In the Kingdom of Valtharia, there once lived a noble lord, Wyard of Daurleigh. His immense wealth and influence made him a respected figure among his peers, and the king himself frequently welcomed him at the royal court of Valoria, the capital of Valtharia. Yet, despite his vast riches, his most cherished treasure was his daughter, the radiant Cathleen. Left alone after his wife's untimely death, the ageing lord dedicated his life to his only child.

Cathleen's extraordinary beauty was famous throughout the kingdom. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes shone like sparkling sapphires. Her lips, red as rose petals, complemented her skin, which was softer than silk. Troubadours journeyed from distant lands to sing of her beauty and grace, and valiant knights competed in tournaments to win her favour.

Many noble lords and even monarchs asked for Lady Cathleen's hand in marriage. But despite all their efforts, she kept her distance and showed no interest. Her father loved her dearly, but with no other heir to inherit his castle, he wanted his daughter to marry a noble lord.

Lord Wyard didn't impose his choices on Cathleen, but he encouraged her not to delay making a decision. However, Cathleen didn't want to marry for power or wealth, but for true love. She longed for a man who could see beyond her beauty and value her for who she really was.

As time passed, Wyard's concern for his daughter's future grew. He knew he had to find her a suitable husband. If not, he risked losing everything he had built. And one noble lord, their neighbour, showed a keen interest in his daughter. Despite Cathleen's strong objections, Wyard decided to arrange her marriage to the lord against her will.

"If you cannot decide for yourself, I'll decide for you!" Wyard's voice shook with anger. "I've given you enough time to choose a suitable husband!"

Cathleen wept bitterly when she learned of her father's plan. She refused to submit to his will and marry the lord he had chosen. Even when threatened, her resolve remained unbroken.

"I love another man, and he loves me!" she declared at last.

Astonishment flashed in Lord Wyard's eyes. "Who is he, Cathleen?" he asked, his voice betraying his concern. "You should have told me sooner. You know I've always given you the freedom to choose."

Cathleen just looked at him, saying nothing. Meanwhile, Wyard struggled to recall any young lords his daughter might have met during their visits to other castles or at the court in Valoria. But he couldn't remember any man to whom Cathleen had shown even the slightest hint of affection.

"What is his name?" His tone was now edged with apprehension.

Tears streamed down Cathleen's face, but she only shook her head, refusing to answer.

"Say his name!" Lord Wyard raised his voice in desperation, but Cathleen remained silent.

Wyard's mind swirled with suspicion and anxiety, so he resorted to spying. He ordered one of Cathleen's maids to keep a close eye on her every move. It didn't take long for him to discover the bitter truth.

One evening, the maid led him to a secluded grove near Daurleigh Castle. Dismissing her, Wyard concealed himself behind a thick bush and watched. In the dwindling light, he saw a couple: a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark hair in a tender embrace with a woman he recognised as his daughter. The man's face was obscured by the growing shadows of the evening.

Wyard watched as they shared a tender kiss and exchanged whispered words of love.

"This may be our last meeting, Owain. My father wants me to marry our neighbour," Cathleen said, choking back unshed tears.

At the sound of the man's name, recognition flashed through Wyard like a lightning bolt. The man was Owain, his skilled blacksmith. He had hired him from Aradon only a few months ago because of his exceptional craftsmanship.

How could he have been so blind to the connection between them? Perhaps the lovers were simply skilled at keeping their relationship hidden, for he had never seen them together. Questions swirled in his mind: When did this happen? How?

Then Wyard suddenly recalled how Cathleen often visited the forge under the pretext of having her jewellery repaired. Clutching his head in despair, he lamented how he had been deceived so effortlessly. He had always trusted his daughter, often allowing her to wander the castle grounds unaccompanied, without the presence of a maid.

Meanwhile, Owain cradled Cathleen's face tenderly. "Please... We can flee to Aradon and marry there. I promise to work hard. You will never want for anything!"

"No, Owain," she said through tears. "They can pursue us. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"How can I live knowing we cannot be together?" His voice became hollow and broken. "This torment is worse than death!"

Wyard retreated to the shadows of his castle, his mind in turmoil. He had inadvertently exposed the secret love affair between his daughter and a commoner. Worse yet, he had already made a deal with his wealthy neighbour, the lord, for Cathleen's hand in marriage. This arrangement, made without her consent, was to be enforced within days.

Despair gnawed at Wyard as he grappled with what to do next. In an attempt to solve the problem, he sent his guards to kill Owain in secret. However, the young blacksmith managed to escape their clutches. Cathleen, meanwhile, was now ensnared within the neighbour's castle, facing an impending marriage to a man she did not love.

The thought of his daughter in such a plight was a dagger to Wyard's heart, yet his fear of public dishonour and the contempt of his peers held him back. He couldn't allow his daughter to wed a commoner.

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As the wedding day approached, Cathleen was forcibly led to the altar. The young lord, blinded by his desire, didn't care about her reluctance. Soon, he believed, his obsession would become his wife.

To make Cathleen obey, Wyard had woven a lie. He told her that Owain had been imprisoned, and that should she refuse to marry the lord, Owain would face execution. Stripped of any choice, Cathleen felt trapped. With a heavy heart, she prepared to bend to her father's will. The hope of saving Owain was the only solace in her despair.

At sunset, the ceremony began with a small group of guests hastily gathered to finalise the marriage. The nobles, absorbed in the festivities, waited eagerly for the impending union. But just as Cathleen was about to be bound in a marriage she didn't want, the sharp clang of steel cut through the celebratory music.

From the castle entrance, Owain, with determination in his eyes and sword in hand, fought his way through the guards that stood between him and his beloved. As a skilled swordsman, each swing of his blade was precise. When he reached Cathleen, he swiftly took her hand, and they both ran toward the stables.

Having expected the need for a quick escape, Owain had prepared two of the fastest horses. As they mounted the steeds, the alarm bells tolled, signalling the castle's guards to give chase. Taking advantage of the surprise and fading light, Owain and Cathleen galloped away, leaving their pursuers behind.

They rode hard through the night, navigating hidden trails and dense forests, until they reached the borders of Aradon. There, free from Lord Wyard's grasp and Valtharia's suffocating constraints, they found refuge. In a quaint temple in Owain's native village, they exchanged vows, sealing their love and commitment to each other.

After the wedding, Cathleen and Owain settled into a happy family life. Owain worked hard as a blacksmith, pouring his heart and soul into every piece he made. He was a tall, ruggedly handsome man with chestnut hair, which made his brown eyes appear even darker. Strong and capable, he was confident he could protect his beloved wife from any harm.

A year after their marriage, they were overjoyed to welcome their son, William, into the world. They showered him with love and watched him grow into a lively, inquisitive boy. His dark hair, like his mother's, framed a face with striking deep blue eyes.

However, their happiness was fleeting. Before William turned four, the vengeful lord who had once held Cathleen captive and wanted to marry her found out where they lived. Furious about the humiliation he'd suffered in front of his peers, he sent his men to capture Cathleen and take her back to his castle.

The family had to flee again, this time to the north, seeking refuge in Aradon's dense forests. Despite living in constant fear of being found, Cathleen and Owain held on to hope. They were determined to keep their family together and escape the relentless pursuit of their ruthless enemy.

Owain built a cosy house near the forest lake, and they survived by hunting and gathering food. The man secretly visited nearby villages to trade their handmade goods, while Cathleen stayed safe in the forest home, focusing on raising their son, William. She tried to give him a sense of normal life, hiding her fears so William would know no worries.

As William grew up, he became more and more isolated from the outside world, knowing only his parents and the forest. But this isolation didn't hold him back. His parents taught him how to live off the land, hunt, fish, gather food, and make fire.

The forest was his home, and William knew no other life. He was like a forest spirit, and nature shared its secrets with him. With so much to explore, he sometimes wandered too deep into the woods.

"William, please, don't go too far. It can be dangerous," his mother would warn him.

But his legs would carry him far into the woods on their own. At such moments, his heart would leap with joy, and whenever he discovered something new, he'd hurry home to share it with his parents. Soon, he became skilled at navigating the forest and finding his way back home.

William also became an expert at taming wild animals by learning their habits. He learned to ride wild horses at a very young age. He'd often gallop across the plains, feeling the wind in his hair and the sun on his face, relishing the sense of freedom. Although the boy knew little of the outside world, he was content living in the forest with his parents, surrounded by the beauty and wonder of nature.

One day, while William was exploring the woods, a piercing cry for help shattered the peaceful stillness. He rushed toward the sound and saw a boy, about his age, desperately struggling to free himself from the marshes. Only the boy's head, with fair locks, remained above the surface, his hands helplessly splashing in the ooze. His eyes were wide with terror as he gasped for breath.

Without hesitation, William tied a rope to his horse and threw the other end to the boy. With the horse's strength, he managed to pull the poor boy to safety.

"My name is Edward," the boy choked out, trembling. "Help me get to my castle."

Edward could barely walk on his own—he was limping on one leg—so William took him home on his horse.

Edward was the only son of Lord Harold and Lady Esther, members of high nobility within Aradonian society. His parents had lost all their unborn children, and because of this, they went to great lengths to protect Edward from harm.

However, one day, Edward's curiosity got the better of him, and he disobeyed their rules. He saddled a horse, though his riding skills were limited to supervised outings. Eventually, he fell, injuring his leg. The horse ran off, leaving Edward stranded in the marshy woods.

Grateful for his son's rescue, Lord Harold invited William to the castle. Edward's parents were intrigued by the mysterious boy from the woods, though at first, William revealed little about himself.

As William and Edward's friendship grew stronger, William became a frequent visitor to the castle. The boys spent much of their time together, both within the castle walls and exploring the surrounding lands. At last, William had found a friend outside of his family. For Edward, their friendship brought a newfound sense of freedom—he was never bored when they were together.

However, Lady Esther often said to her husband disapprovingly, "Harold, this boy is wild. He may be a bad influence on Edward. He could lead our son into peril!" But Lord Harold did not share her concerns. He saw how his son had come alive with his new friend.

Gradually, Owain and Cathleen warmed to Edward. Though initially wary, they began to welcome him into their forest home.

The boys learned from each other, bringing unique skills to their friendship. William showed Edward the beauty of the wilderness, teaching him about the forest's plants and animals and how to ride horses without reins. Edward, in turn, taught William the art of sword fighting and archery.

Together, they explored new sights on horseback, riding through forests and moorlands. Over time, Edward's riding skills improved, eventually matching William's, and the two boys galloped along as if they had been riding together for years.

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Daurleigh - /ˈdɔːrli/

William and Edward as children:

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