章節 26: Chapter 26 - The White Knight
122 AC
The first day of the sixth moon
Aemond POV
"Honour". What is honour? For some, it was a fool's notion while for others it was above all else.
If someone would come and ask me what honour meant to me then I would tell them that it mattered to me over everything.
A member of House Targaryen should be raised with a strict code of conduct that places great emphasis on loyalty, duty, and chivalry. But sadly that was not the state of affairs. A man like his uncle was a knight despite not even following the seven. A man who committed wanton crime and murder, a rogue in the truest sense.
To me, honour meant staying true to one's word, treating others with respect and dignity, and upholding the ideals of justice and fairness. It was a code that I tried to live by after my talk with the High Septon, and one that he expected others to follow as well.
In my view, changing the dates of the tournament to gain an advantage over an opponent was a clear violation of this code. It was dishonourable, unfair, and went against the very spirit of the competition. To me, there was no excuse for such behaviour, no matter how important the stakes may be. I believed that true honour could only be earned through hard work, perseverance, and a steadfast commitment to doing what was right, no matter the cost.
Ulf is a true knight in every sense of the word despite the fact that he has not yet been knighted. He is brave, loyal, and virtuous, and he upholds the ideals of chivalry in everything that he does. And it is because of his example that I decided to dedicate myself to becoming a better fighter and a better person. I know that I have a long way to go, but I am determined to get there.
But there are obstacles in my path, and one of them is the fact that my own grandfather has interfered with the tournament dates to gain an advantage over an opponent. This is a clear violation of the code of honour, and it is something that I cannot condone. To me, there is no excuse for such behaviour, no matter how important the stakes may be. True honour can only be earned through fair play and hard work, and anything less is unworthy of a true knight.
Despite these challenges, I am ready to face whatever comes my way. I am determined to prove myself on the battlefield, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to uphold the ideals of honour and chivalry. And so, as I prepare for the Squire's melee, I know that I am ready to give it my all and to show the world what true honour really means.
As I put on my armour, I feel a sense of pride and determination. It is heavy and uncomfortable, but I know that it will protect me from harm. My uncle, Ser Gwayne Hightower, is there to help me with the straps and buckles, and I feel grateful for his guidance.
"It's not easy, is it?" he says, noticing my discomfort.
"No, it's not," I reply, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Are you ready, Aemond?" he asked.
"Yes, uncle, I am," I responded, feeling a bit restricted due to the weight of the armour.
"Even I hated it when I had first worn one, my nephew," my uncle said, noticing my discomfort. "But it will lessen the chances of you getting injured in battle."
"But it will protect you," he reminds me. "Remember that."
"Have you ever seen a man not wearing any armour, uncle?" I asked, curious.
Hearing my question, the smile on my uncle's face vanished, replaced by a frown. "It was a long time ago, when I was the same age as you. I saw a man win a melee without wearing any armour. His form was perfect, and he dodged every blow of his opponents. He was truly a marvel, and it was then that I decided that I would become a greater fighter than him, but it never happened."
"Who was he, uncle?" I asked, intrigued.
"Nobody knew his name, but he was known as the White Knight," my uncle said with a faraway look in his voice.
"To tell you the truth, Aemond, I have forgotten what he looked like. But the one thing that I do remember vividly is the very reason why he was known as the White Knight. The man had a head full of pure white hair, not even a single blemish on it. It was a striking sight, something that I had never seen before or after until I saw 'him'. His hair was like a bright halo of white gold, shining in the sunlight, making him look almost ethereal."
My uncle's voice trailed off, lost in memories of a time long gone. For a few moments, there was silence between us, as I watched him, lost in thought.
"Did you ever find out who he was, uncle?" I asked, hoping to draw him out of his reverie.
"No, Aemond. Nobody ever did. He appeared at a few tournaments, won some melees and jousts, and then disappeared, never to be seen again. Some said he was a lord in disguise, others a hedge knight, and some even claimed he was a godly being, sent to test the knights of the realm. But nobody knew for sure."
As my uncle spoke, a sense of unease washed over me. His warning to be careful when facing Ulf, despite his apparent illness, hinted at something more sinister lurking beneath the surface. I couldn't help but wonder if there was a deeper reason for his warning, one that he was unwilling or unable to share with me.
"Do you believe that he is related to him?" I asked tentatively, my voice betraying my nervousness.
For a few moments, my uncle was silent, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke in a grave tone, "It does not matter. He is still just a man, and every man bleeds, Aemond. Do well to remember that."
His words were meant to reassure me, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than he was letting on. Nevertheless, I tried to focus on his advice and reassured myself that my training and skill would be enough to see me through.
"You are right, Uncle. All that matters is that I believe in the skills that I have honed for the past two years," I said, my voice more confident now. "I will be careful, but I will not underestimate him."
My uncle nodded in approval, his stern expression softening slightly. "Good. Remember, Aemond, you fight not just for yourself but for your family and your House. Your victory will be a testament to the honour and strength of House Targaryen."
His words reminded me of my duty and the weight of my family's legacy.
"Thank you, Uncle. I will make House Targaryen proud," I said, my voice filled with determination.
With that, we made our way to the arena, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. I knew that I would have to be at my best to emerge victorious, but I was confident that my training and my sense of honour would guide me through.
The mystery of the White Knight intrigued me, and I made a mental note to ask my grandfather if he knew anything about him. But for now, my thoughts were consumed by the upcoming Squire's melee, and my determination to prove my worth on the field of battle.
As my uncle and I made our way towards the training ground, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with nervousness. The Squire's melee was the perfect opportunity for me to show off my skills and make a name for myself. I had trained hard for this day, and I was confident in my abilities.
But my thoughts were interrupted as we reached the training ground, and I saw the other squires preparing for the melee.
I scanned the crowd, searching for Ulf, my main rival. My eyes finally fell on him, standing alone, adorned in pure white robes, without any armour to shield him. The sight reminded me of what my uncle had said about the White Knight, and my thoughts raced back to that conversation. But as I looked towards Ulf, I noticed his pale lilac eyes staring straight into mine. There was a fierce fire of fury burning in them, and I could sense his determination to defeat me. It was as if he wanted to prove a point, to show that he was not to be taken lightly, even though he was not in the best of health.
At that moment, I realized that victory was far from guaranteed. I would have to push myself to the very limits in order to defeat Ulf, who was standing before me, his fierce determination emanating from every fibre of his being. I blocked out the nervous shuffling of the other squires around us and focused solely on the task at hand.
As the herald began announcing the names of the participants, I could hear jeers from the crowd directed towards me. But when Ulf's name was announced, the noise of the smallfolk became thunderous. It was evident that they had taken a liking to him, likely due to his similarity to them in terms of his background and status. The sound of their cheers for him was overwhelming, and it was clear that I would have to work doubly hard to overcome the crowd's support for him.
As Father arrived at the tourney grounds, the atmosphere became even more charged with excitement. He strode towards us, his crimson cloak billowing behind him, and his presence commanding attention from everyone present.
Father's arrival was greeted with a thunderous applause, and he acknowledged the cheering crowd with a gracious nod. He then proceeded to give a speech about how he looked forward to seeing the squires perform in the melee, emphasizing how much he believed in the importance of discipline, hard work, and determination.
His words were inspiring, and they made me feel proud to be a member of House Targaryen. He spoke of the importance of honour, loyalty, and courage, the very values that our family had stood for since the beginning of our dynasty.
Father's speech also served as a reminder of the immense responsibility that lay on my shoulders as a member of House Targaryen. I was expected to set an example for others to follow, to be the best versions of ourselves, and to always strive for excellence in everything we did.
As Father finished his speech, I could see the determination in the faces of my fellow squires. We were ready to give our all in the melee, to show the world what we were made of and to make our House proud. The cheers of the smallfolk and the nobility alike were a testament to the impact of Father's words.
And with that, the melee began, and I was determined to give it my all, to fight with honour and courage, and to do my House proud.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
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