At the palace of the Heavengate kingdom.
His right hand held his sword and left was folded behind him for the fair play. His eyes on his opponent, ready to defend his every move and attack on the first possible opportunity.
His opponent lurched forward. Good. He too, stepped one foot forward making his opponent believe he was going to clash his sword. But just when his opponent raised the sword, he moved to his left catching his opponent off guard and causing him to stumble with the weight of his own sword. Taking advantage, he raised his sword, hitting on his opponent's wrist and there fell his opponent on the ground, abandoning the sword. He brought his sword to his opponent's throat.
"Damn you, Aaron!" His opponent spit the mouthful of mud he tasted after falling down.
Aaron smirked and retrieved his sword. He offered his hand to his defeated opponent, also his royal secretary, also his trustworthy friend.
"You really must stay away from the swords, Jasper. You need to grow some balls to handle them".
Aaron pulled Jasper up and handled the sword to the guards stationed near him. Rolling up his sleeve, he walked behind and bent to the bucket full of water to wash away the sweat and mud gathered over his face and neck.
Jasper dusted himself off and bent to do the same in the other bucket.
"Some are good with their writing than with their swords", Jasper said while rubbing his forearms.
"Thank you for reminding me. You need to improve your handwriting, too. I can bearly read it in one glance". Aaron stood up and took the cloth his guard held and wiped his face.
Opening his eyes, he saw his friend frowning at him. His reddish hair glimmed like flame in sunlight.
Aaron chuckled and clapped a hand over his shoulder. "You will get good with swords eventually with practice. Not to worry. Now let's go, have our breakfast".
His friend smiled. "I ate already. You go ahead and later we will meet in your study".
"Very well. But watch over for the swords".
Jasper rolled his eyes,"Thank you for the tip, Your Majesty".
Charles came towards them. "Good fight, Your Majesty".
Aaron looked at the most trusted servant of his, who had been serving him since as long as he can remember. With his tall and lean body, he was still strong. His dark hair and some strands of silver over his ears and gray eyes gleamed in the sunlight.
"Thank you very much, Charles. But praise Jasper a bit too", he again clapped on Jasper's shoulder. "He shouldn't fear away from his swords next time".
"Yeah, yeah. Perks of being a king. Everyone just praises you", Jasper bobbed his head.
"Good fight, Mr. Jasper", Charles said stifling a smile.
"Thank you, Charles. We will meet in the study after breakfast".
Charles gave a nod.
Two young maids came to the ground, beside them and fluttered their lashes. Smiling shyly, one of them informed, "Her Majesty is waiting for His Majesty in the breakfast room".
Aaron nodded at her, "I'll be there".
Both the maids giggled and went back inside the palace.
"They were appointed last year and still are not immune to your charms", Jasper wriggled his eyebrows.
"Perhaps they likes Charles", Aaron smirked at looked at Charles.
"Why didn't you say me?" Jasper wrinkled his brows looking at him.
"Why, after me, the next best one here is Charles".
Charles chuckled and Jasper again bobbed his head. "Yeah, yeah. Other perks of being a king. Women just trail after you". He pointed a finger at Aaron. "But don't forget, you are going to teach me sword fighting until I can fight seven at once, just like you".
"Of course, you are not far".
Charles coughed.
Jasper clapped a hand on Aaron's shoulder and reminded him once again to meet in the study and left the grounds.
Charles and Aaron entered the palace amd strode towards the breakfast room.
"Your Majesty!" Servants greeted him when met on his way. He nodded at them.
He walked through the corridors of the palace which was his home. There were many changes he made here when he got capable of it. His father liked everything heavy and prestigious. Their furnitures, carpets, decorative chandeliers and many other things.
But Aaron preferred practicality. He changed it from old and heavy to feasible amd comfortable. He changed heavy dark metal windows to glass ones to keep inside warm and provide the view outside too. The carpets were now softer and cleaner that dusty and extravagent. Paintings on the walls now were more creative and artistic than the old portraits of his ancestors. It wasn't that he didn't respect them. He just shifted them in one big chamber and named it 'His palace's history room'. There, he kept their portraits, weapons, capes and other achievements. He wanted the palace to be more of alive people's liking. And everyone had praised him for it. His family, his servants, his guests.
Just as he entered the corridor leading to the dining room, he saw his grandmother coming slowly from the adjacent side with her maid.
"Oh, my handsome angel", she spoke in her rusty elderly voice that Aaron was fond of since childhood. He held her wrinkled arms in his strong ones and squeezed it.
"Good morning, my gorgeous granny". He bent to kiss her cheek.
She gave him her really adorable smile.
"Good morning, queen dowager", Charles greeted her.
"Good morning, Charles", granny nodded.
Aaron gave her his arm and the three of them entered the dining room. Bright sunlight and the aromas of delicious dishes greeted him.
But the best thing that catched his attention was the face of the woman who loved him with all her heart. His mother stood there, talking to the housekeeper. When she heard their footsteps, her beautiful face turned towards him and the brightest smile occupied her face.
"Aaron! How was the practice?", she asked.
Charles seated his granny and Aaron hugged his mother.
"As usual, Jasper lost the fight", he smirked.
Her mother frowned at him. "You should perhaps let him win sometimes".
"No, no", the dowager queen interupted, shaking a finger. "He was the one who insisted learing Aaron's way. So he better face it".
His mother looked at him and chuckled. Her smile, still the most beautiful smile in the world.
She then made sure to check the chain on his wrist as she did everyday. The silver chain she gave him when he was five years old, when their lives changed forever.
As he grew up, the chain began to irritate his neck for it was smaller for his growing physique. But as his mother never tolerated the chain away from his body, he coiled it over his wrist like a bracelet which fitted better.