The days went by, and not a single happening went on in the fair Netherlandic kingdom. The peace was unexpected, as the fear was present that the moors would be storming the walls of Vermandois any day now. It was reassuring to the populace, but slightly unsettling to the former King, who had abdicated himself of his civil duties to fight the Muslim invaders. Alyse, however, couldn't be happier, as she was better able to acquaint herself with the business of ruling a realm without the pressure of a fearful peasant body and the logistical nightmare that is transportation around the deltas.
It was during this period that Leonijdes became particularly bored, himself a career soldier, and damned good at what he does to the point that he can do nothing else. He was not interested in the hunt, nor was he interested in the arts or the sciences. Eventually, he got to the drinking, and with the drinking came the problems.
"Leo! God's sake, where have you been all night!?" shouted Alyse, in her frustration with her all too often absent husband.
"I'm... I'm sho shorry, kitten, I loff youuu..." said Leonijdes, drunk and stumbling. He had been gone all night, most likely in an alepit with cronies and girls.
"Get off the floor, you bastard! You'll sober up well at the flogging post!"
"I shaid I wush shorry, kit-"
"No, Leo, not this time. I don't even want to look at you until you quit your indulging in ale and street wenches. Get out!"
"But kitten, I-"
"OUT!!!" Leonijdes stumbled out of the bedchambre, knocking over a table stacked high with books, and darted out of sight. Alyse sat down upon her bed and looked down at the floor. She was uncomfortably warm, her skin blotched red. It only upset her more when she felt the tears on her cheeks, and, with an enraged scream, she threw one of the books that had been on the table into a mirror. Her hands were trembling, her breathing was shallow and irregular.
"Calm yourself, child" a voice said from the door. "You harm none but yourself that way." The imposing figure of her father stood in the doorway, blocking the morning's light from the east. His visage showed concern, hidden somewhat by his normal, blank expression. "What seems to be the matter, child?"
"I know you well enough to know that you have been standing there, father." said Alyse, holding back the tears that would inevitably flow in time.
"I followed him back here this morning. Seems my assumptions were right?" said Coenraad, raising an eyebrow.
Alyse sat down once more, struggling to hold the emotions back behind her ever collapsing wall of self control. "He makes promises, says he'll change. The next morning, he's here, drunk as a Bavarian girl, and most likely with a Bavarian girl all night, and making the same promise as before, again and again." She turned away, hiding the tears that had finally broken through. "It just isn't right! Is this your god's will after all?" She couldn't hide the heaving sobs in her voice now. "Damn him!"
"The boy is a career soldier, as am I. We are all unsteady in this undesired peace. Some of us have a weaker constitution, and there are those that fall through. Maybe he will change, maybe he will not. We must take what we are given, and with what we are given we must best serve God. That is God's will."
"Don't you preach to me, father! Don't you try to make it any different than what it really is!"
"Very well, I shall speak no more of it." said Coenraad, stroking his beard. "But, if ever you do wish to speak, I am always near. All you must do is send for me."
Once more, Alyse was alone...
JUNE 26th, 1107
"I suppose you'll be going, then?" asked Alyse, with a look in her eyes that wished for otherwise.
"Actually" said Leonijdes, looking straight into her eyes, "I've decided I'm not going to be going out for the evening."
Alyse's eyes lit up immediately, and she sprang forward. "Really?"
Leonijdes smiled and said, "Yes, rea-" He was cut off as Alyse sprang upon him, knocking him over onto the bed, her lips on his.
"I love you!" she shouted, holding tightly onto him.
"Alyse" he said, looking into her eyes "I'm sorry, for all I've done."
"Call me...
kitten" Alyse replied, smiling.
NOVEMBER 9th, 1107
The envoy rode with all his speed through the lands, bringing grave news to all. "Saracens! Saracens!" he shouted, approaching the manor. "I bring news for the Queen! I beseech you, broeder, open the gate!" the envoy shouted at the guards, who obliged unquestioningly. The heavy iron gate was drawn upwards and away, opening the passage through the palisade and into the inner manor.
He dismounted, where Coenraad and Leonijdes stood, talking, outside the manor door. "A message for the Queen! Are one of you fine fellows, by any chance, Leonijdes Yorks?"
Leonijdes stepped forth, and said, "That is I. What message have you, envoy?"
The envoy brought up a scroll from his bag, and read; "To the most noble Queen Alice de Holland et le Belgique: The city of Reims has been surrendered to the Moorish menace. As Holland has been an ally of our noble Kingdom of France, we wish to inform you that they are at your doorstep. Signature of: Hughes, Roi Français"
At once, Leonijdes sprang through the partially open door, up the stairs, and towards the bedchambre. He rammed the door full force, but it resisted, knocking him back as it swung open.
"Goodness, what is it?" shouted Alyse, startled.
"Saracens" replied Leonijdes...
