Aragorn and the Phoenix of Caspian (ENGLISH)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The prince woke up from a servant’s call. The servant told him that the king wants him to wake up and head straight to the throne. It’s one of his bad habits, waking up not as early as his father.

He stretched his body for the blood to reach the ends of his blood vessels. He reached his tunic which was hanging near his room’s window. He wore it before he strode to his father’s throne.

There is a guy who’s about a few years older than him who was talking to his father when he arrived. Queen Amira, his mother, wasn’t there. When the king and the guy noticed his appearance, he was instructed to sit on his mother’s throne.

“Here’s my son and the only prince of this palace, Aragorn,” the king said and the strange guy smiled at him.

Aragorn’s forehead crumpled. The guy was a stranger to him, but his father seemed to know him so well. He hadn't seen this guy before in the palace or somewhere nearby.

“Who is he, father?” he asked, almost whispering.

“Oh, I was about to introduce him to you, but you asked. He’s Leo and he’s the one to train you.” Leo leaned towards Aragorn, offering his suntanned arms on him. Aragorn hesitated to accept it, but he slipped his hands on him and shook his arms.

“Nice to meet you, crowned prince. So, why do you want me to train you? Before I train someone, I ask them why they want to. You need the why before you implement any action.”

It is embarrassing to tell this guy that he’s not as good as his father that is why he wanted to be trained both physically and mentally and this guy might also be the one who secretly disliked him for his weakness.

“It is embarrassing to tell you, but I want to be a great ruler of this palace just like my father.” Aragorn glanced at his father. “I know that I’m weak and that is why I want to learn. Are you really the one that will help me in this matter?”

Leo turned his head up and down. He steadfastly held his chin. “A prince who’s doubting himself. When do you want to start?”

Aragorn didn’t think for a second. “Now.”

“Woah, you’re rushing to improve. Overnight success is a myth. Maybe, tomorrow,” Leo said.

King Argon nodded, agreeing to Leo. “He’s right, son. you might need to prepare for your training tomorrow starting today. You should also think twice about your decision. You seemed to rush things that won’t happen in a snap.”

“I’m willing to improve, father. I’m willing to do it now, but let it happen tomorrow.” Aragorn gritted his teeth. He stared at Leo and his father.

“Okay, then. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Leo slightly bowed his head to the king and disappeared inside the room. Aragorn is left with his father.

Silence was formed in between Aragorn and his father. King Argon is waiting for his son’s question. As a father, he felt that his son was going to ask something.

“Who is he, father? How can he be reliable to train me? He looked a few years older than me, but it isn’t enough for him to train me. He also seems so feeble. We need someone who’s experienced and I want to learn from experts.”

King Argon took a sip of his grassy textured tea. “You think that Leo isn’t responsible enough just because he’s not as old as me?” Aragorn nodded. For him, Leo is experienced but it was not enough for him to transform into his better self. “Let me tell you this, son. Leo is a young warrior. He started serving the palace before the former king gave his position on me. He started serving the palace when you’re about to learn to walk. That is why your late grandfather gave him the Garden of Pleas of his might on serving the military and the palace.”

“What do you mean, dad?”

“Leo has been a soldier and a servant for more than twenty years. He knew a lot of skills and I’m pretty sure that he will help you.”

Aragorn hesitated to believe what his father had said, but his father cannot lie. The times that he got tripped would be more than the times his father lied, that's why he is proclaimed as the ideal king of the palace, beating the period of his grandfather.

Aragorn’s left and right palm faced each other and he bowed to his father before leaving the room. He strode downstairs, towards the garden at the back of the palace where he found his mother looking at her flowers with her personal maid, Dahlia.

He captured the attention of the queen. “You just woke up, son?”

He shook his head. “Father woke me up earlier and I met the one who’s going to train me. He is the young warrior I believe.”

“Oh, Leo!”

“You knew him?”

The queen looked up at the sky and smiled. “He wasn’t exactly young by now, but I still remember back then his might and glory to the palace. I know that he’s going to teach you a lot. I swear.”

Maybe Leo is just too good? Maybe I’m about to learn a lot from him. Aragorn said in his mind.

“Everyone says that, Mom and now I am going to believe all of you.”

The queen’s smile disappeared and she focused herself on the white daffodils planted in a soil box. “Wish you luck, son.”

***

A new morning has come. Aragorn woke up feeling cleaned and motivated. This day, his journey on his training will start. He is both excited and anxious on the adventure that he might encounter. He’s standing straight while paving his way to the king and queen’s throne wearing his starry night tunic.

Leo was already there also wearing a tunic, but red. Both the king and queen were smiling at him. It looked like he’s a young adult who’s going on a wonderful adventure, but no. He’s an adult and training is not a fantastic adventure. It is a quest for him to improve and be liked by the citizens of Caspian.

“Good morning, Prince Aragorn.” Leo clasped his hands and gave a short nod. “Today, our training will start. I already asked your parents about this matter, and they are waiting for your confirmation. For the training to become effective as possible, we do this at my home which is the garden of Pleas. You can come home weekly or as much as you want to.”

“Son, it’s just a choice, but you can still stay here everyday,” Queen Amira said.

“I accept it. For me to improve independently, I shall try to explore for myself.”

A worried face was plastered on Queen Amira’s face. King Argon rubbed his fingers on her, making the queen calmed for a bit. “He will be alright.” The king assured his wife a smile.

“Father’s right. I will be alright.”

King Aragorn assured his parents that he will do anything to be a respectable and effective king in the future. His parents were teary eyed before he left the room. He gave a quick kiss and hug to his parents, then he followed Leo outside.

A leather satchel was slung on his body as he mounted the hazelnut horse. Leo’s horse started to move, that's why he padded the horse and followed him. His eyes were glancing at the palace second by second. He will miss being in the palace for every single day. He can still come back weekly and permanently if he proved himself that he deserves to be the crowned prince.

It was an almost two-hour ride to the Garden of Please. It is a simple garden with a huge hut at the center. Different varieties of white, red, and purple flowers were surrounding the hut. Winds also blew calmly at the place.

This place is ten times more peaceful than somewhere near the palace. you can hear the birds chirping and the trees dancing along the wind.

Leo unmounted from his horse so as he. Leo pulled his horse near the grassland and tied the rope on a medium-sized wooden pole near the garden. He did what Leo did and heaved a sigh while his hands were on his waist.

“Let’s go inside,” Leo instructed and walked inside the huge wooden hut. Wooden huts were usually small and only had two small divisions, but this one has a room where there’s a wooden table placed in the middle. Wooden plates, spoons, and forks were all organized a few inches on the right of three large stones forming a triangle.

He sat on a wooden sofa-like chair and placed his satchel beside him. Leo was about to go upstairs when he felt that Aragorn wasn’t following him. He peeked at Aragorn and signaled that he should follow him.

Aragorn stood up from his seat and he went upstairs. He’s in between two rooms. Leo pointed to the room on the right.

“This is going to be your room, Prince Aragorn.”

Leo pushed the door and Aragorn saw a room which wasn’t as royal as what he had in the palace, but if he’s going to train for his own skills, this would be fine. This is part of my hardship in this training, he thought.

He strode inside the room and placed his satched on his bed. Leo was still inside the room when his butt faced the not-so-comfortable bed. His bed in the palace is far way more comfortable than this. It was soft and smooth unlike this one.

“I knew that this room was not as royal as what you have in the palace, but this place is safe and you can still sleep comfortably on that. I’m just going to cook our dinner and if you need anything just holler my name.” Aragorn nodded and Leo left the room.

Aragorn slid on his bed. His body was exhausted from the ride and he needed to take a rest. He positioned himself, closed his eyes, but he couldn't sleep.

He opened his eyes again and took a walk downstairs where a smell of ashes puffed into his nose. Leo, who was busy preparing the stone stove, looked at him.

“Do you need anything?” Leo asked.

He shook his head and his eyes played along every corner of the hut. “Nothing, I just can’t sleep.” Leo averted his gaze from him.

Aragorn saw a painting hung on the wall. Its vivid orange glazing color captured his eyes and attention. There were two daggers beside the incredible painting. He slowly strode towards it.

It was a painting of a firebird. Its eyes were ignited, feathers were orange and red, the background was on fire. It was one of the magnificent paintings he had seen so far.

His fingers slid on the feathers of the painted firebird. It was rough like old-aged rocks. His curiosity is burning in his brain.

“Isn’t it great?” His thoughts rummaged downwards after Leo asked him. He awkwardly gazed at Leo and threw a half-smile.

“It was and I have not seen this painting before.”

“My late father was the one who painted that. He’s a known painter in the palace before he died. He gave that to me when I was five and I kept it until now. His death was also the one that pushed me into action. He’s great and known that’s why I wanted to be like him.”

Aragorn wanted to sympathize with Leo’s stories, but his thoughts were all on the figure in the painting.

“What is the figure being painted?”

Leo chuckled. “You didn’t know? It is the Phoenix of Caspian.”

His jaw dropped. The Phoenix of Caspian?