Title: Untitled
Authors: Domino and Anne
Email: zahfat@yahoo.com and
partypooh@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: Not ours…
A/N: Alternate Universe
Summary: A fairytale, in the kingdom of Antarra, a prince, a bodyguard, a Ball…
Chapter 8
Maria practically ran through the winding halls of the palace, slowing down only
when servants appeared. Kyle rushed behind her, not saying a word but listening
quietly as Maria muttered angrily under her breath. He did catch the occasional
words…waitress slut…jerk…etc.
She got to her room, and without an explanation shut the door in Kyle’s face. He
didn’t take offence, but instead waited leaning lightly against the door. It
didn’t take long, and Maria walked out, dressed almost entirely in black, her
usual practise outfit. On her side, hung her sword and with a feline grace Maria
took off for the gardens, her pace slower this time. And again Kyle followed on
her heels.
She didn’t speak and he didn’t ask her to, recognising her need to relinquish
her anger, but instead grabbed his sword, and with a small prayer she wouldn’t
totally demolish him almost tentatively began the battle of swords.
~*~
Michael had been wandering around the halls for some time now. Despite leaving
right after Maria he missed her at the room, and pride prevented his asking any
of the many personnel in the area of her whereabouts. The result of that typical
male behaviour, of course, was him searching rather in vain the palace halls,
before in a flash of insight, with a little help from the sounds of swords
clashing it occurred to him that she might be in the gardens
Taking off at a run, he arrived at the gardens where almost immediately he
spotted her, advancing in a predator like fashion on a clumsily backing away
Kyle. For the first time, the first emotion he felt at the sight of the two of
them wasn’t a overpowering jealousy, but instead a combination of sheer awe and
pride as he watched her lithe figure swing the sword.
He took in the crowd of people standing on the edges of the imaginary circle
that the sword play was occurring in, and with a single motion summoned one of
the servants to him and sent him to fetch his sword.
Maria held the tip of her sword against Kyle’s throat. It was the fourth time in
20 sinas that she had efficiently killed him. When the voice behind them
interrupted it was with sheer relief, he turned to see Michael standing a safe
distance away, sword in hand.
“May I cut in,” Michael asked, and with a small bow in Maria’s direction.
Before Maria could answer and likely reject the offer, “Please do,” it was a
plea from Kyle. Michael smiled at his urgent tone. The two men exchanged a look,
it was enough for an understanding to pass between the two. An apology, a
request and permission granted and a warning all in one glance.
Michael moved forward and in the age old dance of warriors touched his sword to
hers, before beginning to back away.
“I figured I should let you take out your anger on the one who actually deserves
it,” he said, as his sword clashed against hers
“I have no idea what you are talking about, your Highness,” Maria replied to his
overture with a sugary tone, no anger visible in her tone. He cringed at the
sweetness. Her sword moved to displace his.
“About the waitress, I can explain everything,” he continued, determined to
apologise.
“You don’t owe me any explanations,” Maria cut in, resolute in her plan not to
show any emotions. She advanced forward with a swing, forcing him to block her
move.
“Will you let me finish please,” he said, impatience lacing his tone. Apologies
were not something that came easily to him, and he was determined to get this
one over with. He opened his mouth to continue, but then was distracted by her
swordplay, and was forced to retreat as she pushed forward her sword swinging
dangerously close to some areas he would rather not contemplate being hurt. Damn
she was good. It had been a long time since anyone had even been competition for
him in the battlefield of fencing. Why she was almost as good as he was.
Maria hid a small smile at the slight panic that momentarily crossed his face
when he realised where her sword had just been. This was the second time she had
almost smiled, during his so-called apology. He was really bad at it, but his
fencing was almost as good as hers, her thoughts were matter of fact, not
arrogant. It was good to have some competition. She listened as he fumbled
through the explanation, and felt almost better at his excuses, all the while
losing a little of her anger with each stroke of her sword in their own little
unique dance.
~*~
“That was a close one,” Alex said to Max, as he sat on the ground with Isabel,
Tess and Kyle. Max nodded, cringing slightly in agreement, almost in unison with
all the other males in the courtyard.
They had been watching since Kyle gratefully handed Maria over to Michael and
limped over to them, before collapsing much to all their amusement, next to
them.
He then proceeded to moan and groan with each move, more for Tess’s benefit than
any of theirs, Alex suspected, and with a grin as he looked at the two of them,
he knew it worked. Right now, Tess was lightly massaging Kyle’s back.
Alex’s attention didn’t stay on Kyle and Tess for long. Like everyone else in
the court he was mesmerised by the lithe dance of swords being played by Michael
and Maria. He watched as she forced the prince to back away, and recognised the
skill of her movements.
“I think she is going to beat him,” Max said, and Alex noticed the strange tone
in his voice. It sounded almost like pride.
“I don’t know, Michael is the best swordsman in the palace,” he replied, in
defence of his best friend.
“And Maria’s the best in the entire Royal Guard,” Kyle cut into the
conversation, his best friend’s instincts rushing to the surface.
“What do you think, Isabel?” Alex looked at the girl sitting next to him, and
his breathe caught as he stared at her beautiful countenance. He almost didn’t
hear her reply so distracted was he.
“Michael’s my brother and I love him but I think he’s definitely met his match.
Maria’s the best. She thought me how to fence, remember Tess?”
“Yeah, I also remember her giving up on you, saying that you sucked at fencing,”
Tess replied turning around to give her friend a teasing glance.
“Maybe, but I kicked ass at hand to hand combat,” Isabel replied, taking no
offence. She didn’t like to fence, preferring instead to watch.
“Isabel!” a voice admonished from the side, and everyone turned in shock to see
the Queen and King standing there, small smiles on their faces, they immediately
stood up in respect, “You are a princess royal. We do not use such language,”
the King said sternly to his daughter, the laughter in his eyes belying his
voice.
“I apologise, Father,” Isabel said, equally tongue in cheek and they all
laughed.
Two servants immediately came rushing over with chairs for the royal couple,
interrupting them just as they were about to sit back down. Exchanging a
resigned glance with her husband, and knowing sitting on the ground with her
daughter and family friends wasn’t something Queens were allowed to do, Deirana
sat down in the chair. And then she smiled when Isabel, no concern for what
princess’s should and shouldn’t do sat down at her feet, and as usual Alex moved
to be next to her, with Max on his other side, and Tess on Isabel's side. Kyle
looked a little uncertain for a second, but when the King gestured to him to
sit, he gingerly moved, muscles still sore, and slowly sat next to Tess, where
she immediately grabbed his hand.
“Alright, who’s going to catch me up on what’s going on?” Deirana asked, as they
all returned their eyes to the match again, to see Maria and Michael still
arguing and their swords clashing.
Max and Alex immediately summarised the whole battle, complete with descriptions
over every move much to Deirana’s amusement, and the King’s appreciation. Kyle
who got over his awe of sitting at the feet of the royal family added the
occasional comment, and then proceeded with the other males to keep a running
commentary over the rest of the battle.
Deirana waited for a pause in the account before interrupting, “I meant, has he
apologised yet?” she said, laughter easily apparent, especially when she saw
Alex, Max and Kyle’s sheepish faces.
This time Isabel replied, “Who knows?” she said, turning to look at her mother
for a quick second before returning her eyes to the fencing match, “They have
been arguing since the beginning , but we can't hear from here,” her tone said,
“We should move closer so we can eavesdrop,” and without saying a word Alex
immediately settled his hand over Isabel's as if to restrain some of her more
impulsive ideas.
A loud cheer from the crowd, which had increased significantly and now filled
the courtyard pushed all thoughts away and everyone watched with baited breathe
the change in the encounter.
~*~
Maria was winning the battle so far, until she looked up into his eyes, and saw
the apology there, the chocolate orbs melted her resistance and for a second her
concentration slipped, and she tilted forward awkwardly, losing her advantage.
It was a momentarily lapse and she recovered immediately, but it gave Michael
enough time to stop his retreat and begin an attack, and for the first time
since it began Maria was forced to defend.
The dance moved back and forth, from one end of the courtyard to the other,
their talking reduced to the occasional taunt that so described their
relationship, their absorption totally in each other. Neither noticed the crowd,
or heard the cheers from the sidelines. They didn’t see the King and Queen
sitting, surrounded by their friends and family, didn’t see anything else
besides each other.
The two swords clashed with equal force, neither willing to give an inch. Their
faces almost touched, their swords in between them. The muscles in both their
arms strained against each other’s strength, an impasse was reached and both
stood their ground.
The crowd that had slowly gathered around them held their breath, it seemed like
the match was close to its end, and everyone was anxious to know who the winner
would be.
But neither Michael nor Maria noticed the silence that suddenly hung over the
gardens. But then again neither had noticed the cheers before either, they were
in their own world where nothing existed except each other. Their eyes locked
above their swords. And then in unison, they both let go. Taking a step back
they bowed slightly in respect of the other’s skill, accepting the other as
their equal.
Gently Michael grasped her free hand and brushed his lips reverently against it.
“It’s been a pleasure , my lady.”
“Just one thing, your Highness…” Maria began.
“My name is Michael,” he interrupted before she could continue.
“Just so you know, your Highness, as long as I am undercover as your
lady…companion, I will not tolerate you flirting with anyone else,” Maria said,
her voice firm, her eyes holding his.
He smirked in reply, a smug smirk at her apparent jealousy choosing to ignore
the rather significant emphasis she placed on her job in her description.
“Are you staking a claim, milady,” he asked, mimicking her refusal to say his
name, and pushing for a reaction. She refused to rise to the bait.
“On the contrary, your Highness,” Maria replied, matching him word for word, “I
am merely ensuring my reputation remains intact,” she turned and with a smug
look of her own she continued, “I assure you that any man I wanted wouldn’t have
any trouble keeping his attention on me.”
“Oh, I am sure that you’re right, milady,” he returned, his expression openly
suggestive, “And since we are making rules over conduct, maybe I could add one
as well.”
“Please feel free, it is you that I am to protect after all,” Maria replied,
again emphasising her role as a guard to his annoyance.
“Any lady…companion of mine,” he said, again mimicking her turn of phrase, “I
expect shall behave appropriately suiting her station,” his tone was
deliberately infuriating, begging for retaliation.
“I beg your pardon, your Highness” Maria answered, her voice tight, her emotions
just one step from being unleashed at his insinuations, “maybe you would care to
explain that.”
“No men in your room,” he clarified, unable to just leave it alone.
“Kyle. This is all about Kyle,” it was as if a light went of in her mind,
“You’re jealous,” she said, and started to laugh at the mere idea.
“I am not,” his reply was quick, and a little too defensive. It was hard
especially when she was doubled over with laughter.
~*~
“What do you suppose is so funny,” the Queen asked, as Maria began to laugh, not
really expecting an answer.
They were all staring at the Prince, and his lady, not ready to leave yet,
despite the match being over. There had been no real winner, but no one was
really disappointed. It seemed fitting.
“Alex, let me go. If I could get a little closer, I could find out,” Isabel
said, a little indignant that Alex still hadn’t released her although enjoying
the feel of his hand on hers.
“He probably did something stupid,” it came from Max. As a long time member of
the inner circle of the royal family it was acceptable for him to make such a
comment in the presence of the King and Queen.
“More than likely,” the unexpected agreement came from the King. He was well
aware of the stupid things men did to gain the women they loved.
“I wonder what my grandchildren will look like. I expect they will have some
tempers,” Deirana mused out aloud, and then looked shocked when almost as one
there was an admonishment.
“Deirana!”
“Mother!”
“Your Highness!”
“What? I am allowed to wonder, you know.”
“Why don’t you let them kiss first before you plan grandchildren.” The King said
to his wife, knowing full well his rebuke would have little effect.
“They will probably be stubborn,” Isabel said.
“Who?” Alex asked. It was a stupid question.
“Their children, of course,” Isabel replied.
“Isabel!” six voices shouted, well said in slightly raised voices. Royal
families do not shout.
~*~
“Of all people. Kyle. He …is…my…best…friend,” the word were interlaced with
giggles she took no pains to hide, and just looking at her for the first time a
huge weight lifted of his shoulders. His sister had told him, his friends had
reassured him but it wasn’t until the total disbelief on her face, and the
laughter that had her almost rolling on the ground that he had really believed
them all that Kyle meant nothing, in that way to her.
Of course, the whole thing had left him at a disadvantage so he said the one
thing insured to stop her laughing, “Like you weren’t jealous of Courtney,” his
voice lost its defensive edge and gained the smug tone back. Fair was fair,
after all.
Her laughter stopped immediately, as planned. “Oh, please,” she replied,
derisively, “Like that would ever happen.” But they both knew it wasn’t true.
“Whatever you say, milady,” he said, knowing his easy agreement would only
incense her.
She didn’t deem that worthy of a reply, and ignoring him gracefully swung her
sword once and in a practised move placed it in its sheath, on her waist.
“Its been an honour, milady,” Michael said, in reference to her obvious
dismissal of him.
Still she didn’t give in, and slowly leaned towards him, speaking softly so not
to be heard. “Let’s hope you learned your lesson, my lord,” before turning and
walking slowly away.
A twinkle appeared in his eyes. “All too well, my Maria.” He called softly after
her.
She paused for a second, an infinite second, barely noticeable to any of the
observers, just enough to reassure him that she had heard him, and then
disappeared around the corner.
And he smiled. A real smile. A happy smile.
~*~