*Dorian Whitehall*
Dorian awoke in a bed of silk sheets a few days later. Dorian's gaze was hazy, barely remembering the incident that had put him there a few days prior, as he tried to focus, a maid entered. "King Dorian, you have at last awakened" she said bowing. "What happened?" Dorian questioned, "Sir Tartan found you and the Rhakri above in the chambers shortly after you battled, the Rhakri was dead but you were heavily injured, so he brought you down to the infirmary". Dorian touched the bandages covering his chest from the scars received at the blades of the Rhakri, still tender since their battle. He sighed "Please tell, Sir Wilfred to summon the Bannermen." "Of course, my King" she bowed before scurrying off.
Dorian got out of bed and flinched slightly at the feel of his scar, before slowly making his way across the room towards the mirror, Dorian began to unwrap the bandages unavailing more of his scar reflected in the mirror. Dorian ran his hand along the scar that went from the bottom of torso to the top of his chest. It feels cold, had I always been this cold or was it when I got out of bed.Where's Tartan or Sir Wilfred. What will be my banner's reaction to this news? A boy king so weak and arrogant they'll say, so useless he couldn't kill a no name Rhakri without difficulty. His body was frail he had gotten pale, his hair was rougher and his skin harder. He stretched his arms above his head, flexing what little muscles he had at least they still remained.
Tartan entered quitely through the old oak doors, sipping from the chalice of wine he held, before meeting Dorian's gaze "Your alive at least". Dorian looked over at Tartan, smiling "I can't be much worse now can I.... I guess I must thank you for saving me."
Tartan settled down in a chair "So what are you going to do, like the Bannermen, are they really going to still believe in your authority as King?" Dorian eyed a crack in the ceiling "see the crack, it's like my relationship with my Lord's, if they start to not respect me, cracks will form and eventually lead to them shattering or a civil war. But if I patch those cracks it'll solve the problem." Tartan raised an apprehensive eye "And how do you plan to do that?" He said questioning. "Marry you to one of their daughter's" Dorian responded casually. Tartan spilled a bit of his wine, nearly choking "What? Me to marry a Lady, so you want me to marry a Lady. Why because I'm your friend". "No, because your my most loyal servant, cousin" Dorian smirked. "I'm a servant now, not a knight?" Tartan said jokingly. "Alright which one so, Lord Oscar Ully's possibly." "Probably, she's around your age, fifteen. So you better get on with her and have a child now or later" Dorian sighed. Tartan slurped down the last of his wine "She's got an fat arse, so she'll do" he said grinding his teeth "so, you think you're ready to go on the hunt I was talking about?" Tartan still thinking of the Lady he was going to marry. Dorain asked "When?" Tartan responded smiling "now".
"Why didn't you tell, me this sooner?" Dorian said putting on his tunic. "I thought you knew" Tartan said amused. As Dorian and Tartan walked down the hall towards the courtyard, Tartan smirked "two maids worthy of a king's passing glance, have you ever bedded a fair maiden?". Dorian nudged Tartan slightly causing him to fall towards the women. Catching himself before he hit them, he apologised profusely before continuing on his march. Tartan growled "what was that for?", "nothing, just punishment" Dorian said "a king must rule with authority". They reached the courtyard and sauntering through it. Dorian asked "did they leave yet?"
Sir Wilfred came up with two horses and whilst riding his own. "My King, I'm surprised you didn't stay in bed" he asked. "I was persuaded to join" Dorian replied. Though Dorian's injuries still hurt him greatly, he wouldn't be seen as weak and feeble. "Where are we going to hunt?", "The old Forest, ten miles south" Sir Wilfred responded. "Saddle up boy," Quinton grumbled as he trudged up with his horse "I don't want you slowing us down, King or not". "Know your place, Lord Waren" Tartan said steadfastly. "And your's Sir Tartan of House Mesk, least I remember your House is only a knightly House not a Lordly House, though knowing our King he probably shall raise your house to Lordly status" Quinton said glancing towards Dorian. Dorian wasn't bothered by Quinton's remarks he knew well what his Lords and knights thought of him, he would work to better himself for his own and his people's sake. "Let's head out of this keep, if we hope to reach there before midday" Wilfred said.
They rode fast for the forest as the rain wouldn't let up. Dorian's wounds still ached every time their was a jolt from his horse or the road. It took them until noon to reach there, by which time the rain let up. Dorian looked towards Wilfred "What are we hunting boar?". "Yes" Wilfred responded. "I'll lead first" Quinton said. None of the others protested as they all fell into their position's. For minutes they rode around the forest being careful to dodge and weave past any roots or branches in their way "I can't find none" Tartan said. "Keep looking" belowed Wilfred. Out of the corner of his eye, Dorian saw something move in the bushes near Tartan. Tartan's horse reeled up in the air and threw him from the saddle, a thud. The horse sped off leaving Tartan alone. "Tartan, need some assistance?" Dorian asked. "No I'll be okay" Tartan responded.
Abruptly with a sharp scream of something, Tartan threw his cloak back, grasping for his sword as something was infront of him. Flames erupted engulfing Tartan, there was a dragon. "Aaahhh" Tartan screamed dropping his sword, as his hands reached for his face, scraping at where the burn came from. An arrow was set lose by Quinton and pierced the dragons eye. "Seems it was only a few days old, since it's only as big as a horse" Quinton said scraping his teeth. The dragon stumbled back and flew off writhing in pain. "Throw him on a horse" Quinton said as Dorian and Wilfred hauled Tartan to his feet. "I guess we're even now" Dorian said. "Wrong time, upstart young King" Tartan said whilst wincing and writhing in pain as tears streamed down his face, covering his red face, now bare of skin and bone could be seen. Wait how come there's a hatchling here?, Could that mean there's more hatchlings or maybe a mother dragon? The very next moment the ground shook and the trees were flung, killing one of the horses, due to the unheard of before, roar of a dragon. "That's definitely a big fucker, probably the mother" Wilfred said struggling to his feet from the sheer power of the screech. "We ought to get moving" Quinton said.