Playing in the forest (Patreon)

It’s a heated summer day, with a crystalline blue sky clear of any clouds that may mellow out the sun’s relentless rays. The cracked, parched earth itself seems to emit back the overwhelming warmth, and the woods, with their tempting shade, offer little respite from it all, the very air stifling. Yet nothing can smother your over-abundant energy.

You’re beaming as incandescent as the sun – how could you not be? Arthur’s here, and it’s been months since you’ve seen him. You exchange letters religiously, but it’s never quite the same as having him here to talk and play and sometimes, just stay in comfortable silence. So anytime he carves time out of his kingly schedule to come visit, you take full advantage of the opportunity.

The summer heat has never slowed you down, either. It’d be a shame to stay all couped up indoors or languish on pillows under a canopy – no matter how alluring a pitcher of cold, sweet tea may be – when every fiber of your being craves some excitement.

When you told Arthur that you needed to move, needed to do something fun instead of liquifying in the heat, he just laughed and said you reminded him of Kay. He enthusiastically agreed to your suggestion to play and so, equipped with wooden toy swords and lots and lots of water, you were headed for the woods that cradle the Castle grounds.

It’s always interesting to note the shift in Arthur’s demeanor, when he’s not playing his Kingly role.  Dressed just for the occasion of trekking through the woods in a comfy, unassuming tunic as he is, you wouldn't even guess he's a King.

The woods are the perfect playing ground, nature itself offering plenty of obstacles and advantages to make your game challenging and keep you on your toes.

“So, why are we dueling?” Arthur gamely asked, tossing his sword in the air to effortlessly catch it again by the grip. It traces a tall arc underneath the verdant canopy before it falls back into his waiting hand, fingers closing confidently around the grip.

You don’t always do this, but adding a storyline and imaginary stakes to your game always makes it more fun; it gives you a thrill and purpose.

You scrunch up your face in thought, tapping your fingers against the wooden, dull blade as you try to come up with something interesting. The fiercest, most gripping sparring session you had was when you managed to borrow a group of training dummies to act as your foes. Half of them ended up destroyed and burnt, but the knights were quickly appeased when Arthur not only brought in replacements, but more dummies then were ruined.

Your dragon friend and Elewen couldn’t join you today – their presence would have been eagerly welcomed, but they’re otherwise engaged at the moment. Elewen has been invited by their family for a flight out to the hills and a picnic. Heat doesn’t affect the dragons as harshly as it does humans – they are able, in general, to weather the elements far better than you.

Ah! But you have an idea now.

“We’re dueling over a legendary treasure trove, that we both laid claim to.”

Arthur nods and readies his stance. “Let’s start.”

Your swords meet, the thunk of wood resounding across the woods. You take your game earnestly, throwing yourself into your roles and strikes as you jump over roots and duck behind tree trunks. You deftly scramble up low branches when you manage to run ahead of Arthur, only to pounce on his back as he comes into view beneath you. He proves himself just as stealthy in return, jumping out in your path from behind bushes, while you ran around clueless to his whereabouts. He used your surprise to land a hit squarely in your abdomen, just as you had used your drop on him to land on in his back.

Arthur may have been forced to give up on becoming a knight when he ascended the throne, but he hasn’t neglected the skills he’s learnt over his years as a squire; he’s a worthy opponent, even if he doesn’t have the same prowess of someone like Accolon. He makes up enough for it with enthusiasm.

It’s not all just playing, though. Now that your own scales have come out, you can practice summoning them with Arthur, and show him the progress you’ve made in between your reunions. You have rather good control over their emergence and withdrawal and the extent of skin you want them to cover. So you’ve incorporated this into your play-fights – the ones you conduct deep into the woods, where no one can catch a glimpse at the ruby red glinting on your skin. If your sword strikes a strip of scale armor, it doesn’t count as an injury. The added rule has made your games even more difficult and exhilarating.

You run through the forest, striking and parrying and yelping when a hit of the dull blade lands. Your voices echo through the trees and spook the poor, warbling birds. Your wild trek has led you all the way to the river, where you stand poised in waiting, blood singing in your veins, drumming in your ears. You can hear Arthur up ahead, boots pattering against the dry soil.

Arthur springs forth from the bushes, ready to attack –

– only to trip over a thick, slithering root sticking up from the earth. He totters, hands spread out. You make to help him, but he’s already regained his balance as you reach out. That’s it. That’s your opening. His feet may be firmly planted back on the ground, but the momentary staggering has left him vulnerable. So you draw back the helping hand, and proffer instead your sword. You tap his side, exploding in a victorious: “I win!”

Arthur admits defeat with a grin. “Indeed.”

Your duel over and adrenaline slowly subsiding, you need a rest. You crawl over to the riverbank, dipping your arms up to your elbows into the refreshingly cool water. With how sweaty you are, damp clothes clinging uncomfortably to your heated skin, you might as well submerge yourself completely into the water. You don’t do it though, regardless of how tempting it is. Instead you cup your hands and wash your face, run your wet fingers over the back of your neck, letting the droplets lick down your spine. Arthur follows suit, splashing water onto his face, going so far as to kick off his boots and dip his legs in.

“Well, this was great exercise,” Arthur chuckles, short-winded. “It reminds me of playing in the woods behind our home, with Kay and Lance.”

It’s a subject he’s broached many times, always fondly. Even now, a gentle expression graces his face as he stares off into the distance, most likely tuning out the rows of trees and bushes lining the river.

“They were so sweet; Lance would go gentle on me and show me all the moves, Kay would put all his energy into it and make it entertaining for all of us. They both used to go easy on me, you know, let me win – I’ll admit, I’m grateful they did, because I really did love winning. Once I was older I told them I don't want them to do it any longer. I already was a squire for a few years, and I wanted to see what they were capable of – and give myself a challenge. Lance is...really something else when he doesn't hold back," he laughs, but the sound is cut short, the smile replaced by a grimace. "I mean. Yeah." He falls silent, kicking at a rock underwater. The motion sends ripples across the rivers. "Kay is a great swordsman too. Confident – maybe a bit impulsive, sometimes."

He often does this – slipping into talking about Lancelot in that warm tone, recounting their adventures together or amazing qualities, which you are not privy to witnessing due to Lance’s definitely not amazingdislike of you. Arthur tells you he’s done his best to endear you to him, but you’re dubious of his success.

But who cares about Lancelot? You’re here to have a good time, and thinking of him does not help with that. You dismiss the thought as if it merely were an annoying fly.

"You're not holding back against me though, are you?" you ask him, angling a narrowed gaze his way.

Arthur laughs again, this time wholeheartedly. “Of course not! You asked me not to, so I won’t. But I must say, at the rate you’re fighting, you’ll soon surpass me.”

You puff out your chest, swelling with pride. You stand a while longer by the river, cooling off and chatting, before you pick back up your swords and start your game anew.