Elsa held her breath and stealthily hid in a corner.
She was inside already and there was no way she would leave unnoticed.
It was uncomfortably warm inside, and she found herself letting out a stifled cough.
There, he stood amidst the slight darkness that evolved the environ, and he seemed to like and belong to the dark.
Elsa watched him from behind the bars.
These bars served as a demarcation for both sides and it had square-like holes on them.
Her palpitating heartbeat quickened and sweat broke out on her palms when she saw him raise his hands and take off his shirt.
His fair toned skin shone brighter and brighter.
Those arm muscles made her gap in awe because they were too good to be hidden under shirts.
" So, do we begin now?" a voice arose from the farthest end of the environ.
This was when Elsa discovered that there was another person in there.
Ivan raised his head and looked on.
He had a stern glint in his eyes.
" Allen, I'm ready now."
A young man walked into the light.
The morning sunlight that penetrated through the roof cast a shadow upon him.
Now, Elsa could see both of them.
This young man whom Ivan called Allen was slightly robust and good-looking too.
Elsa saw his eyes brim with some twisted emotions, and she wondered what they were about to begin.
She stood still and watched.
Ivan swiftly got hold of the sword thrown at him.
But, he yelped and hissed at the moment, and the sword fell off to the ground.
Allen laughed roughly, and it seemed like he derived pleasure in that short yelp.
He swayed his sword from side to side, and he stopped on his track.
" This isn't how this is meant to be."
Ivan growled and breathed through his flared nostrils.
Anger flashed through his eyes and he tightened his fist.
He crouched down and picked the sword.
" Bring it on!"
With the swords swaying in the air, they both ran towards each other in an impetuous rush.
Elsa watched them both wield their swords like powerful and skillful swordsmen.
The clashing sounds surpassed the tranquility of the environ.
Panic seized Elsa and her pounding heart intensified its violent thudding.
They could get hurt in the process of this practice.
They both groaned and growled while fighting back.
Elsa found herself unceremoniously gripping the bars when Allen lashed Ivan with the sword.
Ivan dropped the sword noisily and fell to the ground.
Blood gushed from his lower abdomen.
Elsa watched Allen look on in satisfaction, and this got her wondering if this was just a practice.
Everything happened quickly.
Allen was on the ground as well while Ivan stood over him with the sword pointing him directly on his chest.
Allen's arm bled.
Ivan let his sword fall noisily to the ground, and he extended his hand for Allen to take.
Allen took his hand and rose from the ground.
A smirk tore across the faces of both men, they found themselves lost in a fierce laughter.
" You cheated, Ivan."
Ivan looked on in silence and wiped sweat off his forehead.
He pulled his shirt from a hanger and wore it.
" No, I didn't cheat. You had me surrendered...."
Allen cut him off.
" You're not meant to make use of your left hand in battle.
" Ivan, I know it's difficult, but we don't have much time left before everyone gets to know. You need to learn to use your right hand."
Ivan lifted his head and gritted his teeth.
And letting loose of his tightened fist, he patted Allen gently on his shoulder and walked on.
Allen stared at him from behind and walked on too.
Crunching hit Elsa's ears, and crashing through the rampant thudding of her heart, she sought a way to leave before they would.
Before she could find her way out, Ivan and Allen walked up to her.
Elsa shrank back and froze on the spot.
Ivan only stared coldly at her and walked away with Allen trailing behind.
__________
" Whatttttttt?" Lydia retorted and gaped at the princess.
Elsa chuckled and inched backwards on the bed.
She was currently sitting on the bed in her chambers.
" He only passed me and went away."
It was unbelievable for the prince to leave a person unpunished (especially those who proved dauntless and disobeyed his orders.)
He was good-looking but stern, and it scared the maids.
Although they desired him, they would never come closer.
He could burn them.
It scared everyone except the knights. No one ever crossed his path.
" But, is anything wrong with fighting a battle with the left hand? I've never heard of any tale related to it," Elsa voiced out.
She still felt troubled by Allen's words.
" There's nothing wrong with it, but, it doesn't speak good of a royalty that is left-handed."
" Why?"
" It's a taboo for a prince to be born left-handed."
" Taboo?" Elsa retorted in a whisper.
" Who's the man called Allen?"
" Sir Allen is his highness's greatest ally. He's the closest person to his highness."
" He's a knight?"
" Yes. Practically, he grew up in the palace with the prince."
Elsa nodded as she pondered for a while.
She looked back at Lydia who hummed jovially with a strange expression.
_____________
Prince Ivan gritted his teeth and grimaced in pain.
He applied the methylated spirit on his injury, and let out a stifled yelp.
It burned intensely.
It wasn't the first injury he had ever suffered..... but at the moment, he was having a hard time remembering one that had hurt worse.
As Ivan looked back at his reflection in the mirror, he could only think of the words he had been told so many years before.
Twisted emotions twirled up inside him.
And, for the first time in a long time, he felt vulnerable.
He hated it; he hated himself for this vulnerability.
He was currently in the armoury; he could hear someone's footsteps echoing.
Those footsteps click - clack - clicked down the stairs.
Ivan hurriedly wiped out the tears that had trickled down his face and closed the first aid kit.
Someone came in.
She met Ivan's gaze and stopped on her track.
She could hear her head screaming back at her.
What in heaven's name was Elsa doing in the armoury?
What was she going to say?
Elsa kept her gaze downward and twisted her fingers.
She stood still for what seemed like eternity but it was only seconds.
Her pounding heart intensified its violent thudding when she saw Ivan rise from his seat.
Ivan stared coldly at her, and he made a move towards her.