The Knight and the Squire

(A/N: There will be two chapters posted today to make up for the missed chapter yesterday. I feel this may have moved a bit fast, maybe this whole act does, but hopefully not. I hope you enjoy.)

Miles and Griflet rode through the forest, Miles questing away and Griflet following and learning, gleaning everything he possibly could from the young knight. So far they'd fought bandits, a couple witches, pirates, smugglers, and some vicious animals. And Griflet had loved every second. He watched how Miles wielded the sword and copied him as best he could. He watched how Miles wielded bow and arrow and spear and shield and mace. He'd lost count of how many times he'd pled for the older boy to teach him some tips and tricks and teach him how to fight like him. Miles would always laugh and reign in their horses and take the time to teach him everything he could.

Griflet cut and slashed as Miles deflected his blows before returning his own strikes strongly, not holding back. Griflet gritted his teeth, totally focused and managing to block Miles's blows. "You have to be one of the fastest studies I've ever had the pleasure of mentoring," Miles said with a laugh when Griflet lunged, throwing him off balance and sending him staggering back.

"When I really get determined to master something, I'll do everything I can to try and get it down," Griflet replied with determination. He yelped as Miles dodged around him and tapped his back.

"You'll get there, Griflet. Don't worry," Miles assured, withdrawing his blade. Griflet looked a bit disheartened. Miles winced then smiled. "Hey, for what it's worth, if you keep going like this one day you'll be as good as me. Probably better. We'll test you then, huh? See if the student outdid his master." Griflet perked up a bit, smiling and nodding. Miles grinned reassuringly. "Hey, let's take a break," he said, sitting down on the grass and taking off his helmet. Griflet did so too, bringing out their food supply and examining it before handing it over to Miles to divide how he saw fit.

"Miles?" Griflet said.

"Hmm?" Miles asked, starting to split the food.

"What are your thoughts on King Arthur?" Griflet questioned.

Miles looked up at him ponderously. "I'm more interested in hearing what yours are," he soon replied.

Griflet shifted and bowed his head. "I… don't know. I mean, all our lives I've only ever known him as the loner loser with no friends, but recently… Recently I've started to see a side of him I, well, didn't think existed? If that makes sense? Like… like suddenly there's just so much more I never noticed before. That no one noticed before. And I don't know what to make of that," Griflet said.

"What do you feel right this moment?" Miles asked.

Griflet was quiet. Soon he looked up. "Respect," he answered. "And awe. And wonder and curiosity… About who Arthur is… About everything we've missed about him for so long. I just… I always felt like Arthur was more than he seemed to be, even early on. So much more… A few times I even considered reaching out, you know? Just… just it was Arthur and…"

"And Arthur always pushed people away. Always seemed so involved in himself… And now suddenly these things he's doing, the decisions he's making… suddenly he doesn't seem like he's so involved in himself anymore, and you're wondering if he ever really was or if you just didn't try hard enough," Miles said. Griflet was quiet. "Some people are like that, Griflet. Closed off, afraid, hiding away because they don't want to be hurt or seen or noticed or betrayed. You have any idea how many shy kids, for instance, are confused for being snobs? A lot. I mean a lot… Arthur I think was afraid. No one wants to be hurt. No one wants to let someone in only to be abandonned by them. Arthur… it had happened to him before. With his dad? And I guess that maybe he didn't want it to happen again. It wasn't your fault for not being able to find what he'd buried away."

"I feel like I should have tried," Griflet answered. "Harder, that is."

"You didn't know there was anything to try for," Miles replied. "Let's face it, Arthur does come across as kind of a self-absorbed jerk. He was, in a sense. Still is I think, and I think that's why a lot of people pushed him away or didn't bother with him. He just… he wasn't the sort of person you felt like getting to know because the way he acted just didn't make it seem like it was worth it. I don't think he even knew he was doing it. I think it was his way of hiding and even he didn't really understand just how deep he'd burrowed, and then there was just this whole little bubble and world that he put himself in to keep himself safe and… and people like that, Griflet, don't really make friends that easily. A lot of times they come to really tragic ends before they can."

"Tragic ends?" Griflet asked.

"Suicide," Miles said, not beating around the bush. Griflet was plenty old enough to face that reality. Griflet winced. "Because they think that no one cares about them, that no one loves them, and they don't realize that… that you have to let people care about you and love you before you can feel cared for or loved. You can try to care about and love someone as much as you want, but if they won't let you? A relationship is a two-way street. Any relationship. Sometimes you can fight through the barricade and push until they finally give in, but that's not all that common. Most people… they can't commit to that time or they can't give that effort because of things in their own lives that they struggle with too, and even if they want to do everything possible, they can't. You can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped, and you can't convince someone they're cared about or loved if they don't want to be cared about or loved. I mean, you can, but… but that's a really, really hard thing sometimes, and if you can't get close to a person to start with, you don't have much chance of sounding sincere when you try to tell them you love them or care about them or want to help them."

Griflet was quiet. "You know anyone like that?" he questioned after a bit.

"Believe it or not, Dinadan was kind of like that. Less extreme, a bit different overall, but it was similar… But Dinadan's story isn't mine to tell," Miles said.

"You're close to him, aren't you?" Griflet said.

"Yeah. Yeah, I am," Miles replied.

Griflet was quiet. "Like a crush?" he teased lightly. Miles was quiet, a kind of sad smile on his lips. Griflet's teasing grin fell to a look of surprise and confusion. "Wait, really?"

Miles sighed, bowing his head. "Yeah. Something like that," he finally answered. "First and only guy it's ever happened with, admittedly, but the guy's got a charisma about him that's hard to resist. Even Lancelot's caught himself slipping into a word trap with him. The Earl of Lambaille loves to tease and trip people up just to see if he can. And when you get deeper into who he is as a person beyond the superficial, if you let him get too close without being prepared, you're kind of hard pressed not to develop some sort of feeling for him. Or I was at least. Friendship, romance, whatever it is it doesn't matter. Any way you go, he's an emotional roller coaster ride and oh boy, you'd better be prepared for it if you fall off the line between friendship and… something else."

"So he's basically Narcissus," Griflet said.

Miles laughed. "Less of the self-love, believe it or not. Comes across that way, like he's obsessed with himself, but you know something? Dinadan actually has kind of a disturbing lack of self-love and respect. Self-anything for that matter. Narcissus had plenty of self-respect, that's why he was able to reject as many potential lovers as he did. Dinadan? Dinadan has zero, if you hadn't guessed by the number of people he beds and leaves. But again, his story isn't mine to tell, so I'm not saying more about it than that."

"Dinadan lacking self-respect? Wow. I never would have guessed that," Griflet said in amazement.

"I never would have either if not for that… drunken incident. That we never talk about. Ever," Miles said. He thought a moment. "But, to be totally honest that might have been where my… 'relationship', if you can call it that, with Dinadan started."

"Have you crushed on anyone else ever?" Griflet asked.

"That's none of your business," Miles replied, smirking teasingly. "Hmm... Dinadan's more merfolk or selkie or Nixie, I think, than Narcissus," he soon said.

"Huh?" Griflet asked.

"Those are like sirens, only they can be male too," Miles explained with a smile.

Griflet nodded, thinking this all over. "You never used to be so… insightful," he remarked after a time.

"No… But as you grow up things change. As you learn and see more things and travel out into the world more often and get immersed in other cultures and kingdoms, you kind of start to mature and think beyond yourself and your bubble or your king and country. It's scary, admittedly, but also pretty awesome. And since you're sticking with me now, you'll get to experience a lot of that for yourself," Miles replied, grinning. Griflet grinned back, perking up. "Now come on, kiddo. Let's keep riding. Daylight's burning and the woods get a little freaky at night."

"Can't wait," Griflet replied, eyes sparkling with adventure. Miles chukled, teasingly ruffling his hair. Griflet frowned up at him and smoothed it again before deciding he liked it a bit messier looking and leaving it that way. Miles gave him an amused look. "What? It looks cool," Griflet defended.

"It does," Miles had to admit, nodding.

KAK

"So, does Dinadan like you back?" Griflet teased some time later as he and Miles rode.

"Griflet, Dinadan likes everything that likes him right back," Miles answered. "I'd like to say I'm probably the closest thing he's come to a 'relationship' to date, but the truth is that with Dinadan the lines between friend and love-interest can be blurred. He's touchy-feely with everyone, even just friends, so you really can't tell if he's into you romantically or platonically because he acts a lot the same both ways with only really subtle differences. He doesn't believe in courtly love. Like at all. He figures people who subsribe to it are poor saps who are missing out… I think that might be partially because he has a hard time actually, well, seeing anyone loving him that way… Wow kid, you're really good at getting me to say more than I want to. How about we not pry into Dinadan anymore, kay? Might just make things messy if suddenly you go back and start to psychoanalyze the poor guy. He'd probably have a mental breakdown and then snap out of it and totally lose it at you and me and, well, everyone who dared cross him. Getting into his mind freaks him out. That's why he's so terrified of Merlin."

"What's the other part of the reason he doesn't subscribe to courtly love?" Griflet asked.

"The other part of it is just because yeah, at the end of the day he's a Casanova who could care less about settling down in a long-term serious relationship when there's a, in his words, 'banquet' out there. It's stupid and kind of a really childish way of looking at life, pleasure before everything else you know, but it's the way he is. He'll grow out of it in time I hope. For his own sake. Or he'll remain forever teenage-minded all his life and just be an embarrassment. But he's… another guy afraid of being loved I feel. He and Arthur would probably get along really well if they could peel back their layers to each other and get into a serious talk about stuff. Maybe things like that should be mandatory in our school. Just grab a couple random students and stick them together in a room for a few hours to talk. See what kinds of friendships can form from that, you know?"

"Might help staunch the flood of bullies in that dump," Griflet replied, rolling his eyes hopelessly.

"No kidding," Miles flatly agreed, grimacing. He looked ahead and suddenly paused. "Whoa," he said.

"Miles?" Griflet asked, riding next to him and reining in. He saw where his 'master' was staring and followed his gaze. He started, eyes widening. "Whoa," he repeated. "Look at that pavilion! It's like, like…"

"Royalty's idea of a summer cabin? Yeah," Miles replied. "Let's go check it out."

"I don't know, Miles. What if it's an enemy?" Griflet uneasily replied.

"Good point. You stay put and I'll check," Miles answered.

"Wait, whoa! No, no, no, that's a bad idea," Griflet said, frowning. "I'll come."

"No. Stay here, squire. I need to get you back to Lucan and Bedivere alive, not in pieces," Miles said.

"But…" Griflet began.

"No buts man, okay? I'll deal with this," Miles said. "Just hunker down in the bushes and wait for me to come back to tell you if it's safe or not.

"Miles…" Griflet whined.

"Stay. Seriously," Miles warned.

Griflet made a frustrated sound. "Fine. Just… be careful. And good luck man."

"Thanks," Miles replied, smiling and riding off. Griflet sighed in agitation and dismounted, creeping to the edge of the lake to keep an eye on how things played out.

KAK

Miles rode cautiously towards the pavilion. Outside of it he saw five figures sitting and speaking, all clad in armor. As he neared, they looked over and cautiously watched him with wary eyes. After a time, the smallest one rose and went into the pavilion as the other four rose carefully. The smallest one returned, saying something to the other four, and they entered the pavilion reluctantly. Soon another knight emerged, more splendidly armored than any of them and looking wary. He paced outside the pavilion and walked towards Miles, who reigned in his horse.

"How fare thee, good knight?" Miles asked.

"I fare well, sir knight," the other answered. "What business have thee in this place?"

"Sir, I was riding through the woods seeking adventure and fame, when upon thine pavilion I came and was left to wonder what nature of noble knight would set such a fine lodging in such a place as this," Miles answered.

The knight examined him silently. "If thou seekest adventure and fame, knight, you would gain no greater fame than to meet me in combat and emerge victorious. Even tale of your loss will garner fame, for I am a knight well-known and besought after much," he soon answered. Miles perked up a little and tilted his head, reading the man curiously. Soon the young man caught his breath, stiffening. "It's you!" he exclaimed. "Sir, you know me! I-I go to Worcestershire. Went! I-I graduated now, but that's not the point."

The knight perked up a little, suddenly less wary and more intrigued. "Miles?" he said.

"Yes! Yes, it's me! Oh wow, I can't believe… I mean, I shall meet thee in battle knight, and no honor greater to me!" Miles said. Suddenly there was hesitation on the other's part. Miles frowned. "Sir?" he asked.

The knight shifted uneasily and sighed, looking down. "Verily I am much reluctant to fight thee, young Miles, for your age is still tender and I fear that… that should something go wrong, you will not live beyond it. There is always a possibility of something going wrong or a mistake being made. You are o'er young a boy to die. I don't… want your blood on my hands."

Miles was quiet. "Sir, I would die at your hand with honor. No man more worthy for me to fall to," he soon answered.

"Miles…" the man began.

"Please. I'm ready for this," Miles said. "And whether I live or die, it'll be worth every minute."

"Don't throw your life away, boy," the knight answered. "Go out in honor and glory and bravery."

"My quest will take me into the territory of Caradoc the Giant and his brother Turquine," Miles said.

The knight stiffened up. "No," he said a little sharply. "Don't go there. You go there, you might never come back!"

"I know… But I gave my word that I'd try. That being said, even if you do make a mistake, as unlikely as that is, and I end up dead, I… I would sooner die at the hand of a knight as worshipful as you than live a lifetime of captivity and torment in the Dolorous Tower. So really, whether I live or die it's a win for me," Miles replied. "I fall to you here, or at my own hand there still holding the honor of having escaped you."

"Miles…" the knight began.

"Please," Miles pled.

The other knight was quiet. "Verily," he finally relented. "So be it. We shall do battle…"

"Why are you so afraid?" Miles asked. The other was quiet. Miles hesitated, wincing, and looked across the lake to where Griflet was watching. After a moment he said, "Out of sight of the lake. Lest a poor wanderer come by and see such a grizzly scene."

"Out of sight of the pavilion," the knight answered, staring at it.

"The five armored people outside. They were your…?" Miles began.

"Yes," the knight cut off.

Miles was quiet. "Out of sight of lake and pavilion both then. In case the worst happens to either of us," he agreed. The rival knight nodded and led him away.

KAK

Griflet frowned as Miles and the knight rode out of sight. "What? What is he doing?" Griflet asked out loud to nothing. He rose and cautiously began to make his way around the pond to try and reach the pavilion. Just as he was nearing, though, the five armored men—were they squires?—from before came out. He froze, quickly getting out of sight. They looked around, no doubt for their master, and on not seeing him began to fan out to search worriedly. Griflet shifted uneasily and crept through the bush quickly, a dark feeling coming over him as he moved to find his own master. Fear began to grip him and he sped up, resisting the urge to call Miles's name. He heard the others start to call out 'my lord, my lord', trying to garner their master's reply.

"Miles?" he shortly after found himself saying. "Miles!" he said a bit louder. He heard clashing and gasped, looking over. Quickly he stood, running towards the sounds worriedly. Were Miles and the Knight fighting? Why? What was happening? Was it a test to see if they could pass into the more dangerous areas of the woods? Was it just a friendly spar? Was it a dangerous fight that he should be there for? Griflet began to run. He sped up faster and faster, shoving his way through the undergrowth and trees. "Miles!" he shouted. "Miles, where are you? Hold on!" He heard horses hooves thundering and raced towards them. All at once he leapt out onto the scene and caught his breath paling on seeing Miles and the knight about to meet in a charge, spears out! They clashed just then and there was the sickening sound of metal giving way, and then there was a scream of anguish and Miles was suddenly falling from his horse, spear embedded in his chest! Griflet's eyes widened in horror and fear. "Miles!" he shouted, shooting forward racing towards his master. "Miles, Miles no!"

He saw the enemy knight dismounting and gasped, quickly drawing his sword and getting between the groaning and crying out Miles who was laying on the ground that was quickly becoming red under him. "Grif-iflet, n-no," Miles choked.

"Stay back! Stay back!" Griflet frantically shouted at the enemy knight, eyes wide in fear as he ignored Miles' plea. The knight didn't move to approach at first. Soon, though, he started to advance.

"My lord!" a young voice cried out, and the smallest armored person that had been outside the pavilion came upon the scene, and froze in shock and fear. Griflet spun on him quickly, sword pointed towards him now. Immediately the enemy knight, the one who had speared Miles, advanced, and Griflet focused on him again.

The enemy knight stopped, watching him silently, then looked at Miles. Then turned his gaze to the other one who had come upon the scene and was now frozen in place. His gaze turned once more to Miles and Griflet. "Get him out of here. Nothing can save him in these woods, and you don't have this time to waste if he's to have any hope," the knight said, sounding defeated and exhausted and-and something else Griflet couldn't pin because tears were blurring his eyes and suddenly he felt like he was going to panic because there was so much red and Miles was choking up blood and the spear was still in his body and… The knight suddenly shot towards them, pulling the spear from Miles's chest and making the young man scream in agony before choking and coughing again, body jerking as blood poured from the wound. Griflet gave a cry of dismay and alarm, diving for his friend and removing his helmet, frantically trying to staunch the blood. "Hold on Miles, hold on, please! Please, I'm going to get you to Arthur's court! It'll be okay, I promise, you'll be okay! You'll be…"

Miles's hand gripped his arm and Griflet cut off, choking back a cry of grief. Miles summed him up then grinned gently at him. "It's-it's okay… It's… okay…" His hand became limp, slipping from Griflet's arm as he went unconscious. Griflet stared a shocked second before quickly working to get Miles up onto the horse so he could gallop back to Far Far Away where they could get help and save him and everything would be okay and then they could ride after that crazy knight who… Griflet looked sharply over and gasped. The knight and his squire, or whatever, were gone! Griflet cursed inwardly and immediately seized the horse's reigns, running with it back to his own before galloping them back towards Far Far Away as fast as they could go. There was still time! There had to be! There was still time… Griflet looked over at Miles and his heart sank.

No... There isn't…