Chapter Three
The next day dawned fair and Jocelyn escaped the castle before she could be called upon to meet any other visiting dignitaries, put on a dress that was needlessly complicated or sew something. Dressed in men's clothing as was her habit whenever she could get away with it, she dashed down the main steps and turned left towards the stables.
Being a keen rider and happy to be outside the confines of the castle and town, Jocelyn spent several hours out on her horse. Eventually returning, she could tell by the light that she was once more late to meet her governess and was sure to receive a good earful on the subject.
Her mount's shoes clattered loudly on the cobbles as she rode into the stables and dismounted. A groom came up to her to take the horse away and she was about to dispense with his services and see the horse stabled herself, when her name was called from across the courtyard.
"Jocelyn!"
Turning suddenly, she was surprised to see Arthur strolling towards her with his usual retinue of knights. Jocelyn turned back to the groom and handed him her reins, before walking forward to meet the prince.
"Where did you go?" he asked as they met half way.
Jocelyn sent him a considering look before answering - you could never be sure how he would take something. "Just around. I went up the hill."
"You must have had a clear view." Jocelyn nodded but didn't reply, beginning to walk back into the castle. Arthur kept step with her, casting about for something else to say. "Oh, yes, I hear you're allowed to attend feasts now."
"So it would seem."
He sent her an amused glance. "And you're not overjoyed by the prospect?"
"'Overjoyed' is a very strong word." She replied with a smile, beginning to mount the staircase towards her rooms.
"Have you been practicing?"
His question halted her two steps up. She was tall enough, but it was only now that their eyes were level. She regarded him a moment, quickly deciding that he was bored and sought distraction by continuing to ask questions.
"I'm having a lesson with Owen today." The former sword master had promised her as much that morning.
"Well, I may fight you as well." Arthur said in a teasing tone.
"Really?" Jocelyn tried to keep the eagerness from her voice, but Owen was old and Arthur was very good.
He didn't reply, merely smiled enigmatically, and left her to continue upstairs with a lighter heart.
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"My lady, must I remonstrate you once again about the unsuitable state of your dress? To dress as a man is most indelicate."
Jocelyn sat with the ubiquitous Mistress Coulthard within the confines of her private sitting room, being royally upbraided as she had expected. A scolding that had been going on for the better part of an hour. Her gaze was fixed firmly on the bright winter's day that her window displayed, rather than on the badly knitted sock that lay abandoned, only half complete, in her hand. At the governess's latest comment, she turned her eyes from the window to frown at her companion.
"The King does not object." She stated firmly and turned away once more. She did not feel it incumbent upon her to mention that the King did not actually notice either.
Mistress Coulthard embarked on a monologue of some length on the subject of men not being the best judges on such matters, be they even so much as a King. Jocelyn allowed the words to wash over her for some minutes before she caught sight of Owen crossing the courtyard far below. Taking this as a cue that lessons, or at least lessons in this dull vein, were over she jumped up from her seat, thanked her governess and left the room quickly, all before the good Mistress knew what was going on.
Half way down the main staircase, she was checked in her headlong rush by Morgana, who was mounting the stairs.
"Did you hear about Arthur?" she asked with a gleeful smile.
Jocelyn stopped abruptly. "No, what happened?"
"He was fighting, in the marketplace."
"Fighting? With who?" Jocelyn's first reaction was that she would be denied her chance to spar with him.
"Merlin. Gaius's new apprentice." Morgana clearly rather enjoyed the idea.
"An apprentice?" disbelief was clear in Jocelyn's voice now and she looked skeptical. "Arthur would never fight an apprentice."
"Apparently he would. Well, Merlin at least. Gwen told me that's the second time and, after the first, Arthur had Merlin locked up." Morgana drew a little closer to her sister as two guards passed them. Jocelyn waited to speak until they had passed out of earshot.
"But not the second?" she asked, thinking it would have been unlike Arthur.
"No, for some reason not." Morgana replied, appreciating the strangeness of his behaviour.
They stood silent on the stairs for a moment, considering the event, before Jocelyn recalled her destination. Taking her leave of Morgana, she dashed down the last few stairs and out the door to the stables to meet Owen.
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"Milady, if you go in recklessly like that, you will only be swung at from below. You cannot defend yourself in that position." Owen demonstrated his point with his sword.
"But I was attacking, Owen, not defending!" Jocelyn replied, brushing her hair away from her hot face.
"Ah, but the best form of attack is defence."
Jocelyn turned from her teacher to scowl at Arthur, who had just appeared and was now lounging at his ease against the wall.
"Was that the rule you were following when you fought Merlin today?" she asked him angrily, hoping to wound him with the jibe.
Now it was Arthur's turn to frown. "That's different. I know how to attack properly."
"Oh, do you? Well – "
"Were you here to practice with Lady Jocelyn, your highness?" Owen judged it best to interrupt, knowing the quick tempers of the pair well.
"Yes, if she doesn't think she's too good for me." Arthur raised an eyebrow in Jocelyn's direction.
For a moment it seemed that she would decline his services, but suddenly she relented and smiled. Arthur took this as invitation enough, divesting himself of his cloak and drawing his sword.
"And what is it you need to practice, milady?" Arthur enquired with a mocking bow.
Jocelyn frowned but didn't reply to the taunt, holding her own sword in readiness and trying to keep half an eye on his feet. She knew how fast he could move.
Apparently knowing and being able to do something about it were two different things however, as in a moment he was by her side and his sword was bearing down on her head. Ducking swiftly she used the movement to twist completely out of his way and take a swing at his chest. He easily parried the blow and they circled once more.
Bearing in mind the rule he had just told her, Jocelyn held back, waiting for Arthur to make the next move. This he presently did, rushing forward and aiming a blow at her arm. She blocked him and continued her arm movement to attempt his left leg. He took a step back and leg was replaced by sword, which easily bore hers away.
They sparred on, neither clearly having the upper hand. What was very apparent however was that Arthur was not using all his strength or skill. While Jocelyn began to grow short of breath and tire, which in turn affected her precision, he didn't appear at all affected.
Though she knew why he did it, it annoyed Jocelyn every time he pulled back from putting his full force behind a blow. The fact that she couldn't wear armor didn't help. Owen had once offered to find her some that would fit, but she wasn't strong enough to wear it and then fight. It seemed Arthur was very aware that there were only a few layers of cloth between the edge of his sword and her flesh.
Throwing caution to the wind, Jocelyn attempted a sudden wild attack, throwing her whole weight behind the blow. It looked for a moment as if she would be successful, but Arthur parried at the last moment and used his free hand to grab her arm by the wrist and spin her so her back was to him. Before she could struggle he disarmed her and held his sword to her neck.
"Do you yield?" He asked, breathing only a little heavily.
After a moment, Jocelyn gave a small, grudging nod, eyeing the blade warily. Immediately he released her and sheathed his sword.
"You're getting good, Jo." He said, smiling at her.
Jocelyn tried to maintain her frown, but a small, reluctant smile broke out. Arthur nodded to Owen and then to her before turning to go into the castle. Jocelyn watched after him for a moment, then went to return her sword to Owen.
"He's right you know," the retired sword master said, jerking his head after Arthur's retreating back. "You are getting much better."
"Hmm." Was all Jocelyn would say in reply, refusing to be pulled into excitement, and soon afterwards she left him.
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