The Apathetic Knight

Chapter 5.2 - Kynareth

Trembling, I reached into the box that sat on the table beside of me, and I grabbed a ribbon, tying it with shaking fingers to the hilt of his sword.

He turned to the crowd, pumping his sword into the air as they cheered, before he lifted my gloved hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of my fingers.

"Thank you for your favor, my lady," he said, stepping off.

I finally was able to breathe, and I tried to not look as panicked as I felt. I recovered quickly when my brother's knight, Sir Varo, stepped forward next, kneeling. He wore bronze-gold colored armor with red designs and a red cloth over his thighs, and a sword in a red sheath. Obviously, red was his color. "My lady," he addressed me. "By order of my master, Lord Astaroth, I offer you my hunt today, and ask to receive your favor in his place."

I startled, a bit surprised, before grinning at my brother. He gave me a thumb's up, and I giggled. "Thank you, Sir Varo," I smiled. "And thank you, brother," I said to him in the front of the crowd. "I would be honored." I tied a ribbon to his presented sword. After a kiss to my hand and showing off his sword, he left the stage, and last but not least, my own personal knight stepped up, kneeling before me and presenting his sword.

"My liege," he said, smiling up at me. "As your personal knight, I, Seryn Von Leonhart, offer you my hunt. I would be honored if you would allow me to receive further of your favor, my lady, as I am already favored by you as my master."

I smiled warmly at him. "I would be honored to receive your hunt today, Sir Seryn. Thank you," I said. I tied a ribbon to the hilt of his sword, and he bowed a little further before he took my hand, kissing it, and showed off his sword to the crowd before stepping away.

I sat down, heart still racing as I watched my brother's fiancé stand next, her name called. It was also her first hunt.

My brother stepped up, kneeling to her, wearing a golden suit of armor with silver engravings on it and a sky-blue cloth covering his thighs.

"My lady," he smiled. "As your betrothed, I offer you my hunt today, and ask to receive your favor."

She smiled at him. "I would be honored, my lord Astaroth." She tied a green ribbon with purple trim to the hilt of his sword, and I felt a pang of jealousy as he kissed her hand and showed off his sword.

She had her favor requested by both her brother, her brother's personal knight, and her personal knight, as well, before they moved on to the next noble lady...

I just couldn't get over the bitter feeling. She got to have my amazing, kind, sweet brother as a fiancé, and I got an arrogant, haughty, highly-displeased Crowned Prince as my fiancé. Life didn't seem fair in that moment.

I tried not to dwell on it too much, but I couldn't seem to help it.

The trumpets sounded as the men mounted on swords and headed out into the forest, leaving only the women and some guards at the ceremony place, and I sighed, heading to my tent and resting on a makeshift bed as I read a book.

There was nothing to do now but to wait, after all. The rest of the waiting period was uneventful, and I had a restless night before morning finally arrived.

As we were having tea after breakfast, the trumpets sounded again, and we all gathered back on the stage to await the results of the hunt.

"I hope that the wait was well-spent and enjoyed, ladies!" The king smiled, clapping his hands. "Each lady will step forward to hear the report for each of her hunters!" He said. He stepped toward the queen. "For my queen, I bring this," he said, before going over the list of his hunt. Each of her hunters stepped up, giving her their hunt report, before it was marked down on a paper by someone taking notes and keeping the score.

"As usual, a large-game kill is equal to ten points, a middle-game kill equals five points, and a small-game kill is equal to two points," the announcer called, before he looked at the chart. "The Queen, with Five Huntsmen, has received this as her offering; Six large-game kills, six middle-game kills, and eight small-game kills!" The announcer said. "In total, the Queen starts out our competition with a total of one hundred and six points!"

As they went through each noble lady, I waited my turn, and then it came to my mother.

"Duchess Severing, with two huntsmen, has received four large-game kills, six middle-game kills, and seven small-game kills! She has a total of eighty-four points!"

Suddenly, my name was called, and I stepped forward, seeing my hunters coming to kneel-with the exception of the Crowned prince, who simply bowed at the waist-to tell me what they had to offer me.

The Crowned prince stepped up first. "I bring you an offering of a wolf, a stag, two foxes, and three rabbits," he smiled, looking at the cart that held his prey, proud of himself, before he stepped back.

Sir Varo stepped up next. "I bring you an offering of a wolf, a leopard, and two rabbits," he said, giving a bow and returning to his spot.

Seryn scoffed, coming up and kneeling before me. "My lady...I bring you an offering of a wolf, four rabbits, a raccoon, and..." He looked over to the cart, and everyone gasped as they turned to see it wheeled up. I gaped, dropping the cup of tea I'd been holding, it shattering at my feet as I stared in awe at the cart he was offering me.

On the top of the cart...lay not one, but two slain lions.

"I bring you two lions, my liege," he smiled up at me, kissing the back of my hand even as I still stared in awe.

Even the announcer stood there, stunned, as he wrote down the tally. "Lady Severing, daughter of Duke Severing, with three huntsmen...has received an offering of seven large-game kills, two middle-game kills, and ten small-game kills!" He said, incredulous at the number. "Rounding it out to a grand total of one hundred points! The second highest score, next to the Queen, and absolutely unheard of from only three huntsmen!"

The crowd erupted into cheer even as I glanced at my brother's knight, shocked by Seryn's cart, and Prince Cinder...who glared at it with surprised, disdainful eyes. He had been thoroughly outdone, and was outmatched.

We moved on, and when we reached my brother's fiancé, I had to admit that I was a bit nervous to see what her offering would be.

"Lady Elvira Sire Steel!" They called, and I watched her step forward. I glanced to my brother, and he gave me a seemingly reassuring smile, before he kneeled in front of his fiancé.

"My lady," he addressed her. "I bring to you an offering of two raccoons, a fox, two rabbits, and a stag," he smiled at her. "Lastly but certainly not least," he hesitated. "I have brought you, also, a bear."

The crowd was in awe yet again, as my brother was only the second hunter to hunt such a large, dangerous game. The largest and most dangerous that had been hunted aside from their kills, so far, had been wolves, but comparatively, a bear or a lion far outdoes a wolf in terms of danger and skill required to hunt it.

Lady Steel received three more wolves, two leopards, three foxes, and four rabbits from her hunters.

"Lady Steel, daughter of Duke Steel, with four hunters, has received an offering of seven large-game kills, and twelve small-game kills! Thus, she has earned a total of ninety-four points!"

The king stepped forward, and clapped his hands. "Congratulations to all of our lovely ladies who received offerings this year, and congratulations to their hunters on procuring offerings for your ladies. As we have seen, my Queen, who had the most huntsmen on her behalf, earned a total of one hundred and six points. As she is my Queen, of course I am biased and feel that she deserves to be the Diamond of this year's hunt...however, she has expressed that she feels that this title is not fair to be bestowed upon her, as she had so many hunters out on the field on her behalf. Thus, the title will be given to the lady who had not only the second-highest score of the hunt, but also had the most impressive and dangerous of the offerings!"

As the crowd cheered, I blushed, stepping forward.

"Lady Kynareth," he addressed me, smiling. "Your Knight has procured for you the most impressive of the hunt. Not one, but two lions! Such a feat is fantastic indeed, bringing down two lions on his own, all on your behalf. You must certainly be this year's Diamond to inspire such devotion from your knight." He motioned a servant over, who held out a wooden box, and he opened the box and lifted a beautiful, pure diamond broach in a golden casing. He stepped up to me, pinning the broach onto my blouse. "Congratulations to this year's Diamond of the Hunt!" He said, and he turned. "Sir Seryn," he said. "Step up and receive your prize, in honor of procuring the most impressive hunt."

Seryn stepped up to me, kneeling and lifting his sword yet again, and I took the tassel that I had made and tied it to the end of the hilt on his sword. He stood, showing off his sword, before he fastened his sword back into place and pressed a kiss to my cheek, as was tradition.

"It was an honor to hunt for you, and it is an honor for me to go out onto the field on your behalf," he said.

I smiled brightly at him, before the king ended the ceremony, and we all sat to have a wonderful feast.

The sun was lowering in the sky when everything was wrapped up and ready to go, and the royal family stepped up to my family before we left.

"Congratulations again, lady Kynareth," the queen smiled, and I gave a deep curtsy.

"Thank you so much, your majesty," I smiled. "I am truly honored." I turned my attention to prince Cinder, giving him a curtsy as well. "Thank you, my betrothed, for hunting on my behalf today and for the wonderful offering you gave me. I am honored to have had you on the field for my name's sake."

He scoffed, but the king jabbed him in the side with his elbow and Cinder sighed, giving me a bow and gritting his teeth.

"It was an honor to hunt for you, my lady," he said, carefully toneless. "I am glad that I was able to give you a pleasing offering. Please do take care on your way home."

After last goodbyes and respects given, Seryn led me to my carriage, helping me up inside, and got up into the carriage with me after helping Alice sit across from me. The cart of my offerings was attached to my carriage, pulled behind us.

As we traveled, I felt myself growing very sleepy, and I heard Seryn chuckle.

"You may sleep against me, my lady," he said. "Take a rest."

I noted that he was changed into a uniform rather than armor, and I nodded, leaning against him and secretly enjoying the feel of his chest muscles against my cheek as I leaned into him. I listened to his steady breathing, slowly slipping into sleep.

The next time I awoke, I was being carried up a staircase, and I glanced around, startled.

"Shh," Seryn said, glancing down at me. "We are almost back to your chambers, my lady. You may continue to sleep."

At his reassurance, I felt myself drift in and out of sleep, even as Alice and another maid changed my clothes, and Seryn brushed out my hair before he lay me down in bed, covering me with blankets and taking the spot beside of me, staying leaned back against the headboard as usual, arms crossed after he took off his mask and sat it on the side table beside of him.

Since that first night that he had stayed in my bed as I had slept, he had slept in my bed each night, because I had recurring nightmares often. He was a light sleeper anyway, but as soon as I began to stir and seem uncomfortable, he would reach over, letting his hand rest on my forehead and shushing me softly until I began to sleep smoothly again.

I didn't know, at this point, how I would ever survive without this man in my life.

I didn't know yet, in that moment, what Seryn had already begun to have made for me with the pelts of the two lions that he'd slain for me.

*

December, 313 A.R.

This year, for the Christmas holiday, I was caught up in sickness, and forced to stay in my room for the duration of the holiday.

Before the party, my parents and brother brought me a few small gifts up to my room, before setting out to the party.

When Seryn, Alice and I were left alone, he gave her a nod, and she left the room. He came and sat in the chair beside my bedside, glancing at me.

"Have you wondered what became of the offerings that you received?" He asked. "Most have been made into accessories and pelts for you to decorate your room with, but have you noticed that two are missing?" He asked pointedly.

I grinned. "I would have to be blind to not notice," I laughed.

"I have been having them prepared for you," he told me, looking out the window of my room. "I wanted to have them ready for you for Christmas. I only hate that I couldn't present them to you in front of everyone, but I didn't want to miss the holiday, either."

A moment later, Alice came into the room, carrying two boxes wrapped in exquisite paper and ribbons, setting them on the bed in front of me.

I grinned at Seryn, before I opened the first one, and I gasped at what lay there.

Inside the box was a stunning coat made from the first lion's pelt, the inside lined with wool and the mane serving as a beautiful shoulder and neck covering on the coat.

"Oh, Seryn," I breathed. "This is beautiful," I said, stroking the diamond broach I'd received at the hunt that served as a fastening button on the coat.

He smiled at me. "I had hoped you would be pleased, my lady."

"I am," I assured him, and he helped me stand, sliding it over my arms and getting it into place before helping me to the mirror.

"It looks splendid on you," he said, proud and nodding approvingly.

"Thank you," I beamed up at him, and though my head was pounding and I had a fever, my chest burdened by congestion and throat throbbing in pain, I hardly minded in that moment. Tears filled my eyes. "I'm sorry," I said, wiping my tears away. "I'm over-emotional because I'm sick, and it's just such a wonderful gift," I laughed. "I truly love it. I am honored you thought of me. You know you aren't obligated to give me anything."

"I know," he said, his tone soft, and I heard something in his voice there...a warmth I wasn't used to. He grabbed the other box, and opened it himself. "This one is actually technically for me," he laughed. "However, it goes with your gift." He pulled out a luxurious cape, with the shoulders lined with the mane, and fastened it into place on top of his armor. He was armored because he was on duty, as the castle was filled with guests for the holiday, so it was a perfect opportunity to show me the cape.

Though the cape was a golden color, as it was a lion pelt, it didn't clash badly with his silver armor. If anything, it gave him an even richer-air about him.

I looked at us in the mirror as Alice took the boxes and left the room, and I glanced up at him.

"You really are the best knight in the nation...if not the world," I smiled. He smirked down at me, and, without thinking, I stepped up onto my tip-toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

He gasped, eyes wide, as his hand flew up to rest over where my lips had pressed to his cheek, blushing heavily. I could feel his heart pounding even as my own heart pounded, and I smiled as I walked back to my bed, taking off the coat before I got set up in my bed again. I giggled at Seryn, still standing there, staring off into space.

"Merry Christmas, Seryn," I smiled at him. He came back to himself, chuckling softly, before he took my coat and placed it on the coat rack by my wardrobe.

Then, he came and leaned back in his usual place on my bed, smiling over at me as I lay down, pulling the blankets up over me.

"Merry Christmas, my lady."

"Kynareth," I whispered just before sleep took me. "Just once...my name?" I asked, glancing up at him. His eyes showed surprise before a warm look crossed his face.

"Kynareth," he said softly, and I went to sleep to the even sound of his breathing.