Crowns of Flame and Ice - Book One

(3) A Battle of Strength

my muscles ached from sleeping against the door, why wasn't I in bed again? right, small spaces, stupid panic and weird wind. sighing at my idiocy I heave myself to my feet and try to stretch my muscles to get rid of the pain. I curse myself when I realise the only way I'm going to get rid of it is by properly stretching them and doing some sort of physical activity. remembering I'd planned on meeting James in the ring today anyway, I dress in my usual black sports bra, cycling shorts and running shoes. I didn't even bother looking in the mirror as I tied my hair up into a messy bun, I'd likely end up looking like even more of a mess by the end of my session anyway. before exiting I glance briefly into the mirror on my dressing table, and I was glad I did. my eyes were all puffy and red with little purple smudges under my eyes that would easily be an indication of what went on yesterday to anyone who saw me. using my fingertips, too rushed to grab a brush for the draw, I swipe white powder under my eyes which easily conceal the marks and head down to the kitchen.

I roll my eyes at the sound of Grace's ridiculously arrogant voice from behind the closed doors as she snarled "that dinner was absolutely revolting yesterday can't you do anything right or is your peasant mind too simple to understand basic instructions?". Grace, the middle child and terribly self-centred always seemed to need everyone to know she was more important than they were by telling them what to do. "I wasn't given any instructions" Rosie mumbled, I knew that was true because she wasn't the chef but she wouldn't throw him under the bus even if it did seem he was a bit of an idiot. I was prepared to stand up for Rosie because I knew she wouldn't do it herself and would take whatever my sister threw at her but what I wasn't prepared for was the sight I beheld when I walked into the kitchen. Grace had backed Rosie up against a corner where she was stuck and she was grinning down at Rosie like a Cheshire cat. Rosie didn't look scared at my sister who rose her hand to strike Rosie across the face, I wasn't either, I was absolutely furious as I ran at grace.

before Grace's hand could even connect with Rosie's face I had her pinned up against the wall with my hand clamped around her throat, I could've used a dagger if I hadn't left it in my room in anticipation of my training session. I tightened my grip on her throat as she threw her hands up and tried to wiggle out of my grip, a deer caught in a wolf's trap. consequences be damned I snarled into her face "you do not touch her", I could feel her ragged breathing against my face as she gave up trying to flee. "making friends with the help are you?" Grace chokes out. she started shaking as my face slipped to cool fury when a realisation hit me "have you hit or threatened any other member of this castle?" I asked staring into her eyes. I could see Rosie looking at us from the corner of my eyes and I couldn't tell whether her face showed amusement or anger, perhaps both. "oh who cares they're all worthless anyway, can't even follow orders half of the time" Grace gasps. I growl at her and my hand further tightens around her throat causing her to choke, she tries grabbing at my hand but she was too weak. "they are people, kind and good people. if you so much as touch one again I will come for you" I breathe through clenched teeth into her ear. A stupid threat really, the consequences would be too high if I did anything bad to her but she didn't need to know that. I release my grip on her throat and she scurries away shouting "I'm telling father" through sobs, I laugh at her idiocy - bitter and cold. I'd probably get one of those letters he sent when I did something slightly bad. How dare she hit defenceless people who were just trying to help and earn a living to feed their families? I scowl at her back as she leaves through the door, her thin drab brown hair fluttering behind her.

turning to face Rosie I notice her shoulders sag slightly, but she hands me a nervous smile. "are you okay?" I ask her, and she nodded but still looks slightly shaken up. I knew she wasn't scared of me or Grace, but I bet it brought back some unhappy memories. Rosie was abandoned as a child and left on the doorstep of some rich family. They took her in and she suffered for it, they'd hit her, beat her, starve her and leave her locked up in a cupboard for days. it took her two years to tell me the story and I'd immediately hunted them down and had them thrown into prison. my first thought was to have them executed but Rosie didn't want that, she said perhaps in the dark harsh environment of the prison camp they'd feel a small part of what she felt for those years. The prison camps offered some of the harshest conditions and only the worst offenders went there, people were forced to work with little light and small amounts of food, I'd never heard of anyone who managed to finish their sentence alive. I'd never wish that fate on anyone, not even my worst enemies, well perhaps except Quilo. Rosie had managed to escape to the castle to find work and made a life for herself, I often wished there was more I could do to help her. she slowly lifts her arms up towards me, a silent request. I walk over and wrap my arms around her, placing my chin on top of her head. "that's not the first time" she mumbles, I stiffen and a growl slips out of me as I envision my sister hurting my friend. "but" she continues when I open my mouth "I doubt she'll be hurting any of us any time soon".

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

After a quick breakfast of homemade flapjack courtesy of the new chef, which even Rosie had to admit was actually quite good, I hurried outside to go to the training ring. the ring was engulfed in a fortress of towering trees that covered the old building from view. The only way you could find this place was if you knew it was here or had a map otherwise you'd simply think the entire place was an old forgotten forest. from the outside the building looked like a forgotten wooden bowl, it didn't have a ceiling or a proper floor which made training in the rain or winter really miserable. every time I complained about it James would say 'you likely wouldn't have a roof in battle' which was true but didn't stop me from hating it all the same.

"Anala!" a low cheerful voice shouts when I walk through the door. I giggle at the sight of James hurrying towards me with his arms outstretched. James had short blonde hair that didn't do very much to hide his giant head, Giant muscled everything that terrified everyone who didn't know him and piercing blue eyes that always made me smile. baring in mind I was not small James had to bend over to hug me, he easily picked me up and pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. "I nt eeth" I gasp into his chest. "hmm?" he mumbles against the top of my head. I manage to pull away just enough to pant "I can't breath!", he immediately drops me and then grips my arm so I don't fall over as I try to catch my breath. I chuckle at the pink starting to creep across his cheeks as he nervously rubbed at his neck. when James starts to run off to the other side of the room I shout "where are you going?" starting to follow him. he stops at the far wall, picks something up and hides it easily behind his back before his orders "close your eyes". his steps sound as he walks towards me and when he's standing in front of me I could've sworn I felt the warmth of his hand right by my face, like he was going to touch it but then hesitated. the warmth disappears and I hear him shift on his feet and continue "okay you can open them now". my eyes flutter open and it takes me a second to adjust to the brightness of the room before I notice him standing in front of me with two large objects in his hands which looked strangely small next to him.

James handed me the most beautiful plant pot I've ever seen and started "I was thinking the other night about how you said you had space for another plant on that little table next to your bed, so I got you this funky looking one so you could put it there. but then I realised you don't have any pots to put it in and I know you like having all of your plants in little pots. I made this one for you so you can keep it in there or if you don't like it I could make you another one. I tried painting little designs on it but it didn't go very well so I had to cover it up with the paint... I'm sorry I should've done a better job I'll just get rid of it..." before he can continue I wrap my arms around him and I rasped "it's perfect". he hesitated for a moment before hugging me back, more gently this time. I heard him whisper so quietly I'm guessing he didn't think I'd hear "you're perfect". A gentle breeze fluttered the ends of my ponytail, some of the wilder pieces splaying across my face. "what?" I ask him, unsure if I had heard correctly. he lets me go and takes a step back, turning away to pick up the other object he brought not fast enough to hide his red face. "oh err... nothing. I got you this too" he stammers and hands me a huge, beautiful sword that was over half the height of me. it was incredibly heavy but the weight was welcome in my hands as I easily twisted it around.

The little blue pot now sat on a chair next to me containing a type of snake plant, what type I'd have to research later. James had insisted that he made all of the pots for the plants in my room even though there were probably over 25 of them. He loved pottery, he made beautiful mugs, bowls, vases and of course plant pots. The only issue was that his hands were too big to do the little tiny details he wanted to add so he often asked me to help him paint them on or make them out of clay. it was a little funny really, the image of the huge captain of the guard that made enemies of the crown wet themselves sat on a stool making a plant pot.

"I love them, thank you so much!" I giggle, swinging the sword over my shoulder. he grins at me, the gesture making me feel warm and happy. his smile falters as he approaches warily "Rosie told me what happened yesterday... at dinner I mean". I sigh and look anywhere but at the concern on his face before I state plainly "I don't want to talk about it", it was true, I didn't want to talk about it when it meant having to tell someone about that part of me. "I should've been there, I'm sorry" James murmurs, and just to stop the pity and sadness on his face from turning into more words that would just make me feel worse I take his hand and reply "you have always been there James, you're the best friend I can ask for". sadness flashes across his face briefly before the grin returns and he states baldly "I doubt you'll be saying that after today's session". the ferocious gleam in his eyes had me immediately forgetting any of that sadness and I give him a grin of my own.