The Adventures of Tabby
an excerpt

From Chapter 3

Tabby followed the knight back to the castle. She was taken into a large room with tapestries plied high and trunks full of robes and garments.
She was greeted by a woman whose smile was as broad as her ample bosom. “Well let’s see, these should fit you.” Handing Tabby an armful of clothes. “Go change!” she said when Tabby just stood there. “the new ones boys are always shy, “ she laughed, “okay, you can go behind the tapestry hanging in the corner.”

Tabby was relived not to have to change in front of the maid. Not that she was inside the castle she was going to try to keep the masquerade going for as long as she could.

The tights, blouse and tunic were of the finest fabrics she had ever seen. Even thought they showed sings of were, but she the new pages, especially a commoner could not expect to be given new clothes. The tunic of rich red and gold was loose enough to hid her curves but the shoes and the girdle were for a much larger boy.

When she came out from behind the tapestry the maid looked her up and down. “I see you are a thin waif,” she observed not speaking to anyone in particular.” Let’s’ see if I have a smaller girdle and shoes” She began to search through a pile of leather goods. “ah, here we are, try these”
The girdle was still a bit loose but a new hole for the buckle could be punched. The shoes of soft green leather were a perfect fit.
“now off with you” she said shooing Tabby out he door and into a corridor.
“Now what” thought Tabby as she stood alone in the long dark corridor. As she stood she heard the sound of small feed coming toward her. Soon a small man in fine clothes was standing in front of her.

“I’ve found you,” she said as he stopped in front of her.

“Good evening sir.” She replied trying to sound as formal as she could.
“I’m impressed, “he continued, “the first words out of your mouth weren’t ‘are you a boy or a man?’”

“To ask that would be rude”

“Why say you that?”

“First you are obviously not a child, your walk , manner and the look in experience in your eyes tell me in spite of your physical stature you are a man. Second your clothes are that of a person of high standing not a child playing dress-up. Third, you were looking for me, the prince would not sent a child on such an errand. And finally I saw you with the Prince during the procession.” She smiled. “Though I am surprised the Prince didn’t send another page to fetch me.”

“I think I am going to like you,” his warm laughter filled the corridor. “In fact I will love you as a brother. You are right generally an older page would be sent to orientate a new page as to your place and duties. But you are to serve the prince directly so that means I have the pleasure of being your instructor. What are you called?”

“I am called Tabby.” She replied suddenly shy, “I am pleased to meet you Sir …”

“No ‘sir’!” he smiled “just Merrywood. You see in spite of my dress, in truth, I am a fool by trade.”

“A fool?”

“Yes a fool, who came to the household as a teen to entertain the prince when he was a toddler. He elevated me to friend and companion, though I still act the fool when it is called for.”

“My foster father once said that the wisest of men are fools and that the biggest fools are kings.”

“Was he a fool?”

“No, a miller.”

“Too bad,” he smiled again, “any way come with me and I’ll try to teach more wisdom than folly.”

With that she followed him down through a maze of corridors, halls and rooms to the Prince’s private quarters.

“The privy is down there, just follow your nose, you can’t miss it.” Merrywood said with a flourish of his hat as he entered the prince’s quarters.

From Chapter 9

The next morning rising before the sun they set out again – they hoped to reach the garrison before the sun was at its zenith. They had not ridden a hour when they were attached. The Duke’s men had been waiting for them as they approached the river ford. The battle was fierce and Tabby remembered her training well, protecting the unarmed Merrywood. Over the cacophony of battle noise she heard Peregrine cry out. She looked and saw him pinned against a tree with the enemy’s sword bearing down on him. She reached for her bow and aimed. It seemed an eternity as the arrow flew across the battlefield, but it found it’s mark in the enemy knight’s back in the one unprotected spot. She had saved her prince, with that she fainted and fell from her horse. When she awoke she found herself at the garrison being cared for by Merrywood.

“You did well my young page,” Merrywood smiled down on her. “You acted as bravely as any knight. Peregrine and I are very proud of you.”

She sat up and found her head swimming.

“You took quite a fall from your horse. It took me a bit of convincing to get Sorrel Moon to let me near you.”

“Where is Prince Peregrine?”

“He is with the knights doing his duty.”

“I should be with him.”

“No, you have done your duty and earned a rest. No lay back and I will bring you some soup.”

At the week’s end, the Duke’s knights had been beaten back across the border and the company was able to return to the castle. Many good men were lost in the fighting so their return brought great joy and great sorrow.

The king was eager to hear the report of how his son did in his first battle. He was proud that the prince had requited himself well. And he also heard of Tabby’s part in the fighting.

“It is a page’s duty to carry his knights weapons, but you have act more like a knight than a page. So from this day forward you are elevated to the title of squire and to begin your final preparations for knighthood.”

That evening Tabby sat under the apple tree enjoying the sent of the blossoms. She could not believe the events of the past few weeks. As she sat there she realized that it was not out of a since of duty she fought so hard to protect Merrywood and the Prince, but out of love.

The prince came in and bowed low to her, “greetings Squire Tabby!” he laughed. “It is good to be home again, is it not?”

“Yes, my lord prince.” She replied.

“Is that all I am to you? Your ‘lord prince’?” he asked sitting next to her.

“What would you have me say?”

“That you love me more that any one.” He said softly, “For that is how I feel about you.”

Tabby sat there silently, she did not know what to say. She began to stammer something but before she could she heard Merrywood say “You had better kiss her before she bolts.” And that was just what the prince did. At first is was a shy tentative kiss and when Tabby returned it deepened into a passionate kiss that told of the feelings they both shared but had not the words to say.

For the rest of the evening they sat there leaning against each other while Merrywood played his lute. All three of them were afraid what the next day would bring, would they be able to continue to keep the secret they shared or would their feelings lead to actions that would give them away?