Of Two Kingdoms Ch. 3




Hey, Guys,

	Okay, I know there's not a lot but these chapters really weren't 
meant to be long anyway. Hope you're enjoying, who ever is reading....

C. Selene Belyea


Of Two Kingdoms
	Chapter 3

	"It wasn't what I intended!" Celena said to her brother upon 
arrival to their estate. "Please, brother. Do not be angry with me! I - 
I - . . ." she stuttered, tears welling up in her eyes. She found she 
couldn't speak another word, not with the way Allen was glaring at her. 
Attendants were taking care of their horses while Allen grabbed 
Celena's arm and led her inside the house.
	"Nothing ever turns out the way you intend it to." He said in a 
neutral tone. "I believe you should work on your temper as well as your 
swordplay." They reached the parlor when he said that and let go of her 
arm. She stared at him, wide-eyed.
	"How did you know?" she asked him timidly, trembling. "Have you 
been spying on me?" The truth was that she had been practicing 
swordsmanship against her brother's wishes. She kept her mouth shut 
when he would speak about the unspeakable things Millerna does, wearing 
trousers and the like. If a princess could do it, why can't she? Though 
she did more than sneak a pair of her brother's pants and shirt. She 
was unladylike in the respect of practicing swordplay. The way Celena 
saw it, if it would save her life some day then why not?
	"Ah, so it is true!" Allen sounded triumphant. "I was wondering 
about why my spare sword kept getting nicks in it. I could only think 
of one reason. Have a seat, Celena." His sister obeyed, sitting on a 
settee. Allen stood in front of her, studying her. Her feet were 
pointed inwards towards each other, her head was bowed as if staring 
intently on her hands folded in her lap. Her whole frame was sagged as 
if with shame. He smiled gently. She was expecting to be reprimanded. 
"I love you, Celena."
	She looked up at him with sad eyes, her cheeks tear-streaked. "I 
love you too, brother." She looked downwards again. "So go ahead and 
say it. I have to be ladylike and not practice swordplay."
	"You think you know me so well?" He said, his voice as gentle as 
his smile upon her. He knelt in front of her and stroked her hair. "I 
should have known. I should have realized what your interests were 
instead of forcing my own upon you. Perhaps it is a good thing that you 
practice your skill at the sword. I just have one question."
	"What is it?" 
	"Who is it that you have been practicing with?" 
	Celena didn't answer for a moment. "I haven't been practicing with 
anyone. I just watch you when you spar Gaddes. I don't think I'm very 
good but I'm good enough!" There was a hint of pride in her voice, 
almost childish at that. "But I wasn't expecting you to be so 
understanding of this. I must admit, you don't cease to amaze me." 
	Allen chuckled softly. "One thing though. If you're going to learn 
swordsmanship, you will learn properly. I will teach you."
	"Really?" she said brightly, her voice rising a couple notches 
from disbelief and excitement at the same time. She threw her arms 
around him, "Oh, brother! Thank you so much!"
	He accepted her embrace and returned it tenderly. "After all, I 
can't always take care of you, right? We'll start after lunch to see 
how much you already know. How does that sound?"
	"It sounds absolutely wonderful." She kissed his cheek. Her mind 
was already some place else, not once thinking about the dual her 
brother would have to fight in soon until she was reminded by her train 
of thought. "Allen. What of the dual that the king said you would 
fight?"
	Allen pulled back, taking a seat on the arm of the chair Celena 
sat in. "I'm not sure. King Aston always has dirty tricks up his 
sleeve. But one thing is for certain. Van would have to accept the dual 
before anyone fought anyone."
	"You mean, King Van, brother? Why do you speak of him so casually 
when he is royalty?" 
	"Ah, you see," He began with a slight smile, "Van is more of a 
friend to me. To his people he is king, and I have no doubt a strong 
and wise one as well. You've never met Van, have you, Celena?"
	"No, I have not. I have heard a great many things though. I . . . 
I remember seeing him flying away on a white dragon. That was when you 
found me on the battlefield two years ago. But I have not seen him 
since."
	"Well, you will meet him soon." Allen reassured her.
	Celena looked up at her brother with curious eyes. "Allen, how did 
Meiden Fassa know King Van was coming?"
	"Probably saw them from one of their airships. Or maybe they just 
finished a trade route to Fanelia and word got around. I'm not sure."
	She nodded. "I see. Well, how does lunch sound to you, brother? 
I'm starving myself."
	"Starving?" He chuckled. "Surely you're not that famished since 
this morning."
	"I could debate but I choose not to." She stood and took his hand, 
pulling him towards her. "Come on. I'm hungry."
	He let her take his hand and stood to his full height. "To the 
kitchen then." He smiled at her and she mirrored it.

************************

	Fatigue seemed to take over the traveling party from Fanelia. Even 
the strong samurai showed signs of it, sagging a bit in their saddles 
as the sun began to set in the west. Denevive held up his hand to 
signal a stop when they got to a clearing in the forest. With a glance 
behind him towards his comrades, he suggested that they camped for the 
night.
	It wasn't before long that the sky grew dark enough to show stars 
glittering in the distrance, both moons glowing brighter than usual 
during such a warm season. A small fire had been built and was burning 
strongly as the men sat on their bedrolls to eat the rabbit that Tarmuk 
proudly brought back from a brief hunt. 
	"I must thank you for inviting me to join you on your journey, my 
lord." said Denevive to Van when he had finished his meal. He sipped at 
a cup of water, lounging on his bedroll set up next to Van's for the 
night.
	"You're welcome, Denevive." Van said, a bit unsure. "But why do 
you thank me? You are here for duty's sake, are you not?"
	Denevive had to smile. "Yes, duty's sake. Also for experience, you 
see. Though there might not be much fighting or any kind of excitement 
whatsoever, I believe it is good experience for me to see such 
diplomatic affairs take place."
	"I agree. It is good experience." Van stopped a moment, gathering 
the right words as he finished his cup of water. "I must admit 
something though."
	"And what is that, milord?" he asked politely.
	"You have been . . . a friend to me as well." Van didn't know why 
he was so hesitant of his admition. 
	"I have?" Denevive had a lopsided grin on his face, unsure of how 
to respond.
	"Yes, believe it or not. I . . . I think it is because you're 
closer to my age than the rest of the samurai and even my advisories. 
You have also helped me in my sword technique a great deal. I thank you 
for that. Perhaps tomorrow night, we could spar again?"
	Denevive smiled kindly toward his king. "As you wish, your 
majesty."
	"You know, you can call me Van. I promise not to have you beheaded 
for disrespect." He snickered a bit. "You remind me of a friend of 
mine. Perhaps you've heard of him. Sir Allen Schezar."
	Denevive continued to smile as he nodded. "I have, your . . . I 
mean, Van. Yes, he was trained by Balgus himself. Just as you were. You 
yourself have mentioned him on occasion in reguards to the War of 
Destiny."
	"I probably have. He and I fought side by side." Before we fought 
each other, Van thought to himself. "You'll most likely get the chance 
to meet him when we arrive to Palas."
	"I will?" Denevive's violet eyes lit up. "It would be such an 
honor to make his aquaintence, as it was and still is with yourself. I 
am tempted to ask him some questions, perhaps even show me how to 
refine my technique to such calibur as his."
	Van laughed. "Yes, perhaps he might, Denevive. But for now, we 
must rest. We still have a long journey ahead of us."

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