Betrothed

Chapter Thirty: The Night Before

The next day, after the morning chores were completed, and breakfast was eaten, Audrianna took it upon herself to practice her dagger tossing. She was so excited at sticking the knife in the target the day before, she didn't want to lose the chance at doing it a second time. As she threw one dagger after another, the princess began to peg one out of five throws.

Olivia, finished with cleaning up after breakfast, came to check on the princess's progress. Making several suggestions regarding her stance, and holding the knife, Audrianna began to peg one out of 'three' throws on the target. Elated with her progress, Audrianna began to push herself at perfecting her dagger tossing to the best of her ability.

After an hour, though, Olivia led the princess from the back side of the barn, to the clearing on the front side, where Balen and Henry were practicing their sword skills. Olivia and Audrianna watched for several minutes as the two men began to spar intensely. Henry eyed the princess watching him, her hands folded and resting on a fence post, with her head resting sideways over her hands. Henry tried to show-off on behalf of Audrianna, using fancier footwork while sparring with Balen. Stepping back a bit, Balen looked for an opportunity to take advantage of Henry's antics. As Henry did a half spin with his feet, Balen put his foot out to the side of Henry, to which the prince tripped and fell to the ground on his back. Balen pointed his sword in Henry's face.

"Don't let your wife become a distraction," he warned.

"She is not a distraction to me," Henry insisted. "I may have gotten a bit cocky while we are training, but I would never let that happen in the heat of battle." Balen reached his arm out and helped the prince to his feet.

"I don't just mean that you might be distracted with her watching on. But if you ever find yourself in a situation where Her Highness is either in danger, or calling out to you, you must stay in the moment with your opponent. You will not be able to rescue your betrothed if you become distracted, and run through, by the enemy."

"Okay, Okay," Henry replied. "I understand."

"I think it is time for the two love birds to spar for once," Olivia announced.

"What birds?" Audrianna asked, raising her head from the post.

"You and Henry," Olivia clarified.

"We're not in love," Henry remarked. "We're just betrothed." Olivia and Balen both put a hand on one hip and glared at each other.

"That is possibly the saddest comment I have heard in quite some time," Balen responded to Olivia. Olivia nodded in agreement.

"Do I have to fight Henry?" Audrianna asked.

"You are not fighting him," Balen corrected. "You are sparring with him. The point is to hammer out each other's weaknesses, not to kill each other."

"But he is so much older, taller and more skilled than I am," the princess pointed out. "How am I expected to spar with him?"

"Your job is to deflect his advances," Olivia replied. "That is all we will worry about today."

"I'll go easy on you, little mouse," Henry teased, taking his stance, and tossing his sword from one hand to the other. Audrianna picked up her new sword Olivia had given her, from the rack on the barn wall.

"I'll try and keep myself from killing you, Horace," she said, taking her stance opposite Henry. "I'll need you later to spar with again." They both grimaced at each other and growled.

"Remember, Your Highness," Balen coached, "quick, fluid strokes. Let him come to you, don't reach out to meet him."

Henry circled the courtyard, with Audrianna mirroring his stance, circling to stay in front of him. Henry would half thrust his sword, causing the princess to swing her sword in defense, but missing his sword.