Prince Agnarr woke up as the sun glared through the blinds and onto his sheets. After remembering that he was going to meet Mattias in an hour, at 10:00, he rushed into his closet to get dressed for the day. Agnarr loved spending time with Mattias, even though he was years older than him, Mattias was his best friend. After he had dressed, he ran out into the hallway, dodging two guards who were by his room. He did not like having guards watch him all day and stand by his door at night, but Lord Peterson insisted, since he was a vulnerable and important target, at only sixteen years old. Plus, his father had died just two years before, and they wanted to keep him safe at all costs, even if it meant stationing guards outside of his bedroom at night. He grabbed some breakfast and then went out to meet Mattias outside the barracks.
"Running a little late are we Prince Agnarr?" Said Mattias "Sorry," Agnarr replied, out of breath, "I went to the South side of the barracks by mistake"
"It's quite alright your majesty." He chuckled.
"So," Agnarr asked, "are you gonna teach me how to swordfight?"
"I will," Mattias replied, "but I had something more specific in mind first."
"Great, I'm really excited about learning to swordfight," Agnarr said, "maybe then the guards wont have to come everywhere with me."
"Ah Peterson's just trying to keep you safe," Mattias said in response to him, "he just wants to do what's best for you and your family, even if it makes you a bit uncomfortable."
"Yea I know," Agnarr said, "it's just that sometimes I wish I had more freedom, I mean I'm gonna be the King of Arendelle one day, I thought that I could be free and everything."
"I know what you mean," Mattias said to him, "when I was a boy, my father wouldn't let me go anywhere without someone else. I just wanted to be free, to go up to the mountains and take in the sights by myself. But eventually, my father began to give me freedom as I proved myself to him, and it felt great to know that my father trusted me, and Peterson will one day too."
Mattias and Agnarr walked into the barracks and entered Mattias' quarters. Mattias led him to a barrel with a board placed on top of it, chess pieces set on the table. He nudged for Agnarr to sit down at the small table. "Chess?" Agnarr asked him. "I thought you were gonna teach me something to do with fighting."
"There's more to being a good soldier than just physical combat you know." Mattias said to him "A good soldier analyses his playing field before making a move"
"Alright," Agnarr agreed, "I'm always up for a game of chess anyway, plus father says you are not the best at chest."
"You're white," Mattias said to the boy, "You make the first move."
Agnarr moved one of his pawns forward two spaces, matched by Mattias moving one of his ahead. They began to play, slowly capturing a couple of each others pawns. Agnarr seemed to be winning, having captured five more pieces than Mattias so far, and was beginning to become confident in his victory. If he beat Mattias in chess, then perhaps he would let him learn to swordfight sooner than later.
"I have you Mattias," Agnarr declared, "I almost have you checkmated."
"Haha perhaps you do." Mattias chuckled, with a smile on his face that puzzled Agnarr.
"There! Checkmate Mattias." Agnarr celebrated.
"I don't think so." Mattias said. Just then, he switched the rook and the king and castled Agnarr. After two more moves, Mattias had Agnarr checkmated.
"I- can't believe it," Agnarr said. "You- castled me? You beat me? How?"
"You didn't think I knew about castling did you?" Agnarr complained. "I thought you were bad at chess, at least father told me you were."
"That's what I wanted to show you Prince Agnarr," Mattias told him, "I asked your father to tell you that. I wanted to show you that you should never underestimate your opponent. No matter what the circumstances are."
"Wow I-," Agnarr said in shock, "I guess I'll never underestimate anyone then."
"That's good to hear." Mattias said. "Also, always keep an eye on your opponents, don't see them as individuals, but rather as a group working against you." "Wow, thank you Mattias." Agnarr said. "Anytime your highness." Mattias replied. "And now, I believe that I have some sword fighting to teach you."
At those words Agnarr's face lit up.
"Really?!" Agnarr exclaimed.
"Of course Agnarr," Mattias said, "Let's go"
The two had a great rest of the day together, as Mattias taught him the basics of sword fighting, all the while reminding him to pay attention to his overall performance, and not just his individual moves. When they were finished, it was nearly night, and Agnarr returned to the castle, exhausted after being with Mattias all day. He told his father, King Runeard all about it, and looked forward to spending more time with Mattias in the future.