A Song of Sun and Stars [Man of Steel x ASOIAF]

Chapter 8:

A knot of panic twisted in Meredith's stomach as she watched Caelum lying on the simple bed in her cramped quarters in the castle.

His small body seemed swallowed by the rough blankets, and his face was pale tussled with a tangled mop of wet dark hair.

She'd watched from the edge of the crowd, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm, as he darted towards the Knights returning from the tourney. 

Fear had spiked through her – why was he running? Where was Luke? Then, the sickening sight of him collapsing, his hands clutching his head, the silent screams he'd been trying to make, pleas he'd made at the feet of Ser Barristan Selmy. 

Only by the grace of the Seven had Lady Olenna and Lady Alerie been focused on the High Lords, oblivious to her frantic scramble through the throng. 

Thank the gods she'd been returning early to clean Lord Garlan's tunic...

Anger bubbled beneath the surface of her panic. 

Luke! Where was he? How could he let Caelum run off like that? Had he gotten Caelum hurt? She knew what could happen when Caelum was overwhelmed. 

A flicker of gratitude cut through her worry. If not for Ser Barristan Selmy... the old knight could easily have dismissed Caelum as a raving child. But he hadn't. Instead, he'd knelt, asked questions, and whatever Caelum had said... it must have been enough.

Meredith's hands clenched into fists. She'd warned Luke, begged him to understand the dangers. Begged him to understand that they needed help, that they were in over their heads.

Magic is a sword without a hilt, he had said. 

It scared her that her little Caelum was cursed with magicks that he had no idea how to control.

That was why she'd been insistent, they needed someone to help Caelum with whatever magicks he now possessed.

But Luke wouldn't listen.

He'd promised to be careful, to keep Caelum safe. Yet here they were, with Caelum unconscious, and Luke... who knew where he was? Was he hurt too?

A heavy sigh escaped her. Anger would solve nothing. 

Right now, it was Caelum who needed her, not her fruitless rage. 

Taking a deep breath, she sat by the bed, gently brushing the hair back from his forehead. "Caelum, honey," she murmured, "please wake up. Please be alright."

A gasp tore from Caelum's lips, ripping Meredith from her worried thoughts. His eyes snapped open, wide and frantic. "Luke!" he cried, a tremor in his voice. "Is he...is he okay?"

Meredith's heart lurched. "Caelum, honey, what happened? Where's Luke? Are you hurt?" She reached out to him, a mix of concern and a desperation for answers bubbling within her.

However, Caelum seemed to register nothing she said. His gaze darted past her, unseeing, and his face went slack with a sudden, stillness.

Meredith watched, her stomach twisting with a fresh wave of fear. 

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. His shoulders slumped, and the manic edge of his panic faded. Her questions still hung in the air, unanswered.

Then, as if a switch had been flipped, Caelum's face burst into a wide, joyous smile. He flung himself at her, wrapping his thin arms around her neck in a fierce hug.

Meredith froze for a moment, her brow furrowing in confusion. 

But even through her worry, the sheer relief radiating from him was undeniable. A small, cautious knot of worry loosened in her chest.

"I'm okay, Mary!" he declared, burying his face in her shoulder. "And Luke's okay too!"

Confusion swept over Meredith. One moment Caelum had been frantic for Luke, the next, he beamed with unadulterated joy. "Caelum, love, what happened?" she asked gently, "Why did you think Luke was hurt? And why did you faint? Where was he?"

A flicker of mischief danced in Caelum's eyes. "He was teaching me, Mary! About the magic, just like you back at the inn. He figured out how I can focus, and I heard someone, they were gonna get hurt, so I ran to help!"

Meredith's heart lurched again. 

Of course. The magic. 

It was a curse that Luke had foolishly decided to teach Caelum to control on his own. She was about to voice her concerns when Caelum continued, his voice tumbling out in a rush.

"Luke tried to stop me, but I ran away, and he caught up at the buttery, and he told me to find help for this person while he stayed behind, and…"

Meredith latched onto that, her worry for Luke bubbling through the boy's rambling story "Luke…is he alright?"

Caelum beamed. "Yes! He saved her, Mary! And the Good Knight helped too! He thinks Luke will be a great knight someday!"

Meredith's mouth fell open. The Good Knight? 

Could Caelum mean…Ser Barristan Selmy himself? 

She knew Luke had everything it took to be a good Knight. If only the idiot boy believed that too.

"Caelum, who was getting hurt?" she pressed. 

"I can't tell you," Caelum replied, his expression taking on a stubborn set. "Luke just promised the Good Knight he wouldn't. It's a secret, to protect her. So, no one will know what happened at the buttery."

Then another concern caught up to her, as her confusion slowly faded away.

"Caelum," she began, her voice sharper than she intended, "What were you thinking? You could have gotten terribly hurt!"

Caelum flinched slightly, but there was a stubborn tilt to his chin. "But Mary, what else was I supposed to do? Let her get hurt? I couldn't."

Meredith's heart ached. He was just a child, and the world already burdened him with choices no child should bear. "Caelum, honey, you're not responsible for saving everyone. It's a good heart you have, but…"

"The Gods gave me this magic," he interrupted, his small voice trembling slightly. "I don't want it to be a curse, Mary. If I can, if I can hear... then I have to help."

Another wave of worry swept over Meredith. His kind heart could be his downfall. But then, something else struck her. He knew about Luke's promise, despite Luke being nowhere nearby.

"Caelum," she said slowly, a new thought dawning, "are you… can you still hear Luke? Does this magic mean you have control now? Did Luke manage to teach you something?"

Caelum's face lit up like a sunrise. "He did, Mary! Luke figured it out. He helped, just like you back at the inn. Now I can shut it all out, the voices, all of it. And I can kinda focus on one voice if I try real hard."

Relief crashed over Meredith stronger than any anger, tears pricking her eyes. Caelum was cursed with this extraordinary power, but it seemed the gods were showing mercy too. 

"Caelum, honey," her voice was thick, "you must promise me. No listening to what others talk about, and no running off into danger."

He blinked, then nodded solemnly. "But, Mary, my magic helped Luke save someone today! How can I not do that?"

"Magic is dangerous, sweetling," Meredith said, her voice firm. "Look what already happened to you today. Promise me, Caelum, promise me you won't listen to it unless Luke is there with you. Because if he hadn't been…" She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

"But I wasn't!" he exclaimed. 

"You could have been hurt! Think how that would have hurt your Ma?! Aunt Serra! Me!" She exclaimed.

He murmured finally. "Okay, Mary, I promise. No magic unless Luke's there to help me."

Meredith smiled a genuine one this time. 

Her anger had faded, she couldn't bear to see him hurt. 

She'd have words with Luke later, very strong words indeed. 

But for now, Caelum was safe, and it seemed that Luke had succeeded in what he had set out to do after all.

Caelum's stomach growled, reminding her that Caelum had just tired himself out of a harrowing ordeal. 

"Well, I'm sure all that bravery has made you hungry. Would you like some food?" A flicker of hope crossed her face. Maybe she could get something from the feast for him.

Caelum perked up. "Can I... can I go see Willas and Garlan? Down at the feast?" His eyes were wide, filled with a childlike longing that wrenched at her heart.

A pang hit Meredith. The feast was meant for the highborn lords and ladies of the realm, not a servant girl and her little charge. 

And with the way the day had gone... well, another noisy crowd might be too much for Caelum.

"Caelum," she said, her voice gentle but firm, "I don't think such a crowd is good for you right now. And Lord Willas and Garlan would be busy with the other lords of the realm. You need to master your magic, so you can stand crowds again before you go somewhere like the feast." She forced a smile, "Remember, you fainted earlier. That wasn't fun, was it? You can play with Lord Willas and Garlan again once you have mastered your magic."

Caelum nodded, a hint of disappointment shadowing his bright eyes. "But if you're worried about me telling them, Mary, I won't tell Willas and Garlan about it. I made a promise to Luke I won't!"

She winced. 

She longed for help, for someone wise and knowledgeable about this magic, but a part of her echoed Luke's warning. 

This was dangerous, and she'd promised to keep it secret too. 

Maybe it was better this way until they could get home, get answers from her mum, and Uncle Harlon, and Aunt Elyna.

A warm smile spread across her face. "Caelum," she said, "I am so proud of you. For helping someone today, and for keeping your promises. I wasn't worried you'd break them, of course."

"How about this? We have some food, a feast fit for a hero, and then later, we'll go find Luke at the inn, and then the both of you can tell me all about your daring rescue." She said distracting the boy from trying to head down to the feast.

It seemed to have worked, as another large smile plastered on the boy's face, his blue eyes sparkling as he nodded.

"Stay put, love," Meredith instructed as she rose, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. A pang of guilt touched her as she saw the flicker of disappointment in Caelum's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by the promise of food and seeing Luke.

As she stepped into the bustling corridor, her thoughts were a whirlwind. Anger at Luke warred with a newfound pride for the boy who, despite his frustrating stubbornness, had managed to teach Caelum something so vital. Luke just didn't see it in himself, did he? And oh, he was right about the secret. Magic was terrifying, even wondrous magic.

She didn't think Lady Olenna, or Lady Alerie or even Lord Mace would hurt Caelum should they find out about his magic. They would have helped. But Luke was right to keep it secret.

Magic did scare her. It did hurt Caelum. But Luke had managed in the end to teach Caelum some control over it.

The sounds of the feast washed over her as she neared the great hall. Laughter, chatter, and the lively music of a dozen instruments filled the air. 

"... Seven pairs I sold to the starry sept, and for seven thousand dragons a piece! I had almost written off the rocks at that point in truth!" Lord Mace Tyrell's booming voice echoed through the doorway.

"A grand bargain indeed, my lord," came the reply of some Lord she didn't recognize. "Shame that Wisteria couldn't be forged. It would have made a remarkable addition to House Tyrell's glory"

Squaring her shoulders, Meredith slipped through the feast unnoticed. 

She made her way through to the table where the food had been placed, trying to ignore the conversation around her.

"… we'll be good brothers Ned! Cheer Up!" A lord was boisterously laughing as he dug into the roasted meats set on his table.

The man he was talking to smiled slightly, though Meredith felt he was annoyed and a little exasperated in truth "Robert, you didn't tell me you haven't even spoken to …."

She refocused on the task at hand, trying to make her way to the back where Anya was seated, making sure the older maid did not notice her at the feast.

Servants were expected here, after all. Deftly, she pilfered generous portions of roasted fowl, sweet cakes, and even a few slices of the rich venison pie the lords were being served. 

A small smile played on her lips. Her Caelum deserved a proper feast for his bravery.

x ------ x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x

Dawn painted the eastern sky in streaks of soft orange and pink, a promise of a new day. But as Luke led Caelum away from the sprawling encampment of Harrentown, the air held the echoes of the previous day's revelries. The smell of stale ale and woodsmoke hung heavy, a stark contrast to the fresh scent of dew-kissed grass that lined the dirt path.

Luke glanced sideways at Caelum. Even the light of the new day couldn't chase the shadow of Meredith's worry from his small face. 

She'd given Luke a piece of her mind when delivering Caelum to the inn earlier – not as harshly as he perhaps thought she would have been, but clear enough that she was terrified of what had almost happened.

They reached an open clearing, a distance away from the bustle of the town and the tourney. Taking shade under a giant oak, Luke turned to his little brave brother.

Luke cleared his throat. "Meredith was right, you know," he began, keeping his voice low. "Running off like that... you could have easily gotten hurt, or worse …." He trailed off.

Caelum's chin jutted out in a familiar display of stubbornness. "But I heard... The Gods have given me this magic for a reason. And I don't want it to be a curse anymore! I heard the men …" He swallowed his small voice firm. "She was going to get hurt! I had to do something."

"And you did," Luke said quickly. "You're the bravest person I know, Cael." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "But even knights don't just charge into battle blind. They have a plan, and they listen to their squires – those they trust to help them."

Luke nudged him gently. "Septon Mattheus always says the gods give us gifts, our arms, our legs, our eyes, everything is a gift from the gods to us, and it's up to us how to use them, right?" He smiled faintly. "This... hearing of yours - it's a mighty powerful gift. Magic. But like a sword without a hilt, it can hurt you if you're not careful. Just as easily as it can hurt others if used unwisely."

He paused, letting the words sink in. "And sometimes, Cael," Luke continued, a touch of weariness lacing his voice, "the bravest thing we can do is wait. Figure things out. See if there's a way to help without getting ourselves hurt even worse."

"Then what should I do? Ignore everything?" A touch of defiance echoed in Caelum's voice. "How can I do that, Luke? Knights don't ignore people in need!"

Luke sighed inwardly. He understood the boy's earnestness, felt a pang of pride even. But this wasn't about bravery alone, it was about survival. "A true knight protects the innocent, Caelum," he said, meeting the child's gaze. "But to protect, you have to be able to protect. Rushing in, getting yourself hurt... well, who's left to help anyone then?"

He reached out, gently turning Caelum to face him. "Sometimes, the smartest thing a knight does is stay his blade. Listen. Watch. See if there's a way to tilt the scales in a battle without throwing himself in blind." A shadow crossed Luke's face. "Believe me," he added, his voice barely above a whisper, "I learned that the hard way yesterday."

Caelum stared up at Luke, his brow furrowed in a mixture of confusion and determination. "But what if they need me, Luke? What if I'm the only one who can hear them?" His voice trembled slightly. "Wouldn't that make it my duty?"

Luke felt a pang of sympathy. He knew that unshakable belief in 'right and wrong' – it was what drew him to the boy like a moth to a flame. Yet, it was that very same spark that could consume Caelum if not guided carefully. He had set out to break such notions in this tourney, but after yesterday…

Now, he realized Caelum would do whatever was in his power to do the right thing. He had the heart of a True Knight, and it now fell on Luke's shoulder to make certain the boy didn't get himself killed.

"Duty's a tricky thing, Caelum," he said, his voice softening. "The world's a big place. More trouble in it than any one knight, any hundred knights, could set right." 

A flicker of discomfort crossed Caelum's face and he nodded hesitantly.

"Could you have stopped those men, all by yourself? Fought them, bested them?" Luke pressed gently.

Caelum stared at the ground, his small form drooping in defeat. "...No," he whispered.

Luke knelt, leveling his gaze with the child's. "You have courage, Caelum, more than most men twice your age. But you're no god. And your magic, mighty though it seems..." He hesitated, searching for the right words. "It's a tool, a weapon even, but it has its limits. But just like a knight with his sword, you need to learn when to wield it, and when to hold back."

A flicker of frustration danced in Caelum's eyes, but his chin remained tilted upwards stubbornly. "But isn't that what a knight strives for, Luke? To protect those who cannot protect themselves? Isn't that what you want, someday?"

Luke bit back a sigh. The boy's earnestness was like a balm, and yet it ached with a bittersweet pang of his own youthful dreams. "Yes," he admitted, "that is the noble ideal." He ran a hand through his hair. "But ideals are one thing, Caelum, and the world... the world's another. Some people, they..." He struggled for words, not wanting to shatter the boy's innocence entirely.

"They're what?" Caelum asked, the question barely a whisper.

Luke hesitated, "Sometimes, some people are beyond saving. And sometimes, even the strongest knight, the one with the sharpest sword and the bravest heart, can't save everyone. We can only try our best." He paused, remembering the weight of Ser Barristan's gaze upon him, the quiet respect offered despite Luke's foolish gamble.

"But we did save Pia yesterday!" Caelum retorted, clenching his fists "That has to mean something!"

"Maybe...," he began slowly, "it's about the trying. Protecting those we can, making the world a bit brighter where we can reach. We managed to save Pia, not because of our strength but out wits. It was Ser Barristan who did most of the fighting. And for the rest," his voice hardened slightly, "well, maybe we learn when to stand back, sharpen our sword, use our wits instead of our sword, and the next time make certain you're even stronger."

Caelum chewed his lip thoughtfully, the disappointment fading. A hint of determination remained. "I guess," he mumbled, scuffing his toe in the dirt. "But... maybe when I'm better, stronger with the magic..." There was that stubborn glint back in his eyes, defiance mingling with hope.

Luke grinned, seeing that spark of courage rekindling. "Always charging in, eh?" He paused, and his voice gentled. "Listen, Caelum, about what I said before... about becoming a knight... my promise.. One day, I will be a knight, and you'll be my squire."

Caelum's eyes widened in surprise, the lingering disappointment replaced by awe.

Luke continued, his tone serious now. "But for that to happen, you need to trust me. Trust that I've got your back, even when I tell you to wait. This magic of yours, well, it makes you strong...in a way. But it can hurt you too, if you don't learn to control it."

"Like yesterday," Caelum whispered, nodding slowly. "I got so overwhelmed..."

"Exactly," Luke affirmed. "So, what say we work on that? Right here, right now?" He nudged Caelum towards the clearing. "Less noise out here, remember? Good place for practice. Think you can focus? Prove to me you're ready to learn some real knight stuff, eh?" There was a playful challenge in his tone now.

Luke gestured towards the sun-dappled clearing. "So, tell me, Caelum. Just like yesterday... what can you hear?"

Caelum closed his eyes, a determined crease furrowing his brow. The distant sounds of the tourney and town swirled around him - a blacksmith's hammer, laughter from a tavern, a hawker's cry. It was still noisy, but somehow less overwhelming than before.

"It's better," he admitted, a note of surprise in his voice. "I can pick things out, like... a dog barking, and someone singing way off in the distance." He opened his eyes, a spark of excitement replacing his earlier hesitancy.

Luke smiled. "Good lad! Now, remember how I told you knights need to focus? Let's try that. The tourney... can you tune it out? Pretend it's not even there."

Caelum screwed up his face in concentration. The distant clash of steel and the roar of the crowd seemed to fade, replaced by a sharper, closer sound: a rhythmic squeaking from the direction of the town. "There's a cart," he said, "Old wheels, I think. And... someone's shouting orders at a horse."

"Excellent!" Luke said, nodding encouragingly. "Now, point your ears that way, towards the town. Block out the rest. What can you hear?"

A cacophony of sounds washed over Caelum. A woman haggling over the price of vegetables, children shrieking with playful laughter, a cobbler humming a tuneless song. It was dizzying at first, then a single sound pierced the jumble. A man's grunt, harsh and strained. "Like... someone lifting something heavy," Caelum ventured. "And a woman's voice, maybe giving instructions."

"Keep listening," Luke urged. "Can you tell what he's lifting? What sort of place it is?"

Caelum furrowed his brow, focusing harder. The strained grunts grew more frequent, alongside the sound of wood scraping against wood. And then, the woman's voice became clearer, laced with a coarse laugh. A knot formed in his stomach as more sounds began to filter through... giggles, a low groan, and suddenly a gasp.

"Luke?" Caelum's eyes sprang open, wide with a mixture of confusion and revulsion. "I...I think something bad is happening. It sounds like...women getting hurt!"

"Wait!" Luke's voice snapped Caelum out of his horrified trance. A strong hand gripped his shoulder, holding him back. "Caelum, listen to me. Not every cry is a cry for help."

Caelum shook his head frantically, his voice choked. "But, Luke, they're hurting! I heard..." He swallowed hard, unable to put the sounds into words.

"Tell me what you heard," Luke insisted, his tone urgent but still gentle. "Tell me exactly."

Caelum's face flushed, his eyes darting away in shame. "They... the women, they were making noises like Pia... when those men... and there were groans, like when someone's in pain..." His voice trailed off, choked with a sob.

A flicker of comprehension crossed Luke's face, followed by a pang of regret. This was the world's cruelty, the ugliness he'd hoped to shield Caelum from just a little longer.

"Caelum," he began, crouching down beside the boy. "Those women... they're not like Pia. They work in... a place called a brothel. Men come there, and the women... well..." He swallowed, searching for the right words. "They do things with the men. Things that sometimes hurt, but the women, they..."

He trailed off, not able to say it straight out. Instead, he said, "They have to do it, Caelum. It's the only way they can earn coin, buy food."

Caelum stared at him, eyes wide with a new kind of horror. "But that's wrong!" he choked out. "We have to help them!"

Luke's heart ached. "We can't, Caelum," he said, his voice thick with a bitter truth he himself struggled to accept. "These women, they... they chose this life. Or maybe they had no choice at all. But either way, it's how they survive." He sighed. "Some men are cruel, yes. But if we rush in, thinking we're saving them... sometimes it'll make things worse. It's not like fighting bandits, Caelum. This... this is something even knights struggle with."

He reached out, gently squeezing Caelum's shoulder. "Not every battle can be won, little brother. And not every person can be saved, as much as we wish it were so."

A heavy silence settled between them. Luke knew the weight of Caelum's disappointment was a burden even a child could feel. He ruffled the boy's hair gently.

"Caelum," he began, his voice low, "the world is a messy place. Sometimes, there are things even the strongest knights can't fix. Those women..." He paused, searching for the right words. "They made a choice, a hard one, but a choice nonetheless. It's not a life I would wish on anyone, but it's the life they know."

Caelum kicked at the dirt, a scowl etched on his face. "But it's wrong, Luke! Shouldn't someone help them have a better choice? The maiden charges Knights to protect all women!"

Luke let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. The boy's earnestness was like a double-edged sword – noble, but painfully naive. He had to tread carefully, lest he shatter Caelum's ideals entirely.

"The Maiden teaches us mercy, compassion," Luke said slowly, weighing his words. "But mercy doesn't come in one size, Caelum. Sometimes, the kindest thing we can give is... space. The space to live life, even when that life looks... different from our own."

Caelum's frown deepened. "Even if it's bad? Even if they're not happy?"

Luke nodded. "Sometimes, yes. We all walk our own paths, Caelum. Some are smooth, some are rocky. Some even seem to lead in circles." A wry smile touched his lips. "We might offer a hand, share a cup of water, but we cannot force someone to walk a different path than their own."

"But the Oath," Caelum insisted, the words tumbling out, "To defend the young and the innocent and the helpless, and the weak... The Maiden wouldn't want women just left to suffer!"

Luke's gaze softened. "And she doesn't, Caelum. But the world... it's rarely as simple as the stories we tell. Those women, they are weak, in a way. Life has beaten them down, taken their choices. But they're not helpless. They've found a way to fight back, to survive." He hesitated. "And sometimes, the truest kindness, the most knightly thing we can do, is to..."

He struggled for the right words, then settled on, "Respect their choices, even when we don't understand them. Honor their strength, even if it looks twisted to us."

Caelum remained silent for a long moment, processing the weight of Luke's words. Finally, he wiped his eyes with a grimy sleeve, a flicker of determination battling the frustration in his gaze. "Alright," he mumbled, his voice thick, "I guess I can't save everyone. But maybe... maybe I can learn to fight the right battles."

Luke squeezed Caelum's shoulder reassuringly, letting the silence between them hold the weight of a battle hard fought, but not yet won. 

This struggle, against the complexities of the world, was one that might go on within Caelum for a long time to come.

"That's the spirit, Caelum," Luke finally said, a genuine smile warming his face. "Come on, let's get back to your practicing magic. There are enough battles you can win to keep you busy for a lifetime."

He stood, extending a hand to Caelum. "Now then, that brothel... unpleasant as it is, you have to ignore those too. Can you push those sounds away; pretend they don't exist?"

Caelum looked uncertain for a moment, the pain still lingering in his eyes. But then, he squared his shoulders with a determined little nod. Closing his eyes once more, he focused.

At first, the cacophony from the town washed over him, threatening to overwhelm. Luke could see the strain on his face. But then, slowly, the grunts and giggles from the direction of the brothel started to soften, receding like a wave pulling back. 

"Good," Luke encouraged. "Keep at it, Caelum. Now tell me, ignoring the brothel, what else do you hear coming from Harrentown? I want specifics."

Caelum's concentration wavered briefly as he cast off the fading whispers of the brothel, but he managed to hold the focus. Luke saw the tension ease from his brow as he surveyed the soundscape once more.

"Two people..." he murmured, "arguing. A man and a woman." He strained, then tilted his head slightly. "About an animal... something that's gone missing... a goat, I think."

"Excellent work!" Luke praised, his tone taking on a playful edge. "Alright, Caelum, consider yourself officially tasked: find that missing goat. Where is it? What else can you learn about the situation?"

Caelum closed his eyes, the furrow in his brow deepening. "Hard to say...sounds like they're by one of the market stalls. Maybe a vendor? The man is shouting that the woman must have let it loose, while she's yelling about it being his job to watch over the livestock..."

A low chuckle escaped Luke. "Sounds like a spat between husband and wife, and their missing dinner." He winked. "Let's see if you can pinpoint their location any closer... think you can manage heading into town while using your magic? Remember, you need to know how to hide that you're using it."

A flicker of hesitation crossed Caelum's face as Luke proposed venturing back into the town. It wasn't the fear of the tourney crowds, but a deeper unease. "But Luke..." he trailed off, those wide eyes searching desperately for reassurance. "What if... what if the noises get too much for me again?"

Luke crouched down until their gazes were level, his hand coming to rest gently on Caelum's shoulder. "I know it was hard before, Caelum. But you did it. You pushed back against the noise, and found what you needed." He smiled, a touch of pride in his eyes. "Every time you focus like that, it gets a little easier. Like practicing with a sword – eventually, it will be as easy as your heart beating."

Caelum chewed his lip, considering. Finally, he managed a small, determined nod. "Alright," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "Let's go."

With gentle encouragement from Luke, they set off towards the market square, the bustle a steady hum in the background. Luke kept close, one hand lightly at the small of Caelum's back, a word of support or a reminder to focus murmured when it looked like the boy was faltering.

As they drew nearer to the market stalls, Caelum kept his focus fixed on searching for the bickering couple and the wayward goat. The man's voice grew louder, laced with flustered anger "...careless woman, worth my whole week's earnings, that goat..." while the woman retorted sharply, "...your responsibility, too busy gawking at those tourney knights..."

Caelum pointed toward the sound from where he heard the goat with a triumphant grin. "There!"

The scene that unfolded before Luke and Caelum was straight out of some farcical mummer's play. The goat, with an air of supreme indifference, perched atop the slanted roof of the couple's stall. It was not just munching on the straw hats anymore, but had apparently discovered a stash of feed bags the man had stored there. Grain spilled in a golden cascade, attracting a delighted flock of pigeons that squabbled and flapped around her hooves.

A stifled laugh bubbled up in Caelum's throat even as Luke nudged him with an elbow, the merest quirk of a smile playing on his lips. Taking a step forward, they addressed the still-squabbling couple.

"I think we've found your goat," Luke said, raising his voice above the man's bluster and the woman's exasperated sighs.

The man whipped around, the short ladder still clutched awkwardly in his hand. He sputtered, "Where? That blasted creature, I'll turn her into stew..." But his voice trailed off as he followed Luke's pointed finger upwards.

The woman, however, threw back her head and laughed, a clear, ringing sound that cut through the chaos. "Well, I'll be! Harold, you lummox," she gasped between peals of laughter, "You were looking for her on the ground?" Tears of mirth streamed down her face as she pointed a shaking finger at the rooftop scene.

The man, now a deep shade of crimson, could only manage a strangled, "Roof hatch... must've left it open..." He then seemed to deflate, the anger leaving his stance as he muttered something about fetching the ladder from the back.

The woman, catching her breath, fixed her gaze on Luke and Caelum with genuine gratitude. "Bless you both! You've saved our hides. Harold here," she gave him a playful shove, "was about to accuse every passerby of stealing that goat. Probably would've started a brawl by sundown!"

As the man sullenly trudged off, muttering under his breath, the woman offered Luke and Caelum a warm smile. She reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a handful of copper coins. "Here now, lads, take something for your trouble. A bit of supper for being such clever eyes!"

Luke gently shook his head, deflecting her offer with a smile. "It was no trouble at all. Glad to be of service." With a nod and a wink at Caelum, he turned to leave.

"Now then," Luke said as they walked away, the sounds of the market buzzing around them, "Let's see if those ears of yours can pick up another interesting voice. There's a whole town full of conversations happening – keep your focus, and tell me what you hear."

Caelum nodded, closing his eyes for a moment as he sifted through the babble of voices. The task felt easier now, as if pushing through a soft curtain rather than a heavy door. Luke watched him, a flicker of pride in his eyes at the boy's focused determination.

Then, that focus snapped. Caelum's eyes flew open, and he tugged on Luke's sleeve. "Luke! Someone's crying... a child, I think. Sounds scared." He looked around, brow furrowed, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound.

The child's sobs were soft, a hiccuping gasp swallowed by the market din, but Caelum's ears were attuned to the sound now. "Over there," he whispered urgently, pointing toward a narrow alleyway that snaked between a baker's stall and a looming pile of crates.

Luke crouched down, his voice a steady murmur beside Caelum. "Good work. Now, let's go slow, alright? We don't want to startle them."

They approached cautiously, Luke taking the lead. The alley was dim, the usual market bustle muted. As they rounded a bend, the cries became clearer, accompanied by small, desperate snuffles. And there, curled into a shadow beside a stack of flour sacks, was a child.

He couldn't have been more than a year or two younger than Caelum himself, grubby knees poking out from patched breeches, tear streaks staining his round cheeks. His eyes, wide and panicked, locked onto theirs with a flash of fear that quickly dissolved into fresh tears.

"Hey there," Luke said gently, kneeling down. "It's alright. What's your name, little fellow?"

The boy only whimpered, clutching the corner of a tattered blanket. But then Caelum stepped forward, his voice surprisingly firm. "Don't be scared," he said, "I'm Caelum, and this is Luke. Can you tell us what's wrong?"

Perhaps it was the sight of another child, or the gentle tone, but something seemed to ease the boy's terror. He scrubbed his eyes with a grubby fist and stammered, "M-mama….lost her…."

"Lost your mama," Luke echoed. "Well, no wonder you're upset. But we're going to find her, I promise. Do you remember how you got separated?"

The child nodded, lip trembling. "I...she told me to stay, but I saw...a puppy..." He sniffed, a great, shuddering sob escaping him. "I just followed for a little..."

Suddenly, Caelum's eyes went wide. "A puppy? Was it brown, with a white patch on its nose?" His voice was filled with excitement.

The boy sat up a little straighter. "Yes! You saw it?"

"Just a little while ago," said Luke, a grin playing on his lips, "Being chased by a very flustered baker!" He stood. "Come on, let's go see if we can't find that pup – and your mama."

And so, the unlikely trio went searching – Luke with his long strides, Caelum scampering to keep up, and the little boy, wide-eyed and hopeful, clutching Luke's hand. 

Turns out, the boy's mother was searching for him by the stall too. The reunion by the baker's stall was filled with relieved tears and scoldings, which only turned to laughter as the errant puppy was retrieved from beneath a cart, tail wagging furiously.

As the grateful mother fussed over her now-giggling child, Luke winked at Caelum. "That," he said softly, "is what knights do. We find the lost, protect those who need it. Chivalry, valor and saving those in despair have their moments, but this? The little things? This is what truly matters."

Over the next three days, Luke's training with Caelum took on a different flavor. Yes, there was still focus, honing his senses to block some sounds and find others amidst the chaos. But Luke taught him other things too – to observe his surroundings, to be aware of himself within the crowd, how to hide his magic amidst the crowd.

All the while they helped wherever they could in the town. Lost children, distracting drunk guards, helping hurt animals.

At night, back at the inn, he shared simple breathing exercises to calm a racing heart or find focus when noise threatened to overwhelm. 

They'd sit quietly, Luke speaking of times knights must wait patiently – listening at doors, or watching through the night.

x ------ x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x ------- x

(A/N) Half the stuff Luke's saying, he's pulling out of his ass. Dude's trying to do right by Caelum somehow. Hope it wasn't too wise for him. I was trying for a mix of cynicism and Knightly ideal desires.