Not a Traitor, Nor yet a Hero (Josh and Marianne)

It was impressive how a longsword could parry so many a thrust, almost fantastical in Raisara's opinion in fact. Keeping stationary with a sword while multiple strike were jabbing at high, low, and everything in between was a little foolhardy. But she guessed some people could manage to pull it off. Probably.

Sir Josh defense, while fantastical, was impressive. The knights ooohed and aaaahed as the furious clang of metal filled the room: the flowing strikes of a Zora against intelligent defense of a Hylian. Raisara herself kept her spear in tight control at all times. Someone who could lose their stance or carried away in their momentum was a mark of inexperience -certainly someone as trained as Raisara would never display such an easy mistake.

Besides, she had gauged Sir Josh before, which was why she took her time not to strike and letting Sir Josh moved first. The thrusts of her spear were swift, precise; jabbing at opening in Sir Josh's stance she had gauged before. If she was lucky, she would have handed a hit. These were just a warm up, after all. Eventually, Sir Josh would have to do something unless a blinding strike poked him in his armor....

There.

Sir Josh would attempt to lock his blade and pulled her spear, from which his blade would slid past the tip of the spear ('Strange move.... Perhaps if he had used an axe? It would have enough curve to hook.') An awkward moment ensued when Raisara's sharp tip could slash at his legs unimpeded, or she could bring her spear's other edge to push him or landed a concussive blow. She could have ended it with a decisive strike, but it was not her intention ('And who knows what they will do to me! I have to force a tie or even concede defeat...'). Instead she nimbly took a step back, keeping their distance while narrowly avoiding a small thrust to her guard.

And she found herself in a position that would be perfect for a flashy, if somewhat inefficient spin attack. An idea came into her mind.

Her spear began to glow. From out of nowhere, wind coalesced on her spear, drawing the pennants and even Princess Marianne's cape. Then, faster than the blink of an eye, Raisara's spear exploded in a gust of wind!

"Hiiiyaaa!!"

Using the space between her and Sir Josh perfectly, Raisara executed a mighty Spin Attack, bringing the full range and the weight of her impressive spear down on Sir Josh's own attack. The shaft of her spear met Sir Josh's blade in a brilliant flash, stopping them both on their tracks while flame fanned from the clashing weapons, the tip of Raisara's spear just slightly closer to Josh due to her weapon's natural superiority in range.

For moment the two combatants would stand still. Their weapons locked. Around them the room was silent.

Then someone clapped.

There was only one clapping at the beginning. Then two. Then four. Then ten. Before the combatants knew it the room was filled with cheers and applause! Captain Tethras was grinning with pride. Marianne -her face a little pale from awe- suddenly remembered to take a breath and cheered as well, but mysteriously didn't clap her hands like the others. On the forefront Sir Ector lifted his hand and shouted, "Enough! I've seen enough!"

Raisara glanced towards Josh and, for the first time since the sparring started, she genuinely smiled. Her spear was still poised and ready. They could end it then and there. Or, if Sir Josh willed it, the Zora lady would gladly continue the spar, now that she was fully in the mindset.

Besides, her spear could reach him sooner than his sword could her~

---

The moment Sir Josh lowered her sword, so did Raisara lowered her spear. She didn’t need to be told twice when the former Guard Captain’s gestures showed that the spar had ended, and she would love nothing more than doing the same anyway. While she was traditionally trained to fight, she wasn’t one to particularly relish it. With Sir Ectore before he had insisted on following their spar to the logical conclusion, therefore the zora obliged.

And for once, she stood her ground and allowed Sir Josh to wrap an arm around her shoulder, which was something of a feat considering how averse she was with being touched in general. Her face beaming, she gave a polite smile but quickly took a step backward the first moment she could, keeping their distance once more amidst the continued cheering of the other knights.

“You were better, Sir Josh,” she said in earnest as she bowed low, her voice somewhat difficult to hear due to the deafening crowd. “I’ve never dreamed I could spar against you, The Black Knight. It was truly an honor.”

And now Sir Tomas and Sir Ector marched forward, separating the two and once again taking the side of their respective champions. If Josh glanced at Raisara he would see that she quickly adopted a perfect standing posture, her expression no longer as confused before. From now on she would look and act as a proper First Lieutenant of Clock Town Guards.

Sir Ector came forward and bowed towards the Officiator. Marianne smiled, before her voice once again rang in the hall.

“Hast thou seen enough?”

Sir Ector nodded. “I have now no doubt of his worth, and proud shall I to call him a Hyrule Knight.”

“Then we are in agreement." Marianne then lifted her hands to address the assembly. "Knights, I shall deign Josh Dragelion to join our ranks!”

In unison the knights answered, “We hear and we obey!”

At once the knights dispersed, forming their perfect ranks once more and once again filling the room with orderly splendor. Sir Ector bowed before taking his leave towards his position the back end of the room. Sir Tomas, giddy with excitement, shifted a little closer towards Josh at the center, directly in front of Marianne and her throne. Raisara looked around uneasily and, apparently forgotten, chose to stand erect a little out of the way.

Marianne’s proud gaze shifted towards Josh. “Step forth, Josh Dragelion.”

Captain Tethras knelt presented the ornate sword on the red cushion he had been holding for so long to Marianne. The Princess, closing her eyes and inhaling for a moment, gracefully lifted the sword before turning towards Josh’s direction. The pillow was then laid in front of her.

“Kneel.”

The order was firm, and was meant for Josh, of course. Meanwhile, Raisara looked on with interest on the side. She was no stranger to pomp and ceremonies. Her household and her general culture was choke full of rituals and symbolic gestures, so seeing this ceremony of Hyrule was quite an experience! (‘So that young girl is the elder? Strange.’) Her well-trained spearmaiden eyes also noticed little nuances in the participants which were not noticeable to most others. She even caught the very, very slight wince the Officiator had while holding the sword, as if she was in pain.

---

For most of the people present, Officiator Marianne's movements were the epitome of princess-ly grace. Firm, yet flowing. Imposing, yet beautiful. But for a few trained eyes, such as the vigilant Zora Town Guard, she could be seen as having a little difficulty lifting the sword. It did not detract her in the slightest though, as she slowly, magnificently brought her sword down on the kneeling Josh.

"By the authority vested in me as an Officiator of Hyrule Knights," she began, touching Josh's right shoulder with the broad edge of the sword, "And of The Royal Family-," she moved the sword just past Josh's helmet, "-And of The Kingdom of Hyrule-" she flipped the sword counterclockwise to let the same side touched Josh's left shoulder, "I hereby proclaim you, Josh Dragelion, a Knight of Hyrule!"

"Arise, Sir Josh Dragelion! And glorious your days ahead may be!"

The tension of the room, which had steadily raised since Marianne lifted the sword, now exploded as Josh would stood, Marianne hinting with her eyes that he should turn around and gestured to the crowd before facing her again. Cheers and congratulary shouts were flown across the room. Even Raisara clapped her hands politely with a beaming smile. The first Knighting Ceremony in several years. Marianne's goals were met: The morale of Hyrule Knights had never been higher.

Slowly, Marianne stepped back and dropped the sword at Captain Tethras, who had picked up the pillow used to support Sir Josh kneeling. Raisara once again noticed that she seemed to drop the sword too quickly, as if uncomfortable holding it.

And now Sir Tomas stepped forward, bowed to The Officiator, before leading Josh back to their place in the ranks before. It had slightly changed. Now the rows were re-structured so that Josh would fit perfectly within the orderly lines. An official Knight of Hyrule.

Marianne proceeded to sit and gestured to Captain Tethras who nodded and stepped forward.

"Henceforth, The Knighting Ceremony of Sir Josh Dragelion is declared over. Knights, you are dismissed. For Hyrule we stand!"

At once the knights stomped their right foot. "And for Hyrule we die!"

It was...over. Time for pleasantries and such as the knights slowly streamed out of the room. A few knights went forward to have a chat with Princess Marianne, who was still sitting on the throne, smiling and gesturing cheerfully. A giant clap on his shoulder told Josh that Sir Tomas had approached him.

"Hahaha! T'was an awesome speech you!" He laughed, once again clapping his shoulder. "Never thought I'd hear something like that, me did. And your fight! Wow! That Zora lass madly strong, too. Though if yer ask me, you'd win the spar if that continued. Bet me on this." He grinned proudly.

He told Josh that they should wait to give their respects last for The Princess. Presently she was addressing Raisara, who was escorted by Sir Ector to the throne. It seemed Her Highness heaped praise upon praise on the Zora, who blushed and bowed so frequently she was almost a blur.

---

The stream of knights slowly subsided. They poured out of the room or had a chat with Marianne first before also leaving, two or three at a time. The majority congratulated Josh on their way out, of course, and already there were several offers on the table of celebrations and drunken nights. The newly knighted farmboy only needed to say when.

One of the last to walk out of the room was Raisara and Sir Ector. And while Sir Ector and Sir Tomas exchanged energized greeting and laughed out loud, Raisara took the time to approach Josh and congratulated him earnestly. Judging from her expression, Princess Marianne had offered something which made the zora very very happy. Her face was rather flushed and her beautiful aquamarine eyes sparkled even more than usual. After some time Sir Ector waved goodbye to Sir Tomas and Raisara went with him, bowing to Josh once more on the way.

At last all that was left in the Ceremony Hall were Josh, Sir Tomas, Sir Tethras, and Princess Marianne herself, sitting on the throne.

She beckoned for Josh and Sir Tomas to approach the throne with a nod and a smile. Beside her Captain Tethras stood at the ready, still holding the pillow with the ceremonial sword.

“Congratulations, Josh. You are now officially Sir Josh Dragelion,” she said cheekily as they walked towards her, “Your ceremony was a rather hurried one and a little less grand than usual. But it was the best I could assemble in this hard times. I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me, and not let it diminish your service in any way.

Because if you do,” she smiled a little woefully, “I will feel very, very sad.”

She turned then towards Sir Tomas, “Sir Tomas, thank you for agreeing to act as Sir Josh’s supporter in such a short notice. From his performance, you have showed him the ropes well. You have my deepest gratitude.”

“Ack, Your Highness, no need for such praise,” answered Sir Tomas, putting his hand over his heart and acted as if he was hurt, which prompted a small laugh from Marianne, “This humble Tomas will risk life and limbs for you, Your Highness. You only need to say when. Supporting this lad Josh is a trifle, I say.”

Marianne’s eyes shone with genuine gratitude. “Thank you, Sir Tomas. I will depend on your support even more from now on.”

She rose from her chair then, without –one would notice- without using the handle as a support, even though she wore a full suit of armor. “Then, I think we are finished?” she huffed, but her expression was certainly relieved, “Allow me to congratulate you once more, Sir Josh. Not as an Officiator, but as a fellow Knight of Hyrule-”

But when she moved her right hand to shake Josh’s hand, an sharp-eyed observer would notice something dripping from the joints of her armor glove, too small to be seen fully, but the red color was unmistakable.

It was blood.

It happened in such a position that neither Captain Tethras nor Sir Tomas would be able to see it. As she was about to reach for Josh’s hand at that time, so only Josh and the Princess herself could notice it.

And the princess’ reflex was lightning-quick, leaving no time for even a word from Josh.

“Congratulations on being a Knight of Hyrule, Sir Josh Dragelion,” she quickly said, coolly retracting her hand as if it was just a gesture and that she had no intention to shake Josh’s hand from the start. “From now on we have to protect each other, as comrades-in-arms.”

Moving quickly past Josh, she started to make her way towards the door on the side of the room from whence she came, “I shall retire now. Sir Tomas, Sir Josh. We will see each other again.”

Sir Tomas saluted. Captain Tethras nodded, and started trailing Marianne after he had said his farewell to Josh and Tomas also. All happening in a quick succession.

But in the small time frame when the princess was walking exactly in front of Josh, she whispered something. A whisper only Josh would be able to hear.

“South Gate. Hour of the Rooster.”

Around 7 pm was the time of the changing of the guards. The castle's southern gate was near the barracks so most of the guards would come and go from that area. What could the princess meant?

Yet, she would offer no clue, not even a smile. She went out of the door as silently as she came, Captain Tethras following closely behind.

The door closed. Only Sir Josh and Sir Tomas stood in the now deserted hall.

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