Old Times

By Jennifer Davis

Old Times is a medieval story about a princess and a runaway slave who are trying to be together, but things kept happening in their lives that prevent them from achieving this. This is a two part story, the first is about their lives, the second is about their son's life who is having similar problems. For readers ages 17+

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781304965592

Jennifer Davis

Jennifer Davis is an experienced operations engineer, international speaker, and author. Her books include Modern System Administration, Effective DevOps, and Collaborating in DevOps Culture. Jennifer has worked with a variety of companies, from startups to large enterprises, improving operability practices and encouraging sustainable work.

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Old Times

Old Times

By: Jennifer O. Davis

Copyright © 2003, 2009 by Jennifer O. Davis

All rights reserved. No Part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-304-96559-2

Table of CONTENTS

PART ONE: VANESSA AND JACK

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

PART TWO: KING JACK

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Epilogue

Part One: Vanessa and Jack

Chapter 1

Long time ago, in a kingdom far far away, Jack Mills was born in the dungeon of a castle, in a town called Treno. The Queen and King of Treno were evil. Treno was a slave town that only consisted of a castle. There were no little shops, a marketplace, and everyone who lived there lived in the castle. Jack never knew his parents. After he was born, he was taken away from his mother by maids in the castle. He never got to see what his mother looked like. Jack was taken care of by the Queen and King’s personal maids.

When he turned ten years old, he was taken back to the dungeon to live. Jack had dark brown hair and green eyes. He saw a lot of women, men, and children huddled in different corners. What am I doing here? I want to go back to my comfortable room. These people are dirty, Jack thought. Jack turned back around, grabbed the bars of the door and shook the door back and forth trying to open it. The door wouldn't budge. He was locked in. What did I do? I wasn’t bad. Why have you put me here, Jack thought. As Jack turned back around, he noticed two little boys coming up to him. One of the boys had dirty blond hair with blue eyes, and the other had black hair with brown eyes. Jack backed up against the door, What do you want?

You don’t have to be afraid of us? We’re not going to hurt you, the blond haired boy said.

What am I doing here? Jack asked.

This is where you will live now.

Why?

Because the King and Queen are evil. I’m John Norton by the way. I was put in here a couple of months ago. John pointed to the black haired boy, This here is Nick Stone. He was put in here a couple of weeks after me.

My name is Jack Mills. Can I ask you a question?

Sure, but if it’s why we were put on this land for this purpose…all I can tell you is that that’s life, John chuckled.

Jack didn’t see the humor in that. The question I wanted to ask you is, do you know what happened to my mother and father? Nobody will tell me.

You sure you want to know? Nick asked. Jack nodded. I’m sorry to tell you, but your mother was put to death.

What? Why?

They do that to all of the women who gives birth to children. The King and Queen believe that this is the woman’s only function...besides cooking and cleaning. They feel that once the woman gives birth that she will bond with her child...which is only right, and the King and Queen can’t have that. So, they sever that bond before it can form. John said.

What about my father? Was he put to death, too?

No, you’re father is alive, Nick said.

Well, which one is he? Jack looked around at all of the men in the dungeon.

Your father is one of the knights. All of the knights have sex with the women slaves to populate us and the knights. After each woman bares a child they are put to death to keep us from being over-populated also, John told Jack.

Well, I’m glad I’m a male instead of a female, Jack scoffed.

You would think it would be, but you would be wrong. The men have to make swords and arrows and have to practice with the knights, John said.

That’s if you're one of the lucky ones, Nick said.

What do you mean? Jack asked.

You could end up being a practicing doll for the knight’s fighting practice, Nick told Jack.

But you don’t have to worry about that for another five years, John said. Right now you’ll be made to scrub the floors, help in the garden, and feed the animals.

How do you guys know all this?

The same way you just found out. I was so scared when I was first brought here. Nick slapped John on the shoulder, But then John came over and told me what was going on.

We help each other out as best we can down here, John said.

Thanks, Jack smiles a little.

A year later, a girl about the same age as Jack was dragged and thrown in the dungeon. The girl had long shiny black hair, pale skin, and emerald eyes. When the gate to the dungeon was closed, she ran to it, grabbing a hold of the bars with both of her hands. No, she screamed. I promise, whatever I did wrong, I won’t do it again. Please, don’t leave me here. Please…, she slid down to her knees, still holding onto the bars.

Jack and his friends were in a corner of the dungeon trying to keep warm. Everyone was staring at the girl. Jack knew how she felt and felt the pain she was going through. Jack got up and slowly walked over to her. He could hear the girl crying, but couldn’t see her face. Jack wanted to reach out to her, but was afraid that he might frighten her. Jack decided to kneel down beside her and wait for her to realize he was beside her.

The girl could sense Jack beside her, so she slowly turned her face towards him. Jack could see in her face that she was frightened. You’re okay. Nobody is going to hurt you here, Jack said, trying to make her relax.

The girl’s grip on the bars loosened, What am I doing here? Did I do something wrong?

That must be what everyone says after they’re brought down here. Jack remembered saying something similar to what the girl said the first time he was brought down here a year ago. You didn’t do anything wrong.

Then why am I here?

You’re here because…well, I’m sorry to say it, but you’re here because you were born in Treno. The girl gave Jack a puzzled looked. Jack sighed, Once a child is born in Treno it becomes the Queen and King’s slave. At first the child is taken care of by the Queen and King’s personal maids and sleeps in a warm bed. Once the child is old enough to do chores, they no longer need to be taken care of by the maids and is sent down here to live.

How do you know all of that?

Because I was brought down here about a year ago.

Did your father leave before you were born, and did your mother die in child birth, too? That's what the maids told me when I asked them about my mother and father.

Jack thought for a minute, I can’t tell her the truth; she’s already scared as it is. Yes.

I hate being alone. Tears started welling up in the girl’s eyes.

You’re not alone…I’m here.

The little girl smiled. She let go of the bars completely and slowly stood up; Jack followed her lead. She wiped the tears from her eyes and face with the back of her hands. She also tried to straighten her hair from her face. Then she said, I’m Cella Thorn.

Jack bowed, I’m Jack Mills. Would you like to join me in my corner, you can meet my friends. Jack could see in her face that that frightened her. Don’t worry; I won’t let anyone hurt you.

You promise?

I promise. Cella grabbed Jack’s hand and Jack led her to the corner where John and Nick were at.

After Jack introduced her to John and Nick, Cella heard a group of people talking in another corner. Jack, what are they doing over there?

Jack looked towards what she was looking at, Oh, there are a group of men that are trying to escape.

How?

They apparently have a sharp rock and are trying to scrape the mortar from around the bricks.

Do you think it will work?

Probably…but not in their lifetime. Cella turned and looked at Jack, and saw the sad look on Jack’s face and decided to drop the subject.

That night Cella and Jack snuggled up to each other and fell asleep.

When Jack was 15 years old, he made swords and arrows for the knights and had to practice with them. He was very glad that he wasn’t one of their practicing dolls. Jack, John, and Nick became the best of friends. They loved to show off all of their cuts and bruises, from their practice fights with the knights, to each other. They also talked about getting out of the castle and living like Robin Hood and his Merry Men.

Jack and Cella started falling in love with each other. Jack would make her rings and bracelets out of the metal he made swords with. He would bring her flowers almost every day, and would snuggle up to one another every night in the dungeon.

The first time Jack made Cella something; the guards took it from him and gave him 20 lashes. Later, he discovered