Swordsmanship is like a dance on the battlefield. Requires fine foot work and balance, total concentration. Breathing needs to be just as precise. A person just can't be handed a sword and expect to know how to use it. Takes years of hard work and dedication to master it. If you add magic to the dance it takes even more time to master. If not, a person can cause serious harm to themselves or others if not controlled properly. Fighting with a weapon plus using magic is just controlled chaos.
Magic just by itself is hard, especially if it doesn't come naturally. It is a dance with elements. Everything has its own energy, its own flow with life itself. Meditation is the best way to understand magic and how it flows through one's body, each element feels different. Fire magic for instance feels like your body is slowly submerging into a hot bath, the warmth flowing through your veins and a sense of power you'd been yearning for. Electric magic is more of a sharp fast sensation, like someone giving you fast small pinches across your whole body and a notion of energy that you'd wish you had every day. Light magic can give you a sense of weightlessness or a feeling something so pure and good, like divine will.
Arya approaches, "My Lady, I think you should come inside now to eat. Dinner is being served." She looks concerned.
"I'm fine for now. I'll eat later." I say stopping for a moment to wipe away the sweat and dirt from my face.
Arya looking defeated as she knows not to press farther, goes back inside. It's already getting dark out and I haven't eaten anything since breakfast. I been out here for hours and barely can keep my sword up, let alone my head. I drag myself upstairs to my bed, my sword falls to the floor, I fall onto the bed. I don't even change out of my clothes but before I knew it I passed out.
"My Lady? My Lady?" Arya says while gently shaking me awake.
"Mhmmmm? What is it?" I mumble and groan awake, like a bear coming out of hibernation.
"It's time to get My Lady. Her Grace wants you to get up to go dress shopping for your wedding. I started a bath already. I'll gather your clothes, and your bedding while you wash up."
I groan and try to kick off my boots. "Ok, thank you Arya.". Soon she walks over to help me. "Thank you."
"My Lady, you look a mess. If I didn't know any better I would have thought you were out drinking all night." Arya says jokingly.
"Oh, trust me I feel like it." I laugh. I soon undress and slide my sore body into the hot water. All the dirt and grime coming off from the night before. I take a deep breath and submerge myself. Scrubbing my face and hair under water, I feel myself coming clean. I break the surface, taking a deep breath in. I grab the soap and scrub some more. That's the hardest I trained in a long time, my body actually aches. I am too tired to even try to put up a fight with mother about dress shopping for my wedding.
A sudden shock wave flows through my entire body. "Arya, did you say dress shopping for my wedding?"
"Yes, My Lady." Answer Arya from the other room. "Her Grace said you only have four days left."
I knew this was coming, but why is this such a shock. Is it because it's happening all too fast?
"Let's hurry and finish getting you ready before Her Grace gets upset." Arya says swiftly entering the room. Grabbing me a towel and hurrying me along. "Which dress would you like My Lady?"
"The light blue one." I answer. Soon enough I am dressed and ready to go, I head downstairs.
I coincidently meet my mother at the end of the stairs. "Ah! Thea, I was just about to get you. Let's head out now."
"What about breakfast?" I ask. My stomach growling fiercer than a mother tiger protecting it's young.
Mother ponders for a moment, "We can stop at a café after. We need to hurry to get this done." She starts heading out the door, "It's a beautiful morning so we walking."
I groan in disapproval and follow her out the door. Mother is right though, it is a beautiful morning. My first breath of fresh air fills my lungs. I feel the warmth of the morning sun kissing my skin. It is the right temperature outside, cool enough so you don't sweat and warm enough you don't need a shawl.
I close my eyes, oblivious to my surroundings, I take a deep breath. As I am about to exhale I dump into someone, snapping my eyes open and about to apologize.
"Ah! Sir Regalshade! What a coincidence! What are you out and about for?" Mother questions.
Him and I make eye contact. I feel my face getting hot and look away.
"Just out on patrol, Your Grace." Drystan answers while looking back at mother.
"Which way are you headed? Maybe you two dashing young men can escort us on our way to the dress shop!"
"It would be a pleasure, Your Grace." He answers. The other mage knight that was with him offers his arm to my mom. She wraps her arm around his and starts chatting away.
"Shall we?" Drystan asks while offering his. I hesitantly take his arm. My small slender hands look even smaller compared to his arm. I can feel how toned his arms are that are hiding under his uniform.
"What are you shopping for, My Lady?" Drystan asks as if he doesn't already know the answer.
"For.." I choked on my spit a little and clear my throat. "For a dress." I reply
"No need to be nervous you know. I know what you dream about it. What's the dress for I wonder?" He whispers.
"Sir Regalshade, that is not an appropriate discussion at this time. Please, get a hold of yourself. That facetious comment is unnecessary."
" So proper Lady Thea, a shame really."
"Sir Regalshade, I am to become your wife and Duchess. I am held at a high standard. These are my duties."
"Is that so? I wonder who the lucky man is?" He replies.
Now is my chance to hit him where it hurts, "You might know of him actually."
"Oh? Do tell." Drystan sounding intrigued.
"Well for one he's pompous, slightly pretentious brute, but yet reclusive. Of course, I am being forced into a marriage with a man I hardly even know." I reply feeling satisfied with what I just said about him.
"Right, you don't know him." Drystan replies coldly. "Now you get to spend the rest of your life getting to know him."
I wince at the moment of guilt that just over came me like heavy sheet getting thrown over my body. I feel his gaze on me, but before I could let any words come out of my dry mouth he broke the awkwardness that I had created.
"Have you decided on the colors?" He asks.
"Oh. Um, yes it will be silver and dark blue." I answer as if I was startled.
"I do favor that on you." He comments.
"Yes, well we have arrived, and you can take your leave now. Thank you and good day."
He grabs my hand and bows down to kiss it and says, "Lady Thea". I just melted like a pile of snow on a hot spring morning. His Mage Knight started to chuckle, Sir Regalshade looked over and his whole demeanor changed. Back to his original dark self. The Mage Knight turned white and stopped.
He turns back to Mother "Your Grace." Then leaves. Mother adds "What a gentleman! Let us go inside We walk inside. It is bright and the air smells lightly of honeysuckle. Beautiful fabrics line the walls of all assorted colors. The seamstress steps out from the back.
"Your Grace! So lovely to see you again! What brings you down here today?" Madam Bellerose
" Madam Bellerose, we are finally here for a wedding dress for my daughter Thea!" Mother says smiling from ear to ear.
"Oh! How wonderful! Congratulations Lady Thea! Who is the lucky man?" Madam Bellerose questions
"Thank you, Sir Mage Knight Drystan Regalshade." I reply.
"Soon to be a Duke!" Mother adds
"Come back here and we will get your measurements. Do you know what colors and fabric you would like?"
Mother tries to answer for me but before she could I say "White. Silk and lace. With Silver embellishments and if you could add a touch of dark blue like a small ribbon around the waist. Same style and shape like the ballgown you just made me. We will need it very soon and will pay extra for the rush."
"Are you sure you don't want to be a little more modest for your wedding my dear?" Mother asks.
"No, you want grandchildren, don't you?" I reply.
"Oh! Your husband won't be able to resist you Lady Thea!" Madam Bellerose replies "I will make sure you look stunning in your dress."
"Thank you." I reply
"Lady Thea, you will look like a star!" Arya adds.
Madam Bellerose starts measuring and layering fabrics. Mother steps away to look at possible fabrics for herself in the other room.
"Madam Bellerose, please make sure it is form-fitting." I say and Arya giggles.
"Of Course, Lady Thea!" She adds a little wink. She finishes the basic shape and will finish it when I am not there.
"Madam Bellerose, I will be stopping by tomorrow with my other daughters we will need dresses too." Mother says as she is walking back.
"Yes, your grace! I'll make sure to get you and your daughters in tomorrow!" Bellerose replies.
"Thank you for your time, Madam Bellerose. Your dresses are always spectacular." I tell her.
"Thank you so much Lady Thea! Your dress should be done in a couple days!"
"I will see you then. Have a lovely day."
Mother, Arya, and I take our leave and head back home. As we arrive Arya says "Lady Thea if I am a little scarce today, I will be out running errands. I want to make sure your special day will be perfect!"
"It's OK Arya. I will be all right. Thank you for your help." I reply.
"Of course, Lady Thea." She says and takes her leave.
"I'll take my leave now. Thank you for coming Mother." I say.
"Thea thank you for taking to your responsibilities now." Mother says with a smile.