Trial One: Kingdom of Gantz

The day had started off the way she knew it would. The royals in their royal garbs stood before the castle when her father and herself arrived. The sun was barely rising at the time, but she could always see the bright smile of her prince.

"Are you ready for the long travel?" the king questioned.

"I am, your highness," she bowed.

"Then let us go," the king held out his hand for the queen who narrowed her eyes at her.

Taking the hand, both royals headed to the carriage.

"I know we cannot touch one another on our travels until we return," Garret said softly holding her hands, "I love you. May you succeed in all you can," he finished and kissed her lips.

"Is this my good fortune kiss?" Lynn let out a smile when they parted, "may the fortune be with us then, my prince."

"May it be, my knight," he kissed her forehead. She returned the kiss.

"You should hurry, Prince Garret," her father spoke up.

"Of, of course!" he pulled away blinking widely as his face flushed.

Lynn watched him head to the coach and she couldn't fight the short laugh.

"These are your weapons, daughter," he placed his hand on her armored shoulder, "may the hands of fate be on your side."

"Thank you, father," she touched his hand on her shoulder. He placed that hand to cup her face and sighed.

"Please be safe," he said gently as his brows furrowed slightly.

She offered a smile and wrapped her arms around her father, "I will do my best, Papa. I will make you proud."

He watched her pull away and pulled his head down to lay a kiss on his forehead. He let out a chuckle as he returned the kiss to her forehead. Watching her walk away, he felt his smile fall off his face.

His little girl, his only child, will be facing warriors. He knew the moment she agreed to this, that he had to do all he could to prepare her.

'Did I prepare her enough for what is to come?' he questioned watching Lynn tie the burlap bag holding her weapons to the horse.

'My darling, have I made the right decision?' he asked his wife as Lynn steadied herself on the horse.

She looked at him, smiled, and waved. He sent a smile as well and waved back. Glancing at the other knights, Sir Constantine and Sir Richard, he hoped the glaring of his eyes told them what he wanted to say. By the looks of the salute and short bows, he got through to them.

He heard footsteps nearing him and he glanced to see Kurt stand beside him.

"If she fails, what would you do Sir Christian?" the mage asked in his straight soft tone looking out to where the carriage, horses, and knights exit the gate.

"I will do what I must," he stated watching his daughter's form get smaller and smaller.

"I see," Kurt said and return into the castle.

He glanced at him with pursed lips, before looking back to see her daughter is no longer where he could see her, where he could protect her.

"Watch over our daughter, my love. I fear she would need you even more now than ever," he whispered into the early dawn's air.

--

It had been five hours since they left the castle and Lynn thought about how unfair this was. When she arrives at the Kingdom of Gantz, she would need to be ready for the duel while her opponent would be well rested.

Sunken eyes and sticking out her lips, she wondered what the rules would be. What weapon would they require they use? She hoped it was not knife throwing.

"Look at her face Richard, isn't she adorable?" Sir Constantine laughed and Lynn frowned at him.

"She has grown beautifully," Sir Richard nodded to her and she felt her face flush from the compliment.

"You are 18 now baby Lynn," Constantine pointed out, "you filled out quite well."

"Sir Constantine," Lynn narrowed her eyes, "do not make me need to speak with my father about this."

"You wouldn't do that to me, would you sweet Lynn?" he batted his iced blue eyes at her.

Lynn held her narrowed eyes, before she rolled her eyes breathing out a smile.

"There's that pretty smile," he said happily, "don't you think, Richard?"

"Lynn's smile is always pretty," Richard smiled nodding to her again.

"Shouldn't we be making sure nothing happens to the carriage carrying our highnesses?" she said shaking her head.

"Don't worry," Constantine ran his hands through his curly brown hair, "Richard there is our best knight. He has the best hearing. Isn't that right, Richard?"

"Yes," Richard looked at her with his hazel eyes, "I can hear the way your heart beats for me, my dear Lynn."

Lynn's face heated up and she covered her face with one hand, while the other held tight to the rein. Her horse neighed shaking her head and she truly believed her horse knew human language.

"Aw, you got her blushing so cutely," Constantine laughed throwing his head back.

"Should you not be wearing your helmet?" she sent a glare at both men.

She was in her full armor after all, why weren't they?

"Our baby is worried about us Richard," the brunette cooed.

"Don't!" she spoke up before Richard had a chance to speak up, "you two would be the death of me."

She heard both men laugh, and she felt her lips curve.

"We're only looking out for you," Constantine pulled forward with his horse away from her, "it's what us knights do, isn't it?"

She watched him move back to his position and she looked over to see Richard smiling at her as he put on his helmet.

"We will always protect you, dearest Lynn," he nodded to her and went to his station.

Letting out a soft laugh, she looked forward only to realize that they were approaching the Kingdom of Gantz. Letting out a breath, she sat up on her horse, lifted her mask in place, and mentally prepared herself for what is to come.

"Please, this way," she heard an elder say as they were led through the tall embroidered gates.

Following the man, she saw the line of villagers staring at the carriage wanting to see her highnesses. Looking around her, she saw the banners hanging across the markets: 'Cheer for our warrior!' 'Pray for Princess Eliza' 'Prince Garret and Princess Eliza'.

She glanced at the carriage and wondered what her prince thought. This was the first of many and she was certain there would be more as the trials continue.

Glancing at Sir Constantine, she felt her eyes roll seeing the man was smiling and winking at the women as they went by. Looking at Sir Richard to see he was not paying attention to his own flock of females, but she knew by the small quirk of his lips that he knew what he was doing.

Shaking her head, she looked forward and saw two knights in their paths.

"Your highnesses," the elder man in fine garb bowed opening the flap to the carriage.

The king was the first to step out, then the queen who was helped by his majesty, before the prince stepped out with a frown.

The elder man went to the knights who bowed and moved to the side. Getting off their horses, Lynn followed Sir Constantine and Sir Richard through the knights. She saw the royals of this kingdom in their crested colors: gold and purple.

Surrounding them were villagers who followed and those who waited for their arrival. Glancing at the castle before her, it was tall and as magnificent as the castle back home.

"Welcome to my kingdom, King Alastir, Queen Celeste, and Prince Garret," the king of the kingdom announced as both his wife and two daughters stood to bow.

"King James, Queen Fera, Princess Holly and Princess Lily," they all bowed, "a nice welcomed you've given us."

"Of course," King James nodded with a grin as he motioned for them to sit beside them, "we all have been excited for this day," he looked over at his daughters, "they have gotten prettied for you Prince Garret."

"They are quite pretty," Garret replied with a smile to the princesses. Both girls flushed as they giggled.

"Shall we proceed to the duel?" King James questioned as he sat on the chair outside the castle.

"Right down to it then, you've come prepared," King Alastir nodded as he sat, "then let us begin."

Lynn looked at Garret who sent her a smile and she moved to stand before their holiness. She bowed to her knees beside a man who looked to be in his late 30s. He glanced at her and she ignored it keeping her head low.

"A child?!" Queen Fera said in a high tone as her hand hovered over her lips.

"You chose a child to represent the Kingdom of Fiemyr?" King James question.

"She is a worthy opponent King James, do not let her looks or age fool you," her king stated and Lynn wasn't sure if he really meant it or not.

"If that is so," King James looked over at his wife and daughters before standing, "the rules are this. The first person to land a hit on any body part loses. Weapon being used is the wooden staff. Any use of other weapons or body parts like fists and legs would be disqualified. In addition, you will not be wearing any armor on your body. Do you accept?"

'Wooden staff, first person to land a hit, no armor, seems simple enough,' she thought as she stood alongside her opponent.

"I accept," both said with their arm across their chest and bowed.

Garret felt sick. He should have never agreed to this, especially since Lynn would have to be the one fighting. He begged his mother and father to let him fight instead, but every time they would say it was the knight's responsibility.

Not his. Gritting his teeth and gripping the arms of the chair, he watched both Lynn and her opponent remove their armor.

'She didn't even get rest! She must be tired and thirsty perhaps!' he frowned and looked at the cup of water beside him.

Widening his eyes, he grabbed the cup and walked down the castle steps toward Lynn.

"Drink some water before you begin," he explained when she looked at him and looked at his parents, "you must be parched."

Garret did his best to convey his want and his worry, but he was not allowed to just hold his knight. He was not allowed to openly encourage her. He had to watch and hope for the best.

"Thank you, my prince," she bowed to him and took the offered cup.

He felt the relief ebb through his breath as he watched her drink and took back the cup from her. Standing for a moment longer, he sent her a smile and returned to his seat.

"What a kind prince," Queen Fera sighed with a smile as she glanced at him.

"Thank you, Queen Fera," he bowed and she covered her soft laugh.

Looking back over to see Lynn remove the last of her armor, he felt his heartbeat quicken. She was in her linen undergarments, peach colored with small silver bordering and the crest of their kingdom.

She still looked so beautiful that he was about to stand once more, but the hand on his made his movement stuttered.

Swallowing down the lump in his throat, he settled his face so no one could notice that he wanted nothing more than to hold his darling knight.

He watched as Lynn grabbed her wooden staff from the sack she brought and walked over to her side. All he could see was her right profile and the way the sun glowed against her warm tanned skin. He noticed the corner of her lips curled down and he wondered why she was frowning.

Glancing around her, he could see the villagers and knights whispering as they looked at Lynn. Gripping the arm of the chair harder, he tried his best to hold back his glare.

If he failed, he didn't care.

"Are both opponents ready?" King James announced and both Lynn and her opponent agreed.

The battle began.

He watched as Lynn moved as if she was dancing and gliding down across the floor. From the way she bent to the way she twisted made the feeling in his heart swell with pride.

His knight was beautifully perfect.

He watched as the man rushed forward with a hard swing, only to have Lynn side stepped in time to swing a hit. It was blocked.

Another round of hits and blocks occurred as the sun started to lower back down to sleep. Garret felt his eyes widened when he noticed the man had used his strength to hit hard enough to crack Lynn's wooden staff down the middle.

It hung now.

'Oh no!' he felt his mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Lynn's eyes widened and Garret closed his mouth and thinned his lips. The man continued to swing with a grin now and Lynn had a broken staff to protect her.

Garret remembered the rule saying any part of the body, so that included her fingers. He saw Lynn jumping back from an attempted stab and jumped to the side when the man attempted a high slash.

He watched Lynn's lips curl up and he felt his breath hitch.

'She has a plan!' he felt his own lips curl to a smile as he leaned forward in his chair.

Dodging and avoiding seemed to be what Lynn was going for, until he noticed Lynn grabbing her staff and ripping it fully apart. The man's eyes widened before he ran toward her.

Lynn threw the top piece of the staff at him as he ran only to have him smack the piece away with his hand.

"That's it! Lynn wins!" He shouted jumping out of his seat.

The man slowed to a stop with furrowed brows blinking at Lynn who stood there smiling. He glanced at King James who also wore the same face.

"Prince Garret, why do you state such things?" King James questioned.

"The rule was if you are hit by the staff on any part of your body, you are disqualified, correct?" Garret asked to see a nod from the King.

"My knight threw a piece of the staff at your chosen warrior. He hit the staff with his bare hand," Garret explained grinning, only to have his mother pull him to sit down.

It was quiet for a moment and Garret glanced at his mother who was frowning, his father who stared blankly, and then at Lynn who sent him a small smile.

It made his heart jump.

"Well," King James started slowly, "that was unexpected."

"Truly," Queen Fera murmured glancing at her daughters who sighed leaning back with a frown.

The man walked over to Lynn and Garret was ready to jump up and stop him if needed, but Lynn was smiling. He watched the man offer his hand to her and Lynn held his forearm in comradery.

"Well done, knight," the man said and walked away.

He glanced at his mother and father grinning. This was great! Lynn won the first trial! His hands were itching to hold hers.

He watched Sir Constantine and Sir Richard congratulating her. She looked over at him and Garret swore he saw the brightness of the moon in her smile.

'I do not deserve you,' he felt his body sigh, 'such beauty I do not deserve.'