The Adventures of William(Unfinished)

         Just to let you know, this is not my best work. It's just practice and I'm sure there are many mistakes and awkward places. Plus, it's unfinished and I'm working on that. I just thought I'd put it out here to get some constructive criticism and writing tips. Enjoy and thanks for reading!


Main Characters:
William Torrington - England (Knight)
Johann Weipprecht – Germany
Giovanni di Verrazzano di Niccolo– Florance, Italy (Struggling Writer, Painter, Musician, and Astronomer)

1455

         William slid off his giant war horse and stretched his limbs. A long day of riding left him feeling sore and exhausted. Staring around at all his companions, he realized they all needed some form of release. He quickly decided to take them on a trip to the alehouse later.
         Henry, a good friend William had known for many years, smiled widely at him. Henry was a husky man with big muscles and a round face. He was a young knight, barely over nineteen. William often wondered why Henry had became a knight in the first place. Despite being absolutely gigantic, compared to other men, Henry was the nicest man William had ever met and he was even nicer on the battlefield. He only fought when he had to when he did, he always seemed terrified. That wasn't exactly the characteristics the king was looking for in his army. William thought Henry would be happier as a monk or a blacksmith, something calmer and less dangerous. Nevertheless, William could never picture Henry as anything but a knight.
         William smiled back as warmly as he could. He felt he would collapse at any moment. He rolled his shoulders and yawned, turning back around to face the castle. It was beautiful, one of the most intricately designed castles he had seen in all his travels. He had every room and hall committed to memory. Almost every room had a fire burning in the hearth, giving the castle a warm, welcoming feeling. William often wandered how much wood they went through in a year.
         “Sir William Torrington. I am so pleased to see you.” a playful female voice said suddenly.
         William looked up. A short woman with long, dark curls stood a few yards away from him. She wore an elegant burgundy and black dress with longs sleeves and a low V shaped neckline. Her big, round eyes and full lips gave her the appearance of a child. She was smiling brightly at him The joy in her large brown eyes was unmistakable.
         “Elaina Torrington. I am just as pleased, my sister. ” He laughed. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him closely to her.
         “I've missed you so much!” She squeezed him on last time and held him back by his shoulders, smiling up at him. “Everything went well?”
         “Everything is fine.” William smiled warmly and she hugged him again.
         “Your sweaty.” She pointed out.
         “Well, yes, I've been riding all day.” he laughed.
         She looped her arm through his, leading him toward the looming gates of the castle. When they were in the great hall, she turned to him and said:
         “Now, you go on and get cleaned up. I told that poor cook I wouldn't eat until you had returned home to eat with me. I'll be waiting in the dining room when you've finished.” She smiled and hugged him once more, then left.
         William made his way toward the washing room, half smiling. He was ecstatic to be back home, even though his sister was going a little crazy with the hugs. She had missed him though and he had missed her too, so he really didn't mind it much. He absently wandered where his mother and father were. He hadn't seen the servants running around the castle like beheaded chickens as they usually did when his mother was home. He knew they would be at dinner so he didn't worry about it. He nodded his head in a hello to the guards he passed as he walked the halls.
         When he arrived in the washing room, he called for a woman servant to bring him a new change of clothes. She was skinny, with slitted green eyes and red hair.
         “What is your name?” William asked politely as she was about to leave.
         “Mary, my lord.” she bowed her head and stared at the floor.
         “Well, thank you, Mary.” he gestured to the clothes and smiled at her. She wouldn't look up at him and he was getting frustrated. He noticed she was shaking.
         “Your welcome, my lord.” she said hastily. She turned and half ran out the door. William wandered why she was acting so strange.
         He pushed the thought from his mind. He would ask mother and father at dinner.
         After he took a bath, shaved and put on some clean clothes, he made his way to the dining room. The room was huge with a beautiful painted ceiling and carved stone walls. Stone angels decorated the walls, their hands held out in a welcoming gesture. When William was a child, the sculptures had always frightened him. The ceiling was high and painted with bright colors and great detail. This painting always amazed William. He had always wandered how you could paint on such a big canvas. You would have to be very talented, William thought, and very good with heights. His father had told him a young artist named Giovanni di Verranzzano di Niccolo had painted the masterpiece.
         William couldn't help but smile when he walked into the dining room. His father was at the head of the table, his mother on his left side and Elaina had skipped a seat so William could sit on his right. When his mother saw him, she jumped up from her seat and ran to him, hugging him tightly and kissing him on the cheek.
         “We've all missed you so much!” she exclaimed. When she pulled back, there were tears in her dark brown eyes.
         “It hasn't been the same without you here.” his sister added, patting him on the arm.
         His father embraced him and smiled. “It's good to have you back, son.”
         William smiled widely. He went and sat back down with his family. They talked the whole dinner, about everything. William was so happy he was back, he forgot to ask about the strange servant girl.
         William had been called by Edmund, the Duke of Somerset, to fight in The Battle of St. Albans against the Yorkist army. Unfortunately, Duke Edmund had perished but many of the knights who fought with him had escaped. It was the first open battle of the War of the Roses, a series of civil wars fought between Lancaster and York over the throne of England. William was one of the few who had been lucky enough to escape and make it back to his family. William was thankful now for his warm clothes and good food.
         “I have some one I want you to meet, William.” his father said proudly. “Thomas Stanley, Earl of Derby.”
         A man strode into the dining room, wearing long, elegant red robes that billowed behind him in his fast stride. He was tall, with black hair and gray eyes. He smiled but it was not friendly. William faked a smile and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Earl Thomas.” he said.
         “It's good to meet you as well, William. I've heard much about your skills on the battlefield.” he replied. William's sister was engaged to marry Earl Thomas's son, James. William had only met James once, he was a nice enough boy with the same dark eyes as his father but not as frightening. William had always wanted to meet James's father, though he had pictured him much, much different.
         “I hope what you've heard was good.” William tried the warmest smile he could but those black eyes were intimidating.
         “Yes, well, I just figured I'd stop by and meet the famous William. Your sister speaks very highly of you.” There was a strange look in Thomas's eyes that William couldn't place. “If you'll excuse me, I'm expected at a engagement in the morning and I need to get going.”
         “Already?” William's father broke in. “You've just got here! Please, stay awhile!”
         “No, I wish I could, but I can't.” Thomas said. “Thank you for your hospitality. It's been a pleasure meeting you all.”
         And with that he was gone.
         William was thankful when the man left, but he still had a sense that something was wrong. He pushed it out of his mind and continued talking to his family.
         After dinner, he went for a walk in the stables. Henry was there, brushing his horse and cooing to it softly. He looked up at William and smiled, waving a meaty hand. William smiled back and went to pull up a seat near Henry's horse.
         “Hello, Henry.” William sat down and looked up at him.
         “Hello, Willy.” Henry replied then laughed. “Elaina was sure happy to see you.”
         “I was happy to see her too.” William laughed. “It's been a long time since I've been back at home.”
         “I hear she is to be married?” Henry asked polity.
         “Yes. The wedding is supposed to be in a few days.”
         “Whoever has her is a lucky man.” William couldn't tell if Henry was talking to himself or not. His eyes were dreamy and far away.
         “I suppose.” William replied, shrugging. “She can be quite annoying at some times.”
         They sat for about ten minutes in silence. Henry continued to brush his horse while William stared at the hay on the ground awkwardly.
         “Well,” William finally broke the silence. “I should be getting back now. Goodnight.”
         Henry nodded, suddenly becoming absorbed in his work.
         William's brow furrowed. Henry usually wasn't that quiet. He was always the one who was full of energy and, despite how William hated to admit it, kept the men's spirits high(That was William's job, after all). Perhaps hes just tired?, William thought to himself.

****

         Back at the castle, William was sleeping in a large bed with the embers of a dieing fire in his fireplace. He rolled over, dreaming peacefully. He hadn't realized how tired he had been until he laid down in his soft bed.