The World of Rhune

Bella sat in peace as she linked her mind with nature as best she could, her satin dress flipped around her ankles in the wind that swirled her hair along with it. Her head was resting on her crossed arms and her ankles wound around each other under the small bench on which she rested. The princess sighed, enjoying the connection that she so rarely received. “Isabella? Oh, there you are, darling you’ve been spreading rumors that have been making the staff go on hyper-drive,” Bella regretfully broke her peace and turned to her mother who had a deep furrow in her face and a scroll in the other. “Hmm? I don’t understand, mother.” Bella felt slightly groggy for some odd reason, but she didn’t really pursue the reason. Her mother’s lips pursed perfectly, “Sweets, you’ve been saying you’re wedding’s in two weeks when in reality, it’s in three. Someone obviously doesn’t have cold feet about it,” Bella smiled, squinting her eyes as the warm sun beat down on her tanned face. “I guess not, at least I’m not feeling qualms now. And are you sure three? I could have sworn two…mother are you having qualms?” Bella’s eyebrow tilted slightly with her question. The queen laughed with a nervous edge, “Nervous? Why would I have any reason to be nervous? My only child’s being married away from me and I’m not to be nervous?” her mother’s purse faltered for a second but resumed into a wide, slightly forced, smile. Bella shook her head and stood up, nearly falling from her feet being asleep. She wrapped her arms around her mother’s small frame and smiled up at her, “It’s okay, mother. We’re all having qualms, some just worse than others. And trust me, you’re not the worst,” she thought of her father’s melt down yesterday. The queen smiled gratefully upon her daughter, “Thanks, Isabella, but now I am to go back to the guest list, uh. You’d think there were a thousand people coming, though thank the gods the cathedral fits nearly two-thousand.” Queen Grace pried Bella’s fingers from her waist and sashayed off back into the dark palace, which had blue flashes inside from the sun playing tricks on the princess’ vision. Bella sat back down gratefully and fell easily back into the rhythm of nature. She stayed like that until the sun had passed from overhead and started its slow descent. “Bella? Oh, there you are! What, are you trying to be Rapunzel or something without the hair? ‘Cause sorry to break the news to you, sweetheart, but that Gent’s not climbing up here for another couple days,” a lower voice laughed behind her, Bella’s eyes averted from the crashing ocean to Avery’s light brown eyes. His hair was matted and he had on a lose shirt and baggy breaches that had wet spots, Bella assumed he’d just come from the beach. “Great guessing, Avery. I totally am trying to be Rapunzel, cause I just love that girl,” Avery’s personal grin covered his features, “That’s the point, Bella,” he sat next to her, his hair flipping in odd yet handsome angles around his head. Bella nearly snorted at him, but turned her head back to the sea, “How many times did you face-plant?” it seemed like a good neutral topic to her. Avery rolled his eyes, “not once, why would I do that infront of the ladies? I mean, c’mon, Hon, you think I’m that stupid?” he ended her topic quicker than she’d started it, Bella tried to save it. “That’s questionable, Mr.” Bella smiled up at Avery, who was already smiling back. “Not really,” an awkward pause filled the air for a second before Avery quickly broke it, “You want to do something? I’ve kind of been wanting to do something all day, but the beach served to only fill it halfway.” He laced his fingers behind his neck, stretching, and put them back in his lap. “Sure, want to go to the…erm…huh.” She tried to think of a good place, but none seemed good enough. “I personally want to see you’re sword ring, if you don’t mind.” Avery said almost sheepishly, but held his head up, though it was looking down on Bella. The princess smiled, and wondered whether Celia would be around to go to, but decided against it. She kind of just wanted some time with her best friend. “Okay, it’s my last couple weeks to flirt so I might as well,” They both shared a pure laugh and Avery stood up, pulling Bella up after. “You are so as I remember you,” they started walking out of the sun into the palace, “Is that good or bad?” Bella said humorously. Avery shoved his hands into his pocket, his smile easy and lax. “Both, I guess,”

Bella winced as she heard metal bite metal with a loud twang, and then the crush of shields. Her mother had insisted a group of guards go with her, and Bella hadn’t even been able to choose which. She smiled to her left at a large blonde guard, who was watching eagerly the battle. He took a quick glance to her, nodded his head, and returned to the battle scene before her. Bella sighed and fixed her headpiece her mother had also forced upon her. She positioned her hand back in her lap and watched as Avery sparred an ironclad soldier. They moved faster than she could almost catch, which surprised her because she hadn’t realized Avery was a good swordsman, he’d more struck her as a, well, she didn’t know what. Isabella nearly jumped in her seat as the swords clashed against each other, and she knew the guards were barely suppressing snickering. Bella looked as common footmen and pike-men were clinging to the sides of the rings, murmuring anxiously and excitedly as Avery, the newcomer to then, sparred and won most of the time. She straightened and forced herself to look straight at the battle before her as one of the common soldiers pointed at her and nudged a buddy, probably saying something along the lines of ‘The princess was looking at me, man!’ . She heard a gasp and turned her attention back to the scene. The soldier was on the floor, floundering for his breath but still trying to somehow protect himself by swinging his heavy sword around at Avery. Avery just deflected each blow easily enough, to her naked eye, and then finally just flicked his sword to the man’s neck, who lowly whistled, though he looked winded still. Avery helped pull him up and they shook hands, each being respectful and Avery came over drenched in sweat, his armor clinking with each step even if he wasn’t in a full suit, and bowed respectfully as if they weren’t life-long friends. “Nice job, have they figured out who the new man with the odd crest is?” For some reason, Avery had asked not to be identified. “No, and at this rate, they never will. You haven’t told, have you?” he grinned and his eyes went back to the staring crowd who gazed slack-jawed at how he was able to have audience with the princess. Bella smiled and shook her head, her hair swaying around her face. “I’d never give it up, at least not for a while yet. I’m having just as much fun as you,” Avery grinned again, though didn’t keep it up. “Thank you very much, Princess Isabella.” The princess laughed for a second, drawing more stares. Avery had a questioning look on his face. “You sound so, informal compared to you’re normal self, young sir.” Avery’s eyes rolled at her, but his eyes were brighter. “I guess I’ll see you then with another scar or bruise then, Majesty?” “Of course, though I would prefer you not to have to visit the infirmary afterwards, and who are you sparring next?” she wanted to see what type of soldier he would go against, since she could never tell them apart. “A rank two foot soldier, I believe, at least that’s what I’m expecting. I wish the infantry were around though, they’re the most fun.” “Sir, to battle?” Avery turned to face his next opponent, indeed with two bright yellow stripes upon his upper right arm signifying second rank. “That would be obliging, friend. I shall see you after this, Princess,” Avery winked and then both he and his opponent bowed to her and took their positions upon the field. Bella leaned to the captain of her escorts. “Captain? I wish for Officer Gill to report here immediately, a favor is all I ask.” The captain stood and bowed. “My princess, your wish shall be fulfilled. Slankman! Go get Captain Gill, now.” The blonde guard stood up immediately and saluted, then ran off quickly, shouting to other men, “By request of her majesty Princess Isabella Maria were the hell is Officer Gill?!” Bella nearly laughed, but she heard a crash of shields and then individual metallic clanging and turned her head back to the field. She looked as Avery delivered a blow to the man’s shoulder and in turn was pricked harshly in his gut. Avery bent over only to have a shield bear upon him, knocking his breath out. She looked as he cleverly let the man go for another shield punch, took the shattering hit, and then stuck the footman’s leg, knocking it out from under him. The opponent fell on his back but rolled over to avoid being stuck in the chest. Avery’s sword plunged into the ground and he struggled to free it. The other man quickly took advantage, gaining new confidence, and let out a loud yell as he raised his sword to attack. Avery visibly started sweating more and glanced back and forth at the opponent before the sword jerked out, creating a whiplash, which was lucky enough to parry his opponent’s sword. Avery hit the man with his shield and then pretended to lunge stupidly at the forearm, only to kick at the opponent’s feet in an attempt to trip him. She heard another loud crash, a yell, and swearing. She looked to men on the sidelines yelling to their comrade in hope of overcoming him. “Princess Isabella, you wished for a favor?” an officer’s voice said from her side, she immediately shifted her attention and smiled. “Yes, Officer Gill, I wish for your infantry men to battle the swordsman in the ring by my request. I believe your men are as good as my youth in the ring, and I want some small trifle of a challenge instead of these who vainly attempt to overcome the man.” Officer Gill bowed down to one knee, “Your Majesty, anything else?” Bella took a moment, “Well, actually if you wish to pass on the word that I’ll be going through the barracks later with the youth in the ring, you may. But if you trust in your men then you should have no reason to do so, it is really up to you, Officer,” the man’s lips pulled up, “Of course, Princess,” Bella turned back to the fighting, a clear dismissal. The officer pulled himself up and left to the barracks nonchalantly as an officer should always look. She looked only to stifle a yell as she saw Avery with blood running slowly down his face and the other favoring his left leg. Avery lashed out with his sword letting gravity help with the force and pounded the opponent’s shield that had barely slipped to divide the two. The opponent shot back and flicked his wrist, nicking Avery’s thigh, though it was stopped by his mail. The young lord was breathing raggedly and just barely managed to kick the footman’s injured leg and then shove him to the ground as his balance was lost. Avery lost no time in pointing his sword to the man’s throat and then painfully pulled him up, both of them to tired to say anything. Avery walked over weakly, gasping and holding his side as he struggled for air. A servant came over quickly and held up a goblet of water. Avery thankfully downed it and handed it back to the servant, who scurried off to fill it back up. He came up to her still ragged but had shifted his hand from his side to his shoulder, rubbing it hardly. She repeated nearly the same words as she had for every battle, “Very nice job,” Her hands curled around the arms of the high-backed chair she was sitting in, Avery laughed for a second before coughing, “One last battle or else I’ll be black and blue for you’re wedding,” Bella smiled, showing her teeth, “Well, that’s fine with me, yet I will command you to the infirmary afterwards, because either way you will still probably be black and blue for my wedding.” Avery simply smiled, not wanting to risk a coughing fit again, “As you wish, Princess Isabella,” Bella rolled her eyes but looked at him bleeding in several places with a concerning amount. She turned to a nearby medical servant, “Attend to him, I don’t want him dead, that would be so unfortunate.” Bella turned to find Avery rolling his eyes with his hand on his waist. She over-smiled back and glanced around as Avery was attended to, “You know, princess, sometimes your help is unwelcome,” Avery winced as a balm was applied to his skin. “I think my help should always be welcome, don’t you, young sir?” Avery hesitated, aware of the blackmail she’d set up. He grinned and shook his head at her, “You’re to be a cunning queen, aren’t you? I shall have to warn Lord Gent before he falls for it,” “Yes, I am, yet I do remember asking you a question, isn’t that so?” Bella moved her left hand to resting upon her face. Avery sighed, “Your Majesty I agree not whole-heartedly with your opinion,” Bella’s face quirked for a second, but regained its original composure. “Very funny,” Avery’s face split into his full out grin, “It was, wasn’t it princess?” Bella narrowed her eyes good-naturedly before she heard a ‘a hem’ from behind her, “Yes?” she left Avery where he was being attended and turned to Officer Gill and an infantry man besides her. They both bowed on one knee and rose at her nod, “Your highness, I have brought who you requested,” the officer’s voice was full of confidence, and his eyes showed no fear of being wrong. Bella appraised the other soldier with her eyes, “He is an infantry man under you?” “Your majesty, yes,” Gill responded with a nod. “Well then, have him equipped and when the smart man over there,” all three looked to Avery, who’s skin was now looking in many spots glossy from the balms and was having a light layer of white cloth wrapped around his shoulder as an impermanent bandage, “is done, you are to skirmish him near immediately, understood…um I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of knowing your name as I have had of the youth’s and Officer Gill’s here,” The infantry man seemed awed that he’d been given the honor, he bowed, “Telain, Your majesty,” he cast his eyes down upon her sudden gaze. “Well then, Telain, you are to skirmish the sir over there in what I would judge as a couple minutes,” “Of course, your majesty. Um, am I to go easy?” Bella’s surprise was written across her face, but she hid it after a moment’s lapse. “No, I should expect no less than your best, Officer, your man has not been on hand here, has he?” The officer nearly smiled, “No, I caught him trying to sweep his personal items under his bunk,” Bella smiled and nodded, “As I should expect, now ready yourself, I assume this is to be interesting?” “Yes, princess,” “Then I shall wait,” she dismissed them and turned back to Avery, “Happy your request was taken into account?” Avery nodded, “Yes, I think,” Bella’s eye brow shot up, “You think?” she decided to just lord being a princess over him for once in her life, and stood up, her clothing draping around her, “You think infront of me? And who are you to be able to think in my presence?” She tried not to smile, but her eyes gave her away, her eyes always showed everything. “Of course, I am sorry I forgot to remember I was in your presence, princess,” he fumbled with a chain mail glove and finally slipped it on, “But I shall be free, I think, to think once out of your presence, though naturally I shall be bound to come back,” Bella raised her eyebrows again, “Well then, I’ll have plenty waiting until then,” Avery smiled once and Bella smiled at the light jest. He bowed to her respectfully and the left, rolling his hurt shoulder as he went. Bella sat back down as gracefully as she could manage and held her head up with her hand, watching the infantryman walk out clad in more armor than she’d last seen him.