*Sigh* Dislclaimer to the Books of Bayern and to Shannon Hale! Please Enjoy!
"Mira, you're sixteen right?"
"Yes. I am sixteen."
"So how old until your father finds you a husband?"
"I don't know. I haven't heard from my father since last year. I hope not soon. You know I am a daughter of a blacksmith, but did you know my father trained me to fight? I can use a sling, bow, sword and knives. I can also forge them easily. He also taught me the art of jewelry making and crowns. The crowns Queen Isi and King Geric wear were his design."
"Really?! That is so cool. So would you rather work in the forge or here in the field?"
"I don't know. I love being here in the open and with you and the geese. But I love being in with the fire and the metal." Mira looked around she smiled. The brush and trees around her held a good amount of humus. After a few minutes of disappearing into the dark forest Mira emerged with a stick about arms length.
Smiling she grabbed the stick and held it before her, her knees bent slightly. She twisted her arm and jabbed forward and sliced the air. Mira smiled, she swung the stick in a figure-eight and ended in a plunge.
"I didn't know you were that good!" Jessa exclaimed. "You can sling too, right?"
"Yes, can I see your headband?" Mira said reaching forward to her friends open hands.
"Ok, see the knot there on that tree?" her friend nodded in assent. "I'm gonna hit it."
She found three smaller pebbles about the size a grape, placed them carefully in the headband and swung it above her head three times. The third she let go of one side and slung the pebbles straight into the knot. The bark broke off in reaction and black haired, brown eyed Jessa stared at the tree.
"That sister, is how you sling!" Mira exclaimed proudly.
"Yes, that is how you sling, that is also how you sword play. Stranger, how did you learn such skills? I don't think you would learn that herding geese." a tall boy said coming up his friend and guard stood beside him. He smiled and pulled out his own sword. "Let us duel Goose Girl."
"Derek, lend me your sword." and his dark-chocolate brown haired guard gave his sword to the blonde haired Lord.
Jessa bowed and her eyes bulged. She sputtered to the blonde haired man, "Lord Prince, I am so-sorry I didn't realize earlier. It is an honor to have you Lord Prince on our, er... your goose pasture."
"Lord Prince! Me duel you, for I am only a goose girl, a young woman!" she slowly knelt, the air holding the awkwardness.
"Yes, young women, how old are you?" his blue eyes stared down. Personally he wasn't as cute as she thought he would be. He looked so familiar, like she had seen him before.
"Lord Prince, I am sixteen. Ready to fight?" she smiled genuinely.
The two attackers faced each other, their two swords crossing to make an X. She stared into his eyes, the blue eyes cold and glassy. She swung, he blocked. He parried and she blocked. This went on for a while. A whisper in her ears.
'Friend? Foe? Fun? Not? Me friend. Help. Speak.'
The wind swirled around her. She finally looked up into his eyes; her gaze held an apologetic look and he flew back a few feet. The prince did not land. He hovered over the ground and the goose girl came forward. She stood over this man and took his sword. She placed her sword upon his neck and poised as one would if they won. She smiled at this Prince not in a sweet, 'Oh you're cute!' but a 'You just got beat by a woman, if you try anything you will die!' Then she let him fall.
He stood rubbing his side. "Young Goose Girl, you have beaten the Captain of Bayern's Own. After we started I realized you were not an ordinary warrior, but one with great strength. After that I went to kill, knowing you would not let that happen. Since you have beat me, I will allow one request to be granted." his voice an excited higher pitch.
"Lord Prince, it would be an honor to be allowed into your forges. To build our army's weapons, to be someone."
The Prince's guard stepped forward. "You are someone, you are the Goose Girl. You have beaten one of the best army commanders." his hazel brown eyes and quirky smile.
"Lord Prince, if you grant her this request, then I personally will escort her there. For Lord Sirus is allowing me an internship."
"Yes, young woman, Goose Girl I will grant your request. Please give me your name so that the King and Queen may hear of your deeds." he spoke calmly and with great care.
"Lord Prince, my name is Mira. My last name is no more. For my father never had one."
"Mira, it is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance." He nodded respectfully, " Come Derek. Mother is probably waiting for us." the Lord Prince turned, his blonde curls bouncing as he walked away. His young guard followed while placing the sword in his belt Derek turned once to look back and ran to catch this was the same Goose Girl.
Jessa turned jealously and exclaimed, "That was the Prince! I could touch him he was so close. And you, you wanted to kill him!"
"Jessa that was a duel, nature took its course; I would never kill the Prince! It was reaction and besides, I don't like the Prince." Then she thought, 'I like someone else.'
Please let me know your oppinions! I would love to add any suggestions!
