East to Orvane sharing the port was the land or Kingdom of Gilhard. Fools of Ovane never dared to travel here as honor and discipline was the bread and butter of the society. Unlike Orvane, it was ruled by a fearsome Queen albeit old, who ensured every second and every inch was calculated beforehand. She had a lovely daughter, Anastasia a bold princess whose frequent social endeavours were appreciated by almost everyone. She was just a bit "unrestrained" at it. Her numerous servants were always on their toes preventing the princess from accidently donating her kingdom while at it.
Like every aspiring citizen of Gilhard, there was a squire "Arthur". His dedication to honor and discipline was so much that he punished himself for every missed pushup or taking an extra step. Without any doubt, he was the absolute favourite of even the strictest Master-at-arms. Being jealous was not allowed otherwise almost every squire would be jealous of his fame at a dear age of 16.
As soon as the first ray of sunshine stroked Arthur's pillow, he rose up from his bed.
"Today, I must make the perfect pudding for the princess"
He rose straight up from his bed with every motion calculated to such depth that the bed remained as perfect as the night before and even creases saluted him.
He goes to the center of the room and inhales exactly four seconds.
"Order is the foundation of strength"
50 pushups, 12 breathing cycles every minute, wiping his favourite sword with a neatly kept wiping cloth he mutters to himself proudly,
"Perfect and silent".
He didn't live alone in his room, another squire was sleeping right beside him with a nicely kept bed, though slightly creased from his random turnabouts throughout the night.
"Wake up Cedric!!!!!!"
Cedric mumbles in his sleep "Even the rooster hasn't woken up yet and thaa...at means no one has woken up yet!! why should I?"
Arthur: "You don't understand discipline". He proceeds to shake Cedric vigorously until he stood on his two feet, barely balancing himself.
"Ah, wasted 7 minutes, now I will have to do something 2 minutes faster, ugh!!". He had generously allotted 5 minutes to waking up Cedric in his busy schedule.
Arthur had a strict routine. The mornings were spent in the Royal Kitchen where he worked as a part time cook making puddings, tea and bread for the guests. The afternoons were spent training under the Master-at Arms of the Royal knights, and the evenings were spent practicing. Nights were short and he would read various books he got from the Royal library before going to bed at an exact time every day.
"6 puddings for Eldric and his mates at the corner table, Tea and bread for Sir Garrath on the table next to them and a garlic bread for Joe the kid on the front bench!!" Master Cook shouted at Arthur. Master Cook was short of hearing so he would shout at everyone even if he was sitting in front of him.
"Aye aye, Sir" Arthur shouted back.
It took Arthur exactly 1 minute per pudding and he was ready with everything in exactly 10 minutes including the tea and the breads.
Carefully he decorated the plates and moved with deliberate steps towards the guests just when another cook brushed against him. A drop of tea fell from the cup onto the bread.
Arthur gasped "Sacrilege"
"I sincerely apologize Sir Garrath, it was only my fault that I couldn't fathom this unprecedented lack of perfection, I am ready to pay you back if you wish so".
Sir Garrath laughs "I don't see anything Arthur, you need to do nothing, its already perfect".
Painfully Arthur serves all the guests throughout the morning until his shift was about to get over.
"Ok now 2 special puddings for the Princess". Arthur had decided that he would offer his perfect puddings to the princess and impress her so that she might reciprocate his feelings.
He carefully decorates the puddings in the cleanest plate he could find and goes to meet the Princess in her chamber. It wasn't unusual for a squire like him to meet the Princess. Before him another junior cook would go and serve her sweet dishes. She was particularly fond of puddings and would frequently request them.
When the role went to Arthur a newbie obsessed with perfection, the taste of pudding became almost too perfect. Arthur would daily note the reaction to his puddings by the princess. He would ask "Are they sweet? Do you want them sweeter tomorrow? Are you feeling content or want something different tomorrow?"
Princess would happily explain in detail while Arthur would note the changes accurately in his mind. The conversations were sometimes exceedingly long as the princess couldn't stop talking whenever she was feeling "happy".
For a person as rigid as Arthur, it was surely tedious but tending to Princess's needs came first and he could always adjust his schedule for the Princess. Honor triumphed over discipline. Long conversations drew them together even though it was usually just the Princess talking.
"A Disaster of humungous magnitude has already preceded me today; I must be really careful with the Princess's puddings."
Arthur bravely evades running kids, broken steps, bees and princess's servants to reach her.
"I will definitely confess to her today". Arthur was all ready for the big reveal, every word memorised.
"Here princess, I made special puddings for you today".
Princess exclaimed: "Really? What for?" Is today your birthday? I never wished you on the special occasion, did I? They look really nice!! Can you just wait a minute, I can't get rid of this itch from a god knows what insect on my legs. I will have to ask Martia to prepare a bath for my legs again!! Ugh!! Can't they make something more comfortable to sleep on? I can barely breath with this fabric!!"
"Ok, I am ready to taste the puddings, put the plate on the table. How is your training going? I have heard from Mother that you are the most promising squire we got in the kingdom, why did you never tell me that you were a squire?? I would have gotten you out of that kitchen and get you a post suitable of your skills!.
Arthur: "No need princess, I am about to soon graduate under Master and become a Royal Knight. I will become a decorated knight pretty soon and go on expeditions!!. By the way, princess I wanted to say something....."
Princess: "Definitely go ahead"
"Your Highness," he began, the words rehearsed a thousand times,
"I come not only as your cook, but as a knight"
Anastasia blinked "As a knight?".
"Yes, your own knight forever"
"How do you intend to prove it?" she asked, voice sharp only to mask excitement.
Arthur rose smoothly.
"I shall enter the Royal Tourney," he declared.
"I will fight in your honor — before all of Gilhard
"If the Lady of Gilhard…"
"…would grace the stands with her presence…
I would carry the strength of ten thousand knights."
Her breath caught, a princess betrayed by her own impulsive heart.
"Yes!" she blurted.
"I mean, yes. I shall attend. Personally. Obviously. Of course."
"Trying to woo a princess, lad?" a voice shrieked into Arthur's ears.
"Who is there?" Arthur immediately stands and looks behind him but sees nothing noticeable.
"Pretty bold you are, but that princess is a disaster in embodiment, I wouldn't be so sure so quick!"
"Huh" Arthur looks around in confusion and slight anger.
"What's the matter, Arthur?" Anastasia asks
"Nothing, your highness, I would like to excuse me, if you allow."
"Yeah, you can go, I will be waiting to see you in the tourney"
Arthur then goes about his day as usual, training, practicing and having his meals exactly on time except that he was barely hiding his excitement.
Master-of-arms calls all the squires for their final day at the school and sends them off one by one except Arthur.
"I am recommending you to the Sir Calden, one of the greatest sword masters of his time. You will board the ship to Amer in a week and find him in the port town of Amer next to the tavern."
"But Sir, I had to take part in the annual tourney in a fortnight".
Master-at-arms: "I'm afraid that you will have to choose between the two as Sir Calden is expected to leave the town before the fortnight. And he is like no other teacher you can get while you are in Gilhard"
Arthur feels sad over the choice that he must take. An honored knight sets aside his personal feelings for his honor and discipline, and Arthur had to choose between honoring the princess's promise and the rare opportunity to learn under the greatest.
Cedric persuaded him for the latter. Despite being the most disciplined knight, when such a decision had to be taken, he was incapable of thinking straight and needed help of his friend Cedric.
He thinks about it throughout the evening and will give his answer tomorrow.
"Such a tough decision, I don't know what is right or wrong" exclaims Arthur as he reads "How to wield a sword double handed by Mans Heg"
Continued.....