Chapter 8

Amelie's POV

I swear, those two had made a pact to babysit me all hours of the day. In the morning, Arthur made it his job to drop me off "safe and sound" at the forge (somehow, I was still stuck serving him breakfast in the mornings, ugh).

Alfred then proceeded to watch me from there, making sure I didn't drop a hammer on my foot or something (though I proved to him TIME AND TIME AGAIN that I was PERFECTLY ABLE TO LOOK AFTER MYSELF).

*Ahem.

Long story, short, those two won't. Leave. Me. Alone.

Except when I'm sleeping; they leave me alone then. Oh God, I just got this horrible image of them peeping through my window at night... *shudder. Maybe Elizabeta's a spy for them…

Nah, she's too nice. Plus, she totally sides with me that the Princes should leave me alone. Well, except for Alfred, he has a ligit reason to hang around me. After all, he's teaching me how to make my sword.

Which brings me to my next point:

After I kinda…fainted…(dramatically, into the arms of a Prince. I know: *barf), Arthur brought me back to my room (don't ask me how he knows where I sleep).

Honestly, I don't remember any of that. I just woke up and was told this by Elizabeta.

ANYWAY, I'm really confused now. I mean, I can do MAGIC? What? (Even if I faint after doing it…)

Ignoring that last part, magic is…exhilarating. I found my 'sword' (more 'hunk of metal' than 'sword' still), glowing. I'm proud to say that it still sparked when I touched it.

Alfred showed me how to shape it, tinkering out all the kinks and bubbles to shape it down to the core of the metal, where it's the strongest.

I've been working on that for…a few days now I guess. It's really exhausting. My arms are sore, and I can't feel my thumbs. Yay?

It looks awesome now (Yes, way cooler than Alfred's [and Arthur's]). Now I just need to make a hilt for it…that's what I'm doing today.

I trailed Arthur all the way to the Forge, contemplating different hilt designs all the way.

Interrupting my thoughts, Arthur asked: "Are you almost done with your sword?"

"Uh, yeah." I said, "I just need to put the hilt on it."

"Hmm." Arthur nodded. "I can teach you how to use it if you'd like."

I stopped walking. Noticing the distance growing between us, Arthur turned around, confused why I'd stopped.

"Are you serious?" I asked, voice an octave higher than normal.

"Yes." Arthur's brow crinkled. "Why would I lie to you?"

"I don't know." I sputtered. "I just didn't think a Prince of England, heir to the throne would teach some lowly peasant, much less a girl, how to swordfight in his free time. Don't get me wrong, I'd love it if you taught me, but…it just seems out of character."

Shrugging, he replied: "What's the use in making a sword if you can't fight with it?"

'Fair point.' I thought. "When do we start?" I was suddenly nervous.
"As soon as you're finished making it." Arthur grinned a Cheshire smile.

I skipped ahead of him, eager to finish my project. "I'll call you over when I'm done!" I shouted over my shoulder. "Meet you in the clearing!"

Arthur was shaking his head, chuckling, and obviously amused by my enthusiasm.

Author's Note: Short but sweet - I'll have another chapter coming very soon (probably tomorrow :)

Please review: I'm having this horrible dilemma right now about (spoiler alert), a character dying in a few chapters. Think you can guess who? I can... (evil laugh). Now I'm just debating HOW to kill them (muahahahah) I feel evil...