Gaudinus!?

• Katey Cook
• Short Story
• 2010

Amelia urgently strode along the dimly lit corridor. Her nightgown flowed gracefully behind her by the wind caused by her fast pace, her bare feet making no sound on the cold stone floor as if not to wake the sleeping castle.
But she was oblivious to other matters, knowing it was of great importance to warn her husband of the oncoming army marching towards the castle of Lexile and their people.

Though it was the late hours of the night, Amelia knew her husband would be in the library. There he would be slouched over a scroll with his chief advisor, Leonardus, placing the royal seal on messages from the people.

She wound through the countless corridors and spiral stairs, knowing the way effortlessly and soon enough, arrived at the door to the library.
Amelia took the opportunity and quickly smoothed down her gown, only by habit for it did not matter if she didn’t look presentable. Giving a slight nod to the guards on duty, she entered.

The sudden brightness created from the lit touches, attached on the stone walls, blinded her for a moment. When her eyes had adjusted, Amelia spotted her much-loved husband at the grand centre studying table. The men had not yet noticed her presence and, forgetting the danger they were in, Amelia gazed upon her husband. She was once again swamped by the familiar love she now felt, and shared with him.

Amelia was of course, greatly honored when her parents told she was now old enough to marry and would be the Queen of Lexile. But at first she hadn’t loved him, as was common, for you did not marry for love. That time now seemed like a trillion years ago; though it had only been five.
But they had grown to love one another; now he was even more pleased with her now, as she had produced him with an heir. She had also discovered his inner self; a gentle, caring man and often prayed it would be passed down to their young son, Gaudinus.

“Oh, beg my pardon, me lady, for I did not realise you had entered”, Leonardus’ startled voice brought her back to the present.
“Apology accepted for I also apologize for interrupting”, swiftly replied Amelia, now remembering the fast approaching army.
“But I fear a greater problem has come to my attention that couldn’t possibly wait until morning”.
Now seeing she had their attention, she explained how an army had crossed the border and was now marching towards them, seeming it was an attack.

Her husband was immediately wiped of wariness. With the booming, commanding voice that no-one dared to disobey (for torture would be carried out without mercy) he gave the orders to be ready for an attack.

Reassured by the hurried footsteps of the awoken foot soldiers, knights and arches all hurrying to the crenellated towers, Amelia relaxed. Though was puzzled why anyone would try to take their castle under siege, for it was well defended.
They had several surrounding walls, archers, murder holes, a portcullis, a deep moat and secret passage-ways known by the lord, his family and others living in the Keep.

Although, that feeling was short-lived as a new thought crept into her mind, Gaudinus.

With startled faces from Leonardus and her husband, Amelia ran from the room in a mind of pure panic for her beloved son.