Always a Peasant

Autumn had set into Hydrogia and Sir Trenton informed that most of the season would be spent preparing for winter. The mornings were unbelievably cold and it usually rained at some point during the day. 

The sky was grey and the world felt moody, but anyone who had lived in Hydrogia knew that this was the normal progression of seasons. 

To think that peasants were the only ones who worked hard turned out to be the furthest thing from the truth.

For the past few weeks, Henry had been working until his last bit of energy was spent each day. 

His original doubt that he could eat three square meals per day was no longer there. After so much work, he felt like a ravenous beast at all times. 

In the morning Henry had been taken from drills and told that he needed to chop wood before the rain set in for the day so that the logs wouldn't get soaked and be useless to them when winter set in. 

Henry stood over wood he had been chopping for nearly two hours straight and wiped his forehead as he looked at his progress. He had been tasked with sectioning three entire trees and was about halfway through. 

The servants were bringing in logs from the forest and the squires and apprentices were the ones required to chop them up. The knights thought it would be a good strength-building exercise. 

He couldn't help but notice the apprentices of higher status weren't used to the manual labor and they complained through the entire job, taking many breaks throughout. No matter how he felt, he found a way to power through the fatigue, knowing there was a meal ahead.  

On top of preparations for winter, he also had to take care of Sir Trenton's weapons and armor in the armory each night. Every day he had to shine the armor with oil to keep it rust-resistant, but if the older man wore the armor throughout the day, he additionally had to roll it in sand so that any traces of rust would be knocked away before it could be shined with oil.

The first time he ever stepped foot in the armory, he was blown away by the sheer amount of weapons and armor inside. He couldn't help admiring each one as he walked by. 

As he shined the armor and weapons, he found it to be the only time where he could lose focus and daydream.

Daydreaming made his duties go by so much more quickly.

The young apprentice finished up the last of the wood and returned his axe next to the shed by the stables. He was permitted to eat lunch after he finished the task and his stomach was already growling. 

Approaching the fortress where the dining hall was, he felt a few raindrops start to fall. Worried, he glanced back at where the servants were putting wood into the storage room and it seemed they were finishing just in time. 

He had a few people tell him not to bother with the servants' work, but in society, he came from a place where he was considered even lower than a servant and it felt wrong to leave when some were struggling.

As he made it through the stone doorway, he could smell some kind of stew and fresh bread. His stomach started growling worse. 

Most of the time he kept to himself if Trenton wasn't in the dining hall, but after he grabbed a bowl and a roll, he turned and made eye contact with someone he hadn't seen in a while. 

Alix gave a slight smile and nod to Henry then beckoned for him to sit with him and Maximus. His blonde hair was longer than the last time they saw each other and Maximus's short brown beard was thicker.

"Sir Alix, Sir Maximus," Henry greeted them with a bow as he approached. "How was-"

"Good heavens!" Maximus exclaimed suddenly and Henry's eyes widened with worry. "Seems you've been following the same diet as Sir Trenton."

Henry placed his bowl and roll on the wooden table and self-consciously patted his shirt. Had he gotten fat while enjoying a life of luxury compared to when he was in the peasant village? 

When he dressed in the morning, his shirt was shorter than normal, but surely he hadn't let himself go so much. 

Sir Trenton had come into the dining hall after he heard of the return of the knights. After he had grabbed his large helping of food, his eyes searched for his friends and he was pleased to see his apprentice nearby as well. 

He noticed Henry looking sheepish and wondered what they were discussing.

"What have you done to the boy in our absence?" Maximus asked. 

Trenton eyed Henry before pushing his shoulder so he was forced to sit down on the long bench next to him. 

"You're making him self-conscious," Trenton defended him. "He's finally eating well." 

Mirrors were a luxury and Henry never bothered to look in one. He couldn't imagine himself having changed much since he started as an apprentice. 

"Your arms have doubled in size," Sir Alix observed, glancing up from the bowl he was hunched over. "You don't look like a teenager anymore." 

Maximus nodded enthusiastically and Trenton sat back and eyed Henry suspiciously. His red eyebrows raised and he shrugged, accepting that his apprentice had grown muscle since they first crossed paths.

"Get him new clothing," Alix ordered. "He isn't a peasant anymore."

Henry wanted to doubt that but he simply kept his attention on his bowl and took spoonfuls of the food he so desperately wanted. 

He only desired to no longer be the subject of the conversation. It made him feel unsteady.

After the men ate more, Trenton was the first to finish and he leaned his elbow onto the tabletop, disregarding any manners. 

"How was the expedition?" Trenton asked, his tone more serious than normal. "I'm happy to see you made it back before it could freeze."

Alix glanced to the side and leaned into the table more - it was clear to Henry he was trying to keep whatever he was about to say a secret. 

"It's as expected," Alix said. "Evidence of monsters pillaging villages in the north. I've already talked to the commander about the state of the northern country and how I don't think their knights will be able to get through this without a commander or Duke appointed." Alix glanced around once more before he leaned in to speak again. "The duke's tower remains empty. The north is our only defense against the monsters and it's crumbling slowly."

"So that means…" Trenton trailed off, his voice barely above a whisper. 

Maximus nodded and whispered, "War."

Henry couldn't help the look on his face and he glanced around and the three knights. At the thought of a war, his heart pounded.