The year of our Lord 1078, Cumbria, England...

Enora stood on the parapet and looked down at the knight below with contempt. He calmly stared back up at her. All she could see were his steely eyes beneath his helmet.

He called again, "Well? Are you going to open the gates, or do we have to break the door down?"

Enora balled her fists together angrily. "You are not welcome, Sir! Take your knights and leave us in peace! We have no need of you here!"

Richard looked up at the feisty young woman denying him entrance. King William had given him this castle as a reward for aiding him through two battles. He was not going to lose it by being denied entrance from this mere slip of a girl, nay, this vixen.

"Last chance!" he shouted up at her.

Enora's guardsman looked at her. "It is no use, my lady ... you will have to allow him entrance. We cannot fight him; he has too many men!" He hesitated a moment before continuing, "Also, it would be tantamount to treason ... it is the King's wishes, my lady!"

"Yes, I know, Guilbert! But they are not my wishes, are they?" Enora leaned over the top and glared down at the knight, who was still patiently waiting. "Will you promise to be lenient with my guards? I would have no bloodshed!"

"If you let us enter the gates, then there will be no bloodshed. You have my word of honour!"

Enora snorted loudly, "Huh! Your word of honour ... I do not even know you!"

Richard ground his teeth together; forsooth, this was one aggressive wench. King William had given him leave to marry this 'lady,' but he was beginning to wonder if it was such a good idea. Although, if he wanted this holding and the land that came with it, then the lady was also included. At thirty-one years old, he now felt the need to settle down, and he was not going to lose this opportunity the King had bequeathed him.

Trying to get his temper under control, he answered, "As I said, you have my word of honour! Furthermore, lest you forget, this is by order of King William himself!"

She stared at him for a moment longer, and then he watched as she disappeared from the parapet. Finally, the wench had come to her senses! Richard turned to his companion, and confided, "I am beginning to doubt the sanity of this liaison, Guy!"

Guy smirked beneath his helmet, "Oh, I do not know, Richard ... she is a feisty piece, I will admit. She would produce fine, healthy sons for you, and the taming would be fun! You know how you dislike the simpering ladies at court!"

Richard nodded. "I suppose you have a point. She looked quite fair, did she not? I shall soon tame that temper of hers. I would not have a shrew for a wife!"

If Enora could have overheard them, she would never have opened the gates. However, as it was, she really had no choice. The King himself had decreed it! So once she had sent Guilbert to order the opening of the main gates, she made herself scarce. As the lady of the Castle, she should have been there to greet her new visitor, but in her eyes, this was an intruder, and as such did not warrant her respect. No, if he thought he could simply march in and take over, then he was very much mistaken!