| Okay everyone. Beat me with large sharp objects. It's about TIME, aint it!? ^_^ I've had this done for about a month now, but recent computer problem had left me dead in the water as far as putting it online was concerned. I gotta apologize to anyone who was waiting for this to come out! Please don't think it takes me so long to get out new chapters because I don't like writing them! I LOVE writing them, but I'm always so damned busy with my so-called-life and updates to Serdian Zeima and RaptorJNB.com that I often loose the time-slots I set aside for catching up on story fics. it makes me feel great that some peoples actually want to read them though- so thank you EVER so much! *smiles and hugs everyone* This is the fifth chapter, and should be mildly interesting now that I have Albert and Lavitz together. Please tell me where to improve! Everyone has already helped my writing so much by pointing out my rough edges and helping me smooth them over. *HUGS* thanks a billion! And now, on with the story! *** Lavitz, after about half an hour of searching, finally found the child king. His mother had said he was reading in the study, his father had said he was up in their room, and Dakri didn't know- or give a damn either way. He just wanted to get to practice. "And you turned babysitter WHEN!?" the brown haired youth was chortling irritably. Lavitz tossed him a glare and climbed the ladder behind the study that led up- and outside. There was a platform above that had been used for storage YEARS ago- before he cleared it out and discovered a window to the roof lay behind it. Being seven at the time, Lavitz had been ecstatic and curious at the find. His father had explained that, during a particular storm before he was born, a portion of their attic gave way under the bombardment of rain and wind. They'd always had a single window in that small, stuffy crawlspace... but the collapse had meant it was now exposed. So- Servi constructed a ladder and platform. No use wasting space, he had said. Besides- everything IN the attic that had fallen in STILL needed a place to go! "Are you ignoring me!?!?" Came Dakri's voice again. "LLLAAAVIITTTZz..... lavitz, lavitz... LAVITZ!!!" Lavitz snickered and shot him a glance back down the ladder. "Shut up, will you? and im NOT a babysitter. I just need to check up on him, is all. Besides, Dad said he wanted to see him downstairs..." Dakri returned the smirk with his usual aloof arrogance, following him up the old steel staircase and it's squeaking hinges. "WHY!? We are LATE, blondie- and the guys are going to KILL us..." Sighing heavily, as if he couldn't grasp the fact that his friend *didn't* understand, Lavitz reached the top of his climb and sat a moment. One hand absently brushed dust from his deep green tunic and swept at the pine needles that clung to his black trousers. "BECAUSE, Dakri." An exasperated look. "I'm a knight." "Not YET, you aint!" "Father says that I should act the role of an honorable sword-born. That's what I'm DOING!" He twitched his nose as Dakri made some weird snort of a sound. "And SPEAKING of the like- you stay here...!" The snort turned into a disgruntled sound of protest. "Why!?" "Because you don't know how to act around royalty!" "Like you do!?" "YES." If both boys hadn't been so precariously perched upon the ascending steps beneath their feet, they would have lunged for one another as they usually did when generally miffed. It was a typical way to solve a problem amongst the boys of Bale. Disagree? Punch- and punch hard. Lavitz and Darki had brawled over far less and far more stupid reasons. Still, they always ended up laughing themselves blind after the one minute squabble had ended. Besides, even if Darki had wanted to chance it, Lavitz always ended up victorious. The blonde was tall and thin- but bound with youthful muscle that was sure to develop over time. Dakri was lanky as hell- and just didn't have the strength to really belt it out with his friend. He WAS damned fast though... "Nyah!" Dakri grinned at him. "Go ON then, I'll beat the crap out of you later.." "Bwa hahahaha!!!" A roll of emerald green eyes. "Like you COULD!" "Shaddup blondie!" Lavitz just returned the grin and waved him off. Dakri wouldn't mind much though, he assumed. They really 'were' late for practice, and they both had a reputation for being the first at Quarter Field. The first always got to pick their opponents, while the late-in-arrival chumps normally sat it out and got fed to the teenage knights to be. "Remember!" Darki paused at the door, having half jumped/run down the steps. "Quarter Field! Don't be TO late!!" Lavitz shrugged a shoulder and nodded. As Dakri left, Lavitz turned back to his task at hand. One arm reached upwards to part the shutters ahead of him, and he fought back the overwhelming urge to sneeze as dust bunny after dust bunny leapt to attack his proud arrow of a nose. It was midmorning, now. Everyone was up, around, and doing SOMETHING of either dire or trivial importance. Mr. Flawsburg was no doubt preening his gardens with the utmost care, and Dakri's mother Yuna was probably shouting at the local hooligans to "Get off her lawn and get a job!" War or no war, some things just never changed. The only difference was that most of the town now carried a limp in their lively step. A pouch of worry, filling slowly as the weeks passed. Afterall, apprehensive talk of Sandora was not uncommon now a'days. ~well, whatever...~ Easily lifting himself through the bronze window trim, Lavitz straightened and looked to his right. Sure enough... it had been about a month since Albert had become a part of his family, in a sense. The transition was very quick- in fact. He'd... been apprehensive at first, but his father had assured away enough of his fears, and simply having him *home* was enough to make Lavitz feel more secure in either case. Two days after Alexia's funeral, the next time he and Albert met was in the appropriate sense- FINALLY. The boy arrived with his father, and Lavitz kneeled and spoke with all the formal prowess he could manage. That- was the way it should have been. And was the way he'd kept it- despite that fact that Albert seemed... unnerved by the entire display. ~Setting, time or place just don't matter. I'll be a knight of Serdio someday, and this is my king. I have my place, living together or not. That's the way it works, and what father approves of.~ Albert was sitting away from him, with his back against the faded wooden wall of Lavitz home. In the way of dress,the king was as plain as anyone Lavitz sparred with. He wore only a deep green shirt, rather faded brown trousers that were far less than noble attire, and his boots were those suited to traveling- even though not tattered and worn enough to belong to someone like him or the other boys. One knee drawn up against his chest, and the other permitted to dangle off the roof itself... Albert's position seemed a rather-to-risky length from the edge, in Lavitz' opinion. Then again, he'd sat in the exact same spot a thousand times himself. Lavitz loved being out here- where it was quiet, peaceful, and simply pleasant. "Your majesty?" If the way he jumped was any indication, Albert had been deep in thought again. *** He'd been staring into his mother's pendant when Lavitz' voice startled him. Albert barely remembered the fine jade stone and it's odd, almost ever-changing hues of green and gold. It had been years since he last saw the necklace, and even then, it had gently lain across the slender shoulders of the acclaimed duchess Karina. Albert remembered her even less then he did the pendant, but he recalled thinking she was a quiet woman with a tender smile... breathing deeply, Albert dropped the keepsake against his chest and turned warm hazel eyes on the blonde that stood near him. He'd realized not long ago that Servi's son was easily unnerved by his silence and/or what Servi called a 'blank' look. He'd been trying to appear more cheerful these past few weeks. The Slambert household had, despite the shocking arrangement, been more then kind in accepting him within their unit, of sorts. He didn't want them to think he didn't appreciate what they'd done. ... Albert *was* out of place, and he *didn't* feel right, but anything was better then... being in the castle Indels. Bits of memories assaulted him then, and the six year old boy closed his eyes a brief moment. "...Sire?" They opened. "Yes, Lavitz? My name is Albert...." The blonde regarded him with that purposeful look of his. Lavitz... was an interesting preteen; but then, Albert really hadn't known many children before him. There was always a variety of thought running across his face, sometimes confused and sometimes determined- but determination usually won out over all. Now he had that dumbfounded look again, like there was something *just* above his reach that simply wasn't worth the trouble in grasping. "Your majesty Albert." He began, and his future lord just stared at him with a certain degree of distress evident across even features. "I'm going to be leaving for quarter Arena very shortly. You may consider coming downstairs, as my father has requested you in his study." Not for the first time since they met, Albert found himself wishing Lavitz would return to being the brash, nearly obnoxious youth that had knocked him clear to the floor the day after his mother passed on. He was trying to be something he wasn't- and that scared Albert it a way. Did this mean everyone who met him, be it in a castle or on some vagrant country road, would treat him with that same drone-like madness his mother hated so much? how could he ever get to know anyone? What if they acted nice, but really just hated him? how could he tell? ~This isn't Indels, but so much stays the same.~ Bringing his legs beneath him, Albert stood swiftly from the pine-shingled roof and turned to face his companion. Maybe... if he just... tried to *talk* to him, Lavitz would act more like the person he was. Like how he acted around Dakri, for the few times he'd seen them together. After nodding that he would go to Servi, a tentative question made it's way to voice. "....Lavitz? What's Quarter Arena?" The youth hadn't expected that. He replied with a dry; "A practice area for knights in training, sire." Albert tried again. Something that prompted more of an answer. "... Do you enjoy the place? I've... heard of it before, but I never really..." and the young king simply trailed off, watching as Lavitz' expression grew more and more confused/uncertain. He didn't want to make Lavitz feel uncomfortable, he just... "I... well, majesty...." Small Talk? From royalty to a commoner? Nonsense. Albert felt a startling twinge of irritation nip at his senses, and ducked back inside the window before his face could betray the hurt he felt. "Nevermind." ***** He'd never known a man or woman that had Alexia's natural ability with the sword. She'd told him she had learned it from her grandfather, who was an accomplished war hero named Eadeth. Servi's second uncle had known the man personally, and when he was alive, told him amazing stories of the swordsmanship he'd held. It was said Eadeth could move his blade so quickly, that not even the wind could follow such blows. In the War of Second Dawn, he single-handedly destroyed the rebel armies of Eastland, Nissel. When all hope was lost, Eadeth rose to the height of glory and led the legendary Serdian army of 'Godsbane' into battles with the demons of mayfill. Servi always wrote off such stories to be fictitious. Something to amuse small children with. But yet, most legends held some truth, and indeed if Eadeth was not the famous slayer of past, he had been an amazing swordsman. Alexia was testimony to his skill... and as she moved, he found himself entranced and unbelieving. He had been sent to teach 'her' the art of defense. If this kept up any longer, the beautiful queen would be teaching *him*. With a sharp whirl of their blades, he and Alexia stopped their routine and watched one another for a long moment. Above the Indels courtyard, trees rustled and birds chirped gently into the calm, quiet morning. The air was cool- and the sun was warm. "Good." She said. A light voice- graceful and kind, but with the stern strength of an able individual. She slid the flat of her sword along the ground, causing a plume of dust to spew from the concrete practice arena. "You almost had me- Sir Servi." His smile etched wider as he watched her. Brilliant eyes flickered the warmest shades of earth, and her light white, gray and green spar clothing somehow managed to appear as regal as it was practical. She gently slid two slender fingers beneath her collar, loosening the airy cloth, and rose her chin calmly. "Par." "Majesty." A dip of his head. "On 4, counter trial." "Agreed. Prepare yourself." A heart beat of four pounded away- and he cursed mentally as it skipped between the pang of 2 and 3. Thrown off, Alexia began at perfect start, and Servi fumbled to maintain the forceful thrust and clash of their weapons. By gods- the woman flowed like *silk*. As slender and unsuited to battle as she seemed, her body was quicker then his, and just as strong. The term 'fighting royalty' was a playful catch phrase amongst knights who served a liege with battle ability. It was not the place of a blood-born to take up swordplay, and so became a sort of honest joke over time. This- was far different. Fighting Royalty indeed. She could beat Greham *senseless*- and he was the best man Servi *had*... His right arm blocked a blow that rattled his teeth, and Servi allowed himself to buckle, throwing her slightly off guard. His heavy boots creaked against the ground below as Servi spun in place, again letting their blades draw together in a seamless flash of steel and skill. She regained with the cold prowess of a lioness, not giving him even the slightest window of error. Then- a falter. He grasped the slight lapse and threw his weight into the next blow. Down- out- crook. Disarmed, Alexia's sword clattered to the ground. "Well executed, my friend." Servi quickly dropped his stance, smiling briefly and gently bowing his head. "I shouldn't say so, Alexia. I was near breaking- and that slight fault on your blade wasn't much more then a-" "An opportunity for an enemy to deal a killing blow. I'll need quite a bit more training, it seems. But as always- I thank you for your willingness to teach me. Silence. Servi was a strict instructor, and a strict Knight... but there was so much conviction in her voice that even he felt the need to wince. Breathing deeply, a hand raised to comb through his shaggy blonde hair. He didn't know what to say to that- and as Alexia removed her weapon from the ground and ran a cloth along it's killing steel, he knew she expected no further comment. After a moment, he simply chuckled. The sound caught and died away in his throat as she smiled and turned to look at him. The sun had caught each vibrant strand of her honey-colored hair, and the warm light seemed to set her complexion aglow. Be it the way he now watched her or a silent bond between them- a blush managed to creep it's way along her features until the young queen looked away. "Till tomorrow, Servi?" "... Yes, Majesty." He never intended to find the bruises along her right arm and shoulder. ---- "Servi?" ...... "Sir Servi..." ~What?~ Albert was standing below him, one hand on his right arm and the other left at his side. It was somewhat of an uncertain posture... and it took Servi a moment to realize where he was- and what was going on. After a moment the familiar room around him began to register; the windows and the large dining room table. The simple, but elegant arrangement of furniture and decor that was so suited to Mai's tasteful design. He was sitting at a small reading table, a single book open in front of him. The pages whisked absently back and forth as the breeze outside ran gently throughout the house. "You... requested me?" Servi turned his attention on Albert. Blinked and cleared his thoughts of the distant memory. "I... Yes, young one." They both turned to watch Lavitz, who had come walking down the stairs at a brisk pace- one hand on the cherrywood railing. His blonde son looked at Albert a long moment, bowed his head gently, and took his old broadsword from it's sheath by the door. ~Good boy...~ "Quarter Arena?" "Yes, father." Lavitz turned again, about to exit the door to their large home. "I promise I will do my best." "As always. Watch your right fla-" "Right flank. I've been working on that." Lavitz again bowed and nodded, grinning despite himself. After a moment he pulled a black vest from the closet nearby, put it over a deep green tunic, and moved outside- out of sight. Only the echo of his boots over the cobbles betrayed his growing distance from the house- and then Dakri's voice in the distance shouting something irritated. A brief silence. "Albert..." Servi began again, turning to the boy. He was staring after Lavitz, looking generally confused/unsure of himself. Granted, Albert tended to look that way... but the conflicting emotions seemed somehow sharper this time around. Servi wondered what passed behind those eyes, but knew also that- as far as Albert worked- unless something was truly troubling him the boy would not voice it. Only the largest of the little troubles usually found its way to speech." "Noish has told me your moving along quite well in your studies." A blink- and pause. "How... would he know? He doesn't teach me anymore. You and..." he searched for the sounds. "Remuitashpe' do." *HOW* the bloody hells Albert could pronounce her full name startled him- yet again. 'Rem'- as they called her, was a devoted and skilled tutor that Noish had instructed to them- and was only approved in Servi's direct confidence. She was a native of Rouge... wonderful woman- but a bit hard to follow. His only guess was that Albert had engaged in enough language studies to have a more able grasp on the odd roll of sound that often turned up amongst other dialects. "You know he checks up on your progress regularly, Albert." Servi folded the book on the table beside him and sighed gently. "From what we've seen, you have an excessive amount of ability in the language arts, and certainly a sense for politics." ~At only six.... by gods...~ Servi smiled gently, hoping to see some of the same in Albert. His son only gazed back at him; then answered with a quiet; "I am glad I am performing adequately." ~ .....hell. ~ "We've decided that we might want to move you on to another skill. I'm not entirely aware of your interests, Albert, so I assumed you could give me an indication of what classes might best suit you as things stand now." That- perked the boy a little. Albert stared at him blankly before mumbling a quiet; '... I'm allowed to chose?" "Is that so surprising?" Another quick silence. They seemed very frequent... "... No. Not with you..." And suddenly, in a gesture that quite startled the tall Serdian knight, the child smiled up at him and nodded. It wasn't forced and it wasn't a facade- it was truly felt. At seeing it, something tight seemed to release inside of him, and Servi returned the grin with a heavy hand- putting it softly against Albert's shoulder. "Well, then?" "Advanced mathematics 3." A blink. "You ARE six, Albert..." And another smile. "I know." ***** "LAVITZ!" Dakri didn't need to shout- Lavitz was already dodging the blow as it sliced by his arm at a maddening speed. What the hell? This guy was aiming to hurt- he'd found that out the hard way during First Rounds... His name was Michealla, and he was a *brute*. Nearly two heads higher then he or Dakri, four years older, and not at all personable. He had thick, shaggy black hair and shrewd blue eyes- somehow only heightened by the bulky build that supported his frame. Loose gray and black clothing adorned him, making the tan-skinned boy a menacing illusion in both the literal and figurative sense. This was what he got for being late, Lavitz guessed... but as they started their spar- the blonde knew within the first few blows that whomever the newcomer was- he wasn't going to go easy and he WASN'T out to fight fair. Nimbly, Lavitz evaded another flurry of blows and fought back. He was outweighed in strength, and although fast, maybe not fast enough... One particular strike to the back sent Michealla staggering. It wasn't meant to hurt- it was meant to set offbalance... but the guy took it WAY personally. Lavitz was about to help him steady himself when a fist whirled up, and punched him square across the jaw. The shocked got to him far before the pain. "What the FUCK is you problem!?!?" Dakri snarled from the sidelines. Around them in the square platform of stone that was 'Quarter Arena'- kids gaped and others started shouting and hollering- Demanding that Lavitz repay the favor. Unfortunately for them, the blonde only rubbed his aching jaw and stood from where he had fallen. His father had always said to not let oneself be provoked into a fight. When it came to spars- Lavitz followed his own code of rules and the teachings of Servi himself. His mouth twitched into a grim line of determination- and he held his sword firmly. "Michealla, I meant no disrespect. We *are* at training. Weaken but not injure- that's an unwritten rule, here..." "A stupid one at that, weakling. And they say your the best they have..." Lavitz capped his sudden flash of anger, watching Dakri from the corner of his eye. His friend was flailing in place, (always easily prompted to anger) being held backwards by three of the other neighborhood children that knew he would get 'KILLED' if he jumped Michealla. Lavitz stood still a moment, and settled back against his heels. The weapon in his hand drew upwards. "Begin. This isn't over yet." "$&(@*#&$*(@ RIGHT ITS NOT OVER YET!!" Lavitz couldn't help but grin at that. Hell, Dakri... was it even *possible* to curse that fast? This time, when Michealla came at him, Lavitz wasn't taking any chances. He dodged each blow, gaining distance as they circled one another to evaluate the taller boy's style of fighting. Each of his moves were forceful and.... truly brash. It was his strength that prevailed. Lavitz would need to be quick... and so- he was. Dakri let out a whooping cheer when Michealla was planted into the ground AGAIN. Lavitz hadn't so much as touched him- just out maneuvered him. Jeers began up from the gathered crowd, and a growling Michealla broke at Lavitz in a dead- feral run. To which Lavitz sidestepped, of course. The laughter started up again as Michealla's own forced flipped him into a nearby barrel of water. Drenched thoroughly and spitting mad- he stumbled to get up... slipped- fell again. Dakri was absolutely howling, and Lavitz couldn't help but smile even despite his throbbing jaw. It really *was* rather funny.. Until Michealla finally got to his feet and looked absolutely murderous. "You... you goddamned...." he couldn't finish- snarling quickly. "Your lucky I don't live here!" A snicker from Dakri. "Yeah- you'd get beat over and over again! you honestly weren't about to give one of those ' I know where you live' speeches, were you!?!? AHAHAH!!!!" A Deadly look. "My father, Mizu, came here to see the acclaimed Knight Greham- and when he hears of-" "BWHAHAHAHAH!!!!!" Lavitz winced... if Dakri didn't watch it... Well- it was to late, anyway. Michealla called a seething few names into the crisp air around them, and three more bulky kids jogged up to his side. They must have been his brothers considering how very much the four looked 'alike' .... Dakri actually shut up as they turned on he and Lavitz. The boys around him began to back off. "Oh shit." "Ditto..." "... now what!?" Dakri grinned, looking at Lavitz. He watched them draw their weapons, and started to hop around on his feet with hands poised in a ridiculous display of fists. "Um- NO, Dakri..." Lavitz dragged him backwards, shouting a very smart; "RUN!!!!" thereafter. ************ LOL!! Boys will be boys, eh? ^_^ Thats it for this chapter! Stay tuned!!!! Er.. please? ^_^ Albert: ..... can i burn things now? Lavitz: .... Albert... when... did you... become a pyro? Albert: *Grins at lavitz and starts laughing maniacally* Lavitz: ...... I'm going to go over *points* THERE, now... Rap's: ^_^ HEY!! LAVITZ!!! ...? I dunno why everyone runs when Albert starts acting disturbed. I find it adorable, personally. *Blinks* HEY!! LOOK!! ITS LEGOLAS!!! Legolas: ... *has been trying to get away from Dee* .... Oh... god.... NO.... yeah- I'm obsessed with Legolas too! he's the first LIVE bishie I've EVER seen.. And if they make an LOD movie (which they wont- those bastards) - I want him to play Albert!!!! MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH!!!!!!! Albert: .... Legolas: .... Albert: hey- nice clothes... Legolas: Nnn? oh- yeah! ^_^ *twirls in place* your kinda wearing the same thing! Albert: ..? oh!! ahahah!!! All: ..... Thank the goddess for yummy bishounen. ^_^ |