Forever By Your Side ch. 13


Today is the day. Today is the first day of the tournament and I'm… trembling. I don't honestly I can't tell if I'm trembling from nerves or from the sheer excitement of putting my skill to the test against the best of the best but I know that I am going to best foot forward, leaving all of them flat on their backs. I know that I'm gonna have to sit through introductions of the opening ceremony before the match are announced and I just want to get it over with so the real fighting can get started. I stand in the crowd filled with dukes and princes with a few wondering swordsmen like myself mixed in here with Marshall by my side in front of the sparring circle with a balcony section for the Queen and a few of the council members to watch from. Elsa walks to the edge of the balcony, looking over it with a regal air around her before drawing everyone's attention.

"Welcome to the first day of the tournament, everyone. Fighters be prepared to duel each other for the asking rights of my hand in marriage. May the odds ever be in your favor"

The crowd watching from the stand, cheered loudly as the first name were called as the first fighters make their way onto the mat as they draw their swords from their sheaths as the referee shouts for them to starting fighting unfortunately it didn't last too long. It was even a fair fight to be honest since it was a huge, muscular guy with trimmed facial hair against a kid half his size and as much hair on his face or his chest for that matter as the kid was kicked around the mat like a rag doll. The crowd cheered for the Boulder and yes that's what the guy is referring to himself for who knows why but whatever as the poor kid is practically dragged off of the mat by the medics as the Captain of the Guards shaking his head disappointingly.

"Think that it'll get better?" Marshall asked raising an eyebrow.

"I hope it does or else this tournament isn't gonna last for too long" I said crossing my arms.

As the tournament progressed, it indeed get better as the fights lasted longer as the fighter were getting stronger or more skilled and I watched careful, seeing if I could see any possible weaknesses or flaws in the fighting styles of each competitor that stepped onto the mat. The ones that I had to worry about the most was Hans, Sasuke and Marshall but there was a few that I was keeping my eyes on as well before I was the last to take the mat as well as another guy was three times my sizes and looked like his people have feeding him nothing but rocks since birth. I looked at his sword to see that it's a Claymore as I tighten my grip on the hilt of my sword before pulling it out as the guy looks at me with a wild, sadistic smile on his face.

"Don't think that I'm gonna go easy on you, just because you're a woman. I hurt everyone just the same" Julio said grinning menacingly.

"Hey, that's my line" I said smirking.

"Stupid bitch" Julio sneers.

"Bring it, Bubba"

The referee shouts for us to fight and that's when Julio charged at me, swinging his sword wildly with no real direction as I ducked under the length of the sword, parrying them if I could. Our sword clashes against each other as the loud clanging rumble through the arena as Julio pushes his sword against mine, pushing me slightly off balance for a moment but I regained momentum as I swiped at his unprotected feet, effectively throwing him off. I made for a quick downward slash, knocking his sword out of Julio's hand before giving him a low sweep of his feet, sending him down to the ground flat on his ass with the tip of my sword pointed at his exposed neck. Julio hit the ground with the back of his neck repeatedly in frustration as I sheathed my sword as I walked off of the mat as the crowd claps, unsure of what just happened but I didn't care. Their applause didn't make me no difference as Hans walked up to me with a charming smile on his face with his hand raise and I stared at him for a moment with an eyebrow raised before slapping my hand against his.

"Wow Anna, that was amazing" Hans said impressed. "Truly amazing"

"Thanks" I said with a nod.

"Looks like you made it to the second round" Sasuke said in an impassive tone.

"Yeah, I did. Look like I prove you wrong about not making passed the first round" I said frowning.

"We'll see how far you'll really go" Sasuke said walking away.

"What crawled up his ass and died?" I asked turning to Hans.

"He's always been like that and I never truly understood why. Sasuke is a very private person" Hans said shrugging his shoulders.

"How are you two friends? You two seems so different" I said raising an eyebrow.

"The Southern Isles and Weselton aren't that far away from each other and our families are rather close to each other with Sasuke and I being close in age. I have twelve older brothers with the older three pretending that I didn't exist for like two years" Hans said chuckling humorlessly. "Sasuke was a shy kid that didn't talked to many people and his parents thought that he was mute for six years until we met. It was in short responses but it was something, in my opinion something traumatic that made him so quiet"

"That's something I guess but still doesn't explain why he's a rude mutherfucker and twelve brothers?! Seriously?" I asked looking at Hans incredulously.

"I know, I know" Hans said chuckling. "I have to go after Sasuke to make sure that he doesn't someone else"

I turned to see Kristoff walking over towards me as soon as Hans walks away with Sven at his side with a confused look on his face as he looks in the retreating prince's direction.

"Who was that?" Kristoff asked curious.

"Hans of the Southern Isles. We were just talking" I said shrugging my shoulders.

"Hmmm" Kristoff said.

"What?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing, it's just… I don't know. Something seems off about that guy" Kristoff said frowning.

"Off? Like what?"

"I don't know but my gut is telling me that he's no good"

"Maybe it's all those turkey legs that you've eating" I said patting his stomach.

"I'm serious Anna and it's not the turkey legs" Kristoff said shaking his head.

"Riiiiight, whatever you say"


Hans' POV

I quickly found Sasuke leaning against a wall with his arms crossed over his chest, staring stoically into space as I wrapped my arm around his shoulders, moving him towards a less crowded place.

"You can't worried off like that. This isn't home… yet" I said smiling charmingly.

"I don't know why you're making nice with that woman" Sasuke said frowning.

"Anna? She's not so bad" I said shrugging my shoulders. "What's wrong with making new friends"

"We're not here for making friend and you know that. Remember the mission"

"I know what the mission and before long the Ice Queen will be mine and I'll have a kingdom of my own with you by my side like as always" I said smirking.

"I don't like the fact that you have to marry that woman. She's not good enough for you" Sasuke said with a slight pout.

"And you are. Once I marry Elsa, I'll stage a little accident for the little woman and her bratty son, you and I will be together like we always intend" I said pecking him on the lips.

"Promise?" Sasuke mumbles against my lips.

"Promise"


~Nicole The Dragon Rider signing off

End of ch. 13