I woke up and cracked opened the door to see if the king was still sleeping. I saw her lying down sitting up. I quickly went down stairs to make breakfast. I cracked an egg into a pan and put wood in the stove. I struck a match and put the pan on the stove. I then grabbed a pot and poured boiling water and rice inside. I put the eggs and rice in a bowl and sprinkled cheese on top. I nearly dropped the tray of food on the way up, man wouldn't that be embarrassing. I laughed at the thought and continued up the stairs. Once at the room I opened her door and handed her, her breakfast.
"So did you sleep well Laryxe?" she asked. " I stayed on guard most of the night but still sleep is sleep nevertheless." I replied. " I assume you slept well?" I asked. She ignored the question and told me that next time I should just ask to sleep. She trusted me but that wasn't the issue, the issue was weather I could trust Camelot right now. I nodded and asked if she enjoyed the meal.
She nodded and then yawned and got out of bed. I grabbed her hand and walked with her down the stairs. I asked her what we were practicing today. She waved me to follow her outside. When we got outside she explained that even though I am a duel wielder I must also learn to become a skilled swordsman, in case I ever lose or break one of my swords. I stuck my buster blade into the ground and pulled out my short sword.
She readied Excalibur and pointed it at me as if to challenge me. " raise your blade with some honor" she joked. I raised my blade, my hand was shaking, our king is known as the king of knights and she wants to face me for my practice. This was an offer I was happy and nervous for I was unworthy of such battle, I knew we weren't going to kill each other but this feeling in my chest was tight and intense.
" Now get ready to parry my attack, note this will not simply be one attack but many all at once." she commanded. I got a firm footing and nodded as a sign of acceptance. She charged me with two hands on her blade holding it to the side of her. When she swung her blade towards me I smashed it downward. By now she had already moved to another tactic. She moved her sword from under mine and went for a downward swipe. I grabbed the side of my blade and tried to block it, but it still knocked me to the ground.
She pointed the tip of her blade at me, "If I was a warrior on the battlefield you would have died, you need much more training if you think you can handle my task" she explained. She sheathed her blade and helped me up. I dusted myself off and readied up again. "Now we will practice on your skills in attack, you will need to break my defenses and pin me, if you can do that you will be ready" she further explained.
I pointed my sword towards her and charged, while I was charging I had my arms flowing behind me. I swung upwards and her block broke. I chuckled then slammed it downwards. She had tossed her blade when I first swung and had caught it and knocked my blade out of my hand within my second. I was shocked, I should've noticed that happening, but it was completely hidden.
" Seems you have mistaken me for a mere scoundrel, you'll have to be a lot better than that." she said firmly. she pointer towards my sword and pushed me towards it. I grabbed my blade and clenched my knuckle around my handle.
" So what you're saying is that my fighting technique is inferior...INFERIOR!" I yelled in anger. I picked up my sword and pointed it at her again. My blood was shooting through my veins ,I was ready for anything. She charged me again in the same fashion, this time I when I swung upwards I led it into a sideways slash sending excalibur flying. I then pointed the blade at her. " I am not… inferior." I said after taking a deep breath.
" You might be worthy after all my knight" she said as she laughed and pushed my blade to the side. I sheathed my blade and retrieved her blade for her. I gave it to her and she thanked me for my honor towards her. I nodded and walked inside. I walked inside of the changing room and put on black cloth pants and a white cloth shirt. I left the room and went to go talk to Gilles, to see how things were.
I walked through the shopping district towards the Inn . Once there I noticed that it was closed. I knocked on the door but there was no answer. I knew there had to be trouble because Gilles is an early waker. I busted the Inn door down, I looked around to see Gilles with a gaping tear across his chest. He was long gone. I teared up but quickly wiped them away and clenched my fists. Then I heard crying coming from upstairs. I pulled out my longsword and walked up the steps. I heard the sobbing coming from behind a door in the long hall upstairs. I opened the door and it was Terry, Gilles' daughter.
" Come with me Terry we need to get going it's no use staying here wasting tears. I understand you're upset over your father's death but we have to keep a level head about things." I said firmly. She nodded and followed me to my old house where I used to stay. "here is a safe place for you to stay and let me know if you need assistance as there aren't very many patrols that come this way." I informed. She nodded and laid down and rested. I left back to the castle.
When I got back I reported the news to Arturia. She nodded and asked about his daughter. I told her that I had given her my cottage so she could have a place to stay. I began to sob and tried to wipe away my tears before the king could see. She hugged me and explained that there was nothing I could've done.
I walked into the cooking quarters of the castle and asked the cooks to make some bread for Terry they nodded and I thanked them for the task. I walked into the main room to exit. " You think.. you think she will be ok?" Arturia said calmly in a worried manner. I said nothing and left to give Terry the bread. When I got back home I slept. Not a word was exchanged that night just dred. I woke up the next morning to see arthuria snuggled up next to me, I didn't want to move and wake her so I just sorta sat there until she awoke.
I began thinking about the upcoming war that i was gonna have to fight whilst my leader is away. I had made a promise to live but another to die solely for the kingdom. I thought about the people I knew the things I so desperately sought to protect, like Terry and the legacy of her father, the legacy of my father and the wars he had fought while i was young and the people of my city. Arturia interrupted my thoughts with a kiss to my cheek. I turned and asked how she slept. "well but you on the other hand" she laughed. I had been up that whole night practicing for the upcoming war. " I'll get you some oats Arturia ok I'll be right back" I responded. she rolled over on top and pushed me down and said " no It's my turn to get it for you" she got up and left the room to get breakfast for the both of us.
She walked back in a few minutes later and handed me a bowl. I sat up and began eating, she seemed to have a very happy expression on her face. I let out a small chuckle,
"you seem extraordinarily happy this morning, is everything ok." her face turned more serious and she looked up at me with a steak left from a tear, " Do you know…. Do you know how h-hard it is to leave everything you've fought to keep s-safe, and th-that pain that no-one can relate to."
I was taken back by this, she was living the nightmare I'd wished never to come true, this troubled me. I grabbed her hand and lifted her chin to kiss her and tell her not to worry.