A Good Start

Gretchen carefully opened her bedroom door then peeked into the hallway. She didn't want to run into Damien, so she made sure he wasn't there before she left her room. Her heart pounded as she licked her lips and kept her eyes on his door while she crept swiftly down the hallway.

Once she got to Haldir's room she knocked and sighed in relief as she heard his heavy footsteps approach from the other side.

Haldir closed the door behind him, then they started out towards the foyer. "Sleep well?"

Gretchen twirled a curl around her finger as she searched the faces in front of her. "Like a very sedated baby. Thanks."

"Maybe you should think about slowing down on that stuff. Tessa said you shouldn't be using it long term."

"I will when I leave here. I don't want to keep everyone up all night with my screaming and shit. Although, I don't want to be doing that at Tessa's either, so...I don't know what I'm going to do, I guess."

"Hmm. Maybe it's time you started dealing with all that. You know Tessa, she never really dealt with all her trauma and shit and was a disaster until she met Jacob and Logan. I don't want that for you. It's a terrible burden to carry around with you."

Gretchen blew out through her mouth and shook her head. "I'm not ready. I know it's the chump's way out, but I just can't deal with it right now."

"No one thinks that about you, Gretch. You know, Rosemary used to be quite the healer. Maybe she could help you."

"No, I don't want any of them in my business, Pap. So, how did you meet them all anyway?" asked Gretchen while she and Haldir walked down a thin stretch of dark red carpet along the tapestry lined hall.

"I saved Rosemary's life a very long time ago on Earth. After they were married, I came here just passing through on the way to another place and met Daniel. Because of what I did for Rosemary, he's always been very kind to me."

"That makes sense. I wasn't on my best behavior last night and he didn't kill me outright. I figured I must have some kind of guardian angel or something."

Gretchen thought back to last night and how Damien stormed out of the dining hall. "They're intense people. Aren't they?"

Haldir smirked as he looked over to his grandchild. "Yes, yes they are, but they got nothing on your family."

Gretchen huffed through her nose and grinned then looked over her shoulder as she heard a door shut. She nervously sighed then said, "Can you show me around? I've hardly been out of my room since I got here."

"Didn't Damien offer to give you the tour?" asked Haldir.

She shook her head and bit her lip. "Yeah, I seriously don't think he's going to want to do that right now. I kind of pissed him off, I think."

Haldir asked, "Do I even want to know what happened at dinner last night?"

Gretchen twisted her plump pink lips to the side. "It's nothing. I think Damien's just confused about some things."

Haldir squinted his eyes and asked, "How's that now?"

"It doesn't matter. So, can we find something to get into or what? I'm so bored, I can't stand myself. I could sure use a drink right about now."

Haldir nodded. "You and me both. I'm believe I could conjure up a bottle later after dinner."

"God, the thought of having to sit through all that again makes me sick to my stomach. I just can't. I'm skipping that shit tonight. You can sneak me in a sandwich or something."

Haldir looked at her in disappointment. "Not like you to be such a pussy about things. You were about to be the alpha of your whole fucking territory and you can't even make nice with the Darke family for an hour at dinner. Come the fuck on!"

"I did something kind of stupid last night. That's why Damien walked out. I just can't seem to not be a bitch to him. Better that I just keep my distance."

"Oh, I see. It wouldn't have something to do with that big, smart mouth of yours. Would it?"

Gretchen smiled and shook her head no. "No, it was, I don't know. I think I made him jealous or something. I'm just not sure what the hell that's all about. Anyhow, what's going on over there?"

As they came to the courtyard balcony, Gretchen saw soldiers training with their swords down in the yard below.

Gretchen eyes suddenly spotted Eason. She licked her lips then curled them under as she watched him weave his sword skillfully throught the air while his hair circled around him when he moved. Her heart fluttered at his beauty. Eason would have fit in well with her people back home. Even looked a lot like them. "It's so weird to see people fighting with swords. They're all witches or werewolves, why are they even bothering with all this nonsense?"

"When you live in a world where everyone has the same power as you, you use whatever you can to get the advantage. It's no different than Earth, is it?The humans couldn't beat your folk so they came back with guns and bloodhounds. Then, your uncles got themselves a couple of fire breathing witches when they did. You always got to stay a step ahead of your enemy. You do what you have to protect your people and win."

Gretchen twisted her lips and rolled her eyes. "I suppose."

"You keep up on your sword skills, Gretch?"

"It's been awhile. Why?"

"You wanna give it a go?"

"Are you serious? I don't want to look like an ass in front of all those soldiers," said Gretchen.

Haldir looked back at Gretchen and shrugged. "Gretch, the women here don't train to fight so they won't expect you to do well. They'll be impressed by your skills, believe me. Come on, let's go wreck shit."

Gretchen smiled and said, "Yeah, ok, fuck it. Alright, old man. Let's do this."

When Haldir and Gretchen got to the garden below, Agamori and Sir Eason were finishing their forms. They lowered their heads and swords in respect to Gretchen as she approached them.

Eason smiled at Gretchen then looked up at the sky and said, "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

Gretchen looked around before answering. "Very. I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to talk more last night."

He looked her over from head to toe then smiled as their eyes met. "I'm sure we'll get a chance. I'm always here."

Agamori smirked at Eason's attempts at flirtation and then glanced up to the balcony where Daniel and Damien were now standing. "Don't count on it, Eason."

Haldir looked over the rack at the choice of weaponry. "Boys, can we borrow a couple of bastard swords?"

Eason and Agamori looked at each other then back to Haldir with an uncomfortable expression on their faces. Raising a sword to a lady in Darke's kingdom could get you killed immediately.

"It's ok boys, she's been trained. Besides, I'm not going to hurt my own grandchild. I'll take the heat if it comes to it," said Haldir.

Eason raised his eyebrows then handed Haldir his sword and said, "Alright, old friend, just keep my name out of it."

Agamori turned his sword's blade away from Gretchen as he handed it to her then he looked down into her face. Agamori had been fighting in battles and training troops since the days of the Great War and knew a brawler when he saw one. "Impress me, Gretchen," he said, then he looked around at the crowd gathering to watch. "All these people are looking for you to fail for no other reason than you're a woman. Don't give them the satisfaction. You're a warrior, make them believe it."

Gretchen took the sword in her hand and grinned at Agamori. She's been hating this man for weeks, but suddenly he didn't seem like such a prick. "I intend to, sir."

As Eason and Agamori walked to the side of the square, Haldir and Gretchen moved to the center and stood an arms length away from each other. Haldir bowed to Gretchen and she laughed. She put her hand on her hip and tilted her head to the side. "What are you doing? Did you throw your back out already, Gramps?"

"Just down here looking for my youth," Haldir said as he stood up straight again. She didn't understand the implications yet, but Haldir could feel Daniel's eyes bearing down on them from the balcony and he wanted to be as respectful as possible. Gretchen may be Haldir's granddaughter, but if Damien plays his cards right, she will someday be a princess in this castle.

Up on the balcony, Damien stood by his father and watched as Haldir and Gretchen squared up against each other. "I don't like this, Father. Why are we even letting this happen?"

Daniel said, "This is who she is, Damien. It's in her blood. Would you have a partner or a servant? Besides, you're not faring so well with her. She needs a push in the right direction."

Damien sighed and then placed his hands on the wooden rail in front of him and leaned over it. "I swear if he hurts her, I'll kill him. I don't care who he is."

Haldir turned his head from side to side popping it as he did while he loosened up. Then, he stepped his right foot back and brought his sword to his side as he readied his stance. Gretchen took a deep breath and circled her arms over her head and brought her sword to her chest then stepped back with her right foot.

"Don't hold back, Gretch," said Haldir.

Gretchen rapidly brought her sword to her right shoulder then using an overhand strike, she met Haldir's sword as he deflected. "That's a good start, Gretch. Now show these boys what you got," Haldir said as he stepped back and waited for the next strike. He would be taking the defense only in this sparring match. He wouldn't dare raise a sword against his own family, especially not at this moment.

Gretchen slowly circled to Haldir's left then she quickly advanced and chopped down like a lumberjack from her right. The swords met with a flash and Eason said loudly, "Good strike, my lady."

Damien leaned forward and looked down to see Eason watching Gretchen then shook his head in disgust. "You need to send him away somewhere before I rip him apart with my hands, Father. I'd hate to waste one of your best soldiers."

Daniel smirked then crossed his arms and leaned against the wooden post beside him.

As Gretchen continued to advance and strike against Haldir, Daniel looked over at Damien's worried face and thought back about his life with Rosemary. "You know, your mother wasn't always a Queen. Her people were warriors and your mother could hold her own. I rescued her once from a squad of goblins, but I didn't need to. She was slicing through them with ease by the time I got to her. This is hard to watch, I'm sure, but she needs this. If you want her to remember, you need to help her find this part of her again. Making her feel weak and useless isn't going to win her over. She's just not the kind of woman who's looking for a savior. She wants to be her own."

Damien sighed and rolled his neck from side to side. "I know, but...I don't want this for her."

Daniel smirked at Gretchen's strike that almost sent Haldir to the ground. "You've seen the future, Damien. None of us want what's going to happen, but we'll need all the strength we can gather on our side when the time comes. Gretchen's a fighter. She's exactly what this family needs. Now, if we can just convince the rest of them to join us."

Damien looked at his father and nodded then turned back to Gretchen. Jason, Rhett and Thorin came to the balcony and Thorin said, "Jesus, she's definitely a keeper, Damien."

Damien smiled as he watched Gretchen attack Haldir. "I know."

Haldir hopped up backwards clumsily onto a long picnic table that lined the garden, nearly stumbling off and earning him gasps and chuckles from those watching.

Haldir doesn't have Lycan reflexes, but Gretchen does. With barely even any effort, she leaped onto the table and swung at Haldir, knocking him flat on his back.

Rhett cupped his mouth with his hands and yelled, "Kick his ass, Gretchen!"

With the thrill of the fight surging through her veins, Gretchen brought her sword to her shoulder as Haldir swung his legs and jumped up to standing. Gretchen grinned and said, "Are you alright or are you ready for your nap and a warm cup of milk now? I think Bingo's about to start."

Haldir scrunched up his face. "What the fuck ever. Just come at me." Gretchen smiled then raised her sword and ran at Haldir. She sliced and lunged her sword at him over and over forcing him backwards across the table. He deflected each of her strikes and jumped down to the ground as she followed after him.

Signaling the end of the match, Haldir put the tip of his sword to the ground and bowed his head to Gretchen. The spectators clapped and cheered for her while Haldir gave her a hug and kissed the top of her head.

"You did good, Gretch. Now, the whole royal family's watching on the balcony, give them a nod." Haldir turned Gretchen to face Daniel. Taking Haldir's hand, Gretchen lowered her swords tip to the ground in respect then bowed her head to the King.

Gretchen spoke through clenched teeth, "Oh, shit. Why didn't you tell me they were watching? I feel so stupid now."

Haldir laughed and put his arm around Gretchen's neck then he leaned into her ear and said, "They ain't never seen anything like you, Gretchen. I guarantee it."

Daniel began to clap as he acknowledged Gretchen's token of respect in front of his men. For a moment, Gretchen locked eyes with Damien. He didn't smile and didn't clap, just looked deep into her green eyes as he searched her mind.

The breathless feeling she got when she first felt Damien's presence in the ruins returned to her as her smile faded. She blinked away from his gaze and walked back to Agamori then presented his sword back to him.

"Your skills are wasted as a Lycan, Gretchen. If I thought Daniel would allow it, I'd be proud to have you serve under my command," said Agamori as he took back his sword and sheathed it.

"I'm afraid I'm not the type of girl that takes orders very well, Agi."

Agamori raised his brow and gave an arrogant smile. "No, I don't expect someone like you would be, my lady. Nonetheless, it would have been my great honor to fight by your side."

Gretchen smiled and said, "Thank you, sir. You never can tell, you might just get that chance someday. I never have been able to stay out of trouble for long."

"You can rely on me," said Agamori. "Always."