The Secret Oath (standard:fantasy, 1447 words)
Author: Ian Hobson	Added: Oct 18 2010	Views/Reads: 3466/2064	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Maglanda's uncle is rich and powerful, while her half-cousin, Davitt, is just a novice in the castle guard. This might be a prologue for something longer but, for now, it's just a short story.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

garrisoned by over two hundred men at arms.' 

Now Davitt felt really foolish, and angry too.  Without noticing
Maglanda's sudden look of surprise, he flushed scarlet and turned to 
walk away. 

'Wait!  A moment, please.' 

Maglanda's white lady was back, hovering behind, and just to the right,
of Davitt; her head slowly shaking in disapproval. 

'What?' said Davitt, angrily turning to look at Maglanda again; wanting
to strangle her, and yet at the same time, wanting to take her in his 
arms and kiss her.  But why was she looking past him?  He turned, 
expecting to see some other person, but there was no one there. 

Maglanda had not seen the white lady since the previous year, on
mid-summer's day.  But now, here she was again: her guardian – at 
least, that was how Maglanda thought of her, having been aware of her 
since her seventh birthday.  The lady never spoke but, somehow, 
Maglanda could always read her thoughts. 

You may need him one day.  Why not accept his offer? 

'Well... my lady?'  His anger diminished, Davitt stared at Maglanda.  Is
she ill?  Why is she acting so strangely? 

'I'm sorry, Davitt.' The white lady had vanished as quickly as she had
appeared, leaving Maglanda knowing what she must do.  'I should not 
have rejected such a gallant offer.' 

There were more people approaching them now; real people: a serving-girl
coming up from the town, and two tradesmen - masons by the look of them 
- leaving the castle.  'Come with me.'  Maglanda returned to the 
junction of pathways and took the one leading towards the woods, where 
the old man had come from.  Davitt followed, surprised by Maglanda's  
strange behaviour, and more so by her apology.  Now where she was 
leading him? 

To Maglanda, the woodland in sunlight seemed a pretty place, with its
dappled shade and pleasant birdsong.  She walked on until they were 
well out of sight of the castle and, as a further precaution, she led 
Davitt away from the footpath. 

His heart quickened now.  Why the need for privacy?  Did Maglanda's
sudden apology, and this unexpected turn of events, mean that she 
wanted him to make love to her?  He had kissed a girl from his village 
once, and even unlaced her bodice, and things might have gone further, 
had her father not entered the barn and chased him away with a 
pitchfork.  Was Maglanda really willing to... 

'Now.'  She interrupted his thoughts, and made his heart beat even
faster as she stopped in a small clearing beside a fallen tree and 
turned to face him.  'If you really are serious and wish to make a 
commitment to me, then you know what you must do.' 

'I...' 

'Wait a moment.'  Maglanda took a step back, pushed her hair back over
her shoulders and adjusted the symmetry of her gown.  'Now, I think you 
are supposed to remove your sword.' 

'Well, if you are really sure about this?'  Davitt unbuckled his sword
belt and was about to let it fall. 

'No, not there.  You must lay it at my feet.'  Somewhat puzzled by this
request, he did as instructed.  'Now, Davitt, kneel before me and bow 
your head.' 

His eyes widened in surprise.  'What is it that you want of me?' 

'You wish to be my champion, don't you? My protector?' 

'Oh... yes, my lady.'  Davitt, at last, was beginning to understand. 
This was the game they had once played as children; she the lady, and 
he the warrior, swearing his allegiance to her.   He had thought her 
more grown up than this, but he knelt, with his knees touching the 
scabbard of his word, and bowed his head. 

'Do you Davitt, son of Valdin, give me your oath, and agree to obey me
in all things?' 

'I...'  Davitt swallowed hard.  He had made this oath at the start of
his training; but to Lord Malag.  'This is just a game isn't it?' 

'A game?'  Maglanda was shocked.  'You think this is just a game? I
thought you wanted to be my protector!' 

'I do!  I'm sorry.  It's just that...' 

'That what?' 

'I'm already sworn to your uncle.  If he found out that I had given an
oath to you...'  Davitt was at a loss for words. 

'Would you tell him of it?' Maglanda asked. 

'No, but...' Davitt shook his head. 

'And do you see anyone watching us?' 

Davitt looked around: the sun was beginning to go down, and the shadows
in the wood were growing longer.  'No,' he answered. 

'Then give me your oath, and don't worry, I swear to you that I will
tell no one.'  Maglanda reassured Davitt with a warm smile.  And that 
smile was all he needed. 

And he gave her his oath.


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