Castle Black

Castle Black was a only a half a day away from farmland and a walking distance away from a village named Kokiri.

It was a big castle that stood out like mountain in the forest of Winfrey, blending nicely with it's yellowish color. With towers on the four side of it and a bridge that was above the river that stood under the castle.

The man who not only lived in the castle but governed the lands around it was Baron Folian, also known as sir Folian. Born a peasant man who was knighted by the king himself after defending the country seven years ago.

Gullit crossed the bridge with shaky feet looking at the high walls of castle. When he got to the half way point of the bridge he heard, "Don't move another step YOU ARE NOW ON THE PROPERTY OF BARON FOLIAN."

The brash voice came from the top of the castle walls. On there Gullit saw a bunch of archers in green tunics lined up in a row with their arrows all aimed Gullit's head.

In the middle of the formation was a man clad in silver armor with on his hip a silver sword. His hair was grey in color and his face was schriveled up, leaving a permanent look of dissatisfaction on it. He had a thick mustach but was fairly wel shaven.

The man had both his hands on his waist and looked down at Gullit, he was the one with the brash voice. "State your reason for being here!" He demanded.

Gullit responded, "My name is Gullit Redarus, I was send here to be Sir Folians apprentice." Gullit thought about all what Seth said; remembering that Folian was supposed to be a prideful man, thinking that he wouldn't even be let in looking the way he did.

Gullit hadn't taken a bath or washed himself ever since he left the village. And he was already very Dirty to begin with. He wore leather slippers and on his body there was a ripped shirt and brown shorts. Gullit felt shy.

Then the man in armour yelled, "Come to the gate I will meet you there!" Gullit did what he was told and soon stood by the oak doors that where thick and four times his size.

He looked at those doors and felt them, they were sturdy, dark and the oak velt as if it was made from stone.

After a few minutes of waiting the doors opened and two men stood in the opening: the man in armour of just before and another man wearing a white coat that came down to his knees.

Upon seeing this Gullit bowed his head, stuttering to say something, "Ehm thanks you for opening the door and looking." He straightened his back akwardly and bowed once more for good measure.

Both of the men were looking at the kid in different ways.

The man in armour looked refusing of Gullit while the man in the coat had a searching look in his eyes, with his chin in his hands. Studying the kid deeply he said. "Yes, this is him Rijkaard, I can tell, he looks just like his father." He said pulling his hand from his chin.

"Well look at that, last time I saw you you didn't even come to my knees, but now... You reach my waist. How you've grown so tall Gullit." The man said.

Gullit immediately knew who this was supposed to be, "Sir Folian?" "Yes of course!" Folian responded immediately, "And this is sir Rijkaard. Also Gullit can you call me lord Folian or just lord, it's only proper."

Upon hearing this Gullit straightened his back nervously, he almost wanted to salute the man but he didn't. "Yes lord, I will remember this."

For a moment, the Lord let out a sly smile that curved one side of his lips, Gullit caught it but to him it looked charming.

"That's great! Now come in Redarus, we have show you allot." Folian said, waving his hand for Gullit to follow him. The oak door opened fully, revealing the court inside.

It was fairly empty if you ignored the dozens of archers that were leaving their post from the castle wall, two of them stayed on top though.

Folian took gullit into the castle: it had many halls that crisscrossed and interlocked with eatchothers. Wherever they walked in the castle there had been a red carpet on the floor made from some luxury material. That even Gullit could feel the softness of through his leather slippers.

The walls were adorned with many paintings of men, women and landscapes so detailed that Gullit wanted to touch them to see if they were real. When he tried he heard a thunderous sound behind him from sir Rijkaard. "Don't you touch those!" Gullit stood up straight immediately, the hairs on his body spiking like a needle.

"Those are worth more than cattle you know." The man continued, Gullit turned around fast apologizing, Folian snorted softly.

Gullit's mom had learned him manners so he did his best to uphold his form near nobility. But now that he was there in what seemed like a forbidden world. It was hard.

While Lord Folian showed Gullit a couple of places. The knight left the other two be alone saying "I'll see you later Gullit Redarus." Before Gullit could think about the implications of what that meant, lord Folian was already a fair distance away from him. The kid ran to keep up with the man.

Lord Folian showed Gullit around the castle. He showed him the dining room where he was expected every evening, the stables where he would get horse lessons.

The way lord Folian introduced the various locations of the castle was very charming. Mixing the purposes of these places with a tiny bit of humor and a perfect pace. He'd never stay on a subject longer than he'd have to but also didn't make them seem like he was unpressed by them.

Showing Gullit his favorite painting; it was a obese woman eating a man. She had a overly large mouth that seemed uncanny and her eyes where wide open like she saw death only a day before.

Gullit shivered, that women was one that haunted his dreams. Babsnabunny was her name. Supposed to be a scary story of a woman that ate glutinous children.

The Lord noticed Gullit shiver, "I was also scared of her when I was little. Not anymore of course." Folian said it calmly his hand on his chin. When Gullit asked why that changed Folian had a grin, "I realized that if she was real, she would have a big crush on me. People don't eat love interest."

From all of the answer that wasn't one Gullit was expecting. Then what Seth said just a few days ago was about the man next to him. The Lord was a womaniser and apparently a good one, of course Babsunny would have a crush on him.

Especially with the man's looks.

Their second last destination was a room in the western part of the castle. It was fairly close to the kitchen, so the halls were infected with the delicious smells of various spices and some kind of meat.

There was a sound of pots and pans clinging in the background that didn't want to leave. Mixed with that was the sound of a probably demanding head chef saying something about perfections.

They were soft sounds in the background though. Easily ignored.

Folian opened the door to the room revealing a bed with two bedside tables next to them. A red mat was placed in the middle of the room and on the opposite side of the bed there was a chimney.

There was a desk in the corner of the room, and there was also a window showing the courtyard. Lord Folian walked in, waving his hand grandly, "This is where you'll be sleeping Gullit."

Gullit stood in awe just before the border of the room. He took in the whole of the room like he never could see before. Even the room of chief Richard was half the size of what Gullit saw before him.

"Isn't this a little excessive for me. I'm only here to learn the sword, then leave." Gullit said it all hesitantly, he couldn't accept this. He didn't like the idea living of off the generousity of somebody else. Being a inconvenience would bother Gullit.

"Oh no Gullit this is your room." The Lord said, "You will forever have a place in this castle, cause were adoption you." Gullit's mouth fell open.

"Excuse me, what did you say!"

Folian then repeated what he said before, that he was going to adopt Gullit. "Richard that fart said that you where running away from home, straight to the army.

He said how he couldn't adopt you so he asked me to take care of you until you can use a sword proficiently. But none of that. We're taking you in."

Gullit still stood outside of the room, he looked confused. Of course he was. What he just heard seemed to be what a lot of people dreamed about. Yet he he didn't want to accept it.

He calmed his nerves closing his eyes, "My lord, I thank you for the offer but I can't accept this. I'm just a commonor, my presence would be a inconvenience to you."

He bowed slightly bit look up again when he heard the Lord scoffing, "Oh please! It was only six years ago when I was knighted, and two years when I became a baron."

Gullit insisted on not wanting to be a burden. He already felt like he was doing too much by asking for training. He thought about Richard thinking about how he didn't want all this to happen.

"My Lord, you are still nobility now, I can't accept this offer. When I become a warrior I'll pay you back for the training but adoption is to much effort on your part my Lord."

Folian sighed, "Your just like your father at that age you know." Gullit looked at folian trying to hide his prideful smile. Deep down he also felt surprised, he didn't think his father could be anything close to a child.

The boy had a static image of his father, one that maybe flattered the man to much.

How could he not. Everyone he talked to reminded him of how awesome his father was. In his own memories of the man we're few things that probed otherwise.

Folian continued, "Not wanting to be a burden, so much need for independence at such a young age. That and your politeness too. But I'm guessing your mother taught you that."

Gullit hid his pride, in the village he was known as a thief to some, a no one to the rest. Hearing this praise from Lord Folian made him happy. His uncle never praised him no matter how much work Gullit put in.

He always felt like he was worth nothing in that house, "My mother did teach me that my Lord." He said, "that's why I don't can't accept your offer in good consciousness."

The Lord scratched his head thinkingly, "Imogit would do the same for my kid if he needed help. Of course that was almost the case, as this was supposed to be your life."

"I'm Sorry?" Gullit asked, he heard many things today for which he simply wasn't prepared.

Folian sighed, "The reason I got knighted in the first place was thanks to my defense of the Parubian walls six years ago. A mission which actually was assigned to your father before he and his battalion disappeared.

But I'm certain if Imogit was still here he would be The baron of Castle Black and you would've lived here your entire life.

Gullit, please, don't refuse my help, I can't let the son of my rival life a peasants live knowing this." Folian walked to Gullit and put his hand on the boy's shoulder and smiled. His teeth shined white as he did.

After hearing this Gullit was still nervous about the offer, but he accepted them. He never thought that he would be a noble but now many paths were opened to him and he felt positive.

As the two of them looked outside out of the window Gullit focused on the three young men gathering together. They sat under the shade of a tree and seemed to be talking about something of which Gullit couldn't hear very well.

The three boys were around his age wearing training gear. They had leather pads on their shoulders and knees that seemed thick.

All of them were now putting on a helmet waiting for someone passively. The tallest of the boys had blond hair and was a fair bit taller than the others. He moved more flamboyant than the others and when he spoke he obviously did it with passion. His eyes where green

The boy that was the shortest also seemed the most immature, with a squeaky voice. His hair was brown, but his eyes where a striking blue that shone like diamonds. Even from the distance away from where Gullit was he noticed those eyes. One thing he and the tallest shared where their faces.

Handsome, with profound cheekbones and the same smile as Lord folian.

The last boy didn't look like the others, his skin was brown unlike the olive color of the others. He must shared the similar background as Gullit's grandfather- the Barabian lands that only had one season of summer.

The last boy's hair was curly like spring, and dark like the night. He was far quieter than the others, and moved with a slow power that pulled eyes to him.

"Who are those kids?" Gullit asked looking at Folian. The Lord chuckled, "Don't you remember? Often times you and Icaran shared a bed. Even bathing together.

And Renard, he used to steal your toy's."

Gullit turned his head to the boys again, "I'm supposed to know these guys?"

"Well, maybe just a tiny bit. It has been almost a decade since you last saw them. These are my boys. They will be your brothers from now on, and soon they will your sparring partners. I heard you would be coming sword?" Folian eyed Gullit, giving him an expecting look.

Gullit couldn't stop himself from blushing as he said that he got robbed.

"Really now." Folian said looking out of the window, a indecipherable look on his face. Something between disappointment, anger and happiness, "Too bad. Doesn't matter though, you'll have that sword back if you stick with us long enough. Now go and wear some other clothes. Sir Brimgard will be expecting you soon enough for practice."