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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Mar 11, 2011 22:15:33 GMT -5
Robert was loving life. As the eldest son of a rich Earl, he was welcome in the highest of circles and by most women. Only a few men ranked higher then him; and even then his charm was winning over the ladies to his side in ways his title just quite could not. However it was no the girls which made life fun but the knightly sports that he was finding he excelled at.
His father had liked to stay in the country rather then London town; and Robert had thought that held him back up til not. Now; he was finding he was the best archer around, thanks to all the hunting he had done in his youth. He wasn't the best swordsman, but he could down a man if needed before they got close enough to draw a sword.
Robert was on the training field a few hours after the noon meal. Most where either napping so they were rested for tonight's parties--as London always had a party--or were up to their own distractions. It left him with the field mostly to him self so he could work on his aim. He had just about got sharp enough that he could split his own arrow in two with a second shot.
[Set before Robert was an outlaw] {TAG: Prince John} |
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Post by prince on Mar 12, 2011 20:09:05 GMT -5
The only area at which his skills were lacking was Archery. He had never had a good eye for targets, and his hand was never steady enough to hold an arrow still enough to aim. But, he rationalized, if he practiced enough until then, he would at least not embarrass himself. John walked outside to the archery fields, enjoying the warm sunlight on his skin. He had foregone the heavy, expensive clothing he usually wore in favor of a light tunic and pants with simple boots. His hair was a mess, and he looked nothing like the royal prince he was.
As he crossed the lawns, he spyed another man practicing his archery as well. As John watched, he noted that the man was of good skill. Very good. John couldn't quite pinpoint who the man was, by name at least. He knew that he was noble, but the exact name escaped him. Rodger? Robin?
John went over to the man, fully intending on learning the man's name, but decided against it. He instead stopped a few paces away from him, and gestured for a nearby squire to set up another target for him. As the boy hurried off to perform his task, John commented, "You seem to have quite the skill with the bow. Are you planning on joining in the archery contest in the tounament?" |
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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Mar 13, 2011 21:56:25 GMT -5
Robert looked down the straight arrow; to see his target. He waited there a short moment as the target blurred then cleared while his eyes focused before inhaling slowly; hold his breath and letting the arrow go just enough so it would slip past his fingers and split the arrow in half before he turned to look at whomever had spoken. That was when he wished like hell he had just turned around first. It was one thing to show, but another to ignore the king's brother.
It made you a bold ass to ignore royalty of any kind. Robert gave a bow of his head before speaking; deciding that it was best not to draw attention to his actions by apologizing. "I thought I'd might. Give me a chance to see if I am as good as I think I am or if my years in the country just made me arrogant." Robert knew he was damn good, and he was willing to stretch his neck out to even claim to be England's best archer if he was feeling cocky.
Robert was not, however; very good with a sword. He blamed that annoyance on his father's country life. It was hard to build skill when there was no one to teach nor practice with at great extent. It meant he was not as great as he wanted to be. Robert wanted to be the best at everything; and to be able to be quite loud about it. "Shall you join us, sire? Give us a run for our money?"
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Post by prince on Mar 14, 2011 22:02:19 GMT -5
John thought on it when the man began talking in response to John's comment, without an apology John noted. John didn't blame him. He woudl have done the same thing in his situation. John remembered who the archer was: Robert of Locksley, son of the Earl. He was a few years John's senior, but his higher title seemed to put them on almost even footing in everything but archery, it seemed. "I shall join you, Sir Robert, but I highly doubt I will give you any sort of challenge," he responded, with a small laugh that covered his bitterness at his lack of skill.
The page had finished setting up his target and had scurried off. John drew his bow from his quiver and strung it, saying, "There is no reason to be hesitant on my account, Sir Robert. Carry on as you will." John wished he would. Perhaps he could study the man's technique and learn something of his own. John drew back an arrow, sighting down the shaft as so may other kights as well as his father tried to teach him to do. He tensed as the target seemed to blur and shift back into focus alternately, then released the arrow when it was in semi-focus. The arrow landed in the white of the target, far outside of the red rings that were painted on it. John hissed in annoyance. He had been out of practice for too long. His aim had only grown worse. |
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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Mar 15, 2011 0:03:07 GMT -5
Holy crap the prince was a bad shot! If their ever had to be a duel; Robert was going to challenge him to archery. There seemed little chance the prince would hit him. "A good shot , sire." Robert told him out of forced respect for someone of higher rank then himself but his tone held enough hesitancy that it was clear he did not think it was true. "If you would like a bit of advice, try not gripping the arrow so hard in the back, just barley hold it. Your aim will be truer when you let it go."
It would take more then just that to fix the prince's bad aim; but it would help him get more control of where the arrow was destined to end up. If it had been anyone else; Robert would have mocked them for being a bad shot and even had shot his own arrow to hit the center of the new target.
"I hear that you are fine swords man, my lord; if you can't best us in archery then I hear that you will best us all at that weaponry." Robert wasn't a good swordsman but he could at lest hold his own. He wasn't a complete idiot with the steal blade but he wasn't anywhere near the ranks of the best. He had the strength to wield the heavy blade but lack the skill to handle it well.
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Post by prince on Mar 15, 2011 18:52:14 GMT -5
John had to fight the urge to snort at Robert's comment. He was being a complete kiss-up. John knew as well as the next man that his shot was a bad miss. Anybody with half a mind could have told him that, he didn't need a knight to tell him that he did well and add insult to injury. But then, Robert gave him a bit of advice: Don't hold the arrow so tightly. John had to admit to himself that he was probably right.
Sir Robert then appeased John's anger by commenting on his skills in swordplay. It was true, John was very good, and he liked to boast to anybody who would listen. "I am quite good," he replied, nocking a new arrow in preparation to shoot. Right before he was about to fire, he was struck with an idea. Slowly relaxing the tension in the bowstring so that it didn't snap back at him, John casually asked, "Are you planning on joining the swordsmanship competition, Sir Robert? I find myself in need of a sparring partner for practice that woudld be worthy competition."((Sorry it's kinda short.))
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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Mar 16, 2011 15:23:45 GMT -5
Oh that would complete his day; insult the prince, show up the prince, and then get his ass kicked by the prince. Welcome to London, Sir Robert; let the mocking begin! "I fear I might not be much of a sparring partner; I am still training with the blade to achieve the ranks of your self and other knights." Which was the polite way of saying he had no skill; and it would be embarrassing to have to fight the prince. Any such fight would surely become public; just as anything the prince--or royal family--did.
Robert wanted to make another shot; but he knew that by making the shot he'd be bragging and by missing the shot he'd be too obvious at his game. It was best to stand here and just let the prince take his own shots. While the prince held no direct power over his life and rank; he did hold a rank, power and respect that Robert could never reach as an son of an Earl. He also was the king's brother and should something happen to their king before an heir was sired then this man would be his king. Then he would hold absolute power over his life and rank.
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Post by prince on Mar 17, 2011 16:03:37 GMT -5
John ran his hand through his hair, thinking. Sir Robert had basicly admitted that he was lousy at swordplay, something that John was skilled in. John was obviously no archer, but Sir Robert had just split his own arrow in two with a perfectly aimed second shot. An idea suddenly struck him. "In that case, I propose a trade; my skills for yours," he said, walking towards the knight.
John's dipolmatic training was evident in his mindset, but not so much in his voice as he chose his words carefully. "You are in need of a trainer for the sword, I am in need of one for the bow. What if I were to help you train in swordsmanship, and in return, you help me with my archery." John could see no reason why Robert would refuse. They would both get something that they needed, and perhaps gain a new ally as well. That, and John was the prince. A knight wouldn't dare refuse him.
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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Mar 18, 2011 20:28:29 GMT -5
Robert looked over at the prince when he spoke and his mind took in his words. The prince was known for his swordsmanship; and to be trained by the prince would be an honor for any knight. Still, if he proved to lousy; then to be mocked by the prince would mean either a challenge to be laid out, or he'd have to take the blow to his honor and walk away--which wasn't his strong point. Still, to be seen as the prince's teacher in the bow would be an honor that few to none would ever get to claim. If he could turn the prince into a sharp shot, then he would have a reputation twice the size of what his father had.
It was the thoughts of being better this his father that made a grin slowly pull over his face; "Sire, I think I will take you up on that." Robert told him, sounding both pleased and arrogant at the same time. He was confidant in his skill and pleased that the prince seemed to see it too. "If you have free time, I can teach you some now." As a knight, Robert's time was at the king's will, or any other member of the royal family. If they said now or do it at 3 am, he would be doing it then. If they said wait til it rained hard enough to fill the river; then he'd be doing it then. "If not then I will of course meet you when and where it would be best for you."
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Post by prince on Mar 19, 2011 17:42:14 GMT -5
John ran his hand through his hair again, effectively mussing it up even further. He hated the feeling of having his hair lying flat against his scalp. it was too unnatural. He wasn't quite sure what to do next. He never did well in social situations; the lords of Ireland could attest to that. He guessed it would be best to try and actually get to know Robert, seeing as they would end up spending time together. "Tell me, Sir Robert, where do you call home? Somewhere nearby?" He asked, feeling a little out-of-place as he did so. But then again, he rationalized, they had to start somewhere. |
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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Mar 20, 2011 16:44:49 GMT -5
Excellent! Other then the off fact that the prince seemed to think Robert was an idiot; everything seemed to be going well. "I plan to cal London home for now on, for I have found it's pleasures more to my liking then Nottingham where I am from." He was sure Nottingham would be at lest a familiar name to the prince as the forest surrounding it was known as the King's personal hunting grounds and no one was allowed to hunt there with out his express permission. His father the Earl had an extended permission to hunt there when ever he liked from the king's father. Richard had never with drawn that order so his father keep hunting there.
It was these hunting trips that had built his skill with a bow. "It is probably why I am a better shot then a swordsman. Nothing to so out there but hunt." And he was a damn fine hunter; had knew the woods very well. Not as well as some of the outlawed men who used the over twenty square miles of woods to hide in; but well enough that he knew some of it's hidden glories.
As for teaching the prince about shooting; that he could do."I think you should first know that your bow is not of the best quality. It's average, even above average in design but it's not been hand made with you in mind. A bow should be made of wood that has been cut to be longer then your torso and wood as thick as your wrist. Smoking the wood will allow it to bend more readly. Your bow, sire; while very fine, will hinder your shot. I can teach you to aim; and shoot true, but if you get a bow built like I said, you will find your accuracy and strength in your shot will near perfection of your skill." Of your skill; meaning he had to learn to shoot first.
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Post by prince on Mar 21, 2011 15:53:38 GMT -5
Robert plunged into a legenthy critique of John's bow. It was true, his bow wasn't made for him. It had been his brother's bow. Geoffery had bequeathed it to John when he died. Geoffery had been slightly shorter than John and stockier as well. If Robert's analysis was true, then this bow was very much the wrong size for him. "I shall have a new one made immdediately." It would be a few weeks before it was finished, he knew, but that wouldn't matter to him. It wasn't as though he would become an expert overnight. Robert said he could teach him how to shoot well and aim true, even without a decent bow. "Well, let me watch you first," he told Robert, "perhaps I can find one of my own flaws." He could tell Robert was eager to shoot again, and he knew it would be to his advantage to get on his good side. |
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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Mar 23, 2011 18:31:12 GMT -5
"Excellent idea, sire." If Robert had been less sure of his skills he might have felt like a trained pet being asked to preform a trick on command but he knew that with a bow and arrow that he was one of the best; hell--maybe even the best if he was feeling arrogant! Robert lifted his bow and removed an arrow from the pack; before threading it in and taking aim. His two fingers just barely held the arrow in; and while Robert was all muscle and no fat he did suck in his as well making sure his upper body held the most mass. Allowing him to have the best footing; and straightest posture.
He looked down the length of the arrow before inhaling and holding his breath then letting the arrow go. It flew straight and true and slit one of the prince's arrow right down the middle. Robert knew it was foolish to risk the prince taking it as a mocking gesture but he was trying to prove a point here. If you wanted to be good; you had to make sure everyone knew you where they best. Robert had made sure to go slow enough the prince could pick up on things; but not slow enough to insult his intelligence. "It take years to be able to do that; but you should be shooting straight with just a bit of practice. Who taught you to shoot?" Who failed?
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Post by prince on Mar 26, 2011 15:48:59 GMT -5
Robert asked him who had taught him to shoot. John didn't know what to say. There were too many who had tried to teach him. None of them had the skill Robert had, but they at least could hit the target-unlike John. He shrugged. "More people than I care to remember," he said finally. He nocked another arrow, drew back smoothy, inhaling and sucking in his stomach like Robert had. He held the arrow in between his middle and ring finger, sighted down the shaft and let go. The arrow hit the edge of the outer ring. It was still far from the center, but it was an improvement. |
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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Apr 4, 2011 10:49:32 GMT -5
More people then he cared to remember? That meant he had more then a little work ahead of him; and Robert found himself praying he turned out to be a better swordsman then the prince was an archer. "They seemed to have taught you to be an excellent swords man however." Even if they could not teach the man to shoot with a damn. Robert watched as he missed once again but was at least moving closer tot he target. It would take practice more then couching to get him to the center.
"There is a slight wind out today, try shooting with the breeze. Try aiming an inch or so off from where you aim so that when the wind blows on the arrow in flight and moves it over it's moving it to your target rather then off center." He offered, knowing that was something important. In highwinds it was a pain in the ares to shoot straight but he was getting rather good at it. Practice makes perfect. "Maybe even aim a little higher too, since the first arrow hit a few inches south of your center."
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