Disclaimer: I'm contemplating suing my wishing star..

Oh This is partially book-verse, so some strange characters are mine and some are the book's...enjoy!

I still have a poll up for you all and thanks to those who've voted!

Chapter Twenty-Five

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Kara smiled grandly, making Bowen's heart leap in his chest, she was the perfect picture of nobility as she chatted politely with a few other women.

Strands of different conversations had been drifting to his ears for some time as he leaned against a table against a wall of the open-aired courtyard, mostly he was listening to Brother Gilbert and 'Draven' talk over glasses of wine.

"Can you believe all this fuss?"

Bowen turned a little at a lady's comment, she was speaking of the banquet and festivities, but mostly laughing at Geoff who was wandering around a little lost.

Gregory, who had been the boy's guide, had been caught up in politics within moments if introducing the boy to the court men.

Needless to say, they had had little interest in the the peasant.

The lady who had commented within Bowen's earshot snickered and mocked gasped as they passed Geoff.

"That's the boy who found the dragons...didn't he think the king was a commoner?"

Geoff was able to keep the embarrassment of his face as he politely smiled, his hands clasped gently in front of him instead of nervously fingering his new, red tunic.

"Isn't he just a stable boy?"

The pair laughed as they continued, but Bowen still saw the faint red tint to Geoff's cheeks as he walked off.

xxx

Geoff looked over the food covered table with a bit of envy, why did the nobles get the good food people like him grew and worked for? And so much of it...there were probably five times the amount of 'peasants' in the Baron's lands then there were nobles in the entire castle.

He looked down the length, seeing Mansel enjoying the food happily, "Hey Mansel, have you seen Drake?"

He'd left the monastery with the dragon before Gregory had come to escort him personally, unfortunately the doors weren't designed fro dragons and Drake was supposed to go a different way.

Drake was no where to be seen.

The novice shook his head, continuing to enjoy the feast.

"I'll keep looking...Hey, you have fun...'cause it's not like gluttony is on that seven deadly sin list too..." Geoff commented with a friendly grin, then nodded respectfully to Brother Gilbert as the monk stepped forward when Mansel started to leave.

"Mansel is it? I believe you were the one told to take over Friar Peter's guardianship of Drake?"

The novice nodded, swallowing thickly.

"Well, I have unfortunately been away for too long, I'm sure you've interacted with the young dragon before this sad occurence? Yes? Good, now if you would come with me, I believe we need to have a talk..."

Geoff smiled a little as the two departed, then continued to look around, and he came across Roland, who was for some reason was glaring enviously.

"well, if it isn't that fancy new stable boy, at the castle at last..."

"Well, your tunic doesn't look so great now does it?"

"You only have that tunic because your friends with the dragons..."

Neither knew 'Draven' could hear them and stiffened all the way across the courtyard.

"Without him...you are still a peasant..."

"Roland."

The two paused in their bantering to see the nobleman.

"Geoff's well on his way on becoming a knight. Isn't that true Roland? And what do you get if you don't tell the truth in our kingdom?"

"Ten lashes, bu-"

Osric smirked as he cut the boy off, "One more word , and I'll have to double that."

The squire stood shocked as the nobleman stepped between the two boys, patting Geoff's shoulder companionably.

"Come with me."

xxx

'Draven' choked a bit on a sip of wine he had just swallowed, a sharp...well he didn't know what to call it since he couldn't recognize the feeling...

My love...

He jerked to his feet, stumbling as his joints screamed to fully bend properly, Kara had since finished her conversation and came to him, her smile fading into a concerned frown as he grimaced.

"What is it?" He bent over a little, as she braced her hands on his shoulder to support him, looking around for Bowen, but was unable to find him.

Our child...he's in danger...

"Draco," Kara whispered, "What's wrong..."

"Drake..."

Draco winced and a hand went to his chest, over his heart. The first of many such pains, the newly kicking in paternal instincts were strong...

"What about him?"

"He's gonna die..."

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Osric had led Geoff to an outer balcony, used for close sword fight training judging by the rack of finely crafted blades, Geoff didn't realize how well made until Osric grabbed one blade and then tossed him another.

He caught it like he'd practiced with his make-shift wooden ones.

"You've handled swords before."

"None like this..."

Osric didn't respond verbally, just swung the blade to get the feel of it, then dropped into a braced stance, "Then shall we?"

Geoff tried to mimic the stance, halfway succeeding and earning a bit of a please gleam in Osric's eyes.

"En Guarde."

They sparred quite evenly, Osric avoiding flaunting his ability to fully test Geoff's, "Heh, you have natural talent, you deserve special attention my boy."

Geoff looked a little embarrassed, then lunged at the nobleman, earning a grin, the boy knew how to use surprise already...

"Perhaps you should consider taking rooms here at the castle."

Goeff faltered and stepped back, "Me...live...here?"

"That way I could tutor you personally."

Geoff was lost in thought for a moment, wondering why that 'Draven' man or whoever he was couldn't teach him, he'd seemed like he was quite good at what he did...

Or...what he'd lied about...

Osric broke through his thoughts as eh started the duel once more, Direct my guards to collect Drake's belongings."

That got his attention.

"Drake's?"

"I assumed you and him were a team."

The bashful nervousness returned, "Well, I'd think he'd be too scared to leave the monastery."

"Poor creature," Osric murmured then lunged at the teen, "We wouldn't want to make him uncomfortable."

Osric stepped back, pausing the fight, "I'm sure you could convince him to make...regular visits."

"I'm sure he'd like that alot..."

Geoff looked away, then back to the patient swordsman.

"What do you think it's take for a stable boy to become a knight?"

Osric's tone shifted into instructional, "Now come at me faster."

Geoff tried to move into the presented stance, failing halfway and then charging at Osric.

"The most fundamental aspect of a knight is his commitment, he should want it more than anything else, more than wealth, more than adventure..."

Geoff was yanked and then shoved back against a pillar, "More than friendship...Do you want it that bad?"

He answered breathlessly, "Yes I do."

Osric smiled as stepped away, "Huh, you'll make a positively heroic knight."

"It's written," He added as he replaced his blade in the sword rack, "In the stars."

Geoff did the same with his own blade, then followed the noble when Osric called to him to go to his personal library.

Neither of them saw the man behind a different pillar watching them, he'd been there for quite some time.

The minimal anger and jealousy that had flared within him was lost in the pain and grief...

The same feelings that had taken over him when he realized...

He was no longer the teacher of that blonde-haired, flailing boy, just like here, only instead of the finely crafted castle, he'd taught in the scraggly Roman ruins...

He covered his mouth with a hand as the tears ran down his face, realization slapping him in the face as he watched Osric and Geoff walk away, the noble completely overpowering anything he'd taught in mere moments, erasing him from the picture.

The tears cam harder as he muffled the pain, not only was Drake now going to be out of his reach, but also Geoff...

He had lost...

Yeah! Tada!

I hope you like it!