Half Complete

THE DUEL

The king was looking at us curiously as we came forward.My mother was shocked at my boldness.The colour seemed to leak away from her face.Suddenly her expression morphed into it's usual cold and calculating one.My younger sister stared at me with undisguised disgust in her face.Anger replaced my dread. I imagined myself gathering all my courage and converting it into a powerful shield.I knelt before the king and so did Ciel. My empty sleeve fluttered and flew in the wind.

"Oh esteemed king and our benevolent monarch, we your humble soldiers are presenting this duel for you,sire.I am Clarissa, the second daughter of lord Harrowfield and this boy is..."I aws surprised with how steady my voice was, how easily the words came forth.

Ciel took up my chant"Your majesty," he said,"I'm Ciel Crewe; the foster son of Captain Dorian Crewe.You see, lords, ladies and our dear esteemed king, my eyes are unseeing so forgive me for not looking at you while I speak.He stood up

I was shocked.He was so frank.I heard gasps from the audience and my family but the king had this queer look on his face.He was looking at us as though we were chess pieces and he was wondering how to use us in his favor.I slowly stood up as Dorian called out our names loudly.

Ciel gave a nod as we both stepped into the platform.I looked at my father.He was smiling at us.I took a deep breath and drew my sword.The wind picked up.My hair swished around my head like a living thing. Ciel drew his daggers from his sleeve.His eyes, looking above my head glowed with determination.He stiffened, then breathed.I shifted my feet to show him where I stood.

Ciel took the two daggers in his hand and drew it away from his body, his hands outstretched.I stood in the same line as him and did the same with mine.Suddenly he threw them both above his head and I threw mine in a deadly arc.I cartwheeled and came to a stop right in front of him.My arm throbbed a little when I put my entire weight into it but I continued.I knew the routine so well I could almost do it in my sleep.The swords tumbled down with a swish.I caught my sword as Ciel clutched his daggers.I heard gasps from the audience and smiled.

Then we separated and began a deadly dance with our weapons.To make up for my lack of power my sword was sharpened to the highest degree .Ciel prefered close combat as he could detect changes in posture very easily.His hearing was very keen and he would easily attack closely to make up for his short range with daggers. Both of us seperated.He charged at me and swiped his daggers.My empty sleve was cut off to my shoulder and it fluttered for some time before finally faling down.I could hear Mary shouting in the crowd.I saw Dorian standing proudly and the king's curiosity replaced by wonder. I ducked and met my sword to his .The fun had finally begun.

Sparks flew as our weapons met each other. I moved backwards and stood far away from Ciel. The wind picked up and my hair swished in the breeze. With amazing accuracy he charged at me. I avoided his swipe and was going to attack his ribs when something horrible happened. Like the sudden unusual winds that strike our castle, Dorian who was standing near my father jumped in front of him. He staggered and fell to the ground with an arrow lodged in his chest. I felt sick and heard a heart wrenching wail from somewhere, but then I realized it was me. People dressed in white robes jumped on the stage and started to attack my family and the king. But at the same time people on black robes jumped up and fought them .There was mass panic and everyone started to run helter skelter.

Ciel was standing on the stage bewildered. " Clarie, what's the matter? Why did you scream. Dorian, old man answer me! What is going on?" He had extended his hands and was walking blindly on the platform trying to find a way down. Before I could help him I saw a hooded person standing on top of the viewing platform that my family was at. His sword gleamed wickedly in the sunlight as he prepared to stab my father.

" Nooo...." I screamed as I jumped off the platform. I fell to the ground and I rolled away to prevent getting trampled by the frightened people. " Father look out!" I screamed as I stood up. I was aware of a searing pain in my head before everything turned black and Mary's voice saying " Everything will be alright, miss."