Sophia Watchmen

Born in a time of lords and ladies Sophia's earliest memories were the happiest. Her father Jonathan Watchmen was a lord and land owner in the small community of Garth Brook. He was married to Elizabeth Watchmen who had slightly more noble breeding. Though Jonathan was by no means a commoner. The marriage had been arranged but they were happy.1

When Sophia was born it brought more joy to Jonathan than he thought possible. They were inseparable during her young years. She would toddle after him as soon as she could walk. She was a curious child and asked him many questions. He answered them all and made her feel like a princess.2

Sophia loved her father very much. He taught her a great many things. Things that she could have learned from tutors as well as things only men would learn such as weaponry and hunting skills. Though Sophia still had a relationship with her mother her bond with her father was mountains above it.3

So as a young child she grew to love the out doors and being around her father. When he would go on extended trips to the capital of Loxworth she would wait every day in her favorite spot of a tree that over looked a fork in the road so she could meet him when he came home.4

It was here that she sat one day feeling the soft spring breeze and fiddling with her fingers when a tragedy struck. She was eight years old at the time. Jonathan had gone to check on his farthest reaching fields and tenants and had been gone since sun rise. As the late afternoon graced her skin she heard his hoof beats.5

She grinned as she listened to his approach. She was discomforted when she recognized that from the other direction, which stretched into town, the sound of a group of horsemen approached. Her heart raced. She did not know why but she felt uneasy and worried.6

Almost at the same time Jonathan's large bay and a group of uniformed men came into view. The men were soldiers. As well as three horsemen there were also a handful of foot soldiers. Jonathan surveyed the men as he came in slowly to meet them.7

The soldiers proceeded to demand taxes unjustly from Sophia's father. He informed them that he had cleared up his debts in the royal court only a week ago. As tension built it became apparent that the men did not care what he said.8

Soon Jonathan was surrounded and unarmed. Once again they demanded money. He undid he purse and tossed it at the men. A foot soldier picked it up and emptied it into his palm. Announcing the small amount to his captain did not seem to calm the furry that Sophia saw in his eyes.9

Gearing at Jonathan's pleas that it was all he had on him the men tightened their circle. Anger began to radiate from the group and Sophia watched in horror as the first arrow flew. After watching her father being beaten and searched for money Sophia climbed down from the tree. 10

The men were gone and all that was left was the bloodied form of the man she had admired from birth. Devastated she ran her fingers through his hair and sobbed. She collapsed and lay muttering and sobbing on her fathers corpse for hours.11

Afternoon slipped into night and she just lay there. Even when she got to the point where the tears would not come she sat there. She moved Jonathan's head to her lap and she stroked his hair over and over as she had done so many times.12

After the family realized her disappearance a search party was sent out. When a faithful servant found her she was rocking back and forth with no life in her eyes. Frightened he sought out the nurse maid.13

The maid came to her calling her by name. There was no response. When the nurse maid touched her shoulder Sophia pushed her away trying to protect the corpse. Desperate the woman tried again and shook her away. She whispered assurances in her ear trying to help her grieve.14

Through the next few years Sophia eventually learns to deal with her father's death. She grows apart from her mother in many ways because of her mother's willingness to forget Jonathan. Sophia feels hurt and alone most of the time. This is shown by the following conversation between Sophia and her mother:15

"Sophia, you need to quit sulking." Elizabeth insisted as she found Sophia brushing down one of Johnathan's favorite horses. Sophia ignored her and continued to work over the ebony coat. "Sophia, look at me." Sophia walked around the horse brushing as she went.16

"Sophia! Look at me!" Elizabeth grabbed Sophia's arm with a jerk. "You can't just stand here and brush this horse every day!" Sophia yanked from her grip and turned on her mother.17

"Father brushed her every day! I will not just sit here as his prized possessions are allowed to rot and his memory fades!" Her brush strokes became fast and in pace with her labored breathing. The horse whinnied and shifted uneasy with the tension in the air.18

"Sophia! Your father is not being forgotten!" The sympathy and anger in Elizabeth were both fighting each other hard. Her defenses were triggered by the brash comment given by her daughter.19

"Really?! Then why do you never mention him? He was barely cold in his grave before you packed up his things and stored them! You stride around like nothing is wrong and the world is a wonderful place!" Tears burned in her eyes as the pain echoed in her voice.20

"It has been two years Sophia! He is dead and he will never come back! I took his things down because I could not stand to be reminded!" Elizabeth's hurt spurred anger deeper than she had ever felt.21

"Better to feel the pain than to forget he ever existed!" Sophia's tears ran hot and her palms turned white with the tension that ran through them. "I hate you." Her harsh whisper sharply contrasted the shouts of only seconds before. "I hate you for not loving him nearly as much as you should. I hate you for not even respecting him in death. I hate you for trying to erase him from my life and I hate you for even thinking I could get over it! He is DEAD! He is dead and I will never get to see him again!"22

Sophi ran from her mother's presence. Fleeing the not only the conflict but also the notion that he would never come back. She and her mother never spoke on the subject again but it did not end the fighting and cold feelings.23

Because she no longer has her father to allow her to find her only true escape in the out doors her mother is forcing the issue of learning to be a lady. She frequently has to do needle point and knitting. She feels trapped and constrained.24

When Sophia is eleven her mother remarries to a man named Lord Nicholas Cennings. Sophia refuses to accept him and thinks her mother is trying to replace Jonathan. Though Lord Nicholas loves her mother very much Sophia does not think he cares in any way.25

Lord Cennings' pedigree is outstanding and his ability to provide for them is unavoidable. They move to his lard estate near a small village in Kettlewell. Sophia hates being torn from the only physical reminders of her father.26

As they settle in to the new house and estate Sophia grows to love the vast gardens and nearby woods with decent walking trails. Even though she is only eleven she has maturity that rivals many adults though she is still very childish in some ways.27

When spring brings devastating floods to the fields and farms of the tenants Sophia is forced to hole up in the library. When a severe storm rolls through Sophia meets some one who changes her life forever.28

At twelve years old Sophia meets Gavin, a fourteen year old farm boy that lived and worked on Her step-father's land. Soon they grew to be best friends. They would stroll the rolling hills and play with each other.29

As the years went by Gavin learned to speak like Sophia so that he did not feel embarrassed by his slow uncivilized tongue. They learned much from each other. Sophia eventually taught Gavin to read and write. Gavin in turn taught her weaponry and hunting skills. She was never happier.30

Through the time they spent together their friendship bloomed into a deeper connection then either of them had ever experienced. They visited on another daily. 31

This is where the story begins.