The Lion and The Lark: Chap 1

You gulped as you slowly followed your father. Today was the day; you were finally going to the Queen's Court with your father. Your father paused before entering the hall the Queen and her Nobles were in. You halted and gulped nervously.

"Father?" you squeaked.

Was he having second thoughts?

Sir Nicholas yourlastname, Knight of Queen Elizabeth's Court, turned and looked at you. He was a big man, your father. Some of the other knights and nobles of his rank called him "Sir Bear". His crisp, icy blue eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled at you. He ran a huge, paw-like hand through his dark brown hair.

"__________, do you know why I'm bringing you here today?" he asked.

You looked around. You and your father were the only ones in the corridor. "Father, is this the right time to be asking this?" you asked.

He chuckled and said, "Answer my question, dear."

You smoothed out the skirts to your satin dress. "Exposing me to the court, perhaps?" you said tentatively.

You honestly had no clue why your father wanted to bring you to the Queen's Court.

He chuckled again. You loved your father's laugh. It had a deep, chesty, ring that made you smile.

"That, dear, and your future husband is in there."

You looked up at him in surprise. Future husband?  "Really? Who?!" you asked.

He shook his head with a smile. You sighed. You knew you wouldn't get anything out of him now. Your father had not married you off right away as soon as you were old enough to marry. Many disapproved of this and he never told anyone his reasons. Now, you were a few years older than a normal single maiden and he was telling you that he finally found you a husband. You gulped. He always promised to get a man I deserve, you thought.

You brushed the thought away. Everyone knew that marriage was for politics, not feelings. Your heart clenched at the thought. You always wanted what your father and mother had before your mother died.

They really loved each other.

He turned back toward the door. You gulped and followed as servants opened the door for your father. He nodded and walked into the court briskly. You struggled to keep up. Light, fluttery music played and many nobles and other high ranking people were dancing away. You scanned over the men you could see.

Who did your father pick?

Nicholas beckoned you to him. You quickly stood at his left hand side. "Dear, don't go looking for him. Just do as you were taught." he said with a reassuring smile.

You smiled back. You would just have to trust your father's word. Couples spun around as a cheery Volta played. You grinned. This dance was one of your favorites. Your father introduced you to another knight and his wife, Sir Geoffrey Kirkland and his wife, Rebecka. You smiled. You have met your father's friends before. Soon, you found yourself alone with Lady Kirkland.

You clasped your hands in front of you and tried to not act nervous. You looked at her out of the corner of your eye. She was beautiful. She had pale, long blonde hair and sparking green eyes. She looked like a faerie from the stories your mother used to read to you. She looked at you out of the corner of her eye and she smiled a knowing smile.

"You get used to it Miss _______." she said kindly, seeing your discomfort.

You curtsied before saying, "I hope so."

She smiled and someone else got her attention. You took that moment to basically scurry away. You looked around for a familiar face. You soon found one. You smiled when you saw Constance, your friend. She waved you over and you hurried as fast as you could.

"________! Finally, a friendly face!" she said, laughing.

Constance, unlike you, has been to many of the Queen's banquets. You looped your arm through hers and you both started to walk around the outside of the court.

"Where's your husband?" you asked, looking around for the said man.

Constance waved a hand in exasperation.

"Henry is probably near the ale. Too bad I love him too much to be overly angry with him." she said with a smile.

You envied your friend. She was married to a Duke and they fell in love after the marriage, while you were almost a spinster.

"So, what made Sir Nicholas finally bring you here?" she asked.

"I'm supposed to meet my future husband."

"Good Lord, your father finally found a match?"

You nodded and looked at the faces of the men nearby. You started to fidget. Constance noticed this and she clasped a hand over yours.

"Your father is a smart man. He probably found you a handsome Lord." she said with a giggle.

You laughed with no humor. You really didn't want to get married. "Yes! He probably found you a rich, handsome young Lord that would dote on you for eternity and write sonnets in your name and he would win tournaments just for you!"

You curled your lip at her jest and kept looking around the room. That would never happen. No man was like that.

Your gaze fell on a certain person. You could barely see Elizabeth herself over the heads of all of the Nobles. You felt your mouth go slack in awe. The Queen wasn't as beautiful as the poets say, but she had an air that demanded respect. You quickly shut your mouth. You couldn't let anyone see you acting like that. You looked around. Nobody but Constance noticed and she just laughed with a knowing smile.

"Excuse me." a soft voice said.

You looked at the owner of the voice and you heard Constance suck in a breath in surprise.

You couldn't breathe.

The voice belonged to the young man standing in front of you. He had pale, shaggy blonde hair that barely fell into his eyes. His eyes reminded you of fresh leaves in spring. He bowed politely and said, "May I have the honor of this Volta, Mistress ______?"

Constance had to nudge you forward and you accepted the young man's hand. He grinned at you and led you out on the floor. Many other couples were already out there. You gulped. Your heart was racing and your knees felt like they were made of jam.

He held up your hand and said, "I'm Master Kirkland, by the way."

Then the dance began. You barely had time to get over your surprise. Lord and Lady Kirkland's son? Dancing with you?! He was an expert and he lifted you with ease. You soon found yourself relaxing and enjoying yourself. You found yourself be disappointed when the Volta ended. You curtsied to the future Lord Kirkland and moved to walk back to Constance.

But, he grabbed your hand and looped your arm through his. "Would you mind keeping me company for a little while, Mistress _______?"

You looked up at him through your eyelashes. You suddenly realized that he had enormous eyebrows. They suited him. You nodded. He grinned at you and led you off the floor.

You finally felt your courage come back. "Should I know you Master Kirkland?" you asked.

He shrugged. "I was always away when you and Sir Nicholas came to visit. I apologize." he said with a small nod.

You nodded and looked away. Blast it! Think of a good conversation, your mind shouted at you.

"Do you attend the theatre?"

"I do, actually. But I prefer fencing or reading really."

You nodded and thought, oh dear, another conversation about fighting.


********

You followed your father out of the court.

"What did you think of him?" he asked.

You looked up at him in surprise. It can't be, you thought.

"He's the one, isn't he?" you said quietly.

Sir Nicholas looked at you over his shoulder. He grinned at you. "I think he's a fine lad. Didn't you like him?" he asked.

You looked at your father in gratitude. Most girls' fathers wouldn't even care about their daughters' opinions.

"He was kind." you said.

You really didn't know what else to say. I don't know him, you thought.

Your father sighed in relief and kept walking.

You followed obediently behind.

**********

You made your way toward a small town house near The Theater. You pulled the hood of your cloak down farther to hide your face. Not only would your reputation be ruined if you were seen, but your father's would be as well. You knocked three times and entered. You took off your cloak and smoothed your skirts out. You looked around the parlor. No one was there. You listened for the sound of a scratching quill. You heard it.

He was home.

You made your way up the stairs as quietly as you could. You walked down the hallway and looked into the last door on the right. William was hunched over his desk, scribbling away at what looked like a script. You grinned and walked in. You looked over his shoulder.

"Romeo and Juliet?" you asked.

William yelped and fell off his stool. You laughed as he spluttered and tried to compose himself.

William Shakespeare glared at you from his spot on the floor. "Do you really have to scare me like that every time, Mistress _______?" he asked with an exasperated smile.

You laughed and said, "Someone has to make sure you take care of yourself, since your family is in Stratford still. How is Anne?"

He sighed and stood up, brushing the dust off his trousers. "She is well. And so are the children."

You brushed some papers off of a spare stool and you sat down. "So, why have I earned the pleasure of your visit this time? And what are you supposed to be doing?" William said as he picked up the papers that fell with him.

You were supposed to be at the Jewelers, buying jewelry.

You bit your lip and sighed. William looked up from his papers. "You're quiet. This can't be good. Is it Clara again?" he said, looking worried.

You waved his guess off. Clara was the daughter of a higher ranking knight than your father, and she always pointed out your flaws when she saw you.

"My father is finally making me marry." you said.

William raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Oh my, to whom does he giveth thee away to?"

"Master Kirkland."

William blanched.

You noticed.

"What? Is this a bad thing? I'll admit I wasn't looking forward to it myself but—."

"Oh no dear girl, the Kirklands are my biggest sponsors. They love the arts you see. They have come to most of my plays."

You looked at him in confusion. That can't be, you thought, all Master Kirkland talked about was fencing and politics, like a man was supposed to. "Even Master Kirkland came?" you asked.

William nodded. "That man has a heart of a poet! I believe he's too busy with appearances though. Poetry really shouldn't be in a noble's repertoire." he said.

You sighed and said, "Well, I met him, and I don't know what to think of him William. I don't even know his bloomin' name!"

He frowned at you.

"What?" you snapped.

For some reason, talking about getting married was putting you in a foul mood.

"Your mother would have boxed your ears if she heard you saying that." he said with a fatherly frown.

You grinned, thinking about how your mother used to bring you along when she visited William. Now it was just you.

He sighed and said, "Well, one does not control one's fate. Maybe some good will come from this match, Mistress _______."

You waved the topic off. You didn't want to talk about it anymore.

You leaned forward and said, "Now, tell me about this new play you're writing."

He beamed and said, "You'll love this one! I believe it will be the best love story I have written yet!"

You smiled at his joy.

You always loved hearing about the great William Shakespeare's plays before anyone else.