[quote=@Hybridjelly]
How is he portrayed as a coward?
[/quote]

He would not have ran back to the castle for one, he would have fought back, and got his ass kicked, but he would  have fought.
The vampire threatened to take his daughter. Any father would have attacked even if they had no chance.

I just didn't  like the last  part, where  he quickly left back to the castle, plus his horse aint there.