Shadows and Kings.

[Birdie]

It's great that you didn't let the photo-camera disaster ruin the story! Did you have to shoot all of this again, then?

I love all the names you came up with, very appropriate   
And that line about the green dress 

[Tiermann]

Really, green for a wedding? Quite right to push the fellow down the stairs. Great continuation, as always looking forward to future installments.

[Rhalius]

I did have to shoot it all again yes. The first two pictures after the recap of the last story are the only ones I could use from the pictures that survived.
With a siege battle it simply takes way too much time if I had to recreate the exact spots where people, rubble and weapons where laying to fill in the blanks.

So I opted to change the story quite a bit.. still pretty much the same outcome, but going there in a different way. The improvements work well though, the Elena subplot is new for example. And in the first version Henry was going to the forest on his own instead of Roderick and Frederick.

Once I posted the entire story, I'll post the pictures I have of the "lost chapters" as it where.

Last few days I have been very busy shooting pictures, I shot over a hundred in three days hence the delay for posting the next bit of story. It's all for the next chapter but I am shooting them straight after each other. I'll post the next bit tomorrow. 

[Rhalius]

Sir Christopher, noticing all the commotion walks over to see what's going on.

Christopher: "What's going on here? Did Sir Herbert trip at the stairs?"
Herbert: "Erhm.. yes! I tripped! really need to watch your footing at the top.."
Christopher: "Well you seem to be alright."
Henry: "What's done is done, no need to dwell on it. Perhaps we can spar a bit, sir Christopher? It might help you get back in shape now that you have recovered from your wounds, and I didn't get a chance to fight you at the tournament."
Christopher smiled: "Very well, I must admit I am curious too about how you fight compared to your friends."

On top of the stairs, the situation has calmed down as well.

Lady Beatrice: "I trust you two will behave now? there are more important matters at stake here.."
Elena: "Sorry for my outburst, I am just tired of people trying to get me married to them without even knowing anything about me."
Lady Blacktower: "Well I am glad it did not go through, since there can of course be only one lady blacktower in this castle!"
Lady Beatrice grumbled a bit. "Yes, one Lady Blacktower is enough.."
Lady Blacktower smiles, seemingly ignorant of the grumbling. "Well thank you!"
Baron Blacktower is trying to comfort Pierre, who is very upset about not getting to help plan the wedding.

During all the commotion at the castle, Roderick and Frederick had their own problems however...

Riding into Pepperwood forest, they feel a bit uneasy. It's very quiet.

Roderick: "It's very quiet here, I don't see much birds, squirrels or wild boar."
Quoth the Raven: "Kaa! Kaa!"
Frederick: "Oh look, there is a Raven! It looks a bit creepy though.. let's move on."

Moving on a bit further, they decide to proceed on foot when they spot a white flower that looks like a lily.

Roderick: "Let's leave the horses here a moment, and see if that's the real krinflower."

Frederick: "It sure looks like it.. I don't smell anything either."

Roderick: "Odd that we didnt see any other flowers that look like it in the entire forest though."

"And why would such sorry excuses for knights like you two need this flower?"
They turn around and look up to see whose foul voice that was.

Wolfgang of Ravenstein, one of the three cousins who are known to collaborate with Prince Edward.
Quickly they draw their swords, expecting an attack.
Roderick: "It is none of your business why we want it, now leave us be and we will soon be on our way."
Wolfgang: "Oh please, stay a while! I must insist."
Frederick: "Unless you brought Biscuits and drinks, we are leaving right after we get that flower."

[Rhalius]

Wolfgang laughed. "No drinks and biscuits, but I did bring a few friends to make sure you won't leave this forest."

Comeing out of the bushes, Roderick and Frederick are suddenly surrounded by bandits!

Wolfgang signals them to attack straight away, while he moves down the rocks.

Frederick and Roderick manage to hold their own quite well against these bandits.
Roderick: "Affraid to fight us yourself?"
Wolfgang: "I have more important matters to attend to."

They seem to be making quick work of the bandits, Wolfgang does not seem concerned about this though and moves to the horses.


Wolfgang: "Let's see you get back to the castle without your horses."
Taking their horses, he rides off while Frederick and Roderick are fighting for their lives against the toughest of the bandits!


Frederick: "He got our horses! we need to do something!" Being distracted for a moment, Frederick gets knocked off the rocks by the bandit.


But Roderick is quick to protect his friend and prevent his friend from getting hurt while he is down on his back.

And with a quick move, he manages to overpower the bandit.

Roderick smiles to Frederick: "That was simple enough. Don't worry, I am here to protect you!" He teased his friend a bit, feeling pretty good about his resque.

Frederick: "Watch out behind you!"

Will Roderick be fast enough to avoid getting stabbed?

((Will be continued soon. ))

[conniefrere]

OOooh nice cliffhanger....

I'm curious about what happens next!

[PlaymoMan]

Very exciting story, fantastic cliffhanger!

[DrDalek6]

 What a turn of events great work the whole settup and fighting is really nice and you've created a fine looking bunch of bandits good use of the Scottish Highlander torso as well. Hope Roderick manages to dodge that attack in time

[Tiermann]

Oh excellent episode!

[playmovictorian]

This is a great story 

I love the Medieval theme !

Karim