The Queen of Rosefield

Chapter 9

    "Father, are you going to war also?"  The young queen asked the Master Swordsman.

    "If the king ask me, I'll go with him."  He said and walked to her side.

    "But if you go, there'll be no one here that I know."  She said and turned quickly at a new voice that sounded in the chamber.

    "She's right Jonathon.  You need to stay here and be her war counselor until Sir Darren returns."  The king said and walked up to his daughter.  "You do know Sir Darren and I know he will protect you till his death."

    "My king, Sir Darren is wounded and I have no idea when he'll be well enough to fight by your side."

    "That's right."  The king said and saw the red cheeks of his daughter.  "Tell me my daughter, do you have feelings for my first knight?"  The old king asked as he looked at his daughter.

    "Would you be disappointed in me if I were in love with him my king?"  She asked and looked into the blue eyes that mirrored her own.

    "No my daughter."  He said and leaned over to kiss her on the forehead.  "I would welcome Sir Darren as my son.  He was betrothed to your sister Anna."

    "Thank you my king."  The young queen said and took the kings hand in hers.  "I'll walk with you to your mount."  She said and walked with the king to his waiting charger.  She looked at Sir John as he sat his own mount.  "Sir John, protect our king."  She said.

    "With my life my queen."  He said and looked at her before he kicked his mount after the king.

    "How will we know how the battle is going?"  She wanted to know.

    "The king will send runners to us.  If he needs anything we're to send it to him."  The Master Swordsman said and led the way back inside the castle.  "For now I believe you need to speak to Ruth.  She's in charge of the castle larder."

    "Alright, I'll start with Ruth."  She said as she headed to the great hall with the Master Swordsman.

    "She already awaits you."

    Malana saw the large red haired woman waiting for her.  She was well dressed and held herself as straight as she could as she waited for the queen.  "Ruth."  The young queen said and the woman turned.

    "My queen."  The woman said and knelt before the queen.

    "Why you are Anna's mother."  Malana said and went to kneel in front of the woman and take her work hardened hands into her own as the tears began to fall down the woman's cheeks.  "Don't cry Ruth, Sir Darrel is on the trail of the men who took Anna."

    "Oh my queen, you don't know how relieved I am to hear that from you."  The older woman said as she looked into the eyes of her queen.  "I was so afraid no one would search for her."

    "I know, now rise and tell me what you have for me."  She said and walked with the older woman as she talked.

    "There's plenty of fruits and vegetables in the kitchen larder, but there's not much meat left.  Most of it was sent with the army when they left."

    "Meat should be no problem."  The young queen said and looked toward the Master Swordsman.  "Father, send out hunters to bring in meat.  We're running short."

    "My queen, there's plenty of hogs and cattle in the villages along with sheep and goats."  One old lord said as he looked at the roasted pig on the large table.

    "We'll not eat the animals of the villagers unless we have to."  the queen said and looked at the old lord.  "Ruth, when the hunters bring in the meat, salt it down and store it in a cool place to cure."

    "Yes my queen."  Ruth said and the young queen began walking around the castle checking it out.  Several of the ladies in her court followed her and showed her the way around as they walked the halls of the large castle.  The young queen opened each chamber door and found several that weren't in use on one floor of the wing where they walked.  "Why are these chambers dirty?"  She asked as she looked at one of the ladies that walked with her.

    "No one lives in them my queen."  The woman said.

    "Have them cleaned and aired out anyway.  You never know when they'll be needed at a moments notice."

    "Yes my queen."  The woman said and nodded her head.

    "Now show me the next wing."  She said and they turned into another wing of the castle.

    This entire wing of the castle was empty and had been empty for a long time.  When the doors to the hall were opened, dust and cobwebs were everywhere and a musty smell filled the air.  The young queen held a cloth to her nose as she began counting the doors without going any further than she already had.  "Come, let's get out of here.  The air is foul in this hall."

    When the doors were closed behind them, the ladies looked at each other and one asked.  "How many chambers did you count my queen?

    "I counted five and twenty doors before I had to leave the hall."  She said and looked at the ladies.

    "There are four different levels in this wing so we're looking at one hundred chambers to clean, if not more."  The lady said and shook her head in defeat.

    "So be it then.  These chambers must also be cleaned.  I want to use this wing of the castle for the wounded men after the battle."  the young queen said and looked at the ladies.

    "Yes my queen, but we'll need to get some of the village women to help us.  There's not enough maidens in the castle to do this work and their other duties as well."

    "I know."  the young queen said.  "Send for every woman in the village that can do the work that is needed.  I'll see them in the great hall."

    "Yes my queen.  Is there any other place you wish to see today?"

    "No, I just want this castle to be clean for starters.  Tomorrow I'll check out the North Wing."

    "I fear it is in the same state of disuse as this East Wing."

    "Then we'll clean it next."  The young queen looked up to see a woman walking toward them.  "Who is the woman there?  She put me in Sir Darren's bed chamber when I arrived yesterday."

    "Her?  She is Lady Anna's maid Hester.  I believe she feels that you have robbed her of her place with your half sister."

    "That's silly."  the young queen said and looked at Hester.  The woman quickly turned and headed down the hall in the other direction.  "Hester!"  The queen yelled and the woman began to run.  "Stop that woman!  I need to speak with her!"  She yelled as two male servants turned into the hall.

    They dropped the items they were carrying and gave chase to Hester.  They were calling for her to stop when a knight joined in the chase.  Soon the screaming Hester was dragged before the queen by the two servants with the knight following on their heels.  When the servants turned Hester's arms loose, she struck the queen a blow on the cheek with her open hand.

    The knight drew his sword and was about to strike her down when the queen stopped him.  "No, don't kill her."  She said and raised her hand.  The knight held his sword and looked at the young queen as he waited for her orders.  "Take her to the great hall and wait for me there."  She said and Hester was led away by the two servants, she could hear the woman's loud sobs as she went through the halls.  "Gather the lords and everyone else in the castle in the great hall."  She told the knight and the ladies with her.  "I'll be in the chapel praying so come for me when all are gathered."

    "Yes my queen."  The knight said and bowed before he turned to do his queens bidding.

    When the queen went into the chapel, the ladies went about helping gather everyone together in the great hall.  The young queen walked to the alter and knelt before it in prayer.  "My Heavenly Father, grant me the wisdom to give a just punishment to an angry and frightened woman.  I know she really doesn't hate me Lord, but do the others know that?  What do I do to show mercy to her?  What do I do to gain the peoples love and trust?  Help me Lord God in Heaven."  She said and turned as the chapel door opened.

    "My queen, everyone is waiting for you."  The knight said softly.

    "I'll be out soon."  She said and stood to her feet.  She walked from the chapel and headed for the great hall.  As she entered, everyone knelt before her.  "Rise."  She said and everyone slowly stood as she walked to the throne.  She sat down and two knights came to stand on either side of her.  "You may sit if you like."  She said and everyone slowly sat as they watched her.

    "Why are we here my queen?"  One servant dared to as the question that no one else wanted to voice.

    "To find the right punishment for a woman named Hester."

    "Hester?  Is she not Lady Anna's maid?"  Another servant asked as the servants looked around at each other.

    "She's a good girl my queen."  Yet another servant said and more servants began to speak the same words.

    "Silence!"  The queen yelled and looked about the great hall at the people gathered there.  "Bring Hester before me."  She said to the servants who stood with the woman.

    Hester walked slowly before the people in the great hall and stopped before the queen.  She held her head down and waited for her punishment to be given to her.

    "Hester, what is it you are to be punished for?"  The young queen asked.  "Tell all to these people so they may know that I'm a just queen in what I do."

    Hester raised her head and spoke loudly and clearly though her voice did tremble from time to time.  "I hated you for being the one who wasn't taken and was left here at Rosewood.  So when the king told me to take you to your chamber, I took you to Sir Darren's bed chamber instead.  You did nothing to me then, but today when you called for me to stop, I thought you were angry with me so I ran."  She said and covered her face with her hands as she burst into tears.

    "Continue Hester."  The young queen said gently and waited for her to finish.

    "You sent two servants after me, and then a knight joined them before they caught me.  When I was brought before you, I slapped your face in my anger and fright."  At Hester's words the people gathered in the great hall gasped and looked at each other in shock.

    One old lord stood to his feet and spoke.  "My queen, I'm Lord Rothschild, I must say that the punishment for a servant that strikes royalty is death.  That's the law in Rosewood."  He said and sat back down.

    "Why is Hester still alive my queen?"  Another lord asked.

    "There's a story I wish to tell you."  The queen said and stood.  She walked around a little until the whispering of the people quieted.  "Several years ago my father, the king, came to the village where I lived.  His son was dead, and so was his wife, your queen.  My true mother."  She said and looked at the people.  "I wished to comfort him so I went to him and wrapped my arms around his neck.   He pulled me into his lap and I sat there with my arms around his neck and my cheek laying against his chest.  I held onto him to comfort him as only a child could do, and he cried.  I had no idea that I was his daughter and heir.  I didn't know that I had had a twin brother born after me."  She again looked at the people and saw the disbelief and shock on their faces.

    "Yes, even kings cry when they're sad."  She said and continued her story.  "There were some boys and girls in the village that threw stones into the swords shop and called me unkind names.  One of the stones struck me on the left cheek and it drew blood.  I don't know how many boys and girls it was, but our king gave them the chance to confess who it was.  Only one boy confessed to calling me names and of throwing some stones and our king was merciful to that boy.  He spared one boys life for being truthful and he brought him to this castle to be his page.  Hester, I spare your life now for being truthful also."  She said and turned to look at the woman.

    "Thank you my queen.  I shall be your humble servant and do your bidding always."  She said and knelt.

    "You shall help clean the North Wing of the castle and any of the chambers in the castle that can be used.  These are your duties until the time that Sir Darrel returns with Lady Anna and you wish to return as her maid."  The people in the great hall cheered their queen and when she left the great hall, they carried on with their work and spoke of the justness of their new queen.

    As the queen walked around the walls of the castle and looked upon the people in the village, she saw young children playing in the street, and old people sitting outside their homes weaving baskets and rugs.  Farmers hauled hay and produce from the fields and stored most of it in the kings stables and storeroom.  Others stored the rest for winter in their own small stables behind their homes.  Wood cutters hauled logs to be used in the castle and mothers scolded their children when they did something wrong.  She was still on the wall when she saw the carriage and the knights entering the village.

    "My queen, the escort that was sent to fetch you has returned."  A young servant boy said as he hurried to the queen.

    "I'll meet the escort."  She said and hurried from the wall.  She almost ran down the stairs in her haste to see how her friends from the village had faired.  When she reached the great hall and was turning to leave the room, she ran into a big man wearing armor.

    "Malana."  Came the familiar voice of Sir Darren.

    "Darren, you're alright."  She said as she grabbed the knights arms.

    "Yes."  He said and looked into her blue eyes.  "I'm still not fully healed, but I'm getting there."  He told her.

    "Come, sit at the table and rest while I send for you some food."

    "There's no time.  I need to join the king at the front."

    "You can do this for your queen, can you not?"  She asked and pulled him by the arm toward a table.  "You must eat and heal before you go to war."

    "But I'm the first knight.  I must be with the king."

    "Sir Darren please.  If you go I'll lose you."  She whispered as she grabbed by his arms.  "I couldn't bare the thought of you leaving me when you are still weak.  Sir John is siding the king, but I need you here to help me right now as you heal."

    "My place is with the king."  Sir Darren said and started to sway.  He slowly went to the floor and lay with his head in the lap of the queen.

    "No Darren."  She whispered near his ear.  "You belong here at my side.  You're the one I've chosen to rule beside me as king."

    "But what of Darrel?  You are to marry him."  He wanted to know.

    "No Darren, the king has broken the betrothal like the Master Swordsman said would happen."

    "Thank God in Heaven for that."  Sir Darren said and passed out.

    "Yes, and thank God for letting your weakness be shown to me before you went to your death in battle."  She said and allowed several knights to lift Sir Darren from the floor.  "Take him to his chambers and check his wounds."  She said and watched as her future husband was carried to his chamber.