The Knight's Duty

She Declined

Knight Noah Puckerman was not expecting … this … when he volunteered for this mission. Sure he expected an army with sharp swords, catapults and blood running in stream. He was even prepared for an injury here and there, maybe a knife in his stomach or a broken leg. Even a dragon would be more believable – even if he never actually saw one…

But an isolated tower?

Covered in ivy?

In the middle of a huge forest?

With a princess in it?

''By the many teeth of Blargo the Devourer…'' mumbled his fellow knight Michael.

Noah glanced at him, but looked back to the front right away. There it was again. The huge and tall tower, made of stone. It was covered with lush ivy from head to toe and bright red flowers were blooming in between the ivy. The tower was round with a small coniform roof. There was a huge closed window right under the roof.

If there was a door, Noah could not see, because the forest in front of him covered the whole view. And the forest was huge. Meaning; not just wide, but it had trees that almost reached the sky! And if the trees could do that and the army was still able to see the tower…

How tall was that thing?

''What the hell…'' the brave knight mumbled and took off his heavy steel helmet. His short brown hair seemed even lighter in the sun and his green eyes brighter. He looked around again, noticing the confusing expressions on the faces of his soldiers.

''You know…'' started Michael again; pulling his helmet off and sighing in despair. His black Asian hair was long and braided – even the most beautiful girl in the world would be envious of his hair.

''I didn't actually believe when they told me it was a … tower…''

Knight Noah snorted at his friend and measured with his eyes the distance between the tower and the twenty people behind him.

''That makes two of us…''

They both looked at the army behind them and gave their horses a gentle kick. The two animals wheezed and slowly started walking again.

''Let's go on, men!'' Michael screamed back and soon the other men were following. They made their way through the bright green and fully bloomed forest, overstepping big roots, dodging low branches and throwing stones that they brought with them at some squirrels that jumped on them a few times.

It was not dark in the forest. It was actually quite bright. The tall trees that made the men look up in awe while riding their animals, allowed the sunlight to break through at different angles. One could see everything. And Noah Puckerman was not sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

He never thought that he and his men would actually have to worry about animals in a forest.

He actually never thought that he and his men will ever go through a forest and have animals as their only worry. He was used to long and bloody fights; swords making holes through bodies and axes cutting heads. He was used to screams and pleads and crying; death was his steady follower, but never quite reaching him.

He was often injured. His body had scars all over, and he was proud to show them off whenever he had the chance to. He was a knight. And knights were brave and strong and adventurous.

So why in the god's name was his army walking through the forest just for the purpose of getting a princess for his prince? A princess that was supposedly locked in a tower!

''This must be a joke…'' he mumbled and made Michael look at him.

''What? The princes part or the tower part?'' he asked in amusement, while watching his friend curse under his breath.

''Are we in some kind of an epic poem? Because this resembles more a fairy tale story than anything else.''

''Don't ask me. I knew that Prince Finn's mind went down the hell when he started talking about cursed forests and evil witches…''

They both snorted and let the silence take over. The forest was lively with all the noise the animals made; there were some birds shipping; some reindeers running around as there was no care in the world; there were even some boars digging food out of the earth.

It was warm and sunny day. The wind was gently blowing and warmly caressing the men's cheeks, making some of them take a deep breath and enjoy the sweetness that was a complete contrast of the smelly town under the castle they came from.

The ground their horses were walking on was covered in soft moss, green and lush as it could be. There was fern everywhere, some young trees and big mushrooms. It was a perfect fairy-tale place.

Knight Noah was deep in thoughts. He observed the place around him.

As far as he could see, the tower was not in the middle of the forest; there was a clearing further in the forest, where the tower must stand. There were also some huge trees around the tower that hid the lower part of the tower; they must have been planted as a way for defence wall.

Soon the men came quite near the clearing, but it was still not that close. There was a small brook murmuring on their right. The water was pure and clear, like a crystal and it was most probably very good. The men should take a break and drink.

He was about to call a stop, when he heard a voice. He stopped his horse and made a sign with his arm for his men to stop too. The horses stopped, their ears twitching while trying to locate the direction of the sound. The men did the same.

They did not move. They listened.

Lalalalala…

They listened more careful and their eyes looked around for any kinds of movements.

Mhmh… …lalamhlaaaa!

Noah and Michael blinked at each other. So did the other men.

And at last I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted

There was a girl dancing … in the nearby brook. She smiled, while her long brown hair was dancing with the wind. She sighed softly and watched the birds fly over her head. She giggled then, took a deep breath and started again.

And at last I see the light
And it's like the sky is new

Noah scratched the behind of his head chuckled under his breath. The female did not seem as if she noticed them yet. She looked pretty engrossed into her … performance. It was quite interesting for him to witness such a carefree behaviour. That did not happen too often when he and his men were near.

''Ahem…'' he cleared his throat and made the girl in the … brook jump in surprise. Her eyes widened and she gasped dramatically. Everyone froze for a moment. They watched each other, waiting for what will happen next.

The petit girl with big eyes observed them in curiosity, looking them up and down, catching each thing they were wearing and each expression they had on their faces. She pulled her dress, which she has been holding up to her knees so that it would not get wet, a bit higher and climbed out of the water. Her bare feet touched the soft moss and she wiped them on it.

She let her simple flaxen creamy dress down, so that it covered her toned legs again and smiled at the group of soldiers in front of her.

''Um… Hello.'' She started shyly and put a curl of her hair behind her ear. Noah was not the only one who had to slightly move in his seat.

''Hello. We are under the order to search for a princes, trapped in that tower over there.'' Knight Noah told her with his deep voice full of authority, nodding his head one time towards the tower somewhere behind the girl.

The girl just blinked in confusion and turned her head towards the tower and then back at him.

''I don't understand.''

''We are trying to find the girl that is supposed to live there. I demand you tell me how to find her.'' He told her impatiently, glancing towards the tower and back at the girl who just looked at him as if he was speaking Chinese. And yes, he knew some words in Chinese because the Chinese trade was the most expensive and most wanted by the king and his son.

And his friend Michael here was a Chinese…

''Oh, yes, and why would that be?'' she continued with a small smile, walking towards the group, her petit feet lost in the moss. She really was quite pretty. Her huge brown eyes were curiously observing the knights as if they were something she has never seen in real life. Her hands were traveling from her curls, which she combed with her fingers, to her dress that she clutched or dusted off dirt.

''It's the prince's order.'' He retorted annoyance. Why in the world did this woman have to complicate things? He really just wanted to get this over with and get home.

''You haven't answered my question.'' She replied not at all alarmed that she had the king's army in front of her. If what, she seemed quite annoyed herself.

''It's none of your business, lady.'' Knight Noah lost his patience.

''I think it is if you are asking me questions.'' So did the woman.

''I will have to use violence if you don't answer.''

''Then you certainly won't get an answer.''

''You'll break under the pressure.''

''I'm pretty sure I won't.''

''Can someone get her, please?''

''You wouldn't harm a girl, would you? And if you do, you certainly won't be able to ask for directions another person. Why are you doing this again?''

''It's the king's order.''

''Are you knights always excusing your actions behind the king's order?'' was her daring questions while her eyes looked at him in accusation and slight irritation.

''Show some respect woman!'' Noah finally had enough and became angry.

''I'm sorry. You are on my land. And you are asking me for direction. So firstly, it is you who have to show some respect to me!'' But she seemed even angrier.

''Do you know who we are?''

''Do I? There was no introduction. All I can see is a bunch of men on horses asking me questions, being extremely rude and demanding that I show respect towards someone I don't even know.''

All the men glanced at each other, half irritated, half amused. Michael watched his friend struggle with his anger and blushing face. On the one hand Noah would be happy to just cut the woman's head, but on the other hand, there was no other person in sight who could give them some more information. Michael chuckled by himself when he noticed his friend's eyes wander up and down the girls body.

''We are the king's army. We are defending this land by fighting enemies and killing them. Be at least grateful.'' Noah told the brunette again, having no better arguments.

''Oh, how silly of me. I didn't know you were defending my land. That's because you have never been here! This forest is too horror stirring for all your enemies to even try and go through it!'' the girl finally exclaimed and stamped her food.

That was the finally thing that made some of the men snort and laugh as silently as possible. They did not want the female's anger on them!

Even knight Noah was not able to contain his amusement anymore. He just watched the girl pace from left to right, then stop and show an accusing finger towards him.

''There was no need to defend this place, ever! So why in the world should I be grateful for something that had nothing to do with me, nor did it help me?'' she threw her arms in the air and growled under her breath.

''We deserve your respect because we still killed everyone that might have come and destroy this little place of yours! We are all honourable people!'' Noah kept going, already completely amused at the girl in front of him.

''Oh yes yes. You are. I'm too. I also killed all the chickens who I wanted to eat. So why am I not awarded for my work? At least I did it for food. You on the other hand for the king's pleasure!''

The men finally laughed out loud. Even Michael clenched his stomach and wiped a tear from his eye. Noah had a hard time to not laugh. He wanted to keep going.

''The king's orders are not to be questioned!''

''Of course they are not! You people just do what he says without really knowing if it's right or not! Oh, long live the wise king!''

''Woman! That's enough!'' he told her, trying to calm her down with authority.

''I agree! You should stop screaming at me and get your behaviour together as a knight! Were you even schooled?''

That made him annoyed again. And his men were laughing again. She seemed amused too.

''Are you questioning my position?''

''No, I simply question your manners! Did your position make you forget how to behave around people?''

''I think my behaviour has nothing to do with you.''

''Oh, but I think it does. You are talking to me right now and I'm a target of your insults. So tell me, your knightness, why would your behaviour have nothing to do with me?''

''Oh, for Christ's sake! Could you just answer the question?''

''What question?''

''The first one!''

''You didn't ask me anything!''

''I asked you to tell us where the tower lady is held captive!''

''No, you demanded it! That was not a question!''

''Just tell me where the hell she is?'' he finally exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air, asking the sky what in the world has he done wrong to deserve such an obstacle. When he glanced back at the petit woman in front of him, he noticed her small smirk, which she tried to hide behind the back of her hand.

''Lady…'' he told her threateningly, but his smirk was already all over his face.

The young girl finally laughed out loud, her voice clear and girly, and made Noah and his men chuckle lightly.

''Alright. I apologize. It's not often that someone comes here. I just had to take the opportunity to chat.'' She explained while wiping her laughing tears away, stepping a little closer.

''Chat…''

''Oh yes. You can't imagine how lonely it can be here.'' She told him with her big shinny eyes.

''You mean you live here alone?'' Oh, he was getting there…

''Do you see anybody else?''

''But the trapped princess…''

''Has never been trapped and was not even a princess.''

His men were all looking at her as if she was the most interesting girl they have ever seen – Noah noticed. And which; if he was honest, she kind of was.

''So you're the girl living in that tower?''

''That would be me, yes.'' She nodded her head, crossed her arms and offered a small smile.

''The prince wants to merry you. We are here to bring you to the castle.'' Knight Noah told her formally and was mentally preparing himself for the girl's happy-mental-break-down.

Which did not come.

''I decline, but thank you.''

There was a long stunned silence for good five minutes.

''Pardon?'' Did he mishear her answer?

''Pardon, what?'' she looked at him in confusion.

''You decline?'' was his stunned question.

''Yes, I decline? Was I not understandable?''

''You are declining prince Finn Hudson's proposal?''

''Yes, I decline.''

The small army of men blinked at her.

''Um… Why?'' It was Michael's turn to get a word.

''Why what?''

''Why do you decline?''

''What do you mean why? I don't know this man! You men just show up one day and ask me to marry some guy I have never seen and then you ask me why?'' she told them irritated.

''…But… He's the prince!'' exclaimed one of the men from behind.

''And I'm not a princess. Nor am I a person who marries the first man who asks.''

''You have never been proposed to?'' Noah quickly spoke up. She has never been proposed to? That could not be. She looked like a girl in the right age for marriage. She could not have more than twenty years.

''Do I look like I have much company here?''

''Well…'' Alright… That could be a problem…

''As I said. I decline your offer. I have to apologize, but I have to be somewhere now. It was nice to meet you. Have a nice day.'' And off she was. Gone. Somewhere in the forest.

The men were looking after her, admiring the nice view her body gave them before she disappeared, not really knowing what actually happened.

''What… was that?'' asked Michael in confusion and looked at knight Noah.

He blinked at his friend, still trying to make his brain understand what he heard and saw: ''She declined…''