DanielleofLyonesse

Danielle of Lyonesse (draft)

It was only after the disappearance of Danielle, a peasant shepherdess of my Father’s lands, that I learned of the terrible Curse that the Ambrosios had lain upon my very soul. A curse that to this day prevents me from marriage or even the common romantic dalliance.

I was but a boy then, about 10 years, and had not yet come into my title and lands in Valentin. In those days, it was my greatest joy to wander the Lands of my father, exploring the woods and fields, inventing entertainment, and perhaps some youthful mischief for myself.

This was how became acquainted with Danielle. One morning I found her flock in the lands to the west of the castle and I decided to play “wolf” and carry off one of her sheep. She sat in the shade with one of the lambs of a spreading elm tree, while I circled through the hedges to the other side of the field. Once there I waited and like any good hunter sighted upon my target; a large ewe grazing near my hedge. I waited there until the shepherdess seemed most particularly distracted playing peek-a-boo with the lamb and then rushed out to pick up the ewe.

I must admit that in my youthful exuberance, I underestimated both the weight of the sheep and its unwillingness to be carried off. When I attempted to pick it up, it held itself fast to the ground by continuing to bite on the grass of the field and only after it stopped to chew was I able to lift off of the ground. Once I did, it began to bellow like an offended goose and only after much might struggle was I able to pick up the thrashing, bleating animal and hoist it across my shoulders.

Only then did I realize that I had also failed to come up with an escape plan that allowed both me and the sheep to slip back across the hedge for while it was easily enough crossed by a boy, it would not work for a boy and a thrashing bovid. I also saw that Danielle, the shepherdess, had seen me and was running my way.

I spotted the stile, but it was on the far side of the field. Had I dropped my prize or had their been no herd between me and the stile, I might have made it, but in the end, the shepherdess caught up with me and tripped me with her stick.

Even then, I might have escaped her, but as a descendant of the Visi and holding the true spirit of the hidalgo, I was determined to face my punishment as a true man. I was , however, glad that my mother was not in residence at that moment because I would not have been able to face her shame. Danielle and I marched through the fields to the castle where we were brought to my father’s private chambers. He allowed me the privilege to confess, which I took and then he heard the shepherdess’ story. I must admit her version of the events had a sort of endearing contempt to them and I she spoke I could see that she had a fine strong spirit, beautiful eyes and rather impressive physical structure.

At the end of it my father ordered Danielle to beat me with her stick no less than 10 times and no more than 20. He also granted her the privilege of performing a similar beating should I appear in her fields again. Years later, the Duke told me later that ordered the punishment so that it would either discourage immoral behaviour or encourage better stealth skills.

This punishment was carried out later that afternoon in a private courtyard of the castle and later became all the rumour and scandal of castle in the weeks after. As a noble, I was not pilloried, but stood as I was beaten. Danielle was a doughty young woman and quite strong for her size but I think that she held back some of her strength that afternoon or perhaps previous beating had inured me for it felt as no more than love taps, for all her imprecations as she swung.

Nor did the punishment discourage me from playing wolf or her from chasing me and striking me when I was caught. This went on for several weeks in a similar vein until that fateful day. . .

It was autumn and the leaves of the trees had begun to turn to their festive, fiery colours and the wind carried the scent of the earth as it blew through the woods. It rustled the branches and in that time one could hear the trees talking in their quiet whispers.

Danielle had agreed to go with me into the woods to look for truffles, they are a type of mushroom that are considered a delicacy in Baetica. As we walked, I began regaling Danielle with tales of my adventures as I often do, and particularly the tale of the day of our meeting.

She took particular and somewhat amused offence when I said that I could have escaped that day had I not been carrying a sheep. I had merely pointed out that as a descendant of the Visigot kings; I possessed natural strength and skill that her years and height advantage could not hope to overcome.

It was then that she attacked me, wrestling me to the ground where we rolled for some few minutes. I must admit that she fought with skill and determination and a peasant’s lack of decorum or modesty. Soon our clothes were disarrayed and in tatters and I continued to wrestle I began to feel stirrings that I had not noticed before.

A moment later snuffling grunt signalled disaster in the offing. At first I thought it peasants in woods, likewise looking for truffles. I silenced Danielle and asked her to roll off of me. I then turned to the noise only to be forced to leap aside as an enormous wild sow dove at us.

I had heard that such creatures and even more dire animals were in the woods, but this was the first I had seen of one. It leapt upon Danielle and grabbed her in its slavering jaws, making to carry her off. I swept up Danielle’s stick and beat upon the retreating sow and when the creature took no pause I grabbed the pig by the haunches and beat upon it as it ran through the woods.

To this day I could swear that the sow smelled of perfume, but it may have just been the local flowers or the concussion that I suffered when the sow threw me off into the trunk of a huge chestnut tree. The entourage of one of the ladies of Mother’s court found me and brought me home. The Duke and his men searched the woods for days with his hounds, but Danielle could not be found.

When she returned to the castle, my Mother questioned me closely about what had happened and especially about what Danielle and I had been doing in the woods that fateful day. It was only then that she confessed to me that an Ambrosios magician had appeared to her on the day of my birth and pronounced a curse upon me, such that any woman that I should have feelings for would come to an awful end. At the time, I thought did not believe it, but events that hvae happened since that day have proven her veracity.

I did see Danielle one more time after that. Shortly after my great victory at Baelo Claudia, she was captured in the command tent of the Ambrosios wearing no less than the full armour and weapons of my foes. She had grown into a fine, beautiful woman and her armour was well tailored to flatter her figure. That evening she dined in my tent with me and my officers. She claimed that the sow had carried her off to the south, to the lands of the Ambrosios. There she to have had many fantastical adventures in the lands of their lands and even made claim that she was not originally from Lyonesse at all

I felt no small pity for the woman, for as beautiful as she had become, and as detailed and fantastical as her tales were, it was clear that her mind had snapped during her long captivity. Lands beyond the Ambrosios? Ridiculous!

When it became clear that I did not believe her, she even claimed that we were related. This was becoming too much to bear. Still she had once been my dear friend and it was clear that she had suffered greatly during her long captivity.

My dear friend Baron Sancha suggested, and I agreed, that was best that she be sent to the Abbey at Gallina Drac. I have not seen her since that night

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