Here comes another little one shot looking into possibilities for Season 5. Sorry that I haven't posted any of these short sketches for a bit; I've been busy with my longer, chaptered AU. Hope that folks will still get some enjoyment from this too though. I have several stand-alone ideas for this collection yet, but they will be easier to work on along, and I want to have the longer story (and another one besides!) up before Season 5 begins airing.
Anyway, I've rambled long enough…Enjoy!
"Knight in Training"
"On guard, Sir Knight," Henry bows as he speaks, just as he has been taught, his voice steady and bold. It reminds Killian and his grandpa Charming, who watch from the side of the practice ring, just how much the young man has matured in the past few months since Emma has been gone. As if Henry hadn't already been growing like a reed, coming up past both his mothers' shoulders and his child's voice gradually deepening, it is now obvious in his very bearing and the hard won wisdom in his youthful gaze.
They are standing in the shadow of King Arthur's famed castle in Camelot, and the young prince, son of both the Evil Queen and the Savior, is facing off against Sir Bedivere of the Round Table in a friendly practice bout. The tall behemoth of a man is considered one of the best with a blade Arthur has at his disposal – after only Lancelot and Gawain – yet he has also proved kindly and welcoming to the newcomers in his ruler's kingdom seeking Merlin. Though he would not have had to show such hospitality nor take of his own time to help them acclimate to this realm and entertain them as they wait for some sign of Emma, Merlin, or the next step on their quest, Bedivere has done so. It hasn't taken long for Henry to take a liking to this gentle giant either. Emma's son, with his love of the classic tales and awe over valiant heroes, has befriended each of Arthur's knights in turn upon meeting them. Still, the boy seems especially fond of gallant, soft spoken, but wise Bedivere.
The man's strength and skill have proven the perfect thing to distract Henry from missing his mother and growing ever more worried the longer they have no course of action or any way to find out how Emma is. Taking up the lessons David had started with his grandson long ago, Henry blossoms under the tutelage of an actual knight of the Round Table, proving as quick and agile as Killian himself the pirate thinks ruefully as he watches their scrimmage. He is also as resourceful, daring, and scrappy as his street smart mother. Killian wonders briefly if Henry will eventually pass the success as a fighter of both his former princely teacher and his current tutor. The more he sees the more the Captain feels that, if the situation called for it desperately enough, Henry would be willing to scrap the courtly manners that constrain both his grandfather and the knight and fight dirty if he must – as he himself would, and Emma too, for that matter.
Still, Bedivere proves a worthy adversary – despite his traditional methods and style. Thrusting forward on the offensive, he pushes Henry back once more, managing the balance between challenging the novice swordsman yet not threatening the young man's safety, thoroughly impressing Killian as he observes. He is equally thrilled to see the natural aptitude his Swan's boy possesses, and Henry's confidence growing. Right before their eyes, bringing the pirate back to the present, Henry swiftly launches his own assault. Having only retreated a few steps, the youth charges forward, slashing a strong blow across the knight's blade and countering Bedivere's attack.
The much larger man rears back for a moment, truly taken by surprise, and then nods encouragement, clearly pleased with his pupil. He swings his heavy broadsword once more. This time, however, Henry is clearly ready and not willing to relinquish his advantage. He doesn't step back, but instead dodges, then dips, still traveling forward, but sliding effortlessly to a knee and striking upwards, under the thrust of the grown knight's weapon.
Charming whoops in delight at seeing his grandson score a point so definitively, proceeding to tap the point of his sword on the chest plate of Bedivere's armor before he stands and resets to start again. Killian simply cannot stop the broad grin he feels splitting his face wide with unrestrained glee. That move was not only skillful and effective; it bucked traditional form and decorum, and it was more than a bit reckless. Henry had made a true pirate strike if Killian ever saw one, and it gives the Captain a ridiculous amount of reassurance to see Henry willing to do what he must to survive. He will need that with the danger in his world and the family to which he belongs.
It is just then that they hear Regina's voice ring out over the courtyard, calling in them in to wash up for the evening meal, her tone brooking no refusal. Killian knows the former villainess had hesitated to let Henry take up sword fighting practice in the first place, and they know better than to antagonize her, no matter how much she has reformed herself. Glancing up the rolling hill to the drawbridge where Regina stands, Roland Hood at her side, clutching to her skirts and gazing up at her adoringly, they wave to let her know they've heard and bring Henry's lesson to a stop.
"We'd better not keep everyone in the dining hall waiting, guys," David says good naturedly, hopping down from his seat on the fence, and beckoning them to follow with the assured grace of the ruler he is.
Bedivere and Henry bow to each other and sheath their blades. As they turn, however, Killian sees the invigorated glint of exertion and pride in Henry's eyes. The lad's brown gaze sweeps across and connects with Killian's mischievously, grinning as if he knows what his mother's True Love is thinking. Perhaps that bit of piracy his Emma possesses has been passed on to her son. Henry winks as if he have heard every word Killian thought, nods his head in the Captain's direction, and dashes ahead of them up to the castle.
As he follows, Killian cannot help feeling a bit of a spring in his own step. That glimmering look of triumph and just a bit of naughty fun on Henry's face had been all Swan. The lad reminds him more of Emma with every passing day; the more he gets to know the young prince, the more it holds true. Emma's boy is quite the plucky fighter, and that serves to give the pirate hope. Henry carries that spark of fire from his mother, and somewhere out there, Killian has to believe that his love is still fighting as well, still holding on until they can see her again.
***One last author's note: I wasn't sure which knight to have befriend Henry and continue his sword training, but when I started researching the different knights of Arthur's circle, Bedivere stood out as a very interesting choice. Not only is he often written as the one who eventually threw Excalibur back into the lake as Arthur was taken to Avalon, but he was looked at as one of Arthur's best fighters and most loyal followers. Though I didn't know a lot about him, and we certainly don't hear of him as much as ones like Lancelot, Percival, etc. He is also often described as being exceptionally tall, strong, handsome, and interestingly enough, one-handed – just like a certain dashing pirate we all know and love. I was hoping to work that into the story in some way but it just wouldn't fit smoothly in the one shot I ended up with. Anyway, I don't know if we'll get to see Bedivere on the show this fall, but that's how he got the supporting role in this little piece!