Chapter 3: A new dawn for a tortured soul.
The recruiting table for the Austrian Royal Army at the bazaar in Palls was never very hard to find no matter how bustling any event it was. It was always the one place, more often than not, that was either deserted, or was surrounded by the kind of people that never ventured out at night unless they were on the run from the law somewhere in the world. It was a place for those who got tired of running and stealing their daily bread like rats to find a place to call home and make amends for the life they once led. With a reputation like that, it was no surprise that the recruiting Sargent looked the part as one for this kind of army. However, the one thing that would've grabbed the attention of those passing by the table on this particular day was the young woman who confidently approached it and its Sargent.
It had been a long time since Sargent Komeron of the Austurian Royal Army had a good laugh due to the fact that he hadn't had much to laugh about in some time. The father of three sons, his wife had died giving birth to the last, his youngest had died fighting the Zaibach in some forsaken outpost in the swamps of the kingdom, the middle child had died of illness years ago, and the oldest had died in final battle the Gaian Destiny War. The only bright spot in his family life was that his oldest had made him a Grandfather before he died. As a result when those who knew him around the recruiting table he manned saw him smile, they knew it had to be something good. It was. Before the big, aging Sargent was a slender, beautiful young woman wearing Asgardian woman's pants, riding boots, a sword on her hip, and a lose fitting men's long sleeve shirt with a vest over it. Topping it all off was a cape over her shoulders that came down to her knees.
"Looking to join the Knights Cali little miss?" Komeran snickered.
"No" she stated, "nothing so lofty. At least not today, anyway." Everyone, including the young woman had a good-natured laugh at this. Then she straightened and said confidently, "Sargent, I wish to join the Royal Army. May I have your assistance?"
At this, everyone around the table had a good hardy belly laugh at the young woman. This went on for a minute until she grabbed and turned over the table, grabbing the Sargent by the collar and saying, "You bloated, withered bag of shit! How dare you write me off before I have even the chance to prove myself! I challenge you to a duel of first blood to prove my worth and earn my place amongst you!" At this point, no one was laughing. The young woman had released the cape around her shoulders and backed away quickly enough to get out of Komeran's way while he drew his sword. She had her sword out at the same time he had his. "Franso!" he barked, "you officiate this farce! First blood, as she said!" The match started off like lightning. The old solider had experience and strength as his side, but the young woman had skill, speed and finesse at hers. In a minute, she had drawn first blood on the Sargent. With the
match over, one of Komeran's comrades said "pure luck" loud enough for her to hear. The silver-blonde
haired beauty simply pointed her sword at him and said, "You're next!" This continued until all ten of Sargent Komeran's men were defeated. Finally, the young silver-blonde haired beauty stared at the old solider and said, "Now, as I had said before Sargent, I wish to join the Royal Armed Forces. May I have your assistance?"
At this the dejected old man looked at her and said, "No matter how good you are at a sword, the Army is still no place for you. Go home little girl."
"Coward!" she spat. "Even though you've been bested by your better, you still deny me? Are you so weak and impotent a man that you cannot stand a little honest humility? How dare you call yourself a solider in my homeland's army? You are so without Honor that you are probably little more than a murder playing solider."
At this, the old man's patience finally snapped and he drew his sword again. "You desire a real fight, little bitch? I'll give you one damn you!" This time, he meant to kill the young woman.
"That will be quite enough from the both of you", a voice had said from behind. When all that heard it turned to see whom and where the voice had come from, they found themselves looking at their Monarch, the newly crowned Queen Eries. All warriors had bowed on one knee before her respectfully, as had been they're training, including Celena who had seen herself as a warrior as well. "You men get back to your posts. Lady Celena, rise and walk with me please." Pausing long enough to grab her cape, Celena Schezar joined her Queen in a stroll and conversation down the streets of Palls, the Monarch's entourage trailing behind.
"That was quite a demonstration at the table Lady Celena, although I don't think that your brother would approve" the young Queen said.
"May I speak freely with you Your Highness?" Celena asked.
"By all means", Queen Eries replied.
"You know who I was once was don't you? You know I was once a monster, a murderer of men and a burner of the homes of women and children, correct?"
"I know. I saw you change in front of your Mother's grave. Your brother was there with me."
"Your Highness, have you ever been so haunted by your memories that you don't sleep as much as you collapse from exhaustion from the lack there of?" the young Schezar said.
At this, Celena recounted the events of the past few months that brought her to Sargent Komeran's table this very day. At first, Queen Eries was shocked at the young woman's confession. At the end, however, she agreed with King Van's counsel and deduced that the only way Celena thought she could serve those around her was as a warrior. At this, Eries made the following suggestion, "What if you were given the opportunity to become a swordswoman in my armed forces?"
"What must I do Your Grace?" Celena said bowing on one knee.
"If you complete the needed training", she continued, "you may join. I may even allow you to become a Knight if you excel as your brother has."
With this, Queen Eries escorted Celena to the recruiting table and told the old Sargent, "I believe that this young woman wishes to join my armed forces. Do be a good man and assist her."
At this, Sargent Komeran nearly had a heart attack.
When Allen found out that his little sister, who'd been missing for weeks, was in the midst of training to become a knight like himself, he'd nearly had a heart attack of his own. At first, he had tried to convince her to give up this pursuit and rejoin him back home. To say it was a useless effort was an understatement. It was Gaddes who finally convinced Allen to let Celena follow through with what she started. It was one of the things that attracted him to her after she'd found out. To almost everyone's surprise, and exhausted yet triumphant Celena emerged from training having earned her knighthood and was presented her sword by a then pregnant Queen Eries herself with Sir Allen, beaming with pride, at the young Queen's side. After the ceremony, Eries had pulled Sir Celena aside and remarked that if one daughter of Austria were capable of gaining a knighthood, how many more would make, at least able warriors. With Sir Allen's, and much to everyone's surprise, Sargent Komeran's help, Sir Celena had trained and assembled a 200 woman force of Austrian amazons capable of handling any threat the to kingdom that the men could. Eager to prove that her girls were just as tough as any male unit, Celena requested that then be stationed at the newly built Fortress Tormenta Pass, overlooking and protecting a newly found trade route into the Kingdom that would keep post-war Austria prosperous, but was in a mountainous area which was battered by winds and rough weather. As her brother did before her, she rolled up her sleeves and shared the same burdens as her girls did, proving that the title and upbringing didn't make her any more important than anyone else who fought and bled for their homeland.
At the end of his musings, Gaddes gave back the book of poems to the woman he loved, gazing into her eyes all the while. They continued talking of the things that they had planned for the near future, and for the future they were planning together. Their relationship, while pure and chaste, was still a secret. Allen Schezar may have trusted Gaddes with his life, but the love and future of his little sister, not to mention the only family he had left was another matter all together. Until then they had a type of courtly love that only two warriors who knew the hardships of battle and combat as well as love and respect could share. One day they would let the world know but util then, they had to wait until the next supply run was scheduled. Fortunately, the Fortress needed frequent minor repairs.
AN - At this point Gaddes still doesn't know about who Prince Chid's real father is.
The recruiting table for the Austrian Royal Army at the bazaar in Palls was never very hard to find no matter how bustling any event it was. It was always the one place, more often than not, that was either deserted, or was surrounded by the kind of people that never ventured out at night unless they were on the run from the law somewhere in the world. It was a place for those who got tired of running and stealing their daily bread like rats to find a place to call home and make amends for the life they once led. With a reputation like that, it was no surprise that the recruiting Sargent looked the part as one for this kind of army. However, the one thing that would've grabbed the attention of those passing by the table on this particular day was the young woman who confidently approached it and its Sargent.
It had been a long time since Sargent Komeron of the Austurian Royal Army had a good laugh due to the fact that he hadn't had much to laugh about in some time. The father of three sons, his wife had died giving birth to the last, his youngest had died fighting the Zaibach in some forsaken outpost in the swamps of the kingdom, the middle child had died of illness years ago, and the oldest had died in final battle the Gaian Destiny War. The only bright spot in his family life was that his oldest had made him a Grandfather before he died. As a result when those who knew him around the recruiting table he manned saw him smile, they knew it had to be something good. It was. Before the big, aging Sargent was a slender, beautiful young woman wearing Asgardian woman's pants, riding boots, a sword on her hip, and a lose fitting men's long sleeve shirt with a vest over it. Topping it all off was a cape over her shoulders that came down to her knees.
"Looking to join the Knights Cali little miss?" Komeran snickered.
"No" she stated, "nothing so lofty. At least not today, anyway." Everyone, including the young woman had a good-natured laugh at this. Then she straightened and said confidently, "Sargent, I wish to join the Royal Army. May I have your assistance?"
At this, everyone around the table had a good hardy belly laugh at the young woman. This went on for a minute until she grabbed and turned over the table, grabbing the Sargent by the collar and saying, "You bloated, withered bag of shit! How dare you write me off before I have even the chance to prove myself! I challenge you to a duel of first blood to prove my worth and earn my place amongst you!" At this point, no one was laughing. The young woman had released the cape around her shoulders and backed away quickly enough to get out of Komeran's way while he drew his sword. She had her sword out at the same time he had his. "Franso!" he barked, "you officiate this farce! First blood, as she said!" The match started off like lightning. The old solider had experience and strength as his side, but the young woman had skill, speed and finesse at hers. In a minute, she had drawn first blood on the Sargent. With the
match over, one of Komeran's comrades said "pure luck" loud enough for her to hear. The silver-blonde
haired beauty simply pointed her sword at him and said, "You're next!" This continued until all ten of Sargent Komeran's men were defeated. Finally, the young silver-blonde haired beauty stared at the old solider and said, "Now, as I had said before Sargent, I wish to join the Royal Armed Forces. May I have your assistance?"
At this the dejected old man looked at her and said, "No matter how good you are at a sword, the Army is still no place for you. Go home little girl."
"Coward!" she spat. "Even though you've been bested by your better, you still deny me? Are you so weak and impotent a man that you cannot stand a little honest humility? How dare you call yourself a solider in my homeland's army? You are so without Honor that you are probably little more than a murder playing solider."
At this, the old man's patience finally snapped and he drew his sword again. "You desire a real fight, little bitch? I'll give you one damn you!" This time, he meant to kill the young woman.
"That will be quite enough from the both of you", a voice had said from behind. When all that heard it turned to see whom and where the voice had come from, they found themselves looking at their Monarch, the newly crowned Queen Eries. All warriors had bowed on one knee before her respectfully, as had been they're training, including Celena who had seen herself as a warrior as well. "You men get back to your posts. Lady Celena, rise and walk with me please." Pausing long enough to grab her cape, Celena Schezar joined her Queen in a stroll and conversation down the streets of Palls, the Monarch's entourage trailing behind.
"That was quite a demonstration at the table Lady Celena, although I don't think that your brother would approve" the young Queen said.
"May I speak freely with you Your Highness?" Celena asked.
"By all means", Queen Eries replied.
"You know who I was once was don't you? You know I was once a monster, a murderer of men and a burner of the homes of women and children, correct?"
"I know. I saw you change in front of your Mother's grave. Your brother was there with me."
"Your Highness, have you ever been so haunted by your memories that you don't sleep as much as you collapse from exhaustion from the lack there of?" the young Schezar said.
At this, Celena recounted the events of the past few months that brought her to Sargent Komeran's table this very day. At first, Queen Eries was shocked at the young woman's confession. At the end, however, she agreed with King Van's counsel and deduced that the only way Celena thought she could serve those around her was as a warrior. At this, Eries made the following suggestion, "What if you were given the opportunity to become a swordswoman in my armed forces?"
"What must I do Your Grace?" Celena said bowing on one knee.
"If you complete the needed training", she continued, "you may join. I may even allow you to become a Knight if you excel as your brother has."
With this, Queen Eries escorted Celena to the recruiting table and told the old Sargent, "I believe that this young woman wishes to join my armed forces. Do be a good man and assist her."
At this, Sargent Komeran nearly had a heart attack.
When Allen found out that his little sister, who'd been missing for weeks, was in the midst of training to become a knight like himself, he'd nearly had a heart attack of his own. At first, he had tried to convince her to give up this pursuit and rejoin him back home. To say it was a useless effort was an understatement. It was Gaddes who finally convinced Allen to let Celena follow through with what she started. It was one of the things that attracted him to her after she'd found out. To almost everyone's surprise, and exhausted yet triumphant Celena emerged from training having earned her knighthood and was presented her sword by a then pregnant Queen Eries herself with Sir Allen, beaming with pride, at the young Queen's side. After the ceremony, Eries had pulled Sir Celena aside and remarked that if one daughter of Austria were capable of gaining a knighthood, how many more would make, at least able warriors. With Sir Allen's, and much to everyone's surprise, Sargent Komeran's help, Sir Celena had trained and assembled a 200 woman force of Austrian amazons capable of handling any threat the to kingdom that the men could. Eager to prove that her girls were just as tough as any male unit, Celena requested that then be stationed at the newly built Fortress Tormenta Pass, overlooking and protecting a newly found trade route into the Kingdom that would keep post-war Austria prosperous, but was in a mountainous area which was battered by winds and rough weather. As her brother did before her, she rolled up her sleeves and shared the same burdens as her girls did, proving that the title and upbringing didn't make her any more important than anyone else who fought and bled for their homeland.
At the end of his musings, Gaddes gave back the book of poems to the woman he loved, gazing into her eyes all the while. They continued talking of the things that they had planned for the near future, and for the future they were planning together. Their relationship, while pure and chaste, was still a secret. Allen Schezar may have trusted Gaddes with his life, but the love and future of his little sister, not to mention the only family he had left was another matter all together. Until then they had a type of courtly love that only two warriors who knew the hardships of battle and combat as well as love and respect could share. One day they would let the world know but util then, they had to wait until the next supply run was scheduled. Fortunately, the Fortress needed frequent minor repairs.
AN - At this point Gaddes still doesn't know about who Prince Chid's real father is.