Everyone's eyes were focused on two people.
Arthur Dayne and Jaime Lannister.
Clang!!! Clang!!! Clang!!!
The clash of both swords seemed particularly clear in the silent environment. Everyone was afraid to even breathe louder for fear of disturbing the two men. Arthur was fast, deadly, and intensely quick. Even wielding a longsword, his blows were nothing more than a fleeting flash in the air.
Jaime, on the other hand, used the sword as if it were an extension of his arm; his strength was greater than Arthur's, but being larger and more muscular, he was slower than his opponent, which made him feel extremely pressured by Arthur's extremely fast attacks.
The Golden Lion only managed to see the attacks before blocking them at the last moment. If Jaime were not an experienced warrior, he would have been defeated a long time ago. Arthur Dayne was fast, too fast, even for someone of Jaime's level.
With eyes as sharp as a hawk's, Arthur advanced mercilessly, pushing Jaime to the limit. His sword moved faster and faster, the milky glow of Dawn cutting through the air like a shooting star, hitting the enemy blade with absolute precision.
Unlike Dawn, Jaime's sword was terribly battered, resembling the teeth of a toothless old man, full of flaws along the forged steel blade. Since the beginning of the combat, Jaime had already started the duel at a disadvantage.
Arthur wielded Dawn, a legendary sword with more than ten thousand years of existence, which had never lost its edge or suffered any damage, living proof of how extraordinary the weapon was. Jaime's blade, in turn, although resistant and well-forged, was nothing more than a sharper and more durable stick compared to Dawn.
Forcing every muscle in his body to the extreme, Arthur swung his arm and, at that moment, had the sensation of delivering the fastest blow of his entire life. In the eyes of those present, it was just a sudden flash of light in the air, followed by a dry and violent crash that echoed across the battlefield.
Jaime's sword broke in two while the knight felt his arm numb, as if he had been hit by a hammer. Half of the blade spun in the air and fell to the ground, burying its tip in the earth.
Under his helmet, Jaime was breathing heavily; he looked at Arthur before him with admiration; there was no resentment in his eyes. He never thought he could defeat Arthur, who was at his peak at that moment. However, he felt that he was getting closer and closer to his former comrade-in-arms, which brought a smile to his lips.
"I surrender." As soon as Jaime spoke, Arthur, who was about to continue, stopped and looked deeply at Jaime, then turned and left in search of another worthy opponent.
Watching his back, Jaime opened his mouth to say something, but the words were stuck on his lips. He wanted to talk to Arthur, drink with him like when he joined the Kingsguard at fifteen, but he remembered that he was no longer a member of the Kingsguard.
Arthur didn't know what Jaime was thinking and didn't care; a traitor and oathbreaker was not worthy of his concern. Arthur's eyes found the figure of Prince Maekar facing a tall and muscular knight; the young prince was losing, and he himself didn't see how the prince could win.
What naturally happened the next moment: the prince's shield broke with the opponent's sword blow, and Maekar lost his balance, falling to the ground. Although the armor was heavy, it was extremely agile and mobile, so the prince tried to get up quickly, but the experienced warrior he was facing did not allow this, placing a sword at the prince's neck.
When Arthur was about to move, to save the prince from any accident, he sighed with relief when he heard Maekar's voice.
"I surrender."
Arthur saw the knight stop attacking and move away in search of another opponent. Looking back at the prince, still on the ground, there was a touch of appreciation in the Kingsguard's gaze. Knowing how to recognize oneself was a quality that few knights had the chance to experience in life, as they died in battle before they could develop that kind of self-recognition.
Fighting a losing battle was foolish.
Approaching, Arthur asked with a calm tone. "How does it feel to lose?"
"I feel like trash, but I know it was impossible to defeat an adult and veteran knight. I was not only weaker than him, but also slower. Even though I was more agile, that advantage was not enough to guarantee victory." Maekar removed his helmet as he spoke, displaying an open and sunny smile.
The prince's black hair was especially dark, soaked with sweat and stuck to his skin. His deep purple eyes, so similar to the king's, shone brighter than ever.
"You will be a great knight in the future, but this is not your moment yet," Arthur said with a serene smile, taking care not to undermine the young prince's confidence. "Keep that feeling and train even harder."
Maekar was too young. Although he was a prodigy, he was still just a teenager, with a body still forming and insufficient strength. Facing adult, experienced, and fully developed knights was simply impossible.
Maekar nodded his head and looked towards the special seats, where he looked at his father with a big smile as he got up from the ground. He waved to the crowd and left the arena with the broken shield in his hands. His gait was somewhat limping and his arm was retracted, probably fractured, but he continued to show a big smile, feeling satisfied and full of a sense of accomplishment.
"Do you think he will be the second Dragonknight?" Rhaegar asked Cadmus, who was watching everything with an expression full of satisfaction. Apparently, Cadmus was enjoying watching the brutal fight before him.
"If he focuses on training, abandoning all ambition and joining the Kingsguard, he will be another Aemon the Dragonknight." Cadmus said with a smile. "However, not all men can abandon everything and swear a life of training and strength."
Rhaegar knew this, but he wanted a different opinion. However, just the fact that Maekar had this potential showed that his son was extraordinary. He would never let Maekar abdicate all titles and possessions to join the Kingsguard.
In this world where death was common, the second in line of succession could not simply disappear like that.
Cadmus looked at the king's thoughtful face and shook his head; he knew that Rhaegar was thinking about many things, especially regarding the succession of the kingdom. Which, honestly, was a more than valid concern for a king.
"Ellia, did you see how good Maekar was in battle? He defeated two knights and lost in the third, much better than these young knights." Lyanna said with a big smile on her lips; there was a mixture of tenderness and pride in her eyes. Obviously a mother proud of her own son.
As someone who disguised herself as a man to enter the Tourney of Harrenhal, the previous one that was happening at that moment, she was naturally a strong and experienced warrior, defeating some strong men at the time. She could see that Maekar only lost because he was not an adult; if he were, he probably would have been among the top five.
"Yes, he was amazing; when he gets older, he will be a great knight." Ellia was also proud of Maekar; she and Lyanna raised their sons and daughters together; she considered Maekar as her son, just as Lyanna also considered her son and daughter as her own.
"However, he looks hurt." Ellia said with a worried look on her face. This was not the first tournament she had watched; she knew better than anyone how brutal these battles were. Maekar's actions before leaving the battlefield indicated that he was injured.
Finally noticing this, Lyanna looked at Cadmus and asked with a quick tone. "Cadmus, do you have any more of those potions?"
Hearing the queen's words, Cadmus finally saw his business opportunity arriving; he looked at the queen and spoke with a tone full of confidence. "I prepared some potions for any accident; as long as he is not dead, I can heal him in less than an hour!"
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Read my other books:
Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos (500,000 words written).
Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.
Game Of Thrones: The King's Court Wizard