William the Conqueror has just conquered England and Fleur follows her father, the newly titled Baron of Godric’s Hollow to the rainy island. She does not enjoy her new home, surrounded by people who cannot even speak a civilized tongue.
Her one solace that her father allows her is falconry. Her faithful merlin is her best friend, and she brings it on hunts and generally prefers spending time with it compared to the English serfs.
And so it is that she makes the acquaintance with her father’s new falconer, the grandson of the ealdorman of Godric’s Hollow, Hereward, whom she calls Harry for simplicity.