Ashdom wasn't a magical place, just a regular castle village. The people there were mostly ignorant peasants, loyal to their good Lord, and worked hard to get through their lives. In a place outside the fortress walls there lived a small familiar group of good people, and among them was a young girl on the brink of woman-hood named Allis. Her father worked on the Lord's fields and was good with his hands but had never been into the castle.
The day was Allis' 16th birthday. It was a day of promise, for the girl as well as all her family. Their friends came from all over their little corner to congratulate and hear of the wedding plans. For a young woman of Allis' age must be promised. It brought the castle village honor to have many strong, healthy families and loyal workers.
Allis was being prepared for her guests. She was to be hostess, and dressed as a woman of her position should.
In the outer room it was being agreed that Allis of Ashdom was indeed a fair maiden. Her hair was bright in the sun and her eyes were like the sky. She was as beautiful as any royal princess, though she be but a peasant's daughter.
Allis was dressing in a pink that gave color to her youthful cheeks. The young girl considered the way she looked, but her thoughts were also concerned with Rouen, the young peasant she was to marry.
Allis was a simple girl, having lived her whole life with her family, serving the castle lord and doing all that he wished them to do. She'd been brought up knowing she would marry and rear a family for the Duke's work. Rouen's family was not of their corner of the village. His father worked in the castle stables and Rouen did also. It would mean much change for her, and she would leave her family. The thought made Allis sad, even though all of the girls in their family had come to this time in their lives. Rouen was who her parents wished her to marry. And so marry him she would do.
Allis did wonder, in her pure innocence, if she might perhaps get a glimpse inside the mighty castle's walls once she was Rouen's wife.
It was time to go out. All the good people she knew and loved were there to "ooh" and "ahh" over her clothes and looks and age. Allis could still be with them for a time before she had to go to Rouen, and it well-pleased her.
To young Allis, Ashdom was a world. But there were other thoughts outside of her corner and the Duke of Ashdom was at that very moment besieged with troubles.
Ashdom was a powerful fortress with a great court. The Lord of Ashdom had one daughter but no male heir, and his good wife was dead, a situation which brought the Duke great unhappiness. The princess kept company with a great many men of the court when they visited, but was not married.
But not only these were the good duke's troubles, but there was a great force coming against him. Ashdom would soon be under attack.
The Lord of Ashdom did not give up his fortress easily, and was not ignorant of military tactics. His troops were prepared, and yet he worried about his people. Duke d'Ashdom loved his villagers as a good ruler does. His people had not often been besieged and he did not send out his messengers until the last possible moment, which happened to be that day.
There were many houses built outside the castle walls and the people were not safe there.
Although advised against it, the good duke had decided to bring all his people inside the safety of the outer fortress walls.
The knight Vashi pleaded with the ruler to give up his kind plan.
The Lord smiled warmly but his face was set and determined. Gazing out over the safe houses within the walls that were his people he spoke. "The peasants of the village are as much my children as the princess. I will care for and protect them because they are my own." The decision was final.
The decree frightened the good people of Allis corner. They found themselves among the royalty sooner than they expected, leaving many of their plain and familiar possessions behind.
The young woman's parents worried for their daughter. What might become of their fair maid now?
Other peasant families did not fear the same evil. There were several knights at Ashdom, and the squires might be disposed to court the young and fair maidens outside the court when they were all put together as they were now.
Allis was an old girl to not be married. It had not been her desire and she was the last child of her parents, so they had kept her with them. Rouen's family offered protection and an honorable husband. Allis's family was also provided with a part of the king's stables to sleep in during the siege.
Living near the castle was foreign to these outside peasants. They had seen some of the brave knights up close off their horses here. There was Sir Vashi, Sir Luke, and Sir Christian, who were all close to the duke. Part of their duties were to watch over the many people inside the castle walls.
The duke himself was still worried about the upcoming battle. The conflict could only mean a siege, and although they were fortified well enough, there was not an abundance of food.
The besiegers were soon upon them. The enemy's forces burnt several of the peasants homes outside the walls before realizing the villagers had deserted them and burnt a moat of houses around the castle walls to harm the enemy.
The duke knew it angered his enemies even as they took possession of the unburned area. They had completely lost their element of surprise and there were no villagers to chase down and make sport of.
They were at an impasse. The besiegers settled in to starve those in the fortress walls out, or tear those walls down, whatever came first. The besieged could wait, pray, and trust the Lord of Ashdom to protect them.
