The trumpeters blew their horns and silence fell, after which they called loudly: Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The people began to press forward and murmur in speculation. A second blast, shorter that the first followed and once more they called: Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

At last, there was silence as attention fixed upon Lord Brecken.

I bid you welcome, my lords and ladies, countrymen and guests. We are to witness history this day as a permanent treaty of peace will be entered into by King Axel of Far North and our own King Hugh II. Their majesties will sign the treaty in an official ceremony this eve. After which a feast will be held in celebration.

Before I release you to enjoy our hospitality, let it be known that acts of theft, violence, or other misdeeds will not be tolerated whilst royalty is in attendance on Brecken land. You will note the guards posted, and the archers at the wall. They are the best in the realm and they shall prove it this very morn.

In one hour, upon the moor outside the west wall they shall compete and shall otherwise display their talents.

Excited murmurs rose in anticipation and the baron lifted his hand signaling the trumpets. When the crowd became silent once more, Brecken continued.

Be it known to all that misconduct shall be severely punished. Perpetrators of theft or violence inside of the walls will be immediately struck down with arrow. If they live, they will be held in the dungeons until royalty has left this place.

Any such acts outside of the walls, if in range of the archers will also be struck down and imprisoned. Those outside of the archers' range will be forcibly taken by the guard. If they survive this, they will be imprisoned.

If any person is traveling in company with such perpetrators, they must leave Brecken lands at once or they shall also be forcibly taken by the guards and imprisoned.

We are here to celebrate a perpetual peace between our two kingdoms. We shall not tolerate any behaviors that would besmirch such an occasion.

Brecken was an impressive sight as he stood upon the wall in his best armor, flanked by fully armored guards resplendent in Brecken's colors. He held the attention of every man, and woman present. Even many of the children were fixated upon the lordly old knight upon the wall.

The encampments of the people of Far North that are betwixt the North wall and North Pass are strictly forbidden. While King Axel is in residence, that land is given over to his rule. All trespasses and offenses shall be handled by them according to their law, even to the point of death. I shall not interfere.

Consider, I beseech thee, what you owe to me and pay heed to what I demand. Do not trespass.

Hushed whispered rippled through the crowds. Lord Brecken was known to be a good Lord, fair and just. This was most serious indeed, for Lord Brecken was not know to make demands of his people. Brecken recognized their understanding and knew the time had come to conclude.

Instead, may you be merry and rejoice and partake of the festivities. Make your way to the moors for the demonstrations and competitions that will be held shortly.

I conclude then by saying that at the sound of the trumpets, I shall release you.

Go with HIS blessing and mine.

Brecken raised his hands and the trumpets sounded, followed this time by shouts of HUZZAH as the people began the celebration in full.

Merchants had their carts arranged outside of the walls and there were wares and foods for all to enjoy. There were jugglers and men upon tall stilts. There were sword eaters, and fire eaters and all manner of acrobat. There were musicians and dancing. And upon the moor, people were gathering to witness the demonstrations.

By the time the signing was to commence, the guards had cleared the courtyard of all except the invited guests. Once they were seated and properly served, others were allowed entry but only until the remaining tables were filled. After which, the gates were closed to visitors and none were permitted further exit or entry to the inner courtyard.

The trumpets sounded and silence fell as the royal guard of King Hugh II appeared and began to file from the castle doors by twos, august in their shining armor and brightly colored surcoats. Then came the knights bearing the royal banner and the trumpets sounded as King Hugh II appeared, followed first by Lord Neron, then his other honored guests.

When they were seated at the dais, the trumpets sounded once more and another royal guard appeared, just as resplendent in their shining armor and brightly colored surcoats, bearing the crest of the royal guard of Far North. Their knights bearing the royal banner appeared and the trumpets heralded the appearance of King Axel followed by his honored guests.

Gasps went out as the first of these guests was a beautiful lady, resplendent in a flowing white gown, bedecked in gold ribbons and glass beads. As she passed beneath the torches, she seemed to glimmer in the light from head to toe, the way that water shimmers in the sunlight. Whispers rippled through the people as they tried to guess the identity of this angelic beauty.

All were seated and silence fell as each of the Kings stood and gave a speech honoring first the other King, followed by words of rejoicing over the occasion, finishing with promises of peace as they raised their glass to thundering cheers. The actual signing of the treaty followed and was marked by an equal measure of pomp and circumstance.

The two kings were handsomely attired in their most resplendent royal garb, their shiniest royal armor, and their most impressive crowns. The sight would inspire the retelling of the tale of the signing of the treaty with only the most grandiose of terms. The words majestic, regal, and resplendent fell sadly short of proper recognition.

The celebration that followed would go down in the annuls of time, not just for the measure of its vastness, as it resounded in ripples through both kingdoms. But also, for the incident that occurred just as King Axel finished signing and the two kings stood shoulder to shoulder.

The treaty was lifted from the table and held aloft to cheers that lasted for several minutes together. At length, the trumpets sounded, marking the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the celebration feast. The kings turned to take their thrones at the center of the dais and the scribe turned, carefully making his way down the steps so that he could make copies of the treaty.

Just as he reached the bottom step, there was a disturbance near the rear of the gathering. An arrow was loosed and a cry of agony went out. All eyes were turned and were it not for the guards, one from each kingdom, set to watch over the scribe until they received their copies of the treaty, there would be no treaty.

At the same instant that all eyes turned to see the disturbance, three men charged the scribe. Two were felled at once by the guards. The third turned and climbed over men to stand upon the table of the royal dais.

The royal guards secured the scribe and the treaty, while their fellow guards made walls around their kings. But the man leered and lunged toward the lady in white. Her eyes widened in recognition.

"No fork to help you now, wench!" Remy snarled. I am going to—"

His words halted as first surprise, then agony contorted his features into a most peculiar death mask. He fell upon the table and at Axel's command, his guards pulled her into the safety of their wall of shields.

"Are you hurt, my lady."

"I am..." she swallowed, feeling the trembling in her limbs, "I am only a little unnerved. I am otherwise unharmed."

"Guards, the danger has passed. Disperse, and return this lady to her room."

"I thank you, your majesty, for the honor of being present at the signing."

"It is I who was honored, my lady. It was because of your wisdom that such a thing has transpired. I give to you Carte Blanche, my lady. You are welcome in my kingdom, my palace and indeed my heart at any time you should desire it for any number of days you should desire. Everything at my disposal is yours to demand at any time you should so choose it."

"Your majesty!" Gwyn blushed crimson as he took her hand for this little speech and brought it to his lips. "I am...I have not the words..."

"I know he who awaits you in your chambers is most worthy of you. But if ever you should find yourself alone and in need, know that you have a place." At this, he pressed another kiss upon her hand before pressing it to his heart.

Gwyn licked her lips and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. This was an unequivocable offer of a king. It was as Erec said. This was not merely the offer of a king's affection. King Axel just offered her a place at his side, as Queen of Far North! Words truly failed her.

King Axel smiled sadly and reached up with is free hand to touch her cheek.

"If only I had met you first, my lady." He whispered, kissing her hand once more before turning to his guard. "Take her to her rooms."

Gwyndolyn offered her most courtly curtsy and followed the guard as he led her to her rooms. In the moments she was near Axel, surrounded by his guard and their wall of shields, no one had seen or heard what transpired betwixt them, save the guardsmen.

Had she met Axel first...? She smiled as she mused over the incident. Before she met Erec, she was but a farmer's daughter and likely would never have left her father's farm. She would have spent the whole of her days raising Robin, and then there would likely have been nieces and nephews...

Before she met Erec, she was destined to be surrounded, but ever alone. Erec gave her love, but also friends and he recognized her worth, respected it even. He and his men valued her and her contributions in all aspects, not just those of healer and home-maker. It was because of their treatment of her that she had the confidence to speak her mind...

Without all of them, Axel would never have noticed her, even if he had managed to meet her first.

"Milady" The guard bowed as they reached the door. He stepped back and waited for Gwyn to close the door behind her before returning to Axel.

"You return much earlier than I expected you." Erec frowned, coming to her side.

"There was an incident."

Erec started for the door but she grabbed his hand.

"It is handled. The archers and the guards dispatched the violators. I expect their swift response and lethal actions will prevent any further disturbances."

"There is something else." Erec searched her face, seeing the uncertainty there.

"One of the men was Remy. He climbed over the men and reached the dais. He stood on the table before me and threatened me before an arrow found his back."

Erec took her at once into his arms and gently pressed her head to his shoulder. Holding her firmly against him, he trembled inside.

If Remy had acted first and boasted second...

Erec pressed a kiss upon her crown.

"You are safe now my love. I regret that it was not I that killed him. I should have killed him that day. The men demanded it, but my honor would not allow it. I—"

"You did what you must do and it was what was proper and fitting at that time and place. It is as it should be."

"You are too good for me, wife." Erec whispered, willing his heart to return to normal even as he willed the trembling to still. "I do not deserve you."

"Would a king be a more worthy man for me?" she mused.

Erec sensed something more and leaned back, lifting her chin so that he could see her face.

"Did his majesty King Axel make further advances? I care not if he is a king, or if killing him would cause a war that destroys both kingdoms. If he—"

"He spoke only what was in his heart. He knows that you are most worthy and sent me to you this eve. But he made it known, and only to me, that if ever my circumstance should change, I had a place at his side for as long as I wished it."

"Well." Erec could say nothing more. He and Brecken had determined that it was the wisest course of action to keep his true identity a secret. Already there was one incident. What troubles would come if it were known there were two kings a crown prince in presence?

---

The celebration yet continued without a moment of rest, but King Axel and his entourage left after a sennight. It was three days after this royal departure that Brecken was summoned to the great hall. King Hugh II took it as his council chambers and spent most of his days holding court there.

"His lordship, the Baron of Brecken Moors Hall."

"Brecken!" Hugh raised his hand. "Come. Join me."

"As you wish, your majesty."

Brecken bowed low before climbing the stairs to the dais where Hugh sat upon his throne, various scrolls spread before him along with a plate of fruit and some wine.

"Wine?" Hugh offered rhetorically before ordering a servant to present Brecken with a glass of wine.

The irony was not lost on Brecken. It was his servant, his wine, and this was his castle.

"I have already heard many different tellings of how this peace treaty came into being."

"For every tale, there are many versions, your majesty."

"Yes, but there seems to be one element that remains constant in every tale. Tell me, did Lord Erec really barter this treaty?"

"Aye. He and his wife, the Lady Gwyndolyn."

"The Lady Gwyndolyn?" Hugh frowned.

That was the name of the lovely lady in white that attended the signing at King Axel's side. She disappeared right after and was not seen since. Hugh assumed she was the king's mistress and had departed with him...

"Yes, your majesty. That is her name. She is a farmer's daughter with some distant noble connections."

"And where is Lord Erec...and his lovely wife...now?"

"They remain in their rooms above stairs, your majesty."

"He is hiding? Like a criminal. Or perhaps he hides like a spy. His wife was with King Axel..."

"They have developed a friendship with his majesty, King Axel. He has much respect for their boldness and they have dined with him on many occasions whilst the royal encampment remained."

"He is a spy!"