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The Black Prince and the White Maiden |
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[[mind u, this is a story i wrote a LONG time ago... 7th grade... okay, read and be jealous of my mad skillig people!!]]
Edward leaned his ear onto the door, trying to hear what the people in the other room were saying. He could make out his father, King Edward III, saying, “Alexander, you of all people know that we can not risk a war with the French.”
“I know, my Lord, but it can not be avoided. We must fight at Crécy when the time comes.”
Now Sir John Chandos was speaking. “And, my Lord, I think it is time we took Edward to war; it is time he won his spurs.”
Now Edward’s father was speaking again. “Of course, you are right, John. We will bring Edward. He must become a knight soon.”
Edward stepped back from the door, staggered. He could hear chairs being pushed out and knew at once that the meeting was coming to an end. He turned and ran to his room, thinking what was to happen. He was only thirteen, after all. Before he reached his room, he stopped and decided to go to town. He needed some time too think before he was ready to face his father. ‘What am I to do? All of this is happening to fast! Father knows that I am meant for spying and such, not war! I do not wish to become a knight!’ he thought as he walked into town.
“Edward!” Edward heard someone call his name and he spun around to find his best friend, George racing toward him. George was sixteen, like himself.
“Hello, George!” Edward said happily. George had been his best friend since they were barely able to speak. George came up and smiled, panting for breath. “What’s the rush?” Edward asked.
“Riley just had her children. Twins! Boy and girl. She’s calling them Emma and John,” George said.
“That’s great!” Edward smiled. Riley’s oldest girl, Jill, was just a year younger than he and George. Edward could not wait until he could see Jill again; she was the prettiest girl in the town.
“Edward,” George murmured, tugging on Edward’s sleeve.
“What?”
“Look.” Edward looked at what George was pointing at, a young girl with pale skin and golden hair. She was dressed in a white dress which flowed over her body like the ocean. Edward gaped and George watched her with wide eyes. She was as graceful as a cat, and her smile was like the sun breaking through dark rain clouds.
The girl turned around and giggled when she saw George and Edward watching her. She waved and skipped around a corner. Edward looked at George and then took off after her; he needed to know who she was.
“Wait!” he cried. He saw the girl skip around another corner, watching him out of the corner of her eyes, a mischievous smile on her face, brightening her features. Edward raced after her, not caring who saw the crown prince running through the streets like a maniac. He followed the girl around another corner, but this one was different; this one ended at a flowering meadow. Edward saw the girl waiting under an apple tree, smiling and waving at him.
Edward sighed and laughed. Walking over, he collapsed by the girls side.
“My name is Edward,” he said, smiling.
“I’m Penna,” said the girl.
“Well, you gave me quite the run!” Edward laughed. He liked Penna already even though he barely knew her.
“Well, I didn’t want the crown prince to be embarrassed by being seen with just a lowly maiden…” Penna said, bowing her head.
“You are not a lowly maiden! You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met!” Edward slapped his hand over his mouth a bit too late; the words came tumbling out of his mouth before he could do anything about it.
Penna laughed, raising her head and giving him the most gorgeous smile in the world. “And you are not the crown prince; you are the funniest and most handsome boy I have ever met!” she said.
Edward smiled, letting his hand drop off his mouth. He blushed bright red, as did Penna. “Come on, bet you can’t catch me!” Penna laughed, tagging his shoulder and scampering to her feet before running off.
“Hey!” Edward laughed, getting to his feet and running after Penna. They chased each other all day, collapsing before getting right back on their feet and chasing each other some more. Finally, the sun started to go and down, and it was time for them to part ways.
“I am sorry to go, my Prince,” Penna said.
“And I am sorry to go, my Princess,” Edward said. Penna smiled up at him and suddenly Edward had the silliest impulse. He leaned down and kissed Penna on the lips. He could feel Penna tense for a moment before relaxing and closing her eyes. Edward wished that moment could last forever, but finally the two separated. Edward looked deep into Penna’s eyes. She looked startled, yet at the same time happy. She looked up at him before smiling, turning, and running off into the village. Edward took a step after her, but stopped himself. “Until tomorrow, my sweet Princess,” he said as he turned and started running toward the castle.
As he ran, Edward thought about his actions. You idiot, she probably hates you now! Father always said never to show any emotion toward a girl! Why didn’t you listen to him? Because he’s your father, of course. Fathers are usually wrong! But he’s the king, so that makes a difference. I mean, when is the king ever wrong? I know he was wrong in saying that he would take you to war, but kings can’t be right about everything can they? So who’s to say Penna doesn’t hate you? Maybe she just had to be somewhere and she was late? Maybe- Edward’s train of thought was cut short as he came to the castle.
It was pitch dark, and so, his father would be completely furious with him for having stayed out so late and having gone out without telling him in the first place. Edward snuck around to his window and climbed in, making sure he didn’t make a sound. But even through all that caution, he couldn’t be sure Hans didn’t hear him. Hans was the cat and Edward III’s personal spy. He would go up to the king and meow without relent if something were amiss. And Edward was apparently amiss that day.
The sound of footsteps along with meowing carried up to Edward’s room. “Oh no…” Edward muttered as his father came walking into the room.
“Edward!” His father boomed.
“Yes, Father?” Edward said nervously.
The king suddenly smiled. “It’s time you won your spurs in battle! You’re coming with us to the next war!” Edward III said happily.
“Please no!” Edward wanted to say, but instead said, “Yes, Father, I would be very happy to accompany you to your next battle. Where is it going to be?”
“Crécy, my dear boy! We will be fighting the French there.”
“Crécy it is then…” Edward forced a smile and his father left the room beaming with pride.
“And we’ll defiantly be leaving tomorrow…” Edward muttered sadly. That meant that he wouldn’t get to see Penna, to tell her how he felt… Edward sank onto his bed and drifted into a fitful sleep.
It was the next afternoon, and sixteen-year-old Edward was in charge of the first attack wave, the archers. Edward took a shuddering breath and looked around to see Sir John Chandos and the Earl of Warwick on his right and left. Edward held tight to the reins of his white mare.
The French curled over the hill, their flags raised. Edward’s black armor shone in the light and he waved his sword, giving the signal for the first volley of arrows. The arrows flew through the air, blocking out the sun there were so many. Edward could feel sweat dripping down his neck as the French charged. The archers held them at bay not once, but sixteen times. Finally, the French army, or what was left of it, came at them.
Edward raised sword in a battle cry, and, with his men at his side, charged the French. One Frenchman came straight at him and cut down Edward’s white mare.
Edward flew off before he could be buried under his dead horse. He slashed at the oncoming attacker, who fought back with fiery strength.
“Edward!” He heard George yell above the clash of weapons and the snap of fire.
“Stay back, George!” Edward called; he didn’t want his friend in this fight. His attacker lunged, and Edward gave a deadly overhand swing, killing the man instantly.
Edward pulled his sword loose and fought on with the rest of his men. They were horribly outnumbered at first, but finally when the French retreated, they saw that they had lost barely any men, and it was the French’s bodies that lay strewn across the Warfield. They had won, and that was good enough for him.
Edward staggered a bit and looked to see blood coming out of his side. He winced in pain but hid it when his father came over.
“Well done, my boy!” Edward III laughed. Edward smiled for real this time, unable to keep his overwhelming pride down. “It really is time you became a knight, Edward,” his father said. “Kneel.”
Edward kneeled on one knee and bowed his head. His father knighted him and Edward raised his head and smiled, his vision blurred.
“Sir, he’s wounded!” He heard a knight yell in the distance.
“Edward!” His father said. “Stay with me son, stay with me,” he said as Edward collapsed.
Edward looked off at the battlefield. In the midst of the ruins and bodies, stood a young girl, a white maiden with golden locks. She smiled. “It is not time for you to come with me, Edward. Stay alive and have a good life,” the girl said.
“Penna…” Edward murmured, a smile crossing his mouth. Then all went black.
The Battle of Crécy was the first battle in the Hundred Years’ War. The English won with the help of King Edward III and his son, Edward the Black Prince. He was not actually a bad person; he just wore all black armor to the battle. Since then, he had been called the Black Prince because of his armor. He died at age forty-six without becoming king. His son King Richard III became king after his grandfather died and ruled fairly and just.
 tinkr-tailr-sldr-spy · Fri Sep 05, 2008 @ 05:10am · 0 Comments |
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