Feeling Noble

Chapter Nine Feeling Noble I have been learning new talents and was getting tired even though I enjoyed it all. The baroness is sending me to see her I am being sent to see her ladies in waiting again. I wondered is this the time I say good-bye and leave. I was bathed and dressed and then sent to see the Baron and Baroness. The time came for me to stand before the Baron and Baroness in their court. The herald speaks in a large voice and announces that the baron and baroness are granting me arms. Arms! Oh my Goddess, I thought. My dreams are coming true, I have wished for this day since I was a child of 10.  I was being granted the title of Lady Arganteilin filia Elfin. I wish my mother and father could be here to see this, Lady. Finally I was happy with all the hard work I have given to the Baron and Baroness.  I was a Lady!  I have been taught to read and write and do illuminations. I have learned what it takes to run a household and I have ran the Manor's Kitchen for several years now. I was pleased; The Baron just hugged me and said I deserved it. Lady Peregrine is here to see me become a true lady. I am glad to see her. But it was time to ready the barony and the manor. It was getting close to the time for tournaments in the barony; the captain of the guard was looking at her men and deciding who will represent the barony in the tourney. Catelin Avenel Captain of the Baron's guard has an interesting history, the Baron told me. (Captain Catelin Avenel's father was a Scottish knight who went on crusade.  He brought home hugely pregnant Jewish wife.  She died in childbirth and my uncle and aunt raised her while being wet-nursed.  Her uncle was a venator (hunter) who led the King when he came out to hunt.  She learned how to survive in the forest because she would go with him as an aid.  Her foster brothers thought she was a novelty so they doted on her and refused her nothing.  When she asked to learn to sword fight with them they, of course, did as she asked.  When she became of marriageable age a local lord came to pay suit for her hand.  Being know as a half Jew she was told by her uncle that this was her only choice if she was to have any sort of life. Obediently she did her filial duty and married him.  He was quite handsome, well educated, and well liked by all who knew him.  Then she found out, through months that followed, that she was expected to give up her hunting and other outdoor pursuits.  She was also expected to turn a blind eye to his infidelity.     One day a war party on the way to crusade passed through asking for shelter for the night.  She was determined to leave him to his mistresses and have a life where she was not the half -breed valueless girl.  She dressed in men's clothing and left with the soldiers the next morning.  Through the course of her travels was found out to be a woman.  His name was Sir Richard of Castle north.  He had fought beside her on the field so he saw the spirit, the fire inside the seemingly delicate exterior.  He told her so and said he also saw the potential to be a Knight.  To be not just an equal, but to fight on her own terms.  So she was Squired and travel with Sir Richard and learns from him.  Her quest for knowledge took her many places, but for now, Tyre is where she serves His Excellency as the Captain of his Guard.)   Catelin Avenel has vowed herself to Lord Robert Crosar also called Hob Crosar was in the employ of the Warden of the East March of Scotland. Basically he did security, went on patrols, and fought reivers. He now comes to Tyre by way of ship; he has been put as Head of the security for the Baron. He is a tall man with golden hair and a mischievous smile. He likes to indulge in fine mead and cigars. When he is out by the kitchen in the manor I will sneak out with him and Lady Catelin and have a cigar and mead. Lady Catelin's beauty and strength as a fighter have captured his attentions. He has asked her to vow herself to him. They have planned to wed just after the summer solstice. Lord Hob is very fond of a new drink brought in the port called "Scotch" and he pleasures himself with a smoke called "Cigars" this is a pungent smoke. But he enjoys these two little pleasures and shares with the Baron. There is Lord Ungust and Lord Thorin they are both squires to the Baron. Lord Ungust is a stout sturdy man with a heavy arm; he will fight in the unbelted tourney. This means he is not a knight and is unbelted. The same goes for Lord Thorin; he is a tall man with strong shoulders, he also in a good fighter, still with much to learn as with Lord Ungust. But both will fight with everything that Sir Jamal has taught them. They practice everyday for hours till dark. I send out food and drink to them everyday. They practice behind the manor by the kitchen. I watch and mimic what they do. I want to learn how to fight, I wonder if the baron will let me. Lord Ungust filius Antonii.  He was born in a small Scottish village near Hadrian's Wall. I am the only son of the second daughter of a Scottish Chieftain and a Roman Centurion who was stationed at the Wall. His great grandmother was the eldest daughter of a Pictish King and was given in marriage to my mother's grandfather. He grew up in his mother's village, and was not accepted by the villagers.  He was of mixed birth and therefore "tainted" by having Roman blood in his veins. He was in many scuffles and fights in his younger years.  At the age of 17 summers, He left the village to journey to Rome and joins the Roman Legions.  He served his tour of 26 years and earned his Roman Citizenship, eventually finding himself serving in the Eastern Empire, fighting against the Persians. After he retired from the Legion, He found that he was still not welcome in my home village. He became a mercenary and eventually found himself employed by the Shah of Persia, as a Troop Commander in his irregular's part of his army.   I had to flee Persia, rather suddenly, as he had fallen in love with the Shah's daughter and her with me. Together, they fled his Kingdom and demesnes. They lived and loved the life of the freebooter for several years, until my Princess tired of the life of the wanderer and returned to the Court of her Father.  I wandered the Empire for over a year and experienced much of the different cultures and women. But, He could not forget his lost love. He traveled the vast deserts, valleys, and wastelands to Persia and there regained my Lady Love.  But, alas, their love was doomed to never be. For, another had bewitched her and her heart has been stolen from him. She has been cursed to be a Harpy when she is near me and thus she can no longer love me, nor I, her. Thus, she is lost to me for all time. In despair and lover's anguish, he found himself on the shores of a fair and sunny land.  The gods had guided him to Lyondemere.  In this land of beauty and friendly people, He met a man who has inspired him to become much more than he thought that he could be. He has taught him Humility, Courage, Honor, Chivalry and Loyalty. This man is a Knight by the name of Sir Jamal Damien Marcus.  He has more than earned his respect and loyalty even more so, his friendship. And he has freely given him his hand in friendship. Sir Jamal has further, done him a great honor by accepting him as his squire and training him in the ways and duties of Knighthood.  He hopes, one day, to prove worthy of his faith in him and be granted the White Belt of Chivalry, himself, so that he can pass along Sir Jamal's teaching to another.   Lord Ungust is a fun man with great stories. I enjoy listening to him tell his tales.       Then there is a fighter that is so feared by most, he is Lord Ajax, comes to us from Macedonian and comes to the barony by way of traders at the port. He was a great fighter from his land but worked for one of the shipping merchants as a guard of their product. He loved Tyre so much he stayed. The Baron is proud to have him on the guard. He is a good fighter with the talents of the great fighters of their time. I am sure she will pick him as one of the fighters. Lord Ajax is a tall firm man with great arms of steel and broad shoulders. He wears the traditional armor of the Macedonian's. His legs are solid muscle and his hair is very long and wavy. He braids it for most of his fighting tourneys. Many of the village women swoon when they see him. His face is stern with the tasks at hand, but his eyes are a soft dark brown. He has a very deep and playful voice.  When he smiles all the harshness of fighting leaves his face and he becomes almost boyish looking. He has such a boyish charm about him, but nothing about him is boyish when he walks onto the Erik.  Underneath his Armour is a fearless fighter with winning for his baron on his mind. Nothing gets in his way of this. I like watching the fighters in the open field; Sir Jamal takes on the role as their knight. I see him as my Master, the people of the barony see him as their Baron, and yet the fighters see him again as Sir Jamal. Many hats this man wears. I am honored to be here with my Master and my Baroness.  Many Nobles were traveling from far lands to come to the tournament, some of them are; Tetchubah of Greenlake is an Englishwoman who married an Italian banker and moved to Florence where husband worked for the Medici.  She was widowed at a tender age, she took up manuscript illumination to support herself and remains in Italy where the weather and food suits her better than England.  She is very close to the Baroness. They have been friends since her husband passed.  They exchange ideas and techniques on illuminating.  The two of them like to make new garments with all the trading at the port, Lady Tetchubah has fun shopping there and bartering her illuminations. Then there is Marion Fitzthomas she is an English woman from Warwickshire County (near Stratford-on-Avon).  She manages the household and estates.  She has not had much trouble with the Plague yet -- not her parts anyway. Her husband is Phillip Quartermaine a Tudor gentleman. He helps with his wife of running great estates. When they are not managing the households of others, they travel to Tyre to see the Baron and Baroness. Lady Marion is renowned for her music, she plays the cello and the sweet sounds she makes is both calming and soothing to the soul. Lord Phillip is a quiet man, but his smile could melt an iceberg. He is a very tall man with a sturdy build. He has the face of a child, young and innocent.  He cares for his Lady with the greatest of respect and love.  It shows when he gazes upon her; you see it in his eyes. Lord Peyre de Barat, son of Peyre, the third of five children.  His father is one of Bearn's ten barons, and so sits on the Cort Majour, the Great Court of barons and bishops which advises our viscount with help from the Cort de las Comunautats, the assembly of merchants and suchlike commoners. "I, of course, will inherit little if anything, since my eldest brother shall one day take his place." He said to me. In my twentieth year a merchant uncle (my father's younger brother Jantet) offered to bring me along on a journey to Santiago de Compostela, and seeing an opportunity to leave home and seek my fortune I went readily. In Santiago, I saw how much larger was the world than I had previously imagined.  I met many people from different lands and learned a different language.  I heard also that there was much to be learned in England, and so was glad one day when my uncle told me that we were to take ship for that land.  Soon after our arrival there, I became a student at the great University of St. Katherine. It was a place which not only gave me a home, but which offered me something that Bearn had not: the opportunity to participate in affairs as an equal, and perchance even to advance myself.  I felt that when the time came to settle down and make a home for myself that I would like to stay there. At about this time I found a group of persons who, like me and those I had known in Santiago, had come from abroad to Experience the wonders of this place.  I spent much time with them, but when two years had passed since my arrival in England, my uncle again bore me to a different land, this time to the port of Dublin in the land of Eire.  Though the interior of the island is unknown, I managed to learn many things about the strange Gaels who live there, and I came to know several members of the U hUign clan who had come from deep within the hinterland to the great city.      When my fifteenth month in Dublin was nearly past, my uncle told me that he had taught me all he could and it was time for me to go off on my own.  So, remembering my affection for England, I bore again for that misty shore. At this time I also began to brew my own ale, which I had long contemplated doing when I had settled down long enough.  This led me naturally to the great guild of brewers, where I found another home and more companions.  Yet more friends and another role I found for myself among the Heralds, whose work I found both enjoyable and appreciated.  For a time I served as herald for the University, and later earned the status of Pursuivant Extraordinaire. He was coming to brew amazing drinks for the Nobles. I was excited to watch this Master at his craft. My Master told me I could watch and learn from him. He is making ale for the great tournament. Learning is a gift I think, I love to learn all I can about pretty much anything. I am an accomplished mead maker; however the art of brewing ales has eluded me. I now can learn from a man who how and is going to teach me. When Nobles are coming to the manor, the herald gives you a lineage or history of the noble. I learn so much about people and why they come to Tyre in the first place. Another Noble is Lady Arianna Nunneschild she is a lady from the English/Scots border, her mother was pulled out of a convent to marry the local lord after all her brothers died of the plague and left the family estate without an heir. Her mother died while birthing her, and her father then refused to give her his name, thinking he was being punished for marrying an ex-nun. She has traveled the world and she does millenary for the Nobles. The hats she makes are just beautiful. When I saw her, I was in awe of her very presence. She is a tall woman with a long thin body and long brown hair. Her eyes are deep brown and wide. Her skin is a milky white and very soft looking. She is the nicest person; her laugh and demeanor are very demure. She is a very graceful woman.  She is part of Baroness Angelina's court; she will be meeting the Baroness here for the tournament. Baron Thomas is traveling via the ground and will be here in a few days. He is not fond of flying and is not thrilled with the dragon. Baroness Angelina was born in Venice and is the third daughter of patrician parents. Most Venetian families could afford no more than one dowry, so she grew up with almost no hope of being married.  Angelina does a lot of needlework.  Her name is confusing to most, but her parents favored French names. Angelina had worked hard to become the Baroness. Her husband Baron Thomas came to know her through his association with her father, and liked her well enough to marry her without a large dowry. Thomas served as a Senator and worked his way up to the landed baron of this day. His pursuits of merchanting ventures have given them a great deal of money. He ships textiles to all over the known world and thus has given him more than a dowry could ever. They live in a large manor in Lyondemere in the kingdom of Caid. Baron Thomas has had a fear of flying since he was a young child. He feels a woman of my age should not be playing with dragons. He told my Baron Jamal that he would do everything in his power to rid the dragon from our lands. Even if it means telling the king where the dragon is. My time here is limited indeed. I will have to leave for the shores of Caid soon to live with Baron David and Baroness Adelicia. We will have to hide Emerald from Baron Thomas. My Master has told me of a great Archer, Christine O'Cleary, she comes from Ireland to compete in our tourney. She is a rather happy woman, sturdy in stature but deadly with a bow and arrow. Christina O'Cleary is an Irish woman living in northwestern coastal Ireland (near Donegal). The O'Cleary family has been chieftains of the area for hundreds of years. Christina is a widow and now does all the hunting and serves as her families' liaison to the chieftains. She serves as part of the Queen's Court, but was a warrior before becoming a courtier. On occasion, she longs for the battlefield and this is where her hunting comes in. She practices her archery on a regular basis so she does not loose her skills. She hunts in the local forests, mostly deer and fowl, all of which are turned over to the household kitchen staff for dinner. She also studies the more feminine arts and can sew, read and write in Latin, cook and dance. She often can be found on the dance floor during courtly events and enjoys lively dances from around the country. She comes to the Barony of Tyre by ship.  She serves as the Barons archer for all tournaments near and far. Her talents on the archery field are legendary in these parts. The village is clamoring because she will face Lord Robert Lantersmith. He is the best from Caid; this will be an archery tourney to watch. The challenge will be if the two of them can outlast the other. I cannot wait to this event. Lord Robert is a tall thin man with much character about him. He is also a bard, a singing man. His songs will soothe you to a calm place. He has some bawdy songs as well.  People in the barony call him the "Singing Archer". It is getting closer for the tournaments to begin. I have much work to do to get ready for them. I have been baking all morning and emerald has been doing tasks for the baron.  When the tournaments are done, I will have to leave for Caid, the barony of Calafia. Baron David and Baroness Adelicia will be expecting me. I still wonder what will be waiting for me there.  What does the land look like? I hope I will like it there. Baron David said he would hide my dragon from Baron Thomas in Lyondemere. My heart breaks for I will have to say good-bye to all my friends and family in Tyre. I have been wondering about if I had married when my father wanted me too. What would I be doing now with my life? Would I be the village healer? Would I have children? What would my husband be like? Would I love him? Or maybe I would grow to love him. So many thoughts going thru my head. It would be nice to be a child again and just play with my dragon.  But time was moving to fast for me and I had to ready for my travels to Caid. The time has come for the first of several tournaments the barony will host. The first one is about the fighters, knights, unbelted and jousting. Some of the fighter's use and variety of weapons some use sword and shield, lance and shield, mace and shield. Two sword and so on. All are very impressive in the different Armour they wear. The tournament is a traditional one, meaning the baron has asked that the Armour worn be from the fighter's lineage, history, where they hale. Not everyone fighting is from Tyre or this Kingdom. So it will be interesting to see how they all look on the field. Emerald and I are busy getting the great hall ready for the massive feast we host after the tourney. We have flown to the port to gather the spices and some herbs for the feast. The Baroness has asked if we could pick up some fabric for her, she needs it for the finishing touches on her gown. As we look around for what we need, I see this man, beautiful to the eyes and a pleasure to dream about. Our eyes meet and he smiles at me. Oh my Goddess, he smiled at me, inside I am like a child getting her favorite doll, but I keep calm on the outside. I smile back. I have butterflies in my stomach and feel lightheaded. Emerald is moving slower as he gets older. I worry about him and his health. We get everything we needed and I crawl on the back of my dragon. As I do I see him again, our eyes meet again and he waves, I nodded my head in response and emerald and I are off heading back to the manor.  I bring the food items in the kitchen and set off to find the Baroness to give her the fabric we found. I was bubbling over with excitement; I was bursting inside to tell someone of the most beautiful man I have ever seen. The baroness noticed my excitement and asked, "What are you all giddy about?" I blushed when I told her" I saw him, a man that looked like a god" she smiled at me and asked, "Well, what is his name?"" I do not know we never spoke. Our eyes met and he smiled at me," I said to her.  "I felt something inside of me awaken and my heart fluttered." Well do tell she said. "What does he look like?" "He is a man with long flowing hair of amber colouring, crystal blue eyes, tall and firm, he has taken my breath away.  He is Strong and beautiful. His skin is tanned and soft, when he looked my way I melted inside. I feel faint almost with a fire that burns within me." I told her. She hugged me and said, "well I see. I think you need to let Baron Jamal know of your feelings about this man."  "But I do not even know who he is. I do not know his name. I saw him on the docks at the port marketplace." "I am sure the baron could figure out who this young man is that has stolen your heart" "He will be pleased that you have found someone, but sweetheart you are leaving when the moon passes four full moons." "I know, what am I to do?" "I guess if it is meant to be then the Goddess will let it happen" I said to her.  I must tend to my chores, I have much work that still needs to be done" "You will speak to the baron about this?" she said to me as I was running down the hall. I turned and said, "Yes your Excellency, I will later". As I ran towards the kitchen, I thought to myself. What could the baron do? What if this man is vowed to another? What if he was just being nice and smiled? What if he thinks I am not worthy for him? All these thoughts, I have to stay focused on the tasks at hand. As I got closer to the kitchen, I looked outside to see a movement that had caught my eye. It was emerald playing with the village children. He was jumping around with them on his tail and back. The children were laughing and emerald was snorting some dragon's breath into the sky. The children loved it when he did that. The fire and smoke that he spewed, Was a sight to see. He seemed to be happy and spry again. It has been a long time since we have played, so it is nice to see him playing with the children.