Feudal Stories

Entering into a feudal contract with Lord Lorde might have been a wrong move for the vassal Kenigits. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, you know, the promise of a fief is mainly what sold the idea to him, but now he was growing tired of the constant demands made by Lorde.

Although the young vassal Kenigits only had to do forty days of military service, he was still forced to pay for the lord's massive parties. Lord Lorde would constantly be inviting people to his house, and while making preparations he would call on Kenigits to run errands for him. With all the running around, his horse would become tired and refuse to go any further with his master.

On the way back to the manor house, Sir Kenigits heard a cry of distress. Urging his horse to go faster, he hurried towards the sound. Coming closer to what appeared to be a dark alleyway, he saw the local baron harassing a young maiden. Finding this very alarming, Sir Kenigits rushed to the aid of the lady. Shoving the Baron off of her and jumping to her aid. Sir Kenigits showed his heroic side and gave the word chivalry meaning. He scared away the Baron, threatening to hunt him down if he ever harassed another woman. Helping her up, he asked her name.

"Ladee," she said. "My name is Ladee, and I am a lady."

Fixing his armor which had become askew while jumping off his horse, Kenigits laughed a little, but then stopped because he realised he shouldn't laugh at other people's names, especially when his name is Kenigits. Extending his hand to Ladee, he told her his name.

"I am Sir Kenigits, a vassal to Lord Lorde," he said. Ladee laughed a little, and Kenigits was only now realising just how beautiful she was. He found himself falling in love with her, even though they had only met five minutes ago.

"Well, Sir Kenigits, I am glad that you came to my aid and fulfilled my need for a knight in shining armor."

"Are you going to my lord's party this evening?" he asked, hoping for a yes in response. He sure hoped that Ladee would attend, and he would be completely, and utterly happy if she didn't act subservient while around him, because he didn't find that completely attractive and thought that was how she was taken advantage of earlier.

"Oh," said Ladee, getting a bit nervous, "I didn't get an invitation, so sadly I will not be attending and will be going on a walk by the riverside this evening instead."

Kenigits knew she was talking about the Seine River, which was a gift to the Vikings earlier on. He knew this of course because he had heard stories of it from the Duke whenever the old man decided to reminisce about the past and wandered around, looking for anyone to talk to.

"You can come if you would like!" Ladee blurted out nervously, "or not, I mean I wouldn't want to keep you from your lord's party."

"It's okay, I'm sure I'll be able to meet you there," Kenigits said, fiddling with his hands nervously, "is dusk okay?"

"Yes, that's perfect!" she exclaimed. "I'm afraid I must go now," she said as she departed, leaving Kenigits alone.

He arrived back at the house and saw that Count Cownt had already arrived to discuss things with Lord Lorde. Kenigits thought this would mean that he would be able to leave earlier, but because of blasted feudalism, Kenigits was forced to stay longer than expected, tending to whatever Lorde wanted, which was a lot because he was a very paranoid person. When he was finally dismissed, he rode to the riverbank as fast as he could. Ladee was already waiting.

"I apologize for being late my lady," said Kenigits bowing his head, "I was forced to tend to the party longer than expected, I hope you haven't been waiting long."

"That is alright, I only just got permission to leave, so I was late as well."

"Permission? From who?" Kenigits asked confused.

Realizing what she said, Ladee became nervous and would not look into Kenigits's eyes. "I forgot to tell you sir, I am not of nobility or a high social status, I am a serf, so I had to ask for permission to leave," she said, flinching a bit at her words. "I understand if you wish to leave, since you are of a higher class than I."

Kenigits, while surprised, was not going to leave. Just because they were of different statuses in the Manorial System didn't mean he would leave her. Kenigits took her hands and kissed them, then he looked at her, his decision already made.

"I will not leave you," he said to her. "I will enter the tournament that is to be held tomorrow and joust, and when I win we can tell people of our love," he said to her.

Ladee's eyes got wide, she didn't believe people would accept their love, especially not the bishops, who were very judgemental around these parts.

"What if we just ran away together?" she asked hopefully. "We could start a new life, you could become a king of your own land!" she pleaded.

"Why do you want to leave?" he asked her, concerned but also intrigued by the idea.

"I do not wish to face our fellow Norsemen when we tell them, because they might not accept us and riot and throw us out on the streets," she confessed to him as she moved away.

"I must compete in the tournament anyways, for I have already entered into it and you can't go back on those things," Kenigits said sheepishly. He mounted his horse as Ladee looked at him with a mix of terror and surprise. "Goodbye my love, I promise to win!" he said as he rode off.

The next day, as Kenigits was getting ready to compete, he looked into the crowd of people who had gathered. He noticed many people he knew, his lord was there, making conversation with the count, the king had showed up to watch the games, and surprisingly even the archbishop had showed up, taking the time out of his busy schedule to watch people injure each other.

When it was finally his turn to go out, Kenigits rode his horse out to the jousting area, and seeing his opponent he gasped. It was Baron Bareon, the one who was harassing Ladee the day before. Luckily he did not recognise Kenigits, that was at least until Kenigits had knocked him off of his horse. The joust had been a quick one, because Kenigits hadn't even waited for someone to tell them to begin. His anger had consumed him and he just rode at him straight on.

Pulling the baron up from the ground, he held him up to the crowd which was in shock.

"This man was caught harassing women and should not be able to compete in the tournament!" he announced to the crowd. Surprised by this, murmurs started to flow through the crowd.

"Who did he do it to?" someone shouted.

"It was Ladee!" Kenigits shouted before he could think properly. "And I am in love with her!" he shouted.

Gasps went through the crowd, as well as people questioning who the lady was, for she was not well known to everyone. Kenigits's eyes searched through the crowd, hoping to find her, and his eyes did. They met hers, and they were filled with fear.

"We have decided to leave! None of you will have to deal with us ever again!" Kenigits shouted as he threw Bareon onto the ground again. He got atop his horse and fled the scene as he motioned for Ladee to do the same. They left the crowd and she kissed him as he hoisted her onto his horse, and they rode off towards the river.

"Now what?" Ladee asked as they arrived at the riverbed.

"Now we run away together." Kenigits said as he kissed her once more.