Tis The Life of A Knight
Chapter 3
As night approached, black shadows appeared in every corner of Siegfried’s living quarters. It wasn’t large, located between the chapel and the courtyard, but it was enough for him and his small family. A heavy, square oak door led into a seating area. Two bedchambers were located side by side on the west side of the seating area. A thick, burgundy curtain – a gift from the baron Johannes – separated Siegfried and Bernadine’s chamber from that of Wilfred’s. The living quarter was granted to him by Johannes shortly after he and Bernadine were wed.
Siegfried loved lying in bed at night, his body pressed tight against Bernadine’s, kissing her, playing with her curls and making love to her while they listened to wolves howling in the distance. Their cries were so haunting, yet calming at the same time. There were times when they lulled Siegfried to sleep.
That night was just like any other. Bernadine had just joined Siegfried in bed after she finished tucking Wilfred into bed when there was an unexpected knock at the door.
Bernadine cast him a perplexed look. “Who could that be at this time?”
Siegfried kissed her forehead. “I guess we will find out, but I’m sure we will be just fine."
Siegfried made his way over to the door, guided by a golden light which emanated from the torch that he had taken from a wall sconce in their bedchamber. His eyes widened when he saw Johannes standing at his doorstep. The baron had come for short visits many times before, but never after nightfall.
“My lord, what brings you here at this time?”
“Might I take a seat?” Johannes asked.
“Of course, my lord. We were just preparing for bed, so I apologize for the darkness.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Siegfried ushered him over to the head of the table. He then walked over to the wall closest to the table and placed his torch in a wall sconce.
“His Eminence arrived here before sundown and we had a conversation,” Johannes said.
Siegfried cast him a blank look as he sat down in the chair beside his overlord. “You mean, your brother?”
“Yes.”
“And what was the conversation about?”
“Frederick's plan to subdue the errant Milanese in Lombardy and to reinforce his authority there. I am quite sure I have already mentioned that to you.”
Siegfried nodded. “Yes, you have. So, you came here to talk to me about Frederick’s campaign in Lombardy?”
“Yes.” Johannes leaned forward in his seat. “I want you to assemble the troops.”
Siegfried frowned. “Me? But you are the baron and I’m only your household knight.”
“But you are my best knight, Sir Siegfried,” Johannes insisted.
Siegfried chewed on his lower lip.
“Siegfried, I will lead the force as that is my duty, but I need a lieutenant.”
“So, you are asking me to be your lieutenant?”
“I am not asking you, Sir Siegfried. I am making you my lieutenant.”
Siegfried bowed his head slightly. “As you wish, my lord. When do you anticipate we will join up with Frederick's army?”
“Within a fortnight, if all should go as planned. Though I must first write to him and find out his whereabouts. I will do that at first light on the morrow. Then of course I will have to arrange for one of my cousins to govern this barony in my absence."
Siegfried looked over at his bedchamber and then shifted his gaze to that of Wilfred’s. He was slightly surprised that they didn’t join in on his conversation. Perhaps Bernadine felt awkward and Wilfred must have fallen fast asleep. After all, the boy was exhausted after a long day of swordplay.
“We were once away, fighting in the Holy Land,” he reminisced. “We left shortly after Wilfred was born. I’ll never forget the look on their faces when we returned and the surprise I felt when I saw Wilfred. How he had grown so much in my absence.”
Siegfried’s smile faded when he saw the wounded look on his overlord’s face. “I’m sorry, my lord. I didn’t mean to...”
“No, you didn’t say anything wrong, Sir Siegfried,” he replied. He then stood out of his seat. “I must take my leave now. The day was long and I am tired.”
The shortness in his tone of voice made Siegfried realize that his overlord had still not healed from the heart wrenching events that happened the day before they had departed for the Holy Land. Siegfried never experienced that kind of loss and he could not comprehend it, nor did he want to. Although, whenever the memory of that fateful day crossed his mind, his heart ached for Johannes and he prayed daily for Johannes to find happiness and peace of mind.
Siegfried walked him over to the door. “So, I shall gather the troops on the morrow?” He wanted to say more, to break the tension that had suddenly come between them, but he couldn’t find the right words to say.
“Yes. We will talk more tomorrow,” Johannes responded. “Meet me in the courtyard at nones. Meanwhile, I bid you goodnight.”
“And you as well, my lord.”
Two weeks later...
The early morning sky was a pale blue, showing promise of another cloudless day with warmer than normal temperatures, the seventh one in a row, not completely unusual for the end of September in the Moselle Valley. The pre-sunrise light filtered through the shutters, brightening Siegfried and Bernadine’s sleeping quarters. In the distance, a cock sounded its routine, high-pitched cry, signalling the beginning of a new work day, and the sound of men’s voices in the courtyard filtered through the stone walls of their humble abode.
While peasants and townsfolk rose to prepare for their daily tasks, Siegfried prepared to fight a war in another land.
He considered himself a man of war, but it had been five years since he returned from the Holy Land. He had gained recognition as a fierce and valiant knight during that expedition, but the Christian armies failed to accomplish what they had set out to do: recapture the County of Edessa, restore it to Christian rule, and capture the city of Damascus. Instead, and despite their strongest efforts, the Saracen armies had forced them into retreat. It was grievously humiliating for Siegfried and for every Christian man and woman for that matter. Though, Siegfried’s humiliation was quickly replaced by joy when he saw Bernadine and Wilfred. Since then, he had spent most of his time with them and partook in only a few tourneys.
Like any knight, the sword was his passion and the thought of a new war thrilled him to his soul. Yet, at the same time, Siegfried couldn't shake the anxiety that crept into his mind. He did not know when he would return or even if he would return. An unexpected lump formed at the bottom of his throat when he saw the heartbroken look on Bernadine’s face. He felt her fingers, so warm and tender, on his face.
“I wish you didn’t have to leave us,” she said.
He gently wiped the tears off her face. “I know, but I must. The Emperor needs our help.”
“You’re a brave knight, Siegfried. You came back home to us five years ago and… please do so again.”
Siegfried drew her close and kissed her deeply. “I love you, Bernadine, more than words can describe. Whatever happens, I know that you and Wilfred will be fine because you are a strong woman and you are in good hands here.”
A loud knock at the door startled him. “I must go now." Then he kissed her once more.
Not surprised, he was greeted by Raimond. He briefly watched the men in the courtyard, shouting orders at each other as they hustled to suit up their horses and themselves.
“The baron intends to leave at once,” Raimond said.
Siegfried nodded. “Yes, friend, but can I ...”
“Papa, take me with you,” Wilfred cried.
Siegfried sighed. “Raimond, can you saddle my horse for me? I need a moment with Wilfred.”
“Certainly,” he said, nodding at the young boy.
Siegfried brushed Wilfred’s thick, blond hair away from his face. “Wilfred, you are much too young to fight in battle and your mother needs you.”
“But I can fight, Papa! I’m strong enough.” Wilfred flexed his right arm.
Siegfried chuckled as he knelt down to embrace his son. “When you are older, you will fight alongside me in the Holy Land and you will carry on my legacy. But you are still a child. You must first grow, learn, and practice what I have taught you. Only then can you become the knight we both desire you to be.”
Wilfred’s lips trembled. “Yes, father.”
Siegfried ruffled his hair. “Great knights aren’t known only for how strong they are or how well they fight in battle. They are also courteous. They take care of their ladies and others who are unable to defend themselves. So, the first duty I require of you as a knight in training is to take care of your mother.”
Wilfred gave him a thin smile. “Yes I will, Father.”
Siegfried kissed his forehead. “That’s my boy.”
Bernadine appeared beside Wilfred and wrapped her arms around his small shoulders. Tears continued to flow from her eyes. Siegfried embraced them both. “You know that you married a knight and so this is the life of a knight. But do also know that you will see me again."