Humiliate him

You look up at the fat man, eyes full of fire, voice full of ire. "I don't care what your lord wants. What he wants and what he gets are two different things. Tell him to wish in one hand and shit in the other. See which one weighs the most! Good day to you, sir!" You start off again with your supplies, leaving the carriage and the fat man behind you.

You suddenly find yourself surrounded by a crowd of cheering villagers. "Here, let me carry your parcels for you, fair lady!" a sandy haired young lad says. He grabs your packages and walks along beside you as a young blonde haired girl rushes up to join you. "That was really brave! I've never seen anyone stand up to Lord Aldumette the way you just did!" She hugs you, then brushes your curly locks of dark red hair from your eyes and kisses your cheek. "You're so courageous!"

Most of the crowd walks down the lane with you to the village outskirts. Then the crowd starts to disperse as the villagers return to their homes and shops. The sandy haired young man and the young blonde girl are the only ones left as you continue your journey home. They carry on several light hearted conversations with you, and you discover they are brother and sister, Phillip and Isabelle. Phillip is a handsome, stout young man while Isabelle is dainty yet sturdy with all the curves in all the right places.

"So where did you get such courage from?" asks Phillip.

"Five years ago, I was as young as you and your sister. I was also married to a very dashing young man named Theron. He was a knight as brave as any. It was he who taught me not only courage, but how to fight and wield a sword." A twinge of sadness overcomes you as you recall your brief days with your one and only true love. Sure he was fierce in battle, but you knew his gentleness and tenderness. You knew his passion for life and the great love he held for you. Such a brief time you were together before the king called him into service. You were told that he fought valiantly, and that with his last breath he thought of you. His last words were "Tell Ophelia I love her."

It was the king who personally delivered the news, and returned Theron's sword, Viresse, to your possession. It's the first time you can ever remember seeing a grown man cry, but the king cried as he knelt before you, recounting the tale of Theron's demise. The king had asked you to become a member of his royal court, but you refused, instead opting to move away to a land where no one knew you. Theron had a dream of becoming a simple farmer, and that is the dream you sought to fulfill when you moved to the outlands, disguised as a common peasant, somehow thinking that it would help to ease the pain of your loss.

Isabelle rousts you from your reverie. "Are you all right? You looked so sad and lost." Her face is so sweet, and her blue eyes so full of concern.

"Yes, I'm all right" you say as you stroke her chin. "I was just thinking about something."

"He must have been quite a man" says Isabelle. "It might help to talk about him, Ophelia. If you ever need to talk, I'm here."

"The same goes for me" Phillip chimes in.

You smile at both of them. It warms your heart to know you've made two new friends. "Thank you. And if I can do anything for you, just let me know."

"Well..." Phillip starts, then stops. In fact, you all stop dead in your tracks. Blocking the lane before you are four horsemen, dismounted, with weapons drawn. From behind you, more galloping horses can be heard closing in on you fast. Soon you are surrounded with no way of escape. Then you hear the sound of a horse drawn carriage. A sick, queasy feeling begins to knot up in your abdomen.

You turn to Isabelle and Phillip. "Listen to me. Don't say a word. Let me handle this."

The carriage pulls up in front of you. Out steps Lord Aldumette. He looks you over before moving on to Isabelle and Phillip. "I have no quarrel with these two children. Let them go." You breathe a silent sigh of relief. "Make them take off their clothes first."

"Stop!" you yell. "Just leave them alone. I'm the one you want. Let them keep their clothes on and 'll do whatever you want."

Aldumette slaps you across the face. "You'll do whatever I want either way." He turns to his henchmen. "On second thought, bring them. Let them watch what happens to those who dare humiliate me."