‘We had heard you would be returning’. The voice of King Harold was cold and hard. ‘Why today of all days?’.

‘It was my idea’. Ser Duncan stepped up next to Asher. ‘I thought it was about time the boy returned home. He couldn’t have been a travelling squire forever’.

King Harold kept his eyes on Asher. Unmoving. Unwavering.

‘That was an interesting performance in the final Ser Duncan, I haven’t seen you lose like that before.’

King Harold finally shifted his eyes from Asher. ‘He looks angry’ Asher thought to himself. But why?

He knew that he had been gone a long time and the relationship between them had always been strained and distant but he thought his father would still be a little bit happy for him.

Asher was so lost in thought for the moment that he forgot who was around him.

He snapped back to reality when Ser Duncan took another step forward.

‘My apologies your grace, luck and age were against me today’.

‘Oh really, is that the excuse’ scoffed King Harold. There were murmurs and even a laugh or two from the smallfolk in the stands.

Asher could feel the heat between the two rising and he knew that the sun wasn’t to blame.

King Harold shifted his eyes back to Asher.

‘And what did you think of the result son? Was the result fair to you’?

Asher was shocked at the question and the tone in his fathers voice.

‘Why wouldn’t the result be fair?’ Asher thought to himself. Had he missed something.

Asher didn’t know whether to be angry or not. It felt like he was being accused of something but he had no idea what. At that moment a wave of exhaustion washed over Asher. All of a sudden he just wanted to be out of the arena, out of the hot sun and out of the way of his fathers piercing eyes.

‘I think the result was well deserved father and I have worked hard for it over the last seven years.

Asher was telling the truth. He was proud of himself and he was determined not to let his father take it away from him.

‘And I think it’s time for me to celebrate’.

Finally a smile came over King Harold's face.

‘Very well Asher, we would be honoured if our new champion would join us in the great hall tonight for a feast’. Asher was sure he could hear sarcasm in the voice.

With that, King Harold stood and walked away with his kingsguard in tow. Prince Damon soon followed with a glare at Asher as he turned and strode away.

Asher felt a hand on his shoulder.

‘Let’s go Ser Asher, we have a feast to prepare for’. Ser Duncan looked tired as well.

‘I hate feasts, can’t we just go to the local inn to celebrate’. Asher convinced himself he was too tired to attend.

‘It would be rude to decline an invitation from your king Asher, you know this’.

‘Very well, let’s get it over with’.

Asher and Ser Duncan arrived at the great hall bathed, combed and finely dressed. Neither were comfortable in their appearance. They had attended many feasts at many castles around the kingdom mainly due to the success of Ser Duncan but they had never found it a pleasant task. That was until the first maiden smiled at them. After that they didn’t mind showing off a bit.

Asher was even starting to enjoy himself a little bit when a young maiden with auburn hair started feeding him grapes and red wine. Lots of red wine.

Asher felt a strong hand on his shoulder. Instantly he knew it wasn’t another maiden trying to get his attention.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

He turned and again saw the large knight wrapped in green. Asher wasn’t sure if it was the maiden or the wine but he started feeling a bit of confidence again.

‘Hello tall sir, what is it that you require from me’. Asher giggled at his own wit. The tall knight in green did not.

‘The king would like to see you in his chambers’.

Asher turned and faced the maiden.

‘Sorry my lady, daddy has requested to see his least favourite son’. Asher giggled again. He realised how drunk he was when he tried to stand and stumbled.

Asher felt the strong hand on his shoulder again and it helped him steady.

‘Thank you kind ser, you are a true gentleman but I can take it from here’.

It had been years but Asher still remembered the way to his fathers chambers.

When Asher arrived at the door he saw that Ser Duncan was already there with his father. By the looks of it the tension from earlier hadn’t eased.

Asher noticed they were both red in the face and Ser Duncan’s fists were clenched.

Asher quickly sobered up when he looked around the rest of the room. He could see other members of the kingsguard at the back of the room with their hands on the hilt of their swords.

‘That’s strange’ he thought. He was weirdly jealous of the knights dressed in green. Especially of the tall one who had interrupted his moment with the red haired maiden.

They both turned when Asher stepped into the room.

‘Ah Asher, about time you made it. For a second I thought you’d decided to refuse my orders and stay with the young lady’.

Asher’s face blushed and he stared at his feet. King Harold continued.

‘I can’t say I blame you, she is a pretty one. Not my type but still you could do worse’.

Asher thought it impossible but he felt his face go even redder.

‘Now’s not the time to feel embarrassed’ Asher thought to himself. He’d had an idea. One that would be central to his future. It had only come to him recently but he was sure it was the next step in his life.

‘Father’ said Asher suddenly.

‘I want to be a member of the kingsguard. I want to protect you and Damon, It’s what mum would have wanted.’

Out of the corner of his eye, Asher could see Ser Duncan turn and look at him, shock written all over his face. King Harold on the other hand went redder than Asher had been before.

‘Don’t you dare presume what your mother would want. How dare you speak of her, you’re the reason she’s not here with us. You Asher, you killed her’.

Asher finally understood. It was like fitting the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle and seeing the full picture. Asher realised why his father had been distant towards him all these years and why his brother had not wanted to spend any time with him. Asher felt the anger rise within himself.

‘How dare you blame me for her death. It was childbirth, you cannot hold me responsible for that’.

‘How could they take her and leave you?’ King Harold yelled. ‘Everything was perfect until the moment you were born. Get out of my chambers, get out of my castle and get out of my town. I never want to see you again. You're lucky I don’t kill you where you stand. Now go before I change my mind’.

Asher felt like he had just been slapped in the face. He opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words he wanted to say.

Ser Duncan lunged at King Harold. He managed to get his hands around the king’s throat before he was set upon by the Kingsguard. They spared their weapons but Ser Duncan still felt the full wrath of their fists. Asher stepped forward to intervene but the tall knight in green put his hand out in front of him and Asher knew it would be wise to not go any further.

‘How dare you blame the boy?. I told you seven years ago that you were wrong to see it that way. How can you turn him away? He wants to dedicate his life to protect you and Damon’. Ser Duncan’s voice slowly got lower as he was dragged down the hallway. Asher could hear the thud of his head on wood as he was taken down a flight of stairs.

King Harold rubbed his throat. Asher could see that his hands were shaking. King Harold cleared his throat and composed himself.

‘If you want to try the same then go for it, otherwise get out this instant or I’ll throw you in dungeons with that pathetic excuse for a knight that attacked me.

Asher looked up at the big knight with his hand out in front of him. Asher backed his ability with a sword but he knew he couldn’t take on every knight in the castle.

Asher turned and headed for the door. He was definitely sober now but his mind was all over the place

‘I would have protected you and Damon with my life. I would have been one of the best knights Riverton had seen. I deserved a place in your kingsguard after my win today’.

Asher reached the doorway. He stepped out into the hallway and noticed blood on the carpet.

‘If that’s how you treat knights loyal to the crown then I’m glad I’m leaving’.

Asher reached the staircase. As he stepped on to the top step to head downstairs he heard his father’s voice behind him.

‘The only reason you won is because Ser Duncan took a dive. He threw that battle for you to win Asher. Any fool could see that. I’m sure he thought it would change my opinion on you but it hasn’t. He is no true knight and neither are you’.

Asher was confused by his emotions. He didn’t know whether to be angry or sad. Asher didn’t want his father to see his tears. He couldn’t let his father see his tears. He had faced enough embarrassment and heartache for one day.

Asher simply shook his head and continued down the stairs. He knew where the dungeons were and he had to find out the truth.