PRE-A/N: I have just completed the story at home on my computer!!!! WOOOOO-HOOOO!!!!! I'm so happy! You have no idea how hard it usually is for me to finish stories that I write solo. I usually get bored with them and never finish, so they lay around half done. But this one is 105 pages long, 27 chapters and an epilogue, without spaced between the paragraphs (I have to add those when I get ready to update). You know what this means? It means that we have now entered the realm of possible double updating. Yes! Two chapters at a time! Not this time, but maybe next time. (smile, giggle, joy joy joy)

CHAPTER 11- The Duel

I slept for as long as possible. It was halfway through third gold before Maureen woke me up. I staggered to the toilet and bathing rooms that were next to my bedroom. I cleaned myself up, and had a quick breakfast of toast with jam and good, strong coffee brought to my room. After I dressed in the same trousers, although a different shirt, as the night before, I headed to the practice courts once again. I wondered if Lord Nerroc had spent as much time preparing these last few days as I had. I sincerely hoped not.

There was already a crowd gathered outside, and Nerroc was stretching and starting to warm his muscles to the patterns and charges. I greeted everyone, including my opponent, warmly and full of fun. I forced myself to keep a smile on my face as I went to retrieve my blade. It was the same one I had been using for the past three days to practice with, hidden before I'd left for bed. This way I would at least have the comfort of familiar steel in my hand.

I stretched and warmed myself up, though I was careful not to betray any of my new skills. Flauvic and I had both agreed that they would be of better use as a surprise. After I was through, I went out into the sunshine and faced off against Nerroc, keeping a brave and light hearted smile on my face. It was enough of an effort that I wondered if face muscles could cramp.

"Hello, everyone!" I called. "Welcome to our fun."

Everyone laughed and I felt a little relieved. I looked around at the faces in the crowd to see who was here. Mother and Father had come. Both of the other ambassadors were in attendance. Alaraec and many of my friends and extended cousins were standing at the sidelines to see the outcome, as well. I searched the servants milling about holding parasols and carrying chairs for their lords and ladies. Flauvic was not among them.

Part of me was glad that he wasn't there. I wouldn't have the pressure of him watching and critiquing every move I made, knowing that he taught me better than that, and feeling like I was a waste of time. Another part was greatly disappointed that he wouldn't be there to silently cheer me on, for whatever his motive was for me to win.

I shook my head a bit to clear it and looked back out at the crowd. "Any requests, before we get started?" Again, chuckles.

"Don't do anything that gets you hurt, that's all your Mother and I ask," Papa called from where he stood, Mama at his side.

"Well, I'll do my best," I said, mock solemn.

Just then, the bell for first green tolled over the courtyard. I nearly jumped out of my skin I was so nervous. I was beginning to think that the breakfast I'd eaten was not the good idea I'd thought it would be. I tried to laugh the unease off and turned to Nerroc. He didn't seem nearly as racked as I was.

"Do you have a preference of style to begin with? As the challenged, you have the right to choose," I said as graciously, and as calmly, as I could.

"Your Highness, why don't we start with Remalnan style, and elaborate from there?" he said.

I nodded, ignoring the implied insult. "Very well."

I took a deep breath and tried to cast off all of the feelings that would be a hindrance. I went into my stance, mirroring Nerroc. We both paused, unsure who was going to make the first move. Nerroc made that decision and put me into guard.

We went back and forth for several minutes in Remalnan, both evenly matched; my greater skill in the style of my homeland to his greater strength. Sweat started to bead on my face, and I could feel dampness on my back between my shoulder blades as I pushed on, forcing him to retreat a few steps back. He switched his technique to Norsundrian. I did my best to counter it, but I just didn't have the experience in that style.

I pulled my favorite of Flauvic's tricks and aimed for Nerroc's...um... lower-middle area. True to Flauvic's prediction, Nerroc backed up. I distantly heard the murmurs of the crowd as they reacted to what I'd done. Luckily, there was no rule against it, so long as I didn't succeed in my attempted attack.

I was tiring faster than I would have liked. He was just physically bigger and stronger than I was, and there was no amount of training or preparation that could change that anatomical fact. Men are usually just bigger. No shame in it, but no help for me, either. I had to use the Adrani technique now, or lose my chance.

I drove Nerroc off for a second and altered my footing. When the ambassador charged again, I was ready. I met him half way and surprised him with a quick parry and thrust combination that he hadn't been expecting. My attention was focused on him as acutely as it had been on Flauvic as we practiced. Soon, exactly as I'd been taught, I cornered Nerroc against the back of the fencing circle. A few semi-expert jabs later, and my opponent was driven out of the circle and forfeited the match.

Sweat dripped down my spine, soaked my hair, slid into my eyes, and made me wonder why I had bothered to bathe this morning at all. I was still in the world of competition when I was suddenly surrounded by my friends, shouting, patting my damp back, and chanting my name. I grinned at them, at my parents, and laughed out loud. However, I quickly experienced the down side of adrenaline highs on top of very little sleep for days at a time. I was exhausted and nearly collapsed to my knees. Phillo was the one who caught me and picked me up. I found myself cradled in his arms when my head cleared a bit, much to my embarrassment.

"She must be having a spell after so much excitement," Duchess Tamara covered for me.

"Really, I'm fine," I said breathlessly. "You can put me down, Phillo, I can stand."

He wasn't quite convinced, but set me down gently, warily, not trusting that I was fully capable.

"Elestra, I think you had better go lay down," Father told me. "You've earned it, with that glorious display of swordswomanship."

I caught his eyes playfully sparkling down at me, knowing that he was teasing. I grinned and agreed. I was followed by an admiring entourage all the way to my room. Once there, I collapsed onto my bed, fast asleep before I took my first breath of pillow scent.

(to Flauvic)

Flauvic stood in the blazing heat of the Great Kitchen, once again resigned to pot-and-pan scrubbing. The head cook, Jozman, a large, threatening man some years past his prime, was dictating the instructions for meals to be served all over the palace and grounds, to which nobles and private parties, as well as orders to the scullery maids, dish washers, and general clean-up crews.

Flauvic tried to be as calm as he was portraying himself to be, and not to let his stomach twist. When he got that tight, acidic feeling, like he was eating his own insides, he tried to pass it off as having not had a good meal in at least a week. Secretly, which he would never admit, he was worried about the outcome of her duel this afternoon. It was nearly second green already, and he hadn't heard anything; the servants who were at the duel weren't back yet.

Commotion in the servant's entrance pricked Flauvic's ears and made his heart quicken a beat. Still, he feigned disinterest, not wanting to give the gossips more bite to their jaw-jabbing when they spoke of him. The mosh of kitchen staff that had been out that day filtered back in, talking fast and pantomiming swordplay.

"'Ay, now! What's this all about, you lot?" Jozman shouted above the clamor.

"Princess Elestra! She's done it! Aw, ya shoulda seen it! I'll never forget the look on that stuffed pig's face! He's the laughin' stock!" Everyone wanted to answer at once making it nearly impossible for anyone to be heard.

Flauvic picked up on the meaning of it, though. He kept the proud, satisfied smile off of his face, but walked to a counter and started to clear up the old dishes that needed to be cleaned, just in case. Seconds later one of the serving maids that he'd made a point to be especially nice to so that she would do the bulk of his work came up behind him.

"Did you hear?" she asked excitedly.

"Something about the princess, yes?"

"Yes, something about the princess!" the girl giggled. "Didn't you hear about that duel she had today with that ambassador from Norsunder?"

"Mmm," he answered noncommittally.

"Well, she won! She nearly got beat, was sweatin' real bad and looked mighty worried if ya ask me. But then she burst out with some fancy kinda sword work like I'd never seen before. Then, one two three, and he's out o' the circle and she's won the day! That princess of ours sure is somethin', isn't she?"

"Yes, something," Flauvic agreed, leaning his hip against the counter and smiling beatifically at the girl. "Marissa, could you help me, please? I need to have these dishes cleaned and then move on to the big pots before dinner tonight. Would you help? Please?"

As simple as that, and the girl thought that she was special to him and decided to do his chores for him. All he had to do was smile and ask nicely and she was falling all over herself to do the work for him. Elestra had been the only one to ever be immune to his charm. He had to admit that he liked that about her.

And, speaking of the Princess, he thought he should do something to acknowledge her accomplishment. He set his mind to thinking of something suitably subtle as he pretended to wash the same great caldron for the third time, flirting with the pretty maid.

PS- I've been having hell'a luck lately with computers and the internet. First, I couldn't get up to the library to update or anything else, which is why I didn't write back to anyone this chapter, and then refused to read the chapters, saying that it wasn't written on the right template, but I've written them all on the same program, so I don't know what was up with that. I'm hoping I'll have better luck this time. Sorry it's taken so long.