Ashdom
Copyrighted to Alicia
Part 4


Previously: Christian came back to rescue Allis, the peasant, from the pirates, but the Duke’s ships sailed on without them.

“The duke will cross over to neutral country. We must rejoin their group.”
“How do you know that they will get away from the pirates?” Allis dragged the hem of her gown out of the mud at the edge of the bay and started to collapse on the rocky beach.
Sir Christian pulled her up. “I’m sure my Lord can defeat Neo’s chase. He’ll turn back and follow us when he loses the duke’s ships and we have to keep moving.”
“Will they wonder where we are?” Allis let him drag her along behind him.
“Yes, but they probably think we’re dead.”
“Of course, anything for Princess Aria.”
Sir Christian stopped suddenly and turned to look at her. “Maid Allis, this is not like you.”
“But what is like me? Who am I now that I am on my own...wet...running from pirates...presumed dead!” Allis turned from him and used a hand to cover her tears.
“No two lives follow the same path.” Sir Christian said. “Please -uh- we must be going, Maid Allis.”
“I should not have come with you!” Allis whirled on him. “I am to marry Rouen!”
Sir Christian scowled. “You do not love him.”
“What does love matter? It was my parents wish.”
“You don’t believe that. And your parents are dead!” he said harshly.
“Their wish lives on,” Allis replied, raising her head.
“Do not be so foolish! A marriage is miserable without love.”
“I have never found anyone I loved.” Allis paused and looked up at him. “I loved my parents.”
He hesitated. “I’m sorry.”
Allis’ eyes flashed again. “And is it not true that Knights all fashion their own ideas of true love? Is it not true that knights often dedicate themselves to another Lord’s wife? Or is this a noble thing if their marriage is without love?”
“This may be for other knights! What do you care, anyway?” Sir Christian was irritated. “You will marry your Rouen and live a peasants life.”
“A peasants life where you may be called to your death on the whim of a Duke’s daughter!”
“I think you need some sleep. We’ll rest farther inland.” Christian wanted the conversation to be over. He turned to start walking once more.
It was not the answer Allis wished. “My parents protected me so as a child. Is all the world so cruel?”
Sir Christian stopped, and looked at her. “No,” he said finally, with a small smile. “There is right and wrong in this world.”
Allis sighed and put a hand to her forehead. “Thank you...Christian.” And she fainted from exhaustion.
Sir Christian picked up her limp body easily and finally proceeded on their way.


“We’re closer to neutral territory than I thought. Close to the sea there is a safe house that I know of, the home of Sir Murphy and his good wife. Perhaps we will find the duke and our party there.”
Sir Christian helped Allis over a large formation of rocks stretching on before them.
“How far is it?” Allis questioned. They had spent one night under the trees in the forest. It had been an uncomfortable evening of strange noises, and Allis had worried even with Sir Christian keeping watch. With the Duke’s training he could rest while still alert for foreign noises.
“Another night, perhaps 2 if those clouds break.” Allis looked up at the dark sky. “Do you think they will?”
Sir Christian glanced up. “I don’t know.”
They did. Allis and Christian stayed less wet under a low shelter the knight crafted from the forest’s own materials.
Sir Christian laid down quietly but eventually said, “I’m...sorry for becoming angry with you, Maid Allis. You must do what you feel is right. For you.”
Allis didn’t respond, and Sir Christian thought that she was sleeping.


They made it to the safe house the next day after all, and found the duke’s party there as expected. The duke was overjoyed that they still lived, and Sir Murphy welcomed them into his home with enthusiasm. His wife, Lady Leslie, was concerned for Allis’ damp attire and treated the peasant girl with warmth and generosity. Lady Leslie got Allis into a bed smothered with furs and put hot bricks at the foot. Allis was simply too tired to protest, and she fell asleep warm for the first time in some while.


“My goodness you must have needed that rest, my dear.” Lady Leslie was there when Allis awoke later.
“Oh-- my Lady–“ Allis started from the bed.
“Now, now, child. We’ve heard about what you’ve been through. The duke’s daughter got here day before yesterday and is still in bed, so don’t you concern yourself.”
There came a hearty knock on the door just then. “Good wife, is a man welcome in here?”
“Oh dear, it’s the man of the house!” Lady Leslie almost giggled. Allis had never seen such a lady laugh. “Yes, yes, you may come in, my dear!”
Sir Murphy was a big man. And the pair of them- Allis’ benefactors- looked well standing side-by- side, before her, both stout and smiling. “Sir,” she murmured from the bed. “Thank you for your kindness–“
Sir Murphy shook his head. “I understand you just escaped from pirates!”
Allis smiled weakly. “Yes, after escaping the battles in Ashdom.”
“And your parents were killed?”
“Oh my dear–“ Lady Leslie frowned at her husband. “I’m sorry, Allis.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“How is it that you are not married, my dear?”
“My parents promised me to a village boy. But - but someone has been telling me I should not marry him when I do not love him.”
“Ah.” was the only response.
Allis blushed deeply. “I’m sorry...my lord, my lady,” she murmured hurriedly. “It’s just that I’m so confused. I don’t know how to choose my own path. I don’t understand how to know what’s right for me!” She caught herself. “Oh, I am so sorry, my lord. My lady.” She slid down farther into the cover sheets with a rosy face.
“No, no, sweetie,” Lady Leslie laughed and sat down on the bed beside her. “We bring it out in people.” She took Allis’ hand and gazed at her husband. “It wasn’t always that way. Everyone has to learn.”
“And we’d certainly like to tell you all about it if you’d like to hear. We love the telling of stories, don’t we wife?” Sir Murphy thundered towards his more soft-spoken wife.
Allis had to ask the question. “Well-- were you in love when you married, my lady?”
Lady Leslie smiled. “We both knew within our hearts that we were meant to spend our lives together, my dear. Without a doubt. But, I wasn’t always to marry Sir Murphy.” She smiled. “It had been planned for me...a marriage to a knight named Murry.”
“My older brother,” Sir Murphy put in. “The one with the castle!”
“Ah yes,” laughed Lady Leslie. “And he was handsome and rich and even though I did not know him well I’m sure he was a kind man. “I did not particularly wish to marry Sir Murry,” Lady Leslie went on, “But it was a very good match, you know. But there was just something wrong. It all seemed right. Everything I saw at his castle was wonderful. Then I met Sir Murphy, the younger brother, of course, who lived far away with a completely different life. Well, I thought he was pretty wonderful too!”
“I simply stole her away from my brother, Maid Allis!” Sir Murphy laughed with his wife.
“Well-- not exactly. I had discovered that marriage to Sir Murry did not make the life for me. Of course it looked...simply silly to everyone else, and Sir Murry did not understand, but I knew. And I knew Sir Murphy was the man I needed to marry. And the one I wanted to, too! And now Sir Murry’s life is better off for the change.” Lady Leslie smiled. “And we’ve been very happy. What more proof do you need?”
“But– how did you know, my Lady?”
Lady Leslie smiled. “Take hope, dear. There is a path planned out for you, too.”
“Well now!” Sir Murphy interrupted. “Here we are socializing and I came to tell you the Duke’s party is leaving tomorrow to head back to Ashdom quickly. The Lady Aria is staying with us, wife, and shall we invite Maid Allis as well?”
“Oh no!” Allis sat up in bed. “I must go back to Ashdom! Please– I’m sorry–“ Allis’ words came out in chaos.
“Lay back, dear. I knew you’d want to go.” Lady Leslie smiled and stood. “Come, Husband. We’ll do the convincing for her!”

To be continued......
Next part: The Truth of Ashdom

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