There had been a pitter-patter atop, the knight in training collapsing on the tiled floor. He shuffles his position, pulling the floor mat a little closer to the wide opened door. To think a knight would act so chilish, what would his superiors say about him? His hands push the small mat closer, the chilly breeze grazing his olive skin as he moves closer with every inch. The blond locks whisk in all directions, which causes his lips to curl. Without a second thought, the man plops down on the mat, arms spread out, his left hand soaking with every raindrop.
His ocean blue hues scan the room, the small fire dimly lit and the buckets decorating the floor. He couldn't help but admire the small wooden figures placed on the shelf beside the sleeping bag he called his bed, one of a beautiful woman wielding a sword, stance full of unyielding confidence.
Perhaps it was the carpenter's way to encourage the shy knight. His head moves slightly, gaze watching the droplets hit the gravel and dispersing. The rain had always calmed his nerves, eyelids becoming heavier by the second. It was nearing midnight, or at least that's what the blond haired man thought. His eyes were now closed, hands slowly moving to his torso.
He inhales, attempting to relax his once tense body. Training was often too much for him, if it were his choice, he wouldn't have been there. The knight after a moment, had shakily exhaled. It wasn't often he had a break like that, today was his last.
"Zion?"
The loud, hoarse voice was all too familiar. He had let a sigh escape his pale lips, blinking to adjust to the lighting again. Barb had chuckled, hands touching his long chestnut brown fuzz of a beard, his leg swinging and hitting the nobleman's behind without warning.
"Barb, have you no boundaries?"
His jolly laugh made Zion a little angry, yet he breaks into a small smile. The knight shuffles around again, hoisting his body up in a sitting position so he could pay close attention to his company. Barb's expression became stone, arms folding over his chest as he turns his head to look out the window. His superior stood at the frame of the door, foot tapping out of nervousness. It was at that moment did the blonde man know something big was about to happen.
"We have made arrangements for you, Ùthred of Claremonde."
"And who ordered to do so?"
A smirk formed on Barb's face, finger tapping his arm in anticipation. His eyes close, hiding his chocolate brown irises and his head lowering. The breeze blew his dark brown locks, though it looked as though he was at peace with himself briefly. Zion nods, already knowing whom sent his messenger, eyes averting to the tiled floor then back to his superior.
"Why would he do that? You're probably asking yourself." Barb pauses, eyes fluttering open.
His dark hues were now scanning Zion, which made him quite nervous. The knight immediately pushes himself up to his feet, dusting his tunic and beige pantaloons, now standing beside the tall swordsman.
"Sir Ùthred, what will you do?"
He was frozen at the question, now that the nobleman thought about it, all he had been doing was training. His sea blue irises avert to the ground again, one arm rubbing the other. He wasn't too good at these kinds of things after all.
"I-," He pauses, "I'm not certain what the answer is your looking for, sir Barb."
The shorter man had a dumbfounded expression, eyes widening and slowly changing to entertained, his facial features relaxing. A fit of laughter left his lips as he shakes his head, brown hues glued to Zion.
"Y'know, I'll miss you kid." Barb mutters, softly.
The knight was clearly puzzled, though he managed to nod in response. Now that he thought about it, how long will he be gone for? And just what was this trip he was making? Barb had minimal information when it came to things like this, he was only a mere soldier of Elspeth after all.
"At dawn," Barb says, arms dropping to his side, "you shall depart."
"That soon?" Zion yelps, immediately looking away out of embarrassment.
"Yes. It's orders from the third lieutenant."
The blonde nobleman nods, staring at the small wooden figurines once again. To think, such a fragile person will be the next target. Barb shuffles his postion, pushing himself off the wall and now standing directly in front of Zion. His mahogany hues were filled with a bit of worry, hand placed on the taller man's shoulder. Zion blinks, Barb removing his hand and reaching for his sword on the side.
"Will you accept my gift, Zion, my good friend?" Barb asks, loosening the strap holding his sword around his waist.
"Barb, that's yours." Zion says, pointing at the sword now placed in the palm of Barb's hands. "I can't-."
In an instant, the sword is grasped in one hand, the other patting Zion's back. The shorter man shakes his head, dropping his hand to his side and faces the rain. The silence became their only communication, the sword now tossed beside Zion's feet. The swordsman Barb looks behind him, and as if on cue, Zion crouches and hovers over the large sword.
"Kid, see you at the pub some time."
With that, the figure disappeared in the rain and Zion was left alone once again. He clenched the sword in his hand, sliding it out of the sheath. The metal looked smooth and sharp, quite to his liking and the nobleman grins. He put it back to the way it was given to him, taking off his dull sword hurriedly, then proceeding to pose as if he was going to clash with another. If Barb were to witness this, he would surely be a flustered mess by now.
Zion had stopped for a moment, recalling the time he was to depart. Finally standing straight, he walks towards the door, taking in the fresh air before closing it. He takes in a deep breath, exhaling as he picks up the mat and moves it towards the corner of the room where his sleeping had been. Finally, he fixes his blankets and shuffles to the side in an attempt to get comfortable. It was his last day at the castle of Elspeth, as a soldier of the fourth lieutenant. If instead of doing what he was tasked to do, they'd find out in a matter of days and he would be sentenced to death if found. At the time, he wasn't sure what Barb was asking exactly.
"The village of Millgor." Zion whispers, watching the pieces of ember fall from the fire.
He often wondered what it might be like going to a different kingdom, whether it was even a good idea to begin with. The last time he had left the kingdom was far too long ago, with his mother to shop at the market place in Milligan. His eyes flutter closed, mind drifting away as he cuddles the blanket.
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A/N: Hello, hello! It is I, your trashy author~. I've been fairly busy these days and haven't been able to write as much. However, I've been planning Saving Julius for a while and there's no way I wasn't going to publish it.
Zion is probably one of my all time favourite characters in this book to be honest. Thanks for reading! This will be updated by-weekly since I'm usually off every second weekend.
Shoutout to my loves on Wattpad!
· badbunnykook / coppuu
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Saving Julius
Adventure- o r i g i n a l - In the event the two kingdoms clash, Ari had already prepped herself to aid in times of trouble. If the charming carpenter hadn't been taken so suddenly, she wouldn't have come to a certain conclusion at all. It was his fault. Al...
