Arthur walked through the corridors of the Red Keep still in disbelief. He kept his hands clasped behind his back to stop them from shaking, though no one else walked this stretch of hallway to see it. His mind turned over the same words again and again, each time feeling less real than the last.
He was a squire now.
Not just any squire.
But the Lord Commander's squire.
Ser Duncan the Tall, the man who had killed Daemon III Blackfyre, who had fought Lyonel Baratheon, who fought in every major tourney for decades, and now commanded the Kingsguard itself. Arthur had only hoped to squire for a hedge knight, some grizzled old rider with a single destrier and a few dragons to his name who might teach him the basics of lance and sword in exchange for polishing armor and mucking stalls. Instead he had been handed the greatest knight in the realm, a living legend was known for being one of the best swordsman in the realm. The thought made his stomach flip in a way that was equal parts joy and nervousness.
Still he could not help but be happy. A grin kept tugging at the corners of his mouth no matter how many times he tried to school his face into something serious. This was the kind of chance men dreamed about, the sort of rise that turned farmer boys into someone remembered in songs. He would train under the best, learn the true craft of arms from the man who had taught half the realm what honor looked like. L
He pictured Mira and Cassie hearing the news. Mira would probably laugh first then pull him into one of those hugs that squeezed the air from his lungs. Cassie would not believe him at first, before probably getting more excited than he was. They would both be happy for him, he knew that without question. The children would lose their minds. Jory would beg to see Ser Duncan up close, Meggie would want to know if Ser Duncan rode any dragons, Ben and Thom would beg to watch sparring sessions. Even Lena would get excited. The thought warmed him, but it also left a small ache in his heart.
He was a little sad he would have to part from them all for a while. But he would not be able to fulfill his duties as a squire while living away from his knight. Ser Duncan would expect him in the White Sword Tower at dawn for drills, at midday for patrols or errands, at dusk for more training or guard shifts. The tower had its own rules and a squire did not come and go as he pleased. He would see Mira and Cassie when he could, but the daily life they had built at the orphanage would slip away for a time. But this was the path he had chosen and he would not turn from it now.
Lost in his thoughts, Arthur took a wrong turn somewhere near the third landing. The corridor he expected narrowed into a passage he did not recognize. He kept walking, figuring he would find a stair or a guard who could point him toward the gate. Instead the passage opened onto a small sparring courtyard tucked against the inner wall. Seven boys moved about the yard, four kept to the edges while three stood in the centre. Of the three, one dominated the space.
Prince Aerys Targaryen stood there panting and sweating, his pale hair clinging to his forehead. His tunic clung to him at the shoulders and chest. He held a wooden practice sword, its edge dented and cracked. Before him, two boys already lay beaten, one clutching his side and the other trying to rise with one hand cradling his jaw. The prince gave neither of them a second glance.
"You call that sparring?" Aerys shouted at the others still standing. "Is there not one of you with blood in your spine? Or do you all piss it away before even lifting your blade?"
One of the boys tried to speak. "We didn't—"
"Enough," Aerys snapped, stepping forward and pointing his sword at him. "If you've come here to wheeze and stammer, then stand aside and let me strike the wall. I'd get more of a fight from that."
The lad lowered his eyes and did not step forward.
Aerys turned and looked around at the others. "This is pathetic. I came here to sharpen my skills, not watch cowards dance and whimper. Do any of you know what it means to fight? To fight to win?"
Arthur stepped back instinctively. He did not want to be seen here. Certainly not now, if the Prince saw him there was no doubt he'd take his temper out on him and he definitely didn't want to deal with that today. He turned, moving quietly, hoping to slip away. But as he stepped back, his shoulder struck something firm.
He spun around quickly. "Seven hells..." his eyes widened as he saw who he'd knocked into. Lady Rhaella stood there with her hands clasped gently before her. Her cousin, Lady Oxana, stood at her side with her arms crossed and her chin tilted high.
Oxana's lips curled slightly. "Are you blind as well as lowborn?"
Arthur lowered his head. "I beg your pardon, my lady. I wasn't watching where I walked."
"You weren't watching anything at all," Oxana replied coolly.
"Oxana," Rhaella said with a faint sigh. "It was an accident. No need to draw swords over it, you've been so moody lately."
Arthur lifted his head slightly. "It was my fault Princess, she has every right to be upset."
Oxana said nothing more, though her glare lingered on him, even seemingly growing more intense.
Rhaella offered him a warmer look. "You've come from the meeting, haven't you? How did it go?" She said with an excited smile, curious to know what had happened.
Arthur gave a small smile, trying not to look back toward the sound of Aerys berating the others behind him. "It went better than I expected. They made me a squire to the Lord Commander."
Rhaella's smile brightened. "Truly? That's wonderful news! You must be proud."
"I'm honoured, my lady. It means a great deal," Arthur replied.
"I believe it was well earned," she said. "You've shown courage more than once, and if half the stories Mira has told me are true then it will not be long before you become a Knight."
Arthur rubbed at the back of his neck. "You're kind to say so."
"Join us," Rhaella said, gesturing toward the archway behind her. "Oxana and I were just about to take our meal in the balcony up there. You'd be welcome to sit with us."
Oxana frowned. "I'm not sure that's app—"
"I thank you Princess, truly, but I've duties back at the orphanage. I've been gone long enough, Mira and Cassie will want to know what's happened."
Oxana made no effort to hide her relief.
Rhaella gave him a sly look as she glanced past him. "Or is it that you're simply afraid of my brother?"
Arthur glanced back toward the yard. "I'd be a fool if I weren't."
He dipped his head and stepped aside, meaning to excuse himself fully, but before he could a figure stepped from the corridor behind him and halted before them. "My ladies," the newcomer said politely. He gave a respectful bow to Rhaella, then to Oxana. He was tall for his age, lean and well-postured, with golden blonde hair and a stoic expression that did not shift.
Rhaella greeted him with ease. "Lord Tywin. What brings you down to this part of the keep, do you wish to speak to my brother?"
"No, I am looking for Arthur of Harrowfield I heard he was here," Tywin said without so much as a shift in his emotion.
Arthur straightened and bowed. "That's me, my lord."
Tywin nodded. "A moment, if you would," he said leaving no room for debate.
"Of course," Arthur replied, because honestly what else could he say. The boy was a noble, he couldn't exactly say no even if he wanted to. The two young men walked together, leaving the courtyard behind and stepping into a narrow side gallery.
"I'll not keep you long, I merely wished to have a word," Tywin said politely. "I wanted ti offer my gratitude.)
Arthur looked over at him. "For what, my lord?" Arthur said with a little confusion, he didn't know why Tywin Lannister was so grateful for what he did, though it could've simply been because he was good friends with the prince. "It was my honour to protect for the Prince during the melee my Lord."
Tywin shook his head slightly. "That is not what I meant."
Arthur blinked as confusion set in once more. "Forgive me, then. I'm not sure what you're referring to."
"In the melee," Tywin said, "you crossed blades with a knight, Ser Emmon Frey. You struck him hard across the helm, he passed out and was eventually carried from the field."
Arthur's brow furrowed. "I don't recall facing anyone bearing Frey colours. Are you sure it was me?"
"He wore no sigil," Tywin said. "He fought alongside the others who grouped up on you at the start. Four men came at you, he was one of them. I saw it myself."
Arthur frowned. "That doesn't make sense. Those men were hired blades. Scum from Flea Bottom. Why would a knight from House Frey be among them?"
Tywin's lips drew tight. "Frey's are not like other nobles. They are treacherous, small men with even smaller courage. It's not the first time one has hired brutes to do their fighting for them."
Arthur scowled at the thought. "That's foul work. The melee's supposed to test strength and skill, not coin and cunning."
"I agree," Tywin said. "But that's not why I brought it up. After he was carried from the field he fell into a deep sleep. Ser Emmon never recovered from your blow. He lingered a few days, but the maester declared him dead this morning."
Arthur felt a strange weight settle on his chest. "Dead? But... I didn't even know who he was. I didn't mean to—"
Tywin raised a hand to still him. "You need not trouble yourself. You did nothing wrong. In truth, this is what I came to thank you for."
Arthur stared at him. "Thank me? For killing him?"
Tywin's tone stayed calm. "Not for the manner of it. For what it means. You see a few years ago Walder Frey forced a betrothal between Emmon and my younger sister when my father was too weak to stop it. It was shameful. We were the subject of whispers and laughter at court. But now, with Emmon gone, the betrothal is broken, and my sister is free to be matched properly and to a man befitting her status."
"I didn't mean to get involved in anything like that," Arthur said. "It wasn't done with intent."
"That matters little to me," Tywin replied. "The outcome stands. My family has been spared a humiliation and a Lannister must always pays his debts. What would you have in return?"
Arthur looked down. "I don't need anything, my lord."
"Nonsense," Tywin said. "Everyone wants something."
"I mean it," Arthur replied. "I have a home and a family and a path ahead of me. That's more than I've ever had. I can not think of a single thing that I'd need other than what I already have."
Tywin regarded him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "If that is your choice I'll not press you. Still, remember what I've said. If there ever comes a day you need something, then you have my word that it shall be done."
Arthur bowed. "I will, my lord."
Tywin gave him a nod before he turned and disappeared somewhere into the Red Keep.
Arthur stood still for a time, trying to make sense of what had just passed. He let out a breath, shook his head l, and made his way toward the nearest staircase. He needed to get out of the Red Keep before something else found him. Knowing his luck he'd have to fight another Blackfyre to get out of this damn place.
...
It only took him a few hours to get from the Red keep to flea bottom, he considered making a few stops and getting a view presents along the way, but with the news he had he decided to get home as quickly as possible.
When he arrived Arthur pushed through the orphanage gatel sun was sinking below the horizon, but the day hadn't faded yet. A few of the younger ones were still kicking a rag ball back and forth across the dirt, while they shouted and laughed at each other. The moment Meggie caught sight of him, she dropped the ball mid-kick and shrieked.
"Arthur!" she cried with her arms already stretched out wide as she ran toward him. "You're back! You're back!"
Jory wasn't far behind, clutching his wooden practice sword. "What happened what happened!!?" he called. "Did they send you to the dungeons, did you have to fight in a trail by combat!?"
Ben and Thom spilled out of the doorway just after him, each talking over the other, while Lena stepped out slowly behind them, holding her doll tight to her chest. Mira and Cassie appeared a second later, wiping flour from their aprons. Alys followed, and behind her came Lunk, ducking under the doorway like always. Mira didn't wait. She crossed the yard as fast as she could and threw her arms around his neck before he could say a word. "We were starting to think the worst," she said into his shoulder.
Cassie came up next, squeezing him around the waist. "You took so long, if it were not for Rhaella we would've thought you had been thrown in the black cells," she said agreeing with Rhaella.
"I had to wait I'm afraid," Arthur said, laughing as he hugged them both back. "But it was worth it. Come on. Inside. All of you. I've got news."
Meggie was still clinging to one of his hands as they moved toward the hall, her little fingers curled tight around his. Jory walked backwards in front of him, talking fast. "Did you see the king? Did he have - Valyrian steel sword like the stories? What did it look like!?"
"Did you eat with them?" Thom asked. "Real feast food? With chickens and lemon cakes?"
"Did they ask about us?" Meggie asked. "Did they know who we are?"
"Give him a minute to breathe," Alys said, shooing them toward the table. "Sit down, all of you, and let him speak."
The children scrambled for seats, the benches scraping across the floor as they crowded in. Mira and Cassie pulled Arthur to the head of the table and sat close, one on either side. Lunk settled in at the far end. Alys leaned near the hearth, Arthur looked around at all of them. They were all waiting. "The king called me to the council chamber earlier," Arthur began. "He spoke to me himself. About the melee."
"Did he yell?" Jory asked.
"Did he look angry?" Lena whispered.
"No," Arthur said while smiling. "He called me there because he wanted to thank me for saving the Prince."
Ben leaned forward. "Did you get the prize money?"
Arthur nodded. "I did. All of it. And then he added ten thousand gold dragons from the royal treasury."
The room went dead silent.
Then everyone started talking.
"Ten thousand?" Ben gasped, nearly knocking over his cup.
"That's enough to buy a castle!" Thom shouted.
"We're rich!" Jory hollered. "We can buy five castles!"
Lena clutched her doll and whispered, "Toys! We can get Toys!"
Mira grabbed his hand. "Arthur... ten thousand? Are you joking?"
"No," he said. "It's real."
Cassie stared. "We could fix everything."
"We could buy beds," Mira said. "Real fancy ones."
"We could get meat every day," Thom said.
"And warm clothes," Meggie added.
"And shoes that fit," Jory said.
Alys let out a long breath. "That kind of coin... it changes everything."
Arthur held up a hand. "There's more."
They went still again all eyes back on him.
"I've been named a squire," Arthur said. "To Ser Duncan the Tall."
There was a moment of silence. Then Mira's mouth dropped open. "The Lord Commander?"
Cassie blinked as her mouth widened as well. "The Kingsguard!?"
Arthur nodded. "Yes I'll be squirting for him. I'll officially start my duties tomorrow. And I'll stay in the White Sword Tower."
"You're going to be a knight!" Meggie yelled.
"A real one!" Thom shouted. "With a real sword!"
"And your own sigil!" Ben added.
"And a horse!" Thom cried.
"Will he teach you how to smash people better?" Thom asked, bouncing on his bench.
"Will you wear armour every day?" Jory pressed.
"I will be expected to do the same kind of chores a squire for the Kingsguard should do so I imagine I will be wearing my armour a lot," Arthur promised. "And yes, there will be drills, training, everything."
Mira shook her head in wonder. "Arthur, squire to the Lord Commander. I can't even..."
Cassie leaned over and kissed his cheek. "We always knew you'd do something amazing."
"I didn't do it alone," Arthur said. "Everything I am—came from here, I never would've made it this far if it weren't for all of you."
That drew a smile from everyone, mostly Cassie and Nira who tightened their grip on his arms.
Alys cleared her throat. "You going to live in the tower now?"
Arthur nodded. "I'll have to stay close since I have my duties and training, but I'll visit when I can."
"You're not coming home every night?" Mira asked.
Arthur turned to her. "No. Not every night. But I will come back when I can, and you can visit me. I promise."
Cassie reached for his hand again. "We'll miss you."
"I'll miss all of you," Arthur said.
Meggie looked up at him. "You'll come back though, right?"
Arthur knelt down to her level. "Every chance I get. And when I learn something worth teaching, I'll come straight here and show you first."
Jory straightened his shoulders. "I'm going to train even harder. When you come back, I want you to see how much better I've gotten."
"Me too!" Ben said.
"I'll draw you pictures," Lena said.
"I'll hang them in my room," Arthur told her.
They kept talking after that as they had dinner.
They ate stew and warm bread for supper. It wasn't any different than when he last had it, but it tasted better somehow. The children kept asking for stories—what the king said, what Ser Duncan looked like, if he smiled or laughed or shook his hand hard. Arthur answered as best he could, making it a little more exciting than it actually was.
When the youngest ones started yawning, Lunk picked them up and carried them off. Alys cleared bowls and patted Arthur's shoulder on her way by. Later, when the fire burned to its embas and only Mira and Cassie remained, they walked him to their room. They sat on the bed, close enough to only be a few inches apart.
"You scared us," Mira said, her voice quiet. "When we saw you fighting that giant, we thought he would kill you..."
"I'm sorry, but I had no choice," Arthur said. "It would've been wrong if I just stood there and did nothing..."
Cassie leaned her head on his arm. "I'm just glad you're back now."
"I said I would be," he said with a smile as he leaned his head into hers. They held each other like that for a long while, feeling each others warmth as they lay down together. He watched as they both fell asleep before he stood up from the bed and walked out of the room. As much as he'd like to stay here with them and enjoy the night.
He had some loose ends to tie up.
(AN: So Genna Lannister will no longer marry Emmon Frey and Tywin now owes Arthur a favour. Damn seems things are happening. Anyway Arthur has a few people he needs to talk to before he begins his life as a Squire. Anyway hope you enjoyed the chapter.)
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