Lady Catherine and Sir Saidrick
A Medieval Romance

Long ago in ancient England lived a king that wanted to help the poor. King Charles saw how commoners lived in his village and he wanted to help their cause; by giving them food, and make sure that they had clean clothes, and shoes. King Charles thought that and embarrassment on his people was an embarrassment on himself; therefore; he made sure all the people had a basic education. The rich lords of Riverdale did not take to well to their servants becoming smart, so they planned to revolt against the king by using the king power hungry son, Tristan against him.
The next day, the lords called a meeting with Prince Tristan. “Prince Tristan, how have you been my lord?”
“Fine, but can we get on with this; we both know you didn’t call me here to talk about my health.”
“Very well then, we have a problem.”
“The commoners are revolting against us; they want to be paid more for their work, and they want better working conditions.”
“And you find this a problem, all I see is you having to pay your servants what they deserve.”
“But your throne, Prince Tristan is in trouble; think about it. Who do you think they will come after next, and what outrageous thing they will ask for?”
“Please stop your father from schooling those dogs, and when you do all the lords and knights of this land will pledge their sword to you.”
“Well my lords I believe you have just made me a deal I can’t refuse, your problem will be solved.”
Coming out of the meeting Tristan was stressed, knowing he needed the power the lords had offered, but he didn’t know how he was going to get it. Because, he knew his father would never stop his plan to make every man equal in his kingdom, which was a foolish plan in his opinion. But, Tristan knew King Charles wouldn’t stop his plan until he died. And therefore it was, his plan became born since his father wouldn’t stop his plan he would just have to die.
Later that afternoon, Tristan spotted his step mother, Queen Grace, and half sister, Lady Catherine; “you ladies look very beautiful this afternoon.”
“Thank you, Tristan.”
“Queen Grace would you like to join me on a walk throw the garden.”
“I would love to, you are my only son.” “
That I ‘am indeed, my lady.”
“O, Catherine would you like to join me, and your mother for a walk?”
“No, maybe some other time I have to go see Saidrick off.”
“Where is he off to?”
“Saidrick going to help the villagers in Crows-Fall slay the dragon, that’s ravaging their town.” “Well may god be with him, and bring him home to his wife.”
“Thank you, brother.” As Catherine walked off, Tristan and Grace begin walking towards the huge colorful garden. As soon as they were covered by the oak the trees Queen Grace began to pour open her heart. “I’ve missed you Tristan.” “O, tell me you’ve missed me to.”
“You know I have darling, but it’s hard for me to keep sneaking around my father’s back like this.”
“I know darling, we could always run away.”
“I can’t, this kingdom is my responsibility.”
“No, Tristan your responsibility is to your heart.”
“I know my love we will be together all you have to do is kill my father; your husband and I’ll be king, and all will be well I promise Grace.”
“Look, look at me had I ever lied to you my dear; now take this dagger, and stab him in his heart while he’s sleep.”
“Then run into your room, and let the maid find him in the morning.”
“Okay, my lord, taking the silver dagger and putting in her pocket.” “After, it’s all done when will I see you Tristan?”
“I don’t know, but whatever you do don’t come try to find me.” “
Okay, we need to keep a low profile my dear.” Before, turning to make a graceful leave, Tristan gave Grace a soft lingering kiss; that she felt to the tips of her toes.
Meanwhile, Tristan had plans to make sure that Saidrick never reached Crows-Fall. Walking into the dark cobweb office with broken glass covering the floor; “what do you need” croaked an old wise voice. “I need a man dead, seer.”
“Is that all prince, why didn’t you send one of your knights to do the job.”
“Because this man can’t be killed in battle, he’s too strong and powerful.”
“O I see, tell me why you wish to kill your sister’s husband.”
“You wish to know too much old man, just trust me and all shall reveal its self in time.”
“Well, how shall I kill this man for you?” “It doesn’t matter seer long as he’s dead, be creative.”
Walking alone by the river, Sir Saidrick and his Whitehorse was drinking water out of the river. When he happen to see the reflection of an old woman behind him; trying to gather shellfish out of the river. “Do you need any help?”
“Yes, I do thank you kind sir.” Reaching up to put the fish in the basket, he looked into the old woman eyes, and was mesmerized. Her eyes was the deepest blue like the bottom of the ocean, but shined liked the stars. “Would you like some wine, young man. I really appreciate your help.” Sir Saidrick was so mesmerized, he found he couldn’t even answer her; all he could do was nod his head. And the older woman smiled, taking his nod as a yes, and giving him the bottle of wine. Taking the bottle of wine Sir Saidrick turn it up drinking every last drop until the bottle was empty. The wine was the sweetest he’d ever tasted, and all of a sudden if made him feel as if he was on fire, diving into the deepest part of the river taking in as much of the water as he could. But it felt like the more water he took in the more he burn, and the farther he would sink under the water until he passed out. But before he passed out he saw the old woman change back into Prince’s Tristan seer and he know his brother –in-law had set him up.
In the middle of the night a messager road up to the castle; “may I speak to Lady Catherine?” “Yes sir, right this way.” The messager was led into a parlor and told to wait for Lady Catherine, five minutes later she arrived. “Messager what news do you have for me?”
“My lady, we found blood, by the river and your husband flag and poison wine in this bottle.” In shock Lady Catherine didn’t know what to do. “Did you find his body?”
“No, my lady we think his body sunk to the bottom of the river.”
“Thank you, you are dismissed.” Turning to leave the messager left, Lady Catherine alone shedding her tears for her lost love.
Later that night in the middle of Tristan bath; Lady Catherine came rushing into his quarter’s. Before it was too late to stop her she had already made her way into his room shouting as if as she’d gone mad. Stopping in front of him and giving him a deadly look, making him think that if looks could kill he would be dead now. In an icy voice that was foreign to her lady Catherine asked Tristan, “What had he done to Sir Saidrick.” Looking her dead in her eyes, “I have done nothing dear sister I know not what you speak of please make yourself clearer.”
“Don’t play games with me, Saidrick was reported dead. And I know you had something to do with it.”
“And why would you ever suspect your loving brother. That’s just cold Catherine”, giving her a devious smile.
“You’re not my brother.” Giving a fake laugh,” to true little sister a fact you should remember.” “What do you mean a fact I should remember Tristan?”
“O, let’s just say if something should happen to my father God forbid, but if it did where do you think you and your worthless mother would be?”
“You would be dependent on me. I tell you and let’s just say my services don’t come free, stepping a little to close than was proper.”
“Are you mad you speak of insects?”
“No, no sister didn’t you yourself just tell me I’m not your brother.”
“What nothing to say now Catherine, well I do marry me and we shall rule this kingdom and you shall have nothing to worry about.”
“I don’t love you and I never will; my heart belongs to Sir Saidrick de Rosewood.”
“You’re so naïve Catherine, love doesn’t matter.Saidrick’s dead so look at it my way, his love for you is just a cold as his dead body laying somewhere in a ditch, we could be so good together why can’t you see that” giving her a very slow kiss against her lips.
“Never Tristan,” Lady Catherine raced from the room as if Hades himself was behind her into the dark where she could still hear her brother’s dark laugh.
Somewhere else in the night sir Saidrick; was awaking from his one week sleep. “My lady where am I?”
“You’re in Merlinton, my lord.”
“Who are you?”
“I ‘am Lady Elizabeth de Forest. You’ve been staying with me an entire week while I‘ve tending your wounds.”
“Well thank you my lady for your help.”
“You’re welcome, but I was only doing my christan duty.”
“Well may god bless you.”
Rising off the bed well Lady Elizabeth I must be on my way. “I fear my wife’s life might be in danger, from her terrible brother.”
“My lord you have to stay another week, to make sure your wounds are healed.”
“No, I can’t risk it something might happen to her, I must go home.”
“Well just stay three days to make sure your wounds won’t reopen, and I will travel with you to help save your wife and tend to your health.”
“I ‘am thankful for your offer; but I can’t put you in harms ways.”
“I ‘am much stronger than I look my lord, but I thank you for your concern. Any way my lord will you make a deal with me?”
“Yes, my lady but what is this deal?”
“O, it’s very simple all you have to do is get up off the bed and walk across the room without holding on to anything.”
“An what if I lose my lady?”
“You stay for three days and get healed, and I get to join these adventure with you.”
“If I win what happens?”
“Well you can walk right out of this hut and, be on your way home.”
“Okay,” rising of the bed he could already feel a sharp pain begin in his side taking three small steps towards the door, but before he could make his fourth step he felled face forward on the floor. “Well I guess my lord you’ll be staying with me for three more days, helping pull him off the floor.”
“I guess, I will my lady, I always keep my word.”
In another room that night Queen Grace, prepared to kill her husband. Standing there in the shadows of the room, slowly and very careful trying not to awake her soon to be ex-husband .She crawled into the bed, and with a swift movement drove the sliver dagger directly into his heart. Little did she know, her maid in waiting was still in the room watching her behind the red dressing curtains. As soon as she stabbed her husband, the maid gave off a shrill scream that could be heard throw out the whole castle. The royal guards rushed into the room with Prince Tristan, following behind them. Queen Grace was shock in that moment, she know her beloved Tristan had betrayed her trust, by the wicked smile he wore on his face. As he walked in the room seeing her covered in blood with the murder weapon still clutched in her hands.
“Guards arrest the women for she has committed treason, by killing our king!” Walking close to her Tristan spit in Grace’s face, “you are nothing to me, and you are no long queen of this great nation you deserve nothing more than to be beheaded like a mere commoner. Guards take her away!”
“No, no Tristan you promised we well together.”
“I lied” turning his back on her, Tristan left the crime scene moving on toward his next victim Catherine.

Barging into Lady Catherine’s quarters, “awake your lady!”
“My dear brother, what gives me this pleasure?”
“My father’s death, Catherine.”
“What, how did he die?”
“Your worthless mother stabbed him throw the heart, that’s how my dear.”
“I don’t believe my mother would do such a horrible thing. My mother loved her husband.” “Well never the less she shall be beheaded tomorrow morning.”
“Please have mercy she was like a mother to you!”
“She was nothing to me, and I ‘am no longer your brother.”
“You are all I have left please Tristan don’t leave me like this.”
“Then marry me Catherine let me take care of you.”
“I can’t Tristan you’re my brother.”
“Then dear sister you shall rot on the street never knowing where your true love lays his head at night.”
“What do you mean Tristan?”
“You know exactly what I mean Saidrick alive and I will kill him this time if you don’t marry me.” “You have twenty-four hours to make up your mind Catherine.”
That next day walking into Catherine room, Tristan was ecstatic. His plan had come full circle; he was finial going to get the answer he wants from her, concerning their marriage. Tristan pushed both of the doors backwards while entering the room.”Catherine, darling I’m here. Catherine, Catherine where are you?” Catherine was at the foot of her bed; shedding all the tears that god had blessed her with. “Catherine what’s wrong?”
“You know what’s wrong Tristan; my mother was beheaded this morning, and all I could do was watch as they hacked away at her neck while she screams out for help.”
“Catherine your mother was murder, and a sinner she deserved to die, it was God’s will.”
“Now, Now hush with all of your crying before it’s your head next that’s to be cut off grinning wick. Catherine will you marry me; think it over don’t answer so quick, because I will not ask you this again.”
“I don’t care if you don’t ask me again, you’ve already taken everything away from me, so just killed me.”
“No, no it’s too early for that how bout you make a deal with me .I’ll bring Saidrick to back to court and I wouldn’t killed him and you too could be together. How does that sound?”
“Too good to be true, what do you get out of the deal?”
“I get a well bred wife that helps present a united front for my kingdom making me a powerful king? So what do you say Catherine?”
“I agree.”
******************************
“Come outside Saidrick I want to show you something. Can you walk this far outside?”
“Sure, but what is this place it’s so beautiful. I never seen anything like it.”
“It’s my forest, my life line it grow from my magic.” The forest grass and leaves were the darkest shade of green; Saidrick had ever seen, and the texture felt like a hundred percent of the purest cotton to ever grow on this Earth. In the sky it shown of rainbow colors swirling with bright Emerald lights shooting across the sky, it was truly mesmerizing. “Elizabeth who are you?”
“I’m a sorceress, but I only use my magic for good.”
“I believe you, my lady, and this place is way too beautiful to be created by someone evil.”
“So you’re not afraid of me?”
“No, but what are we doing here?”
“I’ve come to create a spell so you can see your wife.”
“Will I really be able to see her and would she be able to see me.”
“No, you will only be able to see and hear her.”
“Okay that’s good enough for now thank you, my lady.” Calling on the powerful of nature Sir Saidrick saw a pile of leaves rise up, off the ground, and began to form Lady Catherine reflection. It was a little difficult to hear what they was saying, but I was very easy to make out the part when Lady Catherine accepted Tristan offer of marriage. “O, my god I have to get back, that villain is forcing her into marring him.”
“You’re not completely healed yet.”
“It doesn’t matter; I have to get my wife back.”
“Well take this sword,” in her hand was a bronze sword with a golden tip engraved with diamonds, “this sword will make you invincible in battle. Drink this potion also it will help restore your health faster.” “Thank you, but why didn’t you just give me the potion from the beginning?”
“Making the potion drains my power; so take it and may god be with you, on this journey for I can’t join my magic must be restored.”
It was the day of the three day wedding, and Lady Catherine was sick to her stomach, and she couldn’t stand to look at herself. There was a loud knock at the door, “my ladies are you ready.”
“Yes, come in please.” Little did she know that the maid she had invented in was not a maid, but the evil seer who worked for Tristan. “Are you okay my lady?”
“Yes, it’s just wedding day nerves.”
“O, my lady that’s perfectly normal drink some of this herb tea, and I promise the nerves will fade away, here drink.” Taking the herbal tea out of the elderly woman hands she drained the cup. Thank you, for the tea. Your welcome, my lady, but it’s time to get you down the idle. Walking down the idle Catherine started to fell a warm bubbly feeling like maybe this marriage could work. Standing at the end of the idle beside, Tristan she couldn’t help but smile and feel happy. After, saying I do Lady Catherine truly knew she meant her vow ,and his kissed lips sealing the deal that Tristan was her one and only love.
Outraged Sir Saidrick kicked the doors down. “Get away from her Tristan, so I can slit your throat.” “Give me a good reason why, she is after all my wife.”
“Never, you forced her.”
“No, I’m sorry he didn’t force me.”
“I love him, Saidrick so please leave us alone.”
“Never,” Sir Saidrick charged down to slay the future king and win back the love of his life. Over four hundred knights came in between Sir Saidrick and Prince Tristan. Sir Saidrick defeated all of them, slicing and dicing every knight that came in his way. All was to be seen was the sliver tip of sword in the air, mean while the idle that was once cover in rose petals was now soaked in ruby blood and sliced body parts. When Tristan saw all of his knights dying he tried to make a run for it, but it was to late. Sir Saidrick threw his sword, and it hit Tristan right throw the chest causing him to die in mere seconds.
“What have you’ve done?”
“I’ve killed your capture. He wasn’t my capture he was the love of my life.”
“But what about us Catherine, I love you.”
“Your or dead to me now, Saidrick!”
“No, please don’t say that everything I ever done was all for you! Catherine, please look at me.”
“No, how could you love me when you’ve killed the man of my dreams. Was that for my love or your own selfish ego; answer Saidrick, was that for me? How could a sin against god been for me; no Saidrick this was all for your own selfish reason to have me. I never want to see your face again as long as god rules this green earth you is nothing to me; go away Saidrick.”
“You can’t leave me for him you hear me; Catherine.”
“I can and I will,” throwing a knife into the center of his back. Saidrick felt to the ground; grabbing a hold of Catherine’s hand saying I wish we had more time together. In that moment Sir Saidrick close his eyes and passed on into another magical world where his soul will never die. In that moment the seer love spell broke.
“O, my god what have I’ve done?” Catherine crawled towards Saidrick’s dead body and begin running her fingers throw his hair and began talking to him if he was still alive, “you know I was never unfaithful to you I always loved you. If you only knew that I only loved you.” She picked up the sliver dagger, and slit her wrist; only to awaken into a bright light walking side by side with her beloved Saidrick.


 

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Publication Date: 01-23-2011

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