Title: Sword and Shield
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #8, Sword and Shield
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Set in the King Arthur universe…

Warnings: AU, het

When Red first went to court, the colors dazzled him. The bright plate mail of the knights and shimmering gowns of the ladies seemed to him foreign, almost ethereal and he thought he had fallen into heaven on earth.

It did not take long before he realized it was hell, at least for a boy like so many others, black haired and short and young, with no father, a bastard child. Such a boy was only useful for chores, carrying water, chopping vegetables, preparing chickens and mucking the bricks used for building.

He envied the golden-haired pageboys, dressed in scarlet and gold livery, they who had Masters, especially the ones who belonged to the valiant knights and would welcome their Masters back with food and wine, and listen to tales of fantastic adventures for days on end, tales of slaying dragons and rescuing fair maidens. He wished to be a squire also, old enough to ride in light mail behind a Master’s war-horse, and actually take part in those tales.

Most of all, he wished to find his Father.

Still, a few years went by, before one morning, the herald blew a great blast on his trumpet, and announced that Sir Lancelot had just returned from his journey to the far East!

There was much rejoicing, and though the work to prepare the feast that night was difficult, Red minded it not, for he had heard many strange songs of Lancelot’s deeds and wished dearly to meet the man.

Lance had brilliant golden eyes that burned like the sun, and long red hair the color of fresh blood, and Red had somehow been chosen to serve him tonight, so he brought meat and bread when the knight requested it, and poured his wine, hoping that he would hear of some marvelous deeds in return.

He was not disappointed.

Lancelot spoke of a beautiful princess, locked in a tower made of solid ice. No flame could melt it, though men had tried, and brought piles of brushwood and set them aflame, hoping to melt the cold, to no avail. But he had studied it, and he had seen, around the Princess’s neck, a gem of clear blue in an evil mark.

Then, he had fletched an arrow of rowan wood, and a Priest had blessed it, and he had shoot the Princess, and so skilled was he that the stone broke apart upon contact with the rowan arrow, and so, the Princess had fallen from the tower as it dissolved and he had caught her.

The men stamped their feet and cheered mightily, and Red felt warm all over, as the tale wound down.

He had refilled Lancelot’s goblet one more time, and then steered him upstairs to his room, but at the door, the knight had stopped him with a strange light in his eyes, and asked if he would stay.

Red had agreed, innocent of what he might be getting into. He had soon found out, for Lance had fed him wine with herbs that made him plaint, and he had begged, begged for the man to touch him.

It had been a shock when he had discovered that the man was in actuality a woman. However, he could understand how such a great secret would be kept. Did King Arthur himself know?

No, she had spoken, eyes dark with mystery. Would he speak the truth?

He promised he would not, for he was half in love with her already. And he could guess, how difficult it would be, for her to be a woman. Instead of riding out on adventures, she would be sitting at home, chained to an embroidery needle, and most likely a lesser man. Now he knew why Lancelot had not brought the Princess home.

Did he still wish to submit?

The thought was foreign, almost sinful. However, his admiration had not dulled. Surely he could do worse for a wife!

So Lance had taken him, and now, he lay panting, she made love to him.

He could care less about the consequences, as he cuddled up to her, eager for more. She was like an angel…

“So eager,” The woman had purred. “I could well enjoy one such as you more… permanently. How would you like to be a squire?”

Red had been terribly excited then, being able to do nothing but nod, before he returned to his task, and she laughed.

They rode away from Camelot three days later, and though Red was still sore, nothing would have kept him from riding at Lance’s side.

And that night, he lay in his knight’s arms, and thanked heaven for this mercy. It was folly to expect her to submit to him, as a weak maid would have done. She did, however, promise to love him and never leave him, and that was enough. Indeed, both now wore wedding-bands, hidden beneath their gloves.

He could hardly believe his good fortune.

End Fic

Completed 8/20/06

Edited 9/10/09

Come on, can’t you see Lance as a knight in shining armor? ^^ Although, poor Red… then again, I suppose I could have done it the other way around, but it would not be as fun!

Red: *Sweatdrop*
Lance: *Chuckles*

Phantomness: Another fic complete!