Chapter Text
Kingdom of France, Duchy of Bourbon, 1334 A.D
As the last rays of the sun disappeared from the violet sky, Sir Eliott De Maury steered his horse deeper and deeper into the forest, away from his village and the only life he had ever known.
The mocking laughter of his fellow knights and peers still resonated in his ears, and his mind was flushed with shame at the memory.
Still, he kept his eyes on the road, trying to muster the full power of his determination, while looking out for signs of damage, burnt vegetation or gouged earth.
Looking for indication of the passage of a most foul and loathsome being, who would wreck havoc wherever it would go.
A dragon. Fire and scales, death from above, a demonic grin and insatiable hunger, and a deviously compelling voice.
And Sir Eliott planned to kill it.
Were the circumstances any different, this could have made for the beginning of a glorious tale of bravery and daring.
But alas, it was very much the opposite. He did not ride into the dark, armed only with his sword and shield, accompanied only by his trusted steed, for glory or adventure, or even virtue. No, this was an endeavor driven by guilt, and the heavy burden of responsibility.
He was the one, after all, who had set the dragon free. Seeking to end the reign of terror of the witch who lived deep in these woods and made meals of unsuspecting peasants and wandering knights alike, he had listened to the friendly voice in the forest promising him help. If only Sir Eliott could help him get out from the cave he was trapped in…
And Eliott, driven by the creed of knighthood which was to lend help to any living creature in need of it, did not think twice. No creature, he thought, deserves to be trapped below the earth, where the sun does not reach, nor any of God’s other marvelous creations.
You must be the worst knight to ever be raised in this village , his cousin had once said before he became the lord of the castle. Back then Eliott had chalked it up to boyhood rivalry, but in the years since, Charles had become a respected commander of men, and Eliott had...well.
It wasn’t that he was a bad fighter. He was amazing at horse riding, excellent with a bow, and decent with a sword. He was quick to notice a threat, and he could track a quarry for miles. He simply didn’t have the heart for battle like his cousin did. He didn't like killing or injuring other men. He would much rather practice his skills, or help around the castle, and that had led some men to brand him a coward unfit for knighthood.
But most of all, he liked to roam the land in search of people to help. That was, for him, the essence of knighthood.
What that often looked like, from outside, was an incredible propension for getting into trouble. A lot of people took issue with the way he helped, whether it was aiding a young woman to escape with her lover against the wishes of her father ; or using the crops from a rich farmer's field to feed a starving family. It earned him a steady stream of complaints, directed at his increasingly irritated cousin.
For a long time he had stood firm. This is what our code teaches us. To always have pure intentions in our hearts, to help the needy and the vulnerable, and to measure success by our good deeds. He didn't see the point of preaching those virtues without applying them. So he ignored the people calling him a naive romantic, a gullible fool or a nuisance. His calling nourished his heart and his soul, and he was content.
At least until recently. His relationship with his cousin had grown more and more strained. He wanted nothing more than to be a good vassal, but Charles's inaction in front of the ills that plagued his people troubled him. He seemed to be more interested in currying favor with the Duke of Bourbon, talking about the prospect of war with the English, of glory and titles to be won. And whenever Eliott had dared to question him in public, his cousin had lashed out, and assigned him to the most menial and grueling tasks he could find.
Then the witch had snatched a little girl from the edge of the forest, and her father had gone to the castle to ask for help only to be cruelly turned away. Eliott had felt deeply disgusted and had resolved to do something.
At first he had tried to find the witch herself, but he had kept getting lost in the forest, going in circles as if some enchantment deliberately made him lose his way.
What had happened next was a bit confused in his memory. He knows he had walked on for days on end, without sleeping, in a strange mood, both very on edge and extremely convinced he was on a mission. After that, he remembers being very cold, lifting stones for hours, and a weird blue glow, and then the earth trembling, and he had fainted. When he woke up, he had a cut in his palm, there was a massive cave opening yawning in front of him, and he was so tired he could barely move. He crawled into the cave behind a rock and slept for a day and two nights ; he might have died if a servant girl looking for herbs and berries hadn't found him and brought him back to the castle where he was slowly nursed back to health.
This was not the first time he got into one of those bizarre moods, inexplicably elated and reckless then completely lethargic and somber. But it was the one with the worst consequences.
The dragon had quickly started burning farms and snatching cattle. A council was convened, and Eliott could not hide his guilt, compelled by his principles to always tell the truth.
You are a blight on this land, Charles had said. The day my father made you a knight might very well have doomed us all.
Those words caused a terrible pain in Eliott's heart, compelling him to defend himself even though he should have kept quiet and accepted his punishment with humility. But his ascension to knighthood was, to him, the most sacred moment in his life.
I was only trying to help. That's what a knight is supposed to do ! None of you were doing anything.
At that instant, he had seen true malice in the eyes of his lord and cousin.
Well then, why don't you take that big bleeding heart of yours, and use it to vanquish this dragon ?
Until you do, you are not welcome here anymore.
And so here he was.
…
As the night got darker, the air got colder and colder. Eliott was grateful for his thick fur cloak, the light of the moon, and most of all the warmth of his horse. Polaris was, of all the creatures on this earth, probably the only one who loved him entirely and without second thoughts. Eliott had trained him since he was a foal, and saw him grow into a splendid stallion, with a shining black coat and a flowing mane, quick as lightning but with an easy, agreeable temperament. Really, there was no better horse.
Eliott should probably let him go loose before he went to fight the dragon. It was unfair to endanger his friend for a mistake he had committed. Hopefully he would be able to return to the castle and find another, more prudent master.
It was a pretty hopeless fight, after all, to go and fight a dragon on his own. The people who had saw it reported it being as large as a farm, with a spiky tail, fangs as big as arms, wings like boat sails, and eyes smoldering like the fires of Hell.
But he had no men willing to fight with him. So he had no choice but to go alone. And go he must, otherwise it would be akin to confessing that Charles was right, that his detractors were right all along - that he was a soft hearted coward, not worthy of being a knight.
He could not stomach the thought of living the rest of his life as an exile, in shame and misery.
As he went on, though, the dread weighing on his shoulders became more and more persistent. Then he saw that the road ahead had been marred, and stopped his horse in front of what seemed like a gigantic paw, claws digging deep holes into the mud. His heart twisted.
The dragon had cut a swath through the forest, crushing trees and burning vegetation on his way. From there, it was very easy to follow. Eliott sighed and engaged Polaris into the breach.
A while after that, though, he saw a silhouette of a person in the middle of the road. Thinking it must be a lost traveler, he expected them to get out of the way, but they didn't, standing still until they were blocking Eliott's way.
Eliott narrowed his eyes, trying to see, but the moon was behind the mysterious figure, and so it was useless.
"Good night, fellow traveler. Are you lost? Do you need help? You do not need to fear for I am a knight, sworn to protect all those who cross my path." He said tentatively.
The silhouette said nothing, just stood there. After a while, it got awkward, but Eliott felt it would be more rude to just leave without saying anything else. So he stepped off his horse, thinking this way he would be less intimidating.
He looked at the figure again and saw a glint in the dark, and all of a sudden he was scared. What if this was the abominable witch he had sought in vain to slay?
Then the figure clapped in their hands, and Eliott jumped in his saddle out of surprise and fright, and light flooded the darkness, and he wanted to clamber back onto Polaris and send him into a gallop, but then he saw.
It was a woman's face, kind and worn by the years, but not quite the age of a crone. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, and did not seem at all like an evil witch, even though she held a clearly magical bubble of gentle blue light in her hands. No, she must be some helpful spirit of the wood, come to his help in his moment of need, a fey but benevolent enchantress dedicated to helping lost souls.
"Noble knight," she said. "The night is very cold. Would you spare an old woman's bones and give me your cloak?"
"Of course," Eliott said, unclasping his cape without hesitating. He shivered once it slipped from his shoulders, but generosity was a key virtue of all good knights.
"You are too kind," she said, as she wrapped herself in it, and Eliott saw the cloth change color, from a deep green to a light, enchanting blue.
"You are welcome, my lady. Might I enquire about your destination? This wood is not safe for lonely travelers."
The woman smiled. "Yes, but you see, that doesn't really matter. No man is ever an island."
What did that mean ? Eliott stared at her, puzzled.
"Ah, never mind." She shook her hands and the blue light raised itself above both their hands. "You, my child, are about to embark on a journey. A marvelous journey to a strange and far away land, with steel dragons and magic boxes that make merry."
Eliott frowned. "I have a dragon to fight."
"Your determination is commendable but rather foolish, I am afraid. The dragon would eat you in one bite and the people here would be no better off. No, you need another type of quest, to prove you are a true knight, and harness the power of a radiant and pure heart. Only then will you be able to slay the dragon."
At that, Eliott perked up. "That's all I have ever wanted. What would you have me do?"
"You must accomplish your quest before midnight on the eve of Christmas. Otherwise, you will never be a true knight."
Eliott frowned. "Yes, but what must I do ? I beg you, please tell me, and I will oblige. My cousin says I am not brave enough to be a knight, but I can try harder !"
"It is not the sword that makes the knight, but what guides it," the lady replied enigmatically.
Then, she grinned mysteriously, and the blue light descended on Eliott's head, there was a shower of blue sparks, and the world disappeared in front of his eyes.
.
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*
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^^^[_]^^^
Republic of France, 2019, December 1st.
"I am sorry, Mr. Lallemant. I didn't mean to fail the test, but Theo just broke up with me and I was so sad," the girl in front of him sniffles. "I thought he was my prince charming."
Lucas feels terrible for her. She is way too young to be this heartbroken. She is still wearing pigtails, for god's sake.
Men suck, no matter their age. He's well placed to know.
He sits down on a desk, so he is more level with her.
"Lisa, let me tell you a secret. You know those stories, full of princesses and knights in shining armor about finding your one true love ? They're made up by grown ups to sell movie tickets and books. They're not real. But it's good news! It means that nobody has the power to change your life except yourself. Boys come and go, but your future is what is important."
She nods, looking at him very intently.
"It's okay to be a little sad, but don't let it get you down, alright? I know you have great things in your future." He smirks. Nothing like the power of spite to motivate. "Theo...on the other hand…"
Lisa grins. "You're right, Mr. Lallemant. I am so much better than him."
"Damn right you are. Now, we're going to see about an extra assignment so you can get your grade score back up, alright? And we won't speak of this any longer. "
"Thank you, Mr. Lallemant. You're the best !"
"Just think of me when you get voted into Parliament, alright?"
She laughs and then hurries out of the classroom.
On the other side, Lucas can feel four sets of eyes judging him from the door that leads to the class next to his own.
"Look at him, raising the next generation of heartless little machiavellians," Imane says. She is the teacher of the grade just after him, and she loves making fun of his education methods.
"Yeah, who made you into such a Grinch, huh?" That's Daphné, teacher of the grade below his.
"True love is made up ? That sounds like heartbreak talk to me, Lulu." Alexia, teacher of the youngest grade, and Emma, teacher of the one after that, who is just laughing at him, round out the group.
Lucas rolls his eyes. His colleagues are great at their jobs, and usually a lot of fun. They are also insufferably, terminally nosy, and determined to meddle in his love life as much as humanly possible.
"I am fine." He replies. "If you guys are this bored, the craft room needs tidying up. Somebody opened a canister of fake snow by accident and now it's everywhere."
"Don't worry, Lucas," Daphne continues, as if he hadn't said anything. She is truly the worst of them all. "Christmas is coming, and it is the most romantic moment of the year. Mark my words, this time you will come to the town's Christmas dinner with the man of your dreams on your arm." She has a slightly manic glint in her eyes. Lucas can already see himself being manoeuvred into awkward dates with all the gay guys she managed to find in their remote part of the country, and that's truly the last thing he needs.
"Daphy, no. I need to be alone for a while." He sighs. "I guess I still am a little heartbroken."
"Oh, Lucas, I am so sorry. James truly is a piece of shit. I will make sure he is served rancid croutons at Christmas."
The others stare at him, less convinced by his turn towards a pity party.
That's when his phone rings, thankfully, saving him from this conversation, and he flees to the hallway to take it.
It's his sister, Manon, calling her from her very audibly busy shop.
"Hey Lu, sorry to drop this on you, but we are having a rush and I won't be able to close on time. I promised I'd take Ange to the Christmas market after school. Is there any way you could take her now and I'd meet you there later?"
"Sure, sis." He loves spending time with his niece. Angélique is one of the funniest and cleverest little girls he knows. Besides, it's not exactly like his social calendar is full at the moment, and it sure beats going home to mope in front of the TV.
"You're a lifesaver, Lucas. See you there."
…
"Perinne in my class says Santa doesn't exist and she saw her parents put the gifts under the tree last year."
Lucas can't help but feel a little sad ; Ange is seven, she could have believed in Santa for a few more years.
"What do you think?"
"Dunno." She replies, pulling her pink beanie further over her braids. "It's a bit of an unlikely story, isn't it?" She frowns and bites into her crepe. Unlikely is one of her favorite words, and she pronounces it with an accent on the first L like a tiny professor. Manon always says she could follow in Lucas's footsteps. Lucas thinks she is meant to go much further. "Maybe Santa thought she had been naughty and bought her presents instead. Perinne is not a very nice girl. But," she looks up at him with inquisitive eyes, "I have never seen Santa either. I know the supermarket version is fake." She thinks about it a bit longer. "Maybe only grown ups can see the real Santa."
"Maybe."
"I think I need more proof. Will you help me investigate?" She asks very seriously.
Oh dear. He ought to advise her against it. "Maybe there is a reason Santa doesn't want little kids to see him, you know. Maybe if you try to find him he will think you're naughty."
She looks at him with wide innocent eyes.
"But I just want to do some science, uncle Lucas. To learn the truth. Is that naughty ?"
Lucas bursts into laughter. He loves this kid.
"No, no, it's absolutely not naughty. Ok, I'll help you."
"Great ! We can use the binoculars I got for my birthday !"
Well, better call Manon to tell her to hide the presents in her bank safe or something, before the great Santa Observation Scientific Expedition of 2019 turns her house upside down.
They continue to walk around the market. Their little town is big enough for a sizable Christmas market, but not so big that it turns into a commercial circus. There are cute little wooden stalls decorated with holly, pine and fairy lights, where vendors sell honey, wine, food, and all sorts of local crafts. There are a few attractions, like a paddy with goats and a pony that kids can ride, a few tents with historical reenactors pretending to be the town's first inhabitants, and a small ice rink. A passably talented street musician is playing seasonal tunes in the background, and Lucas feels his mood mellow. All in all, he isn't much for Christmas spirit, but he likes this place.
They finally meet Manon on the central town square, in front of the massive Christmas tree. There is always a tree in front of Town Hall, but this year they really went crazy, setting up a tree so big it rises above the roof of the stone building and occupies one third of the square.
"Ah, thank god, there you are." Manon looks tired. She sighs. "I really wish Yann didn't have to go on a business trip during what is probably my busiest time of the year at the shop. I'm proud of him, but...i really have my hands full, and I don't want Ange to miss out on anything."
"Don't worry, sis," he winks at Ange, "me and Ange have made a plan for Christmas activities that will keep us busy, right ?"
"Ok, good," Manon sighs. He omits to mention the chaos this plan will likely cause. Better leave that for later. He can take Ange sledding in the meantime, since it started lightly snowing two days ago and they soon could have enough to make that possible.
"What about you, then?" She asks as they resume walking and Ange runs towards a stall full of glass blown figurines and tree ornaments.
"What about me what?"
"Any plans for Christmas?"
Great, another snoop. His sister is friends with Daphné and all his other colleagues ; this shouldn't surprise him, really.
"Oh, you know, the usual, I'll help Daphy set up the Christmas Eve dinner at the community center. And I can spend Christmas Day with you guys, right?"
"Of course, it wouldn't be Christmas without you. But...isn't there someone special you would like to spend a little time with?"
"Manon, if I met someone, you would be the first to know." He has had a few hookups, but not the sort of thing you share with family. He's fine, really. He doesn't miss romance. He just doesn't.
"Of course. And I mean, it's not like you're really putting yourself out there, so…"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well...Lucas...not to be indelicate about this but your relationship with James ended almost a year ago, and you've been a hermit ever since. Are you still really this torn up over him?"
"No. He was just an attractive asshole, I knew we weren't meant for each other."
"Then what…"
"Maybe I like being alone."
"I doubt that's true."
"Listen...ask me again in the spring, okay? This time of year, I don't feel like any drama."
Manon's face goes soft.
"You know," she answers, voice barely a whisper, "she would have wanted you to be happy."
Three years ago, a few days before Christmas, their mother had died of a sudden heart attack. The holiday used to be her favorite moment of the year, but ever since her death, all magic had been drained from it. Nowadays he just preferred to hunker down and wait for it all to be over.
"I know, I just -"
At that moment, Ange comes running back towards them. "Mommy! Can we buy a glass figurine for our tree? They've got tropical fish!"
"But honey...don't you think the fish would be a little out of their element in a Christmas tree?"
"No, it will be like that time where a fish crawled out of the ocean and turned into a human!"
Manon looks at her daughter, puzzled. Lucas isn't; after all he's the one that's been feeding her obsession with science, giving her all sorts of encyclopedias and fun experiment kits.
"Mommy, please! You already said we couldn't get an aquarium, so…"
"Ange, we already got you a cat, we can't…"
"I will teach him fish are friends, not food! He can practice with the tree ornaments !"
Feeling an argument coming, Lucas seeks a diversion ; that's the best part about being an uncle, he can do only the fun parts.
"Okay, who wants hot chocolate ?"
…
He trudges through the market back to the central square, the hot chocolate stand being half hidden beyond that enormous tree. The market has gotten really busy now, and it's starting to be a bit too much for him. And it has started snowing, too. He is going to deliver and drink the chocolate and then head home ; he accomplished his mission anyway. And he's ordering all his gifts online this year to avoid the hassle.
He buys three cups with paper lids, and walks very carefully not to try and jostle them. He is so careful he doesn't even pay attention to where he is going.
He turns around the tree and hits someone square in the chest, spilling one of the drinks over….a plate of armor ?
"I am so sorry, I didn't look where I was going - oh."
Then he sees the guy's face and he falls completely silent.
It's a man - well, obviously. But he might be the prettiest, most handsome man Lucas has ever seen, anywhere. He's tall, broad-shouldered, has cheekbones sculpted by the gods, artfully tousled curls that look incredibly soft, and the kind of eyes that make you dizzy with just a glance, wide blue green and almond shaped, crinkled at the corners and full of laughter, and his lips look wonderfully soft -
Oh my god, Lucas, you're staring, he tells himself. This is so fucking embarassing. He blinks. But the stranger seems sort of out of it, too, and he is still staring at Lucas himself, as if captivated. His eyes are so intense, he -
No, stop it, Lucas reprimands himself again. The man is dressed as some sort of knight, with chainmail, leather and embroidered cloth - a very convincing costume that looks like he put a lot of effort into, and if Lucas ruined it…
He takes his scarf and tries to wipe the hot chocolate stains off the man's armor, but the man stops him.
"There is no need, kind sir. My armor is tempered steel and has seen much worse. Besides, I was just as imprudent as you, if not worse. My sincerest apologies."
Oh, he's really in character, huh.
The stranger...knight touches his gloved fingers to his chest and brings it to his mouth.
"By the Holy Virgin, what marvelous beverage is this?"
"Hot chocolate," Lucas responds, feeling slightly faint.
"Well, the enchantress was right. This is a strange land indeed. Sir, you must help me. I have lost my trusted steed, Polaris. Have you by any chance, seen a mighty black stallion canter past?"
Lucas looks at the crowded square. "Um, no. But there is a horse over there," he says pointing at the direction of the reenactment camp. "Even if it's more of a pony, really."
"Where there are horses, there might be stable hands ready to help me. Thank you for helping me, fair traveller. Were our paths ever to cross again, I am Sir Eliott De Maury, at your service." Then the man bows, and disappears into the crowd, leaving a dumbstruck Lucas behind.
He stays there for much longer than a minute, processing every instant of that entire conversation that made absolutely no sense whatsoever.
How did that man not know what hot chocolate was ? Or where the other reenactors were ? Why was he looking for a horse in the middle of the city?
Wait, fair means beautiful in old timey language, right ? Was he... hitting on me ?
"Ah, there you are !"
He turns around and sees Manon, Ange in tow, holding a colored bag and grinning. He has a very strong intuition it's full of glass fish.
Manon grabs one of the chocolate cups from him for Ange and the other for herself.
"So," she smirks, "that guy looked nice. And very handsome."
"What? Who? Oh no, that was nothing, he's not -" Lucas stammers, realizing he is in fact being very suspicious "- nice. Not very nice." He can't deny he was handsome. That would absolutely not be credible.
"He smiled at you, though." Ange says, her tone impertinent. "Like he thought you were beautiful."
Lucas can feel himself becoming redder by the second.
"You know," Manon says slyly, "Basile and Arthur have done historical reenactment once or twice, they know the guys who run the club, I'm sure they could put you in touch with ...any good looking member in their ranks who likes dressing up as a knight."
"Historical reenactment is for nerds," Lucas replies, cheeks burning.
Manon laughs at him. "Good thing you're also a nerd, then."
"Yeah well...I need to go, I have uh, a thing. I have a package they're going to deliver at my house. I need to be there to...so, uh. Bye."
"Sure thing," Manon replies, eyes shining with mirth.
He kisses the top of Ange's head and makes a quick exit, only stopping when he gets to his car.
Fuck.
What the hell was all that ?
There is a very rational explanation for this, he thinks as he starts his car, and turns on the windshield wipers, trying to get some visibility in the quickly worsening snow. He just met a guy who was very intense about his roleplaying and tried to chat up Lucas while in character, and Lucas didn't get it in time because he is super fucking dense, so the guy moved on.
God, it's just his luck. Life sends a perfect specimen of manhood his way and it happens like this.
Nerds aren't really his type, usually, but then again his ex was the arrogant jock cliche and that did not work well for him, at all, so maybe he needs to expand his horizons. And if he has to go for a nerd might as well pick one who looks like he spends his days on horseback and could build you a house with his bare hands.
God. No. What the fuck is he even thinking about. He meant what he said to the girls and Manon. He can't handle a relationship right now ; he can barely handle himself already.
The guy has probably forgotten all about Lucas anyway. When you look like that, it musn't be too hard to find interested people.
God, he just really needs to get laid, that's it, and he can forget about the whole embarrassing sequence. He's not the type of guy to get meet cutes, he's -
Out of nowhere, a shape appears in front of him, and Lucas slams his feet on the brakes, but he's not fast enough, and he sends the person flying off to the side of the road.
Oh fuck no please -
He rushes out of the car, heart beating a thousand beats per minute, terrified of what he's going to see on the side of the road -
And what he sees is the knight from the market, Sir Eliott De Whatever, smiling beatifically at him from where he is lying down in the gutter, his clothes wet and muddy from the sludge, but otherwise seeming quite unharmed.
What are the odds...
He could have broken something, though. Lucas rushes to him.
"Are you okay? I am so, so sorry, I didn't see you…" Because I was too busy daydreaming about your smile, he doesn't say. God, he is such an idiot.
"I am quite fine, I assure you. Once again, I am afraid the fault lies on my side. The carriages and steeds of this land are quite uncanny, the enchantress warned me, but…"
Roleplaying again ? Now, after being hit by a car ? Okay, that is going beyond enthusiastic nerd territory, into flat out weird.
Then the knight gets up.
"Don't move! You could get hurt!"
"I am fine, although your worry is a balm to my heart. My armor protected me from your steel carriage. I am quite happy to find a friendly face though. You see, I still have not found my horse, and I am afraid he would hurt himself in this blizzard. I would really like to find him before I build myself a shelter." He slaps the roof of Lucas's car. "It seems a fine steed you have here. Mine is not quite so resistant or speedy, although he is friendlier."
Build a shelter ? What is he talking about ?
"Please let me call you an ambulance, at least. Then I will help you find your horse."
Sir Eliott smiles at him ; a bright and earnest smile that makes something inside Lucas all melty and warm.
"I am glad I seem to have found a true friend in these troubled times. You are, sir, a most steadfast and generous soul, and I command you. You would make an excellent knight. Now pray tell me, what is the name of my new friend."
"Um. Lucas. Lucas Lallemant."
The knight bows again, deeper this time. "It's my honor to meet you, Mr. Lallemant. I am, once more, at your service."
"Uh, Lucas will be fine."
"You flatter me. Well then, if we are to be intimate friends, and travel companions, you can call me Eliott. I usually insist on people calling me Sir, I have earned that rank after all, but I can make an exception for you."
"Uhh...thanks." Lucas can feel his cheeks are on fire again.
And he is extremely conflicted. Because on one hand, he is pretty sure there is something actually wrong with this guy - he is pushing the charade way too far. At the same time, wow. This noble knight thing is...really doing it for him.
Fuck. This is just ...what the fuck.
…
While they wait for the ambulance, then during the ride to the hospital, and after Eliott has been checked out, Lucas learns several things :
First, that Eliott seems to have a supernaturally cheery disposition.
Second, that while he is friendly with everyone, he seems to want to turn that mainly towards Lucas, showing him things, babbling nonsense at him, even grabbing his hand once or twice. It makes his head go strangely woozy.
And thirdly, even after several check-ups indicate there is nothing wrong with his body or his brain, it seems like Sir Eliott is either the best actor on the planet or he truly, genuinely believes he is a knight hailing from the year 1334 who was sent here by a woodland enchantress to fulfill some sort of wild quest to slay a dragon.
The time travel is one thing, but a dragon?
"It's probably some sort of Temporary Global Amnesia," the doctor says. "He must have gotten some sort of light shock when you hit him and now he is confused. I am sure it will clear in a few days."
So, yes, probably a nerd who spent one too many nights reading books about knights. Lucas doesn't tell the doctor Eliott seemed to be very confused already at the market, wanting to cling to the explanation offered. He was probably just pretending when Lucas first bumped into him.
They get out of the hospital, Lucas slightly at a loss. They should probably go to the police station, to see if they can't find Eliott on a missing persons list, but that can wait until tomorrow. It's getting late and he wants to go home before the snow makes the drive dangerous.
"So, where do you think we can find my horse ?"
Right. The fucking horse. Who is probably totally imaginary.
"Are you sure that…when the... the enchantress sent you here, the horse was with you ? And that it didn't stay behind?"
Eliott frowns. "Well, I had assumed she would know I needed my horse. But there are not a lot of horses in this land. And the stable hands at the fair didn't see Polaris either." He sighs. "You are probably right. Well, there is nothing to it then. I will have to start my quest without him." He slaps Lucas's back vigorously, making him stumble forward. "Many thanks, my friend. I will make a shelter for the night under a suitable tree. You have helped me tremendously already, and I do not wish to hold you up any longer."
Lucas looks at the thick blanket of snow falling over the land. Sleeping under a tree in this weather? Is this guy serious?
"I am not letting you sleep out here. You can come and sleep in the spare room."
"Really, it's no bother. I am used to being at one with the elements." Eliott smiles at him, but there is a stubborn edge to his voice.
At one with the elements my ass. Lucas feels responsible for this idiot now. In his current state, there are so many bad things that could happen to him and the snow is only the least of it. Plus...if it's actually his reckless driving that put him in this state...
"You said you were at my service, right ? Then do it for me. So I can have some peace of mind this night instead of wondering whether somebody is going to find your frozen corpse tomorrow morning."
Eliott sighs. "Alright then. I am not as fragile as you presume me to be. But I do not wish to trouble you. And I cannot refuse such a heartfelt entreaty."
That's very noble of you, Lucas wants to say, but he's not even sure this guy would even understand sarcasm, so he doesn't.
This is just so completely bonkers. Manon is going to have a field day with this.
…
The drive back feels awkward at first. What do you say to someone who really thinks they're a knight from the fucking Middle Ages? Tally ho, do you want a turnip, let's storm the castle? He never really listened in history class and right now, he's regretting it.
"So, how does one become a knight?" He says after five minutes of silence. It feels like a stupid question, like Eliott would expect him to know that, but he doesn't seem to mind.
"The day I became a knight was the best day of my life." Eliott beams when he talks, his voice full of pride. "I left my family at seven to become a squire, and worked for years to become worthy of the title." That seems rough, Lucas thinks. "For a while," Eliott continues, "I had doubts I would even make it, but then my lord gave me the honor, and it was marvelous. From then on, I vowed to put aside all lowly passions - to let go of greed, of vanity, of selfishness, of lust and sloth, and to pursue a path of bravery and virtue in the service of others."
The traitorous part of his brain wonders what "letting go of lust" means exactly.
But for the rest...That sounds pretty...lofty. When he thinks about knights, it's mostly the cool swords and bloody battle imagery that comes up. Although he is pretty happy that it's not that kind of knight he has in his car, but this version, who is as threatening as a mastiff puppy. Impressive but not scary in any way whatsoever.
"And, uh...do you feel like you have succeeded in this goal?"
Eliott's face suddenly turns somber. "I don't know." Oh no, he's touched a nerve. "I've always tried my best, but…" His voice trails off in the distance and he looks terribly sad.
Hm.
Okay, maybe that's not the mood they should try to cultivate right now.
"Hey, let's listen to some music." He turns the radio on, landing on some obnoxious but cheery American Christmas song.
Eliott looks at the radio as if it's possessed.
"What...what is this sorcery ? Where are the minstrels playing this tune ? Are they trapped in your carriage somehow ?" He leans forward, until his nose is almost pressed against the radio.
"No," Lucas laughs. "It's...picking up radio waves that…" Yeah, that's probably way too complicated, so he just turns the button. "Look, we can change it whenever we want. You try."
Eliott starts fiddling with it, jumping from channel to channel until the noise becomes one unintelligible soup, captivated.
"This is incredible. You truly are a master of wonderful contraptions."
Lucas should tell him that most cars have a radio and mastery has nothing to do with it, but for an instant he likes the idea of Eliott thinking he is some sort of wizard. And there is something about his enthusiasm that is contagious.
Then Eliott starts playing with buttons everywhere, opening windows and activating windshields and then opening the roof, letting a bulk of snow cascade on their heads.
"Yay. Buttons." Lucas says. He is a bit annoyed, but also irrationally charmed.
And cold.
Eliott looks up, and extends his tongue to catch a snowflake.
"No matter how fearsome the storm," he says, "there is always something to learn from it."
Then he grins again, tireless and winsome like a movie knight, utterly ridiculous and yet so...alive. His world turned upside down, but he embraces it wholeheartedly. His words leave a strange echo in Lucas's heart, and for a fleeting instant, he finds himself wanting to believe in fate.