Waking in Highever
Aedan felt the sun's light beaming on him through his window and he realized it was morning. Too bad. He looked right next to him and saw that his sleeping partner was still snoring softly under the sheets, it almost seemed a shame to wake him up. Almost. Reaching over Aedan shook him gently, "Hey, did you sleep well?" His companion moaned softly. "Time to wake, sleepyhead." His companion huffed in protest. "Come on, if I have to wake the so do you." Groaning in frustration his companion finally bounded out of bed and gave two excited barks. Ever since Dane was a puppy he always felt more comfortable sleeping in his master's bed, but he had the good sense to sleep outside the door when Aedan had actual "company" in his bedroom. Dane was a giant of dog even by mabari standards, taller than a dwarf but just as wide, with a chestnut colored coat and the most understanding eyes. Even today Aedan has no idea where he came from, if he believed such things he'd swear some higher power just dropped him off on his family's doorstep.
Aedan walked over to the basin next to his dresser, washed his face and looked at himself in the mirror sighing, "Twenty years". Saying it made it seem small, but it took Aedan twenty long years to finally reach this since he was a child he worked hard to bring himself to this moment. Every day of training in the courtyard with the master-at-arms, the hours he spent studying under Master Aldous, and the previous winter he spent with the Avvar had brought him to what he saw in the mirror and Aedan knew it. Every muscle in his body was strong, toned, taught and ready. And what did he have to show for all his sweat and dedication? His tattoos were the symbols of his pride, but his skin bore no scars, no sign of his accomplishments. Master Argyle always said that a warrior must have scars because any idiot can get tattoos, but it takes a real warrior to survive the scars he receives. And if what he heard was right he could finally put all the hard work into achieving this perfection to use.
Dane barked at Aedan chidingly.
Aedan could sense the disapproval in his dog's voice. "What? You think I'm being vain?"
Dane yipped in acknowledgment.
"Don't give that! It took years of hard work and dedication to get like this! Admiring my own craftsmanship does not make me vain!"
Dane huffed and shook his head.
"Oh, and this coming from a dog who kisses his own ass!"
Dane barked sharply and denied that statement.
"Come on! We have a busy day. Master Argyle is expecting us in the training yard and Father is preparing the men to join the king's army. And Mother is having Lady Landra visit toady." (I hope she's bringing that charming lady in waiting of hers, with the beautiful green eyes) he thought to himself mischievous smile.
Aedan arrived in the training yard with Dane in tow, wearing leather armor and carrying a training sword and war axe strapped to his left hip. Master Argyle was in the middle of the yard barking orders at the new recruits with his booming voice. Argyle had been the master at arms in Castle Highever for as long as Aedan could remember. He was broadly built, almost seven feet tall and 300lbs of pure mean, he had a scar trailing over his left eye and had a black and grey beard so big that you'd almost mistake him for a dwarf if not for his freakish size. Argyle had been trained by the ash warriors and during the Battle of White River he saved the teryn by taking an Orlesian sword in the eye. After the rebellion Bryce asked the veteran to come back to Highever with him to train his soldiers because the teryn knew that a hundred ash warriors was worth a thousand trained soldiers. Argyle had been teaching Aedan and his big brother since they were both old enough to touch a sword. And while he was an aggravating, mean, hard-nosed and hostile son-of-bitch, there is no one else Bryce would trust to train his sons. Aedan remembered when he was fourteen when he began to really train with Argyle…..
He had set Aedan up against an older squire and told them to fight like their lives depended on it. Aedan fought back hard, was faster than his opponent and quickly got the upper hand. And just when Aedan was about to finish him off another squire came up from behind and clubbed him upside the head. Aedan was out like a light. When woke up he asked, "What the fuck happened!?" Argyle looked down at him "Ya gat yer arse kicked. Thas wat tha fuck happened."
"You told me to fight like my life depended on it!"
"So I did. Ya still lost."
"I didn't know someone else was going to attack me from behind like damned cut-purse."
"Ye're inna courtyard fulla arm'ed men who wanna kick yer arse. Whadja think was gonna happen?"
Aedan felt his blood boiling, "That's not fair!"
Argyle looked down at the snot-nosed, little noble-brat, "Guess what, boy! Shit happens!" He roared pointing at his gouged eye. "Insteda focusing on one opponent ya shoulda been focusing on tha whole damned field. But since ye weren't payin' attention ya got killed. Shit like that gets not just ye killed but all ye're men killed and thas' when ye're really fucked. Ye want that kinda shame followin' ya!?
Aedan slowly, shamefully shook his head.
"Tha's why we train. Tha's why as soldier and more importantly as leader ye must train to be better than mos' men, why ye must focus and see the entire battlefield not just the sorry bastard infronta ya. Now are ye gonna just sit there with that knot on ya head, or are ye gonna get up and get some payback?"
Aedan stopped rubbing the bump on his head, stood back up and shouted, "Alright, which one of you sorry sons-a-bitches hit me in the head!?"
Another squire raised his hand, smiling smugly, "I did 'your lordship.'"
Argyle chuckled, "Patrick, great. Ya knocked out an unaware fourteen year-old. Le's see how ya do 'gainst a pissed off fourteen year-old." Aedan charged Patrick with his training sword and gave him three bumps on the head.
Aedan rubbed the spot on his head where the bump used to be, it took almost a month for it to go down. Dane looked up at his master and whined thoughtfully, "Yeah I remember, boy. Just thinking about it gives me a headache."
"Oy!" Argyle barked. "Maybe now that ye and yer bitch have gotten yer beauty sleep we can finally start the real training, eh?"
Aedan smiled sarcastically, "I am well rested enough. I think I can oblige you."
Argyle snorted, "I was talking to the dog!" Aedan's smile left his face.
"Ooohhhh" went the entire courtyard.
Aedan waved Dane away and entered the arena, his sword drawn. At this sight all the other recruits stopped their drills and gathered around what promised to be an entertaining spectacle. Aedan could hear the serving girls hiding in the corridors, giggling at the sight of all these handsome, well-built men sweating in the sun. He looked up at the balcony and was surprised to see master Aldous watching who was followed by his mother, Lady Landra and her son, and that charming lady in waiting with the green eyes, Iona. Aedan gave her a wink as he assumed his battle stance. She blushed deeply.
"So how many you want me to thrash this time?" he asked with confidence.
"I don't recall saying!" Argyle replied sternly. He pointed at the recruits and two entered the arena, one with a great sword and the other with a twin daggers.
"Two men?" Aedan asked disbelievingly, "That's hardly fair. Better make it three."
"How about we make it six!" Argyle waved his arms and four more men came in all armed with swords, shield and maces. The only question Aedan had was how was he going to beat them without killing them?
They all stepped cautiously toward Aedan, circling him. Their tension was palatable, Aedan remained relax but ready. The first to attack was one with a shield and mace. Aedan used the length of his blade and sharply jabbed him hard enough in the ribs to crack them, he took his mace and threw it at the head of the man charging behind his friend. The man used his shield to block the mace but the instant he lowered it he only found Aedan's fist in his face, he instantly crumpled to the ground. The rogue lunged at Aedan from behind with his daggers; Aedan merely stepped to the side and smashed his elbow right into the rogue's jaw; he was out like a light. Typical rogue. Always attacking from behind while the others attack from the front.
Three down, three to go; two shields and swords, one greatsword. Aedan drew his war axe in his left hand while greatsword swung at his head. Aedan ducked under the blade and swung his axe right at the wielders shin, bringing down to his knee; Aedan swung back around and struck him in the head with his sword-pommel. Aedan went on the offensive after shield-and-sword #1 using his axe to knock the shield right off his arm, swung his sword at his opponents leg bring him to his knees and finished him with a solid kick to the head. All that was left was shield-and-sword #2. He stabbed lunged at Aedan with his sword, but Aedan parried and locked the sword with his axe, Aedan used his sword to knock down his final opponents shield arm and then he kicked him so hard in groin the Empress felt it over in Orlais!
Aedan's final opponent let out a scream that could shattered glass as he doubled over and cradled his broken pride. All the serving girls quickly hurried out of the halls to their injured beaus and helped them out of the arena to nurse their wounds. Aedan heard his mother and Lady Landra applauding him generously, Iona clapped more than generously. Aedan smiled at her and she knew that his smile was for her. Aedan looked around the now empty arena, "Is there no one else?" he challenged.
"Oy!" came a gruff, booming voice. Argyle entered the arena carrying a massive and fearsome looking maul. His weapon looked like the bastard son of a war hammer and a battle axe; a giant axe head with an ugly hammerhead right behind it. Argyle called it "The Bear's Maul". He beckoned Aedan to face him. He dared him.
The whole arena grew quiet. Aedan resumed his stance, he knew Argyle would show him no quarter so he couldn't either. Aedan made the first move and attacked with both his sword and axe, but Argyle blocked him with the shaft of his maul and kneed Aedan in the chest. Hard. Aedan quickly recovered as Argyle took a swing at his head, Aedan darted under the attack and back-hand swung his axe at Argyle's flank. Argyle caught the axe by the shaft, snatching it away and socked Aedan in the head sending him backwards. Dazed Aedan tried to get his bearings, Argyle came down with an overhead swing, aiming to split his younger opponent in half. Aedan dodged to the side and aimed his sword right at Argyle's neck, but Argyle blocked the sword with his arm. The sword was blunt! Aedan forgot that it was only a practice sword! Argyle grabbed Aedan by the neck and head-butted him, hard, twice, then three times causing Aedan to drop his blunt sword. Argyle lifted Aedan in the air and threw the little noble-brat almost ten right feet across the arena!
Iona couldn't bring herself to watch and turned her face away, grabbing Lady Landra's hand. Lord Aedan handled the other men so well it was almost like he was dancing, but then that monster with that horrible weapon entered the ring and now the monster was beating him senseless. "Lady Eleanor, please stop this!" she begged, her voice almost cracking.
"Hush, dear girl. Trust in my son's training." Eleanor assured her.
Iona looked back down to the ring, Aedan was still on the ground and monster was getting close. He stood over Aedan's body and reared his giant weapon over his head. Sweet, bloody Maker! He was going to kill him!
Aedan was flat on the ground, weaponless. Now Argyle was standing over him his giant maul over his head ready to finish him off. Aedan was dazed. Aedan was hurting. But most of all, Aedan was PISSED! Argyle brought his weapon bearing down on the young lord, but it never connected. Aedan was back on his feet, with the haft of the maul caught firmly in his fists and he had a look on his face that would make an ogre piss itself. Argyle tried using his strength to push the little lordling back, but was shocked to find himself being pushed back by his smaller opponent. That's when he realized the little lordling was going berserk!
There was no more thought in Aedan, no planning, no strategy, there was only anger and action. He smashed his fist right into the old man's nose, feeling it break beneath his knuckles, causing the man's eyes to well up with tears and his nose and mouth with blood. Aedan quickly picked a up a shield that had been left behind and proceeded to bash it into Argyle's face not once, twice, but three, four then five times! Aedan jammed the edge of the shield in to his opponent throat, Argyle double over choking. Then the berserking young lord discarded the shield, grabbed the old man by his beard and yanked him over his head like the man weighed nothing and threw all three hundred pounds of the veteran right on his back! But that wasn't enough! Aedan then grabbed his opponent by the ankles and threw him twelve feet across the arena! Aedan ran over to Argyle body, got on top of his chest and proceeded to just pound the shit out old man's face! Aedan reached toward his boot, yanked out his hunting knife and held it to his adversary's face. "YIEELLD!" he demanded
Argyle spat out blood and teeth on the ground, looked up at the noble-brat on top of him and gave him his answer, "Aha-ha-haw!" and gave him an applause.
Then the whole courtyard gave a standing ovation, Iona clapped and laughed with relief, while Lady Eleanor laughed adoringly; she knew her son would prevail.
Aedan, now calm, helped his master-at-arms back to his feet and gave him a towel to wipe that blood from his face and beard. Argyle placed his hand on his student's shoulder with pride. "Lad, that was the best thrashing I ever got! Even me drunk pa never hit me that hard."
Aedan laughed in relief, "I didn't know anyone could take a beating like that and live!"
"Boy, after I saved yer pap's life at White River I fought for three hours with an Orlesian blade stickin' outta me head and I didnae get removed until we hadda safe retreat. But tha's not important. Anyone could'a thrashed a few recruits and squires, but beatin' me? Now that requires ya to be somethin' more."
"The Avvar taught me more." Aedan confirmed.
"Ther'a feared people for a good reason. I'm glad they taught ya somethin' worth knowin'."
Iona couldn't believe what she just saw! She felt her heart stop in her chest when she thought Lord Aedan was about to be killed and then he not only won the fight but he thrashed his opponent like a dragon bursting from its cave. She had never seen anyone fight like, growing up in the Alienage she had seen people fight in brawls but never something like that. One moment he was this charming handsome man, but then the next he was this unstoppable force that destroyed the obstacle in his path. She knew now that Lord Aedan was most certainly a dangerous man, but she couldn't help but think that made him more attractive than he already was. After seeing what his hands could do to someone, she wondered what else those hands could do somewhere else. She tried to push the thought from her mind. After all, she was an elven lady in waiting and he was a son of one of the most powerful houses in Thedas. Still, the thought of those strong, dangerous hands touching her skin was enticing. Lady Landra waved her hand in front of Iona's face and she realized she was dazing off.
"Ser Argyle." Lady Eleanor chimed, "As much as I'm glad to see your 'education' paying off." Master Aldous scoffed at the word. "But if you would be so kind as to let my son go? He has other things to do this day."
"Aye, m'lady. Well, ya heard ya mother. Go pretty yerself up I was told yer father is meetin' with Arl Howe and he wanted ta see ya when ye were done training."
Aedan bowed mockingly, "I humbly acquiesce, Ser Argyle."
Aedan walked over to a nearby basin and washed his face, Dane trotted over to him happily. "Hey, boy. Did you like the show?"
Dane pranced around and barked happily.
"Well I need to go speak with my father. Why don't you go find something fun to do until I'm done?"
The war hound barked happily and trotted off to go find whatever it is a mabari considers fun.
Aedan left the courtyard and walked back toward his room. It'd be best to dress appropriately for his father and his longtime friend and ally Arl Howe.
"The more ya bleed in the trainin' yard, the less ye'll bleed in the battlefield. But if yer bleedin' in the privy then ya need to see a healer or somethin', cause I can't help ya with that."-Ser Argyle