Hello again :D its the Easter holidays so I might update a bit more than usual. Also I have a trip to a foreign land coming up and I won't be updating during that so I might as well make it up to you before hand. And thank you guys! I already have sooo many views and I'm only on the third chapter :D love you all xxx
PJ pushed open the door to the kitchens and heaved a sack of potatoes in, dumping them on top of a pile of various other foods he'd had to carry from the supply shed. He heaved a sigh of relief as the weight of the potatoes left his arms, wiped his forehead on his sleeve and then turned to go and collect the last bag of potatoes that he needed from the supply shed. As PJ walked down through the vegetable gardens he glanced over at the training field to see Chris and Dan hacking away at some straw dummies as a group of guards looked on. Like the other men he watched how they both moved so fast and how precise each of their sword blows were. PJ longed to be over there with the guards, he wanted to be trained to fight instead of carrying food and washing clothes.
When he was younger he used to spend all his time with Dan, Chris and Phil, they didn't get much chance nowadays but they were still the best of friends. He remembered how they would fight in the woods with sticks, pretending to go on quests to save princesses from evil captors. They all dreamed of becoming knights but Dan and Chris were the only ones to live that fantasy. The way the system worked was they were chosen for training if they showed potential, Phil was given to the blacksmith as an apprentice and PJ was shoved straight into the same job that his father and mother had had before him. A servant of the King. Luckily for him and the rest of the servants Jack and Carrie were kind employers, who paid them fairly and were never cruel. Pj would also say that he was quite good friends with the King as well as his brother Dean, which meant that PJ was normally requested by the King when he needed something doing and he would let PJ have a rest every so often and they would chat.
PJ was snapped out of his thoughts by someone tapping his shoulder, he looked around to see Chris stood there holding a sack of potatoes in his arms.
"Chris?" PJ looked across to see an empty field. "I thought you were training some guards with Dan?"
"We finished for the day. Dan has gone down to see Phil and I said we'd meet him there once you'd finished work."
"Oh right, well I've just got to get one last sack of potatoes and then I've been told I can go." PJ indicted towards the shed and took a step forwards.
Chris stopped him and held up the sack in front of him. "One step ahead of you mate."
"You shouldn't have Chris those things are really heavy." PJ tried to take the bag from him but Chris held onto it.
"No no no, you've carried plenty today. I'll take this one for you." Chris told PJ and started walking towards the kitchens.
"What no!" PJ followed him, trying to get Chris to let him carry the potatoes but he refused and Chris made it all the way to the top if the hill before PJ managed to grab hold of the sack and take hold of it himself.
"I could have got into trouble if anyone has seen you doing my work for me."
"Nah you wouldn't have, I would have told them that I wouldn't give it you to carry if anyone started a fuss." Chris assured PJ as they went into the kitchen and he plunked down the heavy bag of potatoes.
Dan walked down the muddy path towards the blacksmiths, he went often but not nearly as much as he used to. Phil and him had been friends for as long as he could remember, their families had been friends and they had been neighbours for their entire childhood. They knew each other before they had met Chris and PJ and when Dan was chosen for training and Phil was sent to the blacksmiths he cried a little bit, not because he would miss him because he knew he would see him regularly, but because his best friends dream was over and Phil had just accepted it without a fight. He had accepted it like he knew it was coming, like he knew that he wasn't any good to be a knight, which Dan knew was completely untrue. But Phil was good at what he did now, he was the best blacksmith in all of Proteger and everyone knew him. He made all the armour that Dan and Chris wore and the King as well, he had made all the swords for all the army and their helmets too.
Phil wasn't expecting Dan to visit him which made Dan extra excited to surprise him. As he got closer he slowed down to a tip toe and snuck towards the front of the blacksmiths. Dan glanced round the corner and saw Phil sat on a bench polishing a helmet, Dan crouched down and silently moved to behind the bench making sure Phil hadn't noticed him. He then reached up and jabbed Phil in the side causing him to throw the helmet and rag up in the air and jump up from the seat.
"Whaa?" Phil shouted and looked round wildly trying to find a culprit, his eyes fell on Dan who was doubled up behind the bench laughing. Phil tried to keep a straight face but after a minute ended up in the same state as Dan.
After a few minutes there laughter had subsidized and they both sat on the bench breathing heavily.
"Seriously? Every time?" Phil asked Dan still slightly laughing.
"Yep, and it gets funnier each time." he replied wiping the edges of his eyes with his cuff.
"What are you doing down here anyway? I thought you had duties and stuff?"
"Me and Chris decided they can wait. We haven't seen you in ages!"
"Its only been a couple of weeks." Phil pointed out.
"Yeah, well that's a long time not to see your best friend. Oh, and that reminds me, Chris and Peej should be down in a bit."
"Chris and PJ are coming as well?" Phil's eyes lit up.
"Yep, they were going to walk down after PJ finishes for the day."
"Yes!" Phil stood up and did a little dance before bending down and picking up the helmet he was working on. Only Dan noticed that it wasn't a helmet.
"What's that you making?" Dan asked, looking at the object in Phil's hands. It was a kind of tiara with lots of jewels and thin wires running over the top to create a sort of lid. There were lots of different types of metals all interwoven into a coil at one side which loosened slightly and wrapped around the whole head dress.
"Its something the King asked me to make, it's the Queens birthday in a weeks time and he wanted to give her a new crown." Phil answered.
"Its brilliant, she'll love it." Dan was saying as Chris and PJ walked into the blacksmiths.
"Chris! PJ!" Phil stood up and greeted his friends with hugs.
"How come I didn't get a hug when I got here?" Dan pouted jokingly.
"Because you attacked me before you had even said hello." Phil laughed and the other two each gave a confused chuckle.
"Guys, what took you so long?" Dan asked Chris and PJ as they all sat down.
"I had to finish moving all the food to the kitchens so the cooks could start planning the Queens birthday feast." PJ explained.
"Birthday feast?" Phil looked at PJ with a confused expression.
"Yeah, the Kings only told people in the castle so far so don't go spreading this, but, he's holding a big party in the streets in front of the castle and everyone is invited." Chris told Phil.
"Everyone? Wow, so you mean I'm invited?" Phil asked.
"Yeah! Literally everyone in Proteger." Dan answered.
"That's amazing, I've never been invited to a royal party before."
"Me neither I guess, I've always been invited but never as a guest. Just to wait on people and clear the plates." PJ told the group.
"Well now you both can go to one! And by the sounds of things this one is going to be memorable."
"This information is true, yes?"
"Of course."
"You sure?"
"Yes Ben, how many times to I have to tell you."
"We just need to be absolutely certain for this to work Charlie."
"I know the plan and I'm sure this information is correct, I swear it."
"Very well. I'll leave first, we don't want to attract any attention so stay here for a while before leaving."
"Alright. Oh Ben? Same place, same time?"
"Yeah." Ben nodded at Charlie before pulling up his hood and walking away.