Thread: Veiled Affair [Reserved]

One could not ask for a kinder, gentler, stronger, or more noble knight than Sir William, noble knight to His Majesty the King. And on this day, one would be equally hard-pressed to find one more nervous. Not that William was uncomfortable around the royal family, not at all. As the youngest knight ever dubbed, at the young age of 17 nearly 9 years ago, now he had been a fixture in the king's house for a great while. Even before he was knighted, he had began to develop a humble relationship with the royal family, and many of his childhood memories were of running about the castle, fetching blades and delivering messages and helping the knights before him suit up for tournaments and battles. Indeed, he had always done his best for his king and for his god, and the favor he received for it was well-deserved. Still, the idea of having the beautiful young princess's safety and education on his hands was more unnerving than facing a battalion of soldiers. Even the times when he'd ride beside the king himself, or escort the queen to and from various fiefdoms, wary of the assassins laying in wait, held no threat to him compared to this delicate creature. Victoria was easily the most valuable object in all the lands he'd traveled, and that was a heavy responsibility to shoulder. As much as William knew how to shoulder responsibility, something about the young noble gave him knots in the stomach. As the two Ladies of the realm approached, William gave an obligatory bow, and carefully balanced his face. If you smile too much, you risk being seen as a fool, or of being perceived as making a mockery of the royalty. And if your face is stern, then you can be strung up for treason. Less so when you are as trusted as Sir William, but it is still a concern, and a matter of propriety. Greetings, fair ladies, He spoke while his face was still pointed downward, and only righted himself after he had been properly acknowledged. The princess had dressed accordingly for her lesson, as had William, swapping a mail tunic for his usual plates, and brown trousers instead of his usual full-greaves. His blade still hung, sheathed, at his side, after all, he was still a knight, even if he wasn't on the field or in the hall. He did his best to only glance at the princess as much as was absolutely necessary, despite his desire to sit and study her appearance. It is rare to find such a beautiful young woman, especially one who has yet to grow conceited. He placed his hand upon the smaller of the two steeds, a brown creature who, despite being one of the smallest in the king's stable, still towered over young Victoria. Handling it carefully, with the slightest nudges and tugs, he led the horse to Victoria, halting with the creature at about 3 paces distance. Your majesty, He said, addressing the queen, his tone steady and respectful, I judge by your apparel that you will not be remaining for the lesson. Have you any additional instructions before I assist Princess Victoria to her mount? While the queen gave her reply, William stole another glance at the young princess, and reflected upon her. He noted that she seemed even more exquisite today than as he usually saw her, freed from the trappings of a half-dozen attendants and a stuffy, flowing dress. The way her hair, fiery and almost glowing in the sunlight, was set allowed a fair vision of her slender neck, the faintest traces of muscle beneath it swimming below soft flesh. He had dreamed of that flesh more than a knight as chaste as himself ought, and so quickly returned his gaze to the queen, giving another low bow as she finished speaking, without letting his hand leave the horse's neck. The young princess seemed nervous and intimidated, and the last thing she needed was for the beast she was supposed to be learning to control to make a sudden movements to fuel her uneasiness. When the queen was gone, he'd give the princess the full attention she deserved... or at least the attention her tuition required.