Thread: To be conquered (Methos and PreciousPetra)

Though she had known and feared such a day would fall upon the land, she believed in her husband and his army to be able to ensure the safety of their lands and the people within them as well and ensure that the invader would be made to retreat back to where they had come from never to return. Isabel Herbert the Duchess of the lands of Denvorn paced the stone floor of their large reception room awaiting news of the battle which raged in the near by forest on the edge of lands. She choose to pace on the stone and not one of the rugs which were scattered over the floor so she would not have to contend with the utter silence which filled the room. The decision to be alone and wait for news had been hers and hers alone for she did not wish for constant chatter and the worry of others when she had more than enough to contend with of her own. She had great faith in her husbands ability as head of his army but of course that did not mean their was not a niggling fear in the back of her mind that something may happen and he and his men would fail in their task. The fact her two sons aged twelve and thirteen were at his side did not help ease that niggling fear at all. Isabel stood around five feet two with wavy blond hair which fell to her waist. Her figure was a little thicker around that area since she had given birth to her children but she was still able to stop many a male who had made it known on more than one occasion that should she ever be available to wed again she would have no concern in finding a suitor. At twenty eight years of age she had known and spent a great amount of her life with Alistair for they had been betrothed when she was eight and married a day after her fourteenth birthday. They had been blessed with two sons Jeremy now thirteen and Maxwell now twelve. She had not wanted them to ride with him for though everyone else believed they were young men to her they were still children, they were her children and in her mind would never be ready for any battle for many a year ahead. But her husband had insisted and her sons had wanted to ride with him and so once again she had been unable to win her own war when it came to the men within her own family. Though of course it was only to be expected for she was after all a mere women with little say when it came to the crux of the matter. Time passed and it began to feel as if it were an eternity though she was both dreading and longing for news to reach her and praying that Alistair and their boys would return before any messenger sent. But eventually she heard the sound of hooves in the courtyard, flinging open the large doors she walked quickly into the hallway to see the messenger being let into the manor. When he saw her, their eyes met and before he had even greeted her she knew the news he had bought her was none she would wish to hear. I wish not for formalities please just tell me what news you bring me of the battle. Her voice was clear but quieter than usual and her fingers wrapped around the heavy necklace she wore around her slim neck, given to her by Alistair in their tenth year of marriage. Two rings upon her right hand he had also given her on separate occasions upon the birth of their sons. The messenger fell to his knee, his own voice unsteady as he told her that not only were the army unable to defend the lands and push back the invader and his own army but the Duke and the young squires had been slain during the battle. Those near who heard began to sob but Isabel just stared at the painting hanging on the wall, of her husband in full armour sitting proudly on his horse. She was still listening as he continued telling her that not only of her personal loss but the loss to Denvorn and that Duke Conrads approach to her home was imminent. Of course she knew who he was, she knew of all those who wished to lay a claim to the vacant throne. Speaking to the few guards who were there to protect her and those in her personal service. I beg you to do your up-most to defend the manor and myself, do not permit him entrance to the grounds. He is not welcome here, I do not wish for an audience with the murderer of my family. Disturb me not I shall call if I need anythingthank you all. With that she turned, her fingers still wrapped around the necklace and as steady as she could manage she walked back into the reception room closing the door firmly behind her. Isabel did not manage to then take more than two steps before she sank to the floor, the pain she felt within her heart she truly thought would overwhelm her, her body shook as she sobbed for the loss of her brave husband and sons. She was certain her heart was broken and that it would never mend.