1. My Lady's Chamber


    Date: 8/9/2015, Categories: Historical, Author: Annamagique, Rating: , Source: LushStories

    Hanging on the walls in my home are two prints of paintings by Edmund Blair Leighton. 'The Accolade', and 'God Speed'. The Accolade depicts a man in chain mail being given ‘The Accolade’ of knighthood by a beautiful queen, with flowing red hair, in front of the throne in a medieval castle. God Speed depicts the same queen waving off another knight, perhaps her husband, to war in some far and distant land, tying her sash around his arm as he leaves. I love these paintings and, along with the Lady of Shallot, find myself being carried away back into the middle ages. A medieval time of kings and queens, castles and knights, archers and bowmen, but more to the dresses and fashions of the maidens and ladies with their long flowing locks and beautiful dresses of heavy fabrics and precious metal adornments……. “Anna!” “Yes My Lady?” “It is time for my husband to leave for war in France. I will return after he has left. Would you wait for me here please as I feel I may need a little company on my return.” “Of course, My Lady.” I had only recently arrived at Cottingham Castle to take up a position as Lady in waiting to Lady Isabel. She was a beautiful young woman of just 22 years of age who had been brought over from Bavaria to marry her knight. A man whom she genuinely had fallen in love with, even though he was twenty years her senior. In the few short months I had known her I had become very fond of her and, I believed, she had of me. Her English was not good and I found that we ...
    spent a lot of time together as I had the patience to help her learn. There were other ladies and servants at the castle but we had become close and she trusted me. On her return, some time later she walked into the chamber with her head held high but I could see she was upset. As soon as the huge oak door closed behind her I ran to her. “My Lady?” I took her hand and looked into her eyes. “I have to be strong, Anna, but I do not think he will return alive.” “You mustn’t think like that, My Lady, he will return, I am sure of it.” I held her hand tightly as I reassured her. “Yes, maybe but he will be gone for many months.” Lady Isabel was right. He was to be away for nearly two years and in that time she became strong. Her English improved greatly and we became inseparable. Almost like sisters. After the first winter had passed and spring was beginning to give way to summer, Lady Isabel and I walked together in the woods around the south side of the castle, enjoying the warm sun on our faces and the birds singing in the trees. I particularly liked to see the red squirrels clinging to the trunks and watching us as we passed by. Soon, we reached a small clearing where the sun shone warm and bright through the leafy canopy above our heads and there we sat with our backs against an ancient oak. “Anna.” “Yes, My Lady?” “When we are alone, would you call me Isabel, please?” “Yes, of course, My L…..Isabel. I’m sorry.” It was difficult. Although we had become friends court etiquette had ...
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