Joan And Return Island: A Narrative Fiction
“Thank you, David,” said Joan, pulling the boy down toward her and embracing him.
He gave her a light, hesitant squeeze, then stood and ran off.
Joan and Carina stood and ran for Return Road as quickly as their feet would carry them. When the two arrived at the roadside, several dozen people stood there, all with anxious looks on their faces, waiting to learn the fate of their king. Dozens more people arrived, and before long, the crowd swelled to hundreds, then hundreds more. Grumbles of concern and impatience made their way through the crowd. Joan heard rumblings that perhaps the spotters were wrong, but right then, David raced down the center of the road, kicking up dust as he ran.
“They’re almost here!” he shouted.
Relief stole over …show more content…
However, the moment she stepped outside, she came face to face with her father and jumped.
“Father! You scared me. What are you doing just standing there?”
He peered down at his feet. “I don’t know… I didn’t want to see you packing, I s’pose.” Will glanced up. “Can I at least walk you up to the castle?”
“I would love it.”
Will took Joan’s sack, and the two wandered toward the path.
“Even with my apprenticeship, I’ll still work at the tavern twice each week,” Joan reminded Will. “And we live so close! You’ll have meals at the castle with me sometimes, won’t you?”
“I’d like that.”
The two arrived at the castle’s main entrance. Will handed over the bag and patted Joan’s cheek.
“Well, my wed daughter, I’ll see you at work the day after tomorrow.”
“You shall.”
She turned to walk away.
“Wait!” Will called out, and Joan spun around to face him. “I’m very proud of you. That’s all.”
“Thank you, Father. That means a lot.”
Joan then approached the castle guard and announced herself. “I’m Joan Port. Gales! I mean I’m Joan Gales, Sir Perceval’s wife.”
“Do you have a marriage contract as proof?” asked the …show more content…
“Good! But there’s so much to tell. I’ll leave that up to Perceval.”
Gawain escorted Joan to her new chambers and wished her well.
“I’m off to collapse into bed for at least a week,” he teased. “But not before a tall tankard of ale. Man, how I missed ale.”
Gawain wandered to his own quarters down the hallway, while Joan entered her (new) chamber and sat on the bed, unsure of what else to do. To pass the time, she withdrew the thick book on herbology from her sack and planned to read it. She lay back and propped the book on her chest, but was so exhausted, she dozed off within moments.
Chapter 20 – Settling In
Several hours later, Perceval wandered into his chambers, rubbing his hands over his freshly-shaven face. If felt so good to not have grime and travel dirt caked in his whiskers. And that steaming hot bath had been the best he’d ever taken. After larger confrontations, the castle maids always drew the knights fresh baths in the Great Hall. And at that point, the men were so used to dressing, undressing, and bathing in front of one another, no one gave a good damn about nudity – a soothing, relaxing bath mattered more than
He gave her a light, hesitant squeeze, then stood and ran off.
Joan and Carina stood and ran for Return Road as quickly as their feet would carry them. When the two arrived at the roadside, several dozen people stood there, all with anxious looks on their faces, waiting to learn the fate of their king. Dozens more people arrived, and before long, the crowd swelled to hundreds, then hundreds more. Grumbles of concern and impatience made their way through the crowd. Joan heard rumblings that perhaps the spotters were wrong, but right then, David raced down the center of the road, kicking up dust as he ran.
“They’re almost here!” he shouted.
Relief stole over …show more content…
However, the moment she stepped outside, she came face to face with her father and jumped.
“Father! You scared me. What are you doing just standing there?”
He peered down at his feet. “I don’t know… I didn’t want to see you packing, I s’pose.” Will glanced up. “Can I at least walk you up to the castle?”
“I would love it.”
Will took Joan’s sack, and the two wandered toward the path.
“Even with my apprenticeship, I’ll still work at the tavern twice each week,” Joan reminded Will. “And we live so close! You’ll have meals at the castle with me sometimes, won’t you?”
“I’d like that.”
The two arrived at the castle’s main entrance. Will handed over the bag and patted Joan’s cheek.
“Well, my wed daughter, I’ll see you at work the day after tomorrow.”
“You shall.”
She turned to walk away.
“Wait!” Will called out, and Joan spun around to face him. “I’m very proud of you. That’s all.”
“Thank you, Father. That means a lot.”
Joan then approached the castle guard and announced herself. “I’m Joan Port. Gales! I mean I’m Joan Gales, Sir Perceval’s wife.”
“Do you have a marriage contract as proof?” asked the …show more content…
“Good! But there’s so much to tell. I’ll leave that up to Perceval.”
Gawain escorted Joan to her new chambers and wished her well.
“I’m off to collapse into bed for at least a week,” he teased. “But not before a tall tankard of ale. Man, how I missed ale.”
Gawain wandered to his own quarters down the hallway, while Joan entered her (new) chamber and sat on the bed, unsure of what else to do. To pass the time, she withdrew the thick book on herbology from her sack and planned to read it. She lay back and propped the book on her chest, but was so exhausted, she dozed off within moments.
Chapter 20 – Settling In
Several hours later, Perceval wandered into his chambers, rubbing his hands over his freshly-shaven face. If felt so good to not have grime and travel dirt caked in his whiskers. And that steaming hot bath had been the best he’d ever taken. After larger confrontations, the castle maids always drew the knights fresh baths in the Great Hall. And at that point, the men were so used to dressing, undressing, and bathing in front of one another, no one gave a good damn about nudity – a soothing, relaxing bath mattered more than