SWORD MASTER: The Contest

"What is wrong with you, I came back safely didn't I? I even got back along with you, what are you worried about? She said when he kept on following her even when they reached the palace and now he was in her room.

" I'm not worried, just that I still need you, so from now on you can't leave this place without my permission, you got that?".

"You, destroy my future, take me away from my home and now you want to take away my freedom of movement? What did I ever do to you to get so much from you?" She said frustrated and before she could think more Darren pulled her into his arms so that she was against his body and whispered to her

"You didn't do anything to me? Come on, you stole from me and I intend to do the same" after that he kissed her on the cheek and left the room, leaving her standing like a statue thinking about what just happened.

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Today, was the day of the contest, and the arena was full of people. There was a separate area for the low class, medium, and high class, the was an area for the Elders and an area for the Royals. Everyone was seated and waiting for the games to commence. Adriele was seated beside Killian and she asked him "What is the whole point of this competition?"

"Not many have the opportunity to work for the Royal army for one reason or another, so this competition is to show their skills, a general might be impressed and recruit them for training and then again, the price for *SWORD MASTER* is very tempting, it could be money, a position in the Royal hierarchy, you could even be a viable suitor" he answered

"What do you mean by a viable suitor?"

"Some times the winner of this competition can be given the hand of the Princess in marriage, every year it's a mystery " he shrugged

"Hmmm, so Prince Killian why don't you participate?"

He laughed, then turned his gaze to her "You're looking at a SWORD MASTER, you know,"

"Really?"

"Yes, I took part in it two years ago"

In fact, he had always wanted to participate in it but his illness and his parents stopped him until two years ago when they finally gave him their permission. He did win, but it was a big blow to him when his body could not handle the stress and he had a painful relapse, he was on bed rest for two weeks, it was a miracle that he survived it. He won but had a bittersweet price, he won't dare participate in it ever again, but if he had to die he would have died fulfilled, at least he participated and even won.

"That's great, so what was your price"

"Two weeks in bed" he muttered

"What?" she asked as she didn't quite get him

"The competition is about to start," He said changing the subject and Adriele sensing his unwillingness to answer the question just let it go and fixated her gaze on the fighting ring

The first two competitors came out from the back and into the ring and they made some gestures which were being praised by the spectators. After a while of the praises, the bell rang, and it was the first round. Swords were swung in the air, sometimes a sword would even cut through the skin of a competitor but the crowd would instead shout and sing praises to the one who cut the other, which made Adriele flinch every time it happened. The games went on like this until the finals where four different finalists will have to fight with a guest fighter.

Looking around she realized that she hadn't seen Darren, 'but he was supposed to participate, wasn't he? Or is he the guest fighter? But why is he the *guest fighter*? He's the prince of the kingdom, isn't he?' she thought to herself, she was so deep in thought that she didn't realize the man who just entered the ring, nor did she hear the crowd chanting, when she finally looked at the ring she saw a familiar figure standing there, it was Darren and he put on his usual bored look if he was not interested why did he sign up for the competition. She turned towards Killian and asked him why Darren was considered a guest

"I'm sure you have heard of the King's Guard, right?"

"No, what is that?"

"It's the special Royal Force"

"Oh, you mean the one where Sir Michael and Prince Darren are a part of? With You as their leader?" she asked and he nodded

"Today, Darren is here not as a prince but as a member of the King's Guard"

"But wasn't it said that the group was a secret one which not many people knew of, ?" she asked a little confused

"Yes, that's why they were told he was a general, but they don't know if it's for the Royal Army or the King's Guard, do they?"

"Okay," she said and averted her gaze towards the ring. The match started, the four men with two out of them being bulky started launching their swords towards Darren who dodged them with ease, they kept on swinging and he either dodged or blocked their attacks. After a while, he noticed that lady was watching him. When their eyes locked and he winked at Adriele. This distraction cost him, they were staring at each other when a sword was launched at him and it cut through the flesh on his arm. Adriele almost jumped out of her seat, but Killian seeing her distress patted her, and she immediately composed her posture. The others tried to attack him once more but this time he dodged it and attacked them, after a while of swinging swords and spilling blood the match was over with Darren still standing tall and the other men laying helpless on the ground. And other than the wound on his arm, he was perfectly okay, taking a look at the lady she seemed relaxed after he won. A satisfied smile made its way to his face,

That night there was a merrymaking party in the Palace. Where the King promised to surprise him with his price, they ate and drank.

In the meantime, Adriele was taking a walk in the garden, when she learned from Killian that Darren had gone up to his room and she followed him there. In Darren's room, he was trying to take care of his wound and was wondering why Killian hadn't come to assist him yet or Michael to mock him. His brother would always tend to him if he was ill or wounded, even though he would tell him not to.

*KNOCK*

He raised his head and didn't bother to answer, when he heard a knock again he yelled "Who's there?" and Adriele came in with Naina behind her with a bowl and cloth. Naina placed the bowl and cloth beside the bed and she walked out. After the door closed the room became silent, neither Adriele nor Darren spoke then after a while Adriele said

"Congratulations, you won"

"Thanks, it's all for you"

She didn't bother to argue with him today and just went to him, grabbed his arm, put the cloth in the water in the bowl, squeezed it, and dabbed his arm with it

"It's hot" he shrieked

"It has to be, it helps to disinfect the wound, so, please sit still so I can finish" and so he did, he waited for her to finish cleaning the wound, then she took a satchel from her pocket and put some of its contents on the wounded area and bandaged It.

"Ok, all done, I came here to apologize for what happened if I didn't distract you, you wouldn't have been injured," she said and before she could react, Darren had pulled her into his arms and now she was seated on his lap.

"Let go" she cried out as she struggled to free herself but even with a wounded arm their strengths were still unequally matched, making her attempt to get out of his grip go in vain and she finally calmed down.

"Apologize you say, and how are you going to do that?"

"I cleaned your wound"

"It's your fault, so it's your obligation, but to apologize to me, what are you planning to do or give me?

" I promise to help you make a cure for the illness you talked about"

"You were going to do that either way"

"So what do you want?"

"Hmmm," after thinking for a while he pulled her towards him, held her chin, and merged his lips with hers, forcing his tongue into her mouth, making her breathless. Taken aback by his actions for a second she was frozen when she recovered herself, she tried to push him again but to no avail, then there was a knock on the door, subconsciously she bit his lip and successfully pushed him away and stood up from his lap. She tried to catch her breath and organize her appearance when the Queen came in

"How are you doing, son?" she asked concerned

"I'm okay mom, your future daughter-in-law did a great job," he said pointing at his bandaged arm.

"Thanks, Adriele, you will make a good wife and Princess." She complimented and Adriele only gave her a shy smile

"Please excuse me, your highness's I am not feeling too good, now that I have taken care of his wound, I would like to take some rest now"

"Go on dear," and with that Adriele left the room and rushed to her room closing the door behind her, leaning on it she remembered what happened in Darren's room, his lips on hers. What did she get herself into? The man has no shame.

"My Lady is everything okay?" Naina asked, she became worried when she saw Adriele storm out of the prince's room, right after the Queen entered, 'what happened in there?' she thought to herself.

"I'm okay, Naina you can get some rest now, see you tomorrow, bye," She said as she hopped on the bed and covered herself from head to toe with the blanket out of shame