30 Days of Writing: Beginnings
Like a Circle in the Water
30 Days of Writing - A Drabble A Day Challenge
Fandom: Axis Powers Hetalia
Characters/Pairings: Prussia/England
Summary: Arthur finds it hard to concentrate on his etiquette and deportment lessons when he spots a talented young swordsman down in the courtyard. Medieval AU.
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Beginnings
Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, Arthur attempts to draw as little attention to himself as possible; the many layers forced upon him each morning combined with the sticky warmth of a rare heat wave cause him to pluck at his sleeves in distaste, sure that the fabric is all but melding with the skin beneath. Master Geoffrey continues to blather about etiquette and deportment without pause, Arthur’s fidgeting apparently going unnoticed.
His gaze drifts to the widow where he can see the rolling hills, the streets, the bustling life that lies beyond the castle’s walls. The endless hours of lessons he must endure day after day are so that he will one day be ready to maintain these lands and govern the people who live there. Even as the fourth son of a baron, he has no hope of escaping his fate to a life of adventure and glory as his two eldest brothers have. Instead, by virtue of his sharp mind and head for calculations, he wastes away indoors with only Master Geoffrey and his imagination for company
Well, that isn’t entirely true. The third son of the Kirkland household sits at the desk beside him, head resting on one palm and engaged in the futile exercise of attempting to stay awake. Having been subjected to the Master’s selection of the most mind numbing punishments known to man on multiple occasions himself, Arthur mentally wishes him luck. After all, Gawain is the only one of his siblings upon whom he would not wish Master Geoffrey’s wrath
A flash of silver catches the corner of his eye, and Arthur angles his head slightly lower so that he can peer down into the castles courtyard without looking too suspect. It takes a moment to locate the source of his distraction: a sword catching the light as its owner slashes and parries under the sergeant-at-arms’ watchful eye. The blade arches gracefully, slicing through the air as the boy - man? - works diligently through his drills. The intricate steps and controlled movements look almost like a dance, and Arthur can’t help but feel mesmerised by the sight.
The figure comes to a halt with a final flick of the wrist, designed to disarm an opponent. Arthur can almost imagine the beads of sweat running down the side of his face, curling the ends of hair so fair it seems white and leaving dark patches where it soaks into his shirt. Pale cheeks have become flushed through exertion and it is the fire he can see in those crimson eyes that makes Arthur’s breath catch.
These eyes burn into his mind, scorching him in a way the sun can’t hope to replicate.
He’s still staring as the other aims a bow at the sergeant-at-arms; stares as he re-joins his companions beside the well as another comrade steps forward to replicate his performance; stares as he’s clapped on the shoulder and gulping down the proffered water with a grin.
Arthur is quite content to continue gazing down at the courtyard for the remainder of his lessons, but it is not to be; there is a loud thump as Master Geoffrey drops a dusty tome onto his desk. He leaps from his skin, head whipping around in alarm and almost topples from his chair. Beside him, Gawain is biting his lip in apology, but from the small wads of paper decorating the floor between them it seems as though he had tried to catch his attention before the Master had resorted to such drastic measures.
Arthur spends his evening in the armoury, scouring the dirt from chainmail and polishing breast plates while attempting to memorise the exact degree of a bow needed for each member of the gentry. His hands begin to slow as he thinks of dancing blades and gleaming red eyes. When Gawain finds him several hours later, he is curled around the last breast plate, rag still in hand, a smile curling his lips in slumber.
~Hollyrose~
Notes:
Gawain - Wales
Master Geoffrey - Named after Geoffrey of Monmouth
And so it begins! I’m (hopefully) going to be posting a snippet of this AU once a day for thirty days as the name of the meme suggests; no promises but I’ll try my very best with it! It’s an AU that’s been floating around in my mind for at least a year and a half, so it’s nice to finally have something for it written down. I still need to think of a title for the AU, but I guess that and cross posting can wait til I’ve had some sleep…
I seem to have to write a medieval AU for every fandom I’m in orz
Huge thanks to WhiteWings9 and RevoltionJack for their patient beta-ing <3