Chapter Text
Daniel paced impatiently in the king's hall. He simply hated waiting. King Peregrin watched him and shook his head with a quiet laugh. He remembers what it was like to be so young. He was not patient either. The guard would come through the doors momentarily, just give them some time. The king wad taken up knitting to battle his arthritis and found he rather enjoyed it. He was not very good at it, however, but he did not care. As long as he was content, he would be happy. He often knitted bonnets for the castle cats and would occasionally make gifts for the members of his court. It made him happy to see Daniel wearing he scarf he made for him despite how hot it was outside, it was the middle of summer, after all. Perhaps Daniel could take up knitting as well, he might find he enjoys it, himself! It might help with his pacing.
Daniel stopped in the middle of the Hall and stood as tall and as proud as he could. He loves to put on a show of bravado in front of new people. He has to live up to his proud and intimidating reputation, after all. He falters when he sees the person his men have brought back. The 'marksman' he's heard about didn't really live up to his expectations.
He was just a boy...a rather scrawny one at that. He barely came up to Daniel's chest. He could hardly hold the crossbow in his shaky hands. His wide eyes threatened to split his face.
Upon being brought to Daniel, the boy got down on his knees and placed the old, beat up crossbow on the ground in front of him, then bowed low. Daniel felt sorry for him...surely his men had the wrong person.
"You, boy, what is your name?" Daniel asked, his voice booming with forced power. He flinched when he saw the boy tremble.
Daniel heard him say something, but he was too quiet.
"Speak up, lad. You are speaking to me, not the ants. There is no need to be frightened. You are not in trouble." Daniel said, cutting his facade. He did not mean to scare him.
"M-My name is Timothy...Trueshot, sir." The boy said without rising, keeping his face to the floor. He did not so much as even glance at Daniel.
"Well Timothy, you may rise. Rumour carries fast in the land and word has reached me of your superior skills as an archer. I wish to see for myself. If you are not up to this, my men will return you safely to your home." Daniel said, hoping the child would hurry out the door and back to his family.
Timothy rose and nodded. He picked his crossbow from the ground and held it close to his chest. He mumbled something again, avoiding eye contact with Daniel.
"Hm? Speak up. You are a very quiet young man. I understand you may be nervous, but please try to not be intimidated." Daniel said approaching him.
"I...I said alright. W-What do you want me to shoot, sir? How may I prove myself to you, sir?" Timothy said meekly, still avoiding eye contact.
Daniel sighs, the poor kid is going to embarrass himself in front of his men. He might die from shame!
"Very well. We have targets out near the gardens. Follow me, now." Daniel said, waving his men their dismissal.
"How old are you, son? Ten? Twelve?" Daniel asked as he led Timothy towards the range. King Peregrin had put down his knitting to follow the two, so Daniel walked slowly to not leave the elderly monarch behind.
"I'm...fourteen, actually, sir..." Timothy said as he quietly followed along. He was too nervous to look back at the smiling king behind them.
"Why, you're still just a little sprout. Make sure you eat all your veggies so you grow big and strong like Sir Daniel, ho ho ho!" The old king laughed as he placed a hand on Timothy's shoulder. He flinched at the sudden touch, as if he'd been expecting to be stricken. King Peregrin noticed and took his hand away. He chastises himself mentally for he should know better than to touch someone without warning.
Daniel led his charge to the target range where his own archers practiced. Many stopped shooting to stare at the boy that Daniel brought in. Daniel shooed a ranger from his spot and gestured for Timothy to stand there instead.
"Well then. You may fire when ready. If...you wish to stand a little closer to the target you may do so." Daniel said, feeling the pressure he'd just placed on the kid's shoulders. Telling him to go home now would shame him even further, he feared.
"I'm fine right here, sir. I can hit it." Timothy said loading the crossbow.
Whispers began to rise when Timothy did not shoot for several minutes. With a glare, Daniel silenced his men.
"You may shoot...any time. That target. The one right there. In front of you. The one with the bullse-" Daniel jumped back in fright as the boy suddenly fired three arrows in succession. He loaded his crossbow so fast, his hand was hardly visible.
The first arrow hit the bullseye dead center. The second split the first down the middle, while the third also split the arrow before it.
Daniel stood dumbfounded as the boy bounced happily and cheered himself quietly. When he remembered where he was and who stood mere feet away, Timothy froze and regained his composure, eyes cast back to the ground. If he could draw into his body any further, he might disappear.
King Peregrin clapped and laughed. He was excited to see such skill and was amused by Timothy's short dance.
Timothy strode up to the target and looked at the first bolt, then pointed to it and bounced happily again, a huge grin plastered onto his face.
"Yes, yes. I see. Very good shot." Daniel said, clapping along with the king.
"Sir, look! I've done it again! I did it! I got it!" the boy said, his immature voice cracking in excitement.
Daniel curiously walked to the target and inspected the arrows. Pinned to the target by the first bolt, Daniel saw a fly.
Daniel was speechless. His eyes slowly glanced at Timothy. The boy's smile slowly fell and he resumed his fearful demeanor.
"Impressive. How long have you been shooting arrows for?" Daniel asked, taking Timothy to the side.
"Um...all my life, sir..." Timothy said quietly.
"Long time huh? Hey...are you afraid of me? I do not mean to frighten you. I am not going to harm you and you are not in trouble." Daniel said, placing his finger under Timothy's chin and lifts so he faces him. He's astonished to see his eyes beginning to brim with tears.
"Y-You're not going to rip my head off...a-and you're not going to eat my innards, are you?" the boy said, his voice quaking.
Daniel knelt down on one knee and held him close to comfort him. The story of his battle with the turkey-man came to mind. He never meant for that tale to make him out to be such a monster. Was it to blame, or was it a tale spun by a mischievous child that hoped to scare other children?
"Hey, hey now. Nobody is going to rip your head off. I'm a hero...heroes don't do that to innocent people. I know you're a really nice and talented young man. Who told you I was going to tear your bloody head off?" Daniel asked patting Timothy's back to calm him.
"M-My friends...they said that's w-what happens when you're brought to the castle. You're locked in the dungeon with rhinotaurs, you get your head chopped off, they drain the blood of young people so they can bathe in it and live forever..." Timothy fell silent when Daniel began to laugh. When Timothy thought about what he just said, he couldn't help but feel ridiculous.
"Hahaha! Th-That may happen in France, but not in dear Gallowmere! Tell me, did you seriously think I brought you here just to chew your brains?" Daniel laughed.
"Um..."
"Do I look like a vampire to you, Timothy?"
"A little..."
Daniel could not stop himself from laughing even harder. He drew attention to the two. Timothy hid in his baggy tunic as his face reddened. He just called Sir Daniel Fortesque a vampire right to his face.
King Peregrin began to laugh too from where he stood, despite not knowing what was so funny.
Daniel regained his composure after losing his head, wiping tears from his eyes. He pats Timothy's shoulder and ruffles his hair.
"You know? I like you! You're hilarious and you're bloody talented. I want to take you under my wing. I can see you growing up into a fine archer...legendary, even! You're so good already at such a young age but with more practice and training, you will go down in history, possibly as the greatest marksman who ever lived! Will you join my force?" Daniel asked. He smiled expectantly when he saw Timothy peek out from behind his tunic, his eyes wide.
"D-Do you really...I mean...I do...a-are you sure? Oh gosh..." Timothy stammered.
"You will be taken care of, your family will be taken care of, you'll have all the time in the world to train and practice, and you'll be regarded as a hero...plus you'll get to serve alongside me! Surely there's no greater honour!" Daniel said, rising to his feet.
"You really want me in your army, Sir Fortesque?! To battle at your side? A hero like you wants...a...a nobody like me?"
"Haha, well you'll be a somebody if you say yes. So what say you?" Daniel said, putting on his bravado once again.
"Wh-Yes! I do! I-I mean...I accept! Uh...w-when do I start? Do I just start shooting that target again?" Timothy said, his mouth going a kilometer a minute.
"Slow down, son! One thing at a time! First, you should go back to your home and tell your family that you are taking up this noble task. Your training will begin on the morrow. Perform well enough and surely you will be knighted." Daniel said as he ruffled the boy's hair again.
"I-I will! I promise I won't let you down, Sir Fortesque! I'll do my best to be the best marksman by your side! My life is yours, sire!" Timothy said jumping up and down excitedly. Daniel admired his energy. He was like a playful young lamb.
Daniel led Timothy to the stables and sent two guards to accompany him home and to help explain to his parents the duty their son had agreed to. He watched them canter away down the cobbles. Daniel put aside his doubts after seeing just what the boy could do. He had a very good feeling about this one. Daniel knows knighthood is a very dangerous occupation, but Gallowmere has not seen war for hundreds of years. He knows that he and his new charge will live their days in safety and luxury. Having such a skilled marksman by his side would further boost his reputation, and it would be entertaining to watch him shoot more bugs out of the air. Daniel hates bugs.
Daniel feels as though he has done a very good thing.