Again, I deleted the original vignette six as I wasn't too impressed with it and realised that on the movie poster Isabelle was holding a sword, so this little idea popped up in my head of who specifically could have trained her into wielding one. Yup, I think you see where my little idea is heading. ;)

Friends.

The first time they became true friends was when he was twenty-five, on the verge of turning twenty-six, and she, fourteen. Following his birthday early on in the year, hers was only a few months later, towards the summer, what they both considered the most beautiful time of the year.

He had been alone in the courtyard as he practiced his already exceptional skills with the blade. Always having been an early riser, Elmont had risen and left his chambers by the break of dawn, ever eager to sharpen his deadly skills. As Captain, he was required not only to keep on form, but plan his lessons to their newer students.

He was kind, yet he understood that when training to become a Knight the teacher had to be severe. However, he didn't appreciate the fact that not all of the boys would be cut out to be a Knight and would most likely die from illness, exhaustion or, when the time came, in an actual fight. Not being a stranger to death and killing, he knew the cold numbness that would take a hold of them briefly. He didn't wish for any of his new students to perish. He wanted them all to succeed like he and his comrades did.

He shook his head, knowing that he mustn't ponder that, and instead continue his training. So he swung, parried and thrust at the training dummy before him, some blows minor and other vicious and deadly.

He was so engrossed in his training that he did not hear the soft footsteps of another approach him from behind.

"Are you well, Sir Elmont?" Isabelle's soft voice floated towards him, gauging a stiff reaction from him immediately as he seized his onslaught on the dummy.

He turned to her, his chest heaving with exhaustion, to meet her worried blue eyes.

"Yes, my lady," he bowed elegantly. "I am quite well. I just felt the need to train in solace for a short time before I have to train the new recruits."

Isabelle smiled, and he watched cheerfully as the worry in her cloudy eyes dissipated into warmth.

She glided over to the abused dummy and ran her hand softly over the wooden peg of an arm. "Father has never taught me how to fight."

Elmont blinked in surprise at her statement but managed to keep up an appearance of stoicism on his face. "And why is that, my lady?" he asked feeling stupid for he already knew the answer.

"I am a Princess, Sir Elmont, and as one it is wise that I learn to defend myself properly when outside the protection of the palace walls." She huffed in frustration as she glared at the dummy, as if she was projecting all of the blame onto it. "But my father..." she sighed in defeated resignation, looking away towards the ground. "His protectiveness can be… overbearing."

Elmont understood the basis on which she was forming her argument. He had only been a Knight in training when he had learnt of her mother's passing, and it had shaken the entire Kingdom to lose such a wonderful and caring Queen who had adored and known the people in many ways on a personal level. King Brahmwell's over-protectiveness was simply because he loved his dear Isabelle. Yet he did not understand that she desired as much freedom as the birds in the sky did whenever Elmont caught her gazing longingly at them when they flew overhead.

"He loves you, my lady. He is only doing what he feels is best. It is also not custom for a woman to be found on the front lines."

"Even basic defence would be satisfactory!" she continued heatedly, as if she had never received any input from him. Elmont's jaw clenched minutely, wondering if she had deliberately chosen to ignore his statement. However she turned to meet his stoic gaze. "I do not wish to be on the front lines, Elmont. But I do wish that I had the basic skills of a swordsman just to be able to aid my protectors when necessary and defend myself if need be. Father has given me armour. So why not use it?"

Trying to pursuade her that his men were happy and ready to die defending her would not help him win her over. Her determination to make him understand was projected in her eyes like a roaring fire. From meeting her the very first time, when he was still a Knight in training, he had already seen the embers flickering behind her other emotions. Now the fire was breaking free, no longer starved of its oxygen, and burning its way through any obstacle that restricted her freedom.

He sighed, looking down at the small space of ground between them for a moment. He minutely frowned at how little distance there was between them and shunned away the tightness in his stomach that soon fluttered as he realised that he was unaccustomed to standing in such close proximity of a woman, particularly the Princess. Yet, as her protector, he would have to adjust to that closeness.

He lifted his gaze up once more to be met with Isabelle's earnest own, her eyes now clouding into a sky grey as she stared at him, waiting for a response. She wants me to train her. He thought calmly, managing to keep the panic rising in him at bay should the King find out and become enraged.

He couldn't believe his walls crumbled so swiftly and easily under the influence of one girl. But this was not just an ordinary girl. This was Isabelle: Princess of Cloister and his charge, though there had always been some sort of bond between the two of them ever since his defeat in the jousting tournament and her visit. It just had not been established yet.

I can't believe I'm about to do this. King Brahmwell will probably have my head.

As if sensing his worry, she replied softly, to his surprise, "Don't worry, I won't tell father." Her voice dropped to a significantly low and mischievous whisper. "It will be our little secret." He tried desperately to dampen the heat he felt in his cheeks as she whispered near the shell of his ear, warm breath gliding across his neck, and pulled away. Already she knew him better than he gave her credit for! He admired her insightfulness.

Sighing in resignation, he smiled at her, the same one as he gave her a few years ago that lit up his stormy eyes, and approached a weapons rack, picking up two wooden swords and offering her one. He watched silently as she gracefully picked it up and attempted to twirl it in her hand, only to clumsily catch it as it tumbled out of her grasp.

He felt laughter bubble up inside of his chest as he watched in amusement. She looked up at him sharply but with one corner of her mouth curled up into a coy smile.

Approaching her he touched his wooden sword to her own and lowered himself into a ready stance. "Just copy my position here, Princess."

He marvelled at how easily she sank into the correct height and balanced herself perfectly on her feet after the first failed attempt where he noticed that she was uneven in balance by putting more weight on her front leg than in the centre and back; a common flaw most beginners do make, though she indeed learnt quickly.

Within ten minutes of him telling her how to properly move when in a duel and going through it with her, the two were soon on their way to practicing their first duel, with Isabelle only making minor errors in her footwork that could easily be rectified, and dealing beautifully graceful blows towards him as they danced around the courtyard.

He lived in bliss whenever her merry and enchanting laughter filled the courtyard and his hearing, captivating him in the beautiful melody of her voice so much that he felt he could listen to it forever. He learnt that he would never get bored of hearing that voice.

All too soon the sun rose over the hills, banishing the orange hue it held over the sky into a baby blue with almost no clouds in sight. Both ended their duel in a draw, Elmont feeling that she wasn't just ready yet for a proper one, and returned their swords to the rack. He reached down for his leather pouch that contained some water and offered it to her which she took kindly with a murmured 'thank you' and drank before passing it back to him.

After letting the refreshing liquid slide down his throat he asked if she enjoyed herself.

"Yes, Elmont, I did. Thank you so much for teaching me!" Her smile was dazzling, enough to wipe out the sun. He found himself wondering about her gaze and how beautiful and big her sapphire eyes looked whenever she offered him her radiant smile. His chest tightened at the sight, making it more difficult to breathe evenly.

"I suggest that we get you back inside, my lady. We don't want the King knowing our little secret. I fear he would come after me himself."

Isabelle giggled softly as she fell into step beside him. "Oh no, Elmont! I wouldn't allow that to happen. He would have to go through me."

Pleasantly surprised at her words, he glanced at her to find that she still held her radiant smile.

He felt a shift in their relationship, and he was sure she felt it too. He no longer felt nervous around her, for when he was with her, everything else seemed to dissolve around him, and he only felt comfort and joy. Escorting her to the doors, she turned to him and curtsied before rushing at him and pulling him up from mid-bow and into a short, tight hug.

"Thank you, Elmont."

Pulling back he smiled charmingly. "Perhaps archery next time, Princess?"

Seeing her smile grow impossibly larger and into a wonderful beaming grin, he wished that he could always see her with that expression every day. She nodded furiously, her brunette curls bobbing up and down with her before she bid him farewell and disappeared into the castle throne room.

Turning back with a smile that remained on his face for the rest of the day, and feeling the happiest that he had ever been, he returned to the courtyard and prepared his lesson now fully understanding that the shift in their relationship was now no longer settled on acquaintances, but had now, instead, settled upon a foundation of friendship.

I am much more happy with this for vignette six than my previously published one. I felt that this would be an effective way to continue growing their friendship. :)