Of Flame and Of Light: The Decision

By: M14Mouse

Summary: Nick has no idea what to think about Catalina. Only that she is scary. And training with her is the last thing he wanted to do.

Disclaimer: Don't own them.

"You are late," Catalina said as she snapped her watch closed.

He winced slightly and glanced down at his watch. He was only five minutes late.

"Uhh…Sorry," He said.

"Catalina is an awesome teacher. You will learn a lot," Chip said.

"She doesn't scare you?" He said.

Chip gave him a confused look.

"No. Why do you say that?" Chip asked.

"I don't know. I just get the impression that she doesn't like me."

She stared at him for a minute. He shifted on his feet.

"Leave me. Your heart isn't here," She said with the wave of the hand.

"What? You called me here!" He shouted.

She gave him a look that could melt steel and caused him to step back.

"I called you here to see if you were ready. You aren't. I would rather not to waste my time or yours with such unnecessary training."

"I think that she likes you fine. She just doesn't know you yet."

"I am only five minute late! It isn't the end of the world. If this has something to do with my dad…."

She snorted.

"Leanbow and I have our differences but my reasoning has nothing to do with him."

"Really? You hate my dad and Snow Prince."

"You confused disagreements with anger and you trying to make this about me when really this about you."

"What in the world are you talking about?" He snapped.

"I am talking about you. Who are you? What is your name? Why are you here?" She said calmly.

"Oh, she likes the whole question for a question thing." Chip said

"What?"

"She will answer your question but she expects an answer to hers."

"You know my name, it is Nick or Bowen!" He said quickly.

"Which one do you prefer? In the modern world, do you prefer Nick there? In our world, do you prefer Bowen? Or both? Can you be both or are you neither?"

He blinked for a moment.

What the hell? Chip didn't say that she was confusing too.

That is easy. He is…well…him.

Just seeing the look on her face that she didn't buy it.

"You are at a crossroads. You have to find out who you want to be before you can continue your training." She said.

"I want to be a knight. I do."

"Do you want it or does your father want it?"

He blinked for a moment and ran his hand through his hair. Honestly, he didn't know.

"I….I am not sure. I want to make my father proud."

"There is nothing wrong about making your father proud. Knighthood is a lifetime commitment but it will be waiting for you when you are ready."

"Is Chip is ready?"

"Chip is committed. He is driven and focused. I have no doubt that he will become a knight. But his journey is different from yours. His journey isn't about commitment." She said.

"Then what is it about?"

She just smiled at him. Chip said that she could see the future. Briefly, he wondered if she saw something.

"And Chip is also waiting for you to make your decision. There was a promise involved I believe. Also whatever you decided, please tell your father. My brothers are watching and hoping to see if you take that step. It reminded me of one of those movies where the girl kept waiting for a boy to ask her to the prom."

He wanted to laugh. He really did. Because Catalina watching a romance comedy was hilarious.

She wasn't too bad…still scary as hell.

End of the Decision

Next Chapter: The Huntsmen

A/N: A lot of Nick's journey will be internal. Don't worry. Nick won't spend the whole story like this. He will get his big boy pants on and set himself on a path. Chip's journey will be external as you will see in the next chapter. Thanks for the wonderful reviews. Read and Review if you wish.