Snippet #1524572

Adio was chuckling as he took the practice sword from her hands. Lenore was very much the fiery woman he had met that morning. She hadn’t done one thing to make him deny that. Twisting the worn down hilt of the wooden sword in his palm, Adio lowered his head, unable to keep the wide smile from his lips.

“I don’t think you were brought here to fight with the Prince you are protecting.” He called to her as she walked to the middle of the arena. Adio couldn’t help it. The way she moved, the strength in her shoulders, the way her eyes gleamed in the setting sunlight… All things that challenged him and he couldn’t say no to a lady.

“If you insist, however,” he spoke as he walked up to meet her, rolling his sleeves up a bit more. Before joining her, he’d relinquished his waist coat. No sense in getting all of his nice things dirtied. A few stains here and there on some breeches and a tunic wouldn’t hurt anyone. “I must oblige.” Her threats had only made his heart beat a little faster. Adio had always made it a point to practice often with the sword, but he had a nagging feeling that she fought a bit differently to him. There was something wild in her that was clawing to get out. Adio always felt calm just before the first strike. An interesting match to be sure.

With a deep breath, he took his stance and waited as she took her own. The Prince’s was open, hand behind his back, turned sideways, and blade held out as a taunt. It didn’t help matters that he couldn’t help but keep smiling at Lenore. She was a sight to behold. He imagined she moved with a grace only heard of in music. He hoped he could match her blow for blow. Adio had to admit, he did have a sense of pride, and being struck down by a female would prove a bit of a disappointment.

“Remember, dinner will be soon. This match must be quick.” And with that, Adio lunged forward at her, grinning from ear to ear.




You are not alone in this… She closed her eyes when he added the line. How could she have forgotten that line? Perhaps because Zahra had always been alone. Her foster mother, the one who had helped to raise her in the forests had always sang that song to her. Zahra had not been one to really listen to it because she felt like the woman was treating her like a child. It wasn’t until she’d been returned to her real mother and father that she’s realized what that song had meant to her.

Sora sang it softly and suddenly the words meant more to her than he may have realized. Looking to the sky, Zahra noticed it was getting rather late. If they had a dinner planned, than it was best that she not be late to it. She wondered if Sora enjoyed the company of his family?

“The sooner wer go, the sooner it’s over, right?” The idea made her inside bubble with mirth, but no laughter was produced. He was calming to her, but she was still so scared. It seemed whenever Zahra opened up to anyone, those emotions were taken for granted. She had to try and be careful. Her heart could only take so much more breaking.

Breathing in deeply, she smiled at the hawk by her side and then reached down to grip Sora’s hand. It wasn’t that she was accepting his help, but rather, she was gripping it the way a friend would. Just because she was choosing to watch herself, trying to keep from melting into a puddle of nothing, did not mean she could not make friends. It did not mean that the way Sora made her feel wasn’t at all good. She couldn’t have asked for someone better than he. Calming, friendly, and so much like her. When she came down, she refused to let go of it. It felt nice there in hers. Turning her forever blue eyes up to Sora’s, she sighed.

“Thank you.” It was all she could say because words weren’t something she was good at. The young woman prayed that he saw all the gratitude in her face and felt it in the way she held his hand. Slowly, she let go and turned toward the door. It looked as if she was going to leave, until she stopped and turned around, confusion on her face.

“I cannot remember the way back to my room.”