After getting some rest from the tournament all of the guards and knights that were chosen to be on guard duty during the feast gathered in the guard chambers. Here we were given our stations, members of the Honor guard were separated into three groups : The kings guard, queens guard and others were assigned to Blue diamond. There were seven of us, four protected the king my brother included, two were assigned to the Blue diamonds bodyguard, luckily I was sent to be the queens shield tonight.
Most of us didn't expect much trouble, worst case scenario a big drunken brawl, so most of the new recruits didn't take it very seriously. Our lord commander of the Honor guard Black Bull as they called him, massive black bearded man that can split a man in half, met us in the chapel "Better safe then sorry, we are the members of the Honor guard, the kings safety is our only concern." he said with his booming voice and we listened " His friends are our friends, his enemy's are our enemy's and by the gods the last thing they will see are our swords in their chest." we repeated in unison his words, "I don't want any nonsense tonight or any embarrassing incidents, especially from you, Bronn." Jonah the Mountain, Bull's brother and second in command, said as he looked at me "No witty comments, just be quiet and do what you are told. Understood." He always uses my real name as an insult. The Honor guard uses different names, much more knightly names as they call them or they just use their nicknames like the Black Bull.
He is just like my brother, only worse,but I knew better then to make him angry "Understood, sir." I said, I remember I once made a remark concerning a lord during a feast, after the feast he hit me so hard I thought he broke my jaw.
After that we went to a large chamber were everything was getting ready for the feast. It was going to be a lot of fun, there are going to be fools, music, fire breathers, fencers, dancers and even a dancing bear, according to the maid gossips. Its a shame I wont be able to enjoy it, but it doesn't matter at least i will be with her, the seven of us took our posts around the throne and waited for the guests to arrive.
"So, anyone gonna say it." Sir Jeremy broke the silence, he was an old man that was still a member of the Honor guard, I always liked him "So its just me that is wondering how you took down a Jasper." he continued "I swear, boy that was some nice work that deserves to be in our book of deeds.", my brother also started "You did good little brother, uncle would have been proud.". These words made me feel good, nice and proud of myself, before I could answer the lord commander placed his hand on my shoulder "You made us all proud Bronn and showed that you are an Honor guard material when you put your mind to it nothing can stop you." he took of his helmet to reveal a warm smile "I will personally write this into the book.".
He said my name, my actual name, and not my Honor guard name.
I'm gonna cry, I try to stop my tears, hearing the Black Bull say this is the greatest honor and every boys and knights dream "Thank you, sir." is all I can say through my tears. Thank the gods I placed a visor down or else my tears would have ruined the moment.
"Wipe your tears boy, we have to be professional." Dam it, he saw right through me.
Soon the guest started arriving, many important people and their families took their seats after the king made his speech and sat at the table that overlooked the room, he was joined by Blue Diamond, his uncle and his soon to be wife. There was a lot of music, drinking and laughter, men competed who can drink more wine or who is stronger and there was a dancing bear, it was the most adorable dance I ever saw. Even the gems looked like they were having fun some tried drinking and some liked wine too much, the rubies would arm wrestle some human guests and there were many jokes, though some gems didn't understand them. Only Blue Diamonds bodyguards which were mostly made up of Jasper's, didn't even smile they just had a very cold look on their face.
In that group of four Jasper's was the one I took down on the tournament in between me and her stood her commander, at least she looked like a commander. Wearing a helmet and had that stature and look on her face , just like the Black Bull.
She was big bigger then the one I fought, she has amber eyes and plump lips. Her gem is located where her left eye should be. She has thick, beige-colored, flowing hair. She wears a sleeveless bodysuit with a black V-neck collar and a yellow diamond in the center. The torso of the bodysuit is a maroon color, and the legs are in a dark mahogany. She wears red boots. Three of those Jaspers wore the blue diamond crest in the center.
I never understood those, some had different colors in the middle of their suits, I always thought of them as some sort of banners, according to Sir Jeremy, who fought in many of the battles against the Crystal Gems, Blue Diamond lost many of her soldiers, some even deserted to join Rose Quartz. That's what they called the leader of the rebellion, I remember seeing her once.
It was a long time ago, we only recently became knights and were taken to this arena, a big arena in the clouds, wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it for myself. Here some of the best knights tested their steel in combat in front of a large crowd, during one of these tournaments my brother rose victorious, he was named the best swordsman in the realm. After we left me and my brother were approached by a Pearl in a nearby village, she was a slender, thin build and had a pointed nose and had a gem in the middle of her forehead.
She came to us saying how she saw my brother fight and wanted to know from him what it means to be a knight. We stayed in that inn from dawn till dusk talking, but she remembered everything he said and listened carefully to him, about the knights devotion to his liege lord and his bravery to the point of risking his own life to protect his liege.
Then she came Rose Quartz, we only introduced ourselves and that was it, but not before Pearl taught us some moves with her sword and honestly those moves saved my life more then once, we also returned the favor and showed her some of our moves.
That was the last we heard from them, only later did we learn that we came face to face with the leader of the Crystal Gems and her second in command the infamous Pearl. After and incident which took place there, never found out what happened exactly, the arena was severely damaged in one of the first biggest battle fought in the Gem Civil War, many knights and a king died defending it, that is how we got involved in this cursed war.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard Lady Melisandra whispering "I'm bored, follow me." she gave me a subtle wink as she walked away from the table and I followed, it was all professional of course. As soon as we left and entered my chambers I removed my helmet, but before I could speak she slapped me so hard my head turned and my cheek went red "You are an idiot, how could you just give me that crown in front of the king and his uncle like that, do you want to get killed." she screamed, she looks so cute when she gets angry "Well you always say I have to be, more romantic and brave." I replied "Admit it that was romantic, I was like a character from those books you like to read."
She wanted to hit me so hard again, but she just gave me the I'm disappointed in you look, she grabbed my arms and looked me in the eyes "You have no idea how much I want to have you, without hiding and scheming with you about our next meeting." she said, there was a tear in her eye, I hate it when she cries, I made her a promise that if anyone ever hurts her I will break him. "Don't cry, you and I know that I'm not allowed to marry, I'm in the Honor guard." I say as I wipe her tear "Besides, this is much more interesting, just like you books, forbidden love and secrets." I try to make her smile, it worked a little bit.
"You have no idea how I want to tell the whole world that I love you." she said as she sat down on my bed, I kneel in front of her and took both her hands, "I love you." I whisper, she looked a bit confused. "Why did you whisper?" she asked , "Because you are my whole world." I replied with my best flirty smile I got, but before I could continue she said through a laugh "You read my book and when did you learn how to read.".
Dam she got me. I immediately jump on my legs and answered "N-n-no, I didn't read it. Dominic did,...okay I made him read it, you can stop looking at me like that." I continued "Besides you always wanted me to get interested in these books of yours.". We just stood there talking, I loved to hear her talk and sing, she had a voice of an angel, she enjoyed singing romantic songs and talking about the books she read. Before I knew it we were about to kiss and for a short while, but I could have sworn I saw her necklace glowing. Before our lips even touched *THUD*THUD*THUD* a loud knock was heard on my door, making me jump from the bed and placing my helmet on saying "Coming.", Melisandra quickly tided her hair and grabbed her stomach to make her look like she wasn't feeling well so I knew what to say.
I opened the door and there they stood Dominic and the one-eyed Jasper towering over him "Sorry sir, she was forced me to." Dominic weakly said "Stop crying. I only placed a hand on your shoulder and you didn't even hear the question." One-eyed quickly replied annoyed, before pushing me to the side and entering the room "We saw you left the table, the king was worried." she said, Melisandra answered "Do not worry, the young Sir escorted me... " she was quickly interrupted "That's why the king was worried about." the gem gave me a quick glance.
Melisandra quickly continued "For I was feeling ill, must have been something I ate, I asked him to lead me somewhere that was quiet and less stuffy. We were just waiting for me to get better, so don't worry about me." I could see it in her eye that the gem saw right through her lie, "Then I shall wait with you until you get better." the gem said "You, there Pearl tell the king that I have found the lady and that everything is fine." she pointe passing by pearl, the pearl simply bowed and left.
So there we stood all four of us in my chambers me, Dominic, Melisandra and the gem in silence. "Sooo..." Dominic said trying to make things less tense "What does everyone think of the feast so far.", after a brief silence the gem spoke "You humans, sure know how to waste your time." , "Is that a compliment or an insult." I asked quietly "Both. I have nothing against you and I have seen some great human warriors, I just don't understand some of your traditions and actions." she replied. Before we could continue this conversation we heard sounds coming from the feasting room and through the hallways "I bet one of the lords is drunk again." Dominic said jokingly, but that was something else "Those are swords." both me and the gem said in the same time, soon after that we heard started hearing screams, I drew my sword and the gem summoned her axe "Dominic lock the doors, don't open for anyone!" I ordered as me and the gem left the room and rushed towards the screams.
"Gods, please let it be a drunken brawl." I said as we approached the massive chamber doors that were closed "Get ready." the gem said sa she was about to smash through the blocked doors.
Hello, its me again, I hope you are enjoying the story so far, because it is far from finished. Don't worry the Crystal Gems will be here soon.
As always reviews are appreciated (even short ones) and I'm an open book so feel free ask me questions. I will see you in the next chapter. If you have something that worries you, please feel free to speak your mind.