Chapter 3

Ben woke with a shriek, bolting upright and clutching his shoulder. He cast Kevin a venomous look. Kevin merely sat back on his haunches, holding the bottle of alcohol and a clean linen.

"Good morning, my lord," he said.

The prince spluttered at him. "Is that any way to wake me?!"

"I was simply cleaning your wound. I thought you might sleep through something so trivial," Kevin said airily. "You did not wake when I removed your mail and shirt."

Ben looked down to see that he was indeed bare-chested. "You, you...You peasant!"

Kevin only smirked. "My lord, may I dress your wound?"

"I wonder whether you are trying to kill me," Ben spat, but he complied and returned to where he had been sitting. He hissed as Kevin dabbed the soaked cloth against the tear in his shoulder. "Where is Gwen?"

"Lady Gwendolyn has gone off for a bit privacy, my lord," Kevin answered calmly.

Ben looked alarmed, sitting up and pushing Kevin's hand away. "Alone?!"

"Of course, my lord," Kevin said, putting a hand on Ben's head to hold him back from running off into the trees. "She is relieving herself, and I doubt she would appreciate a surprise visit from you, close though you are."

"Oh," Ben uttered, relaxing a little. He still looked concerned. "How far did she go? How long has she been gone?"

"Only but a few moments, my lord," Kevin said. "Please stay still so that I may finish this."

Ben scowled, but again complied. Kevin finished cleaning the wound with the alcohol and then dressed it with more of the clean linen he had brought. He tore it into long strips that would cross Ben's chest and back, then tied it securely at the shoulder so that it would stay in place. As Ben put his clothes back on, Gwen returned.

"Sir Kevin," she said, "I am thirsty. Is there a stream nearby where we might fetch water?"

"I will go and find some, my lady," Kevin said, immediately leaving Ben's side to go to the pile where he had left the water flasks. "Here is some food, although I suggest you try to make it last. There was not much in the kitchen."

"Thank you, Sir Kevin," Gwen said, nodding.

"It is my pleasure, my lady," Kevin replied. He turned to Ben. "My lord." He set off at a brisk pace, keeping his ears open for the sounds of running water.

Once he had left, Gwen moved to the things Kevin had brought back. "Oh," she uttered, holding up the clothes. "He has brought each of us a traveling cloak. Ben, which would you like?"

"Does it matter?" Ben asked sourly, nursing his shoulder.

"I'll take this red one," Gwen announced, fastening it around her shoulders. "You should take green. I'm sure Sir Kevin would prefer this gray one...Should we ask him?"

"Just give me the green one," Ben moaned. "And bring me something to eat, would you?"

Gwen narrowed her eyes at his rudeness. She threw the cloak at him, and then returned to going through the things Kevin had found, ignoring her cousin's second request. "It seems he could not procure arrows," she stated, holding up the crossbow, "but he did bring this."

"What's the use of that if there's no arrows?"

"I suppose he must have some idea," Gwen shrugged. "Perhaps he will make arrows."

Ben raised an eyebrow at her as she continued to rummage through the bags. "Are you infatuated with the knight?" he asked.

The girl whipped around, looking scandalized. "Infatuated? Me? With Sir Kevin?" she gaped. "I most certainly am not!"

The prince smirked. "Oh, I see," he replied.

Gwen blushed furiously. "I am not infatuated with the knight!"

Ben only laughed. "Okay. But are you going to bring me something to eat? It is rather past breakfast, don't you agree?"

She scowled at him, then rolled her eyes and opened the bag that contained foods. "Shall we share a bit of bread and cheese?"

"A bit?"

"Yes, we must make it last, as Sir Kevin said."

"Oh, so we're listening to Sir Kevin now, are we?"

"Yes, we are," Gwen said stiffly, removing a block of cheese from the bag. She broke a loaf in half and then brought it to Ben, sitting beside him. "He speaks with the wisdom of a general."

"Hm." Ben looked thoughtful. "What is his arms, again?"

Gwen looked at him. "I would not know. He serves you, Benjamin. You are the one who should know all of your knights."

Ben scowled at her. "But there are many of them. I cannot be expected to remember all of them by face, name, and house."

She rolled her eyes again. "Then I suppose you'll ask him upon his return."

"I suppose I will," he retorted, biting into his breakfast.

They fell into a silence, and ate as they watched the flames flicker. Gwen suddenly wished she had asked Kevin to bring her a book, but she knew that would have been asking too much. So she bit back her desire and waited for him to return with the water.

Kevin walked for a good distance before he heard the burbling of a brook. He followed the sound with a practiced ear and found it quickly enough. Checking that the coast was clear, Kevin kneeled on the bank and quenched his own parched throat before filling the containers. He looked up at the blue sky. He would have considered it a beautiful day had it not been for the events of the previous two days. With a heavy sigh, Kevin heaved himself back up to his feet and trudged back the way he had come. He didn't intend to keep the two waiting, but he was very tired. After all, it was he who had kept watch the entire night, tending to the fire.

As he neared the camp, Kevin stood straighter and moved with purpose. No matter how exhausted he felt, he would not let them see it. He was a proud knight, a strong warrior, and he would display it.

"Finally," Ben said when Kevin returned.

Gwen nudged him in the ribs. "Thank you, Sir Kevin," she said. Kevin delivered one flask to her awaiting hands, then gave the other to the prince.

"There is a stream," Kevin said, pointing in the direction he had gone, "a little ways yonder. When we leave, we should cross it and refill the flasks to replace what you drink now."

The young lady nodded in agreement, and Ben looked as though he wouldn't protest.

"Have you eaten, Sir Kevin?" Gwen asked. "We had some bread and cheese, and there's plenty left."

"Thank you, my lady," Kevin said. He sat on the other side of the fire and ate his portion.

"So," Ben said lazily, drawing both of their attentions. "I have been thinking about what you have said, Sir Kevin. And though I have not forgotten your insults, I have come to the conclusion that perhaps your way is best. My grandfather is less likely to provide help to us than your people in the forests of Osmosia."

Kevin nodded slowly. "Thank you, my lord."

Ben blinked at him. "What is your arms?"

"I have none," Kevin replied casually, popping the last bite of his breakfast into his mouth.

The royal children stared at him.

"But," Ben protested, "you must have!"

"No," Kevin replied. "I am but from a poor family. Not of noble blood. We have no family arms."

They looked appalled.

"That's against the law," Ben whispered indignantly. "You cannot be a knight of the court if you are not of nobility."

Kevin looked at him. "That may be," he replied. "But your father, the king, has the power to override such laws, does he not?"

"My father," Ben scoffed, "the king, vetoed the law for someone like you?"

"In return for my father's sacrifice," Kevin said. "He bestowed honor upon my mother and me, after his death. When I came of age, the king himself extended invitation to knighthood."

Gwen nodded emphatically. "I am sorry to have doubted you, Sir Kevin," she said.

Ben still looked suspicious. "How do we know you are not lying?"

"If I were, would I have helped you?"

"Perhaps your motives are not to have us killed," Ben prompted. "Perhaps you wish to turn us in to Vilgax, and receive reward."

"If that were true, I would not have brought these back with me," Kevin said, gesturing to the supplies. He was beginning to look a bit angry. "I would have brought Vilgax."

Ben scoffed, folding his arms.

Kevin kept his cool gaze on the prince for a moment longer, as though daring him to continue. When he did not, the knight lowered his eyes and studied the flames.

"Sir Kevin," Gwen said softly.

He raised his eyes again. "Yes, my lady."

"May I address you as just...Kevin?"

"Of course, my lady," Kevin replied, looking a bit confused. Ben gave her a sideways glare as a small smile graced her lips.

"Thank you, Kevin."

"It is my pleasure, my lady."

"Please, call me Gwen."

Keven suddenly looked uncomfortable.

But she appeared oblivious to this and continued. "And you may refer to him as Ben, if you wish."

"No, he cannot," Ben protested.

Kevin fidgeted as Gwen and Ben stared one another down. "I'm going to scout the perimeter," he announced, standing quickly. "I shall return shortly."

The other two hardly acknowledged him, too engrossed in their staring contest.

He was gone for perhaps an hour, and when he returned, he was greeted cordially enough.

"Is it safe, then?" Gwen asked, smiling.

"Of course," Kevin nodded.

"Call me Ben, I suppose," Ben said with a forced smile.

Gwen had won the battle.

A/N: I'm having fun. :)

Thanks for all the support so far!

Oh, and in response to a guest's question about this being a Gwevin fic: I am not sure yet. I think it could develop later in the story, but it will have to be a smooth transition.

Thanks for reading! ^-^ Will be updated as soon as I write the next chapter