Chapter 12 – Military Training...MARINE STYLE! - Part Two
"C'mon, Men! You're movin' like a bunch of senior citizens!" The Colonel's booming shouts caught the attention of anyone within a few hundred feet of the training grounds. Heads turned from the castle courtyard out of sheer curiosity. "SIR ELYAN!"
The knight looked a bit frightened as he stopped to stand at attention, as they had been taught by the Marine at the very beginning of the morning's 'Drill' session. The knights hadn't known at all what to expect, but this wasn't it. "SIR, YES SIR!"
The Colonel leaned in toward the knight, treating the man like he was one of the usual recruits at Boot Camp back home. "YOU'RE JUMPIN' LIKE A GIRL, SOLDIER! I WANNA SEE STRAIGHT LIMBS! HAVE YOU EVER DONE A GODDAMN JUMPIN' JACK IN YOUR ENTIRE FRIGGIN' LIFE, SIR ELYAN?" David had all but screamed at the man, and it clearly shook up the young soldier.
A bit freaked out by this once quiet guest's demeanour, Elyan shook his head. "NO SIR!" He kept his eyes straight ahead, knowing better than to directly confront the Colonel at this time.
"Son, you are a Knighted soldier," David said sternly, glaring at the man without a hint of humour from beneath the brim of his uniform cap. "You will learn what it is to step up the cardio, and you will learn to push and push until you nearly DIE!" His southern accent was more pronounced when he was in 'Drill Instructor' mode. He sounded all that more intimidating.
David walked away from the startled knight and confronted the others as he walked along. "SAME FOR THE REST OF YOU PANSIES! Training under my watch will include, but is not limited to, a five mile run every second morning, followed by an hour of calisthenics, and then you will return to your weapons training activities!" His eyes slowly drifted down the line of knights in the current row that he walked. "Precisely one hour post weapons, you will take a fifteen minute break, rehydrate, and prepare for a very modern, very challenging Hand-to-Hand Combat training session, utilizing the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program-Or, MCMAP! Do I hear any complaints?" He glanced all about, smirking at the humbled state of his temporary trainees.
"NO SIR!" The chorused response earned a nod of acceptance from the Colonel.
"I didn't think so!"
The Colonel had promised the King that he would spend a week with the men, pump up the level of discipline and maybe even provide a few extra skills. Well, he would do that...and more—even with only five days of training left. It wasn't a lot of time, but it was enough to cause change of some kind.
"Seeing as today was your first real day of truly regimented drill, 'girls', we'll call it quits so you can carry on with the rest of your duties. Tomorrow we kick it up a notch! Be prepared to arrive on time and in proper presentation, and be prepared to work harder than you've ever worked in your LIFE!" He whirled on the Prince, yelling, "That includes you, too, Princess!" He caught the glint of anger in his son-in-law's eyes. He knew Arthur wasn't used to being addressed in this manner, and David was determined to knock a little of that aristocratic attitude out of the man. Arrogance (and cockiness) never did anything but get a man killed.
David paused, preparing for another firm reminder. He walked the rows again, slowly, step for precise step. "For the remainder of this week you are all in a state of lock-down! If I hear of you consuming alcohol, if I see you consume it, if I even THINK you've taken the drink, I will make your days fucking HELL! You train with me, you follow my rules! We are a dry facility for the next five days!"
The Marine saw the look of shock that settled on Sir Gwaine's face, and a few others, but the black-haired knight's was most pronounced. It was almost enough for the Colonel to crack his facade. When they all seemed suitably affected, he yelled, "DISMISSED!"
Passing his daughter, as the knights hurriedly left the field, he put a hand out for a palm-slide. "I still got it," he gloated quietly, grinning from ear to ear.
A/N:
I just thought this would be a fun lead-in to more (Cough) intense training on behalf of our beloved Marine father. Let me know if you want me to continue this...drabble? Maybe it's too continuous to be called a drabble, but...Anyway! Drop me a line and maybe offer up bits of what YOU might like me to write into the scenes (this and others, of course). Situation requests are also honoured (as long as merely T rated and none too explicit).
Thanks again for the support of both my registered readers, and my anonymous readers! I sincerely appreciate your kind words. Don't forget; I also welcome constructive criticism. There is ALWAYS room for improvement. I will offer my fellow writers the same courtesy.
On a side note...If it reaches 40 deg. Celsius again, as it did yesterday, I'm just gonna melt straight into the floor. So, if I don't come back...Oh, hell, I'll just will my drabbles to Lady Proemess! (Let's see if she reads this note or not... Hehehe) :D