Okay, some Mediaevalist specifications ere we begin, just in case some of the readers didn't know:

-A Duchy is the land ruled by a Duke; a Duke is the most important aristocrat in a Kingdom after a King and a Prince, so understandably a Duchy is very large.

-A joust is a contest between two knights where they basically rush at each other on horseback with lances and try to knock each other off the saddles.

-A Destrier is a kind of warhorse.

-The Catalans are a nation within modern Spain; in the Middle Ages, they were at the head of a large commercial/naval empire with possessions all across the Mediterranean, with its capital at Barcelona.

-The Plantagenets, to whom Yuki claims relation, were the Royal Dynasty that governed England during a very long part of the Middle Ages. The first Plantagenet is William the Conqueror, so named because he, well, conquered England. Other famous Plantagenets King Richard Lion-Hearted, King John the Landless -known for his role as the villain in Robin Hood- and Henry IV. Not the one with the wives, that was Henry VIII, Henry IV was the baddie in Joan of Arc. For those of you who are about King Arthur, no, he wasn't a Plantagenet, even if he did live in the Middle Ages, he reigned a very long time before them

-The Valois were a Royal Dynasty ruling France.

The sun was rising over Lord Akito's fiefs. Already, the dew spread on the golden fields by the rosy-fingered dawn was dry, and labourers and craftsmen were busying themselves in their respective employments. In that same vein, behind the massive stone walls of Castle Sohma, Lord Akito was busying himself in his own favourite employment: plotting. He was sitting at his breakfast table, in one of the smaller halls of his Castle. His breakfasts, as opposed to the sumptuous dinners he would organize with his court, were very frugal, and attendance to them was permitted only to his steward and his doctor.

All three of the company were in a quite heated discussion. Sir Hatsuharu had come back, and with very firm propositions.

"Then, Shigure," said Lord Akito irately "Do you propose we let him in?"

"Not at all, milord,' objected the steward "Not at all. I simply propose that you honourably accept Sir Hatsuharu's challenge."

"Accept his challenge?" said Lord Akito "Do I look like an idiot? He came to the gates or our castle, demanding that we hold a joust with my Prince Yuki as the prize… A joust, imagine that! I could have him shot, and that would be the end of it!"
"Well, yes..." said Shigure "I suppose you could, but he's on horseback in full armour outside the gates and would probably get away before any of our arrows actually got through him… But that's beside the point."

"And the point would be?" asked Lord Akito.

"Your image, milord…" said Shigure.

"What? Are the peasants going to revolt only because I had this impudent rascal shot?"

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that… But they would admire you much more if you fought a famed knight, even if unsuccessfully, than if you tried to kill him dishonourably. And admiration of his people is paramount for a ruler."

"Then you suggest I actually go into a contest with this buffoon?"

"I do… Milord, you are a fine warrior, there's no need in taking the very damaging and probably useless precaution of not fighting!"

Here Lord Akito opened his mouth to retort; twice. But he could really find no satisfactory answer.

Then, suddenly, he was overtaken with anger.

"Yuki's mine!" he cried "Mine, do you hear? I took him prisoner and made him mine when we routed the House of Plantagenet at Orleans alongside the Valois… And I'm never letting him go!"

Shigure looked down. Obviously, he'd gone a bit too far in advising. After some though, he retorted, but this time, he calculated his tone of his answer to be the humblest and most pleasant possible.

"And very fairly you did win him…" he said "And I confide that you can easily win him again. And… well, if worst come to worst, you can always claim Sir Hatsuharu cheated and have him shot after the joust…"
Lord Akito's temper somewhat calmed.

"Yes…" he said, reflecting "Yes, I suppose I could…"

"You most certainly could," said Shigure.

"Very well, then," said Lord Akito "I will accept his challenge. After all, it's not like I can take him down!"

"That's the spirit, milord," said Shigure "Shall I commence the preparations for the festivities after breakfast?"

"You most certainly shall…" said Akito "And send a pageboy to inform Sir Hatsuharu that his challenge was been accepted. As for you, Doctor Hatori, go fetch me some of that excellent Grecian unguent you have, I heard it works wonders for one's strength."

And the trio finished the little food on the table with much more mirth than they had thitherto had been eating with -though everything is relative, this is Lord Akito, his doctor and his steward we're talking about, the reader shouldn't go around imagining it was the Venetian Carnival-, and then they went out to prepare for afternoon, for that afternoon the Sir Hatsuharu would fight Lord Akito for the hand of Prince Yuki.

Shigure was very satisfied with his advising.

Yet in the hallway, beyond Lord Akito's hearing range, Doctor Hatori, who hadn't spoken during the whole meal, stopped Shigure, and very sternly asked him:

"Do you really believe what you told Lord Akito?"

Shigure blinked at him:

"I believe it would be best if he followed my advice…"

"You're just trying to save Sir Hatsuharu's hide and get him to free Prince Yuki," retorted Hatori "All you want is for this to work out like some sort of romantic knight-in-shining-armour story!"

Shigure, discovered, was at a loss for a moment. But he soon composed himself, and responded in his trademark easygoing fashion.

"Well, what can I say?" he said with a smile "This is mediaeval Europe… If we don't stand up for Chivalry and romanticism, who will?"

And then, they both went off to their business, because Lord Akito would notice if they tarried any longer.

***

That afternoon, everyone who was someone, as well as a good deal of nobodies, was present at the joust. Around the fenced field where the tournament was to take place the plebe was standing on the lush green lawn, while wooden stands of seats had been prepared for Lord Akito's courtiers and other persons of category. The sun shone brilliantly at its zenith, and the banners of Castle Sohma fluttered in the fresh spring breeze.

Yet they did not flutter as much as the heart of one Prince Yuki, who, seated on stands in the seat of honour between the Steward and the Doctor dressed in the finest silk and velvet, awaited with both fear and anticipation the arrival of his lover, but also that of his tyrant.

Shigure saw that he was very uneasy.

"Very nice weather for a joust, don't you think, your Highness?" he asked casually "Beautiful sun!"

"Yes," said Yuki, distractedly "Yes, it is…"

He was obviously not in the mood for casual conversation.

Shigure, for his part, detested, despite his canine connections, playing the role of the indifferent cynic, and only did it to make the Prince more indifferent.

"But see," said he continued, equally jovial "Lord Akito comes!"

Yuki did not answer.

But indeed, marching and the clip-clop of horse hooves were heard coming from the south. And soon enough, a detachment of fully armoured halberdiers placed themselves at the entrance of the field and trumpets brayed as a herald announced:

"Lord Akito of Castle Sohma!"

And in he rode, duly applauded by the crowd, and he was a fearsome sight indeed; in his court he may have been stately, but now he was the fearsome, vicious warrior that had trounced his foes and increased his dominion tenfold. He rode a massive destrier, and was covered from head to toe in shining golden armour. In one hand, he carried a long, steel lance, and in the other a silver shield with his coat of arms, a fierce black dragon. He wore an impressively plumed helmet, and at his side hung a great broadsword that had been many times bathed in blood.

Prince Yuki, on seeing him, shuddered and feared that today that sword would be bathed in the blood of Sir Hatsuharu.

Then, the Herald spoke again:

"Sir Hatsharu, the Black Knight!"

This time there was full silence. But not in the least bit affected Sir Hatsuharu came forth from in face of whence Lord Akito had entered. Calm and indifferent to the crowd's indifference he rode onto the field on his white and noble steed. Yet this time, he was not the courtly cavalier dressed in white cloth; this time was armed to the teeth, covered in pitch black iron. On his face, the only part of his body left visible by the armour, he wore a terrifying, almost vicious smile, very far from any expression he'd worn thitherto, and all his shape exuded hatred. The change was chilling; he had, as it were, turned black.

The two knights took their positions and readied for the joust, Prince Yuki dared not speak.

"Sir Hatsharu!" shouted Lord Akito spitefully "You're here!"

Hatsuharu smirked.

"I challenged you," said Sir Hatsuharu "I'd be quite a fool if I weren't."

"Yes… I suppose you would be."

"You, on the other hand will be wishing you didn't come."

"That we shall see," said Lord Akito. T

Then he turned around at Yuki, and shouted in his usual, smirking voice:

"Prince Yuki! Your Highness is by far the noblest guest in the present company; there's royal blood in your veins. Would you please do the honours of commencing the joust?"

Prince Yuki tried to answer, but couldn't bring himself to move his lips, and so he only nodded; Shigure nudged him, and uneasily he got up.

And producing a handkerchief sewn from the finest Flanders lace, the Prince extended his trembling hand readied himself to let it fall. It was traditional, the joust would start when it touched the ground; the Prince's heart was about to burst.

Then, Sir Hatshuaru spoke again. But this time, he addressed the prized Prince in his fierce, black voice. This was the first time he spoke to him directly since he'd come, and it was almost too much for Yuki to bear.

"My Prince!" shouted the knight "My Prince, today I will shed blood in your name… pray to God it isn't mine!"

A murmur arose amongst the crown. Yuki couldn't bear it.

"Silence!" cried Lord Akito "Silence! Let us get it over with!"

Prince Yuki's mouth was trembling; he wanted to speak once again, he wanted to finally say something, but he was terrified. Yet then, Shigure turned to him. And, very softly, so only the he would hear it, he whispered.

"Go for it, your Highness…"

And Yuki took courage; and all the bottled up love and hope and despair of half a decade of captivity bursting out, he shouted, on the verge of tears.

"I love you, Hatsuharu!"

The crowd was dumbstruck. He'd said it! Prince Yuki had said it! Sir Hatsuharu's heart was flooded with joy.

But simultaneously, to this outburst, Lord Akito's calm demeanour broke down, and he flew into a rage.

"Silence!" he shouted, out of his mind "Silence! I'll kill both of you!"

Then, he lowered his lance, and so did Sir Hatsuharu. And Prince Yuki let the handkerchief fall to the ground. And as it fell, Sir Hatshuaru cried:

"I love you too, my Prince!"

Then, both riders charged.

The horse hooves thundered on the grass; the crowd was in awe; the plumes and cloths of their clothes fluttered in the wind, and their lances flashed in the brilliant sunlight as they charged at each other, until finally they clashed with a tremendous crash, one's lance hitting the other's shield.

And, with a triumphant cry from Sir Hatsuharu, Lord Akito fell to the ground.

The black knight had won!

The crowd of commoners was impressed; the crowd of courtiers were flabbergasted. The Prince's heart jumped with joy, while Sir Hatsuharu went to the seats to claim his treasured prize, as Lord Akito looked on, helpless on the ground, rage and hatred consuming him on the inside.

But he was not quite as helpless as he seemed; for as both the Steward and the Doctor very well expected, he shouted:

"Treachery!"

Then a very many things happened in a very short time span. First of all, the halberdiers, who had been poised waiting for this to happen, began to close the exits. Sir Hatshuaru, upon seeing this, started to prepare for a second battle while drawing closer othe the Prince. Said Prince who'd just gotten up, almost froze when he realized what was going on. But the Sir Hatsuharu thought of something, and turning his head around and looking Yuki in the eye, he laconically almost ordered him:

"Jump onto my horse, you idiot!"

And before the guard, and the court, and the vassals and even the Doctor –who was right next to him, and who though he appreciated him did so only within reasonable boundaries- could do anything, Prince Yuki jumped onto the saddle of Sir Hatsuharu's horse, and Sir Hatsuharu rode away without even giving the guards the time to close ranks.

***

The sun had almost set. In the west the sky was a blazing, beautiful red, whilst in the east the stars were visible and the silvery moon had already begun her ascension. And both celestial orbs shone upon all the Earth, and even across the foothills of a mountain, the very first to the South of Lord Akito's land, whence Castle Sohma was only a speck on the horizon. On those foothills grew a luxuriant green forest, and in this forest, there was a idyllic clearing, with a calm pristine, sparkling pond in its centre. And right next to the lake, in perfect bliss amongst the pleasant shade cast by the ancient trees upon the grass were Sir Hatsuharu and Prince Yuki.

With bushes as their bedcovers and mossy rocks as their pillows, the two lovers lay completely naked on the humid forest ground, their beautiful bodies intertwined in a loving embrace.

"I always knew you'd come…" whispered Prince Yuki, his head rested on the gallant knight's muscular chest.

And Sir Hatsuharu, passing his hand through the Prince's hair answered:

"I always knew I'd find you… Never once in the five years that I was searching did I stop thinking about you."

"Never once in my five years of captivity did I stop thinking about you," retorted the Prince.

Everything was silent save for the chirping of birds, the breeze rustling through the trees, and the flow of the water from a stream pristine pure lake in its centre. The two lovers could heartheir adoring heart's beating. Prince Yuki kissed Sir Hatsuharu on the mouth, and Sir Hatsuharu lazily kissed him back, while they both remembered their past woes and joyfully contrasted them with their present joys. Oh how sweet it is to think of the storm when one is safe in port!

"And…" Prince Yuki asked then "Where are we going now, Sir Knight?"

"Oh, I don't know, your Highness…" said Sir Hatsuharu, smiling "We'll head across the mountains for Barcelona… there's sure to be a ship to take us home there, they have a really big port!"

"I know they have a port in Barcelona..." said Yuki; and then he added slyly "Though I doubt any of the Catalans' ships are nearly as big as some of your attributes…"

"I don't think they are," said Sir Hatsuharu, playing along "But we'll have to take them… anyhow, we'll sail home, and I'll probably be taking you back to your family after that... eventually. The prize for bringing you back must be, like, a Duchy!"

"You'd let me go only for a simple Duchy?" exclaimed Prince Yuki, in mock indignation.

"Well…" said Sir Hatsuharu "I suppose we can take some detours…"

"Or we could postpone the trip a tad," said Prince Yuki.

"Yes," said Sir Hatsuharu "Postponing sounds good

And then they kissed again. This time passionately and lovingly, and with tongue, too!

"I love you, Prince Yuki."

"I love you too, Sir Hatsuharu."

And then, they made love. And everyone lived happily ever after.

The author very sorry if it sounds cliché, but they did! And not only the main characters, but also Shigure and Hatori, none of whose collaboration or non-opposition to the escape of Prince Yuki was noticed, and even Lord Akito, who eventually got over losing his trophy.

Though it must be stated them lived quite as happily as Prince Yuki and Sir Hatsuharu.

"For," as the song goes "Here is love, and here is truth, and here is food for joyous laughter!"

That verse is from the song right after "Ah, leave me not to pine" in Pirates of Penzance. My faithful readers, that is all there is to say about the loving couple. Thank you for sticking through, and I hope you liked the story.

Sincerely

MCD