3
The Festival
As the three made their way down the road to the village, Elizabeth looked at the countryside around her. It was a perfect day, warm with just a slight breeze making the tall grass in the fields waver. Except of course where the red dragon had burned it. Elizabeth frowned looking at the charred ground that had once been her garden. However, her smile came back when she looked out to the tent villages set up in the fields on the high side of the castle wall. They were all so colorful, it added to the festive feeling. As they made their way farther down the road, Elizabeth spotted the pond at the bottom of the hillside. There was a flock of green dragons in and about it.
Green dragons are fairly small, weighing about twenty pounds. They have long slender necks and small heads with beak shaped mouths filled with tiny teeth. They have two legs with webbed toes, which they use to propel themselves through water, where they prefer to land. They have functional wings, but only fly when threatened or when moving as a group to a new location. They cannot flame and feed on fish in small bodies of water. Females will mate with a different male each year, producing as many as ten eggs, which hatch in the spring. They are not dangerous and their teeth contain no magical catalyst. Green dragons are hunted regularly for meat and for their hides, which can vary in hue of greens.
As they approached the forest, Elizabeth’s brother Lark, who was riding beside her, declared “No racing!”
“I wasn’t going to race,” Elizabeth replied. Maybe I should take off anyway and say it was all Remi’s idea, Elizabeth thought.
“Remi,” Lark added, “No racing!”
Then he looked up at his sister and smiled. How did he know what I was thinking? Elizabeth wondered.
“Do you know how many times you’ve used that excuse on me?” asked Lark, continuing in his best imitation of his sister, “Oh, Lark, it was all Remi’s idea.”
Elizabeth swung her arm out to hit her brother, but was too far away, getting only air.
Lord Avery, who had been riding behind them, shouted up to them. “Don’t you two ever stop?”
Elizabeth and Lark both turned their heads and replied in unison. “NO!”
The ride through the forest was peaceful, brother and sister maintaining an unspoken truce. When the trio emerged from the forest, making their way to the edge of the village, Lark again leaned toward Elizabeth explaining, “Everyone will be waiting for you to arrive, so we must ride directly to the platform set up in the center of the village. Mother and Father will be there already. I will escort you up onto the platform and the village elder will greet you and officially start the festivities.” Elizabeth nodded her head in understanding, her eyes forward taking in all the sights.
When they entered the village the cheering began, the road was lined with a mixture of villagers and visitors. Elizabeth smiled and waved her hand, nodding from side to side in recognition of the well-wishers. Ahead, in the center of the village, she could see the platform where her mother and father were seated in ornate chairs with a canopy shading them. She could also see Radella, the village elder of Dragon Village, standing on the platform with her husband Kirkwood. Now each castle had a village and each village had a Village Elder who was elected by the villagers each year. The Village Elder could be a male or female of any age that resided in the village. The Village Elder settles minor disputes in the village, conducts joining ceremonies and meets regularly with a designated representative from their castle, usually the Chief Armsmen, to discuss such matters as food production and trade. The Village Elder also may demand to meet with the castle’s Noble Lord if they feel a situation so warrants it. The Village Elder could be either an elf or a low blood fairy, these making up the general population of the villages.
High blood fairies are the ruling class of the Kingdom of Elnara, all the lords and ladies being high blood fairies. High blood fairies are taller than low blood fairies or elves. They are skilled with the bow and are able unicorn riders. High Blood fairies are superior in the arts and music, having particularly pleasing speaking and singing voices. High blood fairies tend to be much paler in complexion, always having light colored eyes, and having ears that curve up to a much higher point than do low blood fairies or elves. Low blood fairies in general have superior beauty to that of elves, but high blood fairies are by far the most beautiful, with female high blood fairies being the only ones with magical abilities. Elves tend to be slightly shorter and stockier on average. All elves have dark hair and dark eyes and have ears that come to a slight point. Elves are superior artisans, as well as, knowledgeable healers, cultivating herb gardens and collecting wild plants for this purpose. Although marriage between the fairy classes is rare, marriages between low blood fairies and elves are quite common, their offspring being considered elves, often gaining the best talents of both.
When they reached the platform, the three dismounted, handing their unicorns over to a waiting armsmen who would bring them to the village stables. Lord Avery walked over to stand in the crowd around the platform, while Lark led Elizabeth to the stairs and up onto the platform itself. Elizabeth and Lark walked over to Radella and Kirkwood, who were standing in the center of the platform, waiting to greet them. Radella was an attractive low blood fairy, who Elizabeth knew quite well. She had been Village Elder for five years now and Elizabeth knew her to be a capable leader. Her husband Kirkwood, an elf, was the village’s best hunter. Elizabeth knew that Radella was with child, her and Kirkwood’s first, although her dress concealed it well. When Elizabeth reached the pair, they gave her a formal bow, prompting everyone in attendance, except the King and Queen, to do the same. Elizabeth was a little uncomfortable seeing everyone around her bowing to her for what seemed like an eternity, but then Radella lifted her head and extended her hands, then the two females grasped each other’s hands and kissed each other’s cheeks. As they broke away from each other, Radella immediately lifted both hands in the air and bellowed out “LET THE FESTIVAL BEGIN!” Cheering arose everywhere and the crowd dispersed to go to the various festival events.
“Radella, how are you?” inquired Elizabeth, remaining on the platform while the crowd scattered.
“I’ve never been better, Milady,” replied Radella putting a hand to her belly.
“I haven’t had a chance to congratulate you Kirkwood.” Elizabeth looked toward Radella’s husband who was standing behind her.
Kirkwood dropped to one knee and bowed his head. “I am honored by your congratulations, Lady Elizabeth.”
Radella smiled at Elizabeth, she knew that her husband idolized her, and all fairies as most elves did, and felt himself the luckiest of elves to have Radella for a wife. Radella put a hand on his head, “Go have some fun husband; I will catch up with you later.” Kirkwood rose, still maintaining a bow and backed up until he reached the steps, which he fled down and out of sight.
Elizabeth smiled at Radella. “He’s so sweet.”
Radella bowed her head slightly in reply and then asked, “What is your pleasure, Milady, dancing, feasting, entertainers, and of course games?”
“I think I’d like to just wander for a while.” Elizabeth decided.
“Then I will leave you to it, Milady, and if there is anything you desire, we are all at your disposal.” Radella bowed to Elizabeth and Lark before walking over to stand in front of King Lifiel and Queen Eve, bowing to them as well before departing the platform.
Elizabeth and Lark moved across the platform to stand in front of their parents. “Elizabeth” Queen Eve spoke, “You looked breathtaking riding into the village on Remi, your brother at your side.”
“Yes,” the King agreed. “We are blessed with the fairest of children.”
“Thank you, mother, father,” replied Elizabeth, looking from one parent to the other.
“And what are the king and queen’s plans for the day?” asked Lark of his parents.
“Well” the king thought a moment, “We’ll stay here for a while in case anyone wishes to approach and speak to us. Then we are meeting Seaside Castle at the feasting area, before we go to preside over the games.”
“And what about you?” The king now inquired of Elizabeth.
“Everything,” exclaimed Elizabeth, looking at her brother. “But first, I think dancing.”
Lark grabbed her elbow. “Let’s go then, poor Lord Avery’s been dutifully waiting for us.”
“I guess I’ll have to dance with him.” Elizabeth thought that only fair after she had kept him waiting.
“Yes, you will and I can see at least three other lords strategically placed all waiting to see in which direction you’re headed.”
Elizabeth glanced around trying to spot them and then decided it was probably better not to look. Lord Avery was waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs.
“Where are we headed?” he asked anxiously.
“Would you like to dance with me?” Elizabeth asked smiling, walking away from him in the direction of the dancing.
Lord Avery looked at Lark and smiled, “Yes, yes I would,” and they headed after Elizabeth.
***
The dancing was set up near a shady area of the village. A wooden dance floor had been laid down on a short platform with a smaller higher platform connected to it for the village musicians who were playing lively dance tunes. There were benches set up in the shade, and vendors selling food and drink wandered amongst the crowd. As they approached, the musicians, all of whom were low blood fairies, stopped playing.
“What can we play for you, Your Ladyship?” one of them asked.
“I liked what you were playing,” replied Elizabeth. “Please, continue.”
The music started up again and all the dancers started twirling around and around.
“Shall we?” asked Lord Avery, extending a hand to her.
Elizabeth nodded and took his hand, both stepping up onto the dance floor. They held hands out in front of each other and stepping sideways started moving around in a circle with the other dancers, Lord Avery giving Elizabeth a twirl every so often.
“So, Lord Avery,” Elizabeth smiled at her dance partner. “What do you do at Castle West?”
“Well, My Lady,” Lord Avery tried to speak while keeping in step to the music. “I’m working on developing a higher yielding grain. I have several acres of one promising grain doing quite well. I figure, if I can get a higher yield, we’ll have to clear less land to plant.”
“That’s quite an undertaking.” Elizabeth was quite impressed with his answer. “I was working on some vegetables, before my garden was abruptly obliterated.”
“Sorry to hear about your garden.” Lord Avery commiserated as they continued to dance.
Elizabeth found Lord Avery to be very pleasant. He was good looking, plus she knew that he was Lark’s best friend and that her brother would be pleased if she favored him. When the dance was over all the dancers clapped and the pair headed back to where Lark was still standing. Much to Elizabeth’s surprise, there were several lords standing next to Lark waiting their turn to dance with her.
Elizabeth stood for a moment, catching her breath. Lark jerked his head toward the lords standing beside him. Elizabeth knew that he wanted her to pick one for the next dance. Lord Avery, not wanting to give up her attentions yet, gave her a slight bow. “Thank you for the dance Lady Elizabeth. I am available to dance whenever you require me.”
“You are quite welcome Lord Avery,” she said, toying with the idea of just dancing with him again, when Lark gave her a discreet poke in the side. She turned to the lords eagerly waiting for her to pick from them. Looking quickly, she decided to extend her hand to Lord Owen from Meadowland Castle, remembering that she wanted to ask him about his unicorn. Lord Owen smiled and quickly stepped forward to take Elizabeth’s extended hand. The unpicked lords looked disappointed, but were resigned to wait their turn.
Stepping up onto the platform, Lord Owen quickly got them moving with the other dancers that had already begun. He’s lively on his feet, Elizabeth thought, more so than Lord Avery.
“Your unicorn is magnificent.” Elizabeth started the conversation.
“Yes he is,” Lord Owen agreed. “He’s from the same sire as your own.”
“Really?” Elizabeth was interested to hear more.
“Yes, I trained him myself, he’s quite fast.” Lord Owen appeared quite proud of that fact.
“Will you race him today?” inquired Elizabeth.
“Would you like to see me race him?” he asked, staring at her as if he were already in love.
“Actually, I would like to ride him in the race myself.” Elizabeth hoped he would be open to the idea.
Lord Owen suddenly stopped dancing. Looking as if he was going to burst with happiness, he exclaimed, “Oh, Lady Elizabeth, I am honored beyond words that you would ask a personal favor of me. Of course it would be my honor to let you ride my mount Rumsfield in today’s race.” Then he added, looking as if he may faint, “I must go tell my parents,” and with that, he turned, leaping from the platform and taking off in the direction of the feasting area.
Elizabeth turned to look at Lark who was staring at her inquisitively. She shrugged her shoulders and before she could step off the platform, several of the remaining lords were there to help her.
“What was that all about?” asked Lark as Elizabeth reached his side.
“It was nothing,” she told him. “I only asked him if I could ride his unicorn in the race today.”
“Oh, my!” Lark looked at her shaking his head.
“Oh my?” “What’s the, “OH MY, for?” Elizabeth wasn’t happy about being kept in the dark.
“Anything you do or say may be taken as a sign of preference,” Lark explained. “Look at poor Lord Avery. He thinks he’s already been cast aside.”
“This is ridiculous!” Elizabeth was already losing patience. She didn’t want to have to worry about such things. However, seeing Lord Avery looking so glum, she took pity on him.
“Lord Avery!” she called over to him. “Could you find me something to drink. I’m so dry.”
Lord Avery’s sad face brightened. “Why of course, Lady Elizabeth, I’ll be right back,” he smiled as he dashed off to find a drink vendor.
“Thank you,” Lark whispered to his sister, thankful that his friend was back in good cheer.
Lord Avery returned quickly with a tankard of fruit juice for Elizabeth.
“I hope this is to your liking, Lady Elizabeth?” he asked, handing her the cup.
“Yes,” Elizabeth smiled, taking a drink from the glass, “It’s quite refreshing, thank you.” She continued to enjoy her drink realizing that she still had several lords waiting for their opportunity to dance with her.
Elizabeth finished her juice and handed the empty glass to Lord Avery before turning to her brother. “I really need to refresh myself, where do you suggest I go.”
Lark looked around for a moment and then pointed to the tavern nearby. “Over there, they should have a bathing chamber reserved for all the ladies at the festival today.”
“I’ll be right back,” Elizabeth told her brother and took off toward the tavern that Lark had directed her to.
As she was walking away she heard her brother announce to all the waiting lords, “Lady Elizabeth is taking a few moments to refresh herself and will return shortly.”
Oh great, thought Elizabeth, Every time I go to refresh myself, someone is going to announce it? She didn’t really mind, she was having a wonderful time and the day had barely begun.
Elizabeth entered the Tavern to find a young elf female standing inside the entrance directing visitors. When the elf recognized Elizabeth, her eyes widen and she gasped, but she quickly collected her wits and personally led Elizabeth to the bathing chamber designated for ladies visiting today. Elizabeth thanked her and entered the chamber to find, to her amazement, Lady Margaret and Lady Milley standing in the chamber waiting for her.
“What are the two of you doing here?” Elizabeth asked. “You’re supposed to be having fun at the festival.”
“We are Your Ladyship,” answered Lady Margaret. “We’ve been having great fun. We came in here to refresh ourselves and spotted you out the window heading this way. We thought that we should wait and see if you needed anything.”
Elizabeth stared at them for a second and then had an idea. Smiling she said to her ladies, “Actually, I do need assistance.”
***
Elizabeth made her way back to the dancing area, Lady Margaret and Lady Milley in tow. When she reached her brother and the waiting lords, she announced, “It is my pleasure to sit and watch the next dance, but I insist that someone of you dance with my ladies.”
Lady Margaret and Lady Milley looked at each other and smiled at the prospect of dancing with any of the lords present. Wanting to please Elizabeth, they were all quick to offer and Lady Margaret and Lady Milley were put in the delightful position of having to choose their partner. Lady Margaret chose to dance with Lord Fagan of Lakeland Castle. Lady Milley chose Lord Artie of Castle East. As her ladies stepped up to the dance floor, Elizabeth headed over to the benches to sit with Lark, followed by Lord Avery and the remaining lords.
“Interesting tactic,” commented Lark, as he settled in beside her.
“Now I can see who the better dancer is before I choose my next partner,” explained Elizabeth, knowing that her brother wasn’t buying any of it.
She just wasn’t ready to have to pick from the waiting group of lords again. She supposed that she should be having fun with this, but she didn’t want to mislead any of them, as she apparently had Lord Owen. She did want to dance again, so she would have to pick someone.
Elizabeth sat in the shade, listening to the music, enjoying the dancers, and looking at the sights around her when she spotted a small party of riders approaching from the northern road.
“Who is that?” she asked Lark, directing him to the riders. Lark stood up on the bench to get a better look, several other bystanders now looking also.
“It looks like Lord Edric and the party from Castle North,” replied Lark. “I don’t see Lord Warren though. That can’t be good.” Lark continued watching as the party of riders reached the village. “Lord Edric is dismounting,” Lark updated her. “Looks like he’s going to join the festival while the rest of his party continues to the castle to make camp and unpack.”
Lark reseated himself next to her. “Thank goodness they made it,” he told her, “I’m afraid father would never forgive Lord Warren if Castle North missed tonight’s ceremony.”
Elizabeth winced slightly at the mention of the evening events. She was nervous and simply would not think about it while she was enjoying the festival today.
“I’m sure you’ll get to meet Lord Edric at some point today,” Lark added. Elizabeth smiled and nodded her head. She really didn’t care if she met another lord or not.
The music stopped and the dance ended with everyone applauding and smiling. The musicians paused, reaching for some nearby glasses of refreshment. Lady Margaret and Lady Milley with their dance partners made their way over to the benches where Elizabeth and Lark were seated. The ladies took an available seat, while Lords Fagan and Artie went over to a vendor selling drinks and brought tankards back for the two ladies and seated themselves next to the smiling sisters. Elizabeth was glad to see her ladies enjoying themselves.
As the musicians readied to play again, Lark turned to Elizabeth. “Are you going to dance again, sister?” he inquired.
Elizabeth thought for a moment. “Yes I am.”
She stood up and smiled, extending her hand to Lark. He looked at her, and then stood as well, taking her hand. “Okay,” he conceded, and the two proceeded to make their way to the dance floor.
As they mounted the dance floor the crowd cheered, gathering around to watch the royal couple dance, everyone leaving them the entire dance floor. Elizabeth walked over to the musicians. “Spring Dance!” she requested and the players nodded. It was one of her favorite dances; she and Lark had danced it many times together.
Brother and sister stood in the middle of the dance floor waiting for the music to begin. It began slowly with the dancers doing a lot of tapping and clapping, moving slowly around each other and then it picked up. The dancers moved together around the dance floor, with Lark twirling Elizabeth around and around. Elizabeth was exuberant. She knew her and Lark made an exceptional dance pair and she didn’t mind showing off a little. As they made their way around the dance floor again, Elizabeth noticed one of the bystanders, a disheveled looking fellow, staring at her very strangely. He had a meat-on-a–stick in each hand and was chewing vigorously as he continued to examine her. Lark began to twirl Elizabeth, as the dance required, but Elizabeth was determined to get another look at this unidentified fairy. As Lark spun her again she turned her head back to see him, but she missed stepped and began to fall. Lark, always a quick thinker, quickly scooped her up into his arms before she could hit the ground, spun her around several times and then set her down beside him as if that’s what they had intended to do all along. The music stopped and the crowd cheered and clapped. Elizabeth and Lark stood on the dance floor smiling and waving for a moment before making their way off the platform.
“What happened to you?” Lark asked his sister.
“I was distracted by him,” she pointed in the direction of the disheveled fellow, who was now she realized, waving at them with one of his meat sticks. She looked at Lark who was, to her dismay, now waving back.
“Come on,” he said, taking her arm and pulling her in the direction of the waving fellow.
“Lark,” spoke the fairy, who Elizabeth thought looked quite dirty. “So good to see you!” He shifted one meat stick to the other hand so he could extend a hand to Lark.
“Lord Edric,” Lark replied, grasping Lord Edric’s’ hand. “Where is Lord Warren?” Lark asked, a serious look on his face.
Lord Edric took a bite of meat from one of the sticks and while still chewing replied, “Accident in one of the mines. He’s okay, broke a couple of ribs and couldn’t make the journey.”
“King Lifiel will be disappointed not to see him.” Lark knew his father wanted all the Noble Lords present.
“I stopped by the feasting area and gave the King and Queen my father’s apologies for not being able to attend,” spoke Lord Edric, still chewing. “Then I came here to look for you.” he swallowed before continuing. “I can’t wait to meet your sister; I hear she is the most beautiful and graceful of ladies.” He took another bite and waited for Lark’s response.
“Ah hum,” Lark cleared his throat. “This is my sister, Lady Elizabeth.” Lark gestured to Elizabeth standing next to him.
“Oh,” Lord Edric smiled turning his attention to Elizabeth. “Happy birthday from Castle North,” he told her and before she could reply, he turned back to her brother. “This is the best meat-on-a-stick I’ve ever tasted,” he commented, taking another bite. “I can’t make up my mind if it’s green dragon or brown dragon.”
Elizabeth spoke up, annoyed that she had been so abruptly dismissed. “It’s red dragon!” she interjected.
Lord Edric turned and looked at her as if she had two heads and then burst out laughing, spitting out little pieces of meat which landed on Elizabeth. “I’m so sorry,” he told her, still laughing. He reached forward with one of his arms, still grasping the meat stick and tried to wipe off the front of Elizabeth’s dress with his dirty sleeve. “That was so funny,” he continued. “Lark, your sister is so funny,” he said turning to Lark while continuing to wipe her dress with his sleeve.
The rest of their party, who had joined them during the exchange with Lord Edric, stood by, staring in disbelief. Before anyone could comment on the situation Lord Edric exclaimed to Lark, “I must go find a drink vendor. I’ll catch up with you later.”
He turned and started off in the direction of several refreshment vendors, but turned back and yelled to them, “You’re very funny, Lady Elizabeth,” and then he disappeared into the crowd.
Upon Lord Edric’s’ departure, uproar began around Elizabeth and Lark. Lord Avery stepped forward exclaiming, “What a rude fellow. I can’t believe how he presumed to speak with such familiarity,” referring to the fact that Lord Edric kept forgetting to refer to Lark as “Lord Lark”.
Lord Fagan piped in next, “Will King Lifiel really let him attend the council meeting?” directing the question to Lark.
Lark was still looking in the direction of Lord Edric’s departure, “Don’t judge him too hastily.” Lark put his hand up to stop the further protest that began.
Elizabeth turned to Lady Margaret, who along with her sister had moved to Elizabeth’s side. “You didn’t happen to bring along a change of clothes for me did you?”
Lady Margaret smiled. “Of course, Milady, I brought another dress and your riding clothes. They’re in a room for you at the tavern,” she replied, pointing to the same tavern that she had refreshed herself in earlier.
“Excellent,” said Elizabeth, then turning to her brother, she informed him, “I’m going to the tavern to change my clothes. Then let’s get something to eat and go watch the entertainers. I’ve had enough dancing for now.”
“Very well,” said Lark, “Let’s eat in the tavern. We’ll get some tables and order some food while you change.”
Elizabeth nodded in agreement and made her way back to the tavern with her ladies.
***
Elizabeth decided to change into her riding clothes, which consisted of green leggings and a sleeveless green dragon leather tunic. The tunic fit snuggly to her waist, and then flared out in several knee length strips. The tunic had the familiar golden dragon with the golden crown emblem on the front. She wore the same lace up boots that she had been wearing. She had her ladies intertwine the braids in the front of her hair through the sides of her circlet and then join them to a single braid down her back. She wanted to make sure she did not lose the circlet when she raced Lord Owen’s unicorn later in the day. When they finished, Elizabeth and her ladies went in search of their party.
Elizabeth spotted Lark, Lord Avery and the others seated at several tables joined together, already enjoying some refreshments. As she and her ladies approached, everyone seated at the tables stood. Lark motioned Elizabeth to the seat at his side, as Lord Fagan stepped forward and offered Lady Margaret and Lady Milley seats next to him. Elizabeth took her seat and everyone else followed. She made her selection from the platters of breads, fruit and chesses. There were several pitchers set out containing fruit juices and ales. Elizabeth had Lark pour her some fruit juice and she began to eat her meal.
As she was finishing her refreshment, she saw Radella coming into the tavern. Radella stopped upon entering and looked around, spotting Elizabeth and her party. She walked over to the tables, stopped, and bowed slightly in Elizabeth and Lark’s direction. “I hope you are enjoying the festival so far, Lady Elizabeth?”
“Very much so,” replied Elizabeth. “We’re heading over to watch the entertainers next.”
“Then you’ll be pleasantly surprised,” Radella smiled, seemingly knowing something that Elizabeth did not. She bowed, walking off toward the public bathing chamber.
That sounds intriguing, thought Elizabeth, now anxious to move along. She gave Lark a swat on the arm, “You’ve had enough to eat Lark. Let’s get moving.”
Lark wiped his mouth and then stood up to address the tables. “Lords, Ladies,” he said getting everyone’s’ attention. “Lady Elizabeth wishes to proceed to the entertainment area.”
All the lords started moving at once, shoving a last bite of food into their mouths, taking a last drink, and wiping their mouths in preparation to depart. Elizabeth stood up and turned to her two ladies. “Lady Margaret, Lady Milley, I want you to go about enjoying the festival. There is really no need for you to tag along with me.”
Lady Margaret and Lady Milley looked at each other and then Lady Margaret spoke, “Thank you, Milady, we would like to stay and dance some more.” As she spoke, she looked hopefully at Lord Fagan.
Lord Fagan willingly took the hint and turned to Elizabeth. “Lady Elizabeth, if you would not be offended, I would like to stay and dance with Lady Margaret.”
“That’s a fine idea Lord Fagan,” replied Elizabeth.
Elizabeth noticed Lady Milley looking at Lord Artie hoping he too would stay and dance. Elizabeth could see that Lord Artie wanted to follow Elizabeth and her party but did not want to offend one of Elizabeth’s ladies. Elizabeth was pleased when he made, what she considered the correct decision.
“Lady Elizabeth,” Lord Artie spoke up. “I too would like to remain and dance with Lady Milley.”
“Of course Lord Artie,” Elizabeth smiled at him. “I’m sure we will see you later at the games.”
The parties proceeded to split up, Elizabeth happy that her party had now shrunk by four, and moved on to their destinations.
***
The party now consisted of Elizabeth, Lark, and Lord Avery, along with, Lord Brendon and Lord Brokk, (both of whom Elizabeth found completely boring at the tavern table), and Lord Eaton. They made their way to the entertainment area, which was set up in one of the open squares in the village. It consisted of several different stages spread around the area with various types of entertainments, all going on at once. Visitors were mulling around from one area to another until they found one that caught their interest.
As they walked into the center of the area, Elizabeth looked around at the various entertainments taking place trying to decide where to go first. She looked at Lark, hoping that he’d have a suggestion, but he only said, “We’re following you sister.” After glancing around again, she decided to go and watch a group of acrobats that were flipping and balancing each other. Several visitors, who were also watching the acrobats, stepped aside to make room for Elizabeth and her party front and center of the stage. Elizabeth was enjoying the acrobats (all of whom were low blood fairies), when they were approached by Lady Blossom and several ladies that Elizabeth did not recognize.
“Lord Lark,” Lady Blossom smiled sweetly, getting Lark’s attention before she continued. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I was hoping to get a chance to dance with you.” She smiled at Lark, holding her skirt and swinging it from side to side.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” replied Lark. Lady Blossom immediately stopped swinging her skirt and started pouting. Lark then explained, “I’m Lady Elizabeth’s escort for the day and I am at her, and only her complete disposal.”
Lady Blossom looked very unhappy. She didn’t like to be turned down, especially in front of her companions. She turned to Elizabeth with an obviously forced smile on her face. “Good luck to you tonight Lady Elizabeth. I understand not everyone is able to make the transformation successfully.” She and her companions then turned and walked away.
Elizabeth stood for a moment with a horrified look on her face. She turned to Lark and in a shaken voice asked. “What did she mean?”
Her attention was diverted by Lord Eaton who was standing with Lord Avery. “I apologize for my sister’s behavior Lady Elizabeth. It was totally uncalled for!”
Elizabeth didn’t care about apologies. She turned back to Lark and asked him again more insistently. “What did she mean, Lark!”
“Don’t be worried,” a voice suddenly whispered in Elizabeth’s ear making her jump in surprise. She turned abruptly to find Lord Edric standing behind her, a pastry in one hand and a beverage tankard in the other. Elizabeth just stared at him as he continued to speak. “On one hand she is technically right, but on the other hand she is totally wrong.”
Elizabeth’s head was spinning. “What does that mean?” she asked Lord Edric.
“Well,” explained Lord Edric. “About three hundred and fifty years ago Queen Erin gave birth to twin daughters. It was apparently a difficult birth and in all the confusion her ladies lost track of which twin was born first. On their sixteenth birthday, the queen chose one of the twins to make the transformation, but she was unable to do so successfully. The other twin was brought forth and she made the transformation. Obviously, she had been the elder of the twins. So you see, you have nothing to worry about.”
Relief washed over Elizabeth. She opened her mouth to thank Lord Edric for putting her worries to rest, but he cut her off before she could speak. Waving his hand at someone Elizabeth couldn’t see, he turned to her saying, “That’s my armsmen looking for me, gotta go, bye,” He then took off into the crowd.
Elizabeth stood with her mouth open not knowing what to think, her emotions just having taken a giant swing from total panic to utter relief, and just when she thought Lord Edric was trying to be nice to her, he turned around and completely irritated her.
“He is a most rude fellow,” Lord Avery said deciding to give his opinion on the matter.
Lark didn’t comment, he put his arm around Elizabeth’s shoulder. “Are you okay? Shall I take you somewhere private?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, I mean yes. Yes, I’m okay and no, I don’t want to go anywhere private, thank you.” Lark kissed her on the head and they moved on to watch the jugglers.
The party made their way around all the stages until they finally came to the last stage, which was set up for a puppet theatre. They arrived just as the show started. It began with two female fairies out in a field. Elizabeth was surprised that one of the puppet fairies had yellow hair. Then a bell rang and a puppet red dragon appeared in the corner of the theater sky. Elizabeth realized that the puppet show was about her! This must be what Radella was referring to, she thought. She stood there smiling at the puppet rendition of the events. When they reached the part where the yellow haired puppet shot an arrow bringing down the red dragon a now familiar voice commented from behind them.
“Oh, what old elf tale did they get this story from?”
Elizabeth glanced behind her to see Lord Edric standing there, surprisingly without any food or drink. Lark spoke up to inform him, “This all actually happened here at Dragon Castle just a few days ago.”
“Really?” Lord Edric sounded very interested. “Then that means,” he continued, things obviously becoming clear to him now.
Elizabeth nodded her head at him. “That’s right,” she told him.
Lord Edric then burst forth with his revelation. “That means the meat sticks are red dragon!” “I’ve got to go get a couple more,” and with that, he turned and hurried off.
Elizabeth stood silently fuming. She had never met anyone that had driven her so crazy so fast. Lark punched her lightly in the arm. “Come on, it’s time to head over to the games.”
Elizabeth noticed that most of the crowd was now clearing out of this area, presumably heading to the area set up for the games, which would soon start. There would be various games going on, wrestling, pole climbing, foot races, but the two big events were the archery and unicorn racing events. They would head over to the archery, the unicorn race being the final event of the day.
***
The archery area was set up with various targets with a platform off to the side for spectators. Elizabeth could see her parents were already in their chairs on the platform. Elizabeth and Lark walked toward the platform to see them. Lord Avery and the other lords went to find their armsmen and get their equipment for the event. The King and Queen smiled as their children approached.
“How has your day been?” asked the King, “Are all the young lords hopelessly in love with you?”
“Not all of them,” Elizabeth replied thinking of one lord in particular.
Elizabeth and Lark sat visiting with their parents while all the archery contestants warmed up. When they all had taken their turns at the targets the field was cleared for the start of the event.
Radella, the village elder, walked out onto the field carrying a bow and a single arrow. She stopped in the center of the field and in a loud voice announced, “I would ask the most talented archer in the kingdom to come forth and make the opening shot.”
The crowd started cheering and looked at Elizabeth. Elizabeth smiled and made her way down to where Radella was standing. She took the bow and single arrow. Radella moved safely to the platform and the crowd became silent while Elizabeth readied to make the shot. She released her arrow, which flew true and hit the center of the target that she was aiming at. Then she looked on in disbelief as another arrow immediately split her arrow in two. She turned around to see who had made the second shot and saw Lord Edric with bow in hand.
“I’m sorry,” he told her. “When she said the most talented archer in the kingdom, I naturally thought she meant me. But it is your birthday.”
Elizabeth was so furious she thought she would burst. Lord Edric walked over to Elizabeth and seeing the enraged look on her face, looked at the target where he had split her arrow. He then pulled another arrow from his quiver and handed it to her.
“Sorry about your arrow,” he said. “Here take one of mine,” he smiled pushing the arrow in her direction.
She took the arrow from him as he walked down to the target and pulled free his arrow. She remained standing there as he walked back by her carrying his arrow. He smiled at her and winked, “All set now,” he said and walked off the field.
Up on the platform, the King and Queen looked on, not quite sure what to make of Lord Edric’s behavior.
“What’s that all about?” the King asked Lark who was still standing with them.
Lark answered while watching his sister stomp off the field. “I think my sister has finally met her match.”
“We’ll see,” the King replied with interest as the Queen glanced over at the archers to see if she could spot where Lord Edric had disappeared to.
Elizabeth, still fuming, made her way from the center of the field over to where Lord Avery was standing with Lord Brenden, Lord Brokk and Lord Eaton.
“I don’t care which one of you does it, I just want one of you to beat Lord Edric!” she yelled at them, her fist clenched with frustration. She walked off toward the platform with Lord Avery yelling after her. “You can depend on it, Lady Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth took her seat with Lark and the King and Queen. “Do you believe the nerve of that, that lord?” Elizabeth asked Lark, still trying to calm herself down.
“I thought it a quite good shot,” Lark smiled. He was rather amused by the events.
Elizabeth frowned at her brother then turned her attention toward the field. She would enjoy watching Lord Edric be beaten by one of her admirers.
The archery contest consisted of five identical targets. Each archer would get five shots at one of the targets with the ten archers with the best scores moving up to the second round. The targets would then be moved back and the remaining archers would shoot again. At the end of the second round, the top five scoring archers would move to the final round, which was shooting at a moving target.
As the archers moved toward the targets, the crowd cheered them on and then became silent as the first group of archers began to take their shots. “Look,” Elizabeth said to Lark, pointing to one of the archers. “Lord Brokk is shooting very well.”
Lark glanced over to where his sister was pointing. “Yes, the twins are both very skilled.”
The crowd cheered and applauded as the first group of archers finished and the second group approached.
“Look,” said Lark tapping his sister on the arm to get her attention. “Down the far end. Lord Edric is going to shoot.”
“I don’t care,” said Elizabeth. “Lord Avery is shooting and I’m watching him.”
Lark noticed that his sister, while meaning to watch Lord Avery, kept glancing at Lord Edric.
The crowd became silent as the second group began to shoot. “GOOD SHOT!” cried Lark, as he watched Lord Edric hit the center of the target.
Elizabeth looked on watching Lord Avery whose shot hit one of the inner rings.
“UNBELIEVABLE!” cried Lark again as Lord Edric hit the center of the target with his second arrow.
“Alright, alright,” said Elizabeth. “I’m watching.”
Elizabeth turned her attention to Lord Edric as he readied for his third shot. Much of the crowd gasped as his arrow again hit the center of the target.
“He can’t get all five in the center.” Elizabeth shook her head, as if saying it would make it true.
“That would be unprecedented,” Lark told her.
Lord Edric pulled his bow back for his fourth shot. Elizabeth held her breath as he released it. The arrow flew and hit the center again. Ahs and ohs came from the audience as all eyes were now on Lord Edric and his final shot. Elizabeth leaned forward with anticipation as Lord Edric released his final arrow. As the arrow hit the target the crowd went wild, it had hit the center once again. Elizabeth leaned back in her seat watching Lord Edric smiling to the crowd with his bow raised over his head.
“You must admit he’s very good,” Lark whispered in her ear.
“No I don’t,” barked Elizabeth at her brother while watching Lord Edric walk back to his armsmen.
Radella walked out to the center of the field and announced the ten archers who would shoot in the second round. Lord Avery, Brenden, Brokk, and Eaton had all made it to the second round. When Radella read Lord Edric’s name the crowd cheered.
“Oh please,” Elizabeth muttered under her breath. “Don’t encourage him.”
When the festival staff finished moving the targets for the second round, the first five archers approached for their shots. Lord Brendon, Lord Brokk and Lord Eaton were all in the first group. Lord Brokk’s first shot hit the center of the target and Elizabeth stood up clapping. “I doubt that Lord Edric will beat Lord Brokk,” Elizabeth said to her brother.
Lark looked at her, raising an eyebrow, amused at how desperately his sister wanted to see Lord Edric lose.
Lord Brokk’s next four shots failed to hit the center although he did score quite high. The second group of archers approached and the crowd cheered as Lord Edric walked out onto the field.
“I doubt he’ll do as well this round,” Elizabeth decided.
“It is unlikely,” Lark replied.
Lord Edric let his first shot go and to the crowd’s delight it found the center again. Elizabeth sat silently as she watched Lord Edric’s next four arrows all hit the center of the target. The crowd was cheering wildly. Lark who was standing and applauding turned to his seated sister, “He’s the best archer I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s easy to hit a stationary target,” Elizabeth told her brother. “Let’s see how he does when the target is moving.” she was still not resigned to Lord Edric’s winning.
Lark just rolled his eyes.
The festival staff now removed the stationary targets and brought out a contraption with pulleys and ropes that would bring up a target and move it from one end of the contraption to the other. The contestant would have to get all five shots off before the target had reached the other end.
Radella moved to the center of the field to announce the final five contestants. She called them out one at a time and had them take the field as they heard their names. “Lord Brokk,” she called out first. Elizabeth and the crowd clapped and cheered. Lord Brokk trotted out onto the field where Radella was standing. He waved to the audience on the platform. “Lord Brenden,” Radella called the next of the five. “Lord Eaton,” she called and he ran out onto the field to the cheers of the crowd. “Lord Avery,” was the fourth contestant and Elizabeth stood up and cheered as he took the field. Everyone on the platform was on their feet anticipating the final contestant. “Lord Edric,” Radella called out and the crowd cheered wildly. Lord Edric made his way to the center of the field where the other four archers were waiting. He waved his hands over his head, his bow in one of them, looking toward the crowd on the platform. Elizabeth suddenly realized that he was looking at her. She quickly sat down and pretended to be retying her bootlaces. Radella then announced the rules of the final round. When the target started moving, each archer must get off their five shots before the target stopped. The archers would shoot in order of their scores, from the previous round, with the best archer shooting last. The winner would be based on the final rounds score only. Then to Elizabeth’s surprise, Radella announced, “Lady Elizabeth will be awarding the prize to the winning archer.”
“What!” Elizabeth exclaimed looking at Lark.
Lark smiled at her. “Well, Lord Edric probably can’t hit a moving target, so you have nothing to worry about, right?” Elizabeth gave her brother a punch in the arm as he sat down to watch the final round.
Lord Eaton was the first shooter and was very disappointed as only two of his arrows hit the moving target. Next up was Lord Brendon who did slightly better, with three arrows hitting the target, one barely catching an outer edge. Lord Avery was up next. As he got into position to shoot, he glanced up at Elizabeth, determined to do well. As he pulled his bow back, the crowd became quiet. His first two shots hit their mark, but he missed with the third. He took more time with the fourth shot and hit the target but couldn’t get off his final shot before the target came to a stop. The crowd applauded his effort and Lark leaned over to Elizabeth, “Too bad, he’ll be disappointed with that.” Elizabeth nodded waiting for Lord Brokk to come up next. Elizabeth had high hopes for Lord Brokk’s performance.
Lord Brokk took his stance and nodded that he was ready. As the target started to move he quickly got off his first two shots, both hitting the target. The crowd gasped as he missed with his third shot. Nevertheless, he came back quickly with his final shots, both of which found their mark. The crowd cheered wildly. Elizabeth heard her mother behind her exclaim to her father that it was the most exciting archery competition that she could remember. Elizabeth had to agree, she certainly was on the edge of her seat. “He’ll have to hit with all five to beat Lord Brokk,” Elizabeth said to Lark, stating the obvious.
Lord Edric came forward to the cheers of the crowd who were enjoying the event immensely. Lord Edric made ready and nodded for his time to begin. He got his first two shots off faster than Elizabeth thought was possible, both of which hit the moving target dead center. He paused only a moment and then let off his next two shots in rapid succession, both of them hitting the target as well. The crowd was holding their breath. Then to Elizabeth’s amazement, Lord Edric pulled back his bow for his fifth and final shot, but before he released it, he turned, looked straight at her, smiled, then without looking at the still moving target, he released his shot.
He kept looking at her and never turned to see where the arrow landed, Elizabeth realized, unable to break from his gaze. The crowd went wild and Elizabeth knew without looking that he had hit the target. Lark was already on his feet, clapping and cheering,
“AMAZING!” cried Lark. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The other archers had all started moving over to congratulate Lord Edric on his unbelievable performance.
“Well come on,” Lark said to Elizabeth, grapping her elbow and pulling her to move off the platform.
“Do I have to Lark?” she complained.
“Yes, you do,” he told her, as they made their way off the platform and out onto the field. As they walked to where Lord Edric was still being congratulated by the other contestants, Elizabeth asked Lark, “You don’t think he’ll be riding in the unicorn race do you,” concerned she might have to repeat the award ceremony.
“I highly doubt that,” replied Lark. “He had a hard ride coming in today, so I wouldn’t think his unicorn is ready for a race.” That gave Elizabeth an idea.
The other archers moved away as Elizabeth and Lark approached until they found themselves standing alone with Lord Edric. Lark quickly offered his hand to Lord Edric who grasped it and began shaking.
“That was amazing!” exclaimed Lark. “Don’t you agree sister?”
Elizabeth looked at Lark, not wanting to be forced into complimenting Lord Edric. “Words cannot express what I’m thinking,” she said smiling.
Lark shook his head as Radella approached with a silver goblet, the prize for the event. “Lady Elizabeth,” she handed Elizabeth the goblet so she could make the presentation. Elizabeth took the goblet from Radella as Lark and Radella moved off to the side leaving Elizabeth standing alone with Lord Edric.
Elizabeth stood there holding the goblet until Lord Edric smiling at her and asked, “Well?” Elizabeth then turned to the crowd on the platform and held the silver goblet over her head. The crowd cheered wildly. Elizabeth lowered it and then stretched her arms out to hand it to Lord Edric. As he reached out to take it from her, his hand touched hers. Elizabeth felt a tingling sensation suddenly shoot through her entire body. She quickly looked at Lord Edric. He seemed unaffected so she quickly tried to shake off the sensation.
Lord Edric held the silver goblet over his head and the crowd continued to cheer. Elizabeth, still standing next to him, regained her composure and asked Lord Edric, “Will you be racing your unicorn in the final event?”
He lowered the goblet and turned to her, “I wasn’t planning on it. He had a long hard ride to make it here for today.”
“Oh,” Elizabeth tried sounding disappointed. “That’s too bad. I would have liked to race against you.”
“You’re racing?” Lord Edric asked now very interested.
“Yes,” Elizabeth confirmed. “I’ll be riding Lord Owens unicorn. It’s the fastest in the kingdom.”
“Is it?” Lord Edric raised an eyebrow, not convinced at her statement. “I’ll ride in the unicorn race on one condition,” he told her.
“What’s that,” she asked him, both still smiling and waving occasionally to the still cheering crowd.
“If I beat you. I get the first dance with you tonight.” That surprised Elizabeth and she snapped her head around to look at him.
Lord Edric could see her hesitating so he added, “You’re not worried are you? You’re going to be riding the fastest unicorn in the kingdom and I’ll be riding my poor tired beast.” He smiled at her again and she had the feeling she was being conned, but she couldn’t resist.
“You’re on,” she told him and she put her hand out to shake on it.
He took her hand and shook it, but when he let her hand go, Elizabeth felt sad that their hands were no longer touching. Mad at herself, she held her hand out to Lord Edric. “You’ve gotten my hand all dirty.”
He looked at it, reassuring her, “I’ll try to bathe before we dance tonight,” then he turned and walked off the field.
Elizabeth walked over to join Lark who was standing with Lord Owen.
“Lady Elizabeth, did you enjoy the archery?” asked Lord Owen.
“Not as much as I’m going to enjoy the unicorn race,” replied Elizabeth.
Lord Owen smiled thinking her comment was due to the fact that she would be riding his unicorn Rumsfield. The King and Queen had now descended the platform and walked over to speak with their children. Lord Owen bowed, “Your Majesties,” he said stepping to the side so they could speak with Elizabeth and Lark.
“We’re heading over to the platform at the finish line of the race where we hope to see you crossing first daughter,” said the King.
“I will Father,” Elizabeth said confidently.
“Lord Owen,” said Lark, “be a good fellow and make sure Rumsfield is all set. We’ll be over to collect him in a few minutes.” Lord Owen, realizing that Lark wished to speak with his sister privately, dutifully bowed and headed toward where his armsmen were preparing Rumsfield for the race.
When Lord Owen had walked far enough away, Lark turned to his sister. “What’s going on?” “I saw Lord Edric’s armsmen heading over to the paddock where they put his unicorn after they brought it back down from the castle.”
“He decided to race,” replied Elizabeth.
“Really?” Lark wondered what had convinced him to race.
“We have a bet,” Elizabeth continued.
“What kind of bet?” Lark inquired most intrigued.
“It doesn’t matter,” Elizabeth shook her head. “I’m going to win.”
“Really?” Lark repeated, finding the entire situation most amusing.
“I am,” snapped Elizabeth as she walked off in the direction of Lord Owen and his unicorn, Lark in tow.
***
Lord Owen’s unicorn Rumsfield was indeed a magnificent beast. He was entirely black like Elizabeth’s Remi, but with a black horn. His coat was silky smooth and he had a great black tail and long black mane. Elizabeth approached him with her hand out, “Hey, there boy, you and me are going to win this here race,” she said to the unicorn as he sniffed her hand.
“He’s very easy to ride, Lady Elizabeth,” Lord Owen spoke proudly. “Let me help you up on him so you can take him around the field here a few times.”
Elizabeth nodded in agreement and moved over to the unicorn’s side to let Lord Owen help her up into the saddle, but before he could, Lark promptly moved in and interjected. “I’ll help Lady Elizabeth up, thank you.”
Lord Owen bowed and deferred to Lark who as Elizabeth put her foot into the stirrup, grabbed her waist, lifting her up into the saddle. Elizabeth was definitely curious as to why Lark didn’t want Lord Owen to help her, but she would ask him later. Right now she wanted to get the “feel” for Rumsfield and then head over for the start of the race.
Lord Owen was right about Rumsfield being easy to ride, Elizabeth thought as she rode him around the field. He readily complied with every signal that Elizabeth gave him. Of course, her Remi was trained at Meadowland Castle so she was used to all the Meadowland signals. She looked over to Lark who was waving for her to come back to where he and Lord Owen were standing.
“He’s wonderful Lord Owen,” Elizabeth said to the smiling lord as she approached him and her brother.
“I’m so glad you like him, Lady Elizabeth. Meadowland Castle is honored to have you riding him in today’s’ race,” spoke a continually smiling, but nervous sounding Lord Owen.
“I’ll bring Lady Elizabeth over to the starting line and meet you at the finish line platform,” spoke Lark, obviously dismissing Lord Owen who bowed and walked off, turning back for a moment to wish Elizabeth “good luck in the race.”
“Don’t you like Lord Owen?” Elizabeth asked her brother as he led Rumsfield in the direction of the starting line.
“Oh, he’s okay I suppose.”
“But what?” urged Elizabeth.
“I don’t know,” said Lark. “He’s just….” Lark stopped, trying to think of the right word.
“Too eager?” suggested Elizabeth.
“Yes, I suppose that’s it,” decided Lark “You don’t need someone sputtering and drooling all over you.”
“What do I need?” asked Elizabeth, anxious to hear her brothers answer.
“You’ll figure it out,” was Lark’s reply.
Elizabeth could see the starting line ahead. The racing course would take the riders up the northern road for a short way before veering off into the edge of the field and circling up to the far side of the castle, around the tent villages, and down to the main road back to the village where the race would end in the village center where the festival began. Elizabeth looked around curious to see Lord Edric and his unicorn. When she spotted them, she couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Lark!” she shouted, getting her brothers attention. “Is that really Lord Edric’s unicorn?” she pointed in the direction of Lord Edric and his beast. “Lead me over there,” she told Lark. “I want to wish him luck.”
Lark didn’t believe that for one minute but he led her over to where Lord Edric was making ready.
As they got closer, Elizabeth took her feet out of the stirrups, threw one leg over Rumsfield’s neck and hopped off. She walked over to Lord Edric who was just finishing a meat stick. As he saw her approaching he took one last bite and threw the stick aside, washing it down with a drink he had in the other hand. He set the glass down and moved to greet her.
“Lady Elizabeth,” he smiled. “You were right. Lord Owen’s unicorn is an impressive looking animal.”
Elizabeth walked closer. “This is your unicorn?” she asked pointing at the nearby creature.
“Why yes,” said Lord Edric, walking closer to the animal. “This is Apples,” he said proudly, rubbing the unicorn on the neck.
Apples was a medium size unicorn with a fairly stocky build. He was a reddish color. His poor mane was cut short, about two inches long and stood up like bristles down the length of his neck. He did have a fine long tail, but his coat was shaggy as if he hadn’t shed for the season yet. His horn was fascinating, it was red and silver twisting around and around to the point. Elizabeth had never seen a unicorn with a two-colored horn before. Just like his master, Elizabeth thought, Unkempt, but interesting.
“He doesn’t look like much of a threat,” Elizabeth commented to Lord Edric.
“Then you have nothing to worry about,” he grinned at her.
“Why Apples?” Elizabeth asked, not sure she really wanted to know.
“That’s an interesting story,” he began. “I was coming out of one of the mines, which has an entrance up the side of one of the mountains, when I spotted a red dragon swooping down on something in the field below. I could just make out that it was a small herd of wild unicorns. The dragon was desperately trying to snag one. He’d flamed to stop their path. They’d turn and run in the other direction, etc. Then one of the unicorns broke loose from the herd and ran off across the field alone. Well, the dragon decided he looked like easier pickings and took off after him. The rest of the herd made it into the forest. The lone unicorn ran and ran. I would never have believed a unicorn could out run a dragon but the last that I could see from where I was standing, the unicorn was heading into the orchard near the castle. That night when I got back to the castle, I got my selleck and headed up to the orchard.”
“You have a selleck!” Elizabeth interrupted.
“Had a selleck, I don’t anymore,” he told her continuing. “As you know, sellecks can track anything, so I told mine to find a wild unicorn. It didn’t take long for him to lead me to where that same wild unicorn that had out run the dragon was still eating apples in our orchard. So that’s why I named him Apples.”
Elizabeth shook her head in disbelief. “Are you trying to tell me that you’re riding a wild unicorn?”
“He’s not so wild anymore,” Lord Edric said, giving the unicorn another much welcome rub.
“Nobody can ride a wild unicorn!” Elizabeth practically yelled at him.
“I’ve never been much for rules,” Lord Edric winked at her.
Elizabeth turned to Lark who had been standing holding Rumsfield. “Lark do you believe that this animal is a wild unicorn?” Lark just held up his hands to her, not wanting to get involved in the conversation. Elizabeth turned back to Lord Edric. “Well, just because you shave his mane and don’t brush him, doesn’t make him a wild unicorn,” she said now walking over to get up on Rumsfield.
She stood next to Rumsfield for a moment and then looked over at Lord Edric asking him, “Aren’t you going to help me up?”
He smiled at her and replied, “Well I figured if you can ride one you can get up on one,” and then he winked at her again.
Lark tried to suppress a grin as Elizabeth, fuming once again, struggled to get up on Rumsfield. When she finally got herself settled into the saddle, she looked down at Lord Edric, “I will see you at the finish line.” She then signaled Lark to lead her away. After they had taken a few steps away, Lord Edric yelled back to her, “I’ll be waiting for you.”
“I can’t stand him,” Elizabeth said to Lark as he led her over to the starting line.
“Is that why we had to go over and talk to him?” Lark asked her.
“Never mind,” Elizabeth told him.
***
Lark led unicorn and rider over to the starting line where all the other riders were now starting to congregate. The other riders made room as Lark brought Elizabeth and Rumsfield to the front and center spot on the starting line, the riders around them greeting Elizabeth and wishing her luck in the race. Elizabeth looked down to her brother, “I’ll see you at the finish line Lark. I can’t wait to see the look on Lord Edric’s face when I beat him.”
Then she glanced back to see if she could spot Lord Edric, but Lark grabbed her elbow and pulled her down closer to him, “Be careful sister, you don’t know this unicorn, (meaning Rumsfield), don’t take any chances.”
“Yes, brother,” Elizabeth said, pulling her elbow free. She knew her brother meant well, but she was determined to win this race.
The riders were all lining up now for the race to begin. Radella, the Village Elder, was climbing up on a small podium at the side of the starting line to start the race. Elizabeth glanced back and spotted Lord Edric. He was just now starting to put a saddle on “Apples.” Idiot, Elizabeth thought to herself, He’ll never make the start of the race. Radella held up both her hands and everyone became quiet.
“You all know the course,” she yelled so everyone could hear her. “When I drop this flag,” she then reached down and picked up a green flag which she held up over her head, “the race will begin” “The finish line is in front of the platform in the center of the village.” She then hesitated before continuing, raising the green flag as high as she could. “Riders make ready!” she yelled. Elizabeth glanced back again to see Lord Edric just now mounting his animal. She shook her head and looked at Radella waiting for her to lower the flag.
Radella lowered the flag and the riders took off all at once. The first part of the course was the northern road. It was a fairly straight run. The pack of riders started to spread out some with Elizabeth and several others in the front. Elizabeth was pleased at Rumsfield’s speed, but she knew that the course would be more difficult when they made the turn into the field and up around the castle. Elizabeth glanced from side to side to see that Lord Avery and Lord Fagan were the riders staying with her.
The riders made the turn into the field, the pack of riders spreading out even more. The unicorns thundered across the field and made their way to the hillside and the castle. As they started to climb up the hill, Elizabeth saw Lord Fagan and his unicorn moving ahead of her and Rumsfield. Elizabeth urged Rumsfield on; she couldn’t let Lord Fagan get too much of a lead on them. They reached the top of the hill with Lord Fagan still in the lead. Lord Avery and his unicorn had fallen behind on the climb up the hill.
Elizabeth knew that part way around the castle there was a wide ravine just before the “tent villages”. She had jumped it many times on her unicorn Remi and knew the best spot to make it over. As they made the turn around the castle, she saw Lord Fagan and his unicorn approach the ravine. To Elizabeth’s delight, Lord Fagan’s unicorn became unsure and refused the jump. Lord Fagan would now have to circle back a ways and make another attempt. As Lord Fagan was bringing his unicorn back around for a second attempt, Elizabeth and Rumsfield sped by them leaping over the ravine and continuing to race around the castle, now in the lead.
As they sped by the tent villages and down to the main castle road, Elizabeth glanced back to see no other riders in sight. As Rumsfield started down the road to the forest, Elizabeth smiled to herself. She would definitely win the race now. She wondered if Lord Edric ever made it to the starting line. She and Rumsfield entered the forest, now on the last part of the course. Elizabeth, daydreaming about the look on Lord Edric’s face when he saw her waiting for him at the finish line, almost missed seeing the brown dragon that had come out of the forest and into the road.
Rumsfield spotted the brown dragon coming onto the road and jumped sideways to avoid it. This sudden movement bounced Elizabeth on his back causing her feet to come free from the stirrups. Elizabeth pulled back on the reins, trying to stop Rumsfield so she could regain her stirrups, but Rumsfield, startled and terrified by the brown dragon, bolted off down the road at an ever-increasing pace.
Elizabeth knew she was in trouble; she pulled back on the reins as hard as she could but she could not slow down the unicorn who was now intent on finding safety. At this speed, either she would be thrown off or they would barrel into the awaiting crowd. Either fate would not be good. Elizabeth franticly tried to think of what to do when she spotted another rider coming along side of her. She looked over and saw it was Lord Edric and Apples. He smiled at her, but his smile quickly faded, becoming serious when he saw the panicked look on her face.
“I can’t stop him!” she yelled to him.
“I’ll be right there!” he yelled back to her.
He urged his unicorn closer aside Rumsfield, then in what seemed like one motion, jumped up on Apples back and launched himself onto Rumsfield, landing firmly behind Elizabeth. He grabbed the reins from her hands and began to pull back on them
“Apples!” he cried to his unicorn who was still running alongside of them. Apples moved slightly ahead of Rumsfield and start to whinny at him. Between Apple’s whinnying and Lord Edric pulling in on the reins, Rumsfield finally started to slow down as they reached the edge of the village.
As they entered the village, Lord Edric and Apples had Rumsfield down to a slow trot.
“You’re alright,” he whispered in her ear. “You’re alright.”
He was holding her tightly around the waist but she didn’t mind. For all her earlier harsh words about him, she had never felt safer than she did right now with him holding her.
“You saved my life,” she told him.
“Let’s not exaggerate,” he replied. “I’m sure someone who shot a red dragon from the sky, would have found a way to stop a runaway unicorn.”
Elizabeth turned to face him. He smiled at her. He had known all along, she thought to herself.
“Look there’s the finish line,” he pointed ahead. The crowd at the finish line was waving and cheering at them as they approached.
“How will we explain this?” Elizabeth asked him.
“Don’t worry,” he told her.
As Rumsfield broke through the finish line string, Lord Edric pulled him to a halt, Apples stopping right behind him. Lord Edric than slid off the unicorn and put both his hands in the air, the crowd cheering with delight. Elizabeth could see her mother and father in their seats on the platform, cheering and clapping. She spotted Lark, who shot her back a stern, questioning look. She knew she would have to explain everything to Lark later.
Lord Edric turned back to Elizabeth and held up his arms to her. She threw her leg around and then let him grab her waist and lower her to the ground. He quickly grabbed her hand, pulling it into the air with his. The crowd began cheering more loudly. Other riders were now making their way in and the square became a flurry of activity. Lord Edric’s armsmen were quick to come over and take Apples, Lord Edric instructing them to take charge of Rumsfield and to make sure that he was returned to Lord Owen’s armsmen.
Lark had made his way off the platform and was now beside Elizabeth and Lord Edric. “Which one of you is going to explain this to me?” he said sternly to them both.
“Look,” said Lord Edric. “Here comes Radella,” nodding in the direction of the approaching village elder. “Let’s not spoil the day with talk of things that are done,” he suggested.
“Please brother,” Elizabeth pleaded. “I promise to tell you everything later.”
“All right,” Lark gave in. “But you will tell me later.”
When Radella had reached Elizabeth, Lark and Lord Edric, she gave them a formal bow and then smiled asking, “Please tell me about that most curious finish. I’m not exactly sure who won the race.” Elizabeth hesitated, trying to think of how to respond, when Lord Edric interceded.
“May I explain Lady Elizabeth?” he asked.
“Why of course,” Elizabeth smiled and Lord Edric began to explain. “Our unicorns where perfectly matched and when we realized that neither was going to be capable of escaping the other we decided to make it a tie.” “But,” he continued, “neither of us trusted the other not to make a sudden dash over the finish line and claim sole victory, so we came up with this to insure a tie at the finish.” Then he smiled at Radella, who to Elizabeth’s relief seemed to believe the whole thing.
Elizabeth shot Lark a smile, hoping that maybe he would be satisfied with the story. Lark shook his head at her. She wouldn’t get off that easy.
“How gentlemanly,” exclaimed Radella. “But who gets the goblet?” looking at the three of them.
“Why Lady Elizabeth of course,” answered Lord Edric.
“Wonderful,” said Radella. “Why don’t you present it to her?” she suggested.
Lord Edric answered with a bow and they all headed over to the platform.
They all made their way onto the platform and down to the center where the King and Queen were seated. The four turned to face the royal couple, all four bowing in unison.
“That was quite a show,” commented the King.
“Well,” Lord Edric spoke up, “I can be a bit of a show off.”
That made the king and queen both laugh. Elizabeth, who could barely keep herself from shaking, not quite over the fright of the race, was amazed at Lord Edric’s composure. Radella, who had picked up the silver goblet on the way to the center of the platform, now handed it to Lord Edric. Radella then faced the crowd, raising her hands up to quiet everyone down. “The final presentation will be made by Lord Edric who tied Lady Elizabeth for first place.”
Lord Edric stepped forward and hoisted the goblet up in one hand exclaiming, “To Lady Elizabeth, for making this the most exciting race I can ever remember.” He then turned and handed her the goblet. She took it, raising it above her head with both hands, turning to face the cheering crowd.
“Will I still get my dance?” Lord Edric asked her.
Still facing the crowd, holding her goblet, she replied, “Will you still take a bath?” She continued smiling as the crowd continued to cheer. It had been a perfect Festival.
The Festival
As the three made their way down the road to the village, Elizabeth looked at the countryside around her. It was a perfect day, warm with just a slight breeze making the tall grass in the fields waver. Except of course where the red dragon had burned it. Elizabeth frowned looking at the charred ground that had once been her garden. However, her smile came back when she looked out to the tent villages set up in the fields on the high side of the castle wall. They were all so colorful, it added to the festive feeling. As they made their way farther down the road, Elizabeth spotted the pond at the bottom of the hillside. There was a flock of green dragons in and about it.
Green dragons are fairly small, weighing about twenty pounds. They have long slender necks and small heads with beak shaped mouths filled with tiny teeth. They have two legs with webbed toes, which they use to propel themselves through water, where they prefer to land. They have functional wings, but only fly when threatened or when moving as a group to a new location. They cannot flame and feed on fish in small bodies of water. Females will mate with a different male each year, producing as many as ten eggs, which hatch in the spring. They are not dangerous and their teeth contain no magical catalyst. Green dragons are hunted regularly for meat and for their hides, which can vary in hue of greens.
As they approached the forest, Elizabeth’s brother Lark, who was riding beside her, declared “No racing!”
“I wasn’t going to race,” Elizabeth replied. Maybe I should take off anyway and say it was all Remi’s idea, Elizabeth thought.
“Remi,” Lark added, “No racing!”
Then he looked up at his sister and smiled. How did he know what I was thinking? Elizabeth wondered.
“Do you know how many times you’ve used that excuse on me?” asked Lark, continuing in his best imitation of his sister, “Oh, Lark, it was all Remi’s idea.”
Elizabeth swung her arm out to hit her brother, but was too far away, getting only air.
Lord Avery, who had been riding behind them, shouted up to them. “Don’t you two ever stop?”
Elizabeth and Lark both turned their heads and replied in unison. “NO!”
The ride through the forest was peaceful, brother and sister maintaining an unspoken truce. When the trio emerged from the forest, making their way to the edge of the village, Lark again leaned toward Elizabeth explaining, “Everyone will be waiting for you to arrive, so we must ride directly to the platform set up in the center of the village. Mother and Father will be there already. I will escort you up onto the platform and the village elder will greet you and officially start the festivities.” Elizabeth nodded her head in understanding, her eyes forward taking in all the sights.
When they entered the village the cheering began, the road was lined with a mixture of villagers and visitors. Elizabeth smiled and waved her hand, nodding from side to side in recognition of the well-wishers. Ahead, in the center of the village, she could see the platform where her mother and father were seated in ornate chairs with a canopy shading them. She could also see Radella, the village elder of Dragon Village, standing on the platform with her husband Kirkwood. Now each castle had a village and each village had a Village Elder who was elected by the villagers each year. The Village Elder could be a male or female of any age that resided in the village. The Village Elder settles minor disputes in the village, conducts joining ceremonies and meets regularly with a designated representative from their castle, usually the Chief Armsmen, to discuss such matters as food production and trade. The Village Elder also may demand to meet with the castle’s Noble Lord if they feel a situation so warrants it. The Village Elder could be either an elf or a low blood fairy, these making up the general population of the villages.
High blood fairies are the ruling class of the Kingdom of Elnara, all the lords and ladies being high blood fairies. High blood fairies are taller than low blood fairies or elves. They are skilled with the bow and are able unicorn riders. High Blood fairies are superior in the arts and music, having particularly pleasing speaking and singing voices. High blood fairies tend to be much paler in complexion, always having light colored eyes, and having ears that curve up to a much higher point than do low blood fairies or elves. Low blood fairies in general have superior beauty to that of elves, but high blood fairies are by far the most beautiful, with female high blood fairies being the only ones with magical abilities. Elves tend to be slightly shorter and stockier on average. All elves have dark hair and dark eyes and have ears that come to a slight point. Elves are superior artisans, as well as, knowledgeable healers, cultivating herb gardens and collecting wild plants for this purpose. Although marriage between the fairy classes is rare, marriages between low blood fairies and elves are quite common, their offspring being considered elves, often gaining the best talents of both.
When they reached the platform, the three dismounted, handing their unicorns over to a waiting armsmen who would bring them to the village stables. Lord Avery walked over to stand in the crowd around the platform, while Lark led Elizabeth to the stairs and up onto the platform itself. Elizabeth and Lark walked over to Radella and Kirkwood, who were standing in the center of the platform, waiting to greet them. Radella was an attractive low blood fairy, who Elizabeth knew quite well. She had been Village Elder for five years now and Elizabeth knew her to be a capable leader. Her husband Kirkwood, an elf, was the village’s best hunter. Elizabeth knew that Radella was with child, her and Kirkwood’s first, although her dress concealed it well. When Elizabeth reached the pair, they gave her a formal bow, prompting everyone in attendance, except the King and Queen, to do the same. Elizabeth was a little uncomfortable seeing everyone around her bowing to her for what seemed like an eternity, but then Radella lifted her head and extended her hands, then the two females grasped each other’s hands and kissed each other’s cheeks. As they broke away from each other, Radella immediately lifted both hands in the air and bellowed out “LET THE FESTIVAL BEGIN!” Cheering arose everywhere and the crowd dispersed to go to the various festival events.
“Radella, how are you?” inquired Elizabeth, remaining on the platform while the crowd scattered.
“I’ve never been better, Milady,” replied Radella putting a hand to her belly.
“I haven’t had a chance to congratulate you Kirkwood.” Elizabeth looked toward Radella’s husband who was standing behind her.
Kirkwood dropped to one knee and bowed his head. “I am honored by your congratulations, Lady Elizabeth.”
Radella smiled at Elizabeth, she knew that her husband idolized her, and all fairies as most elves did, and felt himself the luckiest of elves to have Radella for a wife. Radella put a hand on his head, “Go have some fun husband; I will catch up with you later.” Kirkwood rose, still maintaining a bow and backed up until he reached the steps, which he fled down and out of sight.
Elizabeth smiled at Radella. “He’s so sweet.”
Radella bowed her head slightly in reply and then asked, “What is your pleasure, Milady, dancing, feasting, entertainers, and of course games?”
“I think I’d like to just wander for a while.” Elizabeth decided.
“Then I will leave you to it, Milady, and if there is anything you desire, we are all at your disposal.” Radella bowed to Elizabeth and Lark before walking over to stand in front of King Lifiel and Queen Eve, bowing to them as well before departing the platform.
Elizabeth and Lark moved across the platform to stand in front of their parents. “Elizabeth” Queen Eve spoke, “You looked breathtaking riding into the village on Remi, your brother at your side.”
“Yes,” the King agreed. “We are blessed with the fairest of children.”
“Thank you, mother, father,” replied Elizabeth, looking from one parent to the other.
“And what are the king and queen’s plans for the day?” asked Lark of his parents.
“Well” the king thought a moment, “We’ll stay here for a while in case anyone wishes to approach and speak to us. Then we are meeting Seaside Castle at the feasting area, before we go to preside over the games.”
“And what about you?” The king now inquired of Elizabeth.
“Everything,” exclaimed Elizabeth, looking at her brother. “But first, I think dancing.”
Lark grabbed her elbow. “Let’s go then, poor Lord Avery’s been dutifully waiting for us.”
“I guess I’ll have to dance with him.” Elizabeth thought that only fair after she had kept him waiting.
“Yes, you will and I can see at least three other lords strategically placed all waiting to see in which direction you’re headed.”
Elizabeth glanced around trying to spot them and then decided it was probably better not to look. Lord Avery was waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs.
“Where are we headed?” he asked anxiously.
“Would you like to dance with me?” Elizabeth asked smiling, walking away from him in the direction of the dancing.
Lord Avery looked at Lark and smiled, “Yes, yes I would,” and they headed after Elizabeth.
***
The dancing was set up near a shady area of the village. A wooden dance floor had been laid down on a short platform with a smaller higher platform connected to it for the village musicians who were playing lively dance tunes. There were benches set up in the shade, and vendors selling food and drink wandered amongst the crowd. As they approached, the musicians, all of whom were low blood fairies, stopped playing.
“What can we play for you, Your Ladyship?” one of them asked.
“I liked what you were playing,” replied Elizabeth. “Please, continue.”
The music started up again and all the dancers started twirling around and around.
“Shall we?” asked Lord Avery, extending a hand to her.
Elizabeth nodded and took his hand, both stepping up onto the dance floor. They held hands out in front of each other and stepping sideways started moving around in a circle with the other dancers, Lord Avery giving Elizabeth a twirl every so often.
“So, Lord Avery,” Elizabeth smiled at her dance partner. “What do you do at Castle West?”
“Well, My Lady,” Lord Avery tried to speak while keeping in step to the music. “I’m working on developing a higher yielding grain. I have several acres of one promising grain doing quite well. I figure, if I can get a higher yield, we’ll have to clear less land to plant.”
“That’s quite an undertaking.” Elizabeth was quite impressed with his answer. “I was working on some vegetables, before my garden was abruptly obliterated.”
“Sorry to hear about your garden.” Lord Avery commiserated as they continued to dance.
Elizabeth found Lord Avery to be very pleasant. He was good looking, plus she knew that he was Lark’s best friend and that her brother would be pleased if she favored him. When the dance was over all the dancers clapped and the pair headed back to where Lark was still standing. Much to Elizabeth’s surprise, there were several lords standing next to Lark waiting their turn to dance with her.
Elizabeth stood for a moment, catching her breath. Lark jerked his head toward the lords standing beside him. Elizabeth knew that he wanted her to pick one for the next dance. Lord Avery, not wanting to give up her attentions yet, gave her a slight bow. “Thank you for the dance Lady Elizabeth. I am available to dance whenever you require me.”
“You are quite welcome Lord Avery,” she said, toying with the idea of just dancing with him again, when Lark gave her a discreet poke in the side. She turned to the lords eagerly waiting for her to pick from them. Looking quickly, she decided to extend her hand to Lord Owen from Meadowland Castle, remembering that she wanted to ask him about his unicorn. Lord Owen smiled and quickly stepped forward to take Elizabeth’s extended hand. The unpicked lords looked disappointed, but were resigned to wait their turn.
Stepping up onto the platform, Lord Owen quickly got them moving with the other dancers that had already begun. He’s lively on his feet, Elizabeth thought, more so than Lord Avery.
“Your unicorn is magnificent.” Elizabeth started the conversation.
“Yes he is,” Lord Owen agreed. “He’s from the same sire as your own.”
“Really?” Elizabeth was interested to hear more.
“Yes, I trained him myself, he’s quite fast.” Lord Owen appeared quite proud of that fact.
“Will you race him today?” inquired Elizabeth.
“Would you like to see me race him?” he asked, staring at her as if he were already in love.
“Actually, I would like to ride him in the race myself.” Elizabeth hoped he would be open to the idea.
Lord Owen suddenly stopped dancing. Looking as if he was going to burst with happiness, he exclaimed, “Oh, Lady Elizabeth, I am honored beyond words that you would ask a personal favor of me. Of course it would be my honor to let you ride my mount Rumsfield in today’s race.” Then he added, looking as if he may faint, “I must go tell my parents,” and with that, he turned, leaping from the platform and taking off in the direction of the feasting area.
Elizabeth turned to look at Lark who was staring at her inquisitively. She shrugged her shoulders and before she could step off the platform, several of the remaining lords were there to help her.
“What was that all about?” asked Lark as Elizabeth reached his side.
“It was nothing,” she told him. “I only asked him if I could ride his unicorn in the race today.”
“Oh, my!” Lark looked at her shaking his head.
“Oh my?” “What’s the, “OH MY, for?” Elizabeth wasn’t happy about being kept in the dark.
“Anything you do or say may be taken as a sign of preference,” Lark explained. “Look at poor Lord Avery. He thinks he’s already been cast aside.”
“This is ridiculous!” Elizabeth was already losing patience. She didn’t want to have to worry about such things. However, seeing Lord Avery looking so glum, she took pity on him.
“Lord Avery!” she called over to him. “Could you find me something to drink. I’m so dry.”
Lord Avery’s sad face brightened. “Why of course, Lady Elizabeth, I’ll be right back,” he smiled as he dashed off to find a drink vendor.
“Thank you,” Lark whispered to his sister, thankful that his friend was back in good cheer.
Lord Avery returned quickly with a tankard of fruit juice for Elizabeth.
“I hope this is to your liking, Lady Elizabeth?” he asked, handing her the cup.
“Yes,” Elizabeth smiled, taking a drink from the glass, “It’s quite refreshing, thank you.” She continued to enjoy her drink realizing that she still had several lords waiting for their opportunity to dance with her.
Elizabeth finished her juice and handed the empty glass to Lord Avery before turning to her brother. “I really need to refresh myself, where do you suggest I go.”
Lark looked around for a moment and then pointed to the tavern nearby. “Over there, they should have a bathing chamber reserved for all the ladies at the festival today.”
“I’ll be right back,” Elizabeth told her brother and took off toward the tavern that Lark had directed her to.
As she was walking away she heard her brother announce to all the waiting lords, “Lady Elizabeth is taking a few moments to refresh herself and will return shortly.”
Oh great, thought Elizabeth, Every time I go to refresh myself, someone is going to announce it? She didn’t really mind, she was having a wonderful time and the day had barely begun.
Elizabeth entered the Tavern to find a young elf female standing inside the entrance directing visitors. When the elf recognized Elizabeth, her eyes widen and she gasped, but she quickly collected her wits and personally led Elizabeth to the bathing chamber designated for ladies visiting today. Elizabeth thanked her and entered the chamber to find, to her amazement, Lady Margaret and Lady Milley standing in the chamber waiting for her.
“What are the two of you doing here?” Elizabeth asked. “You’re supposed to be having fun at the festival.”
“We are Your Ladyship,” answered Lady Margaret. “We’ve been having great fun. We came in here to refresh ourselves and spotted you out the window heading this way. We thought that we should wait and see if you needed anything.”
Elizabeth stared at them for a second and then had an idea. Smiling she said to her ladies, “Actually, I do need assistance.”
***
Elizabeth made her way back to the dancing area, Lady Margaret and Lady Milley in tow. When she reached her brother and the waiting lords, she announced, “It is my pleasure to sit and watch the next dance, but I insist that someone of you dance with my ladies.”
Lady Margaret and Lady Milley looked at each other and smiled at the prospect of dancing with any of the lords present. Wanting to please Elizabeth, they were all quick to offer and Lady Margaret and Lady Milley were put in the delightful position of having to choose their partner. Lady Margaret chose to dance with Lord Fagan of Lakeland Castle. Lady Milley chose Lord Artie of Castle East. As her ladies stepped up to the dance floor, Elizabeth headed over to the benches to sit with Lark, followed by Lord Avery and the remaining lords.
“Interesting tactic,” commented Lark, as he settled in beside her.
“Now I can see who the better dancer is before I choose my next partner,” explained Elizabeth, knowing that her brother wasn’t buying any of it.
She just wasn’t ready to have to pick from the waiting group of lords again. She supposed that she should be having fun with this, but she didn’t want to mislead any of them, as she apparently had Lord Owen. She did want to dance again, so she would have to pick someone.
Elizabeth sat in the shade, listening to the music, enjoying the dancers, and looking at the sights around her when she spotted a small party of riders approaching from the northern road.
“Who is that?” she asked Lark, directing him to the riders. Lark stood up on the bench to get a better look, several other bystanders now looking also.
“It looks like Lord Edric and the party from Castle North,” replied Lark. “I don’t see Lord Warren though. That can’t be good.” Lark continued watching as the party of riders reached the village. “Lord Edric is dismounting,” Lark updated her. “Looks like he’s going to join the festival while the rest of his party continues to the castle to make camp and unpack.”
Lark reseated himself next to her. “Thank goodness they made it,” he told her, “I’m afraid father would never forgive Lord Warren if Castle North missed tonight’s ceremony.”
Elizabeth winced slightly at the mention of the evening events. She was nervous and simply would not think about it while she was enjoying the festival today.
“I’m sure you’ll get to meet Lord Edric at some point today,” Lark added. Elizabeth smiled and nodded her head. She really didn’t care if she met another lord or not.
The music stopped and the dance ended with everyone applauding and smiling. The musicians paused, reaching for some nearby glasses of refreshment. Lady Margaret and Lady Milley with their dance partners made their way over to the benches where Elizabeth and Lark were seated. The ladies took an available seat, while Lords Fagan and Artie went over to a vendor selling drinks and brought tankards back for the two ladies and seated themselves next to the smiling sisters. Elizabeth was glad to see her ladies enjoying themselves.
As the musicians readied to play again, Lark turned to Elizabeth. “Are you going to dance again, sister?” he inquired.
Elizabeth thought for a moment. “Yes I am.”
She stood up and smiled, extending her hand to Lark. He looked at her, and then stood as well, taking her hand. “Okay,” he conceded, and the two proceeded to make their way to the dance floor.
As they mounted the dance floor the crowd cheered, gathering around to watch the royal couple dance, everyone leaving them the entire dance floor. Elizabeth walked over to the musicians. “Spring Dance!” she requested and the players nodded. It was one of her favorite dances; she and Lark had danced it many times together.
Brother and sister stood in the middle of the dance floor waiting for the music to begin. It began slowly with the dancers doing a lot of tapping and clapping, moving slowly around each other and then it picked up. The dancers moved together around the dance floor, with Lark twirling Elizabeth around and around. Elizabeth was exuberant. She knew her and Lark made an exceptional dance pair and she didn’t mind showing off a little. As they made their way around the dance floor again, Elizabeth noticed one of the bystanders, a disheveled looking fellow, staring at her very strangely. He had a meat-on-a–stick in each hand and was chewing vigorously as he continued to examine her. Lark began to twirl Elizabeth, as the dance required, but Elizabeth was determined to get another look at this unidentified fairy. As Lark spun her again she turned her head back to see him, but she missed stepped and began to fall. Lark, always a quick thinker, quickly scooped her up into his arms before she could hit the ground, spun her around several times and then set her down beside him as if that’s what they had intended to do all along. The music stopped and the crowd cheered and clapped. Elizabeth and Lark stood on the dance floor smiling and waving for a moment before making their way off the platform.
“What happened to you?” Lark asked his sister.
“I was distracted by him,” she pointed in the direction of the disheveled fellow, who was now she realized, waving at them with one of his meat sticks. She looked at Lark who was, to her dismay, now waving back.
“Come on,” he said, taking her arm and pulling her in the direction of the waving fellow.
“Lark,” spoke the fairy, who Elizabeth thought looked quite dirty. “So good to see you!” He shifted one meat stick to the other hand so he could extend a hand to Lark.
“Lord Edric,” Lark replied, grasping Lord Edric’s’ hand. “Where is Lord Warren?” Lark asked, a serious look on his face.
Lord Edric took a bite of meat from one of the sticks and while still chewing replied, “Accident in one of the mines. He’s okay, broke a couple of ribs and couldn’t make the journey.”
“King Lifiel will be disappointed not to see him.” Lark knew his father wanted all the Noble Lords present.
“I stopped by the feasting area and gave the King and Queen my father’s apologies for not being able to attend,” spoke Lord Edric, still chewing. “Then I came here to look for you.” he swallowed before continuing. “I can’t wait to meet your sister; I hear she is the most beautiful and graceful of ladies.” He took another bite and waited for Lark’s response.
“Ah hum,” Lark cleared his throat. “This is my sister, Lady Elizabeth.” Lark gestured to Elizabeth standing next to him.
“Oh,” Lord Edric smiled turning his attention to Elizabeth. “Happy birthday from Castle North,” he told her and before she could reply, he turned back to her brother. “This is the best meat-on-a-stick I’ve ever tasted,” he commented, taking another bite. “I can’t make up my mind if it’s green dragon or brown dragon.”
Elizabeth spoke up, annoyed that she had been so abruptly dismissed. “It’s red dragon!” she interjected.
Lord Edric turned and looked at her as if she had two heads and then burst out laughing, spitting out little pieces of meat which landed on Elizabeth. “I’m so sorry,” he told her, still laughing. He reached forward with one of his arms, still grasping the meat stick and tried to wipe off the front of Elizabeth’s dress with his dirty sleeve. “That was so funny,” he continued. “Lark, your sister is so funny,” he said turning to Lark while continuing to wipe her dress with his sleeve.
The rest of their party, who had joined them during the exchange with Lord Edric, stood by, staring in disbelief. Before anyone could comment on the situation Lord Edric exclaimed to Lark, “I must go find a drink vendor. I’ll catch up with you later.”
He turned and started off in the direction of several refreshment vendors, but turned back and yelled to them, “You’re very funny, Lady Elizabeth,” and then he disappeared into the crowd.
Upon Lord Edric’s’ departure, uproar began around Elizabeth and Lark. Lord Avery stepped forward exclaiming, “What a rude fellow. I can’t believe how he presumed to speak with such familiarity,” referring to the fact that Lord Edric kept forgetting to refer to Lark as “Lord Lark”.
Lord Fagan piped in next, “Will King Lifiel really let him attend the council meeting?” directing the question to Lark.
Lark was still looking in the direction of Lord Edric’s departure, “Don’t judge him too hastily.” Lark put his hand up to stop the further protest that began.
Elizabeth turned to Lady Margaret, who along with her sister had moved to Elizabeth’s side. “You didn’t happen to bring along a change of clothes for me did you?”
Lady Margaret smiled. “Of course, Milady, I brought another dress and your riding clothes. They’re in a room for you at the tavern,” she replied, pointing to the same tavern that she had refreshed herself in earlier.
“Excellent,” said Elizabeth, then turning to her brother, she informed him, “I’m going to the tavern to change my clothes. Then let’s get something to eat and go watch the entertainers. I’ve had enough dancing for now.”
“Very well,” said Lark, “Let’s eat in the tavern. We’ll get some tables and order some food while you change.”
Elizabeth nodded in agreement and made her way back to the tavern with her ladies.
***
Elizabeth decided to change into her riding clothes, which consisted of green leggings and a sleeveless green dragon leather tunic. The tunic fit snuggly to her waist, and then flared out in several knee length strips. The tunic had the familiar golden dragon with the golden crown emblem on the front. She wore the same lace up boots that she had been wearing. She had her ladies intertwine the braids in the front of her hair through the sides of her circlet and then join them to a single braid down her back. She wanted to make sure she did not lose the circlet when she raced Lord Owen’s unicorn later in the day. When they finished, Elizabeth and her ladies went in search of their party.
Elizabeth spotted Lark, Lord Avery and the others seated at several tables joined together, already enjoying some refreshments. As she and her ladies approached, everyone seated at the tables stood. Lark motioned Elizabeth to the seat at his side, as Lord Fagan stepped forward and offered Lady Margaret and Lady Milley seats next to him. Elizabeth took her seat and everyone else followed. She made her selection from the platters of breads, fruit and chesses. There were several pitchers set out containing fruit juices and ales. Elizabeth had Lark pour her some fruit juice and she began to eat her meal.
As she was finishing her refreshment, she saw Radella coming into the tavern. Radella stopped upon entering and looked around, spotting Elizabeth and her party. She walked over to the tables, stopped, and bowed slightly in Elizabeth and Lark’s direction. “I hope you are enjoying the festival so far, Lady Elizabeth?”
“Very much so,” replied Elizabeth. “We’re heading over to watch the entertainers next.”
“Then you’ll be pleasantly surprised,” Radella smiled, seemingly knowing something that Elizabeth did not. She bowed, walking off toward the public bathing chamber.
That sounds intriguing, thought Elizabeth, now anxious to move along. She gave Lark a swat on the arm, “You’ve had enough to eat Lark. Let’s get moving.”
Lark wiped his mouth and then stood up to address the tables. “Lords, Ladies,” he said getting everyone’s’ attention. “Lady Elizabeth wishes to proceed to the entertainment area.”
All the lords started moving at once, shoving a last bite of food into their mouths, taking a last drink, and wiping their mouths in preparation to depart. Elizabeth stood up and turned to her two ladies. “Lady Margaret, Lady Milley, I want you to go about enjoying the festival. There is really no need for you to tag along with me.”
Lady Margaret and Lady Milley looked at each other and then Lady Margaret spoke, “Thank you, Milady, we would like to stay and dance some more.” As she spoke, she looked hopefully at Lord Fagan.
Lord Fagan willingly took the hint and turned to Elizabeth. “Lady Elizabeth, if you would not be offended, I would like to stay and dance with Lady Margaret.”
“That’s a fine idea Lord Fagan,” replied Elizabeth.
Elizabeth noticed Lady Milley looking at Lord Artie hoping he too would stay and dance. Elizabeth could see that Lord Artie wanted to follow Elizabeth and her party but did not want to offend one of Elizabeth’s ladies. Elizabeth was pleased when he made, what she considered the correct decision.
“Lady Elizabeth,” Lord Artie spoke up. “I too would like to remain and dance with Lady Milley.”
“Of course Lord Artie,” Elizabeth smiled at him. “I’m sure we will see you later at the games.”
The parties proceeded to split up, Elizabeth happy that her party had now shrunk by four, and moved on to their destinations.
***
The party now consisted of Elizabeth, Lark, and Lord Avery, along with, Lord Brendon and Lord Brokk, (both of whom Elizabeth found completely boring at the tavern table), and Lord Eaton. They made their way to the entertainment area, which was set up in one of the open squares in the village. It consisted of several different stages spread around the area with various types of entertainments, all going on at once. Visitors were mulling around from one area to another until they found one that caught their interest.
As they walked into the center of the area, Elizabeth looked around at the various entertainments taking place trying to decide where to go first. She looked at Lark, hoping that he’d have a suggestion, but he only said, “We’re following you sister.” After glancing around again, she decided to go and watch a group of acrobats that were flipping and balancing each other. Several visitors, who were also watching the acrobats, stepped aside to make room for Elizabeth and her party front and center of the stage. Elizabeth was enjoying the acrobats (all of whom were low blood fairies), when they were approached by Lady Blossom and several ladies that Elizabeth did not recognize.
“Lord Lark,” Lady Blossom smiled sweetly, getting Lark’s attention before she continued. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I was hoping to get a chance to dance with you.” She smiled at Lark, holding her skirt and swinging it from side to side.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” replied Lark. Lady Blossom immediately stopped swinging her skirt and started pouting. Lark then explained, “I’m Lady Elizabeth’s escort for the day and I am at her, and only her complete disposal.”
Lady Blossom looked very unhappy. She didn’t like to be turned down, especially in front of her companions. She turned to Elizabeth with an obviously forced smile on her face. “Good luck to you tonight Lady Elizabeth. I understand not everyone is able to make the transformation successfully.” She and her companions then turned and walked away.
Elizabeth stood for a moment with a horrified look on her face. She turned to Lark and in a shaken voice asked. “What did she mean?”
Her attention was diverted by Lord Eaton who was standing with Lord Avery. “I apologize for my sister’s behavior Lady Elizabeth. It was totally uncalled for!”
Elizabeth didn’t care about apologies. She turned back to Lark and asked him again more insistently. “What did she mean, Lark!”
“Don’t be worried,” a voice suddenly whispered in Elizabeth’s ear making her jump in surprise. She turned abruptly to find Lord Edric standing behind her, a pastry in one hand and a beverage tankard in the other. Elizabeth just stared at him as he continued to speak. “On one hand she is technically right, but on the other hand she is totally wrong.”
Elizabeth’s head was spinning. “What does that mean?” she asked Lord Edric.
“Well,” explained Lord Edric. “About three hundred and fifty years ago Queen Erin gave birth to twin daughters. It was apparently a difficult birth and in all the confusion her ladies lost track of which twin was born first. On their sixteenth birthday, the queen chose one of the twins to make the transformation, but she was unable to do so successfully. The other twin was brought forth and she made the transformation. Obviously, she had been the elder of the twins. So you see, you have nothing to worry about.”
Relief washed over Elizabeth. She opened her mouth to thank Lord Edric for putting her worries to rest, but he cut her off before she could speak. Waving his hand at someone Elizabeth couldn’t see, he turned to her saying, “That’s my armsmen looking for me, gotta go, bye,” He then took off into the crowd.
Elizabeth stood with her mouth open not knowing what to think, her emotions just having taken a giant swing from total panic to utter relief, and just when she thought Lord Edric was trying to be nice to her, he turned around and completely irritated her.
“He is a most rude fellow,” Lord Avery said deciding to give his opinion on the matter.
Lark didn’t comment, he put his arm around Elizabeth’s shoulder. “Are you okay? Shall I take you somewhere private?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, I mean yes. Yes, I’m okay and no, I don’t want to go anywhere private, thank you.” Lark kissed her on the head and they moved on to watch the jugglers.
The party made their way around all the stages until they finally came to the last stage, which was set up for a puppet theatre. They arrived just as the show started. It began with two female fairies out in a field. Elizabeth was surprised that one of the puppet fairies had yellow hair. Then a bell rang and a puppet red dragon appeared in the corner of the theater sky. Elizabeth realized that the puppet show was about her! This must be what Radella was referring to, she thought. She stood there smiling at the puppet rendition of the events. When they reached the part where the yellow haired puppet shot an arrow bringing down the red dragon a now familiar voice commented from behind them.
“Oh, what old elf tale did they get this story from?”
Elizabeth glanced behind her to see Lord Edric standing there, surprisingly without any food or drink. Lark spoke up to inform him, “This all actually happened here at Dragon Castle just a few days ago.”
“Really?” Lord Edric sounded very interested. “Then that means,” he continued, things obviously becoming clear to him now.
Elizabeth nodded her head at him. “That’s right,” she told him.
Lord Edric then burst forth with his revelation. “That means the meat sticks are red dragon!” “I’ve got to go get a couple more,” and with that, he turned and hurried off.
Elizabeth stood silently fuming. She had never met anyone that had driven her so crazy so fast. Lark punched her lightly in the arm. “Come on, it’s time to head over to the games.”
Elizabeth noticed that most of the crowd was now clearing out of this area, presumably heading to the area set up for the games, which would soon start. There would be various games going on, wrestling, pole climbing, foot races, but the two big events were the archery and unicorn racing events. They would head over to the archery, the unicorn race being the final event of the day.
***
The archery area was set up with various targets with a platform off to the side for spectators. Elizabeth could see her parents were already in their chairs on the platform. Elizabeth and Lark walked toward the platform to see them. Lord Avery and the other lords went to find their armsmen and get their equipment for the event. The King and Queen smiled as their children approached.
“How has your day been?” asked the King, “Are all the young lords hopelessly in love with you?”
“Not all of them,” Elizabeth replied thinking of one lord in particular.
Elizabeth and Lark sat visiting with their parents while all the archery contestants warmed up. When they all had taken their turns at the targets the field was cleared for the start of the event.
Radella, the village elder, walked out onto the field carrying a bow and a single arrow. She stopped in the center of the field and in a loud voice announced, “I would ask the most talented archer in the kingdom to come forth and make the opening shot.”
The crowd started cheering and looked at Elizabeth. Elizabeth smiled and made her way down to where Radella was standing. She took the bow and single arrow. Radella moved safely to the platform and the crowd became silent while Elizabeth readied to make the shot. She released her arrow, which flew true and hit the center of the target that she was aiming at. Then she looked on in disbelief as another arrow immediately split her arrow in two. She turned around to see who had made the second shot and saw Lord Edric with bow in hand.
“I’m sorry,” he told her. “When she said the most talented archer in the kingdom, I naturally thought she meant me. But it is your birthday.”
Elizabeth was so furious she thought she would burst. Lord Edric walked over to Elizabeth and seeing the enraged look on her face, looked at the target where he had split her arrow. He then pulled another arrow from his quiver and handed it to her.
“Sorry about your arrow,” he said. “Here take one of mine,” he smiled pushing the arrow in her direction.
She took the arrow from him as he walked down to the target and pulled free his arrow. She remained standing there as he walked back by her carrying his arrow. He smiled at her and winked, “All set now,” he said and walked off the field.
Up on the platform, the King and Queen looked on, not quite sure what to make of Lord Edric’s behavior.
“What’s that all about?” the King asked Lark who was still standing with them.
Lark answered while watching his sister stomp off the field. “I think my sister has finally met her match.”
“We’ll see,” the King replied with interest as the Queen glanced over at the archers to see if she could spot where Lord Edric had disappeared to.
Elizabeth, still fuming, made her way from the center of the field over to where Lord Avery was standing with Lord Brenden, Lord Brokk and Lord Eaton.
“I don’t care which one of you does it, I just want one of you to beat Lord Edric!” she yelled at them, her fist clenched with frustration. She walked off toward the platform with Lord Avery yelling after her. “You can depend on it, Lady Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth took her seat with Lark and the King and Queen. “Do you believe the nerve of that, that lord?” Elizabeth asked Lark, still trying to calm herself down.
“I thought it a quite good shot,” Lark smiled. He was rather amused by the events.
Elizabeth frowned at her brother then turned her attention toward the field. She would enjoy watching Lord Edric be beaten by one of her admirers.
The archery contest consisted of five identical targets. Each archer would get five shots at one of the targets with the ten archers with the best scores moving up to the second round. The targets would then be moved back and the remaining archers would shoot again. At the end of the second round, the top five scoring archers would move to the final round, which was shooting at a moving target.
As the archers moved toward the targets, the crowd cheered them on and then became silent as the first group of archers began to take their shots. “Look,” Elizabeth said to Lark, pointing to one of the archers. “Lord Brokk is shooting very well.”
Lark glanced over to where his sister was pointing. “Yes, the twins are both very skilled.”
The crowd cheered and applauded as the first group of archers finished and the second group approached.
“Look,” said Lark tapping his sister on the arm to get her attention. “Down the far end. Lord Edric is going to shoot.”
“I don’t care,” said Elizabeth. “Lord Avery is shooting and I’m watching him.”
Lark noticed that his sister, while meaning to watch Lord Avery, kept glancing at Lord Edric.
The crowd became silent as the second group began to shoot. “GOOD SHOT!” cried Lark, as he watched Lord Edric hit the center of the target.
Elizabeth looked on watching Lord Avery whose shot hit one of the inner rings.
“UNBELIEVABLE!” cried Lark again as Lord Edric hit the center of the target with his second arrow.
“Alright, alright,” said Elizabeth. “I’m watching.”
Elizabeth turned her attention to Lord Edric as he readied for his third shot. Much of the crowd gasped as his arrow again hit the center of the target.
“He can’t get all five in the center.” Elizabeth shook her head, as if saying it would make it true.
“That would be unprecedented,” Lark told her.
Lord Edric pulled his bow back for his fourth shot. Elizabeth held her breath as he released it. The arrow flew and hit the center again. Ahs and ohs came from the audience as all eyes were now on Lord Edric and his final shot. Elizabeth leaned forward with anticipation as Lord Edric released his final arrow. As the arrow hit the target the crowd went wild, it had hit the center once again. Elizabeth leaned back in her seat watching Lord Edric smiling to the crowd with his bow raised over his head.
“You must admit he’s very good,” Lark whispered in her ear.
“No I don’t,” barked Elizabeth at her brother while watching Lord Edric walk back to his armsmen.
Radella walked out to the center of the field and announced the ten archers who would shoot in the second round. Lord Avery, Brenden, Brokk, and Eaton had all made it to the second round. When Radella read Lord Edric’s name the crowd cheered.
“Oh please,” Elizabeth muttered under her breath. “Don’t encourage him.”
When the festival staff finished moving the targets for the second round, the first five archers approached for their shots. Lord Brendon, Lord Brokk and Lord Eaton were all in the first group. Lord Brokk’s first shot hit the center of the target and Elizabeth stood up clapping. “I doubt that Lord Edric will beat Lord Brokk,” Elizabeth said to her brother.
Lark looked at her, raising an eyebrow, amused at how desperately his sister wanted to see Lord Edric lose.
Lord Brokk’s next four shots failed to hit the center although he did score quite high. The second group of archers approached and the crowd cheered as Lord Edric walked out onto the field.
“I doubt he’ll do as well this round,” Elizabeth decided.
“It is unlikely,” Lark replied.
Lord Edric let his first shot go and to the crowd’s delight it found the center again. Elizabeth sat silently as she watched Lord Edric’s next four arrows all hit the center of the target. The crowd was cheering wildly. Lark who was standing and applauding turned to his seated sister, “He’s the best archer I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s easy to hit a stationary target,” Elizabeth told her brother. “Let’s see how he does when the target is moving.” she was still not resigned to Lord Edric’s winning.
Lark just rolled his eyes.
The festival staff now removed the stationary targets and brought out a contraption with pulleys and ropes that would bring up a target and move it from one end of the contraption to the other. The contestant would have to get all five shots off before the target had reached the other end.
Radella moved to the center of the field to announce the final five contestants. She called them out one at a time and had them take the field as they heard their names. “Lord Brokk,” she called out first. Elizabeth and the crowd clapped and cheered. Lord Brokk trotted out onto the field where Radella was standing. He waved to the audience on the platform. “Lord Brenden,” Radella called the next of the five. “Lord Eaton,” she called and he ran out onto the field to the cheers of the crowd. “Lord Avery,” was the fourth contestant and Elizabeth stood up and cheered as he took the field. Everyone on the platform was on their feet anticipating the final contestant. “Lord Edric,” Radella called out and the crowd cheered wildly. Lord Edric made his way to the center of the field where the other four archers were waiting. He waved his hands over his head, his bow in one of them, looking toward the crowd on the platform. Elizabeth suddenly realized that he was looking at her. She quickly sat down and pretended to be retying her bootlaces. Radella then announced the rules of the final round. When the target started moving, each archer must get off their five shots before the target stopped. The archers would shoot in order of their scores, from the previous round, with the best archer shooting last. The winner would be based on the final rounds score only. Then to Elizabeth’s surprise, Radella announced, “Lady Elizabeth will be awarding the prize to the winning archer.”
“What!” Elizabeth exclaimed looking at Lark.
Lark smiled at her. “Well, Lord Edric probably can’t hit a moving target, so you have nothing to worry about, right?” Elizabeth gave her brother a punch in the arm as he sat down to watch the final round.
Lord Eaton was the first shooter and was very disappointed as only two of his arrows hit the moving target. Next up was Lord Brendon who did slightly better, with three arrows hitting the target, one barely catching an outer edge. Lord Avery was up next. As he got into position to shoot, he glanced up at Elizabeth, determined to do well. As he pulled his bow back, the crowd became quiet. His first two shots hit their mark, but he missed with the third. He took more time with the fourth shot and hit the target but couldn’t get off his final shot before the target came to a stop. The crowd applauded his effort and Lark leaned over to Elizabeth, “Too bad, he’ll be disappointed with that.” Elizabeth nodded waiting for Lord Brokk to come up next. Elizabeth had high hopes for Lord Brokk’s performance.
Lord Brokk took his stance and nodded that he was ready. As the target started to move he quickly got off his first two shots, both hitting the target. The crowd gasped as he missed with his third shot. Nevertheless, he came back quickly with his final shots, both of which found their mark. The crowd cheered wildly. Elizabeth heard her mother behind her exclaim to her father that it was the most exciting archery competition that she could remember. Elizabeth had to agree, she certainly was on the edge of her seat. “He’ll have to hit with all five to beat Lord Brokk,” Elizabeth said to Lark, stating the obvious.
Lord Edric came forward to the cheers of the crowd who were enjoying the event immensely. Lord Edric made ready and nodded for his time to begin. He got his first two shots off faster than Elizabeth thought was possible, both of which hit the moving target dead center. He paused only a moment and then let off his next two shots in rapid succession, both of them hitting the target as well. The crowd was holding their breath. Then to Elizabeth’s amazement, Lord Edric pulled back his bow for his fifth and final shot, but before he released it, he turned, looked straight at her, smiled, then without looking at the still moving target, he released his shot.
He kept looking at her and never turned to see where the arrow landed, Elizabeth realized, unable to break from his gaze. The crowd went wild and Elizabeth knew without looking that he had hit the target. Lark was already on his feet, clapping and cheering,
“AMAZING!” cried Lark. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The other archers had all started moving over to congratulate Lord Edric on his unbelievable performance.
“Well come on,” Lark said to Elizabeth, grapping her elbow and pulling her to move off the platform.
“Do I have to Lark?” she complained.
“Yes, you do,” he told her, as they made their way off the platform and out onto the field. As they walked to where Lord Edric was still being congratulated by the other contestants, Elizabeth asked Lark, “You don’t think he’ll be riding in the unicorn race do you,” concerned she might have to repeat the award ceremony.
“I highly doubt that,” replied Lark. “He had a hard ride coming in today, so I wouldn’t think his unicorn is ready for a race.” That gave Elizabeth an idea.
The other archers moved away as Elizabeth and Lark approached until they found themselves standing alone with Lord Edric. Lark quickly offered his hand to Lord Edric who grasped it and began shaking.
“That was amazing!” exclaimed Lark. “Don’t you agree sister?”
Elizabeth looked at Lark, not wanting to be forced into complimenting Lord Edric. “Words cannot express what I’m thinking,” she said smiling.
Lark shook his head as Radella approached with a silver goblet, the prize for the event. “Lady Elizabeth,” she handed Elizabeth the goblet so she could make the presentation. Elizabeth took the goblet from Radella as Lark and Radella moved off to the side leaving Elizabeth standing alone with Lord Edric.
Elizabeth stood there holding the goblet until Lord Edric smiling at her and asked, “Well?” Elizabeth then turned to the crowd on the platform and held the silver goblet over her head. The crowd cheered wildly. Elizabeth lowered it and then stretched her arms out to hand it to Lord Edric. As he reached out to take it from her, his hand touched hers. Elizabeth felt a tingling sensation suddenly shoot through her entire body. She quickly looked at Lord Edric. He seemed unaffected so she quickly tried to shake off the sensation.
Lord Edric held the silver goblet over his head and the crowd continued to cheer. Elizabeth, still standing next to him, regained her composure and asked Lord Edric, “Will you be racing your unicorn in the final event?”
He lowered the goblet and turned to her, “I wasn’t planning on it. He had a long hard ride to make it here for today.”
“Oh,” Elizabeth tried sounding disappointed. “That’s too bad. I would have liked to race against you.”
“You’re racing?” Lord Edric asked now very interested.
“Yes,” Elizabeth confirmed. “I’ll be riding Lord Owens unicorn. It’s the fastest in the kingdom.”
“Is it?” Lord Edric raised an eyebrow, not convinced at her statement. “I’ll ride in the unicorn race on one condition,” he told her.
“What’s that,” she asked him, both still smiling and waving occasionally to the still cheering crowd.
“If I beat you. I get the first dance with you tonight.” That surprised Elizabeth and she snapped her head around to look at him.
Lord Edric could see her hesitating so he added, “You’re not worried are you? You’re going to be riding the fastest unicorn in the kingdom and I’ll be riding my poor tired beast.” He smiled at her again and she had the feeling she was being conned, but she couldn’t resist.
“You’re on,” she told him and she put her hand out to shake on it.
He took her hand and shook it, but when he let her hand go, Elizabeth felt sad that their hands were no longer touching. Mad at herself, she held her hand out to Lord Edric. “You’ve gotten my hand all dirty.”
He looked at it, reassuring her, “I’ll try to bathe before we dance tonight,” then he turned and walked off the field.
Elizabeth walked over to join Lark who was standing with Lord Owen.
“Lady Elizabeth, did you enjoy the archery?” asked Lord Owen.
“Not as much as I’m going to enjoy the unicorn race,” replied Elizabeth.
Lord Owen smiled thinking her comment was due to the fact that she would be riding his unicorn Rumsfield. The King and Queen had now descended the platform and walked over to speak with their children. Lord Owen bowed, “Your Majesties,” he said stepping to the side so they could speak with Elizabeth and Lark.
“We’re heading over to the platform at the finish line of the race where we hope to see you crossing first daughter,” said the King.
“I will Father,” Elizabeth said confidently.
“Lord Owen,” said Lark, “be a good fellow and make sure Rumsfield is all set. We’ll be over to collect him in a few minutes.” Lord Owen, realizing that Lark wished to speak with his sister privately, dutifully bowed and headed toward where his armsmen were preparing Rumsfield for the race.
When Lord Owen had walked far enough away, Lark turned to his sister. “What’s going on?” “I saw Lord Edric’s armsmen heading over to the paddock where they put his unicorn after they brought it back down from the castle.”
“He decided to race,” replied Elizabeth.
“Really?” Lark wondered what had convinced him to race.
“We have a bet,” Elizabeth continued.
“What kind of bet?” Lark inquired most intrigued.
“It doesn’t matter,” Elizabeth shook her head. “I’m going to win.”
“Really?” Lark repeated, finding the entire situation most amusing.
“I am,” snapped Elizabeth as she walked off in the direction of Lord Owen and his unicorn, Lark in tow.
***
Lord Owen’s unicorn Rumsfield was indeed a magnificent beast. He was entirely black like Elizabeth’s Remi, but with a black horn. His coat was silky smooth and he had a great black tail and long black mane. Elizabeth approached him with her hand out, “Hey, there boy, you and me are going to win this here race,” she said to the unicorn as he sniffed her hand.
“He’s very easy to ride, Lady Elizabeth,” Lord Owen spoke proudly. “Let me help you up on him so you can take him around the field here a few times.”
Elizabeth nodded in agreement and moved over to the unicorn’s side to let Lord Owen help her up into the saddle, but before he could, Lark promptly moved in and interjected. “I’ll help Lady Elizabeth up, thank you.”
Lord Owen bowed and deferred to Lark who as Elizabeth put her foot into the stirrup, grabbed her waist, lifting her up into the saddle. Elizabeth was definitely curious as to why Lark didn’t want Lord Owen to help her, but she would ask him later. Right now she wanted to get the “feel” for Rumsfield and then head over for the start of the race.
Lord Owen was right about Rumsfield being easy to ride, Elizabeth thought as she rode him around the field. He readily complied with every signal that Elizabeth gave him. Of course, her Remi was trained at Meadowland Castle so she was used to all the Meadowland signals. She looked over to Lark who was waving for her to come back to where he and Lord Owen were standing.
“He’s wonderful Lord Owen,” Elizabeth said to the smiling lord as she approached him and her brother.
“I’m so glad you like him, Lady Elizabeth. Meadowland Castle is honored to have you riding him in today’s’ race,” spoke a continually smiling, but nervous sounding Lord Owen.
“I’ll bring Lady Elizabeth over to the starting line and meet you at the finish line platform,” spoke Lark, obviously dismissing Lord Owen who bowed and walked off, turning back for a moment to wish Elizabeth “good luck in the race.”
“Don’t you like Lord Owen?” Elizabeth asked her brother as he led Rumsfield in the direction of the starting line.
“Oh, he’s okay I suppose.”
“But what?” urged Elizabeth.
“I don’t know,” said Lark. “He’s just….” Lark stopped, trying to think of the right word.
“Too eager?” suggested Elizabeth.
“Yes, I suppose that’s it,” decided Lark “You don’t need someone sputtering and drooling all over you.”
“What do I need?” asked Elizabeth, anxious to hear her brothers answer.
“You’ll figure it out,” was Lark’s reply.
Elizabeth could see the starting line ahead. The racing course would take the riders up the northern road for a short way before veering off into the edge of the field and circling up to the far side of the castle, around the tent villages, and down to the main road back to the village where the race would end in the village center where the festival began. Elizabeth looked around curious to see Lord Edric and his unicorn. When she spotted them, she couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Lark!” she shouted, getting her brothers attention. “Is that really Lord Edric’s unicorn?” she pointed in the direction of Lord Edric and his beast. “Lead me over there,” she told Lark. “I want to wish him luck.”
Lark didn’t believe that for one minute but he led her over to where Lord Edric was making ready.
As they got closer, Elizabeth took her feet out of the stirrups, threw one leg over Rumsfield’s neck and hopped off. She walked over to Lord Edric who was just finishing a meat stick. As he saw her approaching he took one last bite and threw the stick aside, washing it down with a drink he had in the other hand. He set the glass down and moved to greet her.
“Lady Elizabeth,” he smiled. “You were right. Lord Owen’s unicorn is an impressive looking animal.”
Elizabeth walked closer. “This is your unicorn?” she asked pointing at the nearby creature.
“Why yes,” said Lord Edric, walking closer to the animal. “This is Apples,” he said proudly, rubbing the unicorn on the neck.
Apples was a medium size unicorn with a fairly stocky build. He was a reddish color. His poor mane was cut short, about two inches long and stood up like bristles down the length of his neck. He did have a fine long tail, but his coat was shaggy as if he hadn’t shed for the season yet. His horn was fascinating, it was red and silver twisting around and around to the point. Elizabeth had never seen a unicorn with a two-colored horn before. Just like his master, Elizabeth thought, Unkempt, but interesting.
“He doesn’t look like much of a threat,” Elizabeth commented to Lord Edric.
“Then you have nothing to worry about,” he grinned at her.
“Why Apples?” Elizabeth asked, not sure she really wanted to know.
“That’s an interesting story,” he began. “I was coming out of one of the mines, which has an entrance up the side of one of the mountains, when I spotted a red dragon swooping down on something in the field below. I could just make out that it was a small herd of wild unicorns. The dragon was desperately trying to snag one. He’d flamed to stop their path. They’d turn and run in the other direction, etc. Then one of the unicorns broke loose from the herd and ran off across the field alone. Well, the dragon decided he looked like easier pickings and took off after him. The rest of the herd made it into the forest. The lone unicorn ran and ran. I would never have believed a unicorn could out run a dragon but the last that I could see from where I was standing, the unicorn was heading into the orchard near the castle. That night when I got back to the castle, I got my selleck and headed up to the orchard.”
“You have a selleck!” Elizabeth interrupted.
“Had a selleck, I don’t anymore,” he told her continuing. “As you know, sellecks can track anything, so I told mine to find a wild unicorn. It didn’t take long for him to lead me to where that same wild unicorn that had out run the dragon was still eating apples in our orchard. So that’s why I named him Apples.”
Elizabeth shook her head in disbelief. “Are you trying to tell me that you’re riding a wild unicorn?”
“He’s not so wild anymore,” Lord Edric said, giving the unicorn another much welcome rub.
“Nobody can ride a wild unicorn!” Elizabeth practically yelled at him.
“I’ve never been much for rules,” Lord Edric winked at her.
Elizabeth turned to Lark who had been standing holding Rumsfield. “Lark do you believe that this animal is a wild unicorn?” Lark just held up his hands to her, not wanting to get involved in the conversation. Elizabeth turned back to Lord Edric. “Well, just because you shave his mane and don’t brush him, doesn’t make him a wild unicorn,” she said now walking over to get up on Rumsfield.
She stood next to Rumsfield for a moment and then looked over at Lord Edric asking him, “Aren’t you going to help me up?”
He smiled at her and replied, “Well I figured if you can ride one you can get up on one,” and then he winked at her again.
Lark tried to suppress a grin as Elizabeth, fuming once again, struggled to get up on Rumsfield. When she finally got herself settled into the saddle, she looked down at Lord Edric, “I will see you at the finish line.” She then signaled Lark to lead her away. After they had taken a few steps away, Lord Edric yelled back to her, “I’ll be waiting for you.”
“I can’t stand him,” Elizabeth said to Lark as he led her over to the starting line.
“Is that why we had to go over and talk to him?” Lark asked her.
“Never mind,” Elizabeth told him.
***
Lark led unicorn and rider over to the starting line where all the other riders were now starting to congregate. The other riders made room as Lark brought Elizabeth and Rumsfield to the front and center spot on the starting line, the riders around them greeting Elizabeth and wishing her luck in the race. Elizabeth looked down to her brother, “I’ll see you at the finish line Lark. I can’t wait to see the look on Lord Edric’s face when I beat him.”
Then she glanced back to see if she could spot Lord Edric, but Lark grabbed her elbow and pulled her down closer to him, “Be careful sister, you don’t know this unicorn, (meaning Rumsfield), don’t take any chances.”
“Yes, brother,” Elizabeth said, pulling her elbow free. She knew her brother meant well, but she was determined to win this race.
The riders were all lining up now for the race to begin. Radella, the Village Elder, was climbing up on a small podium at the side of the starting line to start the race. Elizabeth glanced back and spotted Lord Edric. He was just now starting to put a saddle on “Apples.” Idiot, Elizabeth thought to herself, He’ll never make the start of the race. Radella held up both her hands and everyone became quiet.
“You all know the course,” she yelled so everyone could hear her. “When I drop this flag,” she then reached down and picked up a green flag which she held up over her head, “the race will begin” “The finish line is in front of the platform in the center of the village.” She then hesitated before continuing, raising the green flag as high as she could. “Riders make ready!” she yelled. Elizabeth glanced back again to see Lord Edric just now mounting his animal. She shook her head and looked at Radella waiting for her to lower the flag.
Radella lowered the flag and the riders took off all at once. The first part of the course was the northern road. It was a fairly straight run. The pack of riders started to spread out some with Elizabeth and several others in the front. Elizabeth was pleased at Rumsfield’s speed, but she knew that the course would be more difficult when they made the turn into the field and up around the castle. Elizabeth glanced from side to side to see that Lord Avery and Lord Fagan were the riders staying with her.
The riders made the turn into the field, the pack of riders spreading out even more. The unicorns thundered across the field and made their way to the hillside and the castle. As they started to climb up the hill, Elizabeth saw Lord Fagan and his unicorn moving ahead of her and Rumsfield. Elizabeth urged Rumsfield on; she couldn’t let Lord Fagan get too much of a lead on them. They reached the top of the hill with Lord Fagan still in the lead. Lord Avery and his unicorn had fallen behind on the climb up the hill.
Elizabeth knew that part way around the castle there was a wide ravine just before the “tent villages”. She had jumped it many times on her unicorn Remi and knew the best spot to make it over. As they made the turn around the castle, she saw Lord Fagan and his unicorn approach the ravine. To Elizabeth’s delight, Lord Fagan’s unicorn became unsure and refused the jump. Lord Fagan would now have to circle back a ways and make another attempt. As Lord Fagan was bringing his unicorn back around for a second attempt, Elizabeth and Rumsfield sped by them leaping over the ravine and continuing to race around the castle, now in the lead.
As they sped by the tent villages and down to the main castle road, Elizabeth glanced back to see no other riders in sight. As Rumsfield started down the road to the forest, Elizabeth smiled to herself. She would definitely win the race now. She wondered if Lord Edric ever made it to the starting line. She and Rumsfield entered the forest, now on the last part of the course. Elizabeth, daydreaming about the look on Lord Edric’s face when he saw her waiting for him at the finish line, almost missed seeing the brown dragon that had come out of the forest and into the road.
Rumsfield spotted the brown dragon coming onto the road and jumped sideways to avoid it. This sudden movement bounced Elizabeth on his back causing her feet to come free from the stirrups. Elizabeth pulled back on the reins, trying to stop Rumsfield so she could regain her stirrups, but Rumsfield, startled and terrified by the brown dragon, bolted off down the road at an ever-increasing pace.
Elizabeth knew she was in trouble; she pulled back on the reins as hard as she could but she could not slow down the unicorn who was now intent on finding safety. At this speed, either she would be thrown off or they would barrel into the awaiting crowd. Either fate would not be good. Elizabeth franticly tried to think of what to do when she spotted another rider coming along side of her. She looked over and saw it was Lord Edric and Apples. He smiled at her, but his smile quickly faded, becoming serious when he saw the panicked look on her face.
“I can’t stop him!” she yelled to him.
“I’ll be right there!” he yelled back to her.
He urged his unicorn closer aside Rumsfield, then in what seemed like one motion, jumped up on Apples back and launched himself onto Rumsfield, landing firmly behind Elizabeth. He grabbed the reins from her hands and began to pull back on them
“Apples!” he cried to his unicorn who was still running alongside of them. Apples moved slightly ahead of Rumsfield and start to whinny at him. Between Apple’s whinnying and Lord Edric pulling in on the reins, Rumsfield finally started to slow down as they reached the edge of the village.
As they entered the village, Lord Edric and Apples had Rumsfield down to a slow trot.
“You’re alright,” he whispered in her ear. “You’re alright.”
He was holding her tightly around the waist but she didn’t mind. For all her earlier harsh words about him, she had never felt safer than she did right now with him holding her.
“You saved my life,” she told him.
“Let’s not exaggerate,” he replied. “I’m sure someone who shot a red dragon from the sky, would have found a way to stop a runaway unicorn.”
Elizabeth turned to face him. He smiled at her. He had known all along, she thought to herself.
“Look there’s the finish line,” he pointed ahead. The crowd at the finish line was waving and cheering at them as they approached.
“How will we explain this?” Elizabeth asked him.
“Don’t worry,” he told her.
As Rumsfield broke through the finish line string, Lord Edric pulled him to a halt, Apples stopping right behind him. Lord Edric than slid off the unicorn and put both his hands in the air, the crowd cheering with delight. Elizabeth could see her mother and father in their seats on the platform, cheering and clapping. She spotted Lark, who shot her back a stern, questioning look. She knew she would have to explain everything to Lark later.
Lord Edric turned back to Elizabeth and held up his arms to her. She threw her leg around and then let him grab her waist and lower her to the ground. He quickly grabbed her hand, pulling it into the air with his. The crowd began cheering more loudly. Other riders were now making their way in and the square became a flurry of activity. Lord Edric’s armsmen were quick to come over and take Apples, Lord Edric instructing them to take charge of Rumsfield and to make sure that he was returned to Lord Owen’s armsmen.
Lark had made his way off the platform and was now beside Elizabeth and Lord Edric. “Which one of you is going to explain this to me?” he said sternly to them both.
“Look,” said Lord Edric. “Here comes Radella,” nodding in the direction of the approaching village elder. “Let’s not spoil the day with talk of things that are done,” he suggested.
“Please brother,” Elizabeth pleaded. “I promise to tell you everything later.”
“All right,” Lark gave in. “But you will tell me later.”
When Radella had reached Elizabeth, Lark and Lord Edric, she gave them a formal bow and then smiled asking, “Please tell me about that most curious finish. I’m not exactly sure who won the race.” Elizabeth hesitated, trying to think of how to respond, when Lord Edric interceded.
“May I explain Lady Elizabeth?” he asked.
“Why of course,” Elizabeth smiled and Lord Edric began to explain. “Our unicorns where perfectly matched and when we realized that neither was going to be capable of escaping the other we decided to make it a tie.” “But,” he continued, “neither of us trusted the other not to make a sudden dash over the finish line and claim sole victory, so we came up with this to insure a tie at the finish.” Then he smiled at Radella, who to Elizabeth’s relief seemed to believe the whole thing.
Elizabeth shot Lark a smile, hoping that maybe he would be satisfied with the story. Lark shook his head at her. She wouldn’t get off that easy.
“How gentlemanly,” exclaimed Radella. “But who gets the goblet?” looking at the three of them.
“Why Lady Elizabeth of course,” answered Lord Edric.
“Wonderful,” said Radella. “Why don’t you present it to her?” she suggested.
Lord Edric answered with a bow and they all headed over to the platform.
They all made their way onto the platform and down to the center where the King and Queen were seated. The four turned to face the royal couple, all four bowing in unison.
“That was quite a show,” commented the King.
“Well,” Lord Edric spoke up, “I can be a bit of a show off.”
That made the king and queen both laugh. Elizabeth, who could barely keep herself from shaking, not quite over the fright of the race, was amazed at Lord Edric’s composure. Radella, who had picked up the silver goblet on the way to the center of the platform, now handed it to Lord Edric. Radella then faced the crowd, raising her hands up to quiet everyone down. “The final presentation will be made by Lord Edric who tied Lady Elizabeth for first place.”
Lord Edric stepped forward and hoisted the goblet up in one hand exclaiming, “To Lady Elizabeth, for making this the most exciting race I can ever remember.” He then turned and handed her the goblet. She took it, raising it above her head with both hands, turning to face the cheering crowd.
“Will I still get my dance?” Lord Edric asked her.
Still facing the crowd, holding her goblet, she replied, “Will you still take a bath?” She continued smiling as the crowd continued to cheer. It had been a perfect Festival.