Shade

In the lower courtyard, Ser Ryam and his men assembled, around 40 of them. The sun was almost overhead, the morning mist gone with the heat.

I stood amongst it, surrounded by the fervor of the men preparing for their journey to the Kingswood. I took a deep breath, savoring the scent of leather and horse sweat that filled the air.

It all hit me. The sound of metal clanging against metal as the men sheathed their swords. The rustling of straw as they packed their gear. The weight of my leather armor as I adjusted it on my shoulders.

As I looked around, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation rising within. The fwips of the saddles and the tightening of the leather straps seemed to call out — a beckoning of adventure.

I stepped forward, hand resting on the hilt of my sword, heart beating faster as I took in the scene.

The men were all focused on their tasks, but I could feel the sense of camaraderie that bound them all together. They were all in this together, and I was a part of it now.

I couldn't help but grin as I listened to the sounds around me, letting them wash over and give me energy.

Ser Ryam moved among the men, his presence commanding their attention without a word spoken. I was impressed by the way the Lord Commander carried himself, his broad shoulders and tall frame radiating confidence and authority.

Ser Ryam's voice boomed across the courtyard as he barked out orders, and the men snapped to attention.

I could see the respect and admiration in their eyes as they looked up to their leader and I wondered if I could ever compare — inspiring loyalty and respect through both words and actions.

Ser Ryam approached me with a critical eye, scanning over his gear and horse.

"Have you prepared everything, Prince Rhaenar?" he asked. His voice firm but not unkind.

I stood up straight, puffing out my chest with pride.

"Yes, Ser Ryam. I have readied your sword, shield, and armor. Your horse is ready as well."

Ser Ryam nodded in approval, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Good work."

Laenor raised a brow, "I was finished first."

With his gear ready, Ser Ryam Redwyne mounted his horse with practiced ease, the animal obediently standing still as he adjusted his stirrups and settled into the saddle.

I guess he figured if an 11-year-old boy is finished preparing, then his men damn well better be.

He turned to face his men, eyes scanning the group before him.

"Men of the Kingsguard and City Watch, we ride for the Kingswood to put an end to the banditry that has plagued our roads for too long.

"These poachers have taken more than just our game; they have taken our peace and security. We will not stand idly by and let them continue to wreak havoc on our land."

The men cheered in response, the sound echoing through the courtyard and beyond. Ser Ryam's eyes glinted with steely resolve as he continued.

"We ride to show them the power of the Seven Kingdoms, to let them know that justice will be done. We ride for the honor of our King and the protection of our people.

"Now, mount up and let us show these poachers what it means to face our might!"

With that, Ser Ryam gave the order to move out, and the men thundered out of the courtyard and towards the Kingswood, their horses' hooves pounding against the ground in a unified rhythm.

As I made final preparations to depart, I stole one last glance behind me to see my family walking towards me.

My heart swelled as they wrapped me in hugs and showered me with kisses. I savored every moment, knowing it might be a while before I saw them again.

After all the men had left, I was grateful for those private moments with my girls. I knew my fellow soldiers would tease me mercilessly if they witnessed the outpouring of affection.

Rhaenyra's lips were pursed in a pout, and Mother, who should have been resting in bed due to the strain of her pregnancy, was also there, but her love for me outweighed her physical discomfort.

Rhaenyra looked up at mother with big, pleading eyes. "Why can't I come?" she asked.

Mother sighed.

"My dear, you know the answer to that. The princess doesn't hunt outlaws. It's a dangerous journey. You must stay here where it's safe."

Rhaenyra's face fell. She knew her mother was right, but it didn't stop her from feeling left out and disappointed.

Father stood tall and proud, doing his best to maintain a stoic expression, but I could see the concern in his eyes.

As we said final goodbyes, the weight of their emotions was palpable, and I felt a twinge of sadness in my chest as I turned away to begin my plunge into the unknown.

Rhaenyra watched as I mounted and rode off to catch up to the men, feeling a pang of envy.

As we rode through the streets of King's Landing, I felt a sense of awe wash over me.

The people around us looked up to us like we were gods, and the children gawked at us in amazement. The feeling of being part of a convoy, riding together as a team, was exhilarating.

I caught up to Ser Ryam, and he turned to me with a grin, "What took you so long?"

I laughed, feeling the rush of excitement, "A Prince arrives when he means to!"

Laenor rode beside us, "What of Theodore and Brien? I thought you'd bring them along."

"Had to stay behind, I'm afraid," I replied, "Ser Ryam refused. 'No dead weight!', he says."

Ser Ryam regarded us seriously, "Make no mistake. You boys are here because I believe you can handle yourselves. We have need sword and shield, not quill and ink."

I hummed ponderously, "Don't you think we have a need for both?"

Ser Ryam scoffed at the notion, "We can't all go to fancy lord school."

The answer didn't satisfy me. "No, but perhaps there is room for the educated soldier."

We finally went outside the city gates and took that first step into the unknown. I was officially free, part of a band of brothers on an adventure. The wind whipped through my hair, and the adrenaline rush filled me.

I took a deep breath, feeling the sun's warmth on my skin seep into my bones. As I closed my eyes, I inhaled slowly through my nose and exhaled through my mouth.

As we rode further away from the city, the air grew more crisp and pure. The scent of fresh grass and wildflowers filled my nostrils, and I could feel my lungs expanding with each deep breath I took.

Leaving the noise and chaos of the city behind~

With every mile we covered, the air grew sweeter and the landscape more stunning. I marveled at the towering trees in the distance, their branches stretching up to the heavens.

We continued our journey throughout the day, and as dusk set in, we reached the outskirts of the Kingswood.

Ser Ryam commanded us to make camp for the night, and I hurried to set up his quarters.

As I worked, I couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't we venture deeper into the Kingswood before making camp?"

Ser Ryam paused momentarily before responding, "There wasn't much daylight left. It's better to rest here and have a full day's march tomorrow. We need to be cautious and treat the Kingswood as unknown territory."

I had been on countless hunts throughout my short lifetime, although I doubted I could call them "hunts" with a straight face.

The royal hunts involved dozens of wagons and hundreds of people, including nobles, knights, and servants. My father could sit on his ass and drink wine in the royal tent until his legions of hunters cornered his prey.

I had frequented the Kingswood so often under these circumstances that I couldn't grasp the cautious fear Ser Ryam promoted.

The only thing I could do was trust in Ser Ryam's vast experience, "If you say so."

That night we had a roaring campfire. The moonlight filtered through the leaves of the neighboring forest, casting dappled patterns on the ground, a shading in the eve.

As I walked by the fire with my bowl of stew, the men greeted me with the utmost respect.

"My Prince," they would say.

"Your Grace."

Most offered me their seat, but I humbly declined and sat wherever there was room.

Laenor and I were amid our meal and conversation when Ser Ryam joined us, taking a seat by our side.

"How was your first day on the trek?" he inquired.

I decided to poke fun at him, "Not too bad, considering I'm squire to the most high-maintenance Knight in all the realms."

Ser Ryam raised a brow at my comment but couldn't help but chuckle.

But then, he remembered his duty and took issue with me.

"I'll say this once, My Prince," Ser Ryam said sternly,

"We aren't in the Red Keep anymore, and we aren't riding on Dragonback. This is boots on the ground. One false step could cost your life. Tread carefully, or it will mean both our heads."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes in response to Ser Ryam's cautionary words. "Your lack of faith is boring, Ser Ryam," I retorted. "I'm hardly going to squander your legacy and have it end as 'The commander who lost his Prince'."

Despite my confident tone, I could tell that Ser Ryam was still uneasy. However, he knew his place and wouldn't dare argue with me, the Prince.

He gave me the necessary safety brief for our upcoming journey and wisely kept any further thoughts to himself. I appreciated his restraint, as he wouldn't dare undermine royal authority in front of the other men.

He could berate me in the training yard all he wanted, but he knew his place outside of that.

"Good. Get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow," he finally said.

That night, a thick blanket of clouds obscured the waxing gibbous, its dim glow struggling to penetrate the mist.

I lay on my back, staring up at the murky sky. In the surrounding wood, the rustle of leaves, chorus of crickets, and coo of owls absorbed into one.

And somehow, after my first exhilarating day as a respected and mature warrior squire, I drifted off to sleep.

Snoring into spring~