Hey everyone! Here's the fifth chapter. Sorry the updates have slowed down a bit (still less than a week, though), but my chapters are longer than the ones I see in most stories, so they take longer to write. This one is the longest one yet, with over 5,000 words!
As always, I'd like to thank everyone who followed or favourited this story, and especially the three people who reviewed: ACosmos97, thundeRose, and WaterWarrior60.
There are just two terms you should be familiar with before reading the chapter below. The first is "dais," which is a raised platform at the end of the Great Hall, where the lord and lady of the manor (king and queen, in this case) sit with their guests of honour during feasts. The raised platform in the throne room (where the throne sits) is also called a dais. The second term you need to know is "subtlety," which was an elaborate confection served at medieval feasts. They were commonly sugar sculptures that were first used as centerpieces, and then eaten once the course was finished.
That's all for now. I hope you enjoy!
Percy was bone-tired by the time that he moved into position for the final match of the joust. His shoulders were sore from bearing the weight of his torso armour, and his lance arm was aching from all the jolts it had suffered that day. Nevertheless, a small part of him was disappointed that the joust would be over so soon. He found few things more exhilarating than tilting against a worthy opponent while spectators cheered for their favourite, and the crowd that day was particularly lively. Commoners kept jostling one another behind the left list as they fought for the best view of the tiltyard, and the nobles were sitting on the edge of their seats in the grandstand. Even the king and queen were more animated than normal—announcing Percy's engagement seemed to have put them in unusually high spirits.
Annabeth was the only person that Percy saw with a serious expression on her face. She leaned forward in her seat every time the prince rode through a match, but her grey eyes reflected interest, rather than excitement. They seemed to analyze his every move, as if she could learn about his character by the way he held his lance. The prince could only hope that her conclusions were favourable. He'd defeated each of his opponents with ease, and he'd avoided the indignity of being unhorsed. Such feats should've secured her affection—all ladies were impressed by prowess in combat—but Annabeth wasn't looking at him with any semblance of warmth. The expression on her face made him feel more like a puzzle that needed to be solved, than a man to be treasured or a knight to be awed by. Percy only had one more match to change that.
Lord Luke Castellan wouldn't make winning easy, but that was good—a challenging opponent would make Percy's victory seem even more impressive. The prince smirked beneath his helm. He would make the last match one to remember.
A herald blew his trumpet then, signalling for the joust to begin. Percy urged Blackjack into a canter and slowly tilted his lance forward. He stopped when it was almost horizontal with the ground, then shifted it slightly to the left, so that it crossed over the tilt barrier. Luke was twenty feet away, but the distance between them was closing fast, so Percy aimed his lance and braced himself for impact. His whole body jerked a moment later, when his lance made contact with Luke's helmet and broke. At the same time, Luke's lance hit the prince's helm. The blow was so fierce that Percy's head snapped back to an uncomfortable angle and his helmet toppled off. Several crowd members gasped—Percy thought he heard his mother among them—but most just cheered Luke on for a job well done. Percy's royalty didn't matter to them in that regard; tournament spectators supported the best knight competing, not the highest ranking one.
Percy barely managed to recover his seat without falling. Once he was sitting straight in the saddle, however, he slowly raised the stub of his lance to an upright position and rode to the end of the tilt. Ethan joined him there several minutes later, carrying a new lance and the prince's helmet.
"Are you alright, sire?" Ethan asked, "Lord Luke's lance struck you hard."
"Yes, I'm aware," Percy retorted. The aching in his neck wouldn't let him forget.
Rather than respond to his master's sarcasm, Ethan handed the prince his helm. Percy slipped the bascinet over his neck, then blinked as his eyes adjusted to the reduced field of vision. He could barely see Ethan through the thin opening in his visor, but he managed to exchange his broken lance for the whole one in Ethan's hands.
As soon as the new lance was in Percy's hand, Ethan left the tiltyard so that the second round of the match could begin. Percy signalled to the herald that he was ready, then turned to look at his opponent. The herald blew his trumpet shortly after, so both knights tilted their lances and charged. The prince aimed for his opponent's torso, but Luke aimed for Percy's head. Their horses crossed the tiltyard at a full gallop, so Percy braced himself for a powerful collision with Luke's lance.
Nevertheless, nothing could have prepared the prince for what was about to happen. He didn't even realize the danger that he was in until it was too late. The tip of Luke's lance was poised to pass through the slit in Percy's visor. That blow would kill the prince, whether the lance shattered or not, but it was approaching too fast for Percy to avoid.
The spectators seemed to realize Percy's predicament at the same time as the prince, because they all gasped in unison. A single female voice called out his name from the grandstand.
"Percy!"
Guilt rolled over the dark-haired knight as he processed the anguish in his mother's voice. He wished she didn't have to see this, but there was nothing he could do. Luke's lance was less than two meters away, and their horses were running at top speed. The prince's fate was decided.
Apparently, Blackjack didn't get that message. He reared at the sound of the queen's voice, kicking his front legs up into the air while releasing a high-pitched neigh. That movement pushed Percy backwards and out of the trajectory of Luke's lance, which pierced through the empty space between Percy and his mount. The lance broke crosswise when Percy leaned towards Blackjack so that he wouldn't lose his seat, but it didn't do any damage to the prince. As a crosswise break, it didn't even count for points.
Percy's hit did count. Although the prince had initially aimed for Luke's torso, his lance point was forced upwards when Blackjack reared. It caught the edge of Luke's helm and shattered, but not before knocking the helmet off.
Everyone in the lists—even Luke's father, Lord Hermes—cheered loudly for the prince in the seconds following the knights' confrontation. Percy wasn't able to acknowledge their excitement, because he was clinging onto Blackjack so that he wouldn't fall off while the horse continued to rear, but that didn't deter the spectators. They continued to applaud the prince until long after Blackjack was under control. By the time the excitement finally died down, both Percy and Luke were ready to begin the third run of their match. Percy was shaking with leftover adrenaline, so the lance wobbled slightly in his right hand as he waited for the herald's signal. When the trumpet call came, however, the tremor disappeared. His training took over and instilled him with confidence as he rode forward while tilting his lance.
The prince maintained a tight grip on his weapon and kept his shoulder firm as Luke approached. He thrusted the lance forward just before they met to give it extra power, and that succeeded in breaking the lance on Luke's torso. A split second later, Luke shattered his lance on Percy's shoulder. The prince jerked backward from that strike, but both he and Luke managed to remain in their saddles. They rode to the end of the tilt while the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. The match was over; Percy had won by a single point.
Ethan ran to greet Percy at the edge of the field. "Congratulations, sire! Well jousted!"
The prince accepted his squire's praise, and the crowd's acclamation, by humbly dipping his head. His uninjured competitors returned to the tiltyard for the closing ceremony, so Percy passed Ethan his shield and lance, and then he rode over to join them. He dismounted Blackjack in the middle of the throng, but his feet had barely touched the ground before a fellow knight pulled him into an embrace. Percy returned the gesture as a symbol of their knightly companionship, so that everyone present would know that the tournament had not divided them. He embraced each of his competitors in turn, ending with Luke, who did not hesitate to congratulate the prince on his victory.
"I have not lost a tournament in years," the blond knight admitted. He clapped Percy roughly on the back before adding, "It was an honour to tilt against you, your highness. I have never met a finer opponent."
"Nor have I," the prince replied.
Luke accepted the compliment with a humble dip of his head. When he spoke again, he was smiling, "Please accept my congratulations on your engagement, as well. Lady Annabeth is a wonderful woman; she will make an excellent bride."
Percy's eyebrows rose at the insinuation that Luke knew Annabeth personally. He opened his mouth to ask how they met, but a trumpet call interrupted him as the heralds signalled for silence.
The prince turned reluctantly with the other knights as they directed their attention to the grandstand. The heralds played for another few seconds, then lowered their trumpets as the king stepped forward.
"Noble knights, you have all jousted well! Take heart, for there is no dishonour in your defeat." Poseidon's twinkling green eyes slid towards Percy, "Yet, there is great honour in one man's victory. Prince Perseus, step forward."
Percy took a single step towards the grandstand. As soon as he stood still, the king continued his speech, "I declare you, Prince Perseus, Champion of the spring tournament!"
Thunderous applause filled the tiltyard in reaction to the king's announcement. Percy was pleased to see Annabeth cheering with the crowd—that was the first sign of enthusiasm that she'd shown all day. He was glad to have it directed at him.
Eventually, the king raised his hand for silence and the people obeyed.
"You performed well today, Prince Perseus. You will be rewarded, as promised, at tonight's banquet. Until then, you and the other knights may return to the pavilions for rest."
Neither Percy nor his competitors needed to be told twice. They accepted the king's dismissal with glee and walked back to their tents while Poseidon addressed the crowd.
~~~ A Kingdom Divided ~~~
When Percy approached the Great Hall two hours later, he found his parents, Lady Annabeth, and Annabeth's family waiting for him outside the entrance. The king greeted him with a hearty slap on the back.
"Well done today, Son! You were the finest knight on the field."
Percy's knightly training demanded that he accept the compliment with humility, but pride bubbled in his chest. "Thank you, Father."
The queen suddenly stepped forward and engulfed her son in a hug. Percy was so surprised that he stood there, frozen, until his mother placed one hand on the back of his head and pushed it downwards so that she could whisper in his ear, "I thought I had lost you."
The queen's voice broke, "I have never been more terrified, Perseus."
A fresh wave of guilt rolled over Percy. He'd already recovered from the fright of his incident with Luke, but it was obvious that his mother had not.
The prince raised his arms and slowly wrapped them around his mother. Heat rushed to his face as he thought of the guests in their presence, but he pulled his mother closer all the same.
"I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear, "but I'm fine now, I promise."
Sally nodded, but she clung to him for several more moments before finally letting go. By the time she finally stepped back, Percy's face was bright red. The Duke of Attica and his wife had politely averted their gaze from the mother-son embrace, but their twins were staring at Percy in shock and amusement. They would never allow their mother to embrace them in public.
The king cleared his throat.
"I believe that the banquet is ready to begin."
Percy flashed his father a grateful look for changing the topic. The king acknowledged him with a brief nod, then he turned towards his wife and offered her an arm. The queen took it gladly. She gave Percy an apologetic smile, then she and her husband turned to face the large wooden door leading to the Great Hall. The Duke of Attica offered the Duchess his arm, then he guided her to stand six feet behind the king and queen. Percy wondered at the large gap between the couples, but then he realized that the space was meant for him. He glanced awkwardly at Lady Annabeth and noticed that she was staring back at him with a peculiar expression on her face.
The prince, thinking that she wanted him to escort her, offered Annabeth an arm. She took it, but she continued to glance at Percy every few seconds as he led her to stand behind his parents. The prince wanted to ask Annabeth why she was staring, but two armoured guards opened the doors to the Great Hall before he could do so. The duke's twins fell into line behind their parents just as the king and queen stepped forward. Trumpets announced their arrival as the royal processional entered the Great Hall, where two long tables were covered in linen cloths and flanked by benches full of guests.
The guests all stood to greet their king, but Poseidon kept his head forward as he led the processional down the length of the room. The trumpets continued to play until he and the rest of the processional climbed the dais at the end of the hall and sat down at the High Table situated there. With the royal family and their guests of honour thus seated, the rest of the guests returned to their benches.
The room fell silent as the castle chaplain stepped forward. He crossed himself, and then led the assembly in grace. "Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive through Thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen."
"Amen." The assembly echoed.
Every person present crossed themselves as the priest returned to his seat. Then new trumpet calls signalled the beginning of the feast. The doors to the Great Hall burst open, and servants swept into the room carrying large pitchers of water, bowls, and linen towels, which they used to help the guests wash and dry their hands.
As soon as the last guest's hands were clean, the servants carried the towels and bowls of water away. Kitchen squires passed them as they left, with the former carrying golden platters of food into the Great Hall. They served the king first, presenting him with stew, venison in a dish of boiled wheat, a boar's head, boiled meat, roasted swan, peas, pike, roasted fat capons, and two subtleties for the first course. Poseidon selected small portions of each dish, then signalled for the squires to serve the rest of his table. Percy skipped the fat capons and peas, but he accepted a small portion of everything else. Annabeth, who sat next to him, chose to eat everything but the boar's head.
Once the high table was served, the squires moved on to the lower tables. Percy watched them serve the Duke of Titania and his wife at the top of the table on his right. As was customary for guests at the lower table, the couple shared a plate and goblet. Percy glanced down at the plate and cup in front of him. He was grateful to have his own set of each, but—he glanced over at Annabeth—a small part of him wouldn't have minded sharing, either.
Annabeth seemed to notice him staring at her, because she lifted her eyes to meet his gaze. Unlike the first time they met, there was no hostility in her expression, only curiosity. "Is there something you needed, Prince Perseus?"
Percy was about to shake his head when he thought the better of it.
"Actually, there is something I'd like to ask you."
Annabeth nodded to give her permission, so Percy seized the chance to ask her about his conversation with Luke, "I was speaking with Lord Luke Castellan earlier, just after our joust. His words seemed to suggest that he knew you."
A curious gleam entered Annabeth's eyes, "What did he say, exactly?"
Percy hesitated, then stated honestly, "He said that you were a wonderful woman, and that you will make an excellent bride."
Annabeth flushed, but a happy smile spread across her face. The sight was beautiful, yet, somehow, it didn't make Percy happy.
"How kind of him." Annabeth's eyes took on a faraway look as she picked up a slice of roasted swan and popped it into her mouth. She chewed for a few seconds, then seemed to realize that Percy was still looking at her. She swallowed before answering his question, "Yes, Lord Luke and I know each other well. He completed his knightly training at my father's house."
"I see." Percy ripped off a piece of his pike, "Did you grow close while he stayed with you?"
"Very close." Annabeth confirmed. She seemed oblivious to the frown on Percy's face. "He is my closest friend."
Percy didn't respond. He ended the conversation with a curt nod; he didn't want to hear anything else about Luke's "friendship" with his betrothed. Nevertheless, his resolve slipped when Annabeth muttered, "He's my only friend, actually."
The prince could sympathise with that sentiment. He was surrounded by servants, knights, and nobles at the castle, but he wouldn't call any of them friends. The only people he trusted unconditionally were his parents and the Lord Contstable, Chiron, but the latter was more like a mentor than a friend. Court life could be lonely, even when there were plenty of people around.
"Maybe," the prince suggested delicately, as if he were afraid of how Annabeth would respond, "one day, you and I may be great friends."
Annabeth looked at her betrothed in surprise, but a small smile crossed her face shortly after. "I would like that, Prince Perseus."
Percy returned her smile with one of his own. He felt strangely intimate towards the lady before him, despite having known her for less than a day. Perhaps it was her forthrightness. Court life was always full of intrigue, so it was nice to converse with someone who held no secrets. Lady Annabeth's fright and anger upon meeting him, her unguarded interest during the joust, and her frank admission of loneliness all gave the prince insight into her life and character. Percy felt like he already knew her better than he knew some of his father's closest advisers, whom he had been acquainted with for years, yet knew nothing about.
The prince returned to his supper with a thoughtful frown on his face. He and Lady Annabeth could never be intimate together as husband and wife, due to her condition. However, they would have to spend several years living together until Percy secured an annulment. There was no reason why they couldn't be friends during that time. It would ease both of their loneliness, and it would help the ruse of their marriage if they appeared emotionally intimate. Nevertheless, a nagging feeling in his gut warned the prince not to befriend his betrothed. He wished he could understand why. Had his knowledge of the intrigues at court made him so paranoid that he now saw danger where none could be found? Or was Lady Annabeth more sinister than she appeared?
The latter thought seemed almost sinful when Percy looked at his fiancée. Her blonde hair glowed like a golden halo in the candle light, and a warm smile graced her lips. She appeared so innocent that he felt guilty for doubting her honesty, especially when she had been so forthright with her emotions thus far.
The prince's thoughts were interrupted when more servants entered the Great Hall. They carried new linen towels and bowls of water, which they passed around each table just like they had the last set. Kitchen squires cleared the dishes while the nobles washed their hands, then, once everyone was clean again, they brought in the second course. It consisted of white pudding, jellied meat, roast pork, fish, tarts, meat pies, rabbit, cranes, pheasants, herons, peacocks, fish, and one subtlety. Each guest helped himself, taking small portions of every dish he desired in order to appreciate their variety.
Percy remained quiet throughout most of the second course, but he did thank his father when the king offered him salt. Other than that, he focused on savouring the food in front of him and watching the entertainers that his father had hired. He laughed at the jester's antics, gaped at the juggler's talents, and listened to the minstrels sing their songs. The entire course passed too quickly for his liking, but new bowls and towels were soon passed out to end the second course. The servants also brought new dishes, including broth, spiced pudding of pork, dried fruits and eggs in a sauce of almond milk, roasted venison, rabbits, pigeons, small herons, quails, larks, roasted perch, roasted peacocks, meat puff pastries, a rice dish, fritters, and two subtleties. Percy asked the servants to serve him a small portion of each dish when they offered, then he returned to eating and enjoying the music.
By the time he cleared his plate, the prince was stuffed. He accepted the last bowl of water gratefully when the servants offered it, dried his hands on the linen table, and sat back in his chair as he waited for the priest to step forward.
Even the chaplain seemed to favour his stomach a little when he stood for the closing prayer. The old man crossed himself with the rest of the assembly, then began to speak. "We give Thee thanks, Almighty God, for all Thy benefits, and for the poor souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, may they rest in peace. Amen."
"Amen," the guests echoed, while crossing themselves once more. Then they stood so that their tables could be cleared and the Great Hall prepared for dancing.
Percy felt suddenly fortunate for his seat at the High Table, because he did not have to move his extended stomach elsewhere. The High Table on the dais would remain where it was.
Several minutes passed before the lower tables were cleared. As soon as the benches were also removed, the king stood from his chair and walked to the front of the High Table. The chatter in the Great Hall slowly grew softer until the entire room was quiet. The people looked expectantly at their king, who broke the silence with two short words.
"Knights, assemble!"
Immediately, the knights who participated in the joust stepped forward from the crowd. They formed two lines in the center of the Great Hall, facing their king. Percy hurried over to join them, bringing their number up to forty-two. Only four of the original knights were missing—three who had died in the joust, and one who was grievously injured.
The king examined all the knights assembled before him. His green eyes gleamed with pride as he addressed them, "Noble knights, you all performed well today. Nevertheless, there can only be one best knight. I present him to you now—Prince Perseus, Champion of the Tournament, step forward to receive your prize."
Percy moved forward until he was standing at the bottom of the dais, immediately before the king.
Poseidon signalled for a servant, and a young boy dressed in a page's uniform stepped forward. His right hand held the tournament prize, resting on a velvet cushion and surrounded by a crown of daisies. He stopped next to the king, who turned, plucked the golden chalice from the cushion, and then turned back to the prince.
Percy kneeled before his father with his head bowed as a sign of humility, and his hands raised in petition. Poseidon placed the golden chalice in his outstretched hands.
"Stand, Prince Perseus, and accept your well-won prize."
The prince stood as ordered, with the chalice in his hands. He thanked the king for his generosity, then waited patiently as Poseidon began to speak once more.
"As tournament champion, this prize is your right. You may also choose one lady from among the crowd, and award her Queen of Beauty with this—" Poseidon plucked the crown of daisies from the velvet cushion and offered it to Percy, "crown. Then you may open the dance together."
Percy accepted the crown from his father's hands. He did not hesitate before climbing the dais, placing his chalice on the table, and presenting Lady Annabeth with the crown. It was proper for him to do so, because they were betrothed, but he also found the title appropriate for her.
"I, Prince Perseus, crown you, Lady Annabeth Chase, Queen of Beauty." Percy recited while placing the crown on her head. Then he offered her a hand, "Will you dance with me?"
Annabeth, who blushed furiously the moment the daisies touched her hair, rose from her chair and nodded. Both she and Percy were smiling as he led her to the center of the Great Hall, where they began to dance the Trotto.
~~~ A Kingdom Divided ~~~
Annabeth's mind whirled as Percy stumbled through the first few steps of the Trotto. Who was this man, who jousted with the poise of a natural-born knight, yet danced with the grace of a toddler? Who offered friendship, but did not demand love, when betrothed to a woman he believed was barren? Who laid his pride aside in a considerate gesture to comfort his mother with a public embrace?
Annabeth did not know her betrothed very well, but based on his behaviour that day, she was beginning to think that she might like to. As long as the prince did not try to consummate their union, being married to him could be pleasant. At the very least, she would finally escape the horrid situation at her father's house.
A/N: So that's the end of the tournament and banquet! I ended this chapter a little abruptly, but I plan to include another banquet in two chapters or so (at the Percabeth wedding), so I wanted to keep some original content for that banquet.
I admit I'm struggling to set a good pace for Percabeth. I don't want to rush their relationship, because I think that feelings are more meaningful when they develop gradually over time rather than immediately due to lust. Percy already thinks Annabeth is pretty in this story, but I want their relationship to be based on more than just looks. At this point, they've only known each other for a day, so they don't have a great grasp on the other's personality yet. Obviously, I'm not going to have them fall in love before they even know each other properly. Nevertheless, they are such a perfect match that I think they would "click" no matter what age they lived in. That's why they've both expressed interest in the other so far. Annabeth is intrigued and confused by Percy because he's different from any other man she's ever known, and Percy feels a strange connection with Annabeth that he just can't explain. Their relationship will develop further from there.
Lastly, I realize that I made a small mistake in a previous chapter. I'm still pretty new to fanfiction, so could anyone tell me if there's a way for me to fix it without completely replacing the chapter? If I do replace the chapter, will I lose the reviews I received on that chapter, and accidentally send out a chapter alert to my readers? I don't want to do that either.
Anyways, thanks for reading and please review! For those of you who are interested, I have posted a few relevant historical facts below. For those of you who aren't interested, feel free to skip the rest of this author's note.
Interesting historical facts: (1) The menu included for the feast in this story was the REAL menu used at a banquet held by the English King Richard II in 1397, to celebrate his marriage to Isabella of France in 1936. (2) People in Medieval Europe didn't eat with forks. They used their hands (except when eating soup, which they used spoons for). They were also expected to bring their own cutlery and cups, and to share them with one other person. As mentioned in the story, there was one exception, and that was for the guests of honour at the High Table. The lord of the manor provided the guests of honour with their own set of cutlery and cups, and they didn't have to share. (3) Medieval hygiene practices were better than most people believe. They bathed more than just once or twice a year, and they washed their hands, faces, and feet every day. They also washed their hands before and after dinner, and between courses. (4) Jousting was an extremely dangerous sport. Many knights died at tournaments, even with precautions set in place. Even royals weren't immune. King Henry II of France died in a jousting accident in 1559. He was killed when a lance shattered on his helm, and a splinter entered through his visor and pierced his eye. Basically, he died in the same kind of accident that Percy narrowly avoided. (5) REAL tournaments would have lasted several days, with a feast each night, but I condensed it all down to one so that this part of the story doesn't drag on too long. Also, early tournaments were more heavily focused on the melee, but that aspect declined in importance and virtually disappeared in later tournaments, which is why I haven't included one here.