Crowns And Swords

Chapter Seven

~Eight Months and Two Days After Arriving at the Academy~
Beautiful, sunny Spring morning. Horse under my butt. Flowers blooming, birds and butterflies flying through the trees. Just what I needed.
During my recovery, I tried to sneak out multiple times on my own. Someone would most likely catch me and report me to the nurses, who would tell me time and time again, "You are healing. You can't go outside the walls, you'll hurt yourself." I eventually gave in and let Levi sneak me out on little dates to the lake at night, where we sung songs under the moonlight, shared stories, and even had picnics. Ever since that one night, we've grown closer and closer and learned how to love another. Most of the time, I could think hardly about anything else besides him. He made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, always the one bringing the red out in my cheeks. From what he's done and said, our feelings towards each other mirror.
I decided I'd take Jean out for a ride today. He never gets walked, and I often felt bad about it too. As I gazed through the blossoming trees, Jean guided himself along a dirt pathway around the Academy walls so we wouldn't get lost, even if I tried to steer him wrong.
"Something on your mind?"
I turned my head and found my face drowning in leaves. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
"Tell me all about it... We haven't talked in such a long time, it's almost if you've forgotten me."
"Oh, quiet Jean. I have my reasons for accidentally neglecting you."
"And, what were they again? Busy with human men? Injuring yourself for your one true love? Star gazing with none other than your trainer? Doesn't sound like an accident to me, Princess," Jean muttered smugly.
"HUSH, YA MORON!! I CANT RISK ANYONE FINDING OUT!" I whisper-shouted.
Jean stopped for a moment. "You do realize that I can only talk to you, right? Or did you forget because you were too occupied with making out with that Levi guy?"
"I swear, next time I see a nose instead of a snout, I will slap your smug little face."
"Why not do it now? Slapping a horse is normal."
"I'm not the only one out here, you know!"
Other students had decided to take their horses out today too. If I had just hopped off of Jean's back and gave him a good hit to the cheek, some might start spreading whatever crazy rumor they'd start up. It's not like I needed another one of those going around.
She talks to her horse, as if it were a real person.
Is she dating her trainer? Isn't he too old for her?
I heard he's cheating on his fiancé with her. Katrina told me herself.
Remember when she went out and got attacked by those wolves? She may have been the reason they left, she was soooo frightening.
That girl looks oddly familiar. Is she a noble or something? No, no, she's definitely a soldier's daughter.
I looked around the fruit orchard I was riding in. Under a nearby apple tree sat Roy, the guy Mavis was dating. He seemed relaxed. I climbed down from Jean's back and left him where he stood. I knew he wouldn't leave, a sentient being like him wouldn't just wander off like some child.
"Hello there... Long time, no see, Lady Hope."
I brushed aside my wavy locks and kneeled down. "Well, you can't just expect me to bounce back from a near-death situation and pretend everything is all fine and dandy, am I right?"
"That's true."
I looked around anxiously. Before I could start up my next sentence, Roy chimed in. "How's things going with Levi? I heard you two were sneaking out every so often. Do I sense love in the air?"
I blush. "It's going good! He's been a huge help with my physical therapy. It's like he's helped others before in the way he helped me."
Thinking back on the past few months, Levi did in fact take part in the physical therapy I took while I stayed on the figurative sidelines. It would sometimes become hard to walk without feeling any pain from my back, so some of the nurses and him would often come to my aid and help me practice some basic stretches to get me back up on my feet.
Roy smiled. "I never meant that, miss. Glad he was still able to help you in some way, however."
"I beg your pardon?"
He leaned in close to me and whispered, "I don't know if you've noticed, but Levi is crazy about you. When you're not around, Levi won't go a minute before mentioning your name. While you were gone, he had us learn about the war between Deprimere and Misia about ten years ago, all because your father fought in it. He even has come to some of the male students, such as myself, for advice to win a girl's heart. You're lucky his uncle allows him to do this. I don't think General Forrester would let anyone else slip by with loving someone as hard as he does with you."
My face suddenly feels much more warm than before. "He's told me that, a few times.. Wh-what's this about his uncle and the General? He never said anything about either of them in the past."
Roy smiled even more. He shook his head after a small chuckle, and said, "The General is Levi's uncle. Not many people are told that. General Forrester is the brother of Levi's father, and knowing what happened to his family, he was gracious enough to offer Levi a well-paying job here."
"I never knew. He was asking all these questions about me, and never let me ask him anything once."
"See? He's crazy. About you. And don't let the rumors tell you otherwise, that Katrina woman who starts them is just jealous and wants to destroy any relationship between any girl with 'her man'." Roy paused. He looked over my shoulder and stood from his spot under the tree. "Sorry I can't continue our conversation, Mavis doesn't look too happy... I'll see you around, okay?"
Roy waved and jogged over to the fuming Mavis, who stood a fair distance away. I turned my head to find her yelling in his face. Roy panicked and pointed behind him, directing Mavis's attention towards me. I waved; she suddenly calmed down, took him by the arm, and walked with him towards the giant oak tree. I smirked, returning back to Jean and leading him back to the stable.