Chapter Four.
Hello my lovely readers. I am here again with another chapter! And so soon! The world must be ending O_O. Actually, it's not, but that won't stop me from teasing silly Europeans and Americans about them misunderstanding Mayan calendars. Silly non-Belizeans. (Fine, and non-Guatemalans too).
The group has finally reached Corus in this chapter.
POV leans toward: Mr. Chekov, the adorable mop-headed kid he is.
When the group reached Corus, Chekov was speechless. They heard and smelled the outskirts of the city long before they actually saw anyone, but even that didn't want the EnterpriseCrew enough to prepare them for a gods-honest City. Pavel supposed he'd been expecting some slab stone buildings and a 'castle' hewn from the cliff and thatched roofs. Neat stone cottages and wooden inns and shops lined the well worn dirt road.
People waved and bowed to Numair and Alanna, he noted. It seemed these people had not been lying when they acted so surprised the Crew hadn't recognized them. They stopped at an eating house doing a brisk business and Alanna purchased for them all a large platter of dumplings to eat. Chekov decided not to mention that his mother made much better pierogis.
He leaned against Hikaru, taking a bit of comfort from the older officer as they watched Numair call up the black fire in his palm again. He watched as Spock twiddled the dials on his tricorder rather roughly. Even a frown graced the Vulcan's normally serene face. He guessed the Commander wasn't getting any readings, or rather, any readings that made sense.
"Hikaru?" he whispered.
"Pavel?" Sulu rubbed his knee reassuringly.
"Vhat vill happen vhen we get to zis Castle and King. I vas hoping that there would be only a little village, something we could hope to steal avay from in the middle of night. But zis, zis is a real City. I am sure with a real King as vell. And…" He trailed off.
"And?" Prompted Sulu with a concerned glance toward the rest of the Crew. Pavel noticed they were all staring at him. Numair and the lady Alanna were speaking into the glowing fire in Numair's hand. None of the patrons of the eating house were paying them any mind either. Once again he thought about how oddly accepting these people were.
"And ve are… vell, ve are Keptain Kirk's Crew," He finished with an apologetic shrug aimed at his Captain.
Kirk just made a face and coughed, "Come now Chekov, not every first encounter I've been in charge of has gone terribly awry!"
Spock leveled the Captain with a gloating look, "Captain, I could tell you the exact number, but doing as such would do little to ease Ensign Chekov's fears. So for the time being, you may pad your pride with this less than accurate implication,"
Chekov looked at Spock with horror while Bones and Kirk scolded the Science Officer. Sulu, Uhura and Scotty assured him that it was the Vulcan's attempt at humor. But it did little to make him feel better.
"Did we miss the joke?" Alanna came over and sat down with them, her sword clanking against the bench before she re-adjusted it. Numair scowled at nothing in particular before sighing heavily.
"No Miss Alanna. Spock here was just torturing Ensign Chekov. A very UN-Vulcan like pass-time," Kirk grinned brightly and spread his hands wide in an open gesture.
"My Captain would recall that I am actually half Vulcan and half Human," Spock nodded to Bones as the good doctor laughed.
"He's got you there Jim!"
"Anyway, Miss Alanna, what are we doing from here?" Kirk pointedly ignored his First Officer and CMO in favor of leaning closer to the short red-headed woman. Out of her golden armor and mail, Alanna was indeed a lovely creature. Her fire-kissed hair looked impossibly soft to Chekov, and he marveled at her vivid purple eyes. He didn't blame his Captain for flirting with her. He just didn't know how Kirk could be so calm, lean so close, and smile so disarmingly at one of the people keeping them captive.
"We've just spoken to the King, and it seems we have some time before we'll be able to deal with the seven of you. Port Legann was attacked by a mixture of rouge Carthaki raiders and Immortals. Kitten was sent down earlier today with Tkaa to help keep the wyvrns at bay, but Daine is almost there to help as well. The King doesn't know if he will have to dispatch some of the Own, the Riders, or even Numair and myself. So until then, we're under orders to stick close to the Palace and keep you lot out of trouble."
"I promise my lady, we will as quiet as church mice," Kirk bowed his head.
"I do hope you'll be some bit quieter than mice," Numair's smile was strained, but his words had no malice, "Daine has complained many times about not being able to hide from the talkative mice that live in the Palace. They never shut up I am told, nor can you keep them out easily,"
Kirk traded wide eyed glances with Bones and turned back, "It is a common expression where we come from meaning we'll be very quiet. I was not aware mice were prone to chattering,"
"There is much you're not aware of it seems. Come on now, we still have a bit of a ride to get to the Castle." Numair rose, unfolding his long, lanky body slowly, as if he were weary and carrying a heavy pack.
"Is Mr. Numair well? His mood seems ta be deteriorating from this morning," Scotty asked Alanna.
"He's just worried about Daine. If she gets injured, he really doesn't want to explain to her parents and friends how he allowed it to happen," she chuckled in a knowing way but didn't elaborate despite the curious looks she received.
"I should be there with her! What if the raiders have the Mages that went missing from the University? There's no one at Legann that can combat them—,"
"Other than the hundred mages Jonathan has stationed there," Alanna finished for him as she gave Uhura a hand to her feet.
Numair scowled at her and strode out the door to fetch their mounts from the stable.
"Is it necessary to ride to the Palace?" Spock asked lightly.
"It is, if we walk there's a good chance you'll be pick-pocketed," Alanna laughed, "Though I doubt they'd find anything of use to them in your pockets at this point,"
Chekov agreed. Numair had their phasers laced up tight in a pouch on his horse. Though he had little doubt Scotty could make their tricorders into something useful to fight with, no person here would be able to turn the devices on, let alone know how to work them. It was obvious this world had no electricity. There was no evidence of engines, nor much machinery other than hand tools. The only thing that confused him was the apparent use of electrical lights in the doorways of more expensive looking homes and inns. Globes of some type of crystal light entryways with an unwavering light.
Scotty noticed it as well, but before he could articulate the question, Numair returned and it was then time to go.
The ride to the Palace was a short one, but Chekov could feel the dread mounting with each mile they drew closer to that gigantic gleaming stronghold atop the hill. They passed a river flowing calmly and he considered flinging himself into it preëmptively. Travelling over the fine white cobblestones, Chekov watched his companions. Sulu rode with a calm, contemplative look on his face. Uhura and Scotty both looked around them with undisguised curiosity. Spock, Jim, and Leonard moved their heads and shifted in a way that he knew meant they were conversing within their mental links.
Across the drawbridge and they were truly in captivity. It was clear with a look at the uniformed guards milling about that escape would be almost impossible. A pack of dogs roamed the courtyard where they entered. Lead by a jaunty white bull terrier with half an ear and a broken tail. Over its head a flock of Sparrows flitted and dive bombed the canines. Alanna whistled sharply and the white dog looked up. Speeding towards them, it barked hysterically until it noticed the EnterpriseCrew. It's hackled immediately went up and a low, terrifying growl rumbled out of its muscular chest.
"Relax Jump, they're fr… well, they're not enemies," Alanna looked around them, "Do you mean Keladry's here?"
The dog actually nodded, "The dog ACTUALLY nodded!" Chekov shrieked.
Startled, everyone around them stopped to look.
"Of course he nodded," A tall girl with dreamer's eyes and wavy brown hair crossed the yard in long, sure strides.
"Lady Knight Kelady! It's so good to see you, I'd worried you were going to stay up there in the woods for the rest of your Knighthood," Alanna hugged the girl and Numair shook her hand.
"New Hope has officially been decommissioned. All of my refuges either came here to Corus with me, or were settled into their own homes in new town and villages. I was hoping I might be of some use along the coast against these raiders,"
The girl turned to them and Chekov felt his heart might burst. She was beautiful. Not like Nyota with her sculpted cheek bones nor with the fire Alanna had. It was a calm, collected beauty that reminded him strongly of Sulu and Spock when they meditated.
She walked right past him to bow to Sulu.
"Are you the new delegates from Yamani?"
Sulu stammered and backed into Leonard when she looked back up at him.
"I'll explain, Kel," Alanna drew the girl to the side and began a quick report of the morning's adventure.
After a moment the girl turned back and sheepishly rand a hand through her hair.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you all were… special guests of another nature,"
"We're no crazy, Lassie, if'n that's what yer implying," Scotty groused.
"Either way, we need to keep these folks under lock and key until the King is ready to see about them. Do you have any ideas Kel?" Numair asked when he turned back from his conversation with a thickly built hostler leading a string of shaggy ponies across the yard.
"Well, I was on my way to the practice courts to meet up with Neal and Sir Raoul, Master Numair, you, Lady Alanna and these people are welcome to join me if you want," Kel tugged a forelock and looked the group over.
"That sounds like a grand idea actually," Alanna grinned, "Were you planning on letting Peachblossom bully Sir Meathead?"
"Of course," came the lilting response. Chekov decided he would give anything to see the girl smile like that again.
"I vould wery much love to see these practice courts!" He pushed forward and extended his hand to shake Keladry's, "I am Ensign Pavel Chekov of the USS Enterprise,"
Keladry blinked at him, "Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan, Knight of the Realm,"
Kirk looked across to Spock, "I thought Knighthood was just for men?"
"It would appear else wise here, Captain,"
Numair heard them murmuring to one another, "Our Lady Knights Alanna and Keladry are the first female Knights in over a hundred years. And we're quite lucky to have them on OUR side,"
"Are you in a war?" Bones asked gruffly.
"We are just cleaning up after a few years of it. We're busy taking care of raiding parties and cleaning out the last of King Maggot's playthings. But more worrisome than that is the task of learning the migratory patterns of the Immortals. It turns out that the Killer Unicorns are highly mobile in the late summer in search of breeding grounds," Numair grinned, "My Magelette is indispensible in negotiating land usuage in the kingdom,"
"King Maggot, immortals, magelette? Mister Numair, you've lost us," Kirk scratched his head, "It's not often I understand so little of what someone other than Spock tells me,"
"The more you people talk, the more I'm beginning to think your insane story is true. Not even crazy people could have lived without knowing about the Immortals, or the war with Scanra," Alanna frowned at them, "Well, either way, come with us. It won't be too long till we get to parade you in front of the King. Let's hope he's in a good mood for listening!" She remarked wickedly.
Chekov felt his blood rush from his face and a flush of fear grip him. He didn't want to be paraded in front of a laundry maid, much less a King.
They followed Alanna, Keladry, and Numair through the Palace grounds until they reached a large corral. Shaggy Ponies milled about and whickered softly. Farther down two Knights in plate were jousting at each other, their horses thundering down the well packed path on either side of a whitewashed fence.
Leaning against a fence was a man with the greenest eyes Chekov had ever seen. He was talking loftily about some philosopher to a bored looking mountain of a man. When the two spotted their group, a desperately happy look bloomed over the giant's face and the younger man groaned.
"And here I thought we might have a truly intellectual conversation, but no, you've arrived to thrash our poor tired bodies Keladry of Mindelan," The green-eyed man drawled as pushed off from the fence. He and Kel embraced before he bowed low to Alanna,
"My Lady Knight, I trust you've not replaced me as your whipping boy? I would be so heart broken if you'd given your tongue lashing to another,"
Alanna ruffled his hair and told him that no-one would be able to vex her as he had.
"Except maybe Jonathan," The big man said to no body in particular.
"Raoul, just because we're page-hood friends doesn't mean I won't sharpen my steel on you," the short red-head shot back, hand resting lightly on the pommel of her sword.
Introductions were made, and the Crew was given a thorough tour of the training yards. They saw some pages and squires training, as well as a few more errant Knights milling about jousting, tilting, and practicing their skills at swordsmanship. A group of women in colorful tight fitted dresses were at the far end of a field shooting amazingly tall striped bows at targets almost out of sight. Chekov thought they looked a little like the women in kimonos Sulu had shown him pictures of.
Just as they were picking out padded armor from a storeroom for Neal and Keladry a sparrow rocketed into their group to land on Keladry's shoulder. It chirped and chattered, hopping excitedly until she stroked its head with a finger. The bird then flew to cling to Alanna's hair.
"It seems the King wants us NOW, Numair. Keladry, Sir Meathead, Raoul, would you mind terribly keeping these… guests occupied? If they need anything, please provide but don't let them stray too far. You know how easy it is to get lost in the Palace,"
Raoul nodded and Alanna and Numair bid the group a brief farewell then hurried up a hill toward the high curtain walls. Chekov watched them go with a sinking feeling in his stomach. As kind as the request had sounded, he was more than aware the woman had given her friends orders to make sure they got into nowhere they were not intended to see, nor were they allowed to leave. So much for an escape, he thought.
"Do any of you want to spar?" Keladry was asking when his attention returned to his surroundings.
"I know my way around a fencing sword," ventured Hikaru and Pavel felt a rush of pride.
"That's wonderful. Here, let's find you a sword and some padding. I've not fenced for practice in forever, I'm sure I'm rusty," Kelady led Sulu into the armor shed and helped him choose properly fitting armor.
He noticed Raoul's and Nealan's amused looks to each other and asked why they were smiling so.
"Kel's never been rusty a day in her life, I'd wager," Sir Raoul boomed out.
"In fact, I DO wager. Five Crowns that she beats him in less than ten moves," Neal reached into his pocket and jangled what sounded like metal coins.
"Is your Sulu really a good hand with a sword?" Raoul looked at Kirk, who glanced at the rest of them quickly before saying that no-one on the entire ship could beat the Japanese man at fencing.
"Hmm… I think I might give him the benefit of the doubt. Six moves, though, not many people last ten against Kelady," He placed five large golden coins on the fence's topmost rail between him and Neal as Kel led Sulu into the fencing court.
Chekov's confidence in Hikaru faded when he saw the man's panic stricken face. Then he saw that it was not a foil the Navigator held, but an honest to goodness sword. Perhaps thinner than the one Sir Raoul wore at his belt, but certainly much heavier, thicker, and longer than Chekov would have expected.
'Not only are they going to kill us or worse later, this girl is going to humiliate Hikaru first,'
Chekov sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He was right to be frightened.
Looking back to where the Captain stood, he saw that Jim was laughing with Neal about something already.
'Why aren't they more worried?!'
Something Bones had told him once came to mind,
"Never rush toward a hopeless situation Kid, on this ship, it'll find you first,"
Maybe he shouldn't worry then. Chekov tried to relax a bit as he watched Sulu and the girl bow to each other. Maybe it would be alright.
The girl lunged forward to take the first cut and Sulu leaped backwards, nearly tripping over his feet in his haste to avoid the dulled edge of her practice sword.
"Or maybe not…" He whispered into the wind.
Chapter Four! I hope you all enjoyed it. I always liked the episodes where Chekov was a pansy, so that's how I'll primarily be writing him (at least in this chapter). Next chapter they all meet King Jonathan. Sleep tight, dive twisted, and drink well my lovely readers.