By Rubrpig
The guards at the gate of the castle sounded the alarm that riders were approaching the castle. The garrison of the castle responded and ran for their positions on the walls overlooking the drawbridge and main gate. The gate guards began turning the winches that lifted the drawbridge which would prevent the riders from gaining entrance until it was determined if they were friendly. The riders stopped and called over for the gate to be lowered. The guards recognized the riders as the men that the Baron had dispatched with the ransom demand for the Earl of Wessex who the Baron and their lord has captured at the Battle of Bosworth.
The drawbridge was lowered and the party clattered across the heavy timbered bridge and entered the courtyard of the castle. The men dismounted and their armour clattered on the cobblestones of the courtyard. The party of knights had been forced to ride in armour due to the total collapse of any law and order after the defeat of the king and seizure of the throne by Henry Tudor who had been hailed as Henry VII.
The men entered the main block of the castle and were told that Baron Robert was waiting for them in the hall. The men entered the hall and as they entered they saw Baron Robert sitting in his chair of state on the dais at the end of the hall. They removed their helmets, the padded caps and their sweaty grimy faces were showing how exhausted they had been on the 3 day ride to Wessex Castle to deliver the ransom demand for the Earl and then their ride back.