A Real Fantasy by min
Sean's castle overlooked the neighbouring kingdom ruled by his enemy and detractor. He sat on his throne and perused the huge hall as he did almost every day waiting for his assistants to bring him back news from the world outside. This they duly did and he unrolled the manuscript to read the latest happenings.
Nothing out of the ordinary he thought, more serfs fighting, nothing new there, more people not paying their taxes, as usual... but wait, what was this. A challenge had been thrown to him, someone had threatened to take possession of his kingdom. Overcome with shock he went to his room and lay down on the 4 poster bed trying to take it in. Why throw this challenge to him now after all these years of friendly co-habitation. This meant he would have to assemble an army. He thought this kind of thing only happened in years gone by, remembering the tales passed down the generations by his ancestors.
He went and got out all the old scrolls and read once again of what had happened before, of whole castles being reduced to rubble. Dear god no. Oh for an easy life, he thought to himself and went back to the throne. It was probably something and nothing.
But it wasn't. His rival had become increasingly jealous of his popularity especially since Sean had recently acquired the hand of the most eligible of princesses, it really was the final straw. Another letter arrived threatening to take the kingdom, what on earth was he going to do. He kept it from his princess because he did not want to worry her and hoped nothing more would come of it.
Until the fateful day when Princess Nichola ran into the great hall clutching the 3rd threatening manuscript, Sean had only been seeing the royal tailor about having a new shirt made and she had only gone and intercepted the most recent delivery of news to the palace. She could not find him anywhere and searched everywhere, until she finally found him in the bedroom choosing material for his new garment. "I can never find you when I need you" she shrieked, thrusting the parchment at him. "You've been keeping this from me!" and with that she disappeared to the kitchens to drown her sorrows in the cooks home made punch.
Sean was probably more scared of getting on the wrong side of Nichola than he was about any war, but he had to face her. When he did she refused to talk to him and slammed the bedroom door in his face, so he went back down to the great hall and sat on the throne, contemplating what to do next. A meeting would have to be called and an army assembled, making the serfs even more unhappy in the process. But at least, he thought, they could fight the enemy and not themselves for a change.
The head of each village was called in to the castle and plans were made for the making of weapons and armoury. What they had was antique. And anyway they weren't getting their hands on his collection of armour. Nichola finally reappeared and sat on her accompanying throne next to him as news was brought to them on how things were going. Then she spoke. "I don't like it that I am one of the reasons he is so jealous of you, I would rather jump in the moat than have to live with that pig from the other kingdom".
Sean sighed. "I know my dear" he said "but we don't have much choice but to fight him and make sure that can never happen, he shall never set foot in this castle as long as I live. No-one comes in this castle, do you hear me". Tensions were high to say the least. Sean got off the throne and snatched his favourite sword from the wall, making swiping motions with it. "If I set eyes on him..."
Nichola thought he was wonderful. She couldn't understand why people were jealous of them, why couldn't they get on with their own lives. She went over to the letters and presents sent to them for their wedding. People did care, she had to take strength from that. But she started to cry, it was all to much. She wished she had never married him if it was causing so much trouble. His life had been peaceful before that.
She went up to the royal bedroom and looked out of the tiny window at the neighbouring kingdom. Surely she could do something to stop this. Her mind raced. They were installing the cannons on the rooftop. That was where she used to go for peace and quiet and to think and write. Now, she hardly ever left this room.
Sean came in and sat on the bed. "It'll be ok" he said "we've got the best of everything, I've made sure of that, no-one will get through our defences". "I hope you're right Sean" she said. "Our moat is deeper than his, our castle is bigger..." Sean laughed "let's just hope his serfs aren't bigger than ours". He could always see the humor in the strangest situations.
Sean's cousin James had promised to get involved and was also assembling an army. He lived further away in Londinium but had recently bought a castle slightly nearer. "We will beat him" said Sean. "With James help we are stronger than him". "But he has so many friends" replied Nichola "so many people on his side who'll do anything he says, he doesn't even need me, he has a different wench in there every other year". "And more besides" added Sean "from what I've heard". "And he isn't much to look at either" said Nichola "I much prefer you Sean".
More news came, their enemy had now set a definite date for attack. Nichola sorted out her dresses for the sake of something to do, tossing them one by one onto the bed. They had all been made especially. Sean came in and showed her his new shirt. "I'll wear it in the day of the battle" he said.
That day came. And went. Sean paced the castle. "How dare he do this to us, who does he think he is". Nichola went back to the kitchen. James decided to visit unannounced for a strategy meeting.
James sat next to Sean on the other throne. "It all seems to be based around the princess" he said. "He won't be satisfied til he has her. I say we take him unawares, storm his castle in the dead of night. Put a stop to this now". Sean knew that James was right. "We do it next nightfall" said James. "Our armies are ready". "Let's drink to that" said Sean.
James stayed in the guest suite. He was used to living the good life but still wanted the serfs to be happy. Unlike the evil tyrant in the neighbouring kingdom. He didn't seem to care about them at all. There was a tap on the door. It was Nichola. "Sean drank too much and I can't wake him" she said. "He does go to excess sometimes". "Whereas I'm used to it you mean?" said James. "Thanks for all you're doing for us" she said. "We'd do the same". James could sort of see their retractors problem, she was very beautiful. Maybe if he had the kingdom next door he'd be jealous too.
The next day came. At nightfall, their armies moved into position surrounding the neighbouring castle. There didn't seem to be any sign of life. Surely they couldn't know of the plan. But news travels fast in a world as small as this and their enemy did indeed know of their plans. He was ready for them.
All of a sudden the cannons started firing and Sean and James were forced to call back their armies and retreat. How come he seemed to know about their plans... maybe there was a spy amongst them. But then, anyone would talk for the right price.
But Sean was determined he would not be driven out of his kingdom, however James had to go back home as he had been separated from his own princess for too long. It was during this time their enemy planned to strike. He did indeed have a spy in the castle, none other than Nichola's handmaiden. And Nichola usually told her everything...
The enemy sat in his castle gleeful that he'd scared Sean off and that was his spy who spent every day with Nichola. He really thought he was something, he really thought he was it. Lots of people thought he was the best ruler they'd ever had, even though there were stories about what he was really like, but his public persona was so sickly sweet most people were too gullible to see past it. Sean and Nichola knew who he really was. But they didn't know what he was capable of. They were about to find out.
One morning Sean awoke and knew something was wrong, Nichola was nowhere to be found. He searched the castle but she was not there. He knew something terrible had happened. He knew it had something to do with the enemy. Sure enough a ransom note arrived... Nichola in exchange for the kingdom. She had been taken prisoner and the maid had also disappeared.
Nichola was distraught, she remembered drinking something, going to sleep and waking up in a strange castle. Looking out of the window she realised where she was. He finally had what he wanted. He had her in his evil clutches. And as she was not married in this kingdom, he was going to marry her.
Sean stayed in his room staring listlessly into space. His princess had gone. Life meant nothing without her. He lay there and thought and thought. It was either give up the castle and the kingdom, or lose her. He didn't know what to do. This was her home. He had to bring her back here. His mind wandered to the past, how they did things in those days. He went into the cellars looking for ancient manuscripts, for clues of what to do. There was a map, at first he couldn't make it out then he realised, it was some kind of tunnel connecting the two castles. There was a way after all. He had almost given up hope of getting her back.
He had remembered life before she was around. The castle was always cold, there was no laughter, even though there were endless parties and visitor after visitor being nice just because of who he was but there had been no-one like Nichola.
He set about trying to find the ancient tunnel, tapping on the walls and listening for an echo and at last he found it. When the stones had been removed from the wall he climbed in and held out a lantern. He wanted to do this alone. He didn't tell cousin James about this, he'd have his army in before he could stop him, this was something he had to do himself.
It was a good few miles into the tunnel when he started hearing noises, so the castle must be directly above him. He went nearer to the sound and came across an old iron grille. Waiting for nightfall when no one was around he kicked it open and was inside the castle. He was dressed as an enemy knight to go unrecognised. But where would Nichola be held? He looked up and saw the tower. There was a light in the window. Passing the guard at the bottom of the tower stairs he didn't receive any attention. After climbing the stairs he tapped on the door. After a while he heard her reply. "It's me" he said, "I've come to rescue you".
First he had to get the key. Going back down to the guard he said he had instructions to take her to their enemies quarters. The guard unlocked the door and went in, Nichola ran out and Sean pulled the door closed behind him, locking the guard in the room. "Quickly" he said as they ran down the stairs and towards the tunnel entrance.
At last she was free. And soon they were safely back inside their castle. Sean had the tunnel filled in. And their enemy didn't find out she was gone until the next day. He was very angry but he couldn't seem to separate them and had lost face infront of his kingdom when he had to call off the wedding. Sean had won.
The End.
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