The Perilous Forest

Jumping from his horse, sheathing his sword as he steps lively toward the woman, Sir Gareth kneels down beside her as he cradles her head. Saving fair maidens is exactly how he pictures himself being the gallant knight.

"My good man, what happened here?"

The man-at-arms is about to answer Sir Wilfred, when he sees Sir Gareth dishorse and intercedes himself gracefully between Sir Gareth and the maiden. "Our thanks, good sir knights. Those were the Earl's men, and they were up to no good, I dare say. Unthinkable, their plans."

The maid stands up, shivering with fright. "Oh, it's all right, Fenwick, these are King Arthur's men. You must be Sirs Wolstan, Gareth, Wilfred and Gregor, though I know not which of you is which, I apologize." She curtseys deeply as appropriate for a lady of no standing before such august passersby.

Fenwick sheathes his own sword and bows. "My lords."

Sir Gregor is relieved to find that the maid is in now good spirits and that her man-at-arms was indeed her protector. "It's good to find you safe here, my lady, at the hand of this sturdy man-at-arms who kept the Earl's men at bay." He says Earls men with a question in his tone. "It seems we were expected by you." He then addresses the man and the woman both, "Is it Fenwick sir? And my lady, what is your name? "

Wolstan comes to the scene at a thunderous pace, and when he sees the others have peeled off to shield and guard the on-foot knight and the lady, he gives chase briefly to the ruffians. Only when he's sure they're gone does he have his mount circle the area once, then trot to a stop near his fellows.

"Sir Wolstan, of Glengrave," he says from his horseback, lifting his visor so that they may see his face. "And to which Earl do these curs belong, pray-tell?"

"This does not speak well of this earl, to have men such as those." Glancing at the woman to make sure that she is alright he continues.

"I am Sir Gareth Heath. We were on our way to discharge some business for the king when we heard the commotion here and came to investigate."

"Scandalous!" Wolstan says from on high as his charger nickers, a mailed hand pating its neck. "And well met, Lady Maude. And Goodman Fenwick, I believe I heard? What reason might Earl Parwick have to do such a thing?" He had an inkling, but wanted to keep the idea to himself and hear what others had to sat on the subject first.

After she answer, or the man-at-arms does, Sir Wolstan adds, "By chance were the two of you coming to meet us, yonder? We were gathered at the meeting place when we heard your cries."

"Well we are here now and you are safe. It seems a visit to this Earl is in order." Gareth looks to his fellow knights for affirmation. "If you don't mind me asking, Lady Maude. What is your relationship to the Earl and why would he wish you harm?"

Before Sir Gareth posed his last question to Maid Maude, Sir Gregor nodded in agreed to the proposition of visiting the Earl. Then with Gareth's question, Gregor patiently waits for Maid Maude's answer.

Wolstan listens carefully to the lady's answer, and he keeps an eye on her protector while she provides it. He's hoping it contains some kernel or clue about what's going on -- clearly the Duke is up to no good... but to what end?

Sir Wilfred waits for the answer as well, but will lose not time to ask who the old man mentioned by Lady Maude is.

Sir Wolstan nods and vocalizes a few affirmational half-utterances as the maid explains. "Where are you from?" he says to the distraught woman. "Could you return to your father's estates or property while we look in on this business with the Earl and his plot? Accompany us and there will be no flogging, my lady, but you would be best not in the middle of this."

Thinking a moment, he turns stiffly to his armored fellows. "Or... we could make that your sojourn was meant to be a short one, but was interrupted and delayed by those curs that just escaped. Only our arriving saved you from a foul fate. The truth, as it were! Just with no mention of the business we were to conduct."

"You mentioned an old man, earlier, who asked you to be here. Did you know him? Would you be able to describe him?" asks Sir Wilfred, curious.

Sir Gareth Gregor listens to his fellow knights' questions and Maid Maude's responses. Trying to piece together the situation in his mind. He is willing to accompany the party to visit the Earl if that is the direction they take.

He also nodded in agreement to Sir Wolstan's proposal about leaving out Maid Maude's intentions if they speak with the Earl.

What a horrible man this earl must be, Sir Gareth thinks as he awaits the answer to Sir Wilfred's question. Perhaps this old man was close to the earl and appalled by the man's behavior and perhaps his duplicitous nature as well and therefore felt the need to get the word out.