Trial Four: Kingdom of Ellestra

Kingdom of Ellestra, known for their knife wielding.

Lynn swallowed the lump in her throat.

Of all the trials, this one was the most daunting to her. Her skills in knife throwing had improved, but it probably didn't compare to them. Letting out a breath, she stood before the king, queen, and princess of this land.

"The rules are this: you are to use your knives to hit the target. First to hit the target with the most out of twenty of their knives win; do you agree to this?"

"Yes, my king," the female bowed.

"Yes King Howard," Lynn bowed as well.

"Then let us begin," King Howard's voice boomed and they took their spots.

So here she was, standing without her helmet and in less armor, staring at the targets. The closest was 3 feet away and the farthest was 10.

Okay! She got this! Just like what she had been practicing at home and with Garret's help. She could win, she could do this.

Getting into position and testing her throw, she threw her knife to the closest target. It hit the third ring. She repeated her action making sure of her arm and pressure. It hit the second ring.

Happy with herself, she prepared another, but she could hear loud cheers around her as they rooted for their champion. Glancing to see how her opponent was doing, Lynn found her eyes widen. All perfectly targeted.

How was she going to win?

"Excuse me, champion of knives," Lynn started ignoring her targets, "this challenge is too easy for you, is it not?"

The lady paused and looked at her with a lift of her brows.

"Of course it is. We are in the land of knife wielding, Sir Knight," the lady, around her 40s stated, "this here is boring."

Lynn found her lips curl.

"Why not make it challenging for yourself?" Lynn looked at her with big eyes, "you obviously can defeat me blindfolded," she said to hear a sound of agreement from the lady before her, "possibly sitting as well."

"Are you suggesting we change the rules?" the lady narrowed her eyes, but her lips held a smile.

"The rules are to hit the target with as many knives as you can," Lynn grinned behind her mask.

The lady glanced at the royals who are watching them with tilted heads and furrowed brows. Lynn saw them speaking to one another quietly, probably about why they had stopped.

"Will you do the same?" the lady questioned with a smirk.

"Blindfolded and sitting?" Lynn questioned for the lady to nod, "I am no expert like you are, champion."

The lady grinned and shook her head.

"You are an interesting child," the lady laughed, "you do not wish for your prince to marry, why?"

Lynn glanced at her prince, Prince Garret. He was looking at her with furrowed eyebrows and was clenching the arms of the chairs. He sent her a small smile and she felt her heart skip.

"Ah, I see," the lady frowned and placed a hand on her hip.

"He loves someone, champion," Lynn sighed and looked at the lady, "she is waiting for him back home."

"Then why have him search for princesses when he has a lover already?" the lady questioned and threw a knife hitting the target in the middle.

"King Alastir and Queen Celeste do not approve of their love," she said quietly, "such a shame really. They seemed so happy."

The lady stared at her and she stared right back. It was true, wasn't it?

Lynn saw the lady glanced at her target to see she only hit the third ring and the second ring. She felt the pit of her stomach clenched. What would the lady do? Was Lynn going to lose this trial?

The lady continued to face Lynn and reached for three knives and tossed it behind her.

Lynn felt her eyes widened as she watched one knife hit it's mark dead in the center, another hit the third ring, and the last one missing the target altogether.

Blinking in the results, she looked at the lady who smiled at her. She felt her eyes water and she let out a smile with her short bow.

"Do your best for your prince, child," the champion whispered, "I know what it means to not have an approved love," she glanced at her king and Lynn felt her eyes widened more, "it is a pain I do not wish on my worst enemy."

Swallowing down the relief, she nodded and smiled.

"I thank you, champion," she said softly to have the lady laugh.

"To my wonderful people!" the lady shouted with a smile as she turned around facing the audience, "I will challenge myself, for we all know how well my aim is, let's see if I can do so from behind!"

"Oh! How exciting!" "From behind? Lady June is amazing!" "Why? Couldn't she just win already?"

The villagers and knights whispered.

"Lady June," King Howard spoke up with pursed lips, "what are you doing?"

"I am only making things more fun," Lady June smiled, "it gets quite boring just seeing me hit the target, wouldn't you agree?" she called out to the audience who were cheering.

"This is not about you!" the queen shouted standing, "this is about my daughter's future!"

"And I know that Queen Catherine," Lady June bowed slightly, "Princess Betty is a beautiful girl. She will have a future, I assure you."

"Why you no good-" the queen started, but the king stopped her.

"Lady June," the princess spoke up, "please be careful."

"Of course, my princess," June grinned and Lynn let out a soft laugh. This kingdom was as bad as hers.

Focusing on the task at hand, Lynn took a deep breath, stepped forward, and flung the knife. It hit the mark. Ecstatic with her result, she centered herself and did it once more. It barely missed the center.

As Lynn continued in her slow and steady pace, June was finished with her throws by Lynn's seventh throw.

"Lady June had hit the center fourteen times," a man called out and Lynn felt her sweat dropped.

She had hit the center three times, which meant that she could only miss two more times. Biting her bottom lip, she could feel all eyes on her. Gulping, she closed her eyes and breathed. Opening it up, she tossed the knife only to have it hit the last ring.

'Oh no,' she frowned, 'I only have one more chance to miss and that's it!'

Taking out another knife from her sack, she stared at it for a moment.

Rule: the one with the most hit on the target wins. The one with the most hit on-

Lynn felt her eyes widened as a grin split her face. She ran quickly to the target and stabbed a knife into the middle.

"What do you think you are doing, Sir Knight?" King Howard questioned as murmurs followed.

"King Howard," Lynn looked over at him as she finished stabbing a fifth knife into the middle of one target, "I am hitting the target."

"You are not doing so correctly, child," the King shook his head.

"The rule was to hit the most target to win, is that correct?" she questioned and the king nodded.

"I am hitting the target, am I not?" Lynn tilted her head slightly and she could hear June laughing loudly.

"Oh child! You are a sneaky thing," Lady June cackled, "go on then, finish this trial."

Lynn thanked her and proceed to the next target to hit. In the end, she won by one.

"Well done, Sir Knight," June shook her forearm as Lynn did the same, "protect them, would you?"

"With my life," she admitted and June softened her smile with a nod.

"Lady June!" the princess called out smiling toward them, "you were magnificent as always."

"Thank you pretty princess," June patted Princess Betty on the head as the princess wrapped her arms around her.

"You as well, Sir Knight," the princess turned to her.

Lynn nodded and thanked her.

"Betty! Get over here this instant!" the queen shouted and Princess Betty sighed before waving goodbye.

"That child is going to be a handful," Lynn saw June's eyes softened around the edges.

"She is yours, isn't she?" Lynn whispered quietly and June's eyes widened.

Her mouth opened and closed before June looked back at the princess speaking to the prince.

"She has your eyes and your love," Lynn added, "I am sorry, but I am just curious."

June sighed and crossed her arms as she glanced at Lynn.

"A story for another time, Sir Knight."

"You should know," Lynn let out a soft laugh, "I am quite the curious cat."

"Cat? I pictured you more of a bunny," June said before she laughed loudly when Lynn stuck out her bottom lip.

With exchanges of farewells and promises to return, they were packed and ready to leave. It was still midday and they should arrive by the morning at the next kingdom.

Sitting on her horse and listening to the chirping in the trees, she felt her tension bleed.

"Sir Constantine," Prince Garret's head popped out of the flaps, "may I ride your horse today, until the sun sleeps?"

"If the king and queen allows it," Constantine replied and waited until Garret's head popped back out.

"They are tired of me," Garret grinned and he called out to the coachman to stop.

Constantine was about to get off his horse, but Garret placed a finger on his lips as he walked over to Lynn.

"May I have a hand, my knight," Garret smiled at her and Lynn nodded offering him a hand.

Garret pulled up and swung his leg over so he was sitting behind Lynn. Lynn felt her face flush when her prince pressed against her back.

"Too much armor," Garret mumbled against her shoulder and she felt herself laugh.

"I can only remove my helmet and mask," Lynn offered and Garret accepted it.

"Let me help," the prince said as he removed her helmet and mask as they continued down the road.

The fresh air hitting her face was refreshing and feeling her prince so close to her, made that awful feeling absolve. Did that feeling only came because she was not near her lover? Did he feel it too and that is why-

"I miss you," he said gently against her left ear.

Lynn felt her heart swell and warmth spreading across her whole body. Biting her bottom lip, she leaned back against him. She felt his arms around her waist tighten and she smiled.

"I have a gift for you, Prince Garret," she said reaching to her pack beside him.

"A gift?" Garret's face glowed and Lynn had to look away before she kisses him.

"From your lover back home," she said softly and ignored the way her heart stuttered for a moment.

Pulling back from the sack, she handed him the gift wrapped in a silken cloth of his color.

"Should I open it now?" he smiled up at her feeling the cloth with his fingers.

"If you'd like," she smiled back and faced forward.

She heard the cloth slide away from the small bag and the small gasp from behind her. Smiling as she felt arms around her once more as her prince nuzzled against her neck.

"I love you so much," he said against her skin, "when we are home, we shall wear them openly."

"Yes," she closed her eyes to live in this moment.

Garret holding her. The only one who holds her heart.

Glancing over at Richard, she felt her face flush hard seeing the look on his face. Looking away, she chanced a glance at Constantine to find she couldn't hide it.

She loves her prince and they know now.

What will they do?