I suddenly feel - What exactly do I feel ? Within those few seconds our eyes met, although they felt like hours, I couldn't quite idealize what I felt at that moment.
" Elise . . . Elisa ", I hear Fred call out to me impatiently and I snap out of my thoughts. I suddenly notice that he wasn't by my side anymore and was already seated - Did I really stare at Niklaus for hours ?
He makes gestures for me to come sit beside him. I give a slight nod in agreement and go to sit with him. The moment I make my decision, I regret it. I suddenly feel like someone's gonna die if I take any step closer to Fred. Just as I turn my head slightly, I notice the reason for my regret - Niklaus is clearly emanating death aura.
I'm a million percent sure that I wasn't the only one feeling it as everyone around looked tense except for Fred who made it so clear to me that he was ignoring Niklaus'death stares. So I follow his lead and ignore them and choose to sit beside Fred.
Niklaus is seated two seats behind us but not straight up behind us. So I can sight him if I tilt my head a little and so did I. I tilted my head to catch a glance of what he was doing. He seemed to be looking at the Rumble match but his mind didn't look at all focused. Guess he's also lost in thought like I usually am.
Fred on the other hand doesn't seem to be bothered by what either of us are doing but like Niklaus, he's watching the match but seems absent minded - Goodness knows what these two brothers are thinking.
Soon, Niklaus gets up and heads for the ring. Everyone watches him in silence as he descends. The fighters in the ring have also seized their actions and are now staring at him as he descends with a smirk on his face. I look at Fred for a reaction but he also has a smile on his face.
" As expected ", he says and chuckles.
" Fr. . . I mean . . . Vincent. What's going on. I mean what do you think is gonna happen ?"
" My brother wants to mark his territory ", he whispers.
" What ? "
" Shh, listen ", I gulp as I wait for Niklaus to say something.
He looks around for a while qnd our eyes meet and it gets me all tensed up.
" No need for unnecessary complimentaries. I want to challenge my guest to a sword fight. Of course he won't refuse me, would he ?" Niklaus looks at Fred, his tone doesn't sound like that of a question but one of an obvious intent.
I look at Fred and wonder how he's still ae to wear a smile. He gets up confidently. It leaves me wondering, how does Niklaus wanting a march with him, mean marking of territory. I guess that's a question for later.
" Of course, Your Highness. How can I refuse when His Highness wills ", I look at Fred, I'm obviously shocked. He had refused Niklaus yesterday, why is it different today. Is he trying to give him face ? Or perhaps he anticipated this to happen all along.
Darn ! I can never comprehend what's on their mind.
He walks down to the ring where Niklaus stood and a guard brings in two swords and hands it to them. They collect it and move a little distance away from each other.
The guard acts like a referee and the match starts. At the initial stage, Niklaus attacks and Fred seems to be on the defense. The battle soon gets intense as they are now on par with one another. From the way Niklaus fights, you'd think Fred had really wronged him and he just couldn't wait to bury the blade in his heart. But Fred doesn't seem the least bothered.
Just when I feel things are about to take a wrong turn with Fred laying in a pool of blood and dying slowly, he makes a counterattack that gets Niklaus off guard and Niklaus stumbles and falls to the ground. Fred points his sword at Niklaus but in a split second, Niklaus tackles him gets up using a Chinese flip and points his sword at Fred's throat.
I gasp in shock and fear for two reasons. One - What just happened ? Two - Niklaus' sword is just an inch apart from Fred's skin. Fred raises his hands in defeat and Niklaus smiles and drips down his sword. He reaches his hand out to Fred to help him get up and Fred doesn't hesitate to take it.
I breathe a sigh in relief since no one ended up in a pool of blood. The both of them are wearing a smile as there is suddenly an uproar from the crowd. Niklaus leans in and whispers something to Fred and Fred smiles then also whispers something to Niklaus. Which totally creeps me out because I really want to know what they were whispering about.
I get up and move towards the ring, craving an opportunity to talk to Niklaus. He sights me coming down but ignores me and moves up, even bumping into me and walking by like I didn't exist. I just stood staring at his back, speechless.
Soon, Fred approaches me and pats my back as a means of comfort then we go back to our seat. From then, I didn't actually know what went on since my head was bowed. I was lost in thought as usual as to what I had done to get such a treatment from Niklaus.
Maybe I got him angry and I was thinking he didn't speak to me because he didn't know how to tell me how he felt about yet. My thoughts cloud my mind and I didn't even know when my eyes welled up with tears. I quickly wipe them away and lift up my head just to notice that everyone was gone and only Fred and I were left in the arena.
I look up at him and he flashes me a warm smile.
" Feeling better ?" he asks and all of a sudden I don't feel better. I hug him and pour out all my emotions by soaking his clothes with tears. He just sits patting my back and I couldn't help but feel that I would be better of if I were to marry Fred and not his cruel brother.
I finally let go of him and wipe off what's left of the tears on my cheeks.
" Now ?" he asks and chuckles and I couldn't help but smile.
" Hmm " , I say and nod in agreement. He helps me get up and we leave the arena together. He escorts me all the way to the door of my bedroom.
" I better get going ",he says and leaves. I take a deep breath then open the door.