The Lady's Champion
Part 1
It was an unusually warm day during early autumn. The light coming from above the orange and yellow tree crowns was casting a cozy hue. A row of half a dozen horses was walking through the quiet calm forest surrounded by varying terrain. The knights of House Hufflepuff were proudly perched on top of the majestic steeds of various colours, led by none other than the well-known Cedric Diggory. The week-long journey's destination was a manor belonging to one of the four prominent dynasties in the kingdom. The reason for this being the yearly tradition of a friendly tournament, hosted to entertain the aristocracy and the royal family, each taking place in a different part of the kingdom. This time the organisation has fallen upon the shoulders of the House of Ravenclaw, residing in the north.
Cedric´s happiness was starting to show as he knew that soon the tiring travel would be over. Today he and his men will have some free time as training starts tomorrow. All champions have a week to prepare as they like before the audience comes over from all over the country. But Cedric is interrupted from his train of thought when one of his fellow says his name, “Oi, you think the tournament will be any different since last one?”. Truth be told, this was going to be his first time as a participant and third time seeing the games at all, so he could give his team an idea of what to expect. But his wit wouldn’t let him give a boring answer. With a smirk that reached his eyes he calmly said, “Aye. Last year's fools have had a whole year to become bigger fools.”, which earned him a laugh from his crew. Another young man, Zacharias joins the banter: “Well even if we do not win, there are other things to be excited about!”. Malcom tries to shut him down with : “You sure? I don’t see anything exciting about being in the north…”. But then it was time for Anthony to shine as he shoves Malcom on his horse: “Well a word goes around that they have the fairest maids in the land…”
A small quaint chapel made of stone stands in the middle of the well-kept garden. Beautiful stained glass adorns the walls and shows various female saints as they give off a blue tint on the inside. Undisturbed whispers of prayers sound from behind the wooden door which provide privacy to a young woman. Her chants are low and directed at a sacral painting as her frame kneels in the middle of the tiny room. Cold stone bites her skin and her hands are tightly clasped. Her beautiful features stand in contrast with the rough and dim surroundings, youth seeping from every facial feature. Soon the prayers stop and the door creaks open. Sunlight shines upon the maiden and light breeze picks up her locks of hair in a dance.
A childlike giggle enters the garden and it for sure belongs to the children that live on the grounds of the manor. Y/N looks around to spot them, though she doesn’t have to look around much as a little boy runs up to her. “Lady Y/N! Lady Y/N! The first champions have arrived! You must see how mighty they look!!” a little boy practically yells at her and starts pulling her by the hand. Other children join in and push or pull the poor woman. “Lady Y/N, will you marry one of them?” an auburn haired girl squeals. Then a monk, not taller than any of the kids, in a blue robe emerges from behind a bush and hurriedly tries to get the children's attention: “Children leave the lady alone. She has other duties.”, but this barely catches their notice. So he breathes in and raises his voice: “WHOEVER gets to the church first will get a double the portion for dinner.”. Then as if he cast a spell the group stops and suddenly disappears in a hurry to get to the church. “Oh thank you Father Flitwick. I felt like they would rip my limbs off”, Y/N laughs “but you shouldn’t motivate them with food. They’ll grow stronger and one day I will get dragged across the whole court.” The priest certainly appreciates the humour and replies calmly “Do not pretend you were not like them in your childhood my lady. With a bit of discipline, they will grow to be just like you or Lady Cho.”.
Upon hearing that, Y/N bowed her head at the praise and walked alongside the hedge in the garden. “Speaking of which, Lady Cho has asked to take a break from her studies during the tournament. Do you perhaps have similar intentions?” Father Flitwick asks. Y/N gets startled hearing the news not directly from her friend and considers her answer. “Father, I would prefer to continue. There is no point for me to waste time attending the festivities-""I would like to object to my lady. A rest from studies would clear your head and also your father will insist you find a future husband.”. At this the woman abruptly stops and her mood turns serious. “I am working on it but one is to my liking. I know I am nearing the age where marriage is a must, but I cannot fathom living by the side of someone unlikable.”, the annoyance of repeating her point for the hundredth time is evident in her voice. “I certainly understand my lady. But perhaps someone from another part of the kingdom might pique your interest…”
The gates slowly open and knights clad in gold and black enter. It is noon and commonfolk start gathering around the square where the horses walk through. Nobles look down from windows to get a view of the quarter of champions. Cedric looks around in wonder, seeing the difference in architecture, the lack of yellow and dominance of blue in every little detail. The people here look stern but rational as they measure the young men, unlike the more cheerful persons at home. The smell of mountains, conifers and harsh terrain replaced the more soft wooded trees and grassy meadows full of flowers.
The grey-eyed champion finds the change of environment quite amusing and a thought of what’s to come floods his brain. He has met some people from Ravenclaw while making his dad company during some council meetings concerning the matters of the kingdom. In his view unnecessary prejudices are overused and cause totally avoidable obstacles during negotiations. But that is for the king to solve, not him. His crew observes their new home for the following weeks and tracks closely behind Cedric as if they could lose him in the crowd. They are led to a stable for their horses by servants.
As the Hufflepuffs dismount their horses and hand over their belongings, another group servants show where their sleeping headquarters are. “This tower belongs to you. Each representation resides in one part of this manor house. Servants are available to you at any time. Lord Ravenclaw will host a welcome at sunset. Please do not be late. Lord would also like you to wear traditional robes for the evening.” , an older man explains some rules to the group of champions. After he leaves the boys let themselves slouch down for a second after the long days of horseback riding.
“So Cedric, what is the plan? How do we begin training?” Zacharias asks. But before Cedric could even open his mouth someone else says: “I suggest we see the other champions and then we decide.” A silence falls in the common room which signals an approval. “Aye, we wait in the shadows, see their tricks and then we bring out our strongest weapons.”, the men cheer, but not before their captain utters: “But we still have to be cautious.”. Shortly after this conversations, lunch is served in the common room. When the food is gone, everyone goes either to freshen up, look around the manor house or take a nap.
There is a long while until the dinner starts so Cedric gets outside and roams around the courtyard. Although there are a lot of differences between his home and this place, the courtyard feels familiar. A beautiful tree in the middle spreads up into the sky and small hedges make a geometric pattern in the grass. Cedric sits down on one of the arches that look into the garden and rests for a while. The moment is short-lived as playful screams sound from behind a stone wall. One would expect the sound of excitement from children seeing other champions arriving. But these are yells and if you pay close attention, they are calling the Hufflepuffs. “YELLOW KNIGHTS! COME OUT!”. “HEY BADGERS COME GET SOME HONEY!”. Cedric being in a good mood, runs inside and sprints up the stairs opening. When he opens the window a gang of children squeal from happiness. “DO YOU REALLY HAVE HONEY??”, he yells down at them while laughing. They seem to like his response so they yell back “WE CAN SHOW YOU IF YOU SHOW WHAT YOU CAN DO!!”. So Cedric gathers his mates and they join the kids. With a bunch of wooden props for weapons, they start showing off and play fighting. They even play with the young ones.
“You mean this seriously?” Y/N asks Cho about the tournament. “What? I see no harm in having a little break. It has been a while since anything interesting took place between these walls.”. The girls exit a building and walk across a rocky town square near the champion house. Laughter and yells turn their heads, only to see six grown men having a blast with the local little menaces.
Y/N watches the scene when a boy her age stands up from the ground, carrying two kids on his back as if they weigh nothing. His beautiful chestnut hair, big smile, soft features and pinkish cheeks make her whole world stop around her. His laugh was unlike any song she has ever heard and his boyish mischief makes him look like he never had a bad day in his life. She takes in every detail and only wakes up from her trance when a small girl notices her. “LADY Y/N! LADY CHO! COME OVER HERE! THESE ARE SIRS BADGERS!”
Oh Lord above. Cedric has just lifted two small humans like bags of flour as if they weighed nothing, but he nearly drops them when he lays his eyes on what he thinks is an incarnation of an ancient goddess that they used to make songs about. He sees her approaching but it seems to him like she is dividing the ocean with her presence. No air is entering his lungs because his whole body is making sure to spend every once of its energy on absorbing this beautiful unhuman being, because if he doesn’t, she will evaporate in a second.
He almost forgets his manners when Malcom clears his throat beside him. Cedric quickly composes himself and bows his head. But not for long so he can preserve a permanent image of this woman in his head. “Lady Y/N, Lady Cho. “ he repeats the names the kids yelled before although unsure which is which, ”I am Sir Cedric of the House Hufflepuff and these are my knights.”. The two ladies greet them “Hope you all join us for the celebratory dinner tonight.”, smiles the darkhaired one. “Certainly, we are pleased to be here.”, says Anthony trying to take pressure off Cedric. Then both sides exchange farewells but not before Cedric and the mysterious beauty exchange smiles. Mind you, the children watched this the whole time in silence which got interrupted the second both women were a few feet away. “DO YOU LIKE LADY Y/N SIR CEDRIC?”, how on earth did they notice? “Oh trust me, it was more than obvious. You were practically drooling.”, says Gareth who barely utters a word but manages to answer Cedric´s internal question.
So the lovely lady has an even lovelier name. Now Cedric has another mission besides winning the tournament.
