Just a Girl

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

 “What did they mean ‘only two or three hundred!?’ That’s men we are talking about! People! And they have the audacity to act like it is nothing! How can my mother just sit there and be unfazed!?” Liz said, pacing the bedroom back and forth.

 “Liz, in wars, people die. It’s not a severe thing in a war if only a couple of hundred people die.”

 “But that’s absurd! It could have been Edward who died! Then would it be significant enough to you?”

 “Liz, that’s not fair. Of course it would be significant but you have to see the bigger picture! War is going to break out! They are coming for the castle. It’s a danger to be here! They have to prevent it from coming back here. Many of the people who are on our side volunteered willingly. They didn’t have to be told to. They want to die for their king and queen. They want to die honorably. Most of the men have joined the war Liz. It’s out of our hands.”

 “Is it?” Liz asked, and Winnie thought of an idea.

 “What if we-” Winnie said, but stopped when she heard a knock at the door.

 “COME IN!” Liz yelled, not trying at all to hide the fact of her anger and frustration.

 “It’s just me,” Mary said as she opened the door.

 “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought it was some annoying butler coming around to tell me to do this and go here because that’s all I’m good for,” Liz muttered to herself.

 “But what if we could help,”

“Help who?” Mary asked.

“The knights.” Liz said.

“Why would you want to do that?” Mary asked, clearly confused on the concept.

“How?” Liz asked, ignoring Mary.

“We could learn archery.” Winnie said, and by the look on Liz’s face, she felt like she had crossed a line. “What? Don’t you do archery?” Winnie asked, surprised. Her father had been an extremely talented man when it came to archery. He had taught Winnie how to shoot, and how to make bows and arrows.

“No.” Liz said disgustfully. “What do I look like? A hunter?” Winnie couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Oh, so you know how to do all that stuff,” she said, emphasizing stuff. Winnie couldn’t help but be shocked. She knew that Liz had never really been able to do anything. I mean it wasn’t really a girl’s job to hunt or even shoot a bow. She couldn’t let herself be surprised that Liz was astonished.

“Well I don’t know how to hunt, but I do know that it would give us a great advantage if and when the war gets here. The last thing we want is to be useless and defenseless when the war comes. Not to mention that they will be coming after you, Liz. They will go for you first to make your father suffer. Then they will kill them if they can get the chance.” Mary said.

“I guess it couldn’t be that bad,” Liz mumbled.

“It’s actually a lot of fun,” Winnie said.

“Isn’t it like a guy thing though?”

 “Well, yes. It’s very rare that ladies actually learn such a skill. But it will help us, Liz. You just said about the multiple masses of people who die in wars. Don’t you want to help them? If you actually get good enough, you could save lives.”

 “I know that I’m in,” Mary said, “I want to help Trevor. I really miss him.”

 “And I want to help Edward.” Winnie looked at Liz, searching for an answer. “I can’t believe that it takes you so long to formulate an answer. It’s your life we are talking about here! Not just a game of fun. They can hurt you Liz. Don’t you want to defend yourself?”