“You must
let me fight!” She raged.
“No. I will
not allow it.” William dismissed her with a gesture.
Gwen didn’t
move. She stood there, her balled fists hanging at her side. Her eyes
burned, her raven hair cascading down her back.
“Why?” she
sputtered.
“Why? You
are a girl! Not meant to fight! You barely know how to use a sword and it would
take years to teach you properly.”
“So I’m
supposed to sit in the castle listening to the cries of the courtiers wives as
they bid their husbands and sons farewell? Am I supposed to cook and knit while
there are men dying?” She crossed her arms.
“Yes.”
“Preposterous!”
She exclaimed. “I have just as much right to defend my home as any man. It is
my country too. It doesn’t belong only to the men at arms. The other three
kingdoms allow their women to fight. Why not here in Valdiel?”
“You can’t
fight because no Valian women have ever done so before.”
“William, I’m
better with a bow and arrow than even you. I know how to use a sword because
you taught me! And why am I not allowed because other women in past times
didn’t have the skill?”
“It’s not
that they didn’t have skill. They didn’t need to fight. If you go, you will go
up against seasoned warriors and you are naught but a beginner.” He shook his
head.
“Then teach
me, brother. We need as many fighters as are willing to protect the land they
love! Let me fight among them. I can hold my own!”
“No.” He
scowled at her.
Her face
turned white with fury. She opened her mouth to say something, but thought
better and shut it.
She stood up
as tall as she could and looked up at him, the anger in her green eyes replaced
by determination.
“Very well,
then.” And turning on her heal, Gwen walked doggedly out of the room.
William’s
eyes followed her out, then looked back to the battle plans he was given by the
King.
“That girl,”
he said to himself, “Could end the war before it happened, if she was given the
chance.”
No matter
how hard William tried to forget the matter, it kept coming back to mind. He
slowly started to realize the truth and wisdom in what his sister had said. He
then started to wonder if he should relay the information to the elders, to see
if they thought the same.
Maybe this is the chance she has! He realized. I will bring this matter before the king and his
advisors. Gwen, you might have saved us all.
Walking into
the hall, Gwen didn’t notice the person leaning against the wall until he
called her.
“Lady Gwen!”
the silver haired warrior ran to her.
“Bayder! I’m
so sorry, I didn’t see you.” she stopped.
“It’s fine
Lady. I only meant to ask how your discussion went.”
“Please,
just call me Gwen for I am no lady.”
“But you are
a lady! Any woman willing to fight an army for her homeland is nobler than if
you were born into royalty.” He looked down at her.
“Thank you,
Bayder. I needed that.” She looked up and smiled at him, then frowned slightly.
“You asked how my debate with my brother went. It went badly. I will not be
allowed to fight. Nor any women willing to take up arms.”
“Might I ask
why?”
“It would
wound the pride of the men, I fear. No women in Valian history have ever fought
because they never had too. But this is different. We, the four kingdoms
united, are still too few in number to match the rebellion. The idea that we
need women to fight bruises the pride and moral of the men at arms.”
“What a sad turn
of events!” Bayder exclaimed. Then he clapped his hands. “Unless!” he laughed,
“unless you can make the men see that it doesn’t say they are weak and that it
might add the extra boost we need to end all this!”
Gwen wrapped
her arms around her friend in a massive hug.
“Bayder! You
are a genius! Come, I have an idea.” She released him and started running.
“Where are
we going?” he asked her, chasing after her.
“The
training field!” She yelled, looking behind at him, grinning broadly.
Getting to
the officers’ quarters outside the training barracks, Gwen stopped and
requested that she see the Battle master.
“I’m sorry
miss,” Said the guard at the door, “The battle master is in the middle of a
very important meeting and will be seeing no one. I could, however, give him a
message if you’d like.”
“Thank you
so much! Yes, tell him that Gwen requested to see him. Please inform him that
Bayder and I will be at the archery range and if we are already gone we upon
his going, that we will talk with him at supper.”
“Yes miss.”
He bowed his head. “Sir.”
Gwen
curtsied and turned to leave, when she had thought of another thing.
“Sir guard?
Do you think we would be allowed to borrow a few bow and arrows for practicing?
And possibly two swords as well?”
The man
looked surprised. “I don’t see why not. Only, the guard on duty at the armory
might question your ability to use them, as you are a lady.”
“I can use
them well enough.” She assured him. “And if he questions me, I will ask him to
face me as his opponent. Being a lady is merely a disguise to my ability.”
“I believe
you miss. You seem like you could face quite a bit of danger without
consequence.”
“She could,
take my word for it! I was privileged to see her in action once or twice
myself.” Bayder laughed, patting Gwen’s shoulder. “She beat me in a fair fight
and I’m not ashamed to tell the world.”
When they
reached the armory Gwen made her request for the weapons.
The two men
on guard laughed at her and told her to run along.
“But you
don’t understand! I know how to use them. I want to go and practice so I don’t
go soft. Please, give them to us and let us go.”
“You know
how to use them do you? Highly unlikely.” one man jeered. “Go home you little
scullery maid. Leave us to our work.”
“Scullery
maid?!” Gwen croaked.
“Scullery
maid. Now be off with ye!” the other guard said with a dismissive gesture.
“Gentlemen!”
Bayder cried, ”Do you have any idea of whom you’re talking to?”
The men
looked at each other.
He crossed
his arms. “This is Lady Gwen, who is sister to the knight, Sir William
Greenfall, who is best friend to the royal family. You have been honored with
the company of a personage higher than yourselves and yet you have the gall to
insult her? Do you know what I could have done to you for this?”
Both guards
blanched and ducked their heads. It was silent in the yard, all eyes watching
them curiously.
“Well? I’m
waiting.” Bayder said darkly.
“Well sir-“one
started, his voice faltering.
“We-We didn’t
know, sir, honest we didn’t. We just thought-“ The other guard tried to finish
for his friend, but was interrupted by Bayders yell.
“You really thought
she was a kitchen maid? Does she look anything like one? Is she wearing the
royal staff uniform? How you could mistake Lady Gwen for a maid is beyond me.”
The men kept
their heads down.
“And to think
that warriors in the Kings army have reduced to bullying the people weaker than
them, it’s shocking!”
“We are
sorry sir.” One mumbled.
"I should hope so." a voice boomed behind them. Gwen and Bayder whirled around.
