The Fool's Errand

Trickery and Treachery

Fjornholt, the Golden Kingdom, has long been ruled by King Thaddeus the Great and Queen Elisanna the Fair. A kingdom ruled by a soft hand, with some of the fairest maidens across the land. Though no maiden is fairer than the kings daughter, princess Sybille. Every lord in the land has tried to court her, yet she never seems interested in any of them. None of the lords know that there's only one man in the land who she wants to be with, but it could never happen, her father would never allow her to be with the court Jester. She was utterly in love with him. Marius had everything that she wanted. She wasn't concerned with societal status; she loved him for who he was. Little did she know, her personal Knight, Cadfael, was infatuated with her, and would do anything to keep Marius out of his way.

Cadfael walked towards the Princesses personal chambers. Three swift knocks to the door, and there Sybille was. "Good evening, Cadfael, is everything well?" The knight nodded his head yes. "I was coming to see you actually." She motioned for him to come in. Cadfael followed her into her chambers. The room itself was part of the castles South tower. With the walls made of stone bricks and mortar, and a window right behind her bed. The bed itself had a pink chiffon canopy fit for a princess. The starlight slightly illuminated the room, with the only other light source was the oil lamp on her wall. Sybille sat on the edge of her bed and looked up at Cadfael. Still wearing his suit of armor, all she could see were his steel blue eyes, fair skin, and thick, blonde, bushy eyebrows. He examined her, taking in her beauty. Her long, wavy, brown locks, her golden circlet, and her flowy, white dress. She could feel his eyes looking her up and down, taking in every inch.

Sybille was not particularly in love with Cadfael, and never would be, but he was the only option she had other than Marius. He was the safe option, of course what princess isn't in love with her personal knight. She did not want to be with him, but she gave into his desires. Maybe, just maybe, he could make her forget the fool, if she just gave him what he wanted. Cadfael kissed her hand goodbye, and left quietly from her chambers. Sybille couldn't help but sink into her bed and begin to sob. She took her circlet off, adorned with a teardrop shaped amethyst in the center, and threw it at the wall. It clinked to the ground as she buried her face into her pillow, still sobbing. Marius not so coincidentally happened by her bedroom door, hearing her muffled sobs. He knocked on the door gently. "Go away, Cadfael!!" She exclaimed between heaving breaths. "It's me, m'lady." Marius said softly. "O-oh Marius, c-come in", Sybille stuttered. Marius slowly opened the door, entering quietly. Sybille's eyes softened at his sight. Marius saw her circlet on the ground, picked it up, set it on her head, and she began to cry even more. Marius quickly sat next to her. He wanted to hug her, to comfort her. "M'lady.." his voice shook as he reached his hand toward her. She pulled him into a hug before he could finish, and sobbed into his chest. Marius was caught by surprise, his hands quickly falling to her back, pulling her into a tight embrace. He began to rub her back gently. "Who did this to you?" Sybille just shook her head.

Marius had no need to ask. He already knew. His anger began to rise, and he could feel his heart beating out of his chest. "I swear when I catch that knight, I'll-!" Sybille just cried louder. "N-no! N-no.. — Do not Marius, he'll.. he'll kill you.. you're.." Marius sighed. "I know. I'm just a fool." Sybille looked up at him, tears staining her face. "Do not say that, Marius." He wiped her tears from her pale cheeks. Her cheeks were red and puffy from her crying. She looked into his green eyes, and he looked into her brown eyes. She had never felt safer. She was utterly infatuated with him. His brown, tousled hair. His red and white jester outfit. She loved the way he looked in his red tights. "M'lady.." Sybille cut him off before he could continue. "You can call me Princess Sybille." Marius paused for a moment and thought about it. "Princess Sybille." He said with a slight smile. "I should probably get back to my bed, lest your father notices my absence." Sybille nodded in agreement. Marius rose from the bed and walked towards the door. "I'll see you at breakfast, Marius." He smiled back at her and nodded. "Yes you will, and I'll make sure to make a fool of that knight to your father." He said with a snicker. Sybille giggled a bit as Marius exited the chambers.

     The next morning, breakfast was going as usual. The King, Thaddeus, more entertained by the Jester than usual. Sybille was watching Marius closely, not noticing her blush. Cadfael watched over Sybille, just to protect her from harm, of course. He couldn't help but notice her cheeks flush. Of course, it couldn't be, he thought. There is no way she found that fool attractive. He has nothing. He is nothing but a commoner. Marius made some joke about the food being served and she couldn't help but burst into laughter. Cadfael's brow furrowed. His eyes shifted from the Princess to the fool. Marius looked him right in the eye before saying, "Sir Cadfael spends more time polishing his helmet than his wit. Looking at his armor, you can see why. There's nothing else shiny in his head." The whole court erupted into laughter. Cadfael was taken aback. How dare this measly little Jester mock him. Before he could respond, Marius started speaking again. "Sir Cadfael spends his nights searching for a fair maiden, when he should be spending his nights searching for some manners." Sybille was laughing harder than ever. Cadfael looked from the fool to the Princess, and then towards the King and Queen. "Relax Sir Cadfael, he merely jests!" The King said through his laughter.

     After breakfast was over, Marius was on his way towards his personal chambers when he was suddenly pulled into a corridor and pinned against the wall. Cadfael's cold armor grazed his skin. "You thought you could make a fool out of me this morning huh? You'll pay for that, fool." The Jester's eyes widened, looking down at his hand on his blade. "Relax Sir Force-A-Lot, you can consider this payback for the Princess." Cadfael's eyes widened. "I didn't force her to do anything!!!" He raised his voice. As another Knight walked past the corridor, Cadfael's grip on the Jester faltered, and Marius used the split second to duck under him and escape his grip. Cadfael grunted as he watched the fool run down the corridor and escape around the corner. He had to let him get away. For now.