I hear a knock on the door, it feels like a barely slept last night. "Good morning my Lady. It's time to get up. I believe your mother wants to go dress shopping this morning." Arya says while entering my room. I groan and sit up. Arya helps me get dressed to go out with Mother and my sisters.
"Ah my Dear! You're finally ready. Hurry, Let's be on our way." My mother says as she sees me coming down the stairs.
"I haven't had breakfast yet though." I sigh.
"Well, you should have gotten up earlier like the rest of us. Hurry up, the carriage is waiting, and your sisters are too." Mother then walks out the door and I follow. We enter the carriage.
"About time you get up!" Calixte giggles.
"I really thought we'd have to wait all day!" Erzilla adds.
"Girls that's enough." Mother calmly replies.
We don't live that far away from the dress shop, but mother likes to take too long way to show off. She likes to have people know what we are up and to be noticed by all of high society. Passing by homes and specialty shops. The smell of fresh baked goods fills the early morning air. My stomach growls at the thought of food. Mother waves at some of the people she knows and talking gossip, my mind drifts off and I start thinking about that man again.
"Thea….Thea!" my mother raises her voice. I snap out of it. "We are here. Come on."
Erizlla makes a snarky comment and I roll my eyes. Mother then claps her hands and says, "Let's get us some dresses shall we!"
As I step outside taking the footman's hand. I feel the hairs on my neck stand up and a chill that crawls across my skin. I look around and don't notice anything out of ordinary. Just people out shopping and some knights on patrol. As I'm about to step inside the shop my eye catches a Mage Knight and that feeling intensifies but quickly vanishes as I'm inside the shop now. Fabric lines the shelves against the wall. Madama Bellerose has every color, pattern, and texture imaginable. My eye catches this dark blue silk, the light reflex's a silver tone. I reach my hand to touch the fabric. It feels so light and luxurious.
"Good Morning my Lady! I noticed you have a keen eye for taste. I have a pre-made dress available in this fabric, if you would like to try it on." Madam Bellerose says as she comes out from the back.
"Oh, Yes. Thank you." I respond.
Mother gets an emerald-colored dress with gold embroidery on the bodice. Calixte choose a soft pink dress with a white embellishment and Erzilla picks a soft yellow dress with a white embellishment. Madam Bellerose brings out the dress she mentions earlier. I slip into it, the dress sliding over my curves. Low cut front and an open back with tulle cascading down from back of the shoulders. While the front has gems raining down the front. I looked up into the mirror and did not recognize myself. I have been to balls in the past but never wore something so showy. I've always kept to wearing something modest and less form fitting. That way I am not catching anyone's eye and keep to myself.
"Oh! Thea, you look like a lady!" Mother was pleased.
"All eyes will be on you, my Lady!" Adds Madam Bellerose while pining the hem.
"Oh." I say and my heart sinks a little knowing that this is the end of my own chance at freedom.
"Madam Bellerose, when can you have these dresses ready?" questions my Mother.
"I can have these dresses sent over tomorrow night." Madam Bellerose replies.
"Oh wonderful! We will settle our bill today and head off. You always do amazing work Madam Bellerose." Mother adds.
We head out and soon arrive back up home. I could not wait for training, especially after last night. I ran to my room to change into my training clothes and grab my swords. Father and Zander must be at the training grounds with the other Knights by now.
"Lady Thea, where are you going?" Arya asks.
I reply, "I'm going to see Father and Zander in the training grounds."
"Oh, but your mother won't be pleased!"
"She never is with me...." I say quietly, "I'll be back, don't worry Arya!"
As I walk to the training grounds, I felt that chill down my spine again. I looked over and it was that Mage Knight. He was walking to the courtyard that leads into the palace. He is a large man, well built. His hood was up but I could see that he looked out of the corner of his eye at me. Those eyes, why are they so dark? He looked away and I shook the chills away from my body. At that moment I still felt a familiarity about him, but I couldn't pinpoint as to why or how.
I enter the training grounds. The smell of sweat and dirt filled my nose. Sounds of metal clanging with people shouting.
"THEA!!" father shouted "You're just in time for a sparring match!"
Even though father was retired he still comes to the training grounds to teach. He has years of experience and more knowledge than most people. A lot of them do not know my talents, especially my magic abilities. They assume I'm a Lady because I'm a daughter of a duke. Well, jokes on them.
" WHO WANTS TO CHALLENGE MY DAUGHTER THEA!" father shouts. It is a little embarrassing, but I know I will not let him down.
"She's not even a Mage Knight or a Knight!" someone shouts.
"She's too pretty to fight!"
"Bet she barely can hold a sword!"
They all laugh. I am a little shorter than average height for a lady. I have long silver hair, a fair complexion, and bright yellow eyes. I am of noble birth. I use this as an advantage, along with my fighting style. I'm a switch. Which means depending on who I am fight I will change my fighting style to my advantage.
"I'll fight her." A large man approaches. Ah! Sir Mage Knight Cade Dustseeker. Large and strong, one of my brothers' knights. I heard stories about this man's skill and loyalty . Great fighter...not very smart though.
"Okay Sir Dustseeker." I say with a smile. "Let's spar!" Over his shoulder I see my brother and father chuckle. I get a feeling down my spine and my body goes cold, must ignore it. I must concentrate on the match. We get into the circle with a protection spell so if our magic misses one another, it does not hurt someone outside of it. During sparring matches we only use non-lethal magic, but some can still cause quite a bit of damage. He draws his sword with his large, callused hands, making for a good grip. His stance is strong but arrogant because he thinks I am weak. I draw my sword. Letting the tip fall to the ground, dragging it to my right side. I am too "weak" to lift my sword. I cannot beat him with strength but with brain and speed.
They all laugh at the sight, "SEE! SHE CAN'T HOLD A BLADE!"
Sir Dustseeker smirks, giving away that he is about to strike. He launches forward with sword pointing right at me. I glide out of the way, his sword cuts some of my hair. My sword tip still touching the ground. He's a little faster than I thought! I keep dodging his attacks with my blade tip still touching the ground. One more mark and it is complete. He charges, I flip out of the way with my blade tip completing my freeze trap. If I touched it, I would have been frozen in place like him. People watched in awe.
I land and use my magic whip to trip him. Flipping him right on his face. I place my blade on his neck, "Do you yield Sir Dustseeker?" I ask. After him using most of his strength charging me and not changing tactics, he became tired and weak. As he rolls over onto his back and shouts "Never!" He grabs my ankle and trips me. I put up a ward as I roll back. He swings his sword to create a dust storm. A lack of sight is only a slight hindrance. He is loud and helps give away his position. He is right in front of me! One mighty swing with his sword he breaks my shield.
I feel a chill down my spine, my body goes cold again. "Shake the feeling, Thea! Concentrate!' I think to myself. Our swords clash over and over again. I will not be able to keep with him if we keep going head-to-head. I clear the dust by making it rain. The ground is now wet and muddy. My hair soaked along with my clothing. It clings to my smooth skin showing off my full perky breasts and slim muscular body. I use my whip to trip him once more and wrap his body with it, tightening it. Sword to his throat once more "SIR DUSTSEEKER DO YOU YIELD?" Silence fell. He looks away and his face is flushed.
"THEA!!" Father shouted, his face white. Father takes down the protective barrier. Zander comes to wrap me in a cloak to shield me from prying eyes. Whispers spread along the crowd. As Zander walked me out, I looked up and the Mage Knight was watching. Was he watching the whole time?
We get to their office, "Have you no shame! What if your mother hears about this, this indiscretion!" Father spoke sharply "No man will want you if you openly display your bosoms for the world to see!"
"I'm sorry father. Will not happen again. I got swept up in the moment and did not realize the situation." I say trying to defend myself.
"You must be aware of everything that is happening during a fight!" He snapped "Bring her home Zander!"
"Yes Father!" Zander answered swiftly and escorted me home.
My head hung in shame. Only person I did not want to disappoint was father. I was not thinking, I am used to fighting with no one watching.
"At least you won. You are really good with that whip magic. You always been skilled with magic." Zander broke the silence.
"Thank you..." I replied.
"I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just lay low on training for a while. Cheer up the ball is just around the corner." He added.
"At least this will be the talk of the barracks ." I scoff.
"I'll make sure they won't speak of the...rain..."
I get home and give the cloak back to my brother. I head upstairs to my room. "Arya, can you please draw me a bath?" I asked.
"Right away my Lady!" She added "Would you like Lavender scented oils tonight?"
"Yes please." I answer.
Moments later the bath was ready. I gradually slipped in the warm bath. I could feel it slowly filling my body with warmth. Washing away all the dirt and grime from the day. Using magic really drains the body, makes you tired. Arya washed my hair and then asked her to leave. I relaxed and started to doze off.