#bc it doesnt take far into nathaniel/abram's employment for both of them to be very careful with each other

[emry-stars-art]

The princess bride is an incredible movie but I have to say my very favorite scene is the sword fight between Westley and Inigo. (I fence so this scene is one of my all time favorites) Anyway what I’m proposing is that Andrew learned to fence growing up and kept at it. First because it would be very cool and second because I think everyone should fence especially gay royalty.

And you're RIGHT

So. I drew it obviously but i also love the idea of this being one of Nathaniel and Andrew's first close encounters. So I also wrote it here, thank you SO MUCH for your tips on how fencing works and i hope it doesn't mess it up too bad that I switched around some of the rules, we'll say it's Palmetto's traditions 💕😅

And actually I think this it's how Nathaniel gets to be Andrew's bodyguard in the first place. You guys read the ideas below and tell me if you agree or not bc honestlyyyyyyy 👀

(Find the royal au writing masterpost here 💕)

The first thing Andrew notices is that Nathaniel listens. He didn't expect to be taken seriously with "Don't come back until you're equal in the sport". Or he expected Nathaniel to come back time and time again to challenge him until he finally beat Andrew by luck or sheer probability. But the next time Day tries to hand Andrew's fencing off to Nathaniel again, Nathaniel declines (which infuriates Day in his usual huffy attitude but thats besides the point).

When Day goes over to question Nathaniel on it where he's leaning on the fence - again just watching - Nathaniel only says "I'm not good enough yet." Not "the prince ordered it" or "I'm not allowed to". It seems like he really is just listening to what Andrew said.

Day tries to say he's fine, he needs work but he's getting better. He won't get "good" without more practice. But Nathaniel only shakes his head.

Andrew finds this horribly interesting.

So Nathaniel keeps practicing with Day and maybe some others - maybe he gets to practice against some soldiers and he meets Matthew Boyd, the infantryman the myth the legend (was that even a rank back then I can't remember. Probably). Until finally, a good while later, Nathaniel actually manages to beat Day. They're both surprised, but time and time again Nathaniel proves he's at almost equal skill. And if he's equal to Day, he has a chance against Andrew.

Andrew's first hint that something has changed is that Day actually asks Nathaniel again - he'd stopped trying after a second refusal. The next is that Nathaniel actually accepts.

It's exhilarating to have Nathaniel on the other end of his challenge once more. It takes more clear prompting, but he even has Nathaniel talking again, though less boldly than the last time. He enjoys it (by Andrew's terms in a sport he still considers halfway useless) as much as he had the first.

Nathaniel wins fair and square.

After that, seeing Nathaniel take his words so literally and respect them and then best him in fair hand-to-hand combat? Andrew knows exactly who to ask for when Day's finally had enough of being his stand-in guard.