running out of food soon if something doesn't happen first."
"Is there anymore food in the fields?"
"Yes my queen, some, but not enough to feed that many people."
"Send to the other villages for more supplies. At least two thirds of their stores. Get no more than that. They also need food to live on."
"Yes my queen." He said and stood to his feet. "I heard Lord Delmar the Second is on his way here with two thousand men."
"What of the other reinforcements?"
"No word yet." He said and shook his head.
"How long has it been since word was sent out to our allies?"
"Two months my queen."
"Only two months nd all we get are two thousand fresh men."
"Surely our other allies will send men to help. It may take several more days for them to get here."
"Thank you Lord Rothschild." She said.
"You will thank me by coming to the great hall and eating something."
"Yes Lord Rothschild." She said and walked with the old lord to the great hall.
"My own land is small and I have sent for my five hundred horsemen. They should be here anytime also."
"Thank you for saying that Lord Rothschild."
"Think nothing of it. Your father is the best friend I ever had. You do know that Lady Rothschild is his niece."
"No I didn't."
"Yes, she loves you like her own daughter."
"Do you have any children?"
"We had one. A son, but he died when he was three and we weren't blessed with another child."
"I'm sorry."
"Why, you know that when I'm gone you'll get my lands and all of my horsemen and the footmen."
"No, I didn't know that either."
"Yes, unless there's another you would rather rule my lands in your stead."
"Have you thought of young Sir Talbert? He would make a wonderful son for you."
"I'll talk it over with Lady Rothschild and tell her it was you who told me of him. She'll have the final say in the matter."
"My queen, you have to come quickly." Sir Talbert said and hurried toward the queen with Sally on his heels. "Word has jus come that we have another fifteen hundred horsemen and foot soldiers coming from my father and they'll be here soon."
"That is good news Sir Talbert."
"Yes it is my queen." He said and watched as the shadows of defeat left the young queens eyes. "Now you shouldn't have to worry so much."
"I wasn't worrying Sir Talbert, I was praying for a miracle." She said and took the baked chicken that was given to her. "That's two different things entirely."
The men and women laughed and the queen joined them. They sat at the great table and enjoyed their rather small meal. They were almost finished when a messenger hurried into the great hall.
"My queen, Casteel's army is but five miles from Rosewood and the king needs to have reinforcements now."
The queen stood and looked at the silent group of people around the tables. She thought for a minute then began to issue orders. "Send out riders to all our allies and have them hurry to join the king in the fight." She said and began to pace. "And all the male villagers that can fight, send them out at once and notify all the other villages to send their fighting men. We have to beat back Casteel before he reaches the castle."
"Yes my queen." Was said and the great hall was soon emptied. The young queen went to her chamber and changed into her armor. She then went to the different wings of the castle that housed the wounded soldiers and checked them out room by room. She sent several of the men out into the hall and had them make their way to the great hall where she would meet with them.
After two hours of her inspection, she entered the great hall and faced nearly a hundred men. she looked at them as she sat on the throne. 'You may be wondering why I sent you here." She said and several men looked at each other. "I need for you to go back to the front lines tonight."
"Is it true that Casteel is only a few miles from here?" One man asked.
"Yes. And if the king looses the field, I fear Rosewood will be taken and our allies are very near us as we speak. We must hold out."
"Give me a horse and I shall ride to my death for you my queen." One young soldier said as he stood up.
"When do our allies get here?" Another asked.
"Within two days." The young queen said. "Casteel must be held for at least two days before we can get to the front with the fresh men and horses." she said and watched as the men stood and faced her with determination on their faces before they filed out of the great hall. "May the Lord in Heaven help us now." She said and bowed her head.
"My queen, it's a miracle." Agnes yelled as she ran into the great hall.
"What is it?" She asked as a cheer went up throughout the castle and the village. "What's going on?"
"Hurry my queen. We're saved."
"Has Lord Delmar the Second reached us?"
"No, but the other villages have sent their fighting men to us." She said.
The young queen hurried from the great hall and from the castle. She knew the three men that rode at the front of the village men when they entered the castle's stable. "Father!" she yelled and ran into the arms of the Master Swordsman. "How did you do this? How did you know we needed help?" She wanted to know.
"I rode from village to village and have brought to you eight hundred men on horses and twice that many on foot."
"Oh Father, you're a blessing." She said as she kissed his whiskered face. "Come, we need to make plans now." She said and hurried back into the castle.
"How man reinforcements are coming?"
"We know of four thousand more."
"So we'll have over six thousand fresh men."
"Yes Father, but we don't know where they are or how long it'll take them to get here."
"Well, let's figure this out." He said as they entered the great hall.
They cleared the great table and began placing the cups and plates in positions held by the armies.
"You're sure this is where the armies are?" The young queen asked as she listened to the fighting men.
"Yes my queen." Came the answer.
"Lord Delmar the Second will come to us from this direction with his two thousand men. Lord Rothschild's five hundred horse from this direction. And fifteen hundred more men from Sir's John and Talbert's father that will come from this direction." The Master Swordsman said and positioned each army in the area where they would come from. "And we're here with our twenty-five hundred men and those that are being sent out from here." He said and looked at the positions quickly. "Now if we're to attack from these positions at the same time, we would crush Casteel's army with one blow."
"Can we time a battle like that?" The young queen asked and looked at the Master Swordsman.
"We need to get messengers to our allies and let them know what we need to do."
"I'll go." A page said from behind the people gathered around the table.
"Two days. We attack in no more than two days at dawn, right here." The young queen said and pointed to a spot where she figured Casteel's army would be. "Send a rider to the king and let him know what the plans are so he'll be ready also."
"Yes my queen." Someone else said and rushed from the great hall.
"More reinforcements are arriving!" Someone shouted from the village. "There're more reinforcements arriving!"
"They're here! They're here!" Shouted the people in the village.
"They're here, they're all here except Sirs John and Talbert's father." The young queen said and turned to a servant that stood nearby. "Prepare food for our guest. They'll be hungry when they arrive."
"Yes my queen." The servant said and hurried to the kitchen to prepare food for the guest.
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