centerbu~Taming the Lioness~/b/u/center

iu Disclaimer:/u I own nothing except the absolute quirkiness that you all seem to love so much. Right? Right? Shoe me the love. Review and warm my cold stone heart...oh one last thing. I'm sick of disclaimer's so take this one as counting for the rest of the story... Which I might break off after I finish the flashback and Post it as a sequel this is getting too long. Tell me whatcha think okies? /i

bCHAPTER NINETEEN/b

iu~Kicking a man when He's Down~/i/u

i Eleni and Alanna finished making lunch and took some sandwiches out to George and Myles who were, oddly enough in the rafters of the stables. Then the woman left after a few moments of small talk. As the two ate, Eleni finished the story between bites... /i

"What?" George asked in complete disbelief. There was no possible way that he could have heard what he thought he heard. Right?

"I'll- fight- you- for- it- ." Mandy repeated slowly, letting each word sink thoroughly in. Each word was filled with a strange and strong dose of malice. It was as if she was daring George to give in. As if she was daring George to fight her. The venom dripped from her words and George was visibly startled hearing such strong hateful emotion come from such a small, beautiful young girl.

That was all George could handle. Mandy's words along with her hateful expression was all it took. It seemed so odd to see someone he knew from experience was caring and always had a smile to share, filled with such seething feelings of despise and scorn for someone she admitted strongly to wanting and was going to marry. As in George himself. George dissolved into strong bursts of robust laughter. This only succeeded in upsetting Mandy more than she already was.

"What's so funny?" She demanded harshly. "I wasn't joking. I find absolutely nothing even remotely humorous about any of the last five words I said. I meant every bit of it."

"Okay...okay..." George was trying to stifle his strong opposing chuckles. "Okay..." He started again now in control. At least in more control than he was before. George got out of bed and stretched. "Are you saying....let me make sure I understand this....are you saying that," he paused to take a breath and think over what he was about to say now that he had some resemblance of control. "That you want to challenge my position as king?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying." Mandy retorted vilely.

"All right." George said as his eyes roamed the room looking for a shirt of tunic he could throw on quickly. It was his duty with his position as King of Thieves to take any and every challenge, no matter who it came from, seriously.

Mandy nodded with confidence.

George continued wanting to make sure he had everything clear. "So you'll come beck here tonight, or, we can meet somewhere else if you choose, it just needs to be a public place? Then you'll state your challenge of me openly?" Each statement ended questioningly, making sure that Mandy knew what would come of challenging the king. "And we'll fight, hand to hand combat. No weapons, and in front of the whole crowd at the Dancing Dove that night. If tonight doesn't work you can pick a day. It needs to be closer to evening because that's when the 'Dove's the fullest." George stated every word clearly and in a firm voice. When he finished, he looked Mandy straight in the eye to make sure she understood what she would be facing in challenging the King of Thieves. George Cooper had been king for sometime now, and had only been challenged once. He wasn't one to brag, but George was rather proud of the fact that the man had been bigger than her and George had still, rather cunningly won.

"No." Mandy stated plainly and with firm conviction.

"No what?" George asked confused.

"No. It's not going to happen like that.

"Well then," George said trying to maintain an open mind. "Why don't you tell me what you had in mind for us."

Mandy smiled with a dark sweetness. "For us? I wanted us to marry, or at least get together," she nodded her head. "If you know what I mean...but, it seems you have no intention of cooperating with such wishes. So how about this: you and me, hand to hand no weapons, right here, right now. No witnesses." She said the last part as if there would be no discussing it. "If I win, fair and square, you step down from your position and stay outta my face. That means no dealings with the rogue. Or..." She smiled deviously. "Or you can marry me and keep your grace, honor, dignity, and position. If you win, fair and square," she added for good measure. "You can either, I find this one more preferable by the way, take me as your wife." Then her face fell somewhat. "Or, if you wish, I'll leave, not only your life but I'll leave Corus all together. And you'll never hear from me again." She said this last part so grimly that George would feel bad, and would never be able to tell her that he didn't want to hear from her again.

George really considered her plan... for about half a second. "No." George laughed again as he shook his head. "No. You'll get hurt, and then I'll get blamed and shamed from my position because there weren't ant witnesses.

Mandy bitterly glared daggers at him. "Funny." She said sarcastically. "Now aren't we Mr. Confident-In-Our-Own-Abilities? Come on! You and me, right here. Bring it on." Mandy said as her body tensed ready and alert for any movement on George's part. The serious and confident look on Mandy's face combined with her anger only resulted in making George's guffaws stronger in their brute force.

"Come on." Mandy growled trying to provoke him.

"No." George defended. "I bwont/b fight a girl."

That was the absolute limit to the crap that Mandy could take in one day. Yes. She was a girl, but that didn't make her any less competent to fight. Even if it was a man who was a year older and happened to be very fit and buff. A King of his own 'kingdom' who had had plenty of personal fighting experiences. Mandy believed whole-heartedly that she was just as strong as George Cooper, and she would prove it. Mandy's anger was boiling at this point. She stalked sharply over to where George was standing at the foot of his bed.

i"Uh oh." Alanna mutter after swallowing the last bit of her lunch. "I can tell this isn't going to turn out well. What in the world was George thinking?" She demanded.

Eleni simply shrugged her shoulders, she had no idea, she wasn't there. This was all second hand information to her./i

George was still grinning away like a maniac and a few suppressed giggles escaped his tightly clamped lips at her approach. Seeing this small, beautiful, girlish, and shapely figure enraged to such a point that she was shaking as she neared, would throw anyone into uncontrollable fits of laughter. This amusement only added wood to Mandy glimmering and growing fire. She now stood directly before the young King of Thieves, her arms crossed over tightly over her plentiful chest. George lost it. He lost all form of domination over his emotions. His head dropped and shook. The suddenly his whole body exploded and was shaking fiercely. When George raised his head Mandy realized painfully that he was laughing at her ``again``. Mandy beyond the shadow of a doubt couldn't take any more. She uncrossed her arms and clamped one hand on each of his shoulders. Mandy had lost it also. She had lost all control, and had no idea of what she was about to do. Mandy pulled George toward her and without a second thought, it was all automatic there after, brought her knee up between his legs as hard as she possibly could. George, too busy laughing, had no idea she would attack so suddenly and so viciously. Her right knee made contact with his groin in a particular act of dangerous accuracy. Automatically Mandy backed away as George doubled over in serious pain. From his hunched over position, he fell straight to the hard wooden floor planks. George rolled involuntarily into the fetal position. He curled up in undoubted pain and rocked his body slowly and cautiously back and forth.

George was gasping and sputtering from the dirty floor and all Mandy could think of was. *But at least his laughed has finally ceased.* She had no concept of what she had done. Mandy heard George curse numerous times, and this time she didn't scold him for it. In fact, Mandy suddenly shook herself awake and slowly pulled herself out of the curtain of anger that was enveloping her. Anger, disbelief, and disconnection from her body and senses was dulling her sharp reflexes and awareness and making her weak. That was all she could think of. Over and over in her head, Mandy kept telling herself how weak she was.

She looked down unconcerned at George who was still rolling in pain on the floor. Mandy was abruptly hit in the face with what she had done. It all registered at once and she was almost knocked over by the truth. She had probably just castrated her hopes and possibilities not to mention her hopeful husband. She had really messed things up now. This was a lot worse than the last time. Mandy took off out of George's room on a dead run. She stormed down the stairs and crashed out the creaky door. Mandy blindly continued her mad dash down the streets of Corus. Once again she was disconnected from all feeling. Without concern she stumbled and rammed into various innocent people who by odd change were 'in her way'. All of the residents of Corus turned to watch the unknown girls mad and reckless retreat. *What had she done?* The wondered in unison. Or worse yet, *What had someone attempted to do to her? What kind of animal could upset this young girl so?* Because while it was possible that the girl was at fault for something it was easier and more convenient to believe other wise.

iuA/N:/u Oh say it ain't so...but just wait, it gets better. At least I think is does because I haven't written it yet...but what I got a rollin' around in my head (that's the only thing in there) is quite amusing. Not much to say about what's going on in the present ideas are always welcome. Yeah works picking up speed and well... it sucks. It really does. Umm what else? Oh yes, I almost forgot the most important thing review! Review I tell ya review.

bDee:/b (you know who you are) I know you're reading this...I heard it through...the grape vine, and some big mouths no just kidding. But anyway remember our talk? I don't know how far you are in reading but get a movin' because if I remember correctly, it's your job to submit a long, detailed bTRUTHFUL/b review when you're done...I'm just saying....Please don't hurt me... `:0p

u(_x_) Lady Daffodil of Queenscove/u

P.S. My e-mail is wacky...I can receive things perfectly, but it wont let me send. A couple of people have e-mailed me and I REALLY want to write back, I'm just not able. Don't think I'm a snob 'cuz I'm not really. I'll get back to you as soon as I can figure out what's going on... okay. You're awesome... 3 /i