Free Queen Of Knights by David Wind

overgarment.
    “Yes,” Gwendolyn said absently.  Because of her height she disliked the newer fashions; they restricted her movements.  But tonight, as she had since Richard’s arrival, she would wear the more uncomfortable, fashionable clothing.
    “Sir Miles’s squire brought you a gift,” Roweena ventured and saw her mistress’s eyes widen for a moment.  “‘Tis on the bed,” she said .
    “The white undergarment also , ” Gwendolyn ordered as she went to her bed.  While Roweena prepared her clothing, Gwendolyn looked at the leather box.  Lifting it slowly, she inspected the leather’s intricately tooled handiwork.
    When she opened the box she gasped .  Inside, on a bed of velvet, rested a small, jewel - encrusted dagger, its blade encased within a tooled leather sheath.  She set the box down and lifted the small curved blade in her hand.  Then she saw the piece of parchment and took that from the box.
    Unfolding it, she read the neatly scribed Latin, and a smile lit her face.  Miles had written that he had purchased this Saracen-made blade in Italy, but had not known why at the time .  When he met Gwendolyn, he had learned the reason .
    Gwendolyn put down the note and gazed at the knife.  It was beautifully crafted, and when she withdrew it from its scabbard, its barely curved length glinted dangerously .  She had seen only one such dagger before , and that was years ago at Halsbred, in Sir Guy’s armory.
    “My lady?” Roweena called.  Gwendolyn turned and smiled at her servant .  The smile faded when she gazed at the clothing.  She shrugged away the helpless feeling and nodded.  Roweena undressed her and then began the process of dressing.
    First she stepped into the s l ippers Roweena had set out for her, and then the undergarment went on.  Not for the first time did Gwendo l yn wish she had been born into the lower classes .  If that were so, then she would not have had to wear anything more than this garment.  Sighing, Gwendolyn allowed Roweena to attach the cloth girdle around her waist.  Then she stood still while the servant fluffed out the skirt .  When that was done, Roweena held up the outergarment.
    Gwendolyn stepped into it and waited u n t i l Roweena adjusted the bodice for her breasts and clasped the five silver buck l es together at each side .  The bodice rose to the base of her neck in a perfect circle , emphasizing its grace and beauty.  The outergarment was tucked in at her waist, and cut at her hips, where the material tapered to a point, centered midway to her knees in front and back.  The sleeves belled downward, reaching a l most to the floor , and Gwendolyn shook her arms to free their many fo l ds.
    The sleeves, and the bor d e r of the neck, were braided in a bright blue, and compleme nt ed both the garment and her comp l exion.
    “This suits you we l l, my lady,” Roweena said.
    “I still dislike it . ”
    “I think Sir Miles will l i ke it.”
    “Enough!” Gwendo l yn said i n a loud voice, but fai l ed to put any anger into it.  She smiled when she saw Roweena trying not to.  “My hair?”
    “I can braid it and use the sil v er comb , ” Roweena suggested.
    “Not tonight .  I think a simple crown braid will do , ” she decided.  Twenty minutes later Roweena finished her hair and Gwendolyn stood.  “The mirror , ” she ordered.
    Roweena brought out the po l ished-steel oval and held it for Gwendolyn.  She studied herself critically until she nodded her approval .  Her ha i r flowed in smooth waves down her ba c k, but the sides had been braided in a tiara, and rested on the top of her head .
    “Did you wish a necklace?”
    Gwendolyn shook her head and turned away.  “Wait,” Gwendolyn called.  “My long chain, I have a use for it,” she said.  Moments later she held the gold rope in her hand.
    She took the small jeweled dagger from the box and, using the link that was on the sheath, attached it to the l ong golden rope.  Then