 Toward the beginning of court, Sir Ailgheanan and someone else came in and announced that an invasion fleet from the kingdom of Possomia had landed on Meridies' western shore. King Gareth dispatched them to learn more.
Somewhat later, one scout returned and informed the king that the Possomians had indeed landed, and that they were very fierce warriors who had never been defeated in battle. They would agree to leave only if the king of Meridies would meet their champion in battle. Gareth dispatched Prince Richard and his entourage to meet the Possomians and see if they could be turned back. Several more items of business were conducted and then a strangely dressed little man walked into the hall with a small gray furry creature sitting on his shoulder.
"I can tell you what you need to know of the Possomians, oh
king," he said. "I am Werner, the champion of Possomia, and unless you want your kingdom to feel our wrath, you yourself must meet me in battle. Your champions and knights may not stand in your place."
King Gareth stood up, and looked at the champion. The king
towered head and shoulders over him, and was broader in the chest. "Let me get this straight," said the king, "if I fight you, no matter who wins, you go away and leave us alone?"
"Correct," said the little man.
"Your majesty!" cried Earl Bryce from behind the throne, "You must not do this! It is surely a trick!"
The king replied, "If this is what is necessary to prevent
more harm from coming to my subjects, then it is what I must do."
He turned back to the Possomian, "How do we proceed?"
"Without weapons, here and now," answered Werner, "unless you fear me."
King Gareth looked down at him. "I fear you not," he said,
then turned and laid his crown and his chain of knighthood on the
throne. He turned back to the little man and cried, "Let's get it on!"
They grappled, and then to everyone's astonishment, the little man lifted the huge king and hurled him across the room. The king stood up unhurt, shook himself, and approached again, more warily. Suddenly a cry was heard from behind him. A vicious, gray, furry creature had attacked the queen, and she lay slumped in her throne. In a towering rage, Gareth siezed the creature and throttled it, nearly tearing it to pieces. "Is this your creature?" he demanded of the Possomian.
"Of course it is my creature, you fool!" replied Werner, "And soon you will be dead as well!"
Gareth roared in rage, "You killed my queen!" and leaped upon the little man. They fell to the floor, their hands locked about each other's throats. They struggled and rolled about, more and more slowly, until both lay still, dead at each other's hand.
A great wailing went up from the people as they saw their
king lying still on the floor, and their queen lying limp in her
throne. Sir Bryce called out, "The king is fallen! Let the knights come forward and attend!" The knights of the realm came forward, and bore the bodies of the dead king and queen away. The body of the Werner of Possomia was dragged out back and dumped in a ditch. A recess was called until Prince Richard's scouting party could be located.
Hugh the Barefoot
Barony of the South Downs, Meridies
===
Thaddaeus A. Vick, Linguist to the Masses
Email: ThaddaeusV@yahoo.com
URL:
http://geocities.datacellar.net/Athens/Styx/2605
"Give me the songs of a nation, and it matters not who writes their laws."
-- Plato
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