Hello everyone! I have been looking at the Scholar and Scribe invitational prompt contest for a while now and have been sorely tempted to take part.

This week's prompt, theme and genre was just too much on the nose for me. The hosts might as well have been pointing at me and said "Hey! Write something already! This is what you write! There is no excuse!"

So... there is the Genre: Fantasy and Theme: Heroic.

Now to write something of the appropriate length!

I hope you enjoy it!

Source

Heroic Deeds and Heroic Figures

The courtyard rang with the sound of mock battle. Clad in full plate and mail, the combatants sweated and heaved their heavy frames to bring swords, spears and axes to bear on one another.

They were put together in pairs and none of them were expected to het injured. The blades of all the weapons were blunt and even the spears had rounded tips.

Godfried parried three hammer blows from his opponent Durant of House Hewelet. The sparring blades with thick and heavy, all the better to train their shoulders and arms.

He countered with his own strike and chopped with his blade at Durant. He had timed his counter for when the other aspirant Knight's usual three strike combination was spent.

However, his opponent was no longer there and something heavy slammed into Godfried's bracer causing his to pitch over into the dirt. He tried to break his fall, and rolled onto his back but he had lost his weapon in the process.

He stared up at Durant, holding his blade down to Godfried's prone form. "Do you yield?"

"I yield." Godfried said dejectedly.

There was a round of applause from the onlookers. The King was seated on the edge of the courtyard. He and a few others could sit. The rest of the onlookers, mostly Knights stood and watched.

There would be a vote on who would be granted the title of Knighthood.

Durant of House Hewlet was a large and muscular man. He had the looks to charm the ladies and the skill and power to win the admiration of other fighting men.

Godfried stood in the sun and applauded when Durant knelt before the King and he received his Knighthood. There would always be next year for Godfried. He could try again. He was only a Hedge-Knight from the town of Brintor, a tiny place that nobody had ever heard of.

He swallowed his disappointment and tried to listen with humility as Sir Durant Hewelet boasted at how he had tripped and 'slain' the Hedge-Knight in his last mock battle.

---

Months later Godfried was surprised to receive a message from Sit Durant. Godfried had taken up a job protecting a merchant's cart as it travelled from town to town. In between riding, scouting and making camp he took his time to train his body and practice with his sword.

The courier that found him on the road had the livery of House Hewlet, so someone who worked for the family no doubt.

"Here you are Sir. From Sir Durant Hewelet."

"I am no Knight. I have no title." Godfried tried not to sound too sour. He read the contents of the message.

Dear Godfried of Brintor
I hope this message finds you hale and able bodied. You might have heard the news that our lands are being threatened from the East by a horde of Barbarians.
King Esgott has summoned all the Knights to gather and lead the troops into battle. I remember our sparring when we took the trials together. Though you did not become a Knight then, I am sure that you would become one eventually.

I have need need of a Squire and would like to offer you this post. Should you accept and serve alongside me in the defense of the Kingdom, I am sure that the experience in the field and in real battle would stand you in stead greatly.

Please accept. The reward shall be handsome and our country has need of your sword arm!

Regards
Sir Durant Hewlett

Godfried looked up at the awaiting courier. He shrugged. "I accept."

---

Godfried had insisted on escorting the merchant to a town where he could hire a new guard before he would go with the Courier to join the King's army and Sir Hewelett.

The big Knight seemed even flashier and more prideful than ever before and it grated on Godfried that he had accepted. The man's behavior was very different in person as opposed to the letter and he began to suspect that the letter had been written by someone else on his behalf.

He approached Sir Durant. "Ah, you have finally made it. I was beginning to think that you had died fighting bandits in the woods!" He guffawed a loud but fake laugh. He raised his arm and Godfreid put out his arm with a smile on his face, ready to shake the man's hand but instead Durant shoved and sword and scabbard into his hand. "Sharpen that for me, won't you Squire? And polish the scabbard too. I have to attend the King and the strategy meeting. We ambush the savages tomorrow!"

He sauntered off to the grand pavillion.

Godfried grumbled but obeyed. He had taken the job and it was in the service of the King and the country. He was actually far more concerned for the farmers and villagers than the King, who always had the best knights around him at all times.

He cleaned and sharpened the sword inside Sir Durant's tent. He liked the solitude for the moment without that braggart here to boss him around.

That is when he heard the low rumble, like a distant thunder growing in volume. He ran out of the tent and looked towards the east. There was a massive dust cloud travelling towards them fast. "Oh no! The Hilosi are already here!"

He sprinted to the Pavillion. Guards blocked his way. "Have you informed the King and the Knights?"

"You may not pass here!" The guard said.

"Like hell! We are under attack!" He shouldered the Guard out of the way and when the man tried to grab him Godfried elbowed the man in the throat and he dropped to his knees. "I don't have time for idiocy."

He strode into the meeting room with all the liveried knights and lords. "We are under attack!" He bellowed. Expecting these men to be roused to arms, they merely looked at him.

"Whose man is this?" King Finor asked.

"Ah! My apologies your Majestey!" Sir Durant jumped up and made a motion to chase Godfried away. "Out! This is not your place!"

"The Hilosi are coming! We are under attack." Godfried said tersely.

"Whatever is coming cannot be their main army, just fend off whatever advance strike is coming."

Godfried stared at Sir Durant. There was a tremor in the man's voice and he looked unsteady. "You are all doomed." Godfried said softly and shoved the bejeweled scabbard into Durant's hands. "Goodbye Durant. You will not survive." He left the stunned nobleman behind who joined the King and his advisors.

Outside there were yelling from all around. It was utter chaos. The enemy had not yet made it to the camp, but they would be here in a few minutes. He spied the common soldiers milling around without leaders.

Godfried had just emerged from the Grand Pavillion and they looked at him expectantly. He seized the moment. "You three! Spearmen! Bring your Company here and form a line three deep facing east! Quickly! Archers! Bring all your arrows and form up behind the spears! Swordsmen!" He unsheathed his own blade. "To the flanks!"

A Chorus of affirmation sprung up from the soldiers and troops ran to join their formation, all other posts were abandoned. Godfried still had time to move the formation back a hundred feet till they had the river to their backs and most of the camp outside of their area.

The formation of raiders first drove for the Grand Pavillion, setting it alight. The few noblemen who tried to escape were cut down. Several dozen of the raiders rode at the troops, whooping in triumph. It was short lived.

"Archers! Fire!" Godfried roared. The whisper and whip of arrows filled the air and the lightly armored raiders were peppered with arrows. Still they came on.

"Spears brace! Bring them down! Swordsmen, cover the spears when they get through." It was not a question of if, but he already had a plan. It felt so natural... to command.

Horsemen charged into the spearlines and a few managed to get through the forest of spines, but most of their mounts died. Before horsemen could stand they were cut down. Godfried hacked into the shoulder of a barbarian as he tried to rise.

The Hilosi began to retreat. They uttered howls of anguish. Their charge had failed and subsequent charges would only bring more death.

Godfried raised his sword into sky. He roared a warcry that only made sense to him. He was fighting for the farmers from home. "For Brintor!"

The soldiers around him mistook his warcry and took up the chant. "For House Brintor! For House Brintor! For House Brintor!"

And thus began the reign of King Godfried Brintor

---

Outro

This was a challenge to make this end in under 1500 words! I managed to do the story in 1470 words! It forced me to be a little brief but I managed to do quite a few scenes.

Perhaps I shall do an expanded version at some stage.

Thank you to @grocko and @kemmyb for organizing these prompts! This was great to do something different again!

Thank you for reading!

Cheers!
@zakludick

Hive South Africa