The Queen of Rosefield

Chapter 5

    Four years later the forge in the Master Swordsman's shop was hot and hammers were constantly hitting the heated metal as sword smiths formed new swords.  Three young men and a girl worked at the forge making the new swords for the fighting men of their king.  The sword the girl worked on was one she had dreamed of.  Hour after hour she worked on the sword, changing anything that was wrong with it and not stopping for long.  She carved designs in the blade and melted silver and gold to go into the grooves she had carved in the metal.  In the end of the grip, she placed a large ruby that the king had given her four years earlier when she was twelve.  She was so intent upon her work that she didn't hear the horse that stopped near the forge where she worked.

    "Is a forge anyplace for a woman to be?"  A deep male voice said and Malana lost her train of thought as she spun around.  "You should be in your home tending to your husband and children."

    "I'm not married my lord."  She said and looked up at the man who sat a gray stallion.

    "Your father must be daft if he has not already married you off then."  The man said and looked at Malana closer.  "But if he were to clean you up and dress you like a woman, I might even consider taking you as a mistress, though I do like my women a bit larger than you."

    "Hold your tongue Casteel!"  Another man said from behind the stranger.

    "Why?  I go to your king seeking to join his throne with mine by marrying his daughter.  Surly a mistress is of no concern of yours knight."  Casteel said and nodded at Malana as he started to turn his mount.  "Think about it my dear.  You'll have all you ever dreamed of if you come with me."  He rode from the village without looking back.

    "Sir Darren, what brings you here?"  Malana asked and waited for the knight to ride up to the forge.

    "I've come to speak with the Master Swordsman.  Is he here?"

    "He went to visit my mothers grave."  She said.  "He goes there everyday about this time."

    "I was sorry to hear of your mothers death."

    "You are kind to say that."  She said and looked at the sword she held in her hand.  "You're the First Knight of the king now, are you not?"   

    "Yes.  Why do you ask?"

    "Tell me what you think of this sword."  She said and drew the sword from its sheath.

    Sir Darren jumped back and grabbed for his own sword.  His hand clutched the swords hilt, but his eyes were glued to the beautiful sword in the girls hand.  "Where did you get this sword?  I've never seen one like it before."

    "I made it for the king Sir Darren."  She said and stepped around the forge.  "Stand back and let us see what this beauty can do."

    "May I try it first?"  He asked and looked at the black haired beauty in front of him.

    "Yes you may Sir Darren."  She said and handed the sword over to the knight.  He handled it gently before he began to really swing the sword in battle moves.  When he stopped, he looked at the sword with longing, then he looked at Malana.  "It is a kings sword for sure."  He said and lay it in her outstreached hands.  "I've never felt a sword that was so light and as well balanced as this sword is."

    "Malana makes all the swords for the kings knights now."  The Master Swordsman said from behind Sir Darren.  "If you would like, we'll have a demonstration of the swords as soon as the workers are ready."

    "I would like to watch a demonstration now, but I have to get my brother and the other knights first.  Can you do it later today?"

    "That shouldn't be a problem."  The Master Swordsman said and nodded his head.

    "Good, and while you are here, I must tell you that the king wishes Malana great happiness in her betrothal to Sir Darrel of Wayneshire.  He has sent an escort to see her safely to his castle where he will see her married."  Sir Darren said and stood straight and tall as he gave the Master Swordsman and Malana the news.

    "Father, I don't wish to marry a man that I don't know."  She said and looked at her father with bright blue eyes.

    "Silence Malana, there is much you don't know."  The Master Swordsman said as he looked at her with sadness in his eyes.

    "What is it that I don't know Father?"  She asked as she looked at the man who had raised her as his daughter.

    "Not hear."  He said and shook his head as he looked at the First Knight.

    "Tell me Father!  I'm not a little girl anymore.  What is it that I need to know that I don't know?"  She wanted to know.

    "My child, I'm not your true father."  the Master Swordsman said in a low voice and Malana shook her head in acknowledgment that she knew that.  "The king is."  He could feel the eyes of Sir Darren boring into his back as he told Malana the news.

    "So the rumors around the castle were true.  The Princess of Rosewood is still alive and will take the throne."  Sir Darren said and looked at the shocked face of the girl.

    "Yes, she is the daughter of the king whom I raised with my wife and promised to return when she was sixteen."  The Master Swordsman said and looked at Sir Darren.

    "Father, why did you not tell me this?  Why didn't the king tell me when he stopped here four years ago after his heir had died?"  She wanted to know.  

    "I was bound by a promise that I made to the king when he handed you to your nurse."

    "All of you knew and didn't tell me."  She said and turned away from the two men.  She walked back to her forge and banked the fire before she left the shop.  She walked home and put on the armor she used when she practiced her swordsmanship in secret.  Her long black hair hung from the top of her helmet like the banner flag of a running horse, and her face was covered with a guard so no one would know who she was as she headed to the stables to get a horse.  She was sitting astride a hot tempered red mare when her father found her.

    "Do you wish to fight?"  He asked her and saw her nod.  "Join us in the square."  He said and jumped out of the way as the mare bolted forward.  "There'll be no bloodshed!"  He yelled as several men emerged from various placed to do battle.  "This fight is going to be a demonstration to show our kings knights that we are ready to fight if we are called upon."  He told the men gathered.

    "We're ready!"  The men yelled and each one threw up his sword arm.

    Malana left the back of the mare and joined the men in front of the swords shop.  "You'll be out of the fight if the flat side of the sword hits you in a killing blow.  Those places are the head.  Behind the knees.  Either arm where the limb would be severed.  The belly and the back."  The Master Swordsman said loudly and watched as the men nodded their heads.  The villagers were gathering together to watch and some were pointing at Malana and laughing.

    "Look at the boy there.  He's bested in size by the men."  One woman said and pointed at Malana.  "Give the boy a chance Mark, and don't hurt him to much."  She called to her husband who was the largest man in the group.

    "Should the boy be in this fight Master Swordsman?"  Sir Darren asked.

    "Boy?  What boy?"

    "The one there in the strange black armor."

    "Watch that one Sir Darren.  You and all present shall see a true warrior there."

    "But Sir, the boy cannot weigh much more than a hundred pounds."

    "What is size Sir Darren?  Just watch that one as I said."

    Before the fighting began, fifteen knights rode into the village and sat their mounts behind the villagers.  One knight wore no helmet and his brown hair stuck up in places all over the top of his head.  He looked at the villagers before his eyes focused on his brother.  He left his mount and went to stand beside his younger brother.

    "What have I missed?"  He asked.

    "Darrel, we're about to see a skirmish to see how these villagers are prepared to help defend our king if they are needed to fight."  Sir Darren said and watched as his older brother stepped forward to look at the men before him.

    "My name is Sir Darrel of Wayneshire, and I issue a challenge to the last man standing."  He said and looked harder at the men.  "If the last man standing beats me in a fight with your rules, I shall be his servant for life."

    "The men looked at each other before they cheered as Malana eyed the men she was betrothed to.  She saw nothing in him that she could love as she should her future husband.  "I shall beat you Sir Darrel, and you will be my servant, not my husband."  She whispered and paired off with one of the smaller men in the village.

    "When all pairs are down to one, step up here to be paired off again.  The loser goes back to the sidelines to watch."  The Master Swordsman said and looked at each fighter.  "Remember, flat side of the sword only, no blood is to be drawn.  Now begin."  He yelled and the fighting began.

    Malana played around some with the man she was fighting against and let him think he was winning.  Several of the older men were already finished with their first round when Malana made her move.  She knocked the man upside the head and sent him reeling into the crowd.  He was dazed and as he tried to sit up, he realized who had struck him.

    "Quiet Vicar.  Don't let them know it is me."  She said softly and saw his nod.  "Good."  She said and left Vicar to go stand with the other men.

    "We have sixteen men to pair off.  Find someone and prepare to fight again."  The Master Swordsman said.

    Once more Malana was paired off with a smaller man.  She knew these men were more experienced at fighting so she had to be on her guard.  She still played around some, but she struck her opponent first and went to stand near her father.  Sir Darren leaned down and spoke in her ear.

    "You play to much, but you seem to be good."  He said and saw the nod.  "Why do you not show us what you really can do?"

    Malana said nothing, she just nodded her head.

    "Soon only one of these eight men will be left.  Who will be the next four men to leave the field?  Pair off and prepare to fight."  There was a slight pause as they waited for one of the men to get his feet set in the right way for him.  "Fight!"

    At the word fight, Malana went into action.  She didn't play around as she fought this time.  Her sword flew swiftly around and she soon knocked her opponent out of the fight.

    "Only two more fights and I have my turn."  Sir Darrel said and shook his head.  "Only I am surprised that the boy is still fighting."

    "He is good Brother, but he is not giving it his all."  Sir Darren said.  "Master Swordsman, who is the lad?"

    "You will find out soon enough."

    "You won't tell us."

    "No, just watch and you'll see what happens."

    Again Malana beat her opponent fast and she faced Mark.  they didn't wait for any word to begin their fight, but went at it quickly.  The two swords hit and connected several times before Malana slapped her sword against Marks helmet.  The large man shook his head against the ringing in his ears and grinned through his bushy beard at being defeated by the smallest fighter of the day.

    "Today I'm bested by a mere lad who is worthy of the sword."  He called out and clasped Malana on the shoulder before he joined his wife.  "Give the lad a chance Sir Darrel.  He's smaller than any man he has fought today and is surely tired now."

    "I shall show him mercy."  Sir Darrel said and stepped into the opening.  "Pick your sword young swordsman and let us begin."

    "Here, take this."  Vicar said and handed Malana the ruby sword she had made for the king.

    "Come lad, we shall see who is best."  Sir Darrel said and brandished his sword.

    Malana began working the long sword in her hands and the silver and gold shone brightly inthe sun.  there was no play in the way she handled the sword and Sir Darrel knew it.  The two crossed swords several times and Malana moved quickly on her feet.  She ducked and jumped back and once she fell to the ground when she tripped on a sword that was left on the ground.  She scrambled to her feet and as Sir Darrel swung his sword to connect with Malana's head, she turned a flip and connected her sword with the sword of Sir Darrel.  The knights sword split close to the hilt as the sword Malana held cut through it.  Without stopping her circle, Malana turned her sword around and the flat side of the sword hit Sir Darrel in the seat of his armor with a loud pop.  The knight landed on his hands and knees in front of the Master Swordsman and Sir Darren with a groan.  The two men were looking at the small swordsman with shock on their faces and no one said a word as Sir Darrel slowly reached his feet.  He looked at his brother and saw the look of pure shock written on his face.

    "I wish to know who bested me."  Sir Darrel said and turned to look at Malana.  "The king will gladly welcome a swordsman such as you to join him."

    "Brother, did you forget your vow?"  Sir Darren asked as he looked at his older brother.

    "No, but whom better to be at the kings side than the one who bested his second best knight and the man betrothed to the princess."

    Malana was shocked at the words of the knight.  She was behind him and her blue eyes were flashing fire at his words.  She kicked the knight right in his rear in the same spot where the sword had connected and he once more hit the ground.  This time the edge of Malana's sword was against his neck and the knights were starting to draw their swords when Vicar yelled.

    "Stop!  Don't touch the child!"  His voice was strong and he hurried to Malana's side.  "Sir Darrel has vowed to serve the person who bested him with the sword.  This person has done it, and you must swear to be the servant until your death."  Vicar said and looked down at Sir Darrel.

    "You know I didn't mean it."  He said as he turned over and looked at Vicar.

    "Would you rather die than keep your word."  Malana asked in a muffled voice.

    "Brother, do as you say.  Swear to be the servant of this swordsman and live."  Sir Darren said and looked at his brother.

    "Alright, I'll keep my promise.  I'll serve this swordsman until the day I die."  He said.

    "Good job Sir Darrel, now young swordsman, who are you?  Take off your helmet and show us your face."  The Master Swordsman said and watched as the helmet was pulled from the head of the victor.

    "My God, I was beaten by a girl."  Sir Darrel said as he looked up at Malana from where he was still laying on the ground.

    "Vicar, you knew it was my daughter?"  The Master Swordsman asked.

    "At first I didn't.  But when she bear me in the first round, I knew who she was."  He said and looked at the Master Swordsman.

    "And you didn't tell us a woman was fighting."  Sir Darrel said and he climbed to his feet.

    "I couldn't disobey my future queen."  Vicar said and went to knee before the black clad girl.

    "Queen?  How can she be our queen?"  Several people were asking and watched as the knights and the Master Swordsman knelt before Malana.

    "On your knees before Princess Malana, future Queen of Rosewood!"  Sir Darrel bellowed and the villagers that were still standing knelt.  "My lady, I have never met a more worthy swordsman than you."

    "Sir Darrel, rise to your feet.  Father, stand up and treat me as you have for the last sixteen years."  Malana said and walked to her father.

    "Malana, child that I nursed."  Her old nurse said from behind her.  "I should have known you were the kings daughter when he handed charge of you to me."

    "Oh Nurse, I love you for taking care of me."

    "You wont forget me."

    "How could I.  You are like a second mother to me and when I leave for the kings castle, you'll come with me."

    "I cannot." 

    "And why not?"

    "My husband and children.  What of them?"

    "You have one son in the kings castle now, why not your whole family?"

    "What can a wood worker do in a castle?"

    "There should be plenty of work for him to do."  Malana said and looked at her nurses husband as he stood behind his wife.  "Pack your family, you'll travel with me."

    "As you say Princess Malana."  He said and bowed his head before he took his wife's arm and spoke to his family.  "Come along children, we have to pack our things quickly.  We're going to be living at Rosewood."  The family hurried through the villagers to pack up their belongings for their move.