Kara
I awoke to the feeling of someone tugging at the sleeve of my night gown with a tight grip.
Wait. My night gown?
Her bright wavy hair filled my field of view as I shut my eyes open, confused and disoriented. Natalie was sitting on the bed in front of me, her blue eyes filled to the brim with worry. I could tell that she had been crying, a lot, because the area around her brown eyes were red and swollen. She wasn't usually one to cry so something had to have prompted it. Seeing her like that, I felt a pull on my heart strings. Nobody wants to see their best friend in such a state - at least I knew I didn't -and though I was more than happy about her company, I couldn't help but feel suspicious as to why she had come to see me. We would often spend time together, gossiping about male suitors and talking about everything and nothing at all, but due to the amount of preparation I had to do for the tryouts, we hadn't seen one another in what felt like ages. Though I wasn't one to cry often, I could feel a single tear trying to escape the corner of my eye at the sight of her and me having missed her so.
Distraught and moved by the look on her face, I made an attempt to sit up in the bed as to give her a big hug. Oh how I so desperately wanted to embrace her and wipe that sad expression off of her otherwise beautiful features. I gripped onto the headboard with one of my hands and instantaneously felt pain erupt from my ribs and wash over my entire body, as I tried to lift my body. Retracting to the bed in pain, I looked up at Natalie in confusion, her face cringing into a grimace.
The corners of her mouth then turned upwards, as if she was trying to hold in a slight laugh. I could tell she was holding back, but she was either realising that I was in fact fine after all or shaken up by the situation, causing her emotions to be all over the place. It truly was a weird sight to see. I looked at her, clearly confused as to this sudden change of mood and felt an urge to ruff her up instead of hugging her, if she was in fact laughing at my misery.
"He beat you up good, didn't he? You better lay back sweetie" she said, laughing under her breath.
I could feel my eyebrow motioning upwards as it raised itself, marking the very apparent confusion on my face.
He.. he, who? I thought to myself, trying to figure out who in the world she was talking about.
Was it maybe Cayden or somebody else that had done it? Cayden would never purposely hurt me, and I would never let him take me down without a fight, him being my big brother and all. But then again, he wasn't present in the room from what I could tell from my lying position, so maybe.. No. I would not even dare think about it.
I tilted my head and looked straight into Natalie's eyes from where I was lying. I must have thought I would be able to uncover the mystery of who the secret he was, but I was unable to figure out the name of the person in question from just looking at her.
"Who are you referring to?" I asked.
"You don't remember?"
"I don't."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"But.."
"Natalie!"
I grabbed a pillow and threw it in her direction. Her being all mysterious and teasing me was getting on my nerves and I needed a definite answer. Luckily for her my aim had clearly been affected by the pain in my body, cause if I had been all up and well, I would not have missed her. I was sure of it and even blamed my lack of strength for the failed toss, though the triumphant smile on her face as she dodged my throw made me smile, maybe even chuckle a little.
"I am referring to Sir Arsehole himself, of course."
William. Just the thought of his name brought an unpleasant and newly discovered feeling back to my chest and then I remembered most of what had happened in the arena. The training, the fighting and then.. nothing. Everything after the punch to my stomach was gone, as if I had blacked out. Reaching for my head, it began to ache and throb like crazy, as my right hand touched my forehead. I winced, trying to ignore it. Natalie made gagging noises and motions, putting her finger to her mouth as if she needed to throw something bad up after revealing to me that it had in fact been mister next in command - William I-Want-To-Pull-My-Eyes-Out, Lewis. Truth be told, neither of us thought very highly of the lad. If that was not already apparent enough.
"I don't remember much of it.." I mumbled in an embarrassed tone.
If I had lost, I would have at least liked to know.
"Well my love, I'm sorry to say..", she started.
Just let me know so that I can at least apologize with some of my dignity intact.
"Just say it Nat-"
"He isn't going to be walking for weeks! You really put him in his place!"
Her eyes sparkled like the sun as she exclaimed her excitement to me. I was left with my jaw hanging all the way down my legs. I could not believe it.
By the gods of the sun and the moon, I might have actually triumphed this once!
"Does this mean that.."
"You won the duel! My best friend is going to be a warrior, a real fighter!", she yelled eagerly, jumping from the bed and springing back and forth in my room, filled with joy and exhilaration.
I once again felt, not one but multiple tears prickle the corners of my eyes. Was it but a dream? Was somebody playing a prank to get back at me for my stubbornness or was it the truth? Would my life finally begin? These thoughts filled my head as I could not help but smile and laugh heartily at the ridiculousness of the situation. I was bruised badly but managed to pull myself from the bed completely and run over to Natalie, a sudden rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins. The warming sun was cascading down on our bodies as we hugged each other and stood there for a few moments. The day was already looking bright, but it had just gotten so much better.
"I won," I hiccupped. Crying and laughing at the same time apparently does that to the body. The ruckus must have sounded odd for the servants going past the door, but I did not care. My destiny seemed to be within reach and I simply could not contain my excitement. I had longed for the acknowledgement for what felt like forever and I was finally able to prove my worth.
"Now, enough crying, my lovely," Natalie said and used both her thumbs to wipe away the tears on my wet cheeks.
"I'm such a crybaby," I muttered.
"No, you're not. This is positively refreshing, but we have little time."
"Why is that?"
"Somebody needs to go pick up their uniform," she said, winking at me.
Looking down at my lack of proper clothing and the bruises on my arms, I shook my head. My upper body was growing weaker by the second and the feeling of the bandage around my torso was indicative of something being badly bruised or perhaps even broken, the rush of adrenaline long gone. As I motioned over in front of the mirror, I could see clear bruising on my knees and elbows, but had a difficult time remembering when I had acquired them during our fight. Through the sheer fabric of my nightgown I could sense the white bandaging and I had a rough scratch on my left cheek, one that was unlikely to leave a scar, thankfully.
Though I had always been fascinated and mesmerized by the look of scars on people's bodies as an indicator of the hardships they had overcome, the same could not be said for the suitors my mom was desperately trying to pair me up with. Over the years she had become adamant to find me a husband, so that I would not have a reason to go on my 'crazy' adventures and into battles. My mother's idea of suitable men wanted nothing of the likes of scars, for it was not considered feminine or beautiful. I thought quite the contrary, but my opinion did not matter much. Not that this would be an issue in the near future, because of the notion of me being part of the royal guard and travelling away, finally.
"What are you thinking about?" I heard a voice behind me, as Natalie's slender frame came into view in the mirror.
I tore my mind away from the thought of marriage and looked back at her with a slight smile.
"I want more than nothing than to go collect the armor, but my body feels so weak Natalie. What if I collapse and fall on my way there?"
She smiled warmly at me but turned her eyes towards the door when a knock could be heard.
"Our solution for that has just arrived."
She moved over to the door and placed her soft hand on the doorknob, twisting it and sliding it open with grace. She stood by as a tall male figure walked in. My brother.
Cayden looked hesitantly at me, as if expecting me to burst out in anger for his misplaced trust in my abilities to get chosen for the royal guard and the events that followed. I was looking at him with squinted eyes, as he stepped into my room.
Traitor, I thought to myself
As his steps towards me quickened, I could not help but feel my body tighten up. I was angry, but then he wrapped his arms around me, and I became soft just as warm butter that has been standing in the sun for too long. I returned the gentle embrace and all doubts were forgotten. I was not sure for how long I had been out, but I had missed his presence and encouraging words.
"I am so sorry little one, I did not expect for you to get so badly beaten. You appeared so alive out there and suddenly.. You just collapsed. I didn't know what to do."
His voice cracked as he spoke, and my heart broke a little. I had been angry with him, but could not bring myself to exclaim that anger, not in that moment. He was clearly remorseful, and I had no intention of making him feel as though I hated him. I could never hate him.
"Shh.. It's okay brother, you could not have known."
I rubbed his back in an attempt to comfort him. The feeling of his muscles calming and loosening up ensured me that my attempt had been successful, and I stepped back to take a good look at him. He had dark circles underneath his eyes, as if he had not slept for days and I wondered how long I had been out. Not wanting to further discuss unpleasantries, I took a look back at Natalie who was still standing at the open door.
"You know, I'm going to need an escort to the city. I've been told there is something waiting for me there."
I peeked at him with curious eyes and noticed a small smile forcing its way onto his lips as he looked down at me.
"Which means that you need to leave."
The smile disappeared. I punched him playfully on the shoulder, once again feeling the pain erupting from my ribcage, but I tried not to show it.
"So that I can get changed, you fool."
He bowed down in front of me the way he used to do it when we played princes and princesses when we were younger. It made me giggle slightly.
"I shall get the horses ready, my lady."
"Please refer to me as soldier from now on."
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