As You Wish
Chapter Six
Lance settled back in his chair kicking his boots from his feet, and stretched out his legs, moving his feet closer to the burning fire, enjoying the warmth it provided. His body was tired and achy from the days hustle and bustle of preparing for the festival, but the excitement of the next days events kept him from being able to give in to the sleep his body so badly needed.
He was nervous about being in the lineup for the Prince, but it was something he had dreamed all his life of doing. He could never understand why as a young boy he had been passed over, but it only drove him to study more intensely on his archery and perfect using a sword like no other had before.
His ability with his sword had not gone unnoticed by the people of the village, but it was the Noblemen and the King he desired to notice the most, and until recently he was sure he would never have his dream come true.
As his thoughts rattled around in his mind his eyes began to feel heavy until he could hold them open no longer, and he slid further down into the chair letting his lids slowly close and his body relax, allowing him to drift into much needed sleep.
His body jumped and he sat straight up in his chair looking around the small room for what could have startled him from his sleep when suddenly a loud pounding on the wooden door brought him quickly to his feet and across the room, curious to see who was so persistent at such a late hour. The sun had begun to set on his journey home from the palace, and no one he knew of would pay him a visit at such a time knowing traveling at dark was becoming dangerous with vikings lurking so close to the village.
Pulling the door open, he stood immobile and speechless staring at the man who stood before him, nervous as to what news such a great man could bring to him, and jumped from his trance, bowing to the Nobleman who also carried the title of right hand as well as best friend to the Prince.
"It is an honor to have you at my home sir. Please do come in, but excuse the small confines to which you are not accustomed to."
He finally spoke, moving out of the way to allow the man to enter, and closed the door behind him as he did.
"Is there anything......"
"I do not have time for small talk. You are Lance correct? Lance Bass?"
Justin asked, looking around the small home before allowing his eyes to land on the blond haired man he had searched to find.
"Yes. Yes I am Lance Bass."
"Good." Justin smiled. "Then my search can end and our journey can begin. Quickly, you must gather your best sword and prepare your horse for a journey. Not much time is allowed, for my search for you took much longer than expected."
Lance stood immobile in his spot letting the quick words of the man sink in before confusion spread across his face setting the other man into frustration.
"We have no time to waste. We were to have been at Rivers edge at dusk and we have passed that long ago. Quickly gather yourself and let us go."
Lance moved in haste around the room, placing his boots back upon his tired feet and grabbed his brown leather coat sliding it on before grabbing his best sword from where it hung on the wall and jerking open the door of his home.
"It will only take a short moment to prepare my horse. I promise you sir."
"Fine." Justin nodded. "I shall wait for you at the end of the path. Hurry."
Letting Justin exit his home first, Lance followed behind him, closing the door tightly and ran to the back of his home to the barn where he had just gotten his horse settled in for the night. As quickly as he could he threw a blanket over the back of the stallion and placed his saddle on top of the blanket, strapping it on and looked around the barn for other supplied he might need.
His mind still reeled from having Justin at his home and the journey the young man spoke of was still unknown to him, but he was certain it had something to do with his lineup for the Prince and he had no intentions of messing that up in any way.
Satisfied with the items he had gathered, he placed them in his riding bag, strapping it to his horse as well, and mounted the stallion, riding from the barn to the end of the path to where Justin sat waiting true to his word.
"Follow me, and keep up. We are riding to Rivers Edge where the rest of the men await us."
Lance did his best to keep up with Justin and, tho he wanted to ask many a question, he remained silent, and rode close behind the man, keeping him in sight the best he could in the darkness. It wasn't long before the sound of rustling water could be heard, and Justin came to a stop, cursing softly as Lance pulled his reigns tight stopping his horse next to him.
"They would not go with out us. They would be fools if they did."
Lance frowned, squinting his eyes to look around in the darkness, and cleared his throat chancing to ask the worried man a question.
"Perhaps if you could tell me but a hint of whom we await, then I could help to seek them out."
"It is us you await for, for we waited for you a moment too long."
Lance turned to the voice that came from behind him and was startled to find the Prince and one of his Knights at his side upon their horses stopping to speak.
"Dusk Sir Justin. Your orders were to meet us at dusk. The fact that you have become slack lately doth concern me. Must I remind you again of the dangers of this mission?"
"No, Prince, you do not have to continue to remind me." Justin huffed. "My search for Lance took longer than expected, but I do believe we waste time in a petty argument when we should be on journey by now."
Turning his head toward Joseph, Joshua gave a laugh as his companion joined in with a low grunt.
"You have your reasons for keeping such a mouthy man as one of your Knights sir, but if it were left up to me...."
"Which it is not." Just chimed in cutting off Josephs words and arching his brow as Joseph continued on.
"...I would have discarded him long ago."
"And you sir would have been dead long ago had it not been for me and my mouthy self watching your back."
Justin stated sarcastically, pulling the reins of his horse as he led him in an impatient circle in front of the three men.
"Enough. We are not showing much encouragement to our new guest. Lance? Correct?"
Joshua asked, extending his hand toward a stunned Lance for a welcoming shake.
"Ye...yes your highness. It is an honor to make your acquaintance."
Lance stuttered, taking the offered hand and kneeling his head in a bow.
"Justin speaks highly of you. Insisted on your joining our little mission tonight. Has he told you of what we are setting out to do has he not?"
"No sire, he has told me nothing."
"There will be nothing to tell if we do not end the girly chatter and set about."
Justin grumbled, leaning forward with a huff to rest his elbow against his knee in boredom.
"Again sir, he is such a ......."
"I said enough Joseph. Justin is right, we must ride as quickly and quietly as we can. We must complete our task and return to the Palace before the future Princess arrives. Justin, you and Joseph take the lead. Lance and I will follow behind so that I may speak with him and fill him in as to our intentions."
With a nod the two Knights set off down the path leading Joshua and Lance, whose heart still raced with both nervousness and excitement of what the night was about to hold for him.
@2005HarmonyProduction/Lancesharmony
Harmony Production Fan Fiction Index
