Traveling along an outside city road one evening, Lady Serria (how she was known at the time) saw a wounded man lying up against the city wall. Lady Serria quickly ran to the man and saw that he needed medical attention, fast. Lady Serria helped the fading man to his feet and together they slowly made their way to her house, within the city walls. After laying the man on her bed, she went in search of the house where the doctor lived. Unfortunately, the doctor wasn't home, so Lady Serria took it upon herself to treat the man. Days passed and to Lady Serria's delight, the man grew stronger. Although Lady Serria never had a talkative nature, the man seemed very interested in finding out everything about her and the city. She happily answered all of his questions, thinking that he was only curious.
The next morning, Lady Serria awoke to find her patient gone. Becoming concerned, she searched her property, but to no avail. At that time, she heard the city messengers ride past her house, announcing that the King demanded his people come to his castle. The man forgotten, Lady Serria quickly saddled her horse and joined the crowd hurrying to the castle.
She was surprised to see how quickly everyone had gathered in the castles courtyard. She was the only person on horseback, so she stayed near the back of the crowd. The King soon made his appearance on the balcony that hung over the crowd. The crowd quickly quieted as everyone saw the seriousness on the King's face.
"My people, a tragedy has fallen upon our kingdom. The enemy has informed us that if we do not immediately surrender, they will not hesitate to fight against us.
The people whispered to each other, wondering what the King's decision would be, and hoping that they would not have to fight.
"My people, we have no choice but to fight." the King said sadly.
The crowd clearly disapproved of the King's decision. One man yelled at the King to for a reason.
"Because the enemy has claimed that they know everything about our kingdom. They say that they have been able to get past the village walls and get to know their way around the land, which means that they are able to send spies onto our land whenever they want."
Lady Serria almost fell off of our horse when she heard that. The man she housed was an enemy spy. If anyone found out...
She was shaken out of her thoughts as the King spoke again.
"The enemy has told me that some of my subjects have housed these spies," the King said in a serious tone. "I advise that if this is true, than the guilty persons come forward."
Lady Serria didn't know what to do. Her heart was beating so fast that it was hard to think. She didn't want to be punished, but she couldn't lie to the King. Her decision was made for her. When an old, wrinkled, and haggard looking woman suddenly approached the front of her horse.
"It was her!" The hag screamed in a high pitched screech that made Lady Serria's skin crawl and got the crowd's attention.
"No! I... I didn't know!" Lady Serria replied in a shaky voice. She saw the crowd suddenly close in around her and the guards draw their swords before her horse panicked and threw her off it's back and onto the hard packed ground. Her head hit the ground and she slipped into unconsciousness.
She was thrown into the castle's dungeon where she remained for three hellish days before she was brought to trial. She didn't argue with the punishment that the court gave her. She had tried to explain how and why she had brought the man into her home, but the people would not listen. She was stripped of her title and banned from the kingdom.
Serria managed to get away from the kingdom before the war began. She was glad that was able to pack her clothes and take her horse with her since she had no idea when she would come upon a village or city.