Chapter Ten: Training- Another Proposition

She watched the prince take off his coat and handed it to her. She let a smile out as she untied the straps from her hips. She handed it to Garret who thanked her as she took his coat from him. Standing beside her father, she was watching Garret closely to see how he would fare. She watched the positioning of his feet, bent slightly, sturdy. His eyes, trained on the tree as he held the knife in his hand. Wrapping fingers around the hilt, she saw him lick the bottom of his lip. He pulled his arm back and then the knife flew. As her eyes followed, it grew seeing where it was heading.

Stuck dead in the middle of the trunk was the knife. She blinked and blinked and blinked some more. Looking over at the prince, she felt her heart swell up. She had no idea he could achieve knife throwing so well.

"The first knife," she heard her father say impressed and she couldn't stop staring at Garret. He was too beautiful for her.

"I get bored," Garret shrugged and grinned walking over to the marked tree, "took me a long time before I accomplished it."

Pulling the knife out, he looked toward Lynn to see her staring at him with her mouth parted. Scratching his cheek, he looked away feeling as if he was undressed.

"Uh," he started and heard steps toward him. Looking back, he watched Lynn's smile spread across her lips as she stopped before him.

"That was not what I expected, my prince."

"You expected me to fail?" he frowned and dropped his shoulders.

"Yes," she nodded with a quiet laugh, "but not to fail as terribly as I did."

"You weren't that terrible," he started to see her quirk of brow and thinned lips, "eh, maybe kind of."

Lynn pouted before a sigh escaped her parted lips. Looking over at her father as he stepped closer to them, he reached his hand out and she stared at it with furrowed brows.

"I will hold the prince's coat. Prince Garret, would you teach my daughter how to throw a proper knife?" her father questioned pulling the coat from Lynn's loose fingers.

"Sure," Garret nodded and untied the pouch from his hips, "is that okay with you Lynn?"

She nodded and tied the leather straps against her hips as she followed his motion. She listened closely to what Garret was saying about how to hold the knife, how to position her foot, which strength in her body to use, and the use of motion.

"So when you bring your arm forward, let go of the knife when your arm is aimed at the target," Garret explained and Lynn nodded and threw the knife.

It stabbed a spot on the ground.

Looking over at Garret straight faced, she followed what she was told only to have the knife flip high only to land near her father. She sent an apology before letting out a sigh. Dropping her shoulders, she ran her hand through her hair and pulled at the ends. How in the world would she get this right in less than a months' time?

"Try it again," Garret said and she nodded. Taking out a knife and getting into position, she felt his hands on her hips.

"When you throw, don't put pressure here," Garret explained, "put pressure on your left leg," he touched her knee and pulled it forward more.

"Think of it like a one handed sword," he continued putting pressure on her shoulders to bend her knees, "like you're about to defeat the enemy by slashing the head."

"Slashing the head?" she felt her shoulders relax as her lips curled.

"Like the dragons from Mr. London's stories," he laughed against her ear as he held her arm from behind. Pulling it back and forth to make the throwing motion, he then walked to the other side.

"I think you are ready, my love," Garret said it so casually and Lynn felt her cheeks flushed.

Shaking her head, she took a deep breath and stood straight. Taking a step forward, she pulled her right arm back over her shoulder. Putting pressure on her left leg, her arm moved forward and when her arm was perpendicular to the target, she let go of the knife. She watched it fly and she felt her heart race. Biting her bottom lip, she narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brows.

The knife landed a couple inches from the target.

She blinked at the tree and where her knife landed before she looked over at Garret. His brows were furrowed and he seemed to be biting the inside of his left cheek.

"Garret," she called out and he looked at her with the same look.

"You were close Lynn-" before he could finish, she had wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank you," she pulled back laughing, "now I can get even closer with more practice."

He saw him laugh and lifted her up. Gasping, she held tighter as he turned them. Letting out laughter as they settled and she was placed back down, she felt safe in his arms. Eyes shining as the sun lowered, hair seeped with the glow of the sun; she could not fight the way her whole body sighed.

He leaned in and she closed her eyes.

"Son," her voice, deadly and calm, cut through the magic lingering in the air.

Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she stepped back from the prince and bowed at the waist.

"Mother," he greeted turning to her.

"Your father asks for you," she stated and added, "Sir Christian, do accompany my son home."

Her father glanced at her before agreeing as he did a short bow. Garret furrowed his brows with narrowed eyes at his mother, but she waved him away. Cold was what she felt and it was not the wind.

"How have your training been?" she questioned and Lynn went to retrieve the knife from the tree.

"I have learned much my queen," she answered placing the knife into her pouch.

"Good," she stared at her and Lynn held her hands behind her.

"Is there something you need of me, my queen?" Lynn questioned and squeezed her hands as the queen walked closer to her.

"Undoubtedly so," she stood before her in her fine garb, "my son's love for you will be the end to this kingdom."

She clenched her jaw.

"I know him and I know he would throw this kingdom away for you," the queen said scowling as her hands tighten against her skirt.

Lynn could feel her nails biting into her palms.

"If you lose," the queen offered with narrowed eyes, "I will give five years of my son's time for you."

"You want me to forfeit," Lynn bit out narrowing her own eyes.

"Do you not think five years is enough for you!" the queen raised her voice as she threw her hands out, "do you know how many princesses would be available for him at that age?!" the queen squeezed her hands against her skirt again and took a deep breath.

"Even if you lose unwillingly, you will still have five years with him. Is this not a good offer?" the queen tried to rationalize, "or would you risk not having any chance to be with him as lovers like you wish?" the queen looked out to the sky washed in colors, "do not be selfish child, if you and my son have your way, there will be war again."

'War again,' Lynn thought and wondered what she meant.

"Tell me your decision before we leave to the first kingdom of many," the queen turned back to her, "remember your loyalty to the kingdom. Do not forget it."

She saw her turn and started walking off. She should offer to walk her back to the castle, but she didn't. She couldn't even open her mouth. The itching around her gem caused her hand to land on her forehead. Trying to ease the skin by massaging it, caused her to land on her knees. Gritting her teeth, she glanced to see where the queen was. She noticed her father had returned and was accompanying the queen on her way. Gasping, she clenched her eyes closed hoping the pressure her fingers were causing against the skin helped.

It didn't.

Stumbling to a stand, she headed to her home hoping to all hopes that she makes it.

The darkness was slowing covering her vision.