The Knight in The Garden

Schuyler carefully drew the horse and rider into his garden picture.  The computer wanted to make it a boring cowboy, so he had to modify it into the knight from his dreams.

“Why is there a guy on a horse in your garden?  That is so dumb, Schuyler,” said Mitchell. 

“It is not!  That’s a knight, not just a guy,” said Schuyler.

“Well what’s he doing there?” asked Mitchell.

“He’s on his way to a joust.  See his lance?” said Schuyler.  “Anyway, go do your own drawing.”

Schuyler turned back to his knight to add some blue to his saddle blanket.  As he watched, the knight bent down and picked the flower nearest him.

“Hey!  Did you see that!  My picture moved!”

“Yeah right,” said Mitchell without looking up.  He was busy drawing his own garden.

Schuyler looked again, and the knight waved at him.  He touched the screen, and all of a sudden he was standing at the knight’s side.

“Where am I?  What’s going on here?”  Schuyler asked.

“Thou art in Britain, lad.  I have summoned thee to act as my squire in an important matter.  Wilt thou aid me?”

“Uhm...sure.  I guess so.  What do I have to do?”  Schuyler had always dreamed of this moment.  If he could be a squire, then someday maybe he could be a knight! 

“I would have thee bear this poesy to my lady love.  She abides in yon castle.  This is the message.  I am off to seek the Holy Grail.  I will hold her in my heart, and I ask her prayers.  Can you remember that, lad?”

“Yes but who are you?  And who is your lady?”

“I am Sir Andrew of Lockley.  The lady you seek is Anne of Lancaster.  I require you to behave in a chivalrous manner with this task.  Be ye courteous and gentle, and Godly withal.  Now be off with you and God speed!”

With that the knight wheeled on his steed and galloped off.  Schuyler had no choice but to go deliver the red rose and the message.

The castle was on a hill, and Schuyler followed the road that wound through fields of crops he could not identify.  The peasants waved at him as he passed.  He quickly arrived at the castle.  A guard stood in his way on the drawbridge.

“State your business, lad.”

“I bear a message for Lady Anne of Lancaster.”

“Very well.  Proceed, but mind your manners in the ladies’ court.”

Schuyler went into the castle courtyard.  There were people and sheep and chickens everywhere.  Schuyler thought quickly.  He remembered a book about knights and castles Ma Mere had given him.  The ladies court would be in an inner courtyard, so he looked for another gate.  There it was, just like in his book at home.

Soon he was being shown into a large room filled with ladies in beautiful dresses.  They were sewing, and listening to a musician playing a lute.

A servant approached him.  “What business have ye here, lad?” she asked.

“I have a message for the Lady Anne.  Which one is she?”  Schuyler whispered to her.

“I will introduce you.  Follow me.”

Schuyler followed, and all the ladies watched him as he approached Lady Anne.

“My lady,” said Schuyler, and he bowed.  The ladies tittered and laughed behind him, and  Schuyler blushed, thinking he had made a mistake.

“I have a message from Sir Andrew for you milady.”

“Very well.  What is it?”

“Sir Andrew said to tell you that he is off to seek the Holy Grail.  He holds you in his heart, and he asked you to pray for him, milady. Oh, and he sent you this,”  Schuyler handed her the red rose.

Lady Anne blushed as she held the rose to her nose.  “Oh, my lady, Sir Andrew is so romantic!” one of her ladies in waiting gushed.

“Lad , you have served me well.  What is your name?” Lady Anne asked.

“Schuyler, my lady.”

“Well, Schuyler, take this in payment.  Now go down to the kitchen and tell the cook I said to feed you well.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

Schuyler headed off to find the kitchen.  As he walked down the hall he heard Mitchell say, “Hey, Schuyler, where did your knight go?” and suddenly he was sitting before his computer.  In his hand he held a gold button -- payment from the lady.