FROZEN: The Queen and Her Knight

CHAPTER 2 — Year One

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Leon never thought he’d be training this early.

For as long as he could remember, he had begged his father to teach him—to show him how to wield a sword, to fight like the knights who protected the kingdom—with his dream being to be a knight someday.

Each time, his father had refused, always saying the same thing: "Your time will come one day."

So he opted to wait instead, as he was allowed to apply for knighthood once he was of age. But that day had come much sooner than he expected.

Now, standing in the castle courtyard with a wooden training sword in his hands, Leon felt the weight of his future settle on his hands, the sword feeling much heavier than it's supposed to.

His father stood before him, arms crossed; his usual stern expression softened as he noticed his son's nervous expression.

“Calm, Leon. If you are to be Princess Elsa’s guard, you must be ready, both physically and spiritually. You do not have much to worry about since we are starting your training early; I have planned a rather relaxed schedule."

His father informed before raising his own training sword, getting into a stance. Clumsily, Leon imitated the stance and assumed position. Looking at Leon, his father gave a smile before his face hardened.

"Get ready, Leon! By the time I’m done with you, no one will ever match you in combat. That, I swear."

And with that, Erik lunged towards Leon, who scrambled to move out of the way.

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Because of his sudden elevation in status from merely the son of the King’s personal guard to the future protector of the heir, Leon was granted a privilege few could claim, which was allowed entry into Princess Elsa’s nursery at any time without permission.

Though there are some restrictions, times when he was expected to remain outside, and moments when the powers of the kingdom requested privacy, he was mostly able to enter the nursery to watch over the princess for both responsibility and, at times, a quiet solace when he needed a break.

His schedule was carefully structured to balance his training with his growing responsibilities.

Mornings were dedicated to swordplay and endurance drills under his father’s watchful eye, each session pushing his body to the limit while reinforcing the discipline expected of a royal guard, leaving him sore but feeling stronger each day.

Afternoons were spent in lessons on subjects that were critical for a royal guard to learn. Court etiquette, history, and diplomacy taught him the weight of words and actions, while mathematics and engineering covered castle defenses and logistics. Science lessons included medicine and anatomy, ensuring he could handle emergencies, and even philosophy and literature sharpened his strategic thinking.

And in the evenings, when the castle quiets down, he finds himself in the nursery, watching over the princess as she slept. Sometimes, she would be awake, wide-eyed with curiosity, and he would entertain her with small tricks, singing and humming, balancing a wooden practice sword on his hand, or talking with the 4-month-old; it never failed to make her giggle.

Her cute smile was always the highlight of his day.

His mother asked if it was too much for him, as he was just 6 years old, but he rejected it since he had a lot of free time. He found that he was never the outgoing type and had many friends, preferring to read books or take quiet jogs around the town instead.

Besides, he had an hour or two of rest in between each activity for his leisure, and being with the princess wasn’t much of a burden. It was in fact the easiest part of his day.

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CLACK! CLACK!

The sharp sounds of wood clashing echoed in the castle courtyard, the sun barely over the horizon, painting the scenery around him in hues of gold and orange.

He didn't have the time to enjoy the nice morning, however, as a wooden sword swung his way at alarming speed, forcing him to react.

Leon barely managed to raise his own sword in time, the impact sending a jolt through his arms that made them numb. His father didn’t relent, pressing forward with swift precision, each strike faster and heavier than the last.

"Good defense! But you must have offense as well! Find the openings!"

His father was not giving him any space to breathe and think with the barrage of sword swings that targeted his frame. He gritted his teeth, trying to focus through the ache in his arms as he strained his attention on his father's actions.

He had to find a way out.

He miraculously hung on, thanking the amount of physical conditioning that he was subjected to, as he continued to analyze the situation.

The attacks were methodical, precise—never wasting energy, never leaving an opening for long. But even the best fighters had patterns, and Leon was starting to see them.

He tested the waters, taking a step back to try and gain some distance for a breather. And as expected, his father moved with a stabbing motion straight toward his center.

Anticipating this, he reacted. The moment the wooden sword lunged forward, he ducked to the side, barely avoiding the strike. With his father’s momentum pushing him forward, he pushed forward as hard as he could and swung his own sword in a quick counter aimed at his father’s exposed side.

But just as fast as the opening appeared, it vanished.

CLACK!

His father’s sword met his in an instant, blocking and redirecting the attack with practiced ease. Before he could recover, a sharp tap landed against his ribs, and the next thing he knew, his feet were swept out from under him.

He hit the ground with a grunt, blinking up at the sky as his father stood over him, the tip of his wooden sword pointed at his heaving chest.

"Better! You saw the pattern, you created an opportunity, and you capitalized on it!"

Leon exhaled, frustration creeping in. He had seen it, read the attack, found the opening, and still lost. His mind moved fast, but his body lagged behind due to the inexperience and the limitations of his age.

His father extended a hand, pulling him to his feet before patting him on the back.

"That was good, Leon! Great instincts and observation, but you're still too young to counter your old man! Now, again!"