The Knight and Princess of the Sun
6. Iron and Gold
Previous Chapter"Art thou surprised to see me, foul Astoran?" Lautrec of Carim, self-proclaimed knight of the Carimian goddess of love, Fina, taunted. He spread his arms slightly, as his twin, curved shotel whirred through the air. Grinning beneath his gilded helmet, the false knight spun his blades about.
"False Knight Lautrec!" Solaire swiftly hefted his shield, readying himself in a battle stance. The tip of his blade was pointed at the armored breast of the Carimian. The gold arms attached to the breastplate seemed to tighten around Lautrec's chest. "Thou who hast slain one of mine own Brothers of Sunlight and taketh from him that blessed medal that the holy Lord Gwyn hath given to us." He gnashed his teeth in anger, as his body seemed to tremor. He turned to face Celestia and Luna, whose horn's were glowing. "Fair Princesses of Equestria, yon naughty villain haileth from mine own realm. I humbly request to be the one that endeth his days, for he hath killed one of mine sworn battle-brothers."
Celestia glanced between Solaire and this stranger clad in stylized gold armor. She sighed, and placed a hoof on her sister's shoulder. In her long life of some four thousand years, back during her early adulthood, which when compared to the age of her parents or the original Alicorns that serve the Maker, would make be equal to a foal, when the Great Winter came. How she and Luna had lost friends and trusted comrades in the fight against the usuper king Kulden Sørge., of the Wendigo nation of Jotunheim, and his brainwashed minions. She shot a knowing glance to Luna, who too sighed, as their horns stopped glowing. "Very well Sir Solaire." She nodded at the Astoran knight.
Solaire nodded, saluting Celestia. "I thank thee fair Princess." He then bowed his head, uttering a short prayer under his breath. "Oh Lord Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight, may Thou giveth me thine favor this day. May mine blessed blade strike good and true through the heart of yonder villain Lautrec. Praise thine incandescent sun." The Astoran ended his prayer be laying a lifting his helmet slightly, enough to reveal his well cared for lips, and laying a gentle kiss on his medallion. He raised his head to face Lautrec.
Lautrec sneered, "Are thou done saying thine final rights Knight Solaire?" Solaire's hand tightly gripping his blade was all the answer he received. ¨Very well then Astoran,¨ The Carimian ¨knight¨ grinned, entering a battle stance. ¨En guarde!¨ He charged forward with an animalistic snarl. His blades whistled through the air, as they were brought to bear.
¨Hng!¨ Solaire brought his shield up. The rounded surface deflected the brunt of the shotel´s damage. Solaire, knowing the usage of the weapon, slammed his shield into Lautrec, staggering the gold armored knight. A surge of joy filled Solaire, as it always did during a fight he knew would be a good one. His eyes reacted first, noticing the second shotel moving towards his chest. He parried with his blade, metal grinding against metal. With a quick movement of the arm, he knocked the left shotel away, huffing. Adrenaline poured through his system. ¨Is that thine best, false knight?¨ Solaire mocked, chuckling. He easily dodged a quick strike of the blade by tilting his head back. Grabbing Lautrec´s head, Solitaire´s armored head slammed into his opponent´s, knocking Solaire back. ¨Lord Gwyn hath blessed me this day Lautrec.¨ He spread his arms out, similar to a provoking gesture he had seen multiple Chosen Undead perform in his time in Lordran.
Lautrec groaned, swiftly getting up. One leg extended, landing a kick into Solaire´s chest, causing the Astoran knight to stagger and stumble backward, though his grip on his trusty blade and shield never faltered. ¨Your false god Gwyn is no match for mine Lady Fina!¨ Lautrec got up, panting, clutching his head with one hand, wobbiling a fair bit. ¨You shall face our wrath!¨ Lautrec leaped over, and retrieved his dropped Shotels. With one, desperate charge, Lautrec lunged at Solaire, his blades slicing through the air with a the fury of a frenzied Armored Tusk.
¨I am the right hand of the Lord of Sunlight,¨ Solaire grit his teeth, his grip tightening on his blade, enough to turn his knuckles ashy white. ¨And the instrument of his vegeance!¨ Waiting until Lautrec was close enough for his wicked stench to penetrate deep into Solaire´s soul, the Astoran knight issued a prayer to Gwyn. Focusing on nothing but the battle before him, he thrust his arm, and his Sunlight Sword, forward. He opened his eyes, and grinned.
¨Gwah, h-hrnk!¨ Lautrec gagged, staring down. Embedded deep in his chest, piercing the arms molded into his cuirass, and jutting out his back, was Solaire´s steel blade. The sword was wet with blood, which dripped onto the red sand. ¨Y-you....¨ He futiley reached forward, but his hand fell limp. With a small groan, the summoned knight slowly vanished into mist, back into his own reality.
Solaire panted, wiping his blade clean. He came back to his senses, finding Celestia and Luna galloping in, a medical team of Earth Ponies and Unicorns trailing behind them. He sheathed his weapons. ¨Fair Princesses that controlleth the celestial bodies, do not be alarmed.¨ He smiled slightly. ¨Beyond but a slight bruise on mine chest, I am unhurt.¨ His gaze fixed on Celestia´s eyes. ¨Hath I performed adequately?¨ He asked.
Celestia smiled, ¨I see you have great combat prowess Solaire. I believe your skills will prove quite useful.¨ She turned, ¨Come on, I believe dinner should be ready soon.¨ Luna and the medical team trotted close behind her.
Smiling brightly, Solaire fixed his hauberk, add followed, whistling a tune.
The trio dinned in relative silence. Said silence was occasionally broken by small chatter between Celestia and Luna. Solaire, knowing not to speak unless spoken to by those of noble stature, remained silent unless either of the Royal Pony Sisters asked his opinion on this or that. Solaire rarely took of his helmet, so he only lifted it up slightly to eat and drink. Ponies, being able to eat small portions of meat (Too much resulted in upset stomachs and bowels), allowed Solaire to have some steak, and a small glass of watered-down wine. Solaire had been taught that, while a servant of Lord Gwyn make drink spirits and alcoholic beverages, they must never do so in excess, for it would cloud the mind, and turn one to impure thoughts and deeds.
Solaire stood up slowly, after the Celestial Diarchs had. Cleaning staff took away their plates and wine glasses. ¨Thank thee for allowing me to dine with thee, fair Princesses.¨ Celestia nodded, as Solaire left.
After carefully polishing his blade with a scrap of cloth, and some of the red sand from the fighting pits, he had been given by the castle blacksmith, he tenderly cleaned his faithful blade. Once that was done, he set it next to his sun shaped shield, placing both by the nightstand. Taking off his helmet, he fixed his pale blonde ponytail, setting his battle worn helmet atop the nightstand.