On his fourth day at Storm's End the pelting rain eventually gave way to a light mist, and Loras was finally able to begin his squire training. He jumped out of bed almost at the crack of dawn and scarfed down some food as quickly as he could. He didn't bother checking to see if Renly needed anything before making his way down to the training yard; it was still early and Renly would surely still be sleeping.
Loras hadn't been able to practice since his journey from Highgarden, and he had become restless trapped indoors during the storm. As he approached the yard he heard the sounds of fighting before he saw it, and the sound, even though it was only wooden practice swords and not steel, still made his heart beat faster as a grin spread across his face. This was what he was good at. This was what he was born to do, and he was itching to show off his skills. Seeing the impressed looks the squires and Master at Arms back at Highgarden would throw him as he showed off was almost as fun as actually fighting. He knew his grandmother would chastise him for boasting if she could read his mind, and yet a part of him wondered if she hadn't been doing exactly that his whole life.
He was greeted by the Master at Arms as he arrived in the yard. Loras recognized the formidable-looking man as Renly had already pointed him out to Loras; evidently, Renly had had a similar conversation with the Master at Arms.
It was early morning still and the training yard was almost deserted, a light fog blurring the sparring figures and giving them an almost surreal aspect. Loras saw only a few squires practicing with wooden swords, while a lone knight aimed arrow after arrow at a target board under the watchful eye of the Master at Arms.
He picked up a sword and approached the other squires slowly, seizing up their strengths and weaknesses. Although, Loras thought smugly, they definitely seemed to have more of the latter. Two boys a little older than Loras were fighting each other, if fighting was such a word for it, while another was throwing jabs at a dummy rather aggressively but without skill or grace.
Loras went to grab a practice sword and approached the squire, who turned on his heels at the sound of his footsteps. He looked to be about Loras' age, though quite taller, and had quite a curious appearance with a shock of messy ginger hair and long, awkward limbs. He looked at Loras suspiciously for a minute, clearly wondering who he was.
"Who are you?" He asked uncertainly. There was a slight wariness in his eyes and Loras realized this particular squire had probably ended up as the butt of one too many jokes in his life.
"I'm Loras. Lord Renly's new squire." Loras said, laughing as recognition and envy filled the boy's bright blue eyes.
Loras had quickly learned that Lord Renly was adored by his people and that being his squire was a much desired position. Loras had to agree with them; after only several days Lord Renly had already all but shattered Loras' previous opinions of him. Although he had only spent a few days with Renly, in their short time together Loras had been privy to all the different facets of Renly's personality, from the flawless charm that everyone saw to the carefree and mischievous side that had shocked Loras at first. He had been pleasantly surprised when Renly had suggested that they be friends, and he had already all but forgotten his resentment over being sent to Storm's End.
"You're lucky. I'd much rather squire for Lord Renly than Ser Nolan." The boy said slightly bitterly. "I'm Casper, by the way."
"So," Loras began. "Would you like to have a go at me?" He grinned wickedly and raised his sword into position.
Casper looked at him reluctantly for a few moments before seemingly coming to the decision that refusing would not be looked upon well. He came to stand in front of Loras and the two began to circle each other. Casper eventually took the first swing and Loras blocked it easily. He continued to meet his opponent's swings as the taller boy took awkward shots at him. There was strength behind Casper's swings but his aim was careless and easily predictable. Loras was starting to get bored when he saw a figure clad in black approaching the yard. He knew who it was even without a second look.
As Casper aimed his sword at his shoulder Loras ducked down and dodged the sword with quick feet, smirking when he saw the surprise on Casper's face as his sword sliced through thin air. He took advantage of his opponent's momentary disorientation to bring his sword down hard against his side, sending Casper sprawling to the ground.
"Yield! I Yield!" The squire cried out as soon as he hit the ground.
Loras turned around as he heard a burst of laughter accompanied by applause, and there was Renly, beaming at him and clapping with enthusiasm. Loras grinned and helped Casper to his feet before making his way over to his Lord.
"Were you showing off for me?" Renly asked him, mischief glimmering in his eyes the color of the ocean.
Loras smiled wickedly. "I was waiting for a proper partner to do that." He said innocently.
Renly chuckled. "Are you suggesting something?" He asked.
Loras only shrugged and looked pointedly around the nearly deserted training yard. "Unless you had someone better in mind."
Renly smirked at him and went to get a practice sword from the shed. Loras remembered that the main reason he had dreaded coming to Storm's End was Renly's lack of prowess as a fighter, but he wasn't about to go easy on him just become he had decided not to hate him.
They circled around each other for so long Loras began to feel anxious, but he wanted Renly to strike first in order to get a hint of his skill. As if reading his mind, Renly swung fast towards his chest; Loras blocked the hit before swinging for Renly's side. Renly met his sword and struck again, this time aiming low.
A crowd began to gather around them as the squires and the lone knight came to watch them spar. After all, it probably wasn't everyday that you saw the Lord of Storm's End fighting his squire.
They continued their back-and-forth game until Loras had to admit that maybe Renly wasn't completely useless with a sword. Renly's shots were powerful and well-aimed, and Loras had to work considerably harder than he had with Casper. However, Loras quickly discovered Renly's weakness; he fought on the offensive without sizing up his partner's strengths and weaknesses, and his reflexes were slow.
Renly was considerably taller than Loras, which meant that he could aim higher and with more strength than Loras. However, Loras was fast, and aiming high left Renly's entire lower body unprotected. As he saw Renly swing upwards he quickly struck a blow across Renly's hips, sending him stumbling sideways. Before Renly could regain his composure Loras had stepped sideways and brought his sword down hard across the back of Renly's knees. Renly's sword flew out of his hand and he toppled forward on his hands and knees. Loras brought the blunt tip of his sword to rest on the back of Renly's neck.
"Do you yield, my Lord?" He asked.
"I yield." Renly mumbled before scrambling to his feet.
"Well fought." He said, grinning sheepishly at Loras. He looked impressed but also slightly embarrassed, which wasn't surprising; he had just been bested by a squire four years his junior.
"Mace Tyrell was right about this one!" A voice boomed behind Loras. Loras turned around and saw the Master at Arms looking at him with interest.
"That he was, Ser Bryen!" Renly agreed.
"In fact, I dare say if you met this one in battle your only option would be to run, my Lord!" Ser Bryen said before letting out a deep, booming laugh.
Loras chuckled and turned to look at Renly, and was met with that mischievous grin that Loras had come to learn meant trouble. Just as he began to realize what was happening Renly had turned on his heel and sprinted across the training yard, with Loras in close pursuit. It was a childish game for boys their age and especially for the Lord of Storm's End but still Loras couldn't help but laugh as he ran as fast as he could after Renly, stumbling over the rocky terrain.
Renly had longer legs but Loras was fast and he managed to keep Renly in sight. All of a sudden Renly stopped dead in his tracks and leaned forward to put his hands on his knees. Loras slowed to a walk as he approached him, but stopped a few yards behind him as Renly whirled around. Loras had no time to react as Renly charged forward and slammed into him, throwing him up over his shoulder and sprinting back towards the way they had come. The force of the impact had knocked all the air out of his lungs and Loras gasped for breath, Renly's laughter vibrating against his chest as he was carried rather ungracefully back to the castle.