Sir Lancelot Du Lac (training)

[Lancelot Du Lac]

Fortunately, Sir Lancelot knew, he always traveled light, so there was not much to store in the soldiers quarters while he was in training, and his black Arabian stallion was well-housed in the stables. His chance meetings on arrival in Camelot had insured him of finding a place or his horse in the stables had been fortunate indeed. He had thought that his stay would be short, though. He had made up his mind to present himself to Prince Arthur, fully expecting himself to be denied in his application. He thought that Arthur might want him, but not be able to accept him. He had been wrong about that, but still as he approached the training fields, fields that he had experienced once before, he was not sure that this would work at all. He had issues with the king, or more accurately King Uther had issues with him. And although he had proved himself to Arthur before, and had even had friendly relations with the arrogant prince, there were personal issues that he was unsure whether they could be bridged.

As Lancelot walked on to the field he was a bit surprised at the goodly number of trainees, and wondered how many would be left in a week or two. He thought he had more practical experience than most, having learned his craft under the tutelage of the Earl of Huntingdon, and returning there to earn his knighthood in Wessex after he had voluntarily left Camelot. He didn’t believe in shields much, but did believe that the use of a good offense with two swords was best, usually wearing his shield over his back. He was good with a lance as well, and was fair with a bow. He hoped that training might be good with giving him pointers with one-sword fighting, as well as the bow. He thought his horsemanship skills were good. He set up at the back of the formation, hoping that Arthur would not try and make an example of him on the first day. He realized, though, that was probably too much to hope for.

Although that view was the correct one, he had mis-judged that the challenge would come from the Prince, and not from one of his more arrogant noble trainees. Several, even in the back were breaking off in sparring pairs. Unfortunately, the one next to him had already chosen him, and was not terribly impressed with him either. “I guess that you will do. You’re not from around here are you …. peasant. You can’t be a noble or I would know of you. You should be cleaning my armor and not wearing it. Draw your sword or both of them, for all the good it will do you.”

“Gladly, but I’m sure one sword without a shield will be enough to deal with the likes of you.”

Lancelot quickly drew one sword with his left hand, and saw from the reaction in his opponent’s eyes, that this was quite unexpected and unwelcome. In a quite simple maneuver Lancelot feinted to his right, moved left, hooked his opponent’s sword near the hilt. He then rotated his sword twice in tight counter-clockwise circles until the pain from the twisting cause his opponent to drop his sword. Lancelot quickly swept his sword out in an arc, aimed at his adversary’s neck, but slow enough for him to avoid it by falling backward on the ground.

Lancelot leaned over, noting his opponent’s vulnerable position on the ground, picking up the sword, “Nice sword ….. is it mine now …. you did make it all too easy.” Suddenly, though, he felt someone’s presence behind him ….

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Accepted!
This is a good introduction to Lancelot's skills and you may post your second training post when you wish!

[Lancelot Du Lac]

Sir Lancelot was standing over his latest victim, but his first in Camelot in some time. He had not done it with any intended malice, only desiring to teach the trainee a valuable lesson, especially since there was such a separation in their skill levels. As he was just beginning to enjoy his victory he felt a presence behind him. By the reaction of those around him, and the deference and nods they were offering, he knew it could be only one of two people, either Prince Arthur or the king himself. Deciding it was not best to simply spin around and face whoever it was, Lancelot elected to simply bring himself to attention with a fair amount of deference, and await their words. He hoped that his actions with his fellow trainee had not violated some written or un-written rule, and would not earn him some penalty.

“Well, Lancelot, I see that it did not take you long to make yourself at home in our company. I had no idea that you were opting to take over as a trainer,” Prince Arthur laughed. Lancelot looked down at the ground, feeling the heat and color come to his face. “I can see that you have lost none of your skill with a long-sword, but of course, it takes more than that to become a knight, doesn’t. As I remember, you have some knowledge of what it takes to become a knight, and perhaps even more what it takes to lose one.” Sir Lancelot chose this moment to turn very slowly to face the Prince, making sure that he maintained control, and proper control. This was what he had wanted to avoid, though he was sure that it was what the Prince had in mind, to test him, especially psychologically.

“Yes, my Lord,” he said bowing in deference, after he had re-sheathed his long-sword. “There is much that I know, but much more that I need to learn, both in the weapons and their use, as well as how a knight in the service of Camelot should compose themselves. I do have much knowledge and experience with the use of the long-sword and the lance, but there are many other articles of war that I have much to learn.” Still looking down, as he paid the Prince his proper deference, the Prince reached up and pulled something down from his horse. “Such as a bow and arrow?,” Arthur asked. This was one weapon, that although he knew the rudiments of its use, Lancelot was not as well practiced on.

“Yes, sire. I know the basics, but I am no expert, so it’s definitely something that I am in need of work on,” he said nodding his head in agreement. “Fine, then I’m sure that you wouldn’t mind giving us a demonstration of those abilities, now would you. Here we have 3 targets, each at a different range: near, medium, and long. Now, many people think it’s a simple act and process of aiming, but the use of a bow is much more complex than that. You are never able to completely and accurately aim the arrow. Besides, the arrow dos not follow a straight path. It actually swims through the air, so wind and humidity can affect its flight. It’s much more an art than anything close to a science. You have to become one with the arrow and the bow …. to feel one with them..” Lancelot took the bow, firing a single arrow at each target. The nearest one he it in the center, the intermediate one drifted to the left, and the long-range one drifted considerably to the left. “Not bad, not bad …. for a first try ….,” Prince Arthur said somewhat sarcastically. “Next!”

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

This is a great post but does concentrate a little too much on the relationship between Arthur and Lancelot to really be classed as training.

I'm happy to let the post stay here as its a means of continuing the previous post, but a rank will not be gained until the next post where Lancelot should improve his skills somehow.

Thanks

[Lancelot Du Lac]

Lancelot ..... Sir Lancelot ....... silently fumed. It was obvious to him that he was there to be made an example of. Why should he tolerate this kind of treatment. After all, he was a knight in good standing in Wessex. He didn't have anything left to prove, not Arthur or Uther, or even himself. He had great doubts that he would be allowed to ascent to being a knight of Camelot, so he was determined to learn as much as he could. In fact, if he was awarded his knighthood back, he might just refuse it, just to spite the Pendragons.

Here, though, at least when it came to archery, apparently he had served his purpose to Arthur, and the great Prince had moved on. It was obvious to Lancelot that Arthur was not going to teach him anything that he did not already know, at least when it came to the art of practicing warfare. Fortunately, Arthur's attention had now moved on, which allowed Lancelot to no longer be the focus of attention. He knew that Arthur would not train him, and as a result, he would be training himself.

As Prince Arthur had moved to the front of the formation, and leading several in shooting exercises with the targets, Lancelot moved to the back, sat down on a stump, and took out several carefully-formed shafts, which were the beginnings of arrows. Few, including Arthur, knew of Lancelot's extensive training as a carpenter's apprentice, which he had put to good use as a military engineer for the Earl of Huntingdon. He took out his carving knife, and began to finely tweak the shafts, inserting fresh fins, as well as a sharp stone on their tip.

Lancelot, from his fighting experience, knew exactly how significant well-placed arrows could be in battle. However, it was not only the ammunition that needed to be perfected, but the instrument .... the tool ..... the bow itself. He was using a re-curved bow, but it did not quite have the power that he desired, either for a devastating strike at close-range or to give him greater long-range power and accuracy, at least compared to most other archers.

On his way to Camelot he had stopped by a village and asked the advice of an old artisan, who had some experience in the manufacture and use of articles of war …. especially with the bow. He had painstakingly explained to the young knight, not only how to make arrows that flew straight and true, but how to reinforce the center curve of the bow to markedly increase its power. That is what he had spent the morning doing, with his bow, and now he found the glue had hardened, and his bow was like a coiled spring.

He sprang up, with his quiver full of the 10 newly-made arrows, and he began shooting at a natural bulls-eye, where a limb had fallen off a great tree at the edge of the training ground. It took 3 rounds of shots, but gradually he had made adjustments for wind direction and wind strength, and 5 of the 10 arrows landed near the center of the core of the former tree limb, while the other 5 were no more than 3 inches from the center.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Accepted. You may update your signature and train again when ready.

Try to concentrate more on the actual fighting and training than your characters thoughts and history, but the quality of writing is excellent. Keep it up!