"Jacob! How many times do I need to yell at you to get your bloody attention? Sparring practice is no time to have your head on a mountain," Barked Sir Godfrey Moore. "What on gods green earth were you staring at anyway." Sir Godfrey turned to see his young daughter reading a book under the gnarled boughs of a weeping willow. "If you are thinking of asking to court my daughter think again. How can you fight in the name of a lady when you cannot keep your eyes off of her, especially my daughter? If you want to court my daughter you damn well better prove yourself before you ask me. Now get your muddy rear into the stable and take care of the mounts, before I beat you upside the head with a real sword."

"Yes, sire," Jacob chirped, and ran to do as he was ordered. How was he supposed to keep his eyes off the lovely Sarah? For years he has wished for the day when he could ask Sir Godfrey for permission to court his daughter. He has dreamed of the day when he would be able to even talk to her without stumbling over his words.

"I searched the world, to try and see,

"If I could find something that compares to thee,

"For thou are more beautiful, than a willow tree.

"Your voice like diamonds, filled with love,

"Your laugh is lighter, than a mourning dove.

"Try as it might, god's sun can't shine,

"Brighter than, your face divine.

"To your skin no silk, can compare.

"Few things are softer, than your hair.

"I've even tried, sweet Honeydew,

"But I've found nothing that compares to you.

"This I imagine in my mind,

"For never will the strength I find.

"To touch your cheek, and let such slip,

"That I would wish to taste your lip."

As Jacob was helping to care for the knight's stallion, and dreaming once again. A man, covered in the red crust of blood from head to toe, came riding into the stable, followed by four armed men. The man swiftly jumped from his warhorse and deftly handed Jacob the reigns.

"Where might I find Sir Godfrey Moore, I must speak to him immediately," stated the man in a gristly tone.

"Unfortunately, he has retired to his chambers to prepare for supper my lord. If you wish to speak with him you may wait to see him then," Offered Jacob humbly, bowing and never looking into the man's eyes.

"Ignorant!" The man back handed Jacob with enough force to send him sprawling into the wall. "You might not know who I am but Sir Godfrey will, now take me to his chambers immediately!"

"Yes my lord," Jacob mumbled. Jacob tied off the horses, and quickly led the way to the chambers of Sir Godfrey, trying to mask the pain of being bashed by a gauntlet full in the face. "Do you wish for me to announce you my lord?"

"No need, get out of my way." The man pushed Jacob roughly to the side. "I'm coming in!" the man announced as he pushed open the double doors of the knight's chambers, his guards closing the doors behind him.

"Isaac, My brother," Jacob heard Sir Godfrey welcome from inside his chambers.

"There is no time for a welcome brother. His lordship Prince Guildine is on a rampage to expand his vast holdings. He has already conquered my land as well as the land of to other nobles. As we speak the prince is marching his army across your land, he will have arrived here within a day. I ask you now as my brother to take up arms, and protect your people. Will you do it?"

"Isaac, you know how I stand on these matters. I do not wish the cost of war to ravage my land. I will send a messenger to Prince Guildine tonight. I know that you may not agree but I feel I can negotiate peace.'

"Brother, you are a fool. I had hoped I would be able to speak reason to you just this once, but you are as stubborn in your ways as ever. I just hope you have enough wisdom in that head of yours to make the right decision when the time comes to that. Now I must ride to Jason and beseech his army to help you. May god have mercy on your soul, and grant you a long life." Isaac burst from the chamber in the same manner he had arrived. "You boy run ahead and ready our horses in the courtyard with rations for two days"

"Yes Sire." Jacob ran off down the hall to prepare the mounts. Jacob fetched rations from the kitchen and met Sir Isaac in the courtyard with the mounts. "Here you are sire."

"Good I see you have your wits about you now." The knight reached into his saddle bag and drew forth a long sword. Sir Isaac handed the sword and sheath to Jacob. "This belonged to the sixth member of our party, may it serve you, better than it did him, you are going to need it." Sir Issac and his men rode from the castle. "May god have mercy on your soul!"

Jacob stood there dumbfounded for a few moments with all that had happened in so short a time. Once he had regained his senses, Jacob attached the sword to his belt, and, finished caring for the horses in the stables. How was it that his whole world could be flipped upside down so quickly? One moment he was planning his wedding day, and the next he was scared to death that he might actually see the horrific glory of war. After finishing in the stables Jacob walked to his chambers to prepare for supper. That is when it triggered. This was his chance to finally prove his worth and win the right to court the lovely Sarah. Indeed god was having mercy on his soul, and mercy on his heart. The rest of the night while fear spread like plague throughout the castle, Jacob could not help but smile with his excitement.

The next morning Jacob woke early to the sound of running in the hall way. Once he came to his senses Jacob was moving in a flash. He suited up for battle, guessing the messenger had failed in his task. Clad in leather, and chain mail Jacob, stepped from his room, just about slamming into a young page that was sent to get him.

"Jacob, excellent you are ready for battle. The Messenger has been sent back dead. Sir Godfrey asks that you get your self armed and meet him at the head of the forces. He requested that you serve as his squire in battle," The page stammered.

"But."

"No time for questions he wants you now!" The page took off down the hall way.

Confused Jacob scrambled after him as fast as he could. That is when he realized he had forgotten the sword that he had received. Jacob turned around and ran back to his room to retrieve the sword. Delayed from the distraction and winded from running Jacob arrived in the field with spear in hand and sword in belt. "Sire you requested my service?"

"Not any more I don't you are late in arriving you can join the guard on the wall."

"But sir I needed."

"What you need is to get your rear end to that wall and join the archers. That is an order, do you understand?"

"Yes, Sire" Jacob was crushed, here was his one chance to prove his worth and he had lost it. Now he had to join the seconds, and archers in last defense. He would never be able to serve in battle. "Damn," he cursed to himself.

Jacob took his position on the wall ready to watch the battle. Across the golden fields of wheat Jacob could see the massive Army of Prince Guildine. He could barely make out the banners of a green lion blazed across a yellow background. However below him he could spot the comparable army of Sir Godfrey in the shadow of a great black griffon on a white background. Why was it that he could not stand on the field, beside those who would willingly give their life? Suddenly the army of Prince Guildine started forward, rumbling across the plain. This is what Sir Godfrey was afraid of; the harvest was crushed before the onslaught of horses and men that moved across the farmland. A Horn sounded from the front of Godfrey's lines and his force started forward.

"Fire!" The command was given and one hundred archers launched their arrows into the approaching army, staining the golden field crimson with the first blood, the first glory of war. The two forces impacted each other with a crash. Jacob stood in awe as metal flashed and men died. He could not believe that this was the war heard of in epics, the war of honor, the war of glory.

Jacob snapped back to reality. He could see from his vantage point as his friends and family died on spear and sword. The field was littered with bodies and soaked with blood.

"I can't stand this!" Jacob yelled surprising everyone around him. He turned around and ran down the stairs to the stable. He tacked the last horse, and burst across the court yard. "Open the gate!" Jacob rode under the portcullis, and out into the field. Jacob readied his spear as a lance and charged in to the fray. Before he knew what it was he was doing he had impaled a man on the spear, the weight ripping it from his hands, and had trampled another. Jacob drew his sword, in a frenzied bloodlust. He fought with skill that no one knew he had. He rode his way through the masses slaying enemies along his path. The next thing he knew he found himself side by side with Sir Godfrey.

"I see you could not obey what I ordered!" Sir Godfrey yelled over the clash of steel on steel. Jacob and Sir Godfrey fought side by side losing track of time in the warp of combat. Without warning Guildine's men drew back, as a volley of arrows was launched into the chaos. One arrow struck Sir Godfrey in the chest, knocking him from his horse. Another arrow caused Jacobs mount to die beneath him, sending him to the blushing ground. Jacob stood just in time to see that Guildine's men were advancing, reinforced, once again. Jacob readied himself to protect the wounded body of his lord. Once more Jacob's blood lust takes over and he crashes against his opponents. As he fights he is unaware that the very prince himself was simultaneously working his way towards him. Clang! Jacob's sword crosses the blade of the very Prince Guildine.

"I see that they send a mere child to fight in this army as well. Ay, boy?" The Prince hissed through the slits of his helmet.

"I am no boy! I am Jacob Wilder son of Gregory Wilder, Lord of Tyrone, and Squire to Sir Godfrey Moore!" Jacob responded more for comfort in battle than for the prince to hear. Minutes seemed like hours as the prince and Jacob faced each other neither gaining an upper hand. Jacob blocked Guildine, and Guildine parried each of Jacob's blows. Then as Jacob found an opening he lunged forward, to catch the prince. The prince, strafed to the side, bringing his sword across the back of Jacob's legs. A blood curdling scream erupted from the field as Jacob fell hamstrung to the dirt. Jacob laid there in agony, next to Sir Godfrey Moore who was breathing heavily from his wound.

"My lord I know I have failed you yet I ask. May I Jacob Wilder, a lowly squire, have permission to court your daughter, my lady Sarah?" Jacob Asked crying from the pain in his legs.

"Son, you always had my permission you needed not but ask" Laughed Sir Godfrey through ragged breaths.

"Thank you my lord." Jacob uttered these last words right before Prince Guildine honored him as warrior, and a knight with a coup de grace. 'To fight, to win, 'To run, to die, 'This is the glory of war. 'To long, to lose, 'To live, to hold, 'This is the glory of love.

Dear Lady Wilder,

It was a sad day when Jacob, my love died, before battles end. My uncle arrived with reinforcements to spare shortly after his death. With this help and a new hope for victory, Prince Guildine and his army were pushed back into the lands from which they came. I am glad to say that my father was able to heal from the wound to his chest, and honored Jacob, my love, with the burial of a knight. I know that this is no condolence for your son's death but, he will remain in the heart of our family until our clan joins him in Gods realm.

With All Condolence,

Lady Sarah Moore