My Knight in Shining Armor

Friendship Lasts Forever (Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin)

There's a chill in the air and as Evgeni Malkin sniffs the cool morning breeze, even a hint of snow. Still, he loves this time of year. The grain is harvested, and berries and vine fruits are being dried and stored to preserve them through the long winter months. Apples and damson fruits are piled up in bowls around the castle while for decoration, vases are filled with fir branches or berry laden rowan branches and bowls of many-hued leaves hold acorns and geraniums. Mouth watering dishes of partridge and hare are served with fresh breads, sweet corn, onions and leeks.

Sidney Crosby walks past, smiling gaily, and waves to him. He has a wicker basket tucked over one elbow and is wearing his red cloak that accents his dark hair and eyes. "Morning."

He grins and waves back, still leaning on the broom he was supposed to be sweeping the courtyard with. Apart from being the chef, he also was in charge of some chores; otherwise he'd be bored most of the day. "Morning."

"I'm going to go and pick mushrooms," Sidney confides as if it is a secret, his eyes shining. "Do you want to come?"

He considers. The courtyard will soon be dirty again despite his efforts, with the colored leaves being tugged from their branches by the north easterly wind, not to mention the mud on the hooves of the knight's horses as they come and go on their chivalric business. Since getting back from the "spiritual journey", Queen Taylor had made it a personal duty to be a little kinder to Tyler. The two are out hunting together so neither will notice the chef/manservant's absence for hours.

"Why not?" Evgeni says cheerfully and discards the besom, jogging over to catch up to the maidservant (handsmaiden).

They talk easily about items of no importance. When Sidney asks about Taylor's whereabouts, Evgeni confesses he was forbidden to go on the hunt because of the recent unfortunate incident where he sneezed and scared away all the ducks. Sidney laughs at the image this conjures, not at him, and he joins in.

"And Tyler?" Evgeni asks.

Sidney sighs. "He's not too fond of Taylor's attempts and is often in a foul mood. He also spends a ton of time with that Jester...Jamie Benn." He shakes his head at his mistress's exaggeration. "I offered to help out but I don't have the right words to say exactly. But whatever, it's none of my business and I just let the two hang out alone. Who knows what they're really doing together, but," Sidney adds for clarification, "I don't care."

"You no care?"

"Yeah. And Tyler's always sulking when he goes out with Taylor or comes back from being with her..."

"Sulking?"

"In bed, where it's warm. Because it's not as if he's being mistreated necessarily," Sidney says, rolling his eyes.

Evgeni smiles and reaches out, holding back a spindly tree branch so Sidney can pass. "Are you no waiting on him?"

"He told me to go out and fetch him something nice," Sidney explains. "I'm hoping I might find a truffle or maybe a bouquet of flowers...he likes flowers I know."

Evgeni gives a low whistle. "They say truffles are witch's fare," he says, only half jesting. "Most have been destroyed because of...magical association or something like that."

"All the more special," Sidney says.

Evgeni shrugs and steps around a puddle. "You know what one look like?"

Sidney nods. "I saw one in a book of plants," he tells the chef. Obviously he's done his research. "They grow under the ground, nestled in the roots of chestnut, oak, hazel, and beech trees. There's a giant old oak not far from here. I thought it would be a good place to look." He stumbles on a stone and smiles gratefully as Evgeni reaches out to steady him. "They say pigs can smell them," he goes on knowledgably.

"Pigs?" Evgeni asks, one eyebrow raised. "I no much fancy herding pigs about forest."

Sidney chuckles at the thought and they walk in good natured silence until they reach the tree. Sidney begins scratching at the dirt with his bare hands. It's a fools' errand, Evgeni thinks, but a nice gesture. He closes his eyes and stretches out his hand towards the root bolus. He opens his eyes, and whispers a magical word of encouragement. As his eyes return to normal a movement shakes the soil near the tree.

Evgeni reaches down and brushes away the dirt and comes up holding a black, roughly shaped fungus that looks almost like a piece of coal. "Found one," he calls.

Sidney's eyes widen and he wonders if he's gone too far. "Wow, stroke of luck, I guess..."

"Er, I think I have. It was just sort of lying, here." He points, puts on his best look of naivety, the one that causes Brad Marchand to sigh and say, "You idiot, Geno." He chuckles at the thought, but it is a sad sort of laugh.

Sidney examines the prize carefully. "I think you're right," he says and his joy at his success overwhelms any suspicions he might have had.

They gather some mushrooms too, for their own supper, and walk back, picking blackberries to nibble on. Sidney is talking about looking in the book again to see how to serve the truffle and Evgeni is content to let him ramble. It's been a pleasant excursion and tomorrow the weather will turn colder, so he's enjoying the sunlight while he can.

Oh yes, he loves autumn.

They head toward the lake to hang out for a little bit longer, since their chores or duties are pretty much done.

Evgeni sits down on the grassy slope, by the lake, looking at the water. Everything around him is silent. No dark presence could be felt around him. Sidney stands behind him.

"Geno," Sidney's voice begins behind him.

Evgeni turns around. He sees Sidney standing there, looking like he always does, and having a smile on his lips.

"What up Sid?" Evgeni asks as Sidney sits down next to him.

"I was just wondering what a gorgeous day it is today."

"Yeah," the chef sighs, looking back at the lake.

They sit together in silence for a while. Until Evgeni breaks it, "I wish love no so complicated. Right, Sid?"

Sidney nods and laughs, "I know what you mean." Evgeni takes hold of his hand.

They gaze into each other's eyes. Sidney blushes and turns away. Both return to looking at the water, taking in the sunlight and the crisp breeze of the kingdom.

Evgeni pats Sidney's hand with his own and says, "Love can bring both happiness and pain. You can give someone your heart, yet that won't mean it can still be broken afterwards. Luckily there are friends who will help you go through all of that."

"Where'd you hear that?"

"I make it up. But it from book I read. I like it a lot. It good message."

"Yeah, I can see that."

They look up from the shining water and at each other. Both smiling.

"Well you know what they say," Evgeni remarks, "Love comes and goes."

"But friends stay forever." Sidney looks at him. "Let's be best friends, Geno, okay?"

"Okay." Evgeni nods. "I like that lots, Sid."