Chapter 1

1139, in the home of Lord William Ryder III outside of Cambridge

Lord William Ryder paced silently back and forth in front of the door. He could hear screams coming from inside the room. While his face remain expressionless, his tense body betrayed his fears. He was a tall man, maybe over six feet, but other than this he had no striking features. His hair was a sandy blonde-brown, his eyes were a bland hazel, and if his nose was a bit large, his strong chin seemed to balance it out. But William was man's man, and being such, he didn't understand exactly what was going on in the room next door to him. His wife was giving birth for the third time, and she'd had a difficult birth just two years prior. But even two years ago, when she had given birth to their second son, Adrian, she had been considered an old mother. But now she was nearing 33, (A/N: remember, period fic) and the doctors and midwives had all been shocked to learn of her pregnancy and advised both of them early on that it was very likely that only one would survive the birth. The chances for survival were apparently even lower now, since her Lady Audrey was giving birth two months early. It was December 14, and the baby was not supposed to come until February. When William heard his wife scream again, he passed his hand over his face. He had waited outside these doors twice before, and it had been difficult both times. Although it had been an arranged marriage, his wife was a good one and he had started to love her long ago. And he hoped that she loved him. He felt a tug on his sleeve, and looked down. His eldest son, William, who was four years old, was looking up at him with fear and confusion of his face. "What's going on, father?" he asked. "Why are they hurting someone in there?"

His father, who did not understand the birthing process very well himself, did not know how precisely to explain it either. "My son, we aren't hurting anyone. Your mother is going to have another baby. Like when Adrian came," he tried to explain.

"Mummy is hurt? Why is the baby making her scream?"

"Well, when your mother has a baby, it hurts her a little. But they make us very happy later. You'll see, soon you'll have a new little brother or sister to take care of. And your mother won't hurt anymore, and we will all love it very much."

"Why does she love something that hurts her? I won't love it! I won't! Not if it hurts Mummy."

"Oh, you'll see, young Will. I'll have Mother explain it to you. Now really, you're not supposed to be here. You're supposed to be in class right now. Come along, scurry back to class with your tutor." William was worried that any more exposure to his mother giving birth would shock the child. No young boy should experience such things. He sighed aloud and walked slowly to the chair across the hall. He sat down and put his head in his hands.

He woke up when he heard a new noise. He shook his head, and stood up immediately. It was the noise of a baby. And maybe even a healthy baby! It's lungs seemed to work alright, anyway. It was screaming at the top of its lungs! Lord William stood up and immediately crossed the hall, only to remember that he wasn't allowed into the birthing room. He let out a hard breath in frustration. He wanted to go see his wife and new child. When he looked outside, he could see that it was almost light, and it had been in the early afternoon before that his wife had started labor. Finally the door opened. The midwife came out, drying her hands briskly on a towel. "My wife? The baby?" were the words immediately out of William's mouth.

"The baby is a boy, my lord. A small, but healthy boy."

"Oh, another boy! And my wife?" William could tell that something was wrong, but he hoped it was not serious. But he could feel his heart dropping slowly into his stomach at her hesitation.

"My lord, your wife, my condolences, your wife, she's dead, my lord."

Yeah, yeah, I know. A sad first chapter. I always seem to start off my stories with a death. It sort of sets up the rest of the story. Please review!