Duel

Aretha crouched, assuming the form of a tiger about to attack. Her muscles tensed and her hair raised in anticipation, just waiting for the signal to lunge at her prey. Opposite her, her opponent wielded his sword and shield, his hair raising for a different reason.

"BEGIN!"

She took off into the sky, landing with her feet plunging in the direction of his shield. He blocked immediately but the impact was more than he calculated, his arms buckling under the sheer weight of the applied force. She landed gracefully where she stood before but he was pushed five steps backwards. She interlocked her fingers and cracked them.

"Let's see if you can block the next one."

She moved faster than their eyes could register, kicking him from behind. He barely managed to turn his shield and block her leg but his entire arm vibrated from the impact. He changed his stance and deflected the blow but she followed up right after with a kick aimed at his back once more. Every blow he blocked just increased the intensity of her blows. He could only block her offence, never getting the chance to fight back.

"How much longer do you think brother dearest is going to last?"

"I'd say he'll give up soon. He's stubborn but not stupid," Jaime replied, crossing his arms.

"So you admit you set your brother up as stress relief for Aretha?"

"He dug a pit for himself. If anything, he's the one who should be blaming himself for provoking a beast."

"You did get one thing wrong."

"What?"

"Our dear brother is stupid."

Jaime laughed heartily as he watched his brother try to counterattack, only to have his sword snapped into two. At the same time, Taylor cleanly knocked out the physician without even hearing an explanation. He checked Caspian's pulse and was relieved to find it normal. He was truly only sleeping. He waited a while, paying attention to the surroundings. His sharp hearing picked up approaching footsteps.

He took a peek and saw knights approaching the room. Making a split decision, he picked Caspian up from the bed and jumped out of the window without hesitation. They were a floor higher but he landed safely on the ground, negating the impact with his mana. He took off running the moment he hit the ground, heading towards the carriage.

"Do you surrender, heir apparent?" Aretha taunted. Joseph spat out blood and cracked his neck, his eyes burning fiercely.

"Never," he declared, running towards him. Unfortunately for him, Aretha happened to catch a whiff of her husband's scent as Taylor ran too close to the training grounds. She had no more time to play with Joseph so she decided to end it first. She ran faster than could be seen by anyone but Jaime, delivering a chop to the prince's neck.

"Your weakness disgusts me," she spat, walking out of the training grounds.

"Well, I guess it's over. Can someone carry my esteemed brother to his room? It's quite disgraceful to keep him like this," Jaime ordered whilst Adrianna laughed under her breath. His servants carried him away as his siblings walked in the other direction, following Aretha.

"I did quite wonder why you never made a fuss when he was made heir apparent. This is very sly of you, brother."

"Great things go to people that are deserving. This is why things like anarchy and treachery exists, dear sister."

"How diabolic."

The two arrived in front of the carriage, immediately noticing the tenseness that floated in the air. Taylor opened the door and they entered, seeing Aretha seated in the carriage with Caspian in her arms. She was oddly calm and her face was impassive.

"To the manor."

As opposed to the atmosphere when they arrived at the palace, it was very quiet in the carriage as they rode to the manor. Aretha didn't speak, looking over her husband quietly. Finally, as they drew close to the manor, she spoke.

"I...knew I shouldn't have accepted him. I knew it was a terrible idea."

The siblings looked at each other and back at her.

"Even though it looks like it's a terrible idea right now, it's not like you can just go back on your word and send him back home, can you?" Jaime said, shrugging.

"I can't believe you just suggested giving him back."

"I didn't suggest giving him back. I just said you couldn't."

The carriage stopped in front of a manor and the door was opened by Taylor. They alighted and began walking in, meeting the servants still in the middle of clearing out the manor.

"Welcome back my lad...why is our lord unconscious?" Fabian asks, staring fixedly at the prone body in Aretha's arms.

"Don't ask too many questions and prepare a bed. I think I'll just heal him with mana."

"Wouldn't that make his body incredibly volatile and yours...extremely unstable?"

"Only a few servants dare question their masters. Fabian, just do as I say. I am not in a mood that would entertain your silliness."

"Of course, my lady."

Fabian got onto preparing the room whilst the royal sibling sat down for tea. This decision drew the ire of the mistress of the house.

"Why are the both of you still here? This is not your house."

"We're staying here till we return to the north. Well, I don't know about Adrianna," Jaime replied.

"I'm staying here as well. I shan't listen to mother's nagging one moment longer."

"You can't just decide to stay in my house. Did you bother to ask me for permission first?!"

"That isn't needed between friends, is it?" Adrianna quipped, smirking.

"You..."

"Your grace, the room is ready," a servant announced. She glared at them and started walking towards the room, her husband still in her arms.

"This isn't over," she threatened as she walked away. They smiled and accepted the tray of tea that was offered to them by the servants.

-----------------------------------

Caspian woke up feeling groggy. A chill creeped up his leg and he soon discovered the windows were open. He sat up, feeling a little resistance in his waist. He looked at the windows and discovered there was a balcony connected to the room he woke up on. On that balcony was a familiar figure, bathed in the moonlight. She sipped her wine carefully and kept her gaze on the sky.

"Are...tha?"

Even though she was far from him, she still heard his voice and walked over. Her eyes softened up when she saw him sitting up and she moved closer to push him to lie again very gently. He could smell the alcohol on her when she came close and the fierce stench of sweat.

"Have you been sitting by me since I fainted? Are we still in the castle?"

"No! We're in the manor. How are you feeling now, Caspian?"

"I feel better now, maybe a little cold."

"I was worried about that but the doctors asked me to keep the windows open so you could have better ventilation. Do you need food? Water? A bath?"

"I think you may be the one who needs a bath. You can just call Taylor to watch over me while you take one. You look tired."

"Are you certain you're fine? I don't need that much sleep."

"What about this? You take a bath and we can sleep together. Both of us would feel better that way."

"Hmm...okay. I'll be right back."

It was only after she left that he registered what he just said to her. He turned a splendid shade of pink, burying himself under the blanket.