Disclaimer: I don't own CT!
A/N: OMG! What's going to happen? Well read and find out!
Chapter Six: Woman Knight (Part One - Training) Gabrielle was shocked. She had no idea the Amazons still lived in this era. "Why? Why are they going to war?" she wanted to know. Her body had gone numb and she was shaking. "I don't know but if you go it might make a treaty more possible." He replied. Gabrielle nodded. "I'll go." She told him. "All right." Glenn said. "Are you sure?" "Yes. It's my people and I'm going to help them." Gabrielle said boldly.
* * * The party crammed into Epoch and traveled to A.D 600. After seeing A.D 1000 it wasn't a total shock but Gabrielle still liked it. They met the King and Queen. Gabrielle was announced as an Amazon and the King raised his eyebrows. Marle told the story about how Gabrielle saved her from the ice and Queen Leene rose from her throne. "You must be brave, young lady. We're glad you're here to help." She said. "We have prepared a welcome back feast for you, Sir Glenn." He looked at Gabrielle and the others. "And I guess you will be guests of honor." "Thank you, Your Majesty." Gabrielle said when Glenn nudged her.
* * * The feast was large and grand with lots of food and drink. Afterward there was dancing and music. The dancing was in full swing when the doors to the Great Hall burst open. All the knights put a hand to their sword hilts. "Hello!" a burly man sauntered into the hall. "We would like to speak with the Queen." Gabrielle immediately recognized his tongue as one of an Amazon of the north. "Where is she?" he demanded. No one understood what he was saying. He pulled out a grimy crossbow. "Tell me where she is or I'll," he snatched a young girl. "Shoot her!" "No!" Gabrielle quickly reverted to the Amazon dialect. "I don't know what you want but the Queen does not wish to speak with you!" "You have ten seconds before I have everyone here made into pin cushions!" he shouted. "I'm the only one that understands you, can't you see?" Gabrielle told him.
"You're my ticket to the Queen then!" Suddenly, the Queen emerged from the hall. "Ah. Your Majesty." He bowed mockingly. He threw the girl away from him who ran frantically to a couple. Leene looked perplexed, when he spoke it was like hearing gibberish. "I wish to send you my regards!" he aimed the crossbow. "No!" Gabrielle screamed. If Queen Leene was killed by this man then the hopes of a treaty would vanish. Gabrielle tackled the man around the hips as he fired the crossbow but the shot was upward not toward the Queen. "Gabrielle!" Glenn cried. He tried to run to her but Crono and Magus stopped him. The two Amazons tumbled around until Gabrielle rolled away and quickly regained her posture. The Amazon drew a crude dagger and charged at Gabrielle with a war cry. Gabrielle sidestepped and watched as the male Amazon flew forward and land on his face. "Leave or I will seriously hurt you." Gabrielle whispered in Amazon. The man did not answer. Gabrielle rolled him over and saw his dagger was thrust into his own chest. "Impaled on your own dagger, hm?" Gabrielle muttered. "FOR THE AMAZONS!" Another man had emerged from the doors and was charging at Gabrielle with a well-made long sword. Gabrielle ducked his slashed for her face and came up to ram her shoulder into his chest making him fall to the ground. He grabbed her hair as he fell and dragged her with him. Glenn ripped away from Magus and Crono and ran to Gabrielle as the Amazon was trying to choke her to death by wrapping his arm around her neck. "Don't move or she dies!" screamed the Amazon. Glenn stopped dead in his tracks. "He doesn't know what you're saying! Speak ENGLISH!" Gabrielle forced out. Amazons had to master several dialects to survive and prosper. Gabrielle was taught all four dialects of Amazon and she blessed them for teaching her. The Amazon briskly shook his head, "One move and I will kill her." He said in heavily accented English. "I mean it!" He tightened the hold on Gabrielle making her gasp. Gabrielle's vision was getting fuzzy, but she did make out Queen Leene stepping out from her shield of knights. "I don't know what you want," she began. "But it has nothing to do with that young woman. Release her at once!" she commanded. The moment he loosened his grip a bit, Gabrielle slammed her elbow into his ribs and stamped on his foot. He released her with a yelp and Gabrielle ran to Glenn. Suddenly, both Glenn and Gabrielle saw a glint of metal in the darkness of the doorway. Gabrielle's keen ears heard the click of a crossbow being loaded. She knew someone was taking aim for Queen Leene. If Her Majesty died tonight at the hands of an Amazon, there would be war for sure. Once the arrow went flying Gabrielle screamed, "Watch out!" She threw herself in the way of the arrow. The knights alerted by Gabrielle, gently but firmly yanked the queen out of the way while Glenn swiftly grabbed Gabrielle by the waist and spun to the left to get them both out of harm's way. A sharp pain went through Glenn's thigh as the arrow grazed it. He hissed and put a hand to his wound. Several knights came and detained the renegade Amazon. "Glenn!" Gabrielle cried. "You.you just saved my life." She murmured. "And you saved mine." Queen Leene stepped forward. "I thank you both." She nodded to Glenn and Gabrielle. Their friends ran to them. "Whoa!" Crono exclaimed. "How did you do that so fast?" he asked Glenn. He helped Glenn make a bandage from the hem of Glenn's shirt. "Gabby was pretty quick herself." Magus said. Gabrielle glared teasingly at Magus's nickname for her. "The party isn't over yet!" someone shouted. A muscular man in Amazon style clothes strode forward with a loaded crossbow in his hands. Knights surrounded the King and Queen once again and were ready to defend them. "These guys just don't stop do they?" Crono spat acidly. "I thought Amazons were women." Lucca whispered to Gabrielle. "They are, but how d'you think we have grow in population?" Gabrielle replied. "I'll explain later." "Who killed my tribesmen?" the man demanded. "Who?" he shouted. "I did." Gabrielle announced. "That's only because they were attacking my friends." "You think that makes it better?" he inquired. "It doesn't. Prepare to die!" He shouted. "Look out!" Magus yelled. Magus shoved Gabrielle out of the way and snatched the incoming arrow out of the air. Marle moved closer to Magus gesturing to the arrow. Behind his cape his passed the arrow to her. "Thanks." Gabrielle murmured. "I've had my life saved a lot here." She smiled up at him. "How did you.?" the Amazon gasped. Marle ducked behind Magus as she loaded her small crossbow she never went without these days and took aim. "Keep him talking." She hissed. "Amazon males can't do that?" Magus wanted to know. "She could probably do that." He pointed to Gabrielle. The girl's "What?!" was cut short when Magus elbowed her in the ribs. "Er.yes, I could." She said. "How dare you insult an Amazon! I am a warrior and I will be-" Marle hit the target she was aiming for hitting him in the direct center of his chest. He fell like a stone and knights rushed to close the doors. "Nice shot." Gabrielle told Marle. "Thanks." She said. The party ended then and everyone retired to bed. Gabrielle pulled Glenn aside when they reached the guest's wing. "What is it?" Glenn wanted to know. "I just wanted to thank you. For doing what you did tonight." Gabrielle murmured. "It was nothing. You saved Her Majesty's life, you know. I think a treaty might be more possible now." Gabrielle smiled. "I really hope we don't go to war." Gabrielle whispered. "Trust me, we won't. Their Majesties don't just go to war with people without a very good reason." Glenn told her. "Well, we better get some sleep." Gabrielle said. "Good night." She said softly slipping into the hall. He walked to the door next to hers. "Good night." He murmured. Hesitating, he kissed the Amazon's cheek. She hesitated only a second before she kissed his cheek back. Gabrielle was glad the dim hallway made it hard to see her blush but little did she know Glenn was blushing too. She opened her door and closed it quietly. She sighed dreamily, leaning against her door. She touched the cheek Glenn had kissed telling herself never to wash it again. She changed into her bedclothes and hopped into bed and settling under the covers. Glenn was in the next room walking absently around his room in a circle thinking about what happened. He had kissed Gabrielle and she kissed him. It was just on the cheek but his insides did a somersault when it happened. He patted his bandaged thigh. A few moments ago it was throbbing, but now it felt almost numb. He sighed and put on his bedclothes and climbed into bed.
* * * Gabrielle awoke to a knock on her door. She flinched as the bright early morning sunrays that came through her window hit her eyes. It was just after dawn. She opened the door bleary-eyed. Another knock was heard. "Yes?" she croaked. There was a footman standing there at attention. "My lady, Their Majesties would like to see you." He said formally. "All right. Let me dress first." Gabrielle nearly whined. "Of course. I shall be waiting here." He said kindly. Gabrielle resisted the urge to slam the door in his face. She walked to the bag she hastily packed and yanked out a pair of black breeches (when I say this I mean long pants, NOT the weird ones that come to your knee) and a matching black shirt. Over it she pulled on her favorite tunic of forest green with a silver Gryphon embroidered on it. She ran a brush through her hair and quickly braided it. She opened the door and allowed the footman to escort her not to the Great Hall but a large dinning room where everyone was sitting down to a large breakfast. She bowed awkwardly to the King and Queen. "You wished to see me, Your Majesties?" she inquired politely. "Yes, Gabrielle, sit down please." Queen Leene gestured to the seat on her right and next to Glenn. She gingerly sat down and looked at her friends as if to say, "What the hell do they want?" They merely shrugged. "Gabrielle, you did a great service to the realm, saving my lady like you did" King Guardia explained. "We would like to reward you in the greatest way we can." "Dear, we'd like to knight you." Queen Leene told her bluntly. "A knight?" Gabrielle retorted nearly dropping her fork. "Yes." King Guardia replied. Gabrielle stood there flabbergasted with her mouth open. "Shut.up!" she ordered carelessly. Glenn spit out his juice back into his cup. Marle squeaked and jumped and dropped her knife and fork. Magus nearly choked on the mouthful of pancakes that was in his mouth. Crono darted his head to Gabrielle looking appalled. Dishes clattered as Ayla pounded the table in shock yelling, "Whoa!". Robo made a noise that sounded like rickety gate as he leaped in the air, startle by Lucca spit her water out on him. Schala grabbed Magus's arm and squealed. "I beg your pardon!" Queen Leene was equally shocked as the group. "Uh, what Gabrielle's meant was something like, 'oh gods!'" Glenn explained. "I see. And Sir Glenn you will be her knight-master." Queen Leene told him, making him spit his juice out on his plate. "Excuse me, Your Majesty?" he inquired. "Knight-master?" "Yes. You will train her and her tests will be held three months from now." King Guardia said. Gabrielle and Glenn ate in total silence. When the meal was over, Glenn steered Gabrielle to an available practice yard.
* * * "This," he held a plain sword across his palms. "Is a sword." He handed it to Gabrielle who was scowling. "I know what a sword looks like." She snapped. When she took the sword by the hilt, she thought her arm was going to fall off. She made a face. "It heavier than it looks, huh?" he teased. "Shut up and get on with it." Gabrielle ordered. "Ok, the first thing you need to work on is stance." Glenn showed her his stance. Gabrielle imitated him. "Good. It really helps that you know a lot of staff moves because the staff is a stepping stone to the sword." Glenn showed her all the different stances with the sword and drilled her on them. "Ok, good. Now you need to know how to grip it." He took up her sword she had put down and fitted it into her right hand. Gabrielle glared and put it into her left hand. "Lefty, hm?" he inquired. Gabrielle nodded proudly. "This is going to be different. Ok, show me how you think you'd grip a sword." She gripped the hilt as she would her staff. "Here." He went behind her and put his hand on top of hers to reposition them. "See, it's like a V with your first finger and thumb." Gabrielle nodded. "Now this's a little difficult." Glenn said. He clipped the sword's sheath to Gabrielle's belt. "Sheath it." Gabrielle did it unnecessarily slow, rolling her eyes. "Now take it out." This was a more difficult task. It took Gabrielle several tries before she got it out in one motion. Even then it was extremely clumsy. Glenn moved on to teaching her a basic thrust and a block to countered the thrust. They were at it for nearly an hour and a half when Crono and Marle came into the yard. "Oh, great." Gabrielle groaned as she lunged and went to strike Glenn's chest but he blocked easily. "An audience." "Since when do you use a sword, Gabrielle?" Crono asked. "Since what I did last night possessed Their Majesties to knight me. I have to prove my sword skills in three months." Gabrielle retorted. She sheathed her sword. "Watch." She very clumsily yanked her sword out of its sheath. "See? I can't even do this!" "You've got to follow through." Crono told her. "You stop right when its out and try to twirl it. You can't be fancy now." Gabrielle let out a frustrated sigh and tried it again. She tried to follow though and nearly sliced Crono's nose. "Faster." Glenn advised. "Make it a nice fast move." Gabrielle did it faster and Crono had to duck to avoid getting beheaded by his friend's nearly flying sword. She blushed and apologized to Crono. "That's all right. You're just starting," he assured her. "If you can do all what you do with a staff, you'll master the sword in no time." He patted her shoulder. "I could give you a few pointers on archery." Marle offered. "A knight needs to know how to shoot a decent arrow." "I'm pretty good at archery but I wouldn't mind getting better." Gabrielle smiled at her friend. Without thinking what she was doing, Gabrielle put her sword back in its sheath. "Damn it!" she cried. Now she would have to take it out again. "Here." Glenn stepped behind Gabrielle again and wrapped his arm around her to put his left hand on her hilt. "Do it slow." He guided her though the motion again slower. "See?" "Not really." Gabrielle whined. "It still doesn't feel right." "Well, we've been at it for two hours and I'm starving." Glenn said allowing her to sheath her sword by herself. "Let's take a break." Glenn told her.
* * * "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow." Gabrielle said loudly as she lifted her full cup of apple juice. She took a gulp then went to set it down saying, "Ow, ow, ow." Until Magus, who was on her left snatched the cup gently and set it down for her. "What did you do to her, Glenn?" he demanded. "I did absolutely nothing!" he retorted. Gabrielle snorted in disbelief. "Oh c'mon Gabrielle it's not that bad." "My arms feel like they have lead weights strapped to them!" she complained. "Good. Pain is good when it comes to the sword." Glenn told her. "It means we're making progress." "Well, progress is good, Glenn." Schala said. "But it won't do her any good if she dies in the process!" "She won't die." Glenn snapped. "Not with me teaching her. C'mon, Gabrielle." "More practice?" the Amazon wailed. "Yes. One session a day won't do anything." Glenn told her. He grabbed her arm and towed her out of the room. "If I die, please avenge me." Gabrielle pleaded as she was dragged from the room. "It can't be as bad as you're making it." Glenn told her as they walked down the hall. "Yes it is!" Gabrielle protested. "You have to strengthen your arms." Glenn advised. "Do some push ups once in a while or something." Despite his feelings for her, his voice was stern. The walked into the yard they had claimed before and got to work. It was sunset before they trudged up the hill for the castle. As Gabrielle bathed and changed, she felt every bruise and cut she had gotten. A royal healer had bandaged her fingers but they still throbbed.
* * * "Wake up!" Glenn was shaking her shoulder. "What?" Gabrielle murmured still three-quarters sleeping. "C'mon, you're never going to master the sword lying in bed all day." Glenn growled. Gabrielle looked out the window and saw it was barely dawn. She clumsily changed and ate a small breakfast and walked into the practice yard. They reviewed everything they had done yesterday and Glenn tested her on how fast she could block a sword thrust. Gabrielle was nearly half asleep and got nicked on her cheek just below her eye. "You have to pay attention!" Glenn was getting frustrated. "Here, let me show you a move to block quickly." For one solid week, Gabrielle's routine was the same. Wake up at dawn, breakfast, sword practice until lunch, lunch, more sword practice with added lessons including archery from Marle and more hand to hand combat training from Magus and Crono and a fellow knight taught her the basics of tilting. Ayla helped her with her aching muscles and taught her ways to strengthen them. Gabrielle found that the things the Amazons had taught really helped. Then she had dinner with her friends and studied the law of the realm until late in the night. Her progress in sword fighting went as fast as a swimmer in mud. Often Glenn had to reposition her grip or fix a stance. The quintains, dummies painted like warriors with a shield as one arm and a sandbag on the other. If the tilter hit anyplace other than the target shield they would get a buffet from the sandbag as they rode by. Gabrielle had huge bruises on her back from both getting thwacked by the sandbag and falling off her gelding she'd named, Rebel. She was best at archery and hand-to-hand combat. Marle saw that she had a good aim and started working on her range once the girl could hit the bull's eye every time. She was pleased with her new apprentices progress. Ayla watched as her friend went from not being able to do even twenty-five push-ups to breezing through thirty-five. Glenn tried desperately to keep his raging feelings for his Amazon squire in check and was succeeding for the most part. Despite all his teaching Gabrielle was still heavy-handed with a sword but she could at least get it out of the sheath without beheaded one of her friends. One day after breakfast, Gabrielle went to the practice yard to see Glenn talking with some other knights. "Gabrielle!" he called. "There's a small tournament today. I signed us both up." Gabrielle was shocked. "What?" "Don't worry you're with other novices." He told her. That only made her feel a little less nervous. "Calling Squire Gabrielle and Squire Jameson to the ring." An announcer bellowed. Glenn tossed her a helmet and before he knew what he was doing he kissed her forehead, "Good luck!" He pushed her in the direction of the ring. Gabrielle stopped with her back still turned to Glenn and she touched her forehead. Another kiss? She shook off the dreamy feeling like the one she got before and went to the ring where a knight with a shield and broadsword. Someone gave her a shield that she numbly but on her right arm. Looking at the helmet Glenn given her she smiled. It had 'Gabrielle' engraved on the inside where her ear would be. Taking a better look she saw it was a smooth sturdy metal. It was gray with a silver sheen with a thick and wide stripe of metal that was a lighter color that would cover part of her forehead and a point came down. It was like a metal widow's peak. When she put it on she saw that it fit her head perfectly. She could feel the point that came down until it was almost between her eyes. It was like to sideway arches on her forehead. She felt a little more confident it her new helmet but was still scared out of her wits. Only yesterday did she begin to actually get her sword in front of her face in time to block Glenn's faster than lightning strike. "Bow to your opponent." The referee barked. Gabrielle and Jameson obeyed. "Begin!" Gabrielle barely got her shield up before the broadsword of her opponent came down on her. He bore down trying to make her fall but widened his eyes when he realized Gabrielle was stronger than she looked. They disengaged and Gabrielle made a frantic slash for his chest but it was blocked. Jameson lunged gracefully to stab her in the chest but Gabrielle made a frantic retreat only to trip on her own feet and fall on her back. She closed her eyes almost to tears with humiliation as the knights and squires around burst into roaring laughter. When she did open her eyes she saw Jameson with his sword to her throat in the "kill" position. "Squire Jameson is the winner!" the referee announced and Gabrielle lurched to her feet. She stormed out of the practice yard. "Gabrielle wait!" Glenn called. "I saw what happened. It's all right; it was your first bout." "I was horrible, I know!" Gabrielle spat. "Don't bother hiding it! I told you I'm no good with swords, gods, I quit!" she ripped off her helmet and hurled it at Glenn. She stormed off; Glenn let her. He stood there holding her helmet thinking about what had happened. Gabrielle was doing fine until she tripped, Glenn thought, if she hadn't she would still be fighting right now. Glenn felt a hand on his shoulder. Glenn turned around to see magus and Crono. "We saw the whole thing." Magus told him. "She wants to quit, huh?" "It's not like our Gabby to quit." Crono said thoughtfully. "She was about to stop in tilting when on her next run she hit the target. Man, she was so excited." "Swords and our Gabby don't go together." Magus murmured. "All her other things she's making steady progress in except this one. The most important one, in fact." "We should let her cool off before, we talk to her." Crono advised. "Have you told her? About you-know-what?" "Well," Glenn began who was silent until then. "Yes and no." "Meaning?" Crono inquired. "I told her that I liked her. A lot." Glenn replied. "No! You have to say that you love her!" Magus protested. "Isn't that true?" "Yes." Glenn said almost immediately. "Then you have to tell her." Crono said. "And you're going to do that right now!" He turned Glenn around and with Magus's help they pushed him into the castle and up to the guest wing. "You said yourself that we should wait until she's cooled off." Glenn hissed. "Until who's cooled off?" Schala emerged from her room. "No one." Magus snapped quickly. They stepped away from Gabrielle's door with fake innocent smiles. "Absolutely no one." "Right." Crono added. "Y-yeah." Glenn assured her. "You guys are hiding something." Schala told them her eyes narrowing. "Tell me." She ordered. "There's nothing to tell." Crono said backing up with the other guys. Schala followed them. "Would you like me to get Marle?" Schala wanted to know. "She's particularly good at getting things out of people. Especially you, Crono." "All right." Crono stopped. Glenn looked at him pleadingly. "Glenn's been in love with Gabrielle for a while and we were dragging him up here to make him tell her." He practically yelled and was rewarded with a punch in the stomach from Glenn. "She's going to hear you!" he hissed. "Oh, I already knew that." Schala piped. "It's really obvious, Glenn. Sorry." The knight blushed and tried to make an escape but Magus and Crono grabbed his shirt collar and yanked him back. "Oh, no you don't." Crono murmured. "You're going to tell her now." "Could you guys please be a little quieter?" Gabrielle groaned. "I'd like to get some sleep." "Could we speak with you just for a second?" Magus wanted to know. "Glenn has something he'd like to say to you." "If it has anything even related to swords, tournaments or knighthood then I don't want to hear it." Gabrielle snapped. "It's nothing related to that." Crono reassured her. He shoved Glenn forward. "Yes?" Gabrielle leaned against the doorframe. Glenn turned around to look helplessly at Crono and Magus who gestured forward silently telling him to do it now. Schala stood with her hands on her hips trying not to laugh. "What going on, guys?" Marle wanted to know coming into the hallway Lucca, Robo, and Ayla with her. "Is something wrong?" Robo inquired. "How did your bout go today, Lady Gabrielle?" Robo had been addressing her this way despite Gabrielle fierce protests. Gabrielle snarled and was about to close the door when Glenn put a firm hand on the door. He looked down not able to look her in the eye. Marle drew a breath quickly as if she just realized what was happening. "Um.girls, I think I wanted to show you a new horse that came in. Oh, she's a beauty, c'mon!" She dragged Ayla and Schala away. "Robo, remember those experiments we were performing?" Lucca asked her metallic friend. She had realized what Glenn wanted to do and knew he wanted to be alone. "No, Lucca we were conducting any research-" he was cut by Lucca pushing him out of the hall. "You know.the re.search." She hissed as she removed him from the hall. Crono and Magus leaned against the wall in a pretend conversation; they were wanted to make sure Glenn had actually told Gabrielle what they wanted him to. Gabrielle rubbed her eyes drowsily, "What d'you want to tell me?" "I wanted to tell you that.tell you that.I think.I think that." Glenn stammered and struggled what words to use. Magus and Crono were hanging onto every word. "You think what?" Gabrielle prodded impatiently. "I think you should practice using a shield. You weren't ready for that. I'm sorry." Glenn said trying to inject cheerfulness into his shaking voice. Behind him, Crono and Magus sighed with disgust and waited impatiently for Glenn to say what they'd dragged him there to say. "That's all?" Gabrielle inquired. Glenn was about to say "yes" when Magus and Crono strode forward. "No. Glenn tell Gabrielle that.other thing you wanted to tell her." Crono raised his voice slightly as he told him this. "What other thing, Crono?" Glenn asked innocently. He glared. "That thing you know very well of, Glenn." Magus said firmly. "Oh!" Glenn cried tapping his forehead with his fist giving a false smile. "That thing. Gabrielle, they want me to tell you to rest and not worry about lessons today." "Is that all now?" Gabrielle snapped. "Would you excuse us a second?" Crono asked Gabrielle who nodded. Glenn was dragged out of the hall. "You have to tell her. Now!" Crono told him. "Why?" Glenn whined. "I'm not ready." "You love her don't you?" Magus wanted to know. "Yes, I do but-" "Then it'd be easy to tell her!" Crono protested. Glenn paced around; his insides were churning with anxiety. "Ok, I'll tell her. But tomorrow, ok? I need to think about what I'm going to say." Glenn told them. "All right." Magus said. "But tomorrow and no later." "Fine." Glenn said.
* * * Glenn managed to stall again the next day and the next giving the best excuses he could. Soon it was nearing the halfway point in Gabrielle's training and the girl's progress had finally begun to budge. She could whip her sword out of its sheath in one swift motion and could hold her own in battle. When another tournament came up, Gabrielle enlisted at once eager to see how the next five weeks had done for her sword skills. She was not against Squire Jameson but Sir Trent, his knight-master. "Bow to your opponent!" the referee barked as he did before. Gabrielle and Trent obeyed. "Begin!" Gabrielle lunged in instantly and retreated a slash by Trent, nearly whooping with joy when she didn't trip. She lunged again and again making Trent back up but he went to the side. He twirled his sword in his hand and struck at her left side; Gabrielle's sword was jarred by the impact as she blocked the heavy blow. Trent advanced with a series of slashes that would cut her to ribbons if she hadn't ducked or blocked. Suddenly, Gabrielle saw the opening Glenn had showed her to look for in order to disarm her opponent. In her sword went like a metal snake, she pushed down, forward and up, making Trent's sword fly out of his hands. Gabrielle swung her sword to come within scant inches of the man's nose. She felt like her lungs were on fire and she wanted to pass out onto the grass and sleep until supper. "I yield." Sir Trent announced, kneeling. "Very good, Squire Gabrielle. Very good." He shook her hand, knight style by gripping her wrist and nodded a good bye. Gabrielle was overjoyed when she heard all the men that had laughed at her pathetic performance last time were clapping and cheering. The Amazon searched the crowd and saw Glenn who was clapping the loudest and grinning ear to ear. She ran to him and snatched him into a tight enthusiastic hug that he returned. "I did it! I actually did it!" Gabrielle was screaming. "Oh gods, I did it!" "That was great!" Glenn cried. He was stroking her back and so grateful just to touch her. Gabrielle released Glenn only to grab him in another hug. She was laughing and crying at the same time and couldn't stop yelling, "I did it! I won!" They walked back to the castle holding hands. Once they reached the door, Gabrielle broke into a run. "I'd like to see that empty-headed Countess of Whatever-that-stupid-village- is do that!" she said tartly not caring that her voice was carrying throughout the castle. "Watch your tongue, savage!" a girl ordered behind them. "Get away from Sir Glenn!" she ordered. "I'd watch yours, Countess Marian, I wouldn't like to see another pretty outfit of yours get mucked up cleaning the stables for your insolent tongue." Gabrielle said falsely thoughtful. Marian gave an unladylike snarl and threw herself clumsily at Gabrielle who side stepped away. Gabrielle chortled and walked away with Glenn at her side again. Marian got up and grabbed a chunk of the Amazon's hair and yanked as hard as she could. Gabrielle cried out and swung her leg out as she spun around striking Marian in the side. Gabrielle tried to escape casually as Magus had taught her that the easiest way to evade fighting was plainly walking away. Marian tackled Gabrielle from behind; the Amazon-squire was caught by surprise and was thrown to the ground. Gabrielle rolled over and Marian pinned her down and began to beat her wildly on the head and shoulders with both hands. Glenn tried to rip the girl off his squire but couldn't. Gabrielle palm heeled the Countess in the jaw with a cry of effort. Marian screamed and rolled off of Gabrielle. The Amazon flipped into an upright stance and hauled the Marian to her feet. "I'll never stop until you're put in your place, you underbred savage Amazon trash!" Marian snarled. Gabrielle's eyes filled with intense fury and she gave her a look that would have shot flames and punched Marian right in the eye. With the strength she had built up over the weeks, the strike made Marian jerk back. The Countess shrieked and tried to attack Gabrielle again but Glenn stepped in and got in between them. Gabrielle was trying to get another punch or kick but Glenn wouldn't let her. "Girls, please!" Glenn yelled. "Marian, Gabrielle calm yourselves!" he ordered. "I'm not through with you yet." Marian informed Gabrielle as she stormed off. Before storming off herself Gabrielle muttered under her breath, "Bitch." By the time they entered the mess hall for lunch, Gabrielle had forgotten the skirmish and was ecstatically telling her other friends about her bout.
"Fantastic!" Schala cried. "Way to go, Gabby!" Crono cuffed her on the back. "The best part is I've got six more weeks to get better!" Gabrielle told them. "I need to work on tilting though. I just started hitting the dot you painted on the quintain shield yesterday." "We'll make a knight of you yet, Gabby." Magus said with a smile.
* * *
Gabrielle woke up on her own the next day and dressed and ate a quick breakfast thinking Glenn was already in the practice yard waiting for her. She ran into Ayla on the way there. Glenn, Magus, and Crono were in the practice yard right now discussing how Glenn would tell Gabrielle about his feelings for her and they told Ayla to NOT let Gabrielle enter the yard until they had given the signal. Ayla gasped when she saw her leave the mess so quickly, "Gabrielle, wait!" she cried. "Sit. Why in hurry?" "Glenn's probably waiting for me." Gabrielle protested. "He gets mad when I get out there late." "Sit and relax for second. It help muscles if they rest." Ayla told her. "Ayla, I really can't be late. Sorry." Gabrielle sprinted out of the mess. Ayla raced after her but didn't see which way the girl went. There were hundreds of exits and Ayla knew only a few by heart and one of them was not the one to the practice yards. She cursed and continued to race around trying to remember the way.
* * * "I don't see why you can't just say "I love you" and be done with it." Magus complained putting a gloved hand to the bridge of his nose. "It's more complicated than that." Glenn retorted. "I can't just say that. She'd freak out." "Say it." Crono ordered. "Say what?" "Say 'I love Gabrielle'" Crono ordered again. "I love Gabrielle." Glenn murmured with a weird look on his face. "Again." Magus commanded. "Louder." "I love Gabrielle." He said louder. Gabrielle was about to slip through the gate into the yard but darted back behind the tall grass growing around the fence surrounding the yard and peeked through a gap in them. "Again!" Crono cried. "Louder! Say everything you love about her!" Glenn took a few big breaths invigorated by what he was actually saying. "I love Gabrielle!" he shouted. Gabrielle stifled a gasp and tried to stay quiet although her eyes were big as saucers. "Her gorgeous hair that glitters in the sun, her sparkling eyes, that free spirit she has, she's funny and clever, and her determination and her strength against all these prejudices drives me wild!" As Glenn blurted all this out Crono and Magus exchanged looks as if to say, "I wish I never asked!" "What drives you wild, Glenn?" Marle wanted to know, She climbed over the waist high wood log fence and walked up to the three young men. "Nothing." Glenn snapped turning crimson. Marle grinned slyly, "Oh, there is something." She said circling the knight. "Come on. I won't tell anyone." "He was telling us everything he loves about Gabrielle." Crono told her. "Crono!" hissed a very vexed Glenn. "Oh, now I see!" Marle chortled. "Well? What d'you love about her?" "Her gorgeous hair, sparkling eyes, free spirit," Magus named off the items on his fingers. "Funny, clever, and her determination and strength against prejudices drives him wild." "That's quite a list, Glenn." Marle told him. Glenn, who was still scarlet said, "Well, that's what I love about her." "Have you told her yet?" Marle asked. "No." Magus answered for him. "Where is that girl? Shouldn't she be here by now?" "Great, she slept in." Glenn groaned. Gabrielle rolled her eyes as she felt a shadow being cast over her. "Gabrielle!" Ayla hissed. "How much you hear?" she demanded. "I just got here." She lied. "You lie and Ayla know it!" Ayla whispered. "Come. Pretend you heard nothing and go into yard." Gabrielle stood slowly and messed up her hair a bit and pretended to be out of breath when she ran into the yard. "Sorry, I slept in!" she panted. "It's all right. Hey, let's go see how that gelding of yours is doing." Glenn held Gabrielle's left hand and pushed her gently with the hand he put around her waist. "But, Rebel's fine, Glenn really." Gabrielle protested but was almost to the door when she said that. The stables were only about fifty feet from the yard Glenn and Gabrielle practiced in. Gabrielle opened Rebel's stall and stroked her mount between his eyes and offered him an apple. The horse neighed contently as Gabrielle continued to cosset him. "See, he's fine." Gabrielle informed him. "Now can we practice now? I'm not even going to slack off a day!" "Sure, let's go." Glenn reluctantly said. Back in the yard, Glenn and Gabrielle practiced bouts for about an hour. Gabrielle feinted a blow to Glenn's right then slashed to his left nicking his shirt. She blocked Glenn's counted with her blade and they disengaged. Gabrielle knocked Glenn's sword out of his hands and put her sword to his throat in the "kill" position. "You're still going easy on me!" Gabrielle accused him once she put her blade down. Suddenly someone clapped. Glenn and Gabrielle jumped to see Queen Leene standing there; the queen had been watching the entire battle. "Very good, Squire Gabrielle." She remarked. "I can see you will be ready by November." She said mentioning the month Gabrielle's testing was going to be in. "Wow, it's only October, Your Majesty?" Gabrielle inquired politely. "Gods, it seems this training has lasted forever." "We started in mid-September and if I'm correct it's mid-October." Glenn told her. "Whoa, I lost complete track of time." Gabrielle announced. "Hey, but that means I'll be sixteen in a couple of days." "That's good." Queen Leene said kindly. "Well, I better go. You're doing great, Squire Gabrielle. And you too, Sir Glenn." Gabrielle bowed as well as Glenn. "Thank you, Your Majesty." They said in unison. She nodded deeply and left.
A/N: OMG! What's going to happen? Well read and find out!
Chapter Six: Woman Knight (Part One - Training) Gabrielle was shocked. She had no idea the Amazons still lived in this era. "Why? Why are they going to war?" she wanted to know. Her body had gone numb and she was shaking. "I don't know but if you go it might make a treaty more possible." He replied. Gabrielle nodded. "I'll go." She told him. "All right." Glenn said. "Are you sure?" "Yes. It's my people and I'm going to help them." Gabrielle said boldly.
* * * The party crammed into Epoch and traveled to A.D 600. After seeing A.D 1000 it wasn't a total shock but Gabrielle still liked it. They met the King and Queen. Gabrielle was announced as an Amazon and the King raised his eyebrows. Marle told the story about how Gabrielle saved her from the ice and Queen Leene rose from her throne. "You must be brave, young lady. We're glad you're here to help." She said. "We have prepared a welcome back feast for you, Sir Glenn." He looked at Gabrielle and the others. "And I guess you will be guests of honor." "Thank you, Your Majesty." Gabrielle said when Glenn nudged her.
* * * The feast was large and grand with lots of food and drink. Afterward there was dancing and music. The dancing was in full swing when the doors to the Great Hall burst open. All the knights put a hand to their sword hilts. "Hello!" a burly man sauntered into the hall. "We would like to speak with the Queen." Gabrielle immediately recognized his tongue as one of an Amazon of the north. "Where is she?" he demanded. No one understood what he was saying. He pulled out a grimy crossbow. "Tell me where she is or I'll," he snatched a young girl. "Shoot her!" "No!" Gabrielle quickly reverted to the Amazon dialect. "I don't know what you want but the Queen does not wish to speak with you!" "You have ten seconds before I have everyone here made into pin cushions!" he shouted. "I'm the only one that understands you, can't you see?" Gabrielle told him.
"You're my ticket to the Queen then!" Suddenly, the Queen emerged from the hall. "Ah. Your Majesty." He bowed mockingly. He threw the girl away from him who ran frantically to a couple. Leene looked perplexed, when he spoke it was like hearing gibberish. "I wish to send you my regards!" he aimed the crossbow. "No!" Gabrielle screamed. If Queen Leene was killed by this man then the hopes of a treaty would vanish. Gabrielle tackled the man around the hips as he fired the crossbow but the shot was upward not toward the Queen. "Gabrielle!" Glenn cried. He tried to run to her but Crono and Magus stopped him. The two Amazons tumbled around until Gabrielle rolled away and quickly regained her posture. The Amazon drew a crude dagger and charged at Gabrielle with a war cry. Gabrielle sidestepped and watched as the male Amazon flew forward and land on his face. "Leave or I will seriously hurt you." Gabrielle whispered in Amazon. The man did not answer. Gabrielle rolled him over and saw his dagger was thrust into his own chest. "Impaled on your own dagger, hm?" Gabrielle muttered. "FOR THE AMAZONS!" Another man had emerged from the doors and was charging at Gabrielle with a well-made long sword. Gabrielle ducked his slashed for her face and came up to ram her shoulder into his chest making him fall to the ground. He grabbed her hair as he fell and dragged her with him. Glenn ripped away from Magus and Crono and ran to Gabrielle as the Amazon was trying to choke her to death by wrapping his arm around her neck. "Don't move or she dies!" screamed the Amazon. Glenn stopped dead in his tracks. "He doesn't know what you're saying! Speak ENGLISH!" Gabrielle forced out. Amazons had to master several dialects to survive and prosper. Gabrielle was taught all four dialects of Amazon and she blessed them for teaching her. The Amazon briskly shook his head, "One move and I will kill her." He said in heavily accented English. "I mean it!" He tightened the hold on Gabrielle making her gasp. Gabrielle's vision was getting fuzzy, but she did make out Queen Leene stepping out from her shield of knights. "I don't know what you want," she began. "But it has nothing to do with that young woman. Release her at once!" she commanded. The moment he loosened his grip a bit, Gabrielle slammed her elbow into his ribs and stamped on his foot. He released her with a yelp and Gabrielle ran to Glenn. Suddenly, both Glenn and Gabrielle saw a glint of metal in the darkness of the doorway. Gabrielle's keen ears heard the click of a crossbow being loaded. She knew someone was taking aim for Queen Leene. If Her Majesty died tonight at the hands of an Amazon, there would be war for sure. Once the arrow went flying Gabrielle screamed, "Watch out!" She threw herself in the way of the arrow. The knights alerted by Gabrielle, gently but firmly yanked the queen out of the way while Glenn swiftly grabbed Gabrielle by the waist and spun to the left to get them both out of harm's way. A sharp pain went through Glenn's thigh as the arrow grazed it. He hissed and put a hand to his wound. Several knights came and detained the renegade Amazon. "Glenn!" Gabrielle cried. "You.you just saved my life." She murmured. "And you saved mine." Queen Leene stepped forward. "I thank you both." She nodded to Glenn and Gabrielle. Their friends ran to them. "Whoa!" Crono exclaimed. "How did you do that so fast?" he asked Glenn. He helped Glenn make a bandage from the hem of Glenn's shirt. "Gabby was pretty quick herself." Magus said. Gabrielle glared teasingly at Magus's nickname for her. "The party isn't over yet!" someone shouted. A muscular man in Amazon style clothes strode forward with a loaded crossbow in his hands. Knights surrounded the King and Queen once again and were ready to defend them. "These guys just don't stop do they?" Crono spat acidly. "I thought Amazons were women." Lucca whispered to Gabrielle. "They are, but how d'you think we have grow in population?" Gabrielle replied. "I'll explain later." "Who killed my tribesmen?" the man demanded. "Who?" he shouted. "I did." Gabrielle announced. "That's only because they were attacking my friends." "You think that makes it better?" he inquired. "It doesn't. Prepare to die!" He shouted. "Look out!" Magus yelled. Magus shoved Gabrielle out of the way and snatched the incoming arrow out of the air. Marle moved closer to Magus gesturing to the arrow. Behind his cape his passed the arrow to her. "Thanks." Gabrielle murmured. "I've had my life saved a lot here." She smiled up at him. "How did you.?" the Amazon gasped. Marle ducked behind Magus as she loaded her small crossbow she never went without these days and took aim. "Keep him talking." She hissed. "Amazon males can't do that?" Magus wanted to know. "She could probably do that." He pointed to Gabrielle. The girl's "What?!" was cut short when Magus elbowed her in the ribs. "Er.yes, I could." She said. "How dare you insult an Amazon! I am a warrior and I will be-" Marle hit the target she was aiming for hitting him in the direct center of his chest. He fell like a stone and knights rushed to close the doors. "Nice shot." Gabrielle told Marle. "Thanks." She said. The party ended then and everyone retired to bed. Gabrielle pulled Glenn aside when they reached the guest's wing. "What is it?" Glenn wanted to know. "I just wanted to thank you. For doing what you did tonight." Gabrielle murmured. "It was nothing. You saved Her Majesty's life, you know. I think a treaty might be more possible now." Gabrielle smiled. "I really hope we don't go to war." Gabrielle whispered. "Trust me, we won't. Their Majesties don't just go to war with people without a very good reason." Glenn told her. "Well, we better get some sleep." Gabrielle said. "Good night." She said softly slipping into the hall. He walked to the door next to hers. "Good night." He murmured. Hesitating, he kissed the Amazon's cheek. She hesitated only a second before she kissed his cheek back. Gabrielle was glad the dim hallway made it hard to see her blush but little did she know Glenn was blushing too. She opened her door and closed it quietly. She sighed dreamily, leaning against her door. She touched the cheek Glenn had kissed telling herself never to wash it again. She changed into her bedclothes and hopped into bed and settling under the covers. Glenn was in the next room walking absently around his room in a circle thinking about what happened. He had kissed Gabrielle and she kissed him. It was just on the cheek but his insides did a somersault when it happened. He patted his bandaged thigh. A few moments ago it was throbbing, but now it felt almost numb. He sighed and put on his bedclothes and climbed into bed.
* * * Gabrielle awoke to a knock on her door. She flinched as the bright early morning sunrays that came through her window hit her eyes. It was just after dawn. She opened the door bleary-eyed. Another knock was heard. "Yes?" she croaked. There was a footman standing there at attention. "My lady, Their Majesties would like to see you." He said formally. "All right. Let me dress first." Gabrielle nearly whined. "Of course. I shall be waiting here." He said kindly. Gabrielle resisted the urge to slam the door in his face. She walked to the bag she hastily packed and yanked out a pair of black breeches (when I say this I mean long pants, NOT the weird ones that come to your knee) and a matching black shirt. Over it she pulled on her favorite tunic of forest green with a silver Gryphon embroidered on it. She ran a brush through her hair and quickly braided it. She opened the door and allowed the footman to escort her not to the Great Hall but a large dinning room where everyone was sitting down to a large breakfast. She bowed awkwardly to the King and Queen. "You wished to see me, Your Majesties?" she inquired politely. "Yes, Gabrielle, sit down please." Queen Leene gestured to the seat on her right and next to Glenn. She gingerly sat down and looked at her friends as if to say, "What the hell do they want?" They merely shrugged. "Gabrielle, you did a great service to the realm, saving my lady like you did" King Guardia explained. "We would like to reward you in the greatest way we can." "Dear, we'd like to knight you." Queen Leene told her bluntly. "A knight?" Gabrielle retorted nearly dropping her fork. "Yes." King Guardia replied. Gabrielle stood there flabbergasted with her mouth open. "Shut.up!" she ordered carelessly. Glenn spit out his juice back into his cup. Marle squeaked and jumped and dropped her knife and fork. Magus nearly choked on the mouthful of pancakes that was in his mouth. Crono darted his head to Gabrielle looking appalled. Dishes clattered as Ayla pounded the table in shock yelling, "Whoa!". Robo made a noise that sounded like rickety gate as he leaped in the air, startle by Lucca spit her water out on him. Schala grabbed Magus's arm and squealed. "I beg your pardon!" Queen Leene was equally shocked as the group. "Uh, what Gabrielle's meant was something like, 'oh gods!'" Glenn explained. "I see. And Sir Glenn you will be her knight-master." Queen Leene told him, making him spit his juice out on his plate. "Excuse me, Your Majesty?" he inquired. "Knight-master?" "Yes. You will train her and her tests will be held three months from now." King Guardia said. Gabrielle and Glenn ate in total silence. When the meal was over, Glenn steered Gabrielle to an available practice yard.
* * * "This," he held a plain sword across his palms. "Is a sword." He handed it to Gabrielle who was scowling. "I know what a sword looks like." She snapped. When she took the sword by the hilt, she thought her arm was going to fall off. She made a face. "It heavier than it looks, huh?" he teased. "Shut up and get on with it." Gabrielle ordered. "Ok, the first thing you need to work on is stance." Glenn showed her his stance. Gabrielle imitated him. "Good. It really helps that you know a lot of staff moves because the staff is a stepping stone to the sword." Glenn showed her all the different stances with the sword and drilled her on them. "Ok, good. Now you need to know how to grip it." He took up her sword she had put down and fitted it into her right hand. Gabrielle glared and put it into her left hand. "Lefty, hm?" he inquired. Gabrielle nodded proudly. "This is going to be different. Ok, show me how you think you'd grip a sword." She gripped the hilt as she would her staff. "Here." He went behind her and put his hand on top of hers to reposition them. "See, it's like a V with your first finger and thumb." Gabrielle nodded. "Now this's a little difficult." Glenn said. He clipped the sword's sheath to Gabrielle's belt. "Sheath it." Gabrielle did it unnecessarily slow, rolling her eyes. "Now take it out." This was a more difficult task. It took Gabrielle several tries before she got it out in one motion. Even then it was extremely clumsy. Glenn moved on to teaching her a basic thrust and a block to countered the thrust. They were at it for nearly an hour and a half when Crono and Marle came into the yard. "Oh, great." Gabrielle groaned as she lunged and went to strike Glenn's chest but he blocked easily. "An audience." "Since when do you use a sword, Gabrielle?" Crono asked. "Since what I did last night possessed Their Majesties to knight me. I have to prove my sword skills in three months." Gabrielle retorted. She sheathed her sword. "Watch." She very clumsily yanked her sword out of its sheath. "See? I can't even do this!" "You've got to follow through." Crono told her. "You stop right when its out and try to twirl it. You can't be fancy now." Gabrielle let out a frustrated sigh and tried it again. She tried to follow though and nearly sliced Crono's nose. "Faster." Glenn advised. "Make it a nice fast move." Gabrielle did it faster and Crono had to duck to avoid getting beheaded by his friend's nearly flying sword. She blushed and apologized to Crono. "That's all right. You're just starting," he assured her. "If you can do all what you do with a staff, you'll master the sword in no time." He patted her shoulder. "I could give you a few pointers on archery." Marle offered. "A knight needs to know how to shoot a decent arrow." "I'm pretty good at archery but I wouldn't mind getting better." Gabrielle smiled at her friend. Without thinking what she was doing, Gabrielle put her sword back in its sheath. "Damn it!" she cried. Now she would have to take it out again. "Here." Glenn stepped behind Gabrielle again and wrapped his arm around her to put his left hand on her hilt. "Do it slow." He guided her though the motion again slower. "See?" "Not really." Gabrielle whined. "It still doesn't feel right." "Well, we've been at it for two hours and I'm starving." Glenn said allowing her to sheath her sword by herself. "Let's take a break." Glenn told her.
* * * "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow." Gabrielle said loudly as she lifted her full cup of apple juice. She took a gulp then went to set it down saying, "Ow, ow, ow." Until Magus, who was on her left snatched the cup gently and set it down for her. "What did you do to her, Glenn?" he demanded. "I did absolutely nothing!" he retorted. Gabrielle snorted in disbelief. "Oh c'mon Gabrielle it's not that bad." "My arms feel like they have lead weights strapped to them!" she complained. "Good. Pain is good when it comes to the sword." Glenn told her. "It means we're making progress." "Well, progress is good, Glenn." Schala said. "But it won't do her any good if she dies in the process!" "She won't die." Glenn snapped. "Not with me teaching her. C'mon, Gabrielle." "More practice?" the Amazon wailed. "Yes. One session a day won't do anything." Glenn told her. He grabbed her arm and towed her out of the room. "If I die, please avenge me." Gabrielle pleaded as she was dragged from the room. "It can't be as bad as you're making it." Glenn told her as they walked down the hall. "Yes it is!" Gabrielle protested. "You have to strengthen your arms." Glenn advised. "Do some push ups once in a while or something." Despite his feelings for her, his voice was stern. The walked into the yard they had claimed before and got to work. It was sunset before they trudged up the hill for the castle. As Gabrielle bathed and changed, she felt every bruise and cut she had gotten. A royal healer had bandaged her fingers but they still throbbed.
* * * "Wake up!" Glenn was shaking her shoulder. "What?" Gabrielle murmured still three-quarters sleeping. "C'mon, you're never going to master the sword lying in bed all day." Glenn growled. Gabrielle looked out the window and saw it was barely dawn. She clumsily changed and ate a small breakfast and walked into the practice yard. They reviewed everything they had done yesterday and Glenn tested her on how fast she could block a sword thrust. Gabrielle was nearly half asleep and got nicked on her cheek just below her eye. "You have to pay attention!" Glenn was getting frustrated. "Here, let me show you a move to block quickly." For one solid week, Gabrielle's routine was the same. Wake up at dawn, breakfast, sword practice until lunch, lunch, more sword practice with added lessons including archery from Marle and more hand to hand combat training from Magus and Crono and a fellow knight taught her the basics of tilting. Ayla helped her with her aching muscles and taught her ways to strengthen them. Gabrielle found that the things the Amazons had taught really helped. Then she had dinner with her friends and studied the law of the realm until late in the night. Her progress in sword fighting went as fast as a swimmer in mud. Often Glenn had to reposition her grip or fix a stance. The quintains, dummies painted like warriors with a shield as one arm and a sandbag on the other. If the tilter hit anyplace other than the target shield they would get a buffet from the sandbag as they rode by. Gabrielle had huge bruises on her back from both getting thwacked by the sandbag and falling off her gelding she'd named, Rebel. She was best at archery and hand-to-hand combat. Marle saw that she had a good aim and started working on her range once the girl could hit the bull's eye every time. She was pleased with her new apprentices progress. Ayla watched as her friend went from not being able to do even twenty-five push-ups to breezing through thirty-five. Glenn tried desperately to keep his raging feelings for his Amazon squire in check and was succeeding for the most part. Despite all his teaching Gabrielle was still heavy-handed with a sword but she could at least get it out of the sheath without beheaded one of her friends. One day after breakfast, Gabrielle went to the practice yard to see Glenn talking with some other knights. "Gabrielle!" he called. "There's a small tournament today. I signed us both up." Gabrielle was shocked. "What?" "Don't worry you're with other novices." He told her. That only made her feel a little less nervous. "Calling Squire Gabrielle and Squire Jameson to the ring." An announcer bellowed. Glenn tossed her a helmet and before he knew what he was doing he kissed her forehead, "Good luck!" He pushed her in the direction of the ring. Gabrielle stopped with her back still turned to Glenn and she touched her forehead. Another kiss? She shook off the dreamy feeling like the one she got before and went to the ring where a knight with a shield and broadsword. Someone gave her a shield that she numbly but on her right arm. Looking at the helmet Glenn given her she smiled. It had 'Gabrielle' engraved on the inside where her ear would be. Taking a better look she saw it was a smooth sturdy metal. It was gray with a silver sheen with a thick and wide stripe of metal that was a lighter color that would cover part of her forehead and a point came down. It was like a metal widow's peak. When she put it on she saw that it fit her head perfectly. She could feel the point that came down until it was almost between her eyes. It was like to sideway arches on her forehead. She felt a little more confident it her new helmet but was still scared out of her wits. Only yesterday did she begin to actually get her sword in front of her face in time to block Glenn's faster than lightning strike. "Bow to your opponent." The referee barked. Gabrielle and Jameson obeyed. "Begin!" Gabrielle barely got her shield up before the broadsword of her opponent came down on her. He bore down trying to make her fall but widened his eyes when he realized Gabrielle was stronger than she looked. They disengaged and Gabrielle made a frantic slash for his chest but it was blocked. Jameson lunged gracefully to stab her in the chest but Gabrielle made a frantic retreat only to trip on her own feet and fall on her back. She closed her eyes almost to tears with humiliation as the knights and squires around burst into roaring laughter. When she did open her eyes she saw Jameson with his sword to her throat in the "kill" position. "Squire Jameson is the winner!" the referee announced and Gabrielle lurched to her feet. She stormed out of the practice yard. "Gabrielle wait!" Glenn called. "I saw what happened. It's all right; it was your first bout." "I was horrible, I know!" Gabrielle spat. "Don't bother hiding it! I told you I'm no good with swords, gods, I quit!" she ripped off her helmet and hurled it at Glenn. She stormed off; Glenn let her. He stood there holding her helmet thinking about what had happened. Gabrielle was doing fine until she tripped, Glenn thought, if she hadn't she would still be fighting right now. Glenn felt a hand on his shoulder. Glenn turned around to see magus and Crono. "We saw the whole thing." Magus told him. "She wants to quit, huh?" "It's not like our Gabby to quit." Crono said thoughtfully. "She was about to stop in tilting when on her next run she hit the target. Man, she was so excited." "Swords and our Gabby don't go together." Magus murmured. "All her other things she's making steady progress in except this one. The most important one, in fact." "We should let her cool off before, we talk to her." Crono advised. "Have you told her? About you-know-what?" "Well," Glenn began who was silent until then. "Yes and no." "Meaning?" Crono inquired. "I told her that I liked her. A lot." Glenn replied. "No! You have to say that you love her!" Magus protested. "Isn't that true?" "Yes." Glenn said almost immediately. "Then you have to tell her." Crono said. "And you're going to do that right now!" He turned Glenn around and with Magus's help they pushed him into the castle and up to the guest wing. "You said yourself that we should wait until she's cooled off." Glenn hissed. "Until who's cooled off?" Schala emerged from her room. "No one." Magus snapped quickly. They stepped away from Gabrielle's door with fake innocent smiles. "Absolutely no one." "Right." Crono added. "Y-yeah." Glenn assured her. "You guys are hiding something." Schala told them her eyes narrowing. "Tell me." She ordered. "There's nothing to tell." Crono said backing up with the other guys. Schala followed them. "Would you like me to get Marle?" Schala wanted to know. "She's particularly good at getting things out of people. Especially you, Crono." "All right." Crono stopped. Glenn looked at him pleadingly. "Glenn's been in love with Gabrielle for a while and we were dragging him up here to make him tell her." He practically yelled and was rewarded with a punch in the stomach from Glenn. "She's going to hear you!" he hissed. "Oh, I already knew that." Schala piped. "It's really obvious, Glenn. Sorry." The knight blushed and tried to make an escape but Magus and Crono grabbed his shirt collar and yanked him back. "Oh, no you don't." Crono murmured. "You're going to tell her now." "Could you guys please be a little quieter?" Gabrielle groaned. "I'd like to get some sleep." "Could we speak with you just for a second?" Magus wanted to know. "Glenn has something he'd like to say to you." "If it has anything even related to swords, tournaments or knighthood then I don't want to hear it." Gabrielle snapped. "It's nothing related to that." Crono reassured her. He shoved Glenn forward. "Yes?" Gabrielle leaned against the doorframe. Glenn turned around to look helplessly at Crono and Magus who gestured forward silently telling him to do it now. Schala stood with her hands on her hips trying not to laugh. "What going on, guys?" Marle wanted to know coming into the hallway Lucca, Robo, and Ayla with her. "Is something wrong?" Robo inquired. "How did your bout go today, Lady Gabrielle?" Robo had been addressing her this way despite Gabrielle fierce protests. Gabrielle snarled and was about to close the door when Glenn put a firm hand on the door. He looked down not able to look her in the eye. Marle drew a breath quickly as if she just realized what was happening. "Um.girls, I think I wanted to show you a new horse that came in. Oh, she's a beauty, c'mon!" She dragged Ayla and Schala away. "Robo, remember those experiments we were performing?" Lucca asked her metallic friend. She had realized what Glenn wanted to do and knew he wanted to be alone. "No, Lucca we were conducting any research-" he was cut by Lucca pushing him out of the hall. "You know.the re.search." She hissed as she removed him from the hall. Crono and Magus leaned against the wall in a pretend conversation; they were wanted to make sure Glenn had actually told Gabrielle what they wanted him to. Gabrielle rubbed her eyes drowsily, "What d'you want to tell me?" "I wanted to tell you that.tell you that.I think.I think that." Glenn stammered and struggled what words to use. Magus and Crono were hanging onto every word. "You think what?" Gabrielle prodded impatiently. "I think you should practice using a shield. You weren't ready for that. I'm sorry." Glenn said trying to inject cheerfulness into his shaking voice. Behind him, Crono and Magus sighed with disgust and waited impatiently for Glenn to say what they'd dragged him there to say. "That's all?" Gabrielle inquired. Glenn was about to say "yes" when Magus and Crono strode forward. "No. Glenn tell Gabrielle that.other thing you wanted to tell her." Crono raised his voice slightly as he told him this. "What other thing, Crono?" Glenn asked innocently. He glared. "That thing you know very well of, Glenn." Magus said firmly. "Oh!" Glenn cried tapping his forehead with his fist giving a false smile. "That thing. Gabrielle, they want me to tell you to rest and not worry about lessons today." "Is that all now?" Gabrielle snapped. "Would you excuse us a second?" Crono asked Gabrielle who nodded. Glenn was dragged out of the hall. "You have to tell her. Now!" Crono told him. "Why?" Glenn whined. "I'm not ready." "You love her don't you?" Magus wanted to know. "Yes, I do but-" "Then it'd be easy to tell her!" Crono protested. Glenn paced around; his insides were churning with anxiety. "Ok, I'll tell her. But tomorrow, ok? I need to think about what I'm going to say." Glenn told them. "All right." Magus said. "But tomorrow and no later." "Fine." Glenn said.
* * * Glenn managed to stall again the next day and the next giving the best excuses he could. Soon it was nearing the halfway point in Gabrielle's training and the girl's progress had finally begun to budge. She could whip her sword out of its sheath in one swift motion and could hold her own in battle. When another tournament came up, Gabrielle enlisted at once eager to see how the next five weeks had done for her sword skills. She was not against Squire Jameson but Sir Trent, his knight-master. "Bow to your opponent!" the referee barked as he did before. Gabrielle and Trent obeyed. "Begin!" Gabrielle lunged in instantly and retreated a slash by Trent, nearly whooping with joy when she didn't trip. She lunged again and again making Trent back up but he went to the side. He twirled his sword in his hand and struck at her left side; Gabrielle's sword was jarred by the impact as she blocked the heavy blow. Trent advanced with a series of slashes that would cut her to ribbons if she hadn't ducked or blocked. Suddenly, Gabrielle saw the opening Glenn had showed her to look for in order to disarm her opponent. In her sword went like a metal snake, she pushed down, forward and up, making Trent's sword fly out of his hands. Gabrielle swung her sword to come within scant inches of the man's nose. She felt like her lungs were on fire and she wanted to pass out onto the grass and sleep until supper. "I yield." Sir Trent announced, kneeling. "Very good, Squire Gabrielle. Very good." He shook her hand, knight style by gripping her wrist and nodded a good bye. Gabrielle was overjoyed when she heard all the men that had laughed at her pathetic performance last time were clapping and cheering. The Amazon searched the crowd and saw Glenn who was clapping the loudest and grinning ear to ear. She ran to him and snatched him into a tight enthusiastic hug that he returned. "I did it! I actually did it!" Gabrielle was screaming. "Oh gods, I did it!" "That was great!" Glenn cried. He was stroking her back and so grateful just to touch her. Gabrielle released Glenn only to grab him in another hug. She was laughing and crying at the same time and couldn't stop yelling, "I did it! I won!" They walked back to the castle holding hands. Once they reached the door, Gabrielle broke into a run. "I'd like to see that empty-headed Countess of Whatever-that-stupid-village- is do that!" she said tartly not caring that her voice was carrying throughout the castle. "Watch your tongue, savage!" a girl ordered behind them. "Get away from Sir Glenn!" she ordered. "I'd watch yours, Countess Marian, I wouldn't like to see another pretty outfit of yours get mucked up cleaning the stables for your insolent tongue." Gabrielle said falsely thoughtful. Marian gave an unladylike snarl and threw herself clumsily at Gabrielle who side stepped away. Gabrielle chortled and walked away with Glenn at her side again. Marian got up and grabbed a chunk of the Amazon's hair and yanked as hard as she could. Gabrielle cried out and swung her leg out as she spun around striking Marian in the side. Gabrielle tried to escape casually as Magus had taught her that the easiest way to evade fighting was plainly walking away. Marian tackled Gabrielle from behind; the Amazon-squire was caught by surprise and was thrown to the ground. Gabrielle rolled over and Marian pinned her down and began to beat her wildly on the head and shoulders with both hands. Glenn tried to rip the girl off his squire but couldn't. Gabrielle palm heeled the Countess in the jaw with a cry of effort. Marian screamed and rolled off of Gabrielle. The Amazon flipped into an upright stance and hauled the Marian to her feet. "I'll never stop until you're put in your place, you underbred savage Amazon trash!" Marian snarled. Gabrielle's eyes filled with intense fury and she gave her a look that would have shot flames and punched Marian right in the eye. With the strength she had built up over the weeks, the strike made Marian jerk back. The Countess shrieked and tried to attack Gabrielle again but Glenn stepped in and got in between them. Gabrielle was trying to get another punch or kick but Glenn wouldn't let her. "Girls, please!" Glenn yelled. "Marian, Gabrielle calm yourselves!" he ordered. "I'm not through with you yet." Marian informed Gabrielle as she stormed off. Before storming off herself Gabrielle muttered under her breath, "Bitch." By the time they entered the mess hall for lunch, Gabrielle had forgotten the skirmish and was ecstatically telling her other friends about her bout.
"Fantastic!" Schala cried. "Way to go, Gabby!" Crono cuffed her on the back. "The best part is I've got six more weeks to get better!" Gabrielle told them. "I need to work on tilting though. I just started hitting the dot you painted on the quintain shield yesterday." "We'll make a knight of you yet, Gabby." Magus said with a smile.
* * *
Gabrielle woke up on her own the next day and dressed and ate a quick breakfast thinking Glenn was already in the practice yard waiting for her. She ran into Ayla on the way there. Glenn, Magus, and Crono were in the practice yard right now discussing how Glenn would tell Gabrielle about his feelings for her and they told Ayla to NOT let Gabrielle enter the yard until they had given the signal. Ayla gasped when she saw her leave the mess so quickly, "Gabrielle, wait!" she cried. "Sit. Why in hurry?" "Glenn's probably waiting for me." Gabrielle protested. "He gets mad when I get out there late." "Sit and relax for second. It help muscles if they rest." Ayla told her. "Ayla, I really can't be late. Sorry." Gabrielle sprinted out of the mess. Ayla raced after her but didn't see which way the girl went. There were hundreds of exits and Ayla knew only a few by heart and one of them was not the one to the practice yards. She cursed and continued to race around trying to remember the way.
* * * "I don't see why you can't just say "I love you" and be done with it." Magus complained putting a gloved hand to the bridge of his nose. "It's more complicated than that." Glenn retorted. "I can't just say that. She'd freak out." "Say it." Crono ordered. "Say what?" "Say 'I love Gabrielle'" Crono ordered again. "I love Gabrielle." Glenn murmured with a weird look on his face. "Again." Magus commanded. "Louder." "I love Gabrielle." He said louder. Gabrielle was about to slip through the gate into the yard but darted back behind the tall grass growing around the fence surrounding the yard and peeked through a gap in them. "Again!" Crono cried. "Louder! Say everything you love about her!" Glenn took a few big breaths invigorated by what he was actually saying. "I love Gabrielle!" he shouted. Gabrielle stifled a gasp and tried to stay quiet although her eyes were big as saucers. "Her gorgeous hair that glitters in the sun, her sparkling eyes, that free spirit she has, she's funny and clever, and her determination and her strength against all these prejudices drives me wild!" As Glenn blurted all this out Crono and Magus exchanged looks as if to say, "I wish I never asked!" "What drives you wild, Glenn?" Marle wanted to know, She climbed over the waist high wood log fence and walked up to the three young men. "Nothing." Glenn snapped turning crimson. Marle grinned slyly, "Oh, there is something." She said circling the knight. "Come on. I won't tell anyone." "He was telling us everything he loves about Gabrielle." Crono told her. "Crono!" hissed a very vexed Glenn. "Oh, now I see!" Marle chortled. "Well? What d'you love about her?" "Her gorgeous hair, sparkling eyes, free spirit," Magus named off the items on his fingers. "Funny, clever, and her determination and strength against prejudices drives him wild." "That's quite a list, Glenn." Marle told him. Glenn, who was still scarlet said, "Well, that's what I love about her." "Have you told her yet?" Marle asked. "No." Magus answered for him. "Where is that girl? Shouldn't she be here by now?" "Great, she slept in." Glenn groaned. Gabrielle rolled her eyes as she felt a shadow being cast over her. "Gabrielle!" Ayla hissed. "How much you hear?" she demanded. "I just got here." She lied. "You lie and Ayla know it!" Ayla whispered. "Come. Pretend you heard nothing and go into yard." Gabrielle stood slowly and messed up her hair a bit and pretended to be out of breath when she ran into the yard. "Sorry, I slept in!" she panted. "It's all right. Hey, let's go see how that gelding of yours is doing." Glenn held Gabrielle's left hand and pushed her gently with the hand he put around her waist. "But, Rebel's fine, Glenn really." Gabrielle protested but was almost to the door when she said that. The stables were only about fifty feet from the yard Glenn and Gabrielle practiced in. Gabrielle opened Rebel's stall and stroked her mount between his eyes and offered him an apple. The horse neighed contently as Gabrielle continued to cosset him. "See, he's fine." Gabrielle informed him. "Now can we practice now? I'm not even going to slack off a day!" "Sure, let's go." Glenn reluctantly said. Back in the yard, Glenn and Gabrielle practiced bouts for about an hour. Gabrielle feinted a blow to Glenn's right then slashed to his left nicking his shirt. She blocked Glenn's counted with her blade and they disengaged. Gabrielle knocked Glenn's sword out of his hands and put her sword to his throat in the "kill" position. "You're still going easy on me!" Gabrielle accused him once she put her blade down. Suddenly someone clapped. Glenn and Gabrielle jumped to see Queen Leene standing there; the queen had been watching the entire battle. "Very good, Squire Gabrielle." She remarked. "I can see you will be ready by November." She said mentioning the month Gabrielle's testing was going to be in. "Wow, it's only October, Your Majesty?" Gabrielle inquired politely. "Gods, it seems this training has lasted forever." "We started in mid-September and if I'm correct it's mid-October." Glenn told her. "Whoa, I lost complete track of time." Gabrielle announced. "Hey, but that means I'll be sixteen in a couple of days." "That's good." Queen Leene said kindly. "Well, I better go. You're doing great, Squire Gabrielle. And you too, Sir Glenn." Gabrielle bowed as well as Glenn. "Thank you, Your Majesty." They said in unison. She nodded deeply and left.