Legal notice: This is adult material along the lines of a giantess fetish. If you are not an adult or easily offended by this erotic subject, please don't read any further. Thank you. In the rare case anyone actually enjoyed this story, please feel free to copy, upload/ download, or distribute the story as you like, as long as nothing is changed and the original author is named. Thank you.



Squire to the Rescue (Part 4)
by Deathworks


Chapter 20 : A Desperate Hero

What a lousy turn of events it had been. The blond man sat in the wooden chair that wasn't even pretending to be a throne and looked in the mug of wine he was holding. Ten days ago, everything had been alright. Even when they had started the campaign to claim neighboring Blackberry Fields. They had expected to ride into battle to gain honor and wealth for themselves and their liege. Instead, the high priest of the church of the Holy Mother had defeated the enemies with his prayers. This hadn't been that bad either. After all, since the victors usually wrote history, there would surely be a description of the siege and fall of Blackberry Fields Castle in which King Gerald's valiant knights defeated the reknown knights King Rupert had. And Sir Malcom had expected to gain a good reputation. 

But then everything went wrong. First, the princess the king had wanted to marry was gone. The sovereign went into a rage and no one knew if they wouldn't get killed by him right there. Sir Malcom was quite quite pleased when he did not only survive, but even got to rule over one of the conquered cities. Thus, it was both joy at the prospect of ruling a city and of getting away from the enraged monarch that had made Sir Malcom hasten on his way. Then he saw the fog and his spirits sank again. He felt that something awful awaited him.

It was Stalker, the small, tubby fellow standing next to the pillar to the left, who had awaited him before the city's gates. Before Sir Malcom really knew what was going on, the bald man bent down before him.

"Greetings, noble knight. I am Stalker and I have been sent to inform you that Deepswamps welcomes its new ruler. Please follow me to your lordship's residence. There, I will try to answer all the questions your lordship may have about Deepswamps." The calm voice of the man confused Sir Malcom. He had expected fear, defiance, maybe grieve to greet him, but this man just looked as if he had just sold him some bread or some cloth. After hesitating a moment, he felt that he had to make a decision, lest him embarassed himself. Therefore he simply said "Very well, I accept the city's surrender to Sir Malcom, knight to King Gerald III, ruler of Stormrock and Blackberry Fields. Lead the way." Then he followed the man past the gates.

The city itself was rather odd. Its defensive wall was just made of wooden beams rammed into the earth. Obviously, there were numerous gates and hatches allowing the citizens entry at will, and there were no guards to be seen, not even a guard house at what appeared to be the main gate. The sky was grey because of the fog and the swamp's stench was everywhere. The people themselves were very pale and their grey hide melted into the background. No one really seemed to care about him and his soldiers as they marched past merchants and workers going about their respective businesses. It all felt so unreal, Sir Malcom began to wonder if he wasn't just in a ghost town inhabited by evil spirits of the dead.

The "residence" Stalker had been referring to was built mostly of mud and straw, just like all the buildings in town. Compared to them, it seemed relatively big, but it couldn't even compete with Malcom's homestead. The interior was just as plain as the outside would have suggested. Just four rooms, one being the main hall where he could also hold court, no decorum, no nothing except for a few columns in the main hall. Expecting the worst, Malcom let himself fall into a chair two steps above the surrounding floor and sighed while his men scattered in the hall, recovering from the journey.

"What's your game?" "I beg your pardon, your lordship?" "Why did you just surrender so peacefully? Why are there no mourners? Why doesn't anyone care?" "Well, to put it bluntly, you may have conquered Blackberry Fields, but you can never conquer Deepswamps." At these words, the knights men tensed and put their hands on the hilts of their swords. "There is no need to fight. You may stay here as our sovereign as long as you like, we will pay taxes and obey your orders just as you would expect us to." "So what's with not being conquered?" "We do it, because it's okay with us. If you turn out to be a bad lord, though, we will get rid of you." "King Gerald would certainly send a punitive force. They would kill you all." "Haven't you looked around? We have very little things of great value. If need be, we can abandon this city within an hour and hide in the swamps. Your king's men may be great warriors on the plains and in the woods, but how would they fare in an unknown swamp, with fog unbelievably thick and strange creatures and snipers lurking at every corner?" Sir Malcom grew nearly as pale as his host. 

"You see, the rulers of Blackberry Fields hadn't conquered us either. King Rupert's ancestor King Brian V intensified their trade relations with us. Finally, he even chose to marry a daughter of our city, at the same size naming her family guardians and knights to this city. Sir Steve Brown, head of the guard and protector of Deepswamps, is a descendant of that family. He had asked me to handle your arrival. After all, he is a blood relative to the deceased King Rupert's family. We accepted Blackberry Fields because they offered us trade relations and help in fighting the beasts infesting the swamp. You are expected to do the same if you want to keep control. We never bowed before Fukar, but rather worship Great Hobard, Lord of Mysteries and Development." He paused, giving King Gerald's man time to recover and appreciate the situation.

"You said something about the city guard." "Yes, 30 men at arms, all ready to fight robbers, alligators, and whatever might show up in the swamp. Do you want to inspect them right now?" "- No, no, I'll do that later. So in effect, you say that we are just accepted here?" "Yes, but as long as we like you, you are our ruler." "I need something to drink. Get me some wine." "Yes, your lordship."

And thus he sat on this wooden "throne" as the administrator of a city his lord didn't really own and that could expel him and his men any time. Things couldn't have turned out worse. If he wasn't a royal knight, he would have started crying.


Chapter 21 : A Silver Lining

John was sweating and it wasn't just the heat that got to him. With the princess lying unconsciously on the cart, John had been able to climb up into her sweet- smelling hair. Although no longer surrounded by her, the warmth of her fever kept the fog's cold away from him. The squire shivered at the thought of how dangerous the situation had to be for the princess.

From his new vantage point, John was able to see the surroundings far better than from the ear's entrance. Unfortunately, there was little to see except for crippled and dead trees clouded by grey mist. It was as if their surroundings weren't real but wisps of dreams, ghosts that would disappear once they had passed. And still no sign of other humans.

John wanted to panic, to do somethings stupid, anything, but there was absolutely nothing he could do at his current size. Even if he shouted at the top of his lungs, it wouldn't be heard by the peasant or anyone else.

After hours of frustration, he noticed a faint light in the distance. "THERE! OVER THERE! LIGHT! TO THE LEFT!" The squire started shouting, but soon his voice failed him, disheartened as the farmer failed to notice his efforts. But then, the farmer moved, and John rejoiced as he realized that the giant must have seen the light as well. Careful not to abandon the safe path, he had the oxen approach the light.

As they drew closer, the light turned into a lantern attached to a staff. Holding the staff, there was a slender person clad in brown, dirty robes, a hood casting the face into shadows. A female voice addressed them:"Greetings, I am Sarah. Thomas the Sage has sent me to meet the princess and her companions and escort you to his abode." The farmer had stopped the oxen unsure of what to think of this. "Please trust me. If I wanted to harm you, I could have jumped you from within the fog before you knew I was there. Let us hasten, as the princess needs help, and we have the herbs that can save her at the cottage."

Finally, the farmer slowly nodded and steered the oxen onto the small path the woman was standing on. If she hadn't been there, he would have certainly missed it following the main route. "But how could you know such things? No one except for my family knows it is the princess I have with me." "Master Thomas can see the future, and he knew you would be coming. He is prepared and expecting the princess." "Then he will help her?" "Yes, he will." After that, they fell silent.

The path was just as sinister as the main road, only that it was just half as wide. Splashing sounds told of creatures swimming through the water holes and John tensed as he remembered the giant toad he had met before. The sage's abilities seemed impressive. She had said "companions", did she know?

At long last, they came to the cottage the exterior of which looked rather than a tiny hill covered by moss and small scrubs. Only the open door hinted at human habitation. Pushing the staff into the soft earth before the door, Sarah approached the cart. "There we are. The master is waiting inside to welcome the princess. Please help me get her out of the cart, I will carry her inside." Puzzled at the simplicity of the abode, the farmer couldn't do anything but comply. Quickly, John got himself entangled thoroughly in his sovereign's hair, not wanting to get lost on the last few meters. After shouldering the patient, the woman addressed the driver again. "This is where you will leave us. The further path of the princess is not yours, and getting involved beyond this point will not only fail to accomplish anything on her behalf, but will also cause you naught but misery. Return to your family and have faith." He wanted to argue, but there was something in her eyes that made him stop. Instead, he turned the cart around and began to carefully search his way through the swamp.

Without even waiting for him to disappear in the mist, Sarah started to walk into the cottage, her burden slowing her down. John could do nothing but watch as they passed the dark entrance. Inside the cottage, there was only little light coming from a small fireplace someone was sitting in front of. Before the squire had a chance to take a closer look or really wonder whether this was the famous sage, they suddenly turned to the right and approached a bed covered in white linen. Carefully, Sarah lay the princess down on the it.

"You can come out now, squire. I won't hurt you, so climb on." The woman put her hand down next to the princess' head. Not really having a choice, John freed himself and jumped onto her palm. The flesh was soft and moved under his feet so that he had to sit down. Looking up, he saw that she had removed the hood showing short blonde hair and blue eyes that looked down at him in surprise? "Sarah, why don't you introduce us properly? This isn't a way to behave before a squire to a royal knight." The voice sounded old and raspy and each word was accompanied by a rattling breath. A shape appeared behind Sarah's shoulder, but John couldn't quite make sense of it.

"Of course. This is Master Thomas, Sage to Deepswamps." She turned around a bit, so that John was able to see the figure behind her. He drew a breath and his heart nearly stopped beating. The old man was dressed in rags. His face was full of wrinkles and his skin seemed thin and dry. His hair was white, and although he must have been a large man when younger, he was now bent over. His eyes were wide open, but no light penetrated the white, blind orbs. "And I am Sarah, apprentice to Master Thomas." She paused, not knowing what to do next and John was still awed by the old man's appearance. "He is John Fields, squire to Sir Humphrey Ironshield, one of the royal knights to King Rupert II. When his knight and his king were killed by necromantic magic, he got shrunk by accident. Now, he has brought the princess here, looking for our guidance. And he will get it, but I will need to take care of the princess's illness first. Could you put him on the table, my dear, where he isn't in the way?"

While being carried to a table full of the oddest items, the squire couldn't but marvel at the old man's powers. No matter who they be, no spies could have told him what he knew. He must be blessed to have such knowledge. If someone could tell them what to do then it would be that man. John was relieved at the thought. As his mind had drifted away, he was startled as the ground suddenly tilted. "My deep regrets, noble squire, but I will need my hand to assist the master in his work." There was an amused smile on her face which was plain but not unattractive. The squire began to wonder why she would become a hermit's apprentice.

Then he saw her and the sage attend to the princess and was anxious again. No matter how marvelous the old man's powers seemed, what if he couldn't heal the princess after all. What if she died! And he couldn't even help them, as the apprentice began to mix various ingredients. Angry, he kicked a radish which wouldn't even move a bit. It was like hitting a brick wall. Again he had to wait.


Chapter 22 : Interlude at an Odd City

Sir Malcom was now sure that he would do anything to get out of this city. He had inspected the so- called guard. They had leather armors, swords, spears, and even bows at their disposal, but 30 men seemed too few to control a city of this size. They didn't really seem to care about anything, except for Sir Steve, who was obviously in grief. But even he behaved as was fitting for a knight.

There weren't many local products, expect for some animal skins and herbs. At least trade was going well and the taxes they were used to were reasonable. Yes, Sir Malcom would just organize the transition and then present the king with the taxes collected and request transferral. How could the king not praise his success. At least the people here weren't hostile against him. He could just wait this affair out until he is relieved from this post.


Chapter 23 : The Sage's Story

It had been two days now, since they had arrived at the sage's abode. The princess still hadn't regained consciousness, and John was seriously worried. At least, her condition hadn't worsened as Thomas and his apprentice fed her various potions and herbs and changed the wet cloth they used to cool her temperature. And all the while, John couldn't do anything but watch.

Once in a while, Sarah would check up on him and see if he wanted something to eat, drink, or needed anything else. He was a little bit embarassed as he noticed that she watched him like a small animal when he was eating. And she was always careful not to hurt him. They had even prepared a bath for him, using a saucer filled with water for that purpose.

This evening, Sarah was out, looking for some mushrooms. Thomas had been tending to the patient, but was now sitting at the table.

"Ask me." "I beg your pardon." "Ask me about myself. You have been a guest at my house for two days now, and you must be curious about how I got to know all about you and about my blindness, and my apprentice." "If you want me to, I really would like to know who you are."

"I was born to one of the hunters near Deepswamp. We had been a happy family until my father died in an accident when I was seven. My mother never recovered. Though I sympathized with her, I finally couldn't stand it, and left. Not knowing what to do, I came across Master Annette, the wise woman of Deepswamp. She was reknown for her knowledge of herbs and mushrooms that could heal all ailments. She must have realized some potential in me as she took me as her apprentice. I started to study hard in order to forget my misery. Then I realized that I was good at this and began to really enjoy it. Finally, I had become a healer under Annette's tuition. And for the first time in years, I remembered my mother and I went to check on her. But I found our home in ruins as my mother had died shortly after I had left."

"All left to me was my profession now. At first, that was enough, as I worked hard to develop new recipes, new cures. But I felt that I still couldn't do much to keep people from getting ill or killed, I could only help them overcome the diseases they had or ease their pain if there was no cure. I wanted to be able to know the future, know where my help was needed beforehand."

"I prayed to Hobard, offered him sacrifices, starved myself to the brink of death. Finally, he approached me in a dream. 'Why do you want to have powers you are not meant to have?' he said in a booming voice that threw me on my back. I got back up and answered: ' If I wanted to help people as best as possible, I need this power.' He laughed and said: 'You are ambitious and a fool, abandon that wish.' But I stood my ground and replied: 'I will keep on praying and petitioning until my wish is granted, no matter what the cost.' He paused. Then he inquired:'If I granted your wish, would you be willing to pay the price, no matter how horrible it may be?' Foolishly, I challenged him without hesitation:'I will pay any price you could name. Just give me the power to see the future.' He laughed, but my confidence kept me from realize the meaning of it. Then he spoke my sentence:'Very well, Healer Thomas of Deepswamps. From now on, you will have access to the future up to the point of your death. You will see fate's web as it is being spun. In return, you will abandon the present world.' I awoke, slightly puzzled at the strange price he had named. Then I realized that I wasn't able to see anything."

"I may have the power to see the future, but I can't see the world surrounding me. I can't smell it or taste it either. I hear sounds only faintly, no matter whether they are just whispers or axes biting into a tree next to me. I can't hear the warmth in a friend's voice or the disdain in an enemy's. My life has become meaningless, if there wasn't my duty as a healer and sage."

"After my condition became known, Councellor Stalker, a good friend of mine, sent me his eldest daughter for an apprentice. And here we are. fulfilling our destiny at last." "If you see the future, then you can tell me whether the princess will be alright." "As far as the fever is concerned, there is not much to worry about now. She will recover soon and awaken the day after tomorrow. As for her throne, let's discuss this when she has recovered, shall we?" "Mmmmhhhh, you are right. Well, there is just one more thing ..."

"I can't help you regain your original size, but if you stay strong and do the best you can, your help will become invaluable to the princess. You have to support her. Only then may everything turn out alright."


Chapter 24 : Interlude on a Lonely Track

The farmer had left the Murky Swamps this morning. Looking back, he shivered at this wretched place and wondered if he had done the right thing leaving the princess at the sage's mercy. But it was too late now. Even if he turned back he would never find the small path leading to the cottage. The only thing left for him was to return to his wife and pray to Fukar to protect the princess.

Chapter 25 : A Strange Path

Two days later, Elizabeth woke up just as the sage had said. At first she seemed confused, then she seemed to remember and said the squire's name. Not getting a response she started to search around for him. Sarah, who sat next to the bed offered her hand, palm up. "He's here and he is alright." Seeing the tiny man on the stranger's hand, she offered her own, and after he had stepped onto it, pressed him at her cheek nearly drowning him in her salty tears. "I was worried. Where are we? What happened?" She finally held him near her ear, so that he could climb in and answer.

But before the drenched squire could settle down and answer, Sarah introduced herself. "This cottage belongs to Master Thomas, Sage to Deepswamps. I am his apprentice Sarah. When your Highness arrived, your Highness were suffering from a strong fever. Thanks to Master Thomas' knowledge and Lord Hobard's mercy, your Highness have been able to recover. Master Thomas will be here in just a moment to answer all your questions."

"You can trust them, your highness. They have been taking care of your highness for four days and nights. I had nearly given up hope if that sage hadn't been able to see the future. But wait until you have spoken to him yourself." John had used Sarah's silence in order to address his princess himself. The princess was confused.

She didn't have to wait long, though, as the sage appeared, carrying a tray with dried fruits. "You better eat. The disease has been terrible for your body and you nearly died. You will have to rest a few more days before you can continue your journey. And you will need all your strength for the next part of your way. Eat, and I will explain."

Puzzled at these words, the princess slowly began eating. But as she tasted the first fruit, she suddenly realized that she was starved and began eating heartily. Sarah seemingly relaxed at that sight.

"Please listen to all I have to tell you, and trust my judgement. If you ever want to be happy again, there is just one direction you can go. To Blackberry Fields Castle." John and the princess were shocked and she just gazed at the old man in surprise. "You have to face King Gerald who is responsible for all this and defy him." She swallowed. "It is not with a dagger or another weapon that you can defeat him. Just be strong and you will prevail. And always remember that there is your loyal squire at your side. He would give his life to protect you, so don't worry. And now eat well and rest, for this will be your last safe haven for a long time." Having said that, the sage left.

The princess was still puzzled. "Please forgive him. His prophecies always leave some things open. He believes that if people knew the entire future in advance, there wouldn't be room for hope, for inspiration, for valor. He wants said that knowing the future just leaves despair." There were tears in her eyes as Sarah spoke. "So eat up and get well soon. I am sure that everything will be alright."