A dream, I may say. A wide river, flowing at the highest speeds of time. I saw a woman. With impeccable eyes and a smile that seemed forced. She was sitting at the shore, on the other side of the river, carefully braiding her hair into a small ponytail. The river was fast flowing, big, and huge, and on my assumption, no one could close it, for I felt the river's depth was as huge, and so I wondered, Who made the lady cross over? On the other side of the river, there was emptiness, just whiteness and sands similar to those on the beaches, as it appeared. And so I heard my vocals shout, "Aren't you afraid to drown, my lady? The shores can be quite dangerous, and you seem quite alone, to my observation." She was quiet and seemed not to hear my words, when suddenly she looked at me. Her eyes and face had now changed. My sensory perception was also playing tricks on me. She was identical—eyes, hair, and even clothes—to that in the paint I had bought. My mother it was, and I heard her say in a draining voice, "You are a leader; you will lead the greats of England and the outcasts of the city. The rules are to be changed and you,,, it's you we wait, shall change; for your kinds also waits, Listen as much to these words. The road shall be painful, but you shall lead, you shall leaadd, you, its yoouuu." And with that, I was shocked, and my eyes were wide open. It was a dream. Just a dream. I was never the type to believe in dreams, I felt they were some nightmares meant to disturb humans, not entertaining that.
My head pained, and touching it, I could feel a scrap of cut cloth wrapped around it, and as I interacted with the cloth, I felt a sharp pain on the left side of my forehead. Painful! And so I stopped. It was not yet morning, I assume. The lights were not yet embracing my curtains, and so, lazily, I stood to observe, through my curtains, to maybe make a guess of the time. Through the slight gap I had opened, I saw the morning sun reflections on the east side, near the mountains, which blazed the skies with their racing flames, but it had not yet risen. I had not even heard the chirping of birds, or maybe I should say, I had ignored their chirps, for my head still hurt. My clothes had been changed, and I now wore a simple robe and some quite flexible trousers underneath, with my chest bare and nothing hidden it, except the simple robe, which hid quite a little. I was not the big muscular type, I may say, but my body sure would make a person depict about me ase one who has had a formidable amount of exercise. I, however, despite my dressing, felt the need to take something, maybe a drink, which would ease my headache. And so I decided to open my door, when one of the guards guarding it said, "My lord, the viscount, states you shouldn't leave the room in your state. If you need anything, feel the urge to ask, and I will bring it to your liking." I was never the type to take no's for an answer, nor was I the type to be told the dos and don'ts. I would rather prefer none restrain me, but I restrain myself, out of my own will and urgency. That would be better. My head was however throbbing, and I certainly saw the lady of the house awake, as she looked at me from the other side of the rooms, where they slept. "My head hurts as much. Some herbs can do, to at least ease the pain." After telling the guards that, I returned to the room. I was not ready for rule-breaking at this time. Maybe I was the one who was wrong, and the Viscount's son had a rite to hit me. However, if it had been me, I would have thought him unworthy of the princess's love and would have congratulated him in advance on his victory. Or maybe I was taught differently, or my values were quite opposite of what he believed. Despite my comparisons, the fact was that I, the victim, was wounded and my head hurt. The guard arrived and offered me some herbs, which I thankfully took and drank. I lay again on my bed, but daytime sleep was never a part of my wants. I felt time was precious to waste, especially during the day, during which I felt, one could do a lot of amicable things, even if it meant listening to other people's thoughts and ideas. I had no idea how long I stayed in the boring room, but I decided to leave it. The guard was however adamant about stopping my heels, with which I just caught his arm and offered him some gold coins for him to grant me my freedom. My head did not hurt as much, and as I moved out, I saw other guard's eyes watching me, and I knew their questions. I had already changed from the way they had dressed me to a simple, elegant noble outfit for a lordship. I ended up going straight to the chair where the viscount had been sitting back in time when I arrived here, and started watching the servants work around his castle. Some were taking fast feeds, others were cutting the edges of the flowers, and others were in the stables, checking on the horses. As I observed, I felt a slight tap on my shoulder, and I lazily turned my neck in that direction. Henry it was, and with him seeing that I saw him, he jumped from wherever he was to the front of the chair and sat next to me. "William becoming a wrestler was never part of the Viscount's teachings." Henry started chuckling under his breath, which made me also chuckle and state, "Maybe I deserve it as much, brother." Hearing me call him brother made his eyes squint but light up again when he stated, "I'm glad you now see me as a brother. And in regard to deserving. No, the princess herself chose you. I watched the way she was delighted to have you dancing with her. And especially the way she looked at you in adoration when we arrived at that place, after your glimmering dance. That's the fumes of jealousy consuming him. He has already been asked to apologize. But you know, a child born with a silver spoon in his mouth, spoilt by getting what they want, usually feels the need of being apologized for instead of apologizing. I am on your side, brother; we are on this together. I hope you don't decide to leave soon." Of course not. A little matter like a fight never made me back off and leave as a coward, and so I asked Henry, "Do you know of a wrestling ground here in London?" At that question, Henry laughed, but certainly answered my question: "You don't want to lose your limbs fighting brother, but yeah, I know of some, but those areas are quite dark, and many nobles, in secrecy, place their bets on the winner they ought to win. Even I once found the viscount in the area." I laughed upon hearing about the viscount being among the secret gamblers on a wrestling game. He never seemed to be the type to be occupied with shameful activities like gambling or especially fight zones in dangerous places. And as we were chatting with Henry, no one noticed until the viscount's daughter was seated next to us, and I so graciously spoke, "Hello. My apologies; don't tell the viscount that I'm out of my room." With my statement, she laughed and started, "I so wouldn't. I've been watching you. You seem quite good, unlike brother." That word caught me aback. She had a nice voice, of course, but I did not care about that; I cared about the fact that she had noticed my goodness. "His gracious was batted out by your brother, Lady Hilda." Henry stated, and I caught her name, Lady Hilda—a beautiful name. She seemed to absorb the words when she stated, "Father, scolded him as much. My apologies on his behalf. Does it hurt as much, my lord?" "No, it's just a bruise; it will fade within time." I stated and continued, "Call me brother; I would as much love it. For it is as much some awkwardness having you use a respectful name when talking to me. " I hoped she understood my quest. They had shown me nothing but goodness since my arrival here in England. From the guards to the maidens, and from the viscount down to her lady, except the viscount's son. I wonder how he was brought up with such a searching, self-centered nature. I noticed her nod, and Henry continued, "So, cousin, what brings you here? You rarely speak to anyone in these castles, just the viscount and the lady of the house?" With Henry stating that, I was quite shocked, and I also caught a sign of embarrassment from the girl. She was not as little as I state,—I would say that she was about three years younger than me—but for me, I saw her as my little sister, whom I would protect each and every moment. "Did you know Father wrote to you every month?" She detailed this, revoking Henry's question. "Oooh, why so?" She observed me quietly and then stated, "He told me, just I alone, that you are our brother. He always kept that room for you and made sure it was flourished and repainted every time of the year. He stated that you would come back on your eighteenth birthday; that's why William is quite jealous, for father has always had your name uttered in each of his conversations with us. He now feels he lost father when you came." I was quite taken aback by her words. Why was she, however, telling me all this? She had never talked to me since my arrival—just the stares that she always gave me as I entered or left my room. I somehow thought she never liked me, or, I'd rather say, I felt she never really, deeply liked me as much. "Oh, my apologies if my stay caused some revocation of unworthiness to the Lord, William. If I knew, I should have left and maybe found another place with which I would stay on my adventures here." As I was speaking, Henry interrupted, "She doesn't mean you were wrong for your comings; she means you brought out her brother's real character. Cousin is not as direct, I may say." Direct and not direct were two words I never quite understood. But she murmured, in a rather low tone, "We all, especially me and your father, waited for you. I also took part in some writings for you, which I hope you read." I was not as much interested in the writings of Lord Hirlvington, for father had not told me about him. Father, in addition, never gave me most of his letters but locked them in the lowest drawer in his office and just told me that I would read them when the time came. This felt worse, for I saw hope in the little one's eyes; she seemed the happiest for my arrival, and so I lied, "Of course, I read each and every part of the writing. It was beautiful, but I never knew it was you, but at least I now recognize." She was happy with my words, for she couldn't stop the smile observed through her eyes. I also felt delighted that one person in this family appreciated my stay, or I may say two or as much, but either way I was delighted. She was then told by her maiden that the Viscontess was looking for her, and with that, she left. "She's not that of a talker. I never spoke to her often. She is often buried in literature books." Henry stated. Hearing her love for literature made me smile. I had taken a lot of time teaching my sister how to read, but she took no amicable interest in them. "Wow, I would love a lady who reads and is knowledgeable." Henry laughed at my statement and stated, "You are cousins, brother. But of course I know you never meant that. Maybe that is why you have taken an interest in the princess." For the facts, I laughed at that. The princess had the aura of a civilized young English lady who wouldn't let any man force her into deeds that she did not acknowledge. It made her quite difficult, and the best part is, I usually like the difficult ones; they make it easier for one to proudly say, I won." The princess, I'm not sure what she likes, but she physically amazes me; her personality, I'm not sure. But she is quite a little flirtatious." "So brother, you are as new to love as a virgin." Henry asked. Being called a virgin was not something I was proud of. Virgin and innocent are words for women, never for gents. "I am not a virgin. My mind quite has the idea of romances and is quite enriched with the wants and pleasures of a lady's body." Henry chuckled at that and just stated, "I wanted to take you somewhere, and maybe you can enjoy the acts so that you cannot displease the princess." I felt like I knew the place. I was not in the mood to repeat what my mother had done. "I would never want to make the same mistake as my mother's brother." I spoke in quite a low tone, for I never wanted anyone to hear. When he stated, "There is a method that one can use," I knew every aspect of sexuality. From the stories from my classmates to what the guards told me back at home in Baydon and what I had read in the novels, I felt I knew. However, I never practiced it physically. Maybe this was the bad thing that the viscount had called out to my attention. Henry was not morally upright; he was here for the joys and pleasures of his male urges. "I pass that brother. Am a gentleman, I will as much know how to please my lady without indulging myself in the shames of culture, but when need arises, (smiling) I so much will reconsider your statement." With that, Henry nodded in approval. He knew maybe he had disappointed me with his words. But I then excused myself and decided to walk around the castle, maybe down to the stables, and observe the works. The stables were quite well made, maybe better than the duke's, and the horses seemed strong. I saw our white horses, which were busy eating the feed placed in their troughs. The place, despite, felt familiar. I felt I had an idea of the corners, and some Viscount's horses seemed to be quite familiar in my memories, but my assuagement wasn't followed to any logical conclusion. As I observed the horses, the viscount entered, followed by some guards. I knew I would put my guard in trouble, and so, searching for better words to use, the viscount stated, "I see you are awake, Vikings. I had quite stated you stay, on a rest in your room." "Of course, Uncle. I eh, the guard was quite adamant for me to stay, but I was disoriented and disengaged. Some fresh air." I stated. "I hope your head is much better. My apologies on behalf of my son." I did not know what to say to that when he continued, "When it comes to love affairs, Vikings, you have to fight, like a warrior. I do not take sides, for I see you both have eyes for the princess. May the best man win; I don't wish for the Duke to hear the news, for he would storm here as fast. Guards, the stables..." He continued the reprimand about what should be done with the stables and how they should be set when I excused myself and left. I didn't have much to do in my room, so I went to Henry's place to maybe play some chess with him. I used to play with my father while taking breakfast, and not once did I ever win against him. Maybe today I would win.