Chapter 3: I Grew Up A Brave Woman
When we were young, me and Daryun would run away deep within the thick woods right outside the Kingdom walls to explore the green areas that weren't found inside. We went every so often in search of a place where we could have our little one on one matches. He would always correct my stance and point out all the opens I left myself with when I made the wrong moves.
And when I became old enough to ride on a horse we took our horses out to run, and soon those turned into challenges. Each of us taking pride in our animal companions and assuming they were the fastest. In this area, my golden mane horse was the one that gave me victory almost every time.
I adored her for it.
Perhaps I could not win in a sword fight with Daryun or father but I had been given the fastest horse to carry me where ever I pleased. My wins always resulted in boastful rants. Much different than Daryun who always encouraged me when he won a sword fight. My spirit was far too competitive as a young girl.
I was about fourteen when those games of ours came to an end. Daryun had been appointed to fight in the army. He gained responsibility at the palace. He guarded, he trained and helped train. I began to see him less and less. Soon my personal trainer and childhood friend had left behind a gaping absence in my life.
My time riding Azura became a habit of self-reflection as I wondered areas alone. The other girls my age took no interest in the boyish things I enjoyed so dearly. They even voiced dislike when they saw a messy haired girl like me spending time with Daryun. My untamed hair was always braided and the scarf that the women placed over their heads often fell to my shoulders as I went about my business. Everyone told my mother I was a wretched sight. The nobles, my grandfather specifically, reminded me to be more delicate, to take care of my beauty and to flaunt it to the men I wanted to chase after me.
Perhaps I should've.
I was filled with an unexplainable loneliness at the time. Father was kinder to me than mother. he always took my side when mother complained about my unruly appearance or my strong will. She scowled father telling him he'd ruined my chances of ever finding a man who'll want such a strong girl. To which he replied with unexpected rage at her. He made her swear she would never say such words again.
I was seventeen now. A year had passed since my father and Daryun had left. A month ago word had reached the Kingdom that the Alliance was plying to attack. It left everyone feeling uneasy, even with the return of King Andragoras.
That's when the chaos began to unravel. Upon my visit to Narsus's home I found myself greeted with the entirety of his slaves make a leave through the front gates of his father's estate. My mind automatically assumed the worst-his father must have passed in the these stressful times and Narsus was finally able to retaliate.
I made my way through the crowds, half bewildered there were so many that were under his care. At home we had one family. A widow and her five children who I had become quite close to over the many years together. Even if there came a day where I had the authority to hand them their freedom, I knew they would choose stay and work under our roof for my mother and I treated them quite handsomely.
This on the other hand only dumbfounded me.
The loud voices of arguing men had led me toward the back where I could see those who were under his father's command scolding Narsus as he stood ever so calmly in their midst, completely disregarding every disgusting accusation imaginable thrown at him. "What is the meaning of this Narsus! Have you lost your mind?!"
"They were slaves! How dare you do such an atrocity! You've shamed your father's name!" another added rather coldly to my dear old friend. My eyes caught sight of the young boy I'd given the strawberries pull away and watch from the other side of the garden-watching Narsus as he held a composure I knew not of, "Unlike father I believe in a dream that all men are born equal. I do not see the need to have hundreds to do our bidding."
"You are delusional! Do you think this will earn you any respect! You are a fool Narsus!"
It was enough for me to disregard my place as a woman and approached them, "Well I wouldn't be so confident in your repugnant remarks. Slaves out number the subjects of Pars. So I say he's won the respect of most of Ecbatana already, for what spreads faster than wild fire is the whisper of words."
The man who had been taken by surprise by my bold statement directed the most hateful glare in my direction. He scoffed, "As expected. Even the empty minded girl of Lord Ulric takes your side. You are a fool Kadriye, much more than I thought."
"A fool for believing what should be basic human rights? Sir, we are born equal but are taught to follow standards set up by men."
"It's quite apparent you were taught wrong. Your father has ruined you. His obsession for a son has blinded him of your duty as a noble woman."
Had it not been for Narsus's intervention I would have lost control of the graceful verbal attack I had first initiated. Thankfully my friend took a step between us, and gave me his back while he addressed the two with a final statement, "Now, now no need to take your anger out on a respected general's daughter. If you are not happy with my discussion as a successor to my father, you are free to leave as well."
The two gritted their teeth and exchanged a few final words before taking their leave.
"They do not like clever men, much less a woman with a sharp tongue like yours," he turned to address me with a half smile, his eyes told me he was grateful for my interference.
"It seems the case with most people in Pars," I sighed before tensing up again, "So tell me, has your father passed or have you gone completely mad?
He snickered, "A bit of both," but he did not give me time to comment as his expression had suddenly become more serious as if short on time, "King Andragoras has called on my father but seeing as he is bed ridden he has given the succession to the house and has told me to go in his place."
My brows came down together, "So your first thought was to free the slaves?"
"Yes. As a tactician one must be capable of coming up with the best strategy with our given conditions."
Was this in regards to the Three Alliances advancing toward Pars? I could not follow what freeing of the slaves had to do with any of it. Luckily Narsus was able to see my cluelessness without having me voice it and he continued to explain, "I will tell his highness of a plan that will require no man power."
"No man power?"
"I trust you Kadriye. That's why I feel comfortable telling you I leave Pars tonight. After the hearing with His Highness I will make leave with a few trusted men and head out to the territories of the Three Alliances."
His plan had yet to make sense to me without key components he had yet to mention to me. But by now I was frowning at the idea of him going into enemy land, "What are you planning to do there?"
He smirked, "Like you said earlier, words spread faster than wild fire….if word got out that the Shindranians had say…betrayed the Turks by making a deal with Pars to free their slaves…"
My mouth almost dropped. Could that plan truly be practical? It was brilliant in truth, but what was the likely hood of getting that accepted by such a hard headed violent King like Andragoras?
My heart was suddenly racing. His confidence without fail affected my better judgement. "Narsus, you are such a brilliant man! How on Earth do you manage to live amongst the common people like us?" I could not help but tease in a light manner despite the serious circumstances. But it was Narsus, a man who was so absorbed by his intelligence and self-worth that he took the praise quite welcomingly.
"If somehow you are able to persuade His Highness to accept your strategy. I will come with you."
"…Excuse me?"
I pounded my hand over my chest, "You don't think I could pass an opportunity like this? Besides, what better way to spread a rumor than a woman? I might as well use what the Gods have given me."
"I don't think we have time for you to enjoy yourself amongst men of another country-"
"Fool! I meant through harems and crowds!" I flustered by his vulgar comment that earned him a tug of his hair.
I waited.
And waited.
My ears strained to hear what was going on within the closed doors of the meeting with King Andragoras. I wanted to hear every voice. Desperate to feel like I was a part of it. Father was in there listening to Narsus and without a doubt Daryun too.
While they had been back since early morning I had yet to see either of them. Both were too caught up in strategy planning and reading the army for the pending battle upon our homelands. It did not bother me in the least. There was only one thing on my mind and that was Narsus. I was worried. My heart was racing six folds faster than its normal pace. I tried not to walk back and forth and stay hidden while attempting to eavesdrop.
I did not want the nobles to look down on him for having such passion toward the slaves.
When the sound of their meeting came to an end I quickly hid behind one of the pillars near the entrance and took a peek at the gaudy men who stepped out. The generals with their scrapped armor stood like Gods in my eyes. So overwhelmingly powerful. So faithful to this lands.
I almost felt weak in the knees.
Oh how I longed for my own armor, to ride a horse alongside everyone else. I wondered how it would feel to go into battle knowing it could be your last. How was it to cut down men who threatened your home. They were all questions that arose in me each time I saw my father and his friends. All powerful men, all emitting masculine presence.
There amongst those familiar faces was Daryun. He stood alongside Narsus and father. My eyes widened as I took notice to his armor. With his new rank he had been given special armor to go with his new title. The Black Knight.
He had grown well in the past year.
"Three days is not plenty. How will you manage?" I heard my father's loud voice as they discussed what had been spoken. The king only gave him three days? My heart began to race. The Highness did not believe in Narsus's capabilities. This was a means to humiliate him.
"Lord Ulric. Do not worry, I believe that is all the time I need. Be prepared for when I return."
Suddenly as they spoke Daryun's glance had somehow took to my direction and I quickly hid out of instinct. Now was not the time to allow feelings of affection to blind me of what I desired most. It was better to avoid being seen while such serious matters took place. Now that I was sure that Narsus had gotten the approval of King Andragoras I snuck away through the darkened halls and used the cover of the dark to make my way back home. the fire in my chest had been ignited. All I could think of was how I wanted to prove to the King that Narsus was in fact a brilliant man.
"Are you sure about this?" Narsus whispered to me as I pulled the hood of my cloak up. The other four had yet to arrive by the gates. I was dressed in the clothing of one of my servants, purposely smeared with dirt clumps to look like I had escaped from Ecbatana.
"Nothing said to me will change my mind. I've grown tired of singing in the kitchen and helping in the yard."
I could see him sigh.
The plan was to split at the outskirts of Pars Territory. Narsus and I would head north toward the approaching Turk army. Once their camps came to view we would go undercover as Turk slaves to spread word that Pars had released the Shindranian slaves and we'd barely managed to escape with them.
We found them near the end of our second night traveling.
"You need look more washed down," I tiredly remarked to Narsus as we prepared ourselves to sneak in. I reached for his hair and pulled it out of his dainty ponytail and rubbed my hands on the wet ground to get the brown tint in my palms. He was not ready for my enhancements; a little surprised by how comfortable I had become to touch him in such a manner, "This will feel very discomforting but at least we can wash up afterwards," and I whipped my hands on his cheeks and clothing, "There. Now you look like you've run for your life."
"How considerate of you," was his only reply before trying to wipe away the wet muck on his face. I snickered a little and finished tying Azura to one of the trees, hidden away from sight. I undid my hair from the braid it was in and let the long black locks fall over my shoulders, the length reaching my mid back, the longest it's ever been. The scarf around my shoulders went back over my head I turned back to face my companion.
"Nervous?" he asked me with a bit more care in his voice than usual. I puffed up my chest to show him I was a s brash as ever, "It's you who should be worried. No matter how much you try to cover up, your face cries noble."
He shook his head, I could tell he enjoyed my little comments a little too much, "Like your face isn't questionable either."
I wiped at the cracking mud on my cheeks, "More convincing than you."
They believed every word we had offered to them. With both me and Narsus on our knees, our dirty and tired faces desperately trying to relay our information, the generals had eaten it up faster than a starved dog with a slab of meat.
"The people of Ecbatana are laughing. They've freed all the Shindranians," I spoke with a shaken voice and teary eyes, "We barely managed to escape during the release. We tried to get my mother to come but…" I covered my face with my scarf and sobbed.
I felt Narsus's hand go to my back and I was brought into a tight embrace, "We grew restless upon the news that the Shindra Kingdom had betrayed our home. We did everything we could to get here before it was too late. They plan to ambush you right before you reach Pars."
"Your sacrifices will not go unnoticed," The general gave a nod to one of the soldiers and led us to the tents where we would spend the night. By morning the entire Turk Army had been rallied up by the news. We were given a few provision and directions to head back 'home'.
"So my dear husband, how well do you think we did?" I smirked while untying Azura.
He did not make any retaliation to my teasing and gave me smile, "I did not know you knew how to cry so convincingly."
I laughed and gazed over to him like he'd discovered a secret he shouldn't have, "I may want to be a warrior but I never said I wanted to stop being a woman~ I use whatever skill I need to get what I want."
"I'll make sure to remember that," he hosted himself on his horse, "Quickly now, we need to get back to Ecbatana before the army does and ready everyone for the battle."
I wanted to continue but I thought this would be a better way to end chapter 3. Sorry for any butchering of the canon characters! Trying my best to keep the English proper yet distinguishing their personalities (So freaking hard) Anyways I hope you've enjoyed the fanfic so far! Thanks for the views and follows! Let me know what you think if you have the extra time! Please and thank you!
