<font color=#254125 face=times size=1>each oath I swear%01 each shouldered care; <i>alethea</i></font>

each oath I swear, each shouldered care; alethea
IP: 82.19.140.112
Posted on November 7, 2013 at 02:20:11 AM by t r i s t a n

Tristan leaned back against the jousting rail, his breath coming in exhausted gulps as his fingers tugged at the leather strap beneath his chin. After a few sharp tugs the buckle finally relented and allowed the prince to remove his helmet. He gripped the cold metal between his fingers as his arm fell back against his side, the crown of the helmet brushing against his knee. Tristan released his grip, and the helmet fell to the floor, hitting the dusty floor of the arena with a thud. Sweat plastered his chocolate-brown hair to his forehead, and it curled a little around his ears which were flushed red like his cheeks. He was exhausted. They had been training for almost four hours. Arthur had pulled him out of bed before the sun had come up, and when Tristan had demanded an explanation as to why, the king had just smiled and said that it was to keep him on his toes. It seemed counterproductive to Tristan who had long since begun to feel like his feet were about ready to drop off.
�I think that will do for today,� Arthur chuckled, pushing his sword back into his scabbard before removing his own helmet.
�Are you sure?� Tristan replied running his fingers through his hair, �I�m not actually dead yet.�

Celidon was chasing ducks. Tristan didn�t need to access his telepathic connection with his familiar to know that much; he could hear the cu-sith barking joyfully in the distance. He had removed all of his armour, and returned it to its stand in the armoury. The next thing he should have done was to proceed up to his rooms in order to take a bath, but he didn�t. His attention was captured by the sound of familiar laughter coming from the edge of the lake. The prince decided that he could kill two birds with one stone and find something entertaining to do whilst collecting his familiar. He was not to be disappointed. No sooner had Tristan emerged through the arch that lead from the castle�s formal gardens out to the natural pasture that surrounded the lake than Celidon ceased chasing his quarry and bounded over to his faerie, his tail wagging madly. The prince patted the giant green dog fondly on the head as his eyes scanned the bank. It was not long before he found what he had been looking for. Tarquin.

The older boy was sitting with his usual group of friends, three younger boys and a group of girls, and they were all swinging their feet in the water. Smiling to himself, Tristan sauntered over to them, and was just in time to hear Tarquin�s final boast.
�Do you want to test that theory?� the Prince asked casually, making them all jump, before the girls broke out into fresh peels of giggles. Tarquin�s eyes narrowed as Tristan sat down beside the auburn haired girl on the end of the row and pulled off his boots. He rolled up his trouser legs and lowered his feet into the water, smiling a little smugly as he waited for a reply.
�Maybe I do,� Tarquin said at last, causing the smile to break out into a grin, �is it a challenge?� Tristan laughed, making eye contact with the older boy, �I wouldn�t have thought so,� he mocked, �but I will race you.�

Stripping down to his underwear Tristan dived into the lake, sinking down beneath the surface before coming up for air and swimming back towards the shore. Tarquin did the same a minute or so later. The two boys exchanged glances as they waited for the signal. �After thee,� the auburn haired girl said, �one, two, THREE!� Tristan and Tarquin pushed off from the bank hard and struck out as fast as they could for the little island at the centre of the lake.

_{photography by Dominic�s pics | Mark Cutler at flickr.com}
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