It was a necklace of beautiful green stones that shone like brilliant stars. Sam thought it beautiful, even though she had no need for such ornaments. Woden's life was one of simplicity, and such trinkets, while nice, had little usefulness.

"He bids you wear it so that I may tell of your most gracious pleasure and beauty."

"If it pleases you, I will put it on."

May came over and placed the necklace of green stones around Sam's neck. Everyone thought the necklace beautiful, but knew that Sam thought little of such items. Sam thought nothing of the necklace until it was placed around her neck. She felt something troubling about it, but held the thought until later.

"It pleases me well, your Highness, but it pleaseth my Liege a 1,000 fold." Devin turned to his kinsmen and waved his hand. Gowan went around the corner of the dwelling and snapped his finger. A guard came forward holding onto the reins of four very handsome horses. Sam could barely contain her laughter.

"King Buron sends you four of his finest horses, M'Lady, so that you might ride into the countryside with him to take your pleasure of him in leisure and entertainment away from the castle."

"The horses are beautiful, Sir Devin, but tell me, what is a castle?"

"A castle, M'Lady? You knoweth not? Please forgive me, Highness. I should have but known. It be but my fault."

- 95 -.

"Sir Devin, you would do me great pleasure to just answer my question."

Quickly he said, "I am sorry, M'Lady. Of course. As you bid. You are most gracious. A castle is the house of stone, built to withstand siege."

"A house, Sir Devin? What is a house?"

"Why, M'Lady, it is what you live in."

"Ah, yes. Thank you, Sir Devin. Then I take it that King Buron lives in such a castle?"

"Oh, yes, Highness. A large and great castle. The largest and best in all the land."

"Yes, I am certain it must be."

"You are a most gracious and kind kinswoman. My Liege will dance with pleasure of this knowledge of you. May I present the next present, M'Lady."

"As you will, Sir Devin, as you will." Sam found the entire affair very humorous, but also embarrassing.

Does he not know this is a woman's community?

She had seen Briggon holding himself so as to prevent his laughter from escaping. Oisin was standing slightly apart from anyone, staring at Sam and smiling slightly. She enjoyed watching Sam play this man's hand out.

Oisin thought to herself, So, our Sam is but a master of deception, too. Now I understand why she thinks this the biggest game of all. And she plays it well.

"Next, M'Lady, my Liege sends you four courtly gowns. They come from a most special of all places, from deep within a Queen's Valley." He clapped his hands and his kinsmen brought forward each of the gowns.

They were indeed beautiful, sewn with jewelry embedded into each. And each was very, very low cut in the front, in a deep 'V' shaped pattern.

"King Buron, M'Lady, would liketh you informed that he aims to pleaseth you in the private moments of love, and that he is well endowed.

He will be most pleased to learn that you are as equally endowed in the regions these gowns have been made to display."

"Sir Devin, please excuse my ignorance of your language, but are you saying that your King thinks himself as a lusty and large sort, and that he prefers women with large breasts? And please know, I mean no disrespect." She could almost not contain herself from shrieking with laughter.

Such arrogance these men display.

Oisin had started to laugh at Sam's statement and had to place her hand over her mouth and turn from the events.

"And none is taken, my Highness. Language barriers can be most difficult to forge. It is as you say, M'Lady, thus ensuring many happy unions - 96 -.

and many heirs. With your beauty and, as you say, breasts, M'Lady, it shall be that the King never leave court again."

"Well, we couldn't have that, could we? I am certain that the King has many affairs outside his court he must attend." She had hoped Keddi had heard her say "couldn't", one of the new words they learned this turn, and felt it a fine addition to this other old language she was hearing. She looked at Keddi to see if she had, and saw Keddi silently laughing.

"Yes, M'Lady, but your presence and beauty would hold him tight, as it would any man."

"Your tongue is glib indeed, Sir Devin, but you flatter me overly. I am just a woman like any other."

Sam had heard upon many moments how beautiful she was, but had always felt herself the same as any other woman in her community. She couldn't figure out what all the fuss was over some physical attributes.

"Nay, it not so, M'Lady. I have sought beauty such as yours for my Liege for four cycles. There be none so fair and beautiful as what we have seen here. And pray believe me, you do taketh away a man's breath."

"Do I take your breath away, too, Sir Devin?"

"Yes, my Queen, for my Liege, my breath hath but been stolen in your singular beauty."

Jandra thought, And this woman's breath, as well. You are truly beautiful.

Jandra knew she would always keep such thoughts to herself, as she knew that Sam had so many others she could consider for companions. But she thought them, nonetheless.

"You do over-flatter, Sir Devin, and we thank you for these gif"

Sam was growing tired again and was glad that the charade was almost over.

"Oh, M'Lady, I beg your forgiveness, but I be not yet finished. There is one more gift my Liege wishes you to have. As a show of his undying love for you, he has sought that which means much to you. Please take this gift as a show of his true and generous love in hopes that he may soon have an heir. He wishes to know one item of privacy first, my gracious Queen."

"I do not yet think me your Queen, Sir Devin, but what is this information your liege would know of me?"

"Oh, most kind and gracious Highness. The King wishes to know if you hath lain with a man."

"Lain with a man, Sir Devin? Our community shares our societal functions in bond with a men's community, as I am sure you must know.

Is this your reference?"

"Nay, M'Lady. The King requests to know if you be, pardon me, M'Lady, but this is a most difficult of question, if you be chaste."

"Chaste? What does this word chaste mean, Sir Devin?"

- 97 -.

"This language barrier doth make it ever the most difficult, M'Lady, and I apologize for my inability to make myself clear. The King wishes to know if you hath lain with any man, most gracious and beautiful Lady of all the land, or have you been chaste for our Liege?"

"Oh, Sir Devin, I think I understand. Do you mean have I been with a man before, as in communions to have children?"

"Oh, most smartest of Queens, that is what the King asks. Hath you lain with a man and hath you produced children?"

"This is a most private and quizzical question, Sir Devin, but I will answer it. No, I have not lain with a man, and so I have no children."

Oisin almost began to laugh out loud. This Sir Devin is such a simpleton.

Can he not see how Sam plays with him? Of all things, chaste . Ha! Sam chaste. Not if I were to have my way, Sir Devin, and believe me, I have. Chaste is not a woman's quality, Sir Devin, and Sam is most of all, a Woman.

"Oh, most Highest and Pure Queen of all the realm. My Liege, King Buron will no doubt have a celebration that will last for endless turns at such knowledge as this. I know I have but chosen well. Pray allow me to present you with this last gift."

He held out a package for her.

Karan came forward to accept and open it. As it was opened, she handed it to Sam. It was a book. One of the first books. This took Sam's breath away. This was something that Sam had asked Oisin to search for on every trip. It was known that the First Ones had books. A few were in Woden, but had been obtained in very poor condition, and all missing pieces and sections. The dictionary that Woden had was also one of the original books, but several complete sections were missing from it. Here in front of her was one of the original books, in beautiful condition, completely intact, and with a beautiful cover. Sam opened it and read the title, Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory . This was indeed a highly prized possession, and King Buron was giving it to her.

"Sir Devin. This be a gift of superior merit, but as such, I find it very difficult to accept."

"M'Lady, it pleaseth me and my Liege that this gift hath done its purpose. It hath given you the pleasure that the King cannot until you are in his arms."

"These gifts are remarkable, indeed, Sir Devin, but I know nothing of your countryside and ways. And are you not aware that you are standing in a woman's community?"

"But, M'Lady, we too have women's communities. We call them convents, or nunneries, but they are such as this - women living with other women. What is done in such communities hath no meaning to a man's realm, as a woman is not truly a woman until she lies with a man."

- 98 -.

At this statement, every woman in attendance had to withhold her anger. Even Sam, but all held their tongues.

Meera cringed, Such belittlement of women. Who do they think they are? We could easily overtake their sorry selves.

"I thank you for that explanation, Sir Devin. It does serve to explain.

But tell me, Sir, what of your community, or should I say, castle?"

"No, M'Lady, the castle is the dwelling. We hold many villages, and it is a feudal dominion. Our people are taxed to gain the King's protection, but all live happily in the Kingdom."

"Ah, so it is called a kingdom."

"Yes, my most gracious and intelligent Queen. But have you not heard of this?"

"I am but a simple person, Sir. I have no such knowledge."

Sam was tiring quickly. She needed to rest for longer than half a turn.

"It be not so, M'Lady. Our lands be far distant from yours, and your ignorance of our ways is no shame on your part."

"How large are your lands, Sir Devin, and on how much protection may I count on?"

"Oh, Highness, yours and King Buron's lands are large indeed. We have nearly 1,200 souls in our kingdom. And you may count on well trained armies for your protection."

"Armies, Sir Devin? Could those be what we call guards?"

"Yes, most gracious, kind and purest of Ladies, those would be the same."

"And what of your ships? Would my coastline be well attended?"

"With the best and most ships in the land. We have over six fully rigged ships, your Highness."

"We are pleased by these gifts, Sir Devin, and by the graciousness and generosity of King Buron. But you have not spoken of the terms of this union. What might we have to offer your liege?"

"My most wise and gracious Queen, but yourself. You are the most prized possession in all the realm."

"And why would that be, kind sir?"

"M'Lady, pray give me leave of these words, but you are the fairest and most beautiful in all the realm. Your beauty is such that it shineth many leagues from here. Your blond and silky hair shineth like the stars in all the sky. Feasting one's eyes on such as you is akin to sailing through the heavens. With a woman such as you at a man's side, no man could fail in their quest."

Keddi thought, And I know why Brett fought for you until her death.

Sam looked at him with her eyebrow raised and asked with a slight, but hard edge in her voice, "That, Sir Devin, and that I am The Chosen One?"

- 99 -.

He bowed his head and spoke softly, "Yes, your Highness, as you say.

It be the prophecy."

There were many murmurs and loud gasps in the crowd. Sam had wondered how far this legend had spread.

Now she knew.

It has spread throughout The Realm. How is it that everyone knew of this before me? If I am to be The Chosen One, then why am I the only who did not know?

She shook her head clear of these questions for later. She had to concentrate on this overly wearisome man and his ridiculous words. She was tiring, and she had much to attend to on the next morn. The traitors would face Sam's sentencing, and the former Highest would have her funeral at midturn.

She frowned at him, "I think you flatter me overly, Sir Devin. It is The Chosen One you want, and not me."

"Nay, M'Lady. Pray say it not so, as it be not so. You are a chaste lady, are you not?"

"By your definition, Sir Devin, I suppose I am. But I am also not a young woman. I think that your King Buron may want whatever it is The Chosen One to have. Is that not true? By all accounts, should he not want a young and beautiful woman with her whole life yet to live? One that could give him many heirs to his kingdom?"

"Nay, M'Lady. King Buron loves you and is most devoted to you. He will shower you with love, devotion and any material item your heart may desire for your entire life. He wishes nothing else but to lie with you, M'Lady, produce strong heirs so that your union may live forever, and to giveth you much pleasure. He thinks a young woman to be silly and frivolous. It be only you he desires, M'Lady. And M'Lady, while you not a young frivolous thing, you are not old, either, and you hold the beauty of experience. As I most sincerely sayeth before: You taketh away a man's breath. Any man would fight legions for you, my Queen, and I speak this most truly and honestly, and from my Liege's heart."

As would this woman, thought Oisin.

"I am certain it is as you say, Sir Devin."

"You are but the wisest of all, my Queen."

"Being a chaste, kind, wise, gentle, gracious, pure, intelligent gentlewoman, I cannot step into this union so quickly, Sir Devin."