The Realm of Kingdoms

Chapter 2 The Beginning of the End

My grandfather always said that "You have to understand the past to understand the end." Well you know the past so here's the beginning.
"Knock! Knock!" A voice called from behind the door.
"Ugh." I groaned into my pillow. I heard the door click open and close, and the next thing I knew my room was flooded with light. I immediately whipped my blanket over my head to protect my eyes.
"Up! Up! Up!" The voice called to me again. "You have a very busy day!"
"Alright, alright I'm getting up." I said after the owner of the voice shook me a couple of times. I tossed my covers to the end of my bed, and looked up to see my sweet maid, Kristina, standing beside me. I opened my mouth to say a smart comment about waking up so early, but she stopped  me.
"This is it! Are you ready?"
"I think I'll wear jeans and my green t-shirt today Kristi." I said completely ignoring her question.
She tossed me the clothing then asked again "You've got to be at least a little excited!"
     I sighed realizing that I was not going to get out of this, "Gee, you make it sound like I'm getting married."
     "Well, in a way you are," she said "at least you are soon."
     "Ugh, don't remind me." I said in a slightly annoyed voice.
     "Come on Skyler," she said adding an extra dramatic tone, "you've got to admit that it is a bit romantic."
     "Come on Kristi," I mocked, "you've got to admit that this isn't even the tiniest bit romantic."
     "Yeah right," Kristi rolled her eyes "what's so romantic about falling in love with a prince."
     "That would be romantic if I was going to fall in love with a prince, but I'm not. Sorry to disappoint."
     She gave me a small mischievous  grin and said, "We'll just have to wait and see."
     I rolled my eyes, "Just toss me my combat boots."
     I made my way to the dining room and was not surprised to hear voices already. Mom and dad always wake up early, Luka gets up early for his run, and Caroline is simply just an early bird.
     I was about to walk through the doors of the dining room when Luka called my name. "Guess what!"
     "I don't think I want to guess." I said as I turned around to see my little brother sweating through his shirt.
     "13."
     "13 what?"
     "13 miles."
     "You ran 13 miles?" I asked. I can't say I'm surprised Luka has always been a great runner. "How long did it take you? 3 hours?"
     "Nope! Only 2 hours!" He answered excitedly.
     Again I can't say that I'm surprised. Luka is just simply athletic. "Wow Luka, that is extremely impressive," I said as I walk into the dining room, "especially for a 16 year old."
"What's extremely impressive for a 16 year old?" Caroline asked with a mouth full of blueberry muffin, and sitting at the edge of the long table, across from mom.
"Luka ran 13 miles in 2 hours."
"That is impressive." She said and we both stifled a laugh as we watched his face burn a bright red.
Luka has had a crush on Caroline since he was nine, and we both love watching him blush whenever Caroline complements him.
"Morning mom." I said cheerfully as I took the seat next to Caroline.
"Morning honey," she said " we have a lot of planning to do today to get ready for the ball."
Ugh. Planning parties and such really isn't all so bad, but when your planning the ball that represents the biggest change in your life .......... Well, lets just say I'm not jumping up and down like a toddler on their birthday.
"You have combat practice today though right?" Dad asked, seeing the look if distress on my face.
"Yeah, can we start planning after practice?" I asked mom.
"Sure sweetie, just remember to wear a dress while we plan." She replied. Shes never really liked me wearing jeans, she thinks that a princess should only wear dresses and tiaras.
"Sure" Not that I have anything against dresses, jeans are just way more comfy.
I looked over to dad, who shruged his shoulders then winked at me.
I hurried and finished my breakfast, because I know that it will take most of the day to plan the ball.
I made my way to the armory and grabbed my sword. The door to the arena was already open and there in the far corner was Sir Enos sharpening his blade. Even though he was in his mid 40's he was still in better shape than many of our soldiers.
He looks up at me, "You ready for practice?"
"Yep."
"Great. Do you remember what I told you yesterday?"
"Uh yeah," I said, of course I remember, he's only told me a million times. "Get in close as often as you can to disarm or kill. Maim from a further distance."
"Good," he said "Be sure to stick with the close part."
"Okay," I've never been real good at being close in battle. I can stay in close for a little while but I always end up taking a step back to soon, at least when I'm going against someone as good as Sir Enos. "Let's start."
     "That's the spirit." And with that he charged at me.
     I easily parried his first thrust at me. He threw another at me. I sidestepped and thrusted one of my own, which was deflected easily. I drove another swing at him. Deflected. He swung one at me, and I ducked right in time to follow through with a roll. I came back up and blocked another one of his lunges. We went back and forth using different methods and tactics, trying to disarm the other.
Get in close. Get in close. Get in close. Repeated over and over in my head. I saw so many possibilities for me to get close, and other times Sir Enos got in close and I barely managed to repress him from disarming me.
I took a quick, not so deep breath, and fought my way closer. Finally I was there, I knew the the perfect move to disarm him. Thoughts clouded my head.
No, no, this isn't the right approach. Go back. Back up. Quick!
So that's what I did. I backed out, but not quick enough. I saw it before it happened. Sir Enos came in quick, his blade hit the base of my sword and he twisted, putting all his weight into a downward thrust. I watched my sword clatter to the hard cement of the arena, and Sir Enos' blade inches from my head.
"Do you know what went wrong with that bout?" He asked, there was no judgement in his eyes.
"Staying close is the first key in disarming."
"Yes, staying close is both a physical, mental, and emotional action and thought. What else could have changed the outcome of this? Mentally I mean."
Now this was new. Mentally? I gave him a questioning look.
"Think about it. This is something I can't simply tell you. You must learn this yourself. I will see you tomorrow at your next lesson."
"Okay." I said and left. That was the most unusual combat lesson I had ever had. What did he mean by mentally? The thoughts that clouded my head? Yes that had to be it. What else could he mean?
By the time I had showered it was time to eat lunch, but thoughts of the next day diminished my hunger. I would have enough to eat making the preparations for the ball anyway, but right then I had work to do.
As I made my way to dads and my study the only thing I could think of was how this was my last normal day. How these bare hallways would be full of daft boys. How every meal would now be boisterous and how every night before I fall asleep I would have that single thought of truth that I will have to go through the same thing the next day. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes, but I forced them back down along with any other thought of my future. I had today and I needed to make the most of it.