บท 12: Training- Last Day Until Trials
Three days left. The days were coming closer as she tug at the end of her hair, biting her bottom lip gently. Watching the sun slowly rise to lighten the darkening sky, she placed her forehead- avoiding the gem- against the window to feel the coolness.
Head lowered, she looked at her arms to see the bruises where some were fading and others were showing. A full month of training for the moments to come.
Would she be able to win or would she fail at it all?
'Even if you lose unwillingly, you will still have five years with him,' the queen had said, 'or would you risk not having any chance to be with him as lovers like you wish? Do not be selfish child, if you and my son have your way, there will be war again.'
She pulled away from the window and fell against her bed with a plop. Back to the ceiling, she stared at the wall. Could she not be selfish? Had she not given enough of her time, energy, and life to her kingdom? Hadn't he?
'He's the prince, his life is for the kingdom,' she reminded herself.
'He promised to give it up for you,' she closed her eyes.
'My son's love for you will be the end to this kingdom; I know him and I know he would throw this kingdom away for you,' she remembered what the queen had said.
'Should I throw away a chance at loving him, even if it was for a moment?' she turned her body so her back was to the bed and she was facing the ceiling. Hand on top of the other on her stomach, she let out a deep breath.
'Is this proposition given to me by someone I trusted?' Kurt had asked her, 'that is the most important Lynn; If I believe they would fib and use me, I would have nothing to do with it. Even if it was what I wanted.'
'Is that the truth, Mr. London?' she wondered, 'would you really give up the chance, even for just a little bit?'
Turning to her side, she held her hands against her chest and wondered if losing was really that bad. She would still have some time with Garret before he would be wed to a princess for the kingdom. It seemed like the best plan, wasn't it?
She got what she wanted, even if for a little bit, and the queen and king would be pleased that the prince marry a princess to ensure alliances.
'One day, soon,' Garret's voice reminded her, 'I will marry you.'
She closed her eyes and smiled.
One day. Another life maybe.
The sound of knocking woke her. She blinked to see her room lighted with the rising rays of the sun. Letting out a yawn, she lifted her arms to stretch as she stood. She rubbed her eyes and went to the washroom to get ready for the day.
Walking out, she saw her father pouring tea for both of them and adding a small bit of the powder Kurt had given her into her cup. She thanked him and blew to cool the drink.
"We will train with no weapons today," her father glanced at her, "and the next couple of days you will do light training."
She nodded and took sips from her tea. Feeling her father's palm on her bicep, she glanced at him. His fingers pushed back strands of her hair behind her ear.
"You look more and more like your mother each day," he said softly rubbing her cheek, "I wish she were here to see you now," Lynn felt herself blinking quickly as she looked at her cup, "she would be proud."
"I," she cleared her throat and looked back at her father, "I miss her."
"I know," he whispered and pulled her head to tuck underneath his chin.
Lynn closed her eyes as her father ran his fingers through her hair. She expected him to pat her shoulder and say it was time for training, but here he was holding her.
'Just like before,' she told herself and wrapped her arms around him. Just like when she hurt herself when she was playing, just like when he was swing her around, just like when he would say he would return, just like when her mother passed; safe.
"My sweetheart," she felt her arms tighten as she listened to her father sing, "when you wake, my darling, don't be afraid. I will be here waiting to see your gentle smile. When you wake, my child, know I'm always here."
She tucked her head closer to her father as she hiccupped.
"Rest your head, sweet child, let your dreams come to life. Dance to this lullaby and rest your head sweet darling. I will keep you safe," her father held her closer and began to hum like her mother would. Rocking her gently, she felt her eyes close and her breathing calm.
When she opened her eyes, she was in her bed. Furrowing her brows and rubbing her eyes as she sat up, she wondered if she dreamt her father singing. He only ever sang to her 2 times when she was young: when her mother was ill and when she passed.
Standing and exiting her room, she noticed her father was not there. Walking out toward the clearing, she saw her father at her mother's bench.
"Father," she spoke up once she was close enough, "are you alright?"
"Come," he reached for her and Lynn walked to him. She felt her father's arm wrap around her and she wondered if something was wrong.
"May I ask a question, father?" she looked up at him to see him nod, "did you sing mother's lullaby to me?"
She saw the smile, soft and barely there, on her father's lips as he continued to watch the sun hid behind the clouds.
"I am not as good as your mother," he placed his hand on her head.
"Thank you," she smiled and leaned against him, "papa."
She felt her father ran his fingers through her hair again and she smiled. She missed this. She missed them.
"Papa," she spoke up to hear a 'hm' from her father, "the queen mentioned the last war," she felt her father's movement stop, "that was before I was born, wasn't it?"
He father looked at her for a moment with his mouth set and eyes blank. After a moment that felt like hours to her, her father pulled his hand away and sighed. Shoulders dropping as he sat down, Lynn followed suit.
"Two decades ago, two years before you, yes," he nodded looking at Lynn with a tilt of his head, "why did the queen bring up such a long past?"
She looked down before looking to the distance of the field. Wringing her fingers, she bit her bottom lip before letting out a sigh.
"She said it ended a kingdom," Lynn looked at her father to see his face set in stone. Furrowing her brows, she placed her palm against her father's fisted hand. He glanced at her and kissed the top of her head. Placing his other hand on top of his daughter's, he squeezed it gently.
"The lost kingdom, Lynn," he looked straight at her.
'Lost kingdom?' she thought to herself wondering what that meant. She remembered Kurt talking about it.
"The kingdom of mages," her father continued to watch her as if looking for something.
"Sir London's kingdom before he came here?" she furrowed her brows.
"Yes," her father nodded, "it is a past no one was to mention."
"But why?" Lynn leaned closer to her father, "I don't understand how it ended? Did the castle fall?"
"I know you are interested, child," her father patted her hand, "it is a story for another time, hopefully never."
"I don't understand," Lynn leaned back tilting her head, "how does loving someone cause a kingdom to fall?"
"Let us train," her father shook his head as he stood, "do you think you can bring down your father?" he finished with a smirk.
"You know I would ask again, papa," she sent him her big brown doe eyes before a grin took over her face, "if I win you must tell me."
"Deal," her father held out her hand and she shook it.
They got into position and Lynn threw a punch to have it blocked. A kick, blocked. A jab, blocked.
When her father threw his kicks and punches, Lynn could feel her arms and legs shook slightly. The sly smile told her that her father was holding back. Letting out a huffed smile, she tried once more.
Exchanged of blows that lead nowhere except making her even more sore. Bruises littered her body and she wondered why Garret even liked her.
Lost in thought, she barely blocked a punch to her chest. It caused her to step back falling on her bottom. Panting out, she laid on the floor with her arms stretched out. Her forearms were pulsing.
"Rest Lynn," her father's laugh caused her lips to curl up, "I put a bit more strength into that punch."
She heard her father walk away and she closed her eyes trying to get her breathing under control.
Once she felt calmed, she looked at the sky to see the clouds lazily float by letting the sun peek from time to time. Footsteps neared her and she glanced over to the sound.
"Are the clouds not beautiful today?" a smile aimed at her.
"Here I thought you'd say I look beautiful today," she smiled back pulling her hands to her side.
"I think you get tired of me saying it," he laid beside her and she looked at him.
"You will dirty yourself, my prince," she mentioned glancing at his outfit.
"Thank you, my knight," he let out a sigh as he faced the clouds.
She watched his profile and felt her heart swell.
"You are truly beautiful, Garret," she whispered holding his hand.
"I believe you enjoy embarrassing me," Garret flushed looking at her.
"I do," she laughed quietly, "but I speak the truth. You do look beautiful."
"As do you," Garret kissed her hand and turned his body to face her, "are you, do you feel prepared Lynn?" he thumbed her knuckles, "I worry you'd get hurt or, or worse."
She turned to her left to face him and placed her free palm against his face. Moving her fingers gently over the side of his face, she felt him lean against her touch.
"If I lose," she left her hand to cup his cheek, "would you be upset?"
"Yes," he admitted kissing the palm against his cheek, "for I wish to love you freely and openly," he moved that hand to press against his heart, "but if I were to choose, I would rather have you alive so you will still be here with me."
She felt her eyes water and she breathed out a smile.
"If we were to love freely and openly like we wish, but only for a moment," Lynn said softly, "would you take it knowing our love is for a short time."
Garret stared at her and noted the way her smile did not reach her shiny eyes. Pulling in closer so there was barely a breath away from her, he looked her straight in the eye.
"A moment would not be enough, my love," he saw her eyes widened slight, "I would go mad and nothing would save me but you."
Her tears slid down her face and he moved his fingers to catch them. Leaning in, he closed his lips on hers. Such beauty is she, his beautiful knight. How was he not to fall in love with her from the moment he met her?
"Ah, you must catch up then, darling," she said gently against his lips when he pulled back, "for I am already mad."
His eyes widened before he joined in her laughter. Oh, how he loved her.
Mad they were and he reveled in it.
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