silence >> You look very beautiful tonight! <<
>> You too, my lord! << she answered politely and tried not to blush >> Has my father heard from you? <<
It annoyed him that they only talked about their father, but he replied, >> He is not willing to pay the ransom! <<
>> I am not surprised! I told you from the start that he won't buy me out! <<
To his great astonishment, she uttered the word my father very contemptuously and in her voice there was no triumph to be heard >> You don't even want to go back ?! << it was more of a statement than a question.
>> Do you think I would like to marry this old Walles ?! <<
>> If you would marry him for him? <<
There was something about him that puzzled her, so she replied >> None?<<
>> But you have to marry someone! <<
>> I could go to the monastery too! Cheryl replied in a defiant voice
>> You can't decide for yourself, so why don't you just marry me? <<
She stared at him in amazement, but then fasted again >> I will never marry you! <<
With these words she let him stand on the dance floor and left the hall.
After overcoming his surprise, he followed her out.
He caught up with her on the tower stairs to her room. He blocked her way so she couldn't run away from him. She felt like a mouse cornered by a cat.
>> Don't you prefer me to Lord Walles? <<
It irritated Cheryl when she thought she heard pain in his voice.
>> Why don't you want to marry me? << With one hand he brushed an unruly strand of hair from her face. He left burning traces where he touched them.>> It would be treason to my family! << she said softly.
>> Wasn't it also a betrayal of your father to leave you in the clutches of his enemies? <<
She didn't reply, but she pushed his hand off her shoulder.
He saw her clench her fists and he realized >> That's not the real reason, is it? << He took her chin and forced her to look into his face >> What is the real reason for this? <<
There was a brief, icy silence.
>> He would kill me and my mother! <<. Her voice sounded so pressed that he immediately believed her.
>> It is said that her mother is dying! <<
>> I know ... <<
He could see tears glistening in her eyes and in this pose she looked so irresistible that he pulled her close and kissed her eagerly.
At first she was shocked, then she tried with all her might to pull away.
He noticed her efforts to get away from him and held her even tighter. Slowly her resistance subsided and she surrendered to it.Heat flowed through her whole body and she snuggled closer to him.
When he let go of her, Cheryl was completely confused.
She had never been touched by a man like this before, she only knew the brutal manner of her father, who attacked her with a stick and whip.
She heard his rapid breathing and became aware of his presence again.
Startled, she backed away from him, she couldn't lose control of herself again. Now she was even more afraid of him than before.
He had more power over her than her father and that made her tremble.
He had noticed and wanted a hand to reach out to her, but when she backed away from it, he pulled it back again. >> You can go now! <<
No sooner had he said that than she fled up the stairs and quickly closed the door to her room behind her.
William had realized that Cheryl was afraid of him and that gave him a pang.
He wanted her, more than anything, but not against her will ....Cheryl's father now had every reason to be happy; although his second wife had died, a new one had quickly been found. She was a blonde beauty and completely submitted to him. But that wasn't what excited him; He had found out that his daughter was often allowed to go horseback riding under supervision and he wanted to take advantage of that.
He had planned everything exactly and now he and a few of his most loyal knights were waiting for his daughter behind trees in front of a clearing.
They had been waiting for a while when they heard the sound of horses' hooves.
It wasn't exactly easy and in the end he had lost four of his men and one of the enemies had escaped.
But he had his daughter back and that was the main thing.
He walked up to her while she stared at him in amazement. >> Yes, I know that came as a surprise, but you know that I would never have let you down! <<
Cheryl didn't answer. She was still horrified at what she had seen.>> Don't you want to say thank you for saving you from these beasts? <<
Only now did she find her voice again >> You are the only beast far and wide! << Her father had slaughtered her companions without consideration.
Her father's blow hit her so hard in the face that she fell to the ground and lay motionless ....

A loud shout could be heard in the courtyard of Clydon >> We were attacked and Lady Cheryl was taken away! <<.
The injured squire shouted these words over and over again.
He could barely stand, he had run the whole way with a bad sword wound.
William Clydon came running into the yard and got out of the boy everything he wanted to know. First he shifted to a doctor so that the squire could be taken care of, then he and a group of his most loyal companions saddled the horses and went into pursuit. Many who had got to know Lady Cheryl better hoped she would return, for she had made life at the castle friendlier and more fun.Especially the younger ones were enthusiastic about it, because everyone still vividly remembered the story of the ball that was stuck to the tree and how she had brought it down there ....

Cheryl had woken up again and one of the men had told her that her mother had been dead for a long time and that her father had remarried.
When her father told her he still wanted to marry her to Lord Walles, Cheryl remembered how nice it had been at Lord Clydon's castle and that William had asked her if she would rather marry him.
And suddenly she realized that she loved William and that she could never marry this Wales.
She continued to refuse to come with her father. This made her father so angry that he hit her with a horse whip.
The first blow tore the dress on the back and the countless other whip marks became visible and her father added a few new ones.
Somehow Cheryl managed to tear herself away and mount her horse, Lunaire.She dashed through the men and rode back the way they had come.
The chase lasted for a while and Cheryl noticed how her strength was decreasing more and more. She did the only thing she could think of, she pulled herself up on a branch on the nearest tree and climbed further up the tree.
Somehow she managed to climb a strong branch until she was completely deprived of her strength.
Down on the floor she could hear her father shouting, but Cheryl no longer understood his words, she only heard very fuzzy sounds ....

Cheryl tried to hear something, but after the screams and clank of swords had subsided, all that could be heard was the rustling of leaves above and beside her. Cheryl felt cold and abandoned. The pain of never being able to see William again was greater than the pain on her back. Individual tears ran down her cheeks and she hid her head between her knees ....

>> I told you never to climb a tree again!<<
Her head shot up. William had climbed the tree as silently as a cat.
>> How did you find me? <<
>> Lunaire was underneath and was always smitten! Didn't you hear <<
Cheryl shook her head slightly >> What about my father? <<
>> He's dead! <<
Cheryl felt no pain or joy when she heard this. For them he was in the past.
She paused and tried to wipe away the tears >> May I come back to you? <<
>> Yes, you can! << he replied softly and brushed the hair back from her face.
Streaked with tears, she threw herself into his strong arms and let him carry her down the tree.
He had grimly noticed the bloody whip marks, but he did not speak to her about it, but sat her on the horse in front of him, spoke soothingly to her and gently stroked her hair ....
Cheryl slowly opened her eyes. It took her some time to realize that she was back at Clydon Castle.Only now did she notice the figure that had remained motionless next to her on the bed. >> Have you been here the whole time? <<
>> Well almost all the time! You had been in a fever for three days! << his friendly expression hardened >> The whip your father used was dirty, that's why it caught fire! <<
Cheryl winced when he called her father and immediately his features softened again. >> Nothing will happen to you anymore, because I will take care of you now! <<
>> Promise me you'll never hit me! << she asked anxiously.
Cheryl could see pain flicker in his eyes >> I promise! <<
Cheryl felt warmth rise in her chest and she smiled brightly >> You are the only man I want to marry! << ....

It was one of the biggest festivals that Clydon Castle has ever celebrated.
The bride and groom were celebrated and cheered. Everyone gathered around the couple to congratulate them and cheer them up.But then the guests turned to the food and the wine and no longer paid any attention to the bride and groom, who quickly disappeared in their room.
William couldn't believe it, finally Cheryl was his wife and he vowed never to let go of her again. He had noticed how nervous she was and that made her even more attractive to him. She was beautiful with her dark, sparkling eyes that reflected joy but also fear.
Cheryl was totally excited, she didn't know what to do and was ashamed of it.
She told William, but he didn't seem to mind.
He came slowly towards her, space and time had lost their meaning.
His hands came to rest on your neck and waist, pulling her closer to him. He gently stroked her battered back.
His lips found hers and melted together.
At first slowly and tenderly, then more and more harder and more passionate, so that Cheryl thought she was losing the ground under her feet.When he broke away from her she felt like she had drunk too much wine.
She