12th Century, England
In the time of Saladin
Before The Third Crusade…
In the year 1181, Sir Philip Fitzwilliam, weathered and battle-scarred, stands on the precipice of his crumbling estate, Froulingham Manor. The once-thriving land now bears the scars of holy wars, where the echoes of lost men haunt the desolate countryside. Whispers of a precarious shift in power, tilting in favor of Saladin’s Muslim armies in the Holy Land, send shivers down Sir Philip’s spine. The weight of impending conflict threatens to crush his weary soul.
As the patriarch contemplates the future of his once-prosperous dynasty, his thoughts turn to his two sons. Giles, the favored heir, carries the weight of expectation, while Raymond, a would-be monk, wrestles with his spiritual calling.
And then, there is Aveline —his beloved, spirited daughter— a flame that burns bright, defying conventions and societal norms.
Aveline, the embodiment of strength and grace, possesses a mastery of skills traditionally reserved for men, wielding a bow and arrow with unrivaled precision.
Yet, her destiny seems predetermined — a marriage to a suitable suitor, an end to her independence.
But fate weaves a different tapestry for Aveline. Love, passionate and forbidden, blooms in her heart, entangling her in a treacherous web of desire.
The Church, swift in its judgment, casts its shadow upon her, ruthlessly tearing her from the arms of her beloved and the embrace of her family.
Thus, Aveline’s story unfolds… a symphony of audacious courage, unyielding loyalty, and a relentless pursuit of justice. With every fiber of her being, she defies the shackles of her circumstances, navigating a treacherous path strewn with heartbreak, deceit, and loss.