#dukeofwesleton

(Also, two posts today. yay)

They would wait until the Duke came out, no matter how long it would take.

It had already been a week since the Duke of Wesleton had ordered Dominik and Fritz to further their studies and training. So much had happened, but it all seemed like such a blur. Fritz wasn't sure if he and Domink had grown closer, or just further apart. Fritz leaned against a post as he watched the servants load a boat, arms folded and all his support on his right leg, his left crossed behind it. Fritz closed his eyes and allowed the warmth of the morning sun wake him up. It was an early morning, they only had a week to get to Arendelle - the trip normally took 5 days by boat. The Duke insisted on the extra two days, should they run into bad weather. It wasn't a horrible plan, but it was two more days away from Wesleton. it was where Fritz grew up. He had never left, nor had he ever wanted to leave. Adventure wasn't something he constantly seeked. "Its a beautiful view." Dominik commented, walking up next to Fritz, hands clasped behind his back. "The open water, the smell of the salt.. I really do think you will enjoy it, once you get your sealegs." Dominik said, bringing his right hand out it waved over the view slowly, almost reaching for something. "So much uncharted land, wouldn't it be incredible to see the entire world?" Fritz looked over at Dominik as he asked the question, then back out at the sea. he leaned his head against the post once again. "I quite like Wesleton, it's enough for me." Fritz commented, closing his eyes, he wished Dominik would leave him alone - if only for a few moments. Dominik sighed, clasping his hands behind his back again. "What if the one isn't in Wesleton though? somewhere else? What happened too the Fritz when were kids? adventure! ladys! riches beyond your wildest dreams!" Dominik's hands flew out in reaction, thinking about the past always made him a bit... sporadic. "If I'm not mistaken, that was you. I prefer the quiet comforts of my own home. not this palace. Not the boat. I like Wesleton. I know everyone here, and they know me. we get along fine. no one has a quarrel with me. I like my life that way. simple. the exact same day, everytime." Fritz responded, putting weight back on his left leg he stood up straight and folded his arm. "Either way, guess I'm stuck with this position until the end of our trip." Fritz shook his head and turned around, beginning to head towards the ship. "Are you coming?" Fritz asked, stopping to look back at Dominik. "No, no thats alright Fritz. I'll catch up in a bit. .. I'd like to enjoy the view just a little bit longer." Dominik put his hands on the rail of the small porch he stood on, gazing out at the open waters. A smile crept onto his face as he imagined Arendelle and all its glory. He had yet to actually visit the kingdom. he had accompanied the Duke once or twice to other kingdoms, but never Arendelle, the main trade partner... and as the Duke put it, so many mysteries.

"The Duke asked for a history book on Arendelle?" Fritz asked, pulling off a book from the shelf, he saw Dominik's back on the other side of the shelf. The shelves were only thick enough to house one book, but the backs remained hollow. The shelves were all unstained on one side. "Yes, something about he won't embarrass himself in front of the new Queen. Arendelle is our main trader." "Everyone knows that," Fritz paused, putting a book back on the shelf. "Do you think the duke has something.. planned?" Fritz noticed that the sound of Dominik pulling books off of the shelf had stopped. "The Dukes business is not our own, Fritz." Dominik's tone had dropped from a chipper tone to.... something more serious. the air felt tense. "I know, I just don't think we should be following him so blindly." Fritz's fingers trailed across the tites, scanning for the "History of Arendelle: The Relationship with Welseton". The library was never well maintained in the castle, whenever the Duke wanted a book it was a all day job. "Don't think." Dominik said, suddenly grabbing Fritz's hand. Fritz jumped at the touch, turning to face Dominik, his face had dropped. "This job will get you into more then you are willing to do. Do not ever try to quit. you are dismissed when the Duke can no longer make use of your skills. Always adapt. I don't plan on figuring out where the 'retirees' are sent." Dominik cautioned, releasing Fritz's hand he reached past Fritz with his right hand so his body was wrapped around him, grabbing a book. "Here. bring this to the Duke." Dominik ordered, placing the book in Fritz's grasp. Fritz took the book and nodded, exiting the library it opened up into one of the main halls in the castle, avoiding servants rushing around, Fritz clutched the book, knuckles turning white he quickened the pace to the Dukes private study. he needed air. it was only morning and.. he wasn't exactly comfortable with his job anymore. Fritz knew when he accepted the job it would be difficult, but judging by what Dominik had told him, it would be a lot more then he could handle. He quickly toughened out his exterior, bringing the book down into one hand he marched with confidence while he tried to sort things out in his mind. he could at least last until after the coronation.. right?

Dominik walked towards the training grounds for the knights, the court opened up in the middle of the castle, training dummys lined up along one of the walls, and several training circles for knights to spar. Dominik spotted Fritz, practicing against one of the trainees he grabbed a wooden sword and walked towards Fritz, walking over he put a hand on the trainees shoulder, motioning the trainee quickly left. "I didn't think you would take it seriously." Fritz said, standing up straight they both readied themselves for the fight. Fritz was the first to swing, quick, yet not very powerful, the wood met eachother. Twisting the sword downwards, Fritz broke contact as Dominik lunged forward, hitting Fritz in the side. as Fritz stepped to the side, Dominik brought his sword back into a defensive position, allowing Fritz to swing again, the swords met and Dominik pushed forward, forcing Fritz to stumble backwards. Fritz regained his balance and swung again, Dominik countering he hit Fritz in the neck. The fight continued in a similar fashion, as Fritz stumbled backwards for the third time he dropped the sword. "Alright, alright, you're better at sword fighting. I still have you with the crossbow though." Fritz said, picking up his sword he put it away. Dominik put his sword back next to Fritz's, walking in unison they headed for the library. "I sense another challenge coming on." Dominik smiled. "No thank you!"

Three days had passed since the Duke had ordered Fritz and Dominik to train, leaving not even four full days left before they would set sail for Arendelle, a weeks trip in the worst weather. Fritz and Dominik had spending almost every moment together, training there ranged and hand to hand combat, diplomatic skills, and running through how the ceremony would take place. Although Dominik had not expected Fritz to be invited to the coronation with the Duke, the Duke of Wesleton had his reasons - fresh meat. someone to sacrifice. he hadn't spend that much time training Fritz, and if someone needed to take the fall for anything, Fritz would be there. the Duke, although attending coronation out of respect for their main trading partner, also had alternative motives. Arendelle had always been a very secretive trading partner, and the Duke wished to expose that to benefit himself. Dominik and Fritz sat in a smaller breakfast room, packed with servants who were finishing up their meals before the day began. "You need to practice more with your hand to hand combat," Fritz said, looking up at Dominik who only grunted. "I didn't mean that as an insult, I just think-" "Don't think, know. no one gains confidence through thinking." Dominik barked back as he shoved a spoon filled with oatmeal into his mouth. It had been a few years since Dominik ate what he would define as a peasants meal, eating with the Duke had its disadvantages, but it was outweighed by the meal you received. "That is probably the worst advice you have given me all week. either way, I can handle a sword a lot better then you can, and thats kind of sad given my physique." Fritz said, picking up his bowl as he finished his meal. "Is that a challenge?" Dominik asked, looking up at Fritz. Fritz just smiled and walked over to a large basin of water, where he dropped his dishes and left for the courtyard. Dominik looked down at his food and shook his head. Fritz, as stubborn as he was, was changing. And in Dominik's opinion, it was only for the better.

Dominik regained his composure, lowering his hands from his face he watched Fritz practicing, he seemed to have calmed down, as much as someone could from the conversation they had. Dominik slowly exited the Gazebo, clasping his hands behind his back he headed towards the castle. Dominik stepped up beside Fritz. "Try this," Dominik grabbed a slightly different crossbow and handed it to Fritz. Fritz looked at Dominik, moving his sight to the ground he handed Dominik the crossbow he was currently using and grabbed the other one, cocking the bow he began shooting. "Are you going to shoot, or bring up the conversation from earlier?" Fritz asked. "Why not both?" Dominik grabbed a crossbow and placed a hand on Fritz's, lowering it. he looked at a servant and nodded, who went to collect the arrows from the targets and surrounding area. "Does the crossbow suit you well?" Dominik asked, releasing Fritz's crossbow. "I suppose." Fritz looked up at the sky as he waited for the servant to finish, shifting on his feet. The sound of Dominik's crossbow firing let Fritz know the servant had cleared. Fritz pulled his crossbow up and aimed, hesitating he lowered the weapon. "You know I don't think you are right about this whole situation," Fritz began, allowing his left hand to support the crossbow entirely. "However, it wouldn't hurt to change my exterior a bit, just around people I don't know. sort of like you do." Fritz pulled his crossbow up and fired it before he let Dominik respond. Dominik smirked, thinking he might not respond at all. a facial expression can say everything. "It isn't in your nature to agree with me, so I'd say you are off to a great start."

Fritz grasped the crossbow tightly in his hands, squeezing the trigger he allowed the force to knock him back slightly, out of the ten arrows he had shot, one had hit the target. behind the targets was the gazebo, which, far enough away he unfortunately couldn't hit Dominik, who sat inside and allowed the world to go on without him. Dominik had always been a little dramatic. Fritz now realized that the man who he had considered sensitive and sweet carried a sense of respect with him. His self esteem had never been higher, and if anyone were to cross paths with Dominik - or someone he cared about - things wouldn't go very well. Unfortunately, Dominik also wasn't a very good fighter, so he had to rely on his position in power, which currently, was higher then most in the Kingdom. or at least he had access to those who had power. Fritz gripped the crossbow tighter, although he allowed it to fall, staring at the gazebo he furrowed his brow, pulling the crossbow back up he hit the target, right in the center.