Chapter 27:

The Tournament

Through the mist, Elodie heard the sliding of a sword being drawn from its sheath. Holding her sword in front of her, Elodie waited for her opponent to attack. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.

“C’mon,” she muttered under her breath. “Come out and fight.”

A wind blew at her from the side. She shivered slightly. A noise came from her immediate left, and she glanced around to find the source of the disturbance. That was all her opponent needed.

Aria leapt at Elodie from the right, and Elodie barely managed to block the blow with her shield. After throwing off Aria’s first attack, Elodie spun and faced her. She was standing there, holding a thin, slightly curved sword, as silver as her hair. A smile danced across her face.

“You ready?” she asked playfully.

“Always,” Elodie muttered, annoyed by the joking tone in Aria’s voice. Without bothering to wait for Aria to attack again, Elodie launched herself at her opponent. Aria’s laughing eyes widened to surprise, but she managed to block Elodie’s attack. After throwing her off, the two eyed one another as rivals. Then they were at each other.

The two swords danced in the silver moonlight. Aria’s curved blade shown brightly, while Elodie’s though not as bright, still shimmered. As Elodie attacked left and right, Aria’s hair billowed behind her. Elodie barely noticed that, the more she attacked, the more Aria’s hair shimmered different colors.

Back and forth they went. Sometimes Aria’s sword came very close to touching Elodie’s skin, but then, in the blur of a moment, Elodie’s sword would block the blow. As many times as Aria came to hitting Elodie, Elodie came the same amount towards hitting Aria. For more than five minutes did they go back and forth, neither gaining ground. Then, finally, Elodie managed to knock away Aria’s sword, and bring her own up to her opponent’s neck.

For a silent moment, the two stared at each other, both giving off looks of dislike. Then-

“Bravo! Bravo,” said Darius. “So let’s see…that’s four points to Elodie, and one point to Aria.” Elodie brought her sword away from Aria, and put it away. Then, walking past Darius, she went over and stood at Arik’s side.

The four had reached Lake Bur around midday. Burmehn Town was located nearly all the way across where they had first happened upon it, but after several more hours of riding, they were now about a day’s hard riding away. Once the sun had set, they had began the first half of their fencing tournament, and the last contest to see who would win the first of the luxuries once they reached Burmehn Town.

Arik and Darius were now up against each other. Elodie still wasn’t speaking to Darius. She had made up her mind that she wasn’t going to talk to him first. He was going to have to take up that mantle. Rather, she had spent her day talking to Arik.

Now it was Darius and Arik’s turn. Elodie watched rather apprehensively as Darius and Arik circled around. She was most worried about Darius though. He was eyeing Arik with such contempt, that she was wondering why Arik wasn’t running in the opposite direction as fast as he could. She was surprised that a person could even make a look of such intense hatred.

Off in the distance, the eerie cry of a loon echoed across the half-frozen lake. Elodie shivered slightly as a breeze cut across her cheek. Darius and Arik were still staring at one another. Lines of fury were etched into Darius’s face, while Arik’s face was solid and unreadable. For several more intense seconds, their gaze didn’t break, and then finally, as if by consent, they both attacked at the same time.

Arik’s sword flew straight at Darius, while Darius’s sword flashed and curved. Sparks flew as they met each other in the air. Elodie stared as they both tried to force the other away, and for a long moment, they both remained where they were, unable to force the other away. But then with a grunt, Arik pushed Darius away.

For a moment Darius looked shocked, but then a grin spread across his face. Pulling himself back into position, he launched himself at Arik, who tried to jump out of the way, but didn’t quite make it in time. Their swords met, but Arik’s was at a bad angle, and it was pushed away easily. Darius ended up sprawling past Arik, and landed on his knees several yards away. As Arik ran for him though, Darius quickly pushed himself up off the ground, and faced his opponent.

Elodie immediately saw that this fight was going to either last a long time, or end very quickly. Arik, she saw, was stronger than Darius, but Darius was faster than Arik.

For several minutes, the two battled it out. Darius would run at Arik, who would either try to jump out of the way, or would meet him straight on. Soon, both men were panting.

Finally though, Darius lunged at Arik, who tried once again to dodge him, and Darius managed to knock the sword away. This time it was Arik’s face that contorted with fury. As Darius moved to put his sword up to Arik’s neck, Arik pulled a long dagger out of his belt, and blocked the sword. Darius attacked again, and as Arik tried to block, Darius managed to knock the dagger away. A split second later, and his sword was under Arik’s chin. Darius had won.

“You fight well,” Darius said, panting. He pulled his sword away from Arik’s neck and allowed him to stand up. Arik opened his mouth to say something, but Darius walked away.

“I…” was all Arik managed to get out. He looked slightly confused, and also a little angry at this reaction.

“Darius!” Aria called out, and ran after him. Elodie watched as she placed herself on his side. She was saying something to him, but Darius only waved her away with his hand. She stopped in her tracks, looking rather hurt.

Feeling a high of satisfaction, Elodie walked over to Arik.

“Nice job,” she said to him. He smiled at her.

“Thank you, but you’ll have to do better than me tomorrow.” Elodie blinked. She had nearly forgotten that she had beaten Aria, and would now have to fight Darius. She could hardly believe that a little more than two days earlier, they had been kissing in a carriage.

Elodie and Arik walked in silence back to the camp. As they made their way, Arik’s hand brushed Elodie’s.

“Sorry,” he grumbled, as she moved it away. The two crouched down by the cracking fire. Aria was already sitting on the opposite side, eating a piece of bread. Darius was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’d Darius go?” she asked Aria, but she only shrugged, looking quite unhappy. Elodie helped herself to a piece of bread, and decided that she had to talk to Darius.

“Darius?” she tried calling out, but there was no answer. “Darius, I want to talk to you.” He still didn’t reply. Fine Elodie thought to herself. Even if he didn’t want to talk to her, she had to talk to him. She would wait.

After about a half hour, Aria declared that she needed to go to bed. Elodie’s eyes followed her as she walked sulkily into the tent. As she was watching the door of the tent flutter shut, Arik’s hand brushed hers again.

“Sorry,” he muttered once again. Elodie felt a sneaking suspicion growing in her, but she didn’t say anything. Even if what she thought was going on was true, she didn’t feel that way. It was Darius she wanted to be with.

Elodie watched the fire for a moment. Where had Darius stalked off to? She watched as the flames licked the logs that they had gathered. Suddenly, something brushed her hand for a third time. Elodie stood up.

“I’m going to go for a walk,” she muttered without looking at Arik. She had full intentions on really going to look for Darius, but the minute she got outside the light of the fire, Darius appeared.

“Where were you,” she asked. His eyes glanced over her as she put her hands on her hips, but he walked by without giving an answer.

“Don’t ignore me, Darius!” she yelled after him. “I want to talk to you!” She watched angrily as he opened the flap of his own tent, and let it flutter behind him. Elodie actually let out an exasperated holler, and then throwing her hands up in the air, crawled into her own tent.

Much to her displeasure, Aria was sitting up in her camp bed, looking expectantly at Elodie.

“What?” Elodie snapped at her. Aria flinched, but didn’t drop her gaze.

“I want to talk to you,” she said sternly.

“Go ahead and talk then,” she muttered, “but heaven knows I won’t talk back.” Elodie began to change into her pajamas. She hadn’t brought a nightdress with her. It was much too cold out for that.

“I want to know,” Aria said coldly, “what is there between you and Darius?” Elodie, who had been facing the opposite direction, spun around.

“And why do you want to know?”

“Well why do you think?” Elodie stared. This was exactly as she had thought.

“Everything,” Elodie said mutinously. “We’re together.”

“It sure doesn’t seem that way.” Aria said coolly.

“Well it is,” Elodie snapped back. “Regardless of what it looks like, we’re together. And you can keep out of it, thank you very much. It’s none of your damn business.”

Aria looked taken aback at what Elodie had said, but she opened her mouth once more to speak.

“I-“ she started.

“SHUT YOUR MOUTH!” Elodie screamed at her. Aria’s eyes widened in anger, then they flashed a blood red, and then she turned her back on her, and laid down on her camp bed. Elodie did likewise.

That night, Elodie didn’t sleep very well. She dreamt she was back at the castle. There was a grand ball being held in the garden that lied at the end of the hidden hallway behind the fawn tapestry. It was lit up with beautiful golden lights. A wonderful band was playing. Elodie was wearing a spectacular silver dress that shimmered like the stars.

Suddenly Arik appeared and asked her to dance. As they were waltzing around the garden, she heard a giggling coming from somewhere. Breaking away from Arik, she walked down to the center of the well, where she peered down, and saw Aria kissing Darius. Elodie screamed something out at the two of them, and Aria, looking up with a smile on her face, plunged a knife into Darius’s heart. Then she changed into Aldred, and laughed hysterically. Elodie watched as Aldred flew up over her head on a cloud of smoke, and then screamed as the well filled up with Darius’s blood.

It was her own scream that woke her up. Sitting up, Elodie was shaking in a cold sweat. She struggled as she tried to calm herself down. It had only been a dream. Just a dream. She glanced fearfully over to the bed where Aria was sleeping, half expecting to see Aldred lying there. But no, there she was, with her beautiful silvery blonde hair fluttering over her face.

Elodie lay back down on her bed. It was just starting to grow light out, and there was no point in trying to go back to bed.

“Elodie?” came Darius’s voice into her head.

“Darius.”

“Are you alright? I heard you screaming.” Even though he was communicating to her through thought, she could still sense his concern.

“It was just a nightmare. Just a stupid nightmare.” But all the same, she couldn’t get her breathing to slow down.

“Elodie, I’m sorry for how I acted. You were right about me. I shouldn’t have acted like that towards Aria. Not when I have you.” Elodie felt her heart fill up so full that she thought it was going to burst. She got up out of her cot and ran out into the campsite. Darius was already out there, dressed in his black leather, standing with one foot on a large rock, looking out towards the sunrise.

When he heard her come out of the tent, he turned around. The sun peeked just over the rim of the vast plains, and Darius’s dark hair caught some of its golden sparkles. The scar on his cheek shown silver in the sunlight. Elodie ran up to him.

“I’m sorry too,” she said breathlessly.

“Shh,” he said, putting a finger on her lips. “Don’t talk.” He put his hands on her shoulders, pulled her close to him, and held her. They watched the sunrise in silence.

Barely an hour later, Elodie found herself strolling merrily to get her sword. Arik and Aria had already awoken, and, for time’s sake, everyone had agreed to hold the final contest of the tournament that morning.

Elodie’s heart was beating in her throat. She was going to be facing Darius for the first time in a fight. Elodie desperately wanted to win. She had been traveling for several days now, going without washing or combing her hair, or without getting to wash the dirt off of her. She was positive she smelled.

It was all right for the men, she thought. They were men after all. They could stink and no one would bother noticing. And Aria. Well, she looked as clean as the day they had departed from the castle, and Elodie was pretty sure that she hadn’t had gotten in a bath in that time. If anyone needed the first bath, it was her.

Grabbing her sword off of her horse’s saddle, Elodie walked back to the area where she had sparred against Aria the night before. Darius was waiting for her. He stood boldly, watching as she approached, his own sword limp in his hand.

“Ready?” Elodie asked as she stopped in front of him.

“No,” he said. “Not quite. Let me just…” he paused to look around.

“What are you doing?” she asked him.

“Just enjoying the scenery a little bit before I have to beat you.” Elodie was torn between laughing and screaming.

“Let’s go,” she said impatiently.

“Ok,” Darius replied, and quite suddenly, he ran at her.

Elodie tried jumping out of the way, but like with Arik, Darius was just too fast. But Elodie had learned something from what she had seen the night before. Rather than trying to parry his blow away at an odd angle, she swung her sword over her head, and met Darius’s sword in a strong arc.

The two battled for a moment, but soon Elodie had to break away. She was quite stunned. Darius was incredibly strong. And he was fast too. Stronger and faster. Elodie tried to spot a weakness, but before she could spot one, Darius attacked once again, and she had to block. With a flash though, her sword had flown out of her hand, and flew through the air, landing point first into the ground. Darius had beaten her in less than a minute.

Elodie was struck dumb. She gaped, open-mouthed as Darius smiled triumphantly. Arik and Aria were lost for words as well.

“That’s four points for me,” Darius said. “One point for you Miss Elodie.

“And now for scores! Let’s see…” he paused while he added up his points. “I have…twelve. Elodie?”

“Nine,” she muttered.

“I have seven,” said Arik.

“Five,” Aria mumbled.

“Well,” Darius said, “I guess get the hot bath first! And let’s see, I think we’ll go next in line is the person with the next highest amount of points. That would be you, right Elodie?”

“I guess,” she said with a shrug, trying to sound not too complacent about it. Inside she was celebrating. Aria wouldn’t get her bath until the rest of them were done.

“Well,” Darius said, “let’s get on our way to Burmehn Town then!” He sheathed his sword, and mounted his horse. The other three followed his example. Elodie rode up next to Darius.

“Shall we go?” he asked her.

“Let’s,” she said. Darius nodded. Then, pretending to draw out his sword, he lifted his hand in the air.

“To Burmehn Town, my good lady!”

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