The orange autumn leaves crunched under my feet as I strolled in the garden with Knight Oli. I enjoyed her company and appreciated her efforts to make sure I was comfortable at all times. I gazed into the woods and was amazed once again at all the vibrant colored trees and the icy cold river snaking around the manor. I had asked Oli to walk with me because I had felt slightly uneasy but the feeling left me after I began walking with her.

     Suddenly, I heard a loud crunch and turned around slightly as I saw one of the unruly serfs coming at me with a dagger. I screamed and put up my hands in defense as he stabbed me in the back. 

    I heard the sword of knight Oli being drawn out as she lunged to grab the serf. But alas, the serf was too fast and began running out of the garden before anyone could do anything. I felt blood dripping down my back as knight Oli frantically began trying to find a way to bring me to the nearest medic. 

I felt faint as I touched my back and felt the warm and thick blood coat my fingers. I swallowed hard and my vision began to go black as knight Oli continuously began to beg for me to stay awake.

    I could vaguely make out knight Oli carrying me and crying out for help. I could hear a man’s voice coming towards us and could feel my body being transferred from one person’s arms to another.

    I recognized the voice and realized that it belonged to the clergy, Lucas. I had met him before at my wedding and had thought that he was a very interesting and kind man. 

     I tried to say something as I felt someone holding me down and praying over me. Suddenly, a blinding pain came from my back and I cried out in pain. As I struggled to escape the grasp of whoever was holding me down, I began losing consciousness and darkness overcame my vision.

    I groaned and woke up slowly as my eyes began to get used to the light. I squinted my eyes and realized that it was around lunchtime seeing where the sun stood in the sky. I tried to get up but felt someone hold me down and looked over to see my husband, Arthur. His gaze was solemn but I could see that he was relieved that I was awake. 

    “Do you remember who stabbed you??”

    Arthur stood up and paced as the clergy rushed to examine my injury. It stung as he put the disinfectant on my wound but the coldness soothed it. 

    “Of course I do.” I watched Arthur perk up and walk closer to me, looking at me intently. 

    “Who?!” He asked.

    “It was that nasty, little scamp serf Jerry!” I raised my voice in anger. 

    “I want every hound in the fief looking for that good-for-nothing scoundrel!” Arthur yelled at the nearest guard.

    I heard Oli say, “Yes, Sir.” The light footsteps of knight Oli were followed by the slightly heavier footsteps of Dame Samantha as she asked to follow her

    I yawned, already tired from talking to much after waking up. Lucas and Arthur noticed this and had Lucas do the final exam before closing the door behind them. I lay in bed for a while after and felt so small at realizing exactly how much was happening just a few weeks after my wedding. What had his intentions been?

    I frowned. Had he not thought this through carefully? If he had wanted to truly kill off his line he would’ve attacked Arthur. And there shouldn’t have been a reason for him to attack me for my family line…

I sighed and decided that I would talk to Arthur and clergy Lucas once I got some proper sleep. This day was too confusing already and I didn’t want to think about this without a second opinion.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~

    “We found him!” 

    I saw my husband spin around as a group of guards ran into the dining room in excitement. “Where?” Arthur demanded.

    “We found him on the edge of the border hiding in an abandoned storehouse.” They replied as another man came dragging Jerry in chains.

He was covered in blood, presumably mine and I felt slightly sick, clutching my stomach. He had changed from the rags he had been wearing to slightly better clothes. His hair was dirty and thick with oil, and he looked as if he had gone weeks without showering when it had only been a day.

    More than a day, I corrected myself. It turned out that I had been in a coma like state for more than three days. The healers had decided to tell me later to minimize shock but I wasn’t too surprised when I had heard. I had been feeling very tired but at the same time more rested than ever.

    I heard Arthur exclaim, “We must have a trial immediately!”

One of the guards frowned but said timidly, “But sir, the complications that come with that–”

“Yes, Sir!” Lucas and Dame Samantha rushed out, one dragging Jerry and the other heading towards the courthouse. 

    Arthur turned towards me as I stared in shock. He smiled slightly, attempting to reassure me. “It’s gonna be okay. We’ll have this criminal behind bars or being executed soon.”

    I nodded faintly and grabbed the chair that stood next to me. I swallowed hard as I realized that Jerry was most likely going to be killed by the end of this week, if not tomorrow night.

    I started walking out of the dining room, feeling a slight pain in my back as I walked, but I didn’t care. I just needed some fresh air.