A Ward's Tale

Chapter 7

A week later I am finally left alone again, being deemed healthy again. The wound in my neck has healed so that you would never know it had ever been cut. Gayle is very impressed with this but seeing as he's been treating my wounds since I started practicing in secret with his second eldest son, Lambert, and all those have healed fast and clean he doesn't think much of it.

One of the maids knocks and enters into my bed chambers. I look up at her from my vanity table where I was playing with a small knife. She looks nervously at the knife in my hand but does not say anything about it. All have heard by now about my bravery and skills with the sword from that night. Some congratulate me, others give me looks of concern, and others are wary and nervous around me. Instead, she tells me that the dressmaker wants me to try on my wedding gown. I sigh and stand up leaving the blade on the table. I was enjoying my time alone trying to gather my thoughts about everything that has happened.

I check to make sure my mother's necklace is clasped firmly around my neck then follow the maid out. Down the halls we go, until we turn and enter a room set aside for all things dealing with my wedding. The dressmaker is sitting inside hand sewing part of my veil. My dress is on a mannequin near the center of the room and takes my breath away. I may not be fully happy with marrying Reynold but this dress is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.

The white fabric is some soft imported material that must have cost a lot considering how much is used and how rare it looks. I have worn the dress before but each time I put it on there seems to be more and more fabric. It grows heavier but never unbearable. The dressmaker's apprentices help me undress, slip into the dress cage, then slide the gown over my shoulders.

I slide my arms into the thin lace fabric around my arms then let the girls tie up the back. I cannot stop smiling. The top stops before my collarbone and fabric never goes over my shoulders. The bodice has four lines of sparkling white jewels running from under my bosom to my waist. From my waist the dress poofs out around me with the help of the dress cage. The layers of fabric roll over each other as waves do crashing on the beach we visit in the summer.

"Maryanne! This dress is gorgeous!" I exclaim spinning around and letting some of the fabric spin out around me. "I hope King Charles is paying you a small fortune, I will never be able to repay you for this."

Maryanne, the dressmaker, smiles. "All I ask is that you wear it with pride down the aisle. That will be payment enough from you. Now come here darling, I see a touch up. Then we will see if your veil fits."

I comply and in an hour I am out of my wedding dress and back into my green and black gown for the day. Mickey comes and gets me for my lessons. They have grown less and less as I get older but I still have music lessons, sewing lessons, and other womanly needed lessons.

After lunch Mickey and I steal away in secret, making our way to a hidden alcove where we have been practicing our swordsmanship with Lambert, Gayle's second eldest son. I convinced them to teach me years ago and since then Mickey has helped me get away from the castle for a few hours.

Lambert is already there waiting for us. There are our usual wooden swords but there are also two older versions of the swords the King's army uses.

"Where did you get those?" Mickey asks referring to the new swords. I pick one up and look at the polished metal. I run a finger over the cool metal. I lift the sword in my right hand feeling the weight. Slightly heavy but I could get used to it.

A memory of the night of the Ball flashes past my eyes. The first man I killed lays on the ground before me. My hands start shaking uncontrollably but I hold tight to the sword. It is my protection.

Lambert gently places a hand on mine. I give him the sword. "These are not playthings, these are not the wooden swords you have been practicing on. These are dangerous weapons, and if we are caught with them we will be whipped and severely punished." Mickey and I nod understandingly. It's one thing to have a sword as a commoner, but to have a couple of the King's army's old swords is another. These are supposed to be melted down and made new unless you are a veteran of the army, and I know Lambert and Gayle are not.

"After the attack I decided that we need to bump up the training some. There is some unrest in the Kingdom. A group who call themselves The Seekers are looking for some Chosen One. They are causing uproars in every town they enter. Fighting usually presumes. That is why I want you to be able to protect yourselves if they ever come this way, which I'm sure they will." Lambert explains.

The Seekers, this group is mentioned again. Who are these people who are causing such an uproar in the kingdom?

"But first, since this is your first practice after the accident, Rissa, I want to start with the wooden swords to test your strength."

I unconsciously touch the emerald pendant around my neck. So far nothing magical has happened since I've had it back on. There is a strange feeling, as if a small part of me is missing. I shake the feeling off. I roll my wrist with the wooden sword and we start practice.

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The sun has started its decline as we finish. Sweat is dripping down my face and back as Mickey and I step back from each other. I wipe my brow as I look to the sky. Too soon. How could time have gone by so fast?

"They'll be looking for you soon." Mickey says bringing my attention to him. He is covered in sweat too. His dark hair is plastered to his head. The sweat glistens on his skin as he stands there looking at me. There is an expression there that makes me blush but also makes my heart ache.

Mickey is one of my only friends in this kingdom but he is also a servant. Nothing could ever happen between us, even if we wanted. Besides I am engaged to another man who I will be marrying in three weeks. But if I was not a ward, not of nobility...I shake the thought away. I cannot let myself think of such things, of such impossibilities.

I smile back and say, "Yes, we need to be getting back."

We quickly change back into the clothes we wore there, Mickey's servant uniform and one of my more simple black and white dresses. Lambert collects the simple brown practice clothes.

As Mickey and I walk back to the castle I feel the claustrophobic feeling I get after wearing the practice pants then putting this restrictive dress back on. I hike up my skirts and complain about how challenging it is to walk in the woods with a dress. Mickey laughs and I smile.

"I can fix that." Mickey says seconds before throwing me over his shoulders playfully. I squeal and playfully beat on his back and swing my legs about. He puts me back down and I flip my hair out of my face laughing.

"You are so silly, Mitchel Bloomburg. I'm glad you are my friend."

I look up at his smiling face, "Clarissa, I'm glad to be called your friend."

I take dinner with Lola, Margaret, Hubert, and Henry Von Buchner, one of the suitors Lola took a favor of. As we sit down Reynold is announced and joins us. I am surprised at his visit but also happy about it. The night of the ball I started to favor him more. He didn't back down in a fight and was very good with a sword.

After dinner Reynold and I go for a walk in the gardens. The sun has almost dropped beyond the horizon and the stars are starting to poke out of the sky. We stop at a water fountain of cupid pointing his arrow towards the sky. Water flows out of the tip of the arrow and falls to the fountain pool. I lean on Reynold some. We don't say much, just enjoy each other's company.

He kisses my head and I look up at him.

"I am so ready to spend the rest of my life with you." Reynold says. I look into his chocolate brown eyes and see he really means it. He really does want to spend the rest of his life with me. It is so nice to feel so wanted by such an outsider.

The happy feeling also comes with a feeling of guilt and fear. Would he still want me if he knew that I had magic? Supposedly really strong magic? Magic that this Seeker group is tearing up the kingdom for.

I push the thought aside and just enjoy the moment. There is time to worry later.