For disclaimer and AN check first chapter.
Chapter 2: Growing Pains
"Lendemel," Nora said going into her daughter's room, "sweetheart, it's time to get up."
"But mama," the seven year old moaned pulling the covers over her head, "I don't want to."
"Lendemel Hawk!" Her father's voice reached her ears; she sat up immediately, "Don't make me come in there."
"Yes papa." She called jumping out of the bed as if it were on fire.
Nora laughed at her. Matthew was the only one that she would ever listen to. But she left to wake up her other daughter, leaving Hawk alone.
Hawk dressed quickly. She knew if she was late her father would beat her. When her hair was brushed she went out to join her family at the breakfast table.
"Lendemel," Matthew said looking up from his meal, "today you will spend with me. Catherine you will join your mother in the kitchen."
"Yes papa." The girls chorused.
Hawk looked at her twin confused. They usually spent time together, whether it was in the kitchen or playing outside. She was terribly confused but she knew better than to question her father's words.
When breakfast was over, Matthew led Hawk outside. He opened up the bundle he was carrying to reveal a beautiful silver shirt, a sword, a bow and arrows, and a handsome cloak. Hawk stared at the items in awe; she had never seen anything like them in her life.
Matthew handed her the sword and then picked up his own. She took it confused. What did she need a sword for? She looked up at her father hoping he would explain.
"Lendemel," she was about to get her wish, "these are yours, they were given to me by a very important person on the day you were born. They said to give them to you and train you with them, because you will need to protect yourself. And the cloak will help conceal your identity."
"But why?" she asked still confused.
"I can't tell you that now." Matthew replied, "But from this day forth you will train with me until you are able to beat me. And after that you will need to practice no less then five hours a day."
"Yes sir." She said quietly. This meant that she wouldn't have to help in the kitchen anymore. But would it mean less time with Cat.
Matthew raised his sword and motioned for her to do the same. The sword was amazingly light in her hands and this confused her. She had tried once to pick up her father's sword and could barely lift it. But when Matthew attacked she parried the blow.
Matthew looked at Hawk confused. He had never taught her how to fight, and she had never seen anyone fight either. How did she know what she was doing? But he tried again, and again she countered his move.
Hawk didn't know where her ability came from; it just came. It was like it was coursing through her veins. She smiled slightly at the confused look on her father's face. But he raised his hand to stop the training.
"I think we should see if you can use the bow." He handed her the weapon.
Hawk took it in her hands reverently. It was so light, even more so than the sword. Then Matthew set up a target and motioned for her to shoot. She picked up an arrow and fitted it to the string. She didn't know where she had learned to do that much but it was like with the sword it just came. Then she pulled back and fired.
Matthew was really confused. She had just hit the bull's eye dead center, and he knew that she had never seen anyone handle a bow before. Bows were strange weapons in the village where they lived. Most of the men preferred a sword or a spear. But his daughter shot as if she had been doing it for years.
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"Hey, pointy ear." Hayden, a fifteen year old boy from the village, called, "Guess what, we decided to put up a sign on your house." He nodded to the group of boys standing behind him, "It'll say, 'A freak lives here'."
Hawk, now thirteen years old, tried to ignore him but his comment hurt. She liked her ears; they were special. But they were different from everyone else's; where others had rounded ears hers came to a point at the top. She was never ashamed of how she looked but others taunted her for her differences.
"Hey," He said stepping into her path, "I'm talking to you freak."
"Get out of my way, Hayden, before you get hurt." She replied softly.
"I'm not the one who's got the pointy ears. See," he turned his head so she could see his ear, "mine are normal."
Hawk rolled her eyes and tried to move around him. He was starting to get on her nerves. He just wanted to get her attention; he had been doing this for years. But she knew that she was better than him. She didn't have to taunt people to get them to notice her, her natural grace and poise did that. Not to mention her beauty, everyone told her that she could step into a room and make everything stop because of her looks. But Hayden didn't like that fact.
"Hayden," she said when he moved with her, "I really don't want to hurt you."
"What are you going to do about it pointy ear?" he replied pushing her so she took a step back.
"Stop it Hayden!" her voice was so quiet he had trouble catching what she said.
"Or what?" he said pushing her again.
But Hawk had had enough. Her hand shot out and grabbed his collar. Then she pulled him down so that he was eye level with her. "Get out of my way." She threw him away disgusted. He landed on his back a few feet away. "Auta miqula orqu." She spit in his general direction.
"What did you say to me?" he said rising.
"Maybe your ears aren't good enough to catch what I said." She taunted.
"I heard what you said, but what does it mean?" he scowled.
"Who's the freak now? Can't even understand what a girl says." She laughed at him.
"You'll pay for that one, pointy ear." He growled as he walked away.
Hawk continued home very frustrated. He always made her lose her temper. But she had learned to deal with it years ago. Whenever he teased her she would go out back and start shooting or practicing with her sword. She had only gotten better over the years. She had even made up some of her own moves. And she was also good at weaponless fighting. She had taught herself how to use her small stature to her advantage.
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"Lendemel!" Matthew called from the parlor.
"Yes papa?" she replied sticking her head out of her door and shouting down the hall.
"You have a visitor." He said looking down the hall at her.
Hawk exited her room curiously. Who would be visiting her? She was now a slender woman of sixteen and was very much grown up. She entered the parlor a groan escaping before she could stop it.
"Hello, Lendemel." Hayden said when she entered.
"Hello." She replied stiffly.
"I thought we might be able to talk." He said when it was clear that she wasn't going to say anymore.
"About what?" she sighed as she sat down on the couch.
"About us." He replied.
"What us? There is no us." She snapped.
"That's what I mean." He said moving over to the couch so that he was right beside her, "I want there to be an us."
"Hayden," she was getting frustrated, "there can never be an us, because I don't like you like that."
He picked up her left hand and held it between his own, "I can wait till you do."
"You don't understand, I will never see you like that, ever." She replied trying to reclaim her hand. But he refused to let go.
"Where did you get this ring?" he asked changing the subject.
Hawk let him, "I have always had it." She was just thankful he had stopped talking about getting together with her.
"It's beautiful. It reminds me of you." Hayden said looking into her eyes, "Beautiful, yet so unique."
"Freak, I believe is the word you used to describe me." She snapped.
"Can't we let bygones be bygones?" he asked mock guilt washing over his features.
"Hayden," Hawk said finally reclaiming her hand, "the past is gone, but it still hurts."
"Then let me make it up to you." His eyes begged her to give him a chance.
Hawk rolled her eyes. She had given him several chances over the years to take back what he had said but he never did. He always changed the subject. He wanted them to be together yet he always tried to control her. She would never let a man do that to her, she would rather remain single than to become someone's property. She knew the only reason he wanted her was because she was a prize. He wanted to show her off to all his friends. Well she wasn't going to be his prize or anyone's prize for that matter.
"Lendemel, sweetheart, please give me a chance." Hayden said when she didn't respond, "You'll find that I'm not such a bad guy."
"Good bye, Hayden." She said rising. She left the room and went back to her own.
Matthew watched the young man leave. He could tell that Hawk had just sent him away but she wouldn't get away with it this time. Hayden was the most sought after young man in the village and he wanted his daughter. He would make sure that she didn't turn him away. He went down to Hawk's room and knocked on her door.
"Come in." she called not opening the door.
"What was that all about, Lendemel?" her father's face was almost red with fury.
"What was what, papa?" she countered trying not to laugh.
"Why did you send him away like that?" he said through clenched teeth.
"Papa," she said as if addressing a small child, "I can never see him as a husband. He is too controlling. The only reason he wants me at all is because I'm beautiful."
"I don't care the reason. He is clearly interested in you and you will see him." He snapped.
"Yes sir." She replied scowling.
