The Swordswoman of Arden

Disappearance

"Everywhere your majesty, I think it's best if we raise the alarm, I have an awful feeling."

King Maudred rode into the forest with one of his knights in the early afternoon, and neither had returned since. This was disturbingly out of character, he was generally back long before sundown. There was a very looming sense of foreboding in the forecourt, as my father gave the order for Quince to sound the alarm.

"You were right to come to me when you did Mattheus, let's try to keep calm, I'm sure King Maudred has an explanation for all this when we find the two."

We were to gather the knights before sending out a search party into the forest, they were all still in the tavern and hadn't heard the strange news yet. I ached to join the search, anything could have happened to King Maudred and his knight by now, I felt almost ill with worry. 

"Father, I must assist, if you don't let me help find the King and his knight, I would never forgive myself."

The burly King sighed, understanding there was no reasoning with his headstrong daughter, who was more or less a scaled down version of his own wilful self.

"If you and Quince happen upon Lex and she agrees you won't be a distraction, you may help search. If you cannot find her, you will stay put in these castle walls. I expect you to be dressed in full battle armour and equipped with the best weaponry, is that understood?"

"Yes father," I nodded in agreement to his conditions, I knew this was hard for him to allow.

"Princess, I fear we mustn't wait another minute, shall we visit the tavern?"

"Of course Quince, let's be quick!" I followed him out the doors and jogged lightly beside him. I'd hitched up my hemline to make travel much easier, but I would struggle searching in this, I was glad father had ordered me to change before leaving. That would be if Lex actually allowed me to go with her, I hoped with all my heart she'd permit it. I crossed my fingers for luck as we swept as fast as we could through the cobbled streets. The street torches were still lit, it wasn't late enough for them to be snuffed out, and I was secretly glad to have the extra light sources surrounding me considering my nerves were completely on edge.

My stamina exceeded Quince's, who refused to slow down despite the shortened breaths he had begun to take. It was times like these I was grateful for my regular training and fitness level, I found it easy to keep up with most activities to a high level. The tavern popped into view round the final corner, and Quince stopped outside the door, finally able to start catching his breath. He pushed it open and the garish atmosphere escaped into the air, the blanketing warmth of the tavern soon to follow.

"Knights of Pâllais, this is an announcement from King Creon," Quince barked, and I stood to the side of him. I was shocked he even had enough air left in his lungs to fill the room, but he proved me spectacularly wrong, the whole tavern fell quiet. I clocked Lex sat at a corner table with Harry and Gawain, she had a perplexed look on her face as I ushered her over. She responded immediately, pushing away her tankard and coming over, brow taught with confusion. Whilst Quince was informing the knights about the emergency meeting in the forecourt, I lowly explained to Lex the situation and asked if I would be able to join her in tonight's search. The knights scurried either side of us as we stood static by the door, her pondering whether to authorise my company, and I standing anxiously awaiting my approval. 

"I'm not sure Princess, there could be anything out there, I could never forgive myself if something happened."

"I understand Lex, but I feel incredibly uneasy about this whole situation, I would feel much better if I were sent to help."

She folded her arms and the corner of her lips twitched into a subtle smile. She knew I'd never drop this.

"You must stay beside me at all times, yes?"

"Of course I will, that's only fair," I agreed, enthusiasm hanging off my tone. 

"Well then, shall we?"

She opened the door for me, and I hurried through, hitching up my skirt again as I began jogging after the knights up ahead.

"If you don't change out of that royal outfit, the deal is off," she huffed, and I couldn't help but let out a peal of laughter at her complete disdain at the impracticality of my dress.

"I don't think the forest would be kind to this dress and it's one of my favourites, so don't worry, consider it dead to me!" I responded.

It had been a long time since we'd been humorous with each other, and it eased the tension between us massively. We finally seemed comfortable again, it was clear her mind was only on the sound of my laughter, as she hadn't stopped smiling since that moment earlier. The journey to the forecourt didn't take long, and father had already started his speech on the different knight search party pairings and weaponry choices. Mattheus was stood next to him, explaining to the knights what he suspects the outcome of this mission to be. I had stood at my place in between them both and assigned which horses to take and which to leave. I decided Rose would be left in the stable, and Lex and I would ride Vesta together. This way, she could keep track of my whereabouts much easier, and it was safer in general bearing mind we had no indication as to what was out there.

The armoury was swarming with knights pulling together armour, knives, arrows and more to prepare for the night ahead. I had already changed into my shirt and slacks before I'd entered, and now I was covering myself head to toe in battle armour. The clamour of other knights doing the same echoed round the cold room, and I sheathed my knife in my thigh holster before selecting my sword. I had my own rack of weapons which were specially crafted for me only, and I picked out one that was more robust than usual. I suspected due to the recent boar attacks that one of those hogs may be behind King Maudred's disappearance, and knew my lightweight sword would just deflect straight off its thick skin if that were the case. I picked out my crossbow and arrows also, just in case I was wrong and something else was the cause of him going missing. I didn't bring an archers bow, I wasn't practised enough to wield one of them just yet, and the crossbow was much more powerful anyway.

I was one of the first to finish, as many of the knights had different components to dress in specialising in whatever region they fought best in. Lex was still lacing up her wrist guard which she wore for protection when using her bow and arrow, Francis was tightening his shoulder guard and George was securing his large leather belt. I didn't have any of these things, as I wasn't an archer, axe swinger nor mace wielder. Instead, I took my time assisting every other knight where I could, especially with extra armour components. 

"How are you my Prince?" I asked Mattheus sympathetically, placing his helmet over his head for him. 

"I cannot lie to you princess, very anxious to see what awaits, but we must keep out heads up and do what is required."

He was a strong man, I felt terrible for him. He was right, we had a search to accomplish and a mission, which was to ultimately bring back the king and his knight alive and well.