Here is the next chapter, but first.
Holy poop I did not expect such a reaction from many people that liked this story. Well here I am then typing. Another thing is that things shall be different, so when something happens but a person was originally not there it is fanfiction. Naruto should not be there in the story. What is the huge issue if for example the queen would be at the Tourney instead of being 'protected' in the Red keep. For now, enjoy the story for as much as you would like.
Standing in front of a large tent right now Naruto was faced with two men, both wore the golden armour and white cloak of the king's guard. While he stood there, in his armour, sword at his side in its sheath, if he was not mistaken one of the guards was named, Lewyn Martell, if he was right he took it that he was related to princes Elia Martell. While the other man on the other side of the entrance was Ser Barristan Selmy. While he did not know much of that man he heard those few rumours of him partaking in the soon to be jousting. Those talks tended to end with a man or woman referring to one of his past deeds.
One of which was that he saved the king when he was captured by an house that decided to rebel against the king.
Naruto himself simply stood there smiling while both man did not show any emotion; they did what a guard was supposed to. Guard the king and not strike a conversation. Yet Naruto now stood almost for twenty minutes outside the tent waiting for the allowed entry of the lord commander of the kings guard himself. While he understood that he could not just barge in like this, he found it simply a waste of time waiting out here.
Inside the tent was the king himself with his lord Commander Ser Gerold Hightower. The king simply stood there beside the king, while he himself was on a large chair holding his head. The voices spoke to him, filling his mind. Telling him to grant the Uzumaki entry yet. His own fear was shouting at him as well. That fear he felt when he was a prisoner of Duskendale Only later did he realise after his promise to the blonde that he simply carved his way through dozens of people without as much as an effort. What was to stop him from attacking the king?
Yet eventually it seemed that finally the voices won over his fear and he looked at the Lord commander of his Kings guard and only gave him a small nod. With that Ser Hightower made his way to the entrance of the tent and told Naruto he could enter.
Naruto relieved at last tried to make his way inside only to be stopped by one of the King's guard holding out his hand. "Your sword, ser." Looking at the man Naruto reluctantly started to take off the blade from his waist line and held the blade sheathed and all to Ser Selmy.
"I want that back later." The knight taking the blade gave the blonde a single nod before stepping out of the way. With that Naruto made his way inside of the tent. Inside of the tent it was rather dark yet he could still see through the sun hitting the walls of the tent. Sitting on a large chair behind a table was the King himself and next to him stood the Lord commander once again.
"You called for me to meet you here, your grace?" As he said that he looked at the old king and he simply nodded his head and pointed at the smaller chair on the other side of the table.
"Sit, we must talk." With that made his way to the chair and sat down in front of the king while placing his elbows on top of the wooden table looking at the king. "I hope you understand that me naming you as my champion I this tourney will make a lot rely on you. For one you shall now fight for the honour of the royal family. You shall protect it. Yet there is another thing I named you so." With that the king grew silent and simply stared at the blonde.
In the meanwhile, Naruto was doing what he has been doing ever since he won the battle of the melee and gained the King's praise. Berating himself silently in his mind. 'Good job, the king of all people now expect all of this of you, problem is. I never fucking jousted. Hell I only know what it is because I saw two knights joust only once while I was here.' Yet as the kings silence the blonde opened his mouth and slowly spoke out with a bit of hesitance. "And that would be..."
"It is to win this tourney and stop whatever my son his planning. He along with the lord of house Whent has started this tourney for a reason and I must know why. You will win, that is what is expected of you. If you win I shall also reward you with a large patch of land. Maybe even name you lord of a holdfast." At that the Uzumaki was silent for a moment, going along with this plan would mean that he would gain a lot of things that he would no longer would have to pay for.
"And if I fail, if I am beaten in the joust?" Asked the blonde. At that the king stood and started to rant in a rather maddening manner.
"Yes what if he fails?! What then?!" He looked franticly at the ceiling of the tent almost like the tent itself was speaking to him. At this the blonde could only turn his gaze to his Lord commander yet the lord commander simply stood there, as if this was common. But this should not be common not for anyone especially of a king. A man with this weak of a mind could only cause death and destruction on his people… Then again he was the king for now he could only see how it turns out. "If you fail then you shall get nothing. But I shall find out what is going on either through your actions or through the web of a spider."
With that the king took a deep breath and seemed to relax a bit more. "Now the horse and a full set of armour along with lances bearing the royal Sigel are ready for you in the tent Ser Selmy shall guide you to." With that the king waved his hand at the blonde and he made his leave. Yet un noticed or just not caring the blonde hand not bow to the king. Yet the king did not seem to care in the slightest or was in such a heated debate with himself to not notice.
Now walking alongside, the Kings guard Selmy they made their way to a rather small tent that was pure black in colour and held a single red star on top. While walking the King's guard handed Naruto his sword back. "You fought well in the melee, Ser Uzumaki. I must ask have you fought in many battles and wars?" While securing the hilt to his waist the blonde turned to the king's guard.
While he himself wanted to loudly proclaim to the world that. 'It speaks!' He decided for the better and calmly answered beside him. "I fought in many fights and battles, as for a war? I only fought in one real war." As he said that Naruto gained a slight haunted look in his gaze. The memory of fighting against Obito. The haunted memory that all they cared about at htat moment to kill one another.
Even though exhausted they tried ot make their way over the pile of dead body's that belonged to other shinobi. In the end they fought ontop of the body's. Some would even say they fought over death itself. "I see, so where might you hail from? The east I presume?" At that Barristan only gained a single nod from the blonde before they were about to reach the tent.
Yet both halted when a soft voice spoke out. "Ser Barristan." Turning around Naruto Looked at the King's guard as he quickly bowed his head down. The woman had silver/white hair a fair face and a silver crown on her head that held white jewels. The woman while past her youth still seemed to hold a lot of grace from her youth.
"My queen." Spoke the King's guard, Naruto quickly followed suit of the King's guard example. While these customs still remained strange to him he would play nice for now. After all, back home While the lords were rich they did not hold this amount of respect within the hidden villages. Yes, they paid but did not lead, command or took care of the villages. They simple decided on investments of their own choosing. After all they were only refined traders to begin with.
Beside the queen stood another King's guard this one Naruto did remember Arthur Dayne from the night he aided him along with his squire against those would be bandits. Of course the man was now acting as her guard. "I see you are bringing my husband's champion to his equipment?" She asked while speaking though she did keep her gaze locked on the blonde almost as if she was inspecting him.
"I am your grace; he is to prepare before the Jousting shall start."
"I see, well Ser Uzumaki please when you are done visit me in my tent as I wish to grant you as the wife of the king my favour." With that she bowed her head ever so slightly.
Naruto in return repeated his bow but this one seemed more like a weird nod, just to let her know he has received the message, he speaks out. "I shall your grace. I should not be too long."
With that she gave a small smile before departing with the guard and a few hand maidens in tow. Naruto turned to Ser Barristan as he opened the tent flaps and motions with in the tent. "In here you will find all the requirements. IF there is anything required tell that to the boy that will arrive in a few minutes at your tent. He shall be your squire for the day." With that the knight left his tent to return to his duties to guard the royal family.
Looking around inside the tent Naruto Noticed the full plated ebony coloured armour on a rack. While it was not flashy or special in any case it would do the deed. The only elegance with it the cloak that rested at the side that was pure black in colour with the three headed dragon of the king's house on top of it. "… Wish it was orange."
With that Naruto started to place the armour plating on his body until he finally stood there with the gravers, gauntlets, chest plate, leg guards and boots. Turning to the tent flaps a young boy in about the age of 8 stood there. "My lord, I am here to help you… Is there anything I can aid you with?"
"You can help me place my shoulder guards on before placing the cloak on my shoulders. "The boy almost like a cheetah rushed o the shoulder guards and attempted to franticly place the shoulder guards. The high breathing of the boy gave it clearly away. He was afraid of something. "Calm down boy, if you rush it you might harm yourself."
Getting only a nod and a quick. "Yes my lord." The boy started to slow down. Giving Naruto some time to ponder on why the boy was so scared. Was he scared of some bully around? Maybe that he was given such a task to help a 'great noble knight' with his armour? Or was he simply scared of Naruto Himself.
Either way Naruto wanted to have this done with and spoke to the boy. "So what is it you shall do after helping me getting my armour on that is." Spoke the blond while looking at the young man working on the final few links in his armour securing the gear well enough.
"I am to help you at the tourney, that means hold your lance would the one you are wielding break. Take care of your horse after the tourney." With that the boy stood back and kept his head low.
"I see well thanks a lot, go off now but be on time when the tourney starts." With that the boy left the tent and left Naruto alone again. Standing up on his two feet he would test out the armour a little. The plated armour really restricted his movements and he did not like that not one bit. So with that he started to pump some Chakra into his veins in a more intense manner enhancing his muscles enough for them to pull on the plating while stretching the thick plate slightly he finally manages to force it into a well enough shape so he could move around more freely. To prove that little point to himself Naruto moved his arm's about before jumping slightly on his feet. Smiling at the increased mobility.
Turning to the tent flaps for a moment Naruto would grasp his belt that held the sheathed blade before securing it to his waist. Before making his way out. In front of his tent stood a coal black horse that was saddled and all. And had the dressing of the tourney. Its colours were just as it's fur pure black in colour with a three headed dragon on both sides. Smiling at the horse he would slowly approach it before stroking its head.
Looking at the horse he could almost tell everything about this horse it's eyes. The horse like him was new to a tourney. Yet it had seen things in the past. "Her name is Lana." Spoke a voice as Naruto turned to his right as he spotted the queen once again with Ser Dayne once again at her side. "I decided that instead of the classical favour that maybe she could be of good service to you."
Smiling at the queen Naruto bowed his head. "She is beautiful your grace." As Naruto said that and had a sincere smile on his lips the queen was a bit taken aback before another smile came back on her lips this one a bit different then her past ones as she spoke.
"Please do not lose too quick Ser Uzumaki, the king, my husband tends to have quick personality switches when someone displeases him." With that she gave him a soft not before leaving. With Dayne in tow though not before the man gave the Blonde a small nod. Not having forgotten what he did not a few nights ago.
With that Naruto would grasp the reins of his horse before placing his boot inside the iron secure before finally sitting down on his horse. And with a gentle tug the Horse moved on to the tourney grounds as soon it would be his turn to participate with in the tourney.
And I am ending it here for now. Let me know if you want every tilt or more of ever summary. Also let me know what you want more of so I know on what to detail more out then the others. For not have fun reading.