So it looks like this fic will be a place for me to put the various ideas relating to the move. I hope all of you enjoy what you read. Please read and review. And thank you to the friend who pmd me letting me know that I used the wrong form of a word, Thank You So VERY MUCH! And that reminds me, if anyone reading my stories notices a spelling mistake, please let me know.
-BntB-
The two boys sit on the floor of the library crowded around a small ornate chess board.
"Now this move is called Castling." The blonde haired boy tells his companion, his bright blue eyes shining in the light coming in through an open window.
"Castling?" The darker haired boy asks, his French accent more pronounced then his friends English one.
"Yes Castling. It's a special move between your Rook and your King." The first boy says with a smile, trying hard not to laugh at the concentration on his friends face.
"Alright," The second boy says slowly. "So what are the rules?"
"Well there are three. Firstly, neither your chosen Rook nor King can have been moved before, second is that the spaces between the two pieces must be clear, and third is that you cannot Castle if doing so moves you into, out of, or through a check."
"That makes sense." The French boy says nodding his head. "So how does Castling work?"
"Like this, look here." The blonde boy responds moving the pieces around on the board until only the White King and two Rooks are in position on the board.
"The King can move two spaces either left or right," he says demonstrating with the pieces as he does so.
"For our sake let's say it moves to the left."
"Alright,"
"Then the Rook – the left Rook because that is the way our King has moved – will be brought around to the square on the other side of the King." Picking up the designated Rook, the blonde boy demonstrates with a smile.
"And that is how you Castle."
"Fantastic!" The dark haired boy exclaims.
"It's a useful move too-" the first boy starts to say equally excited when an angry voice booms through the library door.
"Adam!"
"Father," the blonde boy whispers his face turning pale.
"Quickly, this way!" The second boy says, grabbing Adam by the arm and dragging him to the open window.
"Allons-y! Go! Go!" The brown haired boy says as the helps his friend through the window before climbing through himself. Just as the second boy drops to his knees the doors to the library open with a bang.
"Adam!" the angry voice roars again.
"Lumiere," Adam begins only to have said boy shush him and start crawling off into the bushes, beckoning with a hand for Adam to follow. Rolling his eyes in an exasperated manor, Adam follows, and before long the two boys emerge into a grassy clearing surrounded by shrubs.
"Lumiere," Adam says again, only this time with a hint of awe in his voice. "Where are we?"
"The center of the maze," Upon seeing his friends look of wonder and surprise he adds, "You did not think I had shown you all the secret paths in the gardens, did you?"
"Don't sound so smug, it doesn't suit you." Adam replies with a huff.
"Yes it does," Lumiere says with a laugh as he flops down to lie on the grass, Adam joining him soon after.
"I'm going to be in so much trouble." The blonde tells Lumiere.
"So will I," Lumiere responds in a conspiratorial voice. "I was supposed to muck out the horses stables. But this is a much better way to spend the day."
"Lumiere?" The stern voice cuts through the haze of memory, bringing the nineteen year old man back to the present.
"Forgive me, Monsieur Cogsworth. My mind was elsewhere."
"Clearly," The elder man says with a note of distaste.
"What did you ask?"
"I asked if you played chess, although I doubt you have the attention for such a game."
Ignoring the insult – and the snickering it draws from the surrounding crowd – Lumiere puts on his most charming smile.
"But of course! I've been playing ever since I was a boy!"
The snickering turns quiet at that, although many people still look like they want to laugh but must have thought better of it as at that moment Prince Adam enters the room.
"What's all this?" He snaps from the doorway.
"Ah, Bonsoir my Prince!" Lumiere says with a bow. "Master Cogsworth has just challenged me to a game of chess, after my duties are done of course." Beside him Cogsworth splutters his protests, only to stop when Adam speaks.
"Chess, did you say?"
"Oui Master,"
"Now this I must see. Mrs. Potts, have one of your girls fetch my chess set."
"Right away Master." The woman responds sweetly. "Where shall I have her set it up?"
"Have her put it in the library. Come along gentlemen, the rest of you back to work!"
Later, when the game is over and Cogsworth sits looking at the board in disbelief and confusion at having lost, Adam stands from his chair.
"Shall I have the set brought back to you room My Prince?" Lumiere asks.
"Keep it; you will get good use from it I think."
Shocked, Lumiere bows, his usual bravado gone. "Thank you,"
"Think nothing of it old friend."
By this point Cogswoth has stopped his spluttering and is on his feet looking between the two men with confusion.
"Did I ever tell you that Cogsworth was the one to teach me how to play chess?"
"Never in all the times you were teaching me?" Lumiere laughs.
Raising his eyebrows, Adam humms and strides from the room, leaving the sound of Cogsworth asking 'Old Friend?' and Lumiere's laughter in his wake.
