When our eyes met

Chapter V: A rose for my princess

The princess had a long day ahead and she knew the tourney would be a lot more than just Adora's duel. Her mother was already on her seat while waiting for her daughter who arrived late. Her eyes looked up at her and gestured to her to sit down. She was angered and Catra could feel that. She knew her too well to not be able to notice if Light Spinner was mad or not. Her hands fixed her dress as she sat down and took a small shaky breath. She knew her mother was furious because of two reasons. Her being late and the duel that Adora was willing to fight for Catra's hand. Even if she felt like someone was stabbing her stomach she found the guts to speak first "Where have you been this morning?"

The older one crossed her arms over her chest "Do I really have to tell you?"

"I thought we would eat together for once....that's all honestly... I'm sorry for asking.." Her ears were down and her eyes looked at the arena. Her reply and the longing look in the feline's eyes made the other one more interested to know what she was thinking. "You're really focused on these knights lately, Catra" She calmly stated after a while as she observed the young one "I'm simply interested in today's fights. It's not a bad thing... Is it?" The girl hissed while knowing the answer.

"Hm? When did you start to have that interest? Yesterday?"

"Will we enjoy the tourney or will we argue? If you care so much about our reputation it's not good for others to see us arguing, don't you think? I refused to follow your plan so don't start blaming Ad- Shera again for my decisions. She has nothing to do with it" The older one clenched her fists because of her statement while watching the knights walking into the arena. The crowd was cheering. Her eyes wouldn't even meet the young ones. "I think you're underestimating me, Catra. Did you really believe you could hide things from me? Did you think that I didn't see you last night?" Catra felt like her heart had been stabbed. It was a cold sinking feeling as her hands were cold and her eyes looked up at her. Her glare was visible through her hair strands. "So what? I bet you saw nothing happened... she's just distracted that's all..."

"I saw both of you getting distracted, but we've had this conversation already and I told you you won't be allowed to go near her again.. yet there you were right beside her." She hissed but at that time the horn blew for the knights' introduction as the first name was Adora's because of her ranking. The announcer gave her and the rest of the knights time to offer a flower or other form of endearment to any of the princesses sitting there in the front row. Even though it was Adora's turn to walk, Bow walked out since Shera didn't show up just yet. He offered a red chrysanthemum to the princess of BrightMoon and her eyes looked surprised at the flower. A soft blush forming on her cheeks. Even though they knew each other for long she was stunned by his offer. Her lips made a huge smile and she leaned against the counter that separated them in excitement. Second in line was Adora who just mounted Swiftwind, her white horse. She waved to the crowd with her head held high and proudful. Her helmet was under her arm, smiling at everyone. She was playing nice as she noticed the princess she was in love with. She rode in front of the princesses, pausing in front of Catra with a smile and offering her a simple red rose to show her true love.

"My first fight shall be for you, Princess."

She left it at that, moving forward again to line up with the other Knights, patting gently at Swiftwind's neck. Too many had been fighting boring duels in front of the feline to have her hand, to have that 'yes' even from her mother yet the princess had never been so amused and flustered as now. Her cheeks had a bright pink colour as she tried to hold her excitement back. Her heart was beating fastly and that knight.... would be only in her dreams for longer as it seemed since her mother was keeping an eye on her. She couldn't cheer for her during the fight but she could applause if she did win.

Her mother on the other hand knew what was going on and the fact that her plans would get ruined because of Catra made her more furious than she already was. Her eyes scanned the knight from head to toe as if she tried to memorise her moves. She was quick, not as quick as others but her strength was indeed something noticeable.