The Duel

She was so eager to wipe off the smug look on Girodere's face and she was confident that she would be able to do so. It wasn't so much as to losing. She has lost in friendly duels a few times to different men and it was good to keep your feet on the ground. She believes no one is unbeatable.

He arrived before her on his black stallion, looking over-confident and handsome as ever. Though she was not romantically interested in him, she was not blind to his manly attributes. She was after all, still a woman. She knew women at court find him irresistible that's why she found it over-bearing on his part not to choose any of the eligible ladies and leave her in peace.

People began to whisper the moment they caught sight of her on her white horse. She was a bit nervous about this duel for the past weeks. She was afraid she would lose concentration because of the controversy surrounding this duel. But Andre gave her a present that eradicated her nervousness. He said, let us give them something else to talk about. Remember that women love talking about 3 things, scandal, boys, and fashion. And so she stepped down from her horse and patted her for luck, wearing Andre's present-white breaches and tunic with highlights of purple and silver on the sides where a masculine colour of blue or gold used to be.

"Oscar, you look beautiful!" exclaimed one lady. "That colour is so becoming on you!" gushed another. She nodded her thanks and knew she looked sensational. She knew this would bring her luck. She scoured the crowd for her father and for Andre. She found her father among nobles seated at the box on the king's right. Andre was nowhere to be found amidst the crowd of commoners surrounding the game area.

Girodere and Oscar bowed before the king and queen. They walked towards opposite sides then turned to face each other, swords in hand as they posed for duel.

Girodere had barely breathe after the first pose when Oscar went for the offensive and slashed his tunic before pointing the tip of her sword to his hand, giving his hand a little scratch.

The crowd went into an uproar as Girodere retaliated, sending Oscar sprawling back. He vowed to himself he was not going to make it easy for Oscar. Oscar didn't want to give the people a show. She wanted it over and done within a matter of minutes so she and Andre could share an ice cream in town.

She was hell-bent to have it over that she kept going for the offensive without a strategy. All she wanted was to hurt and disarm Girodere. She was succeeding in the former. She kept scratching and wounding him but none with the fatality that would make him drop his sword or lose the duel. Girodere was a sordid sight but he was still up. Her rage began to escalate higher it clouded her judgement as she felt herself getting a bit weary. She didn't anticipate Girodere's blow that came launching for her chest. Of course he wouldn't hurt her but a pointed sword at her chest would mean she lost.

She fell back and closed her eyes as the dreadful inevitable defeat would come crushing her way but suddenly there was an even greater uproar and all was sudden everything was quiet you could hear the pin drop. The voice that would announce Girodere as the winner did not come. Instead the angry outburst of the king pierced the air.

"What is this impertinence? You have no right to interfere...not even the prince will be excused for such audacity."

The king was outraged. "Who are you? Speak up. What name and what rank?"

Oscar opened her eyes and to her astonishment Andre was in front of her warding off the blow of Girodere's sword with his own. The two men were quietly eyeing each other in distaste but their pose remained unmoving, the swords crossing each other.

Girodere was first to move away from their pose, sheathing his sword and facing the king. He knew it was Andre who was in hot water. Andre kneeled with one knee before the king, his right hand still clutching the sword while his left poised just above his heart as he answered. His tone was cordial albeit he answered with an air of dignity and bravery. "I am Andre Grandier of Versailles. Commoner. A soldier from the ranks of Company B of the French Army."

The King was aghast. "What! A commoner! And you dare intrude into my court!"

"I have no intentions of disrespect towards the King or my country. I was but driven by my instinct to protect Lady Oscar. I knew Girodere would not harm her but as I have said it was an instinct that came as I saw the sword coming her way. But if you feel that in getting in the way of a duel before the court I have insulted my King and my country. I am willing to accept punishment for retribution."

Without much thought, the king ordered to bring Andre to prison.

"No! Andre!" screamed Oscar as she saw him calmly stand up with his head high, and escorted by two soldiers away from the court.

She faced the king with defiance. "He did nothing wrong your, majesty," she protested.

"We still have a duel to finish," said Girodere.

The king did not heed Oscar's outburst. She found a new strength and purpose to defeat Girodere. She wanted to win and save Andre. With a diabolical smile she raised her sword and eyed Girodere.

Just like what she originally planned, Oscar defeated Girodere in a matter of minutes. She faced the king with fierce defiance. "I have won the duel. And as a price, I Oscar Francois de Jarjeyes, demand Andre Grandier to be released from prison," she said.

The king laughed. "That was not part of the treaty I signed. You were only given the liberty to choose the man you marry, and making such request was not stated in the agreement."

Oscar was aghast. She can't let it end this way. She can't let Andre spend his entire life in prison. She must think...

"If there is nothing further... I demand this court be clo..."

"No, wait, your majesty," cut in Oscar.

Can she do this? Will she do this just to save an innocent friend? She swallowed hard as she faced the king who was eagerly waiting for her to continue.

"It was decreed that I can choose the man I can marry if I win this duel..." she started.

"That's right," declared the king.

"Well, then let me tell the king and the court that I have chosen Andre Grandier to be my husband."

"What! What dire insolence! A commoner! You have forgotten that you must choose a man of rank and noble blood or you shall bring shame to your Jarjeyes name."

"I don't recall the agreement stating that I should choose a noble blood. You did not indicate that, your majesty, you specifically said that I can choose whoever I want to marry. Are you backing down on your word?" asked Oscar.

The king immediately summoned for the scroll to be brought to him and just as Oscar had predicted, there was no clause that specify she can choose only from the nobility.