100 Challenge - 20. Fortitude

Boo.Yeah! 2 in one week, a roll is happening! (Cursed it now mind!)

Had some fun writing this, I'm on a medieval/peasant-Lord thing at the moment (Merlin's fault!) So when i thought about it, and the word "Fortitude" I liked the idea of something to do with "courageous Knight" in some way, and this was tapped out. 

Make your own back story up. It's pretty easy to 

(Little bit of a mature theme, death 'n' all)

20. Fortitude

There was a horrid crunch as I felt bones break and muscles rupturing. Blood then began to flow freely, hot and sticky against my skin, cooling very quickly in the day’s breeze. The offending sword was sharply removed and I heard gasps from all around.

I could feel myself swaying, my legs going numb far too quickly for my liking. My breathing becoming a chore, laboured and heavy while moans and gasps escaped my lips. A hand grabbed my shoulder tight, my offender, dragging me close to him so he was speaking into my ear. I steadied myself up against him, a bloody hand on his fancy clothes, tightly gripping.

“And what, dear Francis, did that prove?” My eyes widened as his hissed words came at me. God, so much pain, make it end, Gods. Another moan flew from my now bloody mouth. So much pain. “You’ll die and I’ll still do whatever I want to her.” My fear filled eyes darted to Juliana’s. She looked so lost, a deer caught in a trap. “Trying to be the courageous knight in armour?” He pulled me closer, the movement caused so much pain that I wailed out. “You’re nothing but a peasant, an ant compared to me.”

I placed my bloody hand on his face and dragged his ear close to mine. “Never kick an ant’s hill.” My breathing was so painful, rasping gasps now. Lord Bale just shoved me hard, one shot to the shoulder that a smarter man would have been able to defend against, but my feet and my brain were no longer connected so I stepped back a few times before falling down heavy, my arms taking a little of my fall.

I smelled Juliana before I saw here swim into vision, she always smells like summer roses and lavender. She propped me up a little on her, her fair hair falling down in smooth locks. I reached out and played with one a little, my blood smearing over the golden strands.

“Why Francis?” Jen asked, pain scratching at her voice. I could see tears rolling down her face. I convulsed slightly as my insides began to shut down, a moan from my mouth. I could no longer feel my legs and my lungs felt like they were made of lead, every breath so heavy. I took her hand and brought it to my lips and kissed it. I wanted to tell her how I felt, how much I cared for her, how I cherished everything she was and ever would be. I wanted to say that I wasn’t sorry for our love, but I was sorry that she was married to that awful brute.

“Juliana!” I heard Lord Bale shout; he then grabbed her arm roughly and threw her to her feet. I fell back to the floor, my head painfully knocking against the dry mud floor. I saw him tightly grip her arm and slap her hard across the face, her hair flailing wildly across her face. He shook her hard now, screaming in her face. He raised his fist to throw a punch but a strong arm held it back.

I’d love to say I found some strength, some second wind, but I was still sprawled out on the floor, life ebbing away. Instead my words had rung true, “never kick an ants hill,” and my village people were revolting. The men folk had found their strength and courage to fight back and were now surrounding and chasing after Lord Bale. I could heard their roars of anger and a faint cry from that horrible man.

Juliana came into focus again, her face reddened from the slap, a feisty anger in her eyes that I’d not seen in some time. She planted a kiss upon my dry mouth as my eyes flickered back and forth. My body was moments away from sleeping eternally; I was making pathetic sounds, moans and squeals as the pain worsened. It was so much, too much, Gods, God help me, save me. I tried to breathe again but it was too painful.

“You were so brave!” Juliana said, hugging me into her. I felt her tears plop against my pasty skin. She leant down, placed a tender kiss against my cheek, her hair spilling down like a curtain against us and whispered “I love you, my courageous Knight.”