The Unforeseen [EDITING]

Chapter Two

     The sunlight had shown its face and Timena couldn't have been less pleased. She would search for the culprit who drew away her curtains every morning, but first, she would eat.

     The cooks and kitchen maids busied themselves, bustling about to ensure that food was prepared. The maids and servants had been attending to their duties from before the sun had risen. Everything had been set in motion, from the very depths of the castle to the outside, there were people at work.
     Norman, the chamberlain and the head cook, Eurina worked hand in hand. They saw to it that the castle was being maintained regularly by all staff. They had worked there long before Delacroix and Timena had even been conceived.     
     "Eat up Timena, you've got men to spar with shortly." Eurina's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Timena smiled in return as she continued to eat.
   "And I expect you to beat every one of them." She looked up to see Eurina with a knowing smile on her face. Norman nodded his head in agreement before traveling up the staircase. Timena's excitement was boiling over as she quickly finished eating. Eurina could be heard wishing her luck as she soon ran upstairs, knowing Timena would not need it.
     Once she was outside, she could see a few of the guards huddled around in amusement. Her steps neared so she too could view the match.
     It was Samuel and, Silas. Timena held back her laughter, he would defeat Samuel undoubtedly. Silas was a skilled swordsman, as was Samuel to a certain degree, but if she could so easily anticipate his movements that would mean Silas would already have-
     A heavy thud sounded, Samuel lay on the grass in defeat. She felt badly as she went over to help him up. He grunted, holding his lower back in discomfort as he then hobbled away slowly. 
     Timena snorted, preparing herself for whoever would challenge her.
     Aldus stepped forth and adrenaline began to rush through her veins.
     They moved a small distance away from one another before respectively bowing their heads. Swords in the air, he lunged first and instinctively she faded. Her moves in the beginning would only be to ward him off so she could properly assess his weaknesses.
     He wasn't fond of his opponent not fighting back which caused him to try to taunt her, one. He positioned too much weight on his left side when striking, two. Timena saw two weaknesses she could use to her advantage; it was only a matter of when. The pressure against her blade was a shift in his manner, he was becoming increasingly aggravated, an opening. The sword darted forward, narrowly missing him—taken back, he now jolted forward repeatedly, advancing on his left side as Timena avoided each blow while moving backward, two she repeated mentally. Now it was her turn to counter his movements, her blade purposely clamored against her contender's as she then rotated her arm away from her body in a quick motion, knocking his arm away and leaving him exposed. The tip of the sword tapped against his upper thigh.  
     The sounds of cheering and laughter were almost deafening. Aldus did not appear to be too pleased but bowed his head towards her.
     "You may be victorious this time young princess, but next time I will prevail." He jokingly bumped past her, returning to his comrades.
     As her eyes followed in his direction, Timena quickly spotted Delacroix along with all the other princesses ogling him and Silas from the doorway, she laughed. Looking to the king she could see he was staring at her, seemingly amused and she quickly turned away.
     As Timena approached the girls, they surrounded her suddenly. She looked around in slight confusion.
     "What was it like being face to face with Aldus?" A little dark-haired girl's voice spoke out. Timena chuckled at the realization.
     "It was like a dream come true, I don't even know how I managed to not fall at his feet." Her obvious sarcasm had gone over their heads completely.
     Looking towards Delacroix, a knowing smile passed her features.
     "I know I'm admiring from a distance, leave me be." She rolled her eyes before turning away.
     At that moment, another opponent stood a few feet away, waiting to spar. Timena's eyes lit up.