LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 6: Chapter 6
"I hope you do not cheat through your tricks," Oberyn sneered, referring to the miracles that Gideon had performed.
"My 'tricks,' as you call them," Gideon replied calmly, "are not for my glory, they serve a higher purpose. I will not need to use them in this exchange."
Without warning, Oberyn lunged, his spear striking out with the ferocity of a viper. Gasps rose from the onlookers at the sheer speed of the attack. But Gideon, unwavering, sidestepped with minimal effort, using the flat of his sword to deflect the shaft of the spear. Oberyn's strikes came hard and fast, each more aggressive than the last. Yet, Gideon moved with calm precision, his movements efficient, almost serene.
"You mock me with your patience," Oberyn spat, circling Gideon like a predator searching for an opening.
"I face you with respect," Gideon said evenly, deflecting another thrust. "Your anger blinds your judgment."
Oberyn snarled, his frustration mounting as he unleashed a flurry of attacks. His spear blurred with speed, but Gideon remained a fortress of discipline. Pivoting, weaving, and parrying, Gideon held his ground until, with one swift movement, he stepped inside Oberyn's reach. A flick of Gideon's wrist sent the spear flying from Oberyn's grip. It clattered onto the ground with a sharp clang.
The courtyard fell silent as Gideon raised his sword, the blade's edge hovering over Oberyn's throat. "Yield," Gideon said firmly, his voice calm but commanding.
Oberyn froze, his jaw tightening. His hands curled into fists as anger flared in his eyes. With a low growl, he stepped back, breaking away from Gideon's reach. But instead of conceding, he turned sharply and retrieved his spear from the ground.
"Oberyn, enough!" Doran's voice rang out.
But Oberyn ignored his brother, leveling his spear toward Gideon once more. Arianne stepped forward, her voice laden with concern. "Uncle, please—"
"Stay out of this, niece," Oberyn snapped, his frustration spilling over. His gaze locked on Gideon with venom.
The crowd stirred uneasily as Oberyn charged again, his movements fueled by rage. Gideon met the assault, the clash of sword and spear echoing through the courtyard. This time, Gideon moved more precisely, reading Oberyn's wild swings like a scholar poring over a familiar text. He parried and countered, stepping into the rhythm of Oberyn's attacks.
The second exchange ended decisively. Gideon sidestepped a reckless thrust, swept Oberyn's legs from beneath him, and sent the prince crashing to the ground. Before Oberyn could move, the tip of Gideon's sword was once again at his throat—closer this time, pressing against his skin.
"Yield," Gideon said softly but with an unmistakable edge. "I do not wish to hurt you."
Oberyn glared up at him, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Every muscle in his body seemed to tense as if rebelling against the very idea of surrender. Finally, with a reluctant nod, he said, "Fine."
Gideon withdrew his blade and took a measured step back. Oberyn pushed himself to his feet, dusting off his clothes. Without a word, he stormed to retrieve his spear, his movements stiff with suppressed fury. As he stalked away, he shot Gideon one final scathing look.
As Oberyn disappeared into the palace corridors, the courtyard was left silent except for the whispers of the dispersing crowd.
Doran approached Gideon, his expression a mix of apology and weariness. "My sincerest apologies for my brother's behavior," he began, his voice measured. "Oberyn... is passionate, often to his detriment."
Gideon sheathed his sword, the glowing blade dissolving into a soft shimmer before vanishing entirely. "It is not for me to harbor anger against him. I pray the Lord will guide him in time, for even the most fiery hearts can find peace."
Doran nodded slowly, studying Gideon with quiet admiration. "Your patience humbles me. If you wouldn't mind, Gideon, I have a couple of questions on scripture I was hoping you could answer."
Gideon inclined his head. "Of course. I would be honored to share the Word with you."
Arianne, who had been silent until now, stepped forward, her usual confidence tempered by curiosity. "Would you mind if I joined? I, too, have questions."
Gideon met her gaze, a faint smile touching his lips. "Faith is meant to be shared. You are most welcome."
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After their discussions in Doran's Solar, Arianne invited Gideon for a trip to the Water Gardens, a place deeply tied to the Martell family. Though Gideon accepted with curiosity, she noticed his thoughtful hesitance. During the carriage ride to the gardens, she asked him.
"Are you still upset with my uncle?" she asked, studying him closely.
Gideon shook his head lightly. "No. Anger serves little purpose beyond clouding judgment. I bear no grudge against Prince Oberyn."
Arianne raised an eyebrow. "Even after he insulted your faith? I have to admit, I'd find it difficult to forgive someone for calling me a… what did he say again? 'Holy dog,' was it?"
"I choose not to take it to heart," he replied with a soft smile. "Words spoken in anger often reflect pain or frustration more than true intent. Besides, my faith calls me to forgive, not to dwell."
"Admirable," Arianne mused, her gaze lingering on Gideon. "I'm not used to conversing with someone so... patient."
"I thank you for the compliment," Gideon replied, his tone gentle.
After a few moments of silence, during which Arriane allowed herself to quietly admire Gideon's features—the strength of his jawline, the calm intensity in his green eyes, and the way the afternoon light accentuated his sharp profile—she smiled.
"You are an enigma, Gideon," she said, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Gideon raised an eyebrow, a slight tilt of his head betraying amusement. "Am I?" he asked.
"You are," she affirmed, her dark eyes gleaming.
His eyebrow arched, but before he could respond, Arianne continued. "It has been a week since you've arrived, seemingly out of nowhere. I was the only one to see the radiant light you were enveloped in when you arrived, but that does not mean I have forgotten it." Her voice held no malice, only curiosity. "I have learned to trust you over the last week. Your faith and actions prove you are a trustworthy man, but trust often goes two ways."
She paused briefly before continuing, "Who are you truly, Gideon? You claim to be a man yet do things no man has ever done. You speak of a homeland none have heard of—not even our maester, who has studied distant lands for decades. I do not wish to force you to speak more than you are comfortable with, but I hope you will indulge my curiosity."
For a long moment, Gideon studied her in silence. His green eyes held an intensity that was neither harsh nor unkind but carried an immense weight. At last, he spoke, his voice low and steady.
"I was sent by the Lord."
Arianne sighed softly, her lips curving in a faint smile tinged with frustration. "You've already told me this, Gideon." Her tone remained gentle, though her gaze narrowed slightly, searching his face as though trying to piece together an intricate puzzle. "Sent from where? And why here?"
Silence returned, stretching taut between them, broken only by the soft murmurs of distant water, and the rhythmic creak of carriage wheels over gravel blended with the occasional shuffle of feet on cobblestones.
Finally, Gideon sighed before his voice broke through, quiet but steady. "I was born in the year of our Lord, 1294, in the Holy Roman Empire—more specifically, the Duchy of Austria."
Arriane's lips parted slightly, but she said nothing, allowing him to continue.
"My family was one of wealth and prominence, owners of lands and titles that brought both prestige and expectation. From an early age, I was tutored in the arts of warfare and theology. These were not merely duties but passions—two halves of what I believed would be my life's purpose: to defend both the body and the soul."
Gideon's gaze grew distant as if the years between then and now had momentarily dissolved.
"My first campaign was in 1309," he continued, his tone dipping lower. "I was a knight in service to Leopold I, Duke of Austria. It was a turbulent time, with the empire fractured and rivals contesting every border. We rode into Bavaria to put down a rebellion against the emperor. At Nördlingen, I tasted the chaos of battle for the first time—the clash of steel, the cries of the wounded, and the unmistakable weight of death. I prayed before that battle, asking for courage and protection. We won, but the cost haunted me for weeks."
Arianne watched him intently, captivated by the story.
"Years later, I fought in Italy, aiding our allies in Florence against Milan. The siege of Parma in 1313 was fierce. It was there that I began to notice something." His eyes narrowed slightly. "No matter how grave the battle or how grim the odds, I survived when others did not. Blows that should have killed me found only armor. Arrows veered away or fell short. Soldiers by my side were felled while I stood unscathed. It... unnerved me, but I chose not to question it, believing it was the Lord's protection."
Gideon exhaled, his tone sharpening as he reached the pivotal moment. "Then came 1315. We marched with Duke Leopold into Switzerland, determined to quell rebellion and assert the empire's authority. At Morgarten, by Lake Ägeri, the Swiss ambushed us. Thousands of us were caught in narrow defiles and slaughtered by waves of halberdiers and crossbowmen from the mountainsides."
He clenched his jaw, the weight of the memory visible in his posture. "As our forces crumbled, it became clear that retreat was our only hope. A rearguard was needed to hold the line and buy time for the others to escape. Three hundred knights and men-at-arms stepped forward. I was among them."
"The fighting was savage," Gideon said softly, his voice laced with both sorrow and resolve. "Wave after wave of Swiss struck us with unrelenting ferocity. The ground beneath us became slick with blood, the cries of the dying mingling with the clash of steel and the thunder of distant commands. The sun dipped low, casting its last light on a battlefield drenched in despair."
He paused, his gaze unfocused as if reliving the moment. "The line finally broke. A halberd struck me in the side, tearing through my armor. Another blow followed, and another. I looked around me at that moment and saw that I was the last one left standing. My comrades—all of them—lay lifeless at my feet."
"They offered me surrender," he continued, his tone solemn, "but I refused. I wanted to join those who had passed before me in paradise. My only desire was to fall alongside my brothers, to find rest in the grace of God after a life of service and suffering. The last thing I remember is collapsing. My vision darkened, my strength left me, and my prayers faltered into silence."
Gideon paused, his voice softened further, filled with reverence. "When I awoke, I was not in Heaven as I had expected. I was here, in the Water Gardens where you found me. At first, I thought it was a dream, but then I heard the voice of God. He spoke with clarity and purpose. He told me, 'Go forth my child, for you are chosen.'"
A slight, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips as he finished. "He sent me as a light into the darkness, a beacon of hope and faith in a world that falters. This is my story: the story of a man chosen not for his understanding but for God's higher purpose. My life is no longer my own but His."
Arianne's gaze held him, her expression an enigmatic mix of awe and disbelief. "I have to say, of all things you could've said this was not one I was expecting."
Gideon softly chuckled, "I am glad to surprise you."
For a moment, Arianne hesitated, her curiosity finally overpowering her restraint. "Do you ever wonder why?" she asked, her voice quiet but earnest. "Why did He choose you out of all those who could have carried this task? Out of all who have prayed, or ever believed in him?"
Gideon considered her words, his green eyes reflecting a depth of contemplation. "I wonder, yes," he admitted, his tone honest. "But faith is not about always understanding His will. It is about trusting in it. And so I trust."
Her lips curved in a small, thoughtful smile. "Faith like yours is... rare, at least here. I do not know if I envy it or admire it. Perhaps both."
"Faith is neither to be envied nor admired," Gideon said with a faint smile. "It is to be shared."
Arriane tilted her head, her dark eyes gleaming with curiosity and a touch of wonder. "You are unlike anyone I've met," she said, her voice softer now. "You speak of such miracles with no arrogance, only humility. Most men would wear your tale like armor, seeking admiration, yet you offer it with... grace."
"I am no more than a servant," Gideon replied, his tone steady and assured. "And I am humbled to serve."
Arriane's lips curved into a small, thoughtful smile. "Though your story astounds me, I find myself wanting to believe it—no, I do believe it. Not because it makes sense, but because you make it feel possible. There's something in the way you speak... It feels true."
Before Gideon could respond, the carriage slowed to a gentle halt. One of the escorts rode closer, addressing them with a respectful nod. "My lady, we have arrived at the Water Gardens."
Arriane smiled warmly at Gideon, her earlier introspection giving way to a brighter, more welcoming demeanor. "Welcome to the most beautiful place in Dorne," she said, her voice carrying a note of pride. "I would be honored to show you around. There's much here that speaks not only of beauty but of history—and purpose."
Gideon stepped lightly from the carriage and turned before offering Arriane his hand. She hesitated for the briefest moment before taking it, her smile radiant. The light shimmered off the pools of water ahead, reflecting the vibrancy of the tiled courtyards and the lush greenery that surrounded them.
"I would love that, Princess."
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(Was brought to my attention that some people would prefer an upload schedule. So this is my upload schedule for now.)
(Every three days, I will upload a chapter. It will come out between the times of 7 PM Eastern to 9 PM. If I find myself with more time off from work or classes, then I will upload another chapter, think of these as a bonus. These will not affect my normal upload schedule, however. For example, if I uploaded on Monday and then again on Wednesday, there will still be a chapter on Thursday as that is three days after Monday.)
(I am thankful for all the support I have received for this story so far. And I hope you all will continue to enjoy it! God Bless.)