Affairs Of A Knight- 1

Henry IV Part 1

“Thy life’s a miracle.”

Affairs Of A Knight. (1)

Copyright @ Raldineviv.

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Her boots thumped confidently on the cold floors and echoed through the empty corridors, her hair sleek and tight, held steady although the strands danced like the tail of a running horse.

The chain mail was covered with iron plates of armor, a shield to protect the body from external damage.

Her face was grim, like a woman who hadn’t a reason to rejoice and at her back, was strapped two samurai bowing swords, and a bow. In the thick of her rather heavy armor was a deposition of well-placed arrows and knives. Right at the back of her neck lay an item, of which if found, would lead to her death but didn’t make her relent in its carriage. An impossibly small crossbow, fashioned by her father’s blacksmith and given by her father.

It stood for her heritage.

Three lions. One at the top, with a paw extended and two below, holding what could be seemingly defined as flags.

It carried the crest of old Northumbia.

Northumberland. Her home.

Her fingers tightened against the long sword hanging from her waist, she was going to take it back.

She would recover all they had lost.

But first, she had to find the bloody son of the late king.

She fixed her face as she saw the edge of the throne room and hid the anger. Anger was no good here, it would get you killed. Rationality was key.

She took a deep breath and made a sharp turn.

“Oy! Louis, where have you been?!” Sir Alwyn asked.

A fat smile that one would have thought impossible slid to her face.

“Doing women thing Allwy” she winked. He shook his head, “Come and stand at your place, they are about to Knight him”

"It’s a him?” She asked, a little bit disappointed and hopeful.

“By Jove it’s a him. Female knights don’t happen every day Louis”

The throne room had been magnificently transformed from a serious, wicked place where lives were debated, fates of men were decided and decisions that both ruined and made lives were taken—to a positively festive and lavish room.

The decorations were stunning, but she still didn’t forget—she couldn’t.

The man sitting at the very front and beginning was wrong. He was the man that ruined everything yet, here she was his guard dog.

She didn’t let her disgust show, she was too careful and too smart for that. Oliver Cromwell might be a cruel and almost ruthless leader, but he was highly intelligent and observant.

He would smell her disgust across the room and have her hanged. And her death couldn’t otherwise restore the duchy, could it? So instead, she smiled and fell into place between Alwyn and Leonard, forming the perfect line protecting the King and the heir apparent.

♤♡◇

The room fell to a hush as the...king stood.

“Lords and Ladies of England! We have gathered here today, to once more add to our growing military! As we all know, a country with a weak military is a country that is weak. And I detest weakness neither would I rule a country with one. So join me, as we welcome one knight! Who has managed to survive the difficulties in the test of Knighthood. Not only do I welcome him to join our finest swordsmen, I also grant him a place in my house as he has none.”

The...King paused. “Bring him in”

Sounds of footsteps progressed forward, towards the king.

She was itching to have a look at the newborn’s face, but she knew one unruly step and she could end up with a dagger in her heart. So she held it in and looked forward to the king.

“Kneel” the king instructed.

She heard the newborn fall to his knees in the customary position: one knee was bent upright while the other sank into the knighting stool.

There was a long kiss of metal as The Sword was withdrawn and passed to the King.

“With the power invested in me, I knight you, Sir Aline.”

The king paused.

“Welcome to the house of Cromwell”

The hall broke into cheerful claps as the king smiled and gave the newborn a clap on his shoulder.

“Party and be merry! As the house of Cromwell has gained a new member”

Instruments broke loose and soon; the hall was filled with dancing.

The king held the newborn by the shoulder and looked him in the eye.

“I hope accepting you into my house would not be a bad decision, eh?”

The newborn shook his head vigorously and swore his oath, swearing to serve and protect the Cromwell family with his life and blood.

With another clap on his shoulders, the King dismissed the newborn and from the corner of her eyes, Louis saw Sir Kimble approach, their training master and Cromwell’s military commander.

“You are free to...mingle” Kimble said gruffly. The man had a scar that ran parallel, cutting through his left eye and rendering half of the eye entirely useless. Rumor had it that it was inflicted by Cromwell himself.

“Louis!” He barked.

“Sir!”

“The newborn is under your care. One toe out of the line by him and you would be losing your toe”

“I understand”

“Make sure he does not get himself under the King’s hair—or anyone else for that matter for the next two weeks otherwise, you would be whipped. Am I understood Louis?”

“Crystal”

“Excellent” the man stomped away.

Bernard, another knight with a noble background turned to her in sympathy.

“You’re a new mother Louis. Cheer up, I heard females are usually crazy about this sort of thing”

“Except when your child happens to be a full-grown man” she groaned.

The men around her chuckled.

“He looks like trouble” Dame Theodora observed.

“Yes. He looks like you’ll be getting a lot of whipping this week. New set of strips to add to your collection, eh?” Dame Frances sneered.

She ignored France—as usual—but studied the newborn and realized she was right.

He looked like a lot of whipping. She sighed. She already had a lot on her hands to take care of a child.

With that thought in mind, she marched forward, to make acquaintance with her...child.

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She kicked him in the shin. He buckled.

Weak, she observed.

His eyes were wide with surprise.

“Bloody—!”

She cut him off with an elbow to his throat. He looked positively murderous.

Rash, she continued.

“Did you not learn manners from whatever slum you come from?”

His eyes flashed and every emotion that passed through his face, she read clearly.

Open. All three traits that would get her whipped and have him killed.

She rather he died. He would be out of her hair, and she would have more time trying to trace the lost prince.

"Who are you, and why did you do that?” He finally settled for.

Smart. Perhaps, they could make a knight out of him yet.

"I am someone that is in charge of you.”

He blinked.

She sensed Dame Frances behind her.

“What she means is; She is your mother, and you are her child. A newborn child”

The newborn looked positively confused.

“Come with me newborn and you better keep up. Slothfulness would get you killed.”

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They walked in silence towards what was known as the crib. It was an inside joke really, supposed for the newborn, which had the worst conditions and apparently to make them tougher and grow faster.

Her days as a newborn and the first female knight was torturous. She was convinced that the Test was nothing compared to the Crib.

A bed that was two times smaller than your actual body length—and width—and a tiny prison window. You actually had to draw your own bath and do your cleaning—rain or not. Two weeks in that bed without bed clothes would toughen—or break—the weakest of souls.

“Er, where are we going?” The newborn asked.

She didn’t reply.

“What did that lady—”

“Dame” she corrected sharply.

He cleared his throat, she could feel his wary eyes on her yet she marched forward, her hair swinging.

“What did the er, dame mean when she called me your child?” He sounded confounded and disgusted.

Good. She was not chummy with it either.

“Are you not going to reply to me?” His voice has a slight tone of haughty to it.

Aline, the king had called him. Plus, his words. He was Noble. Is or was, he had Noble blood.

She took a sharp turn and there stood on opposite sides, three private rooms on the right, three hall-rooms on left and at the end, in the middle, was the crib.

The home for the Newborn.

She withdrew the key from her waist bag and slid into the lock. The noise made by the iron door was revolting. She stepped to the side and looked at him for the second time that night.

“This is your room...child.”

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Hey guys!

I’ve finally found the book that wouldn’t let me sleep well at night and I am excited!

I’ve had this book idea since last year, but I wasn’t motivated to start until recently and I can’t wait to see how this would turn out!

Another historical and I think this might be the best yet. Although I must warn, you’ll have to be patient for this one; it is a true slow burn; everything would be explained in due course.

I have started and stopped a lot of books hoping to find the book and I think I just have.

I do not know how many chapters this would have or if it would be a series or not, but I have an idea of how I want it to go.

I hope you are as excited as I am to jump into this new adventure with me—once again.

Thank you for the love shown on the Nobles series but it’s time for me to write about another facet of English history I have been obsessed with—Knights!

AS USUAL DO NOT STEAL. COPYRIGHT IS ALLLLL MINE.

Please share, vote and comment; what are your thoughts on Chapter 1?