Disclaimer: I don't own CT!
A/N: Training time! Well read and see how it goes!
Chapter Seven: Woman Knight (Part Two - One Night Left) As the weeks went by, Gabrielle's training got even more strenuous. Crono moved her to tilting at a wood ring and Magus started to spar with her. Marle started working wit different kinds of arrows like flame and ones that made a whistling noise when they flew. Lucca and Robo tested her every night on Guardian law and history. Ayla increased the amount of sit ups and push ups to do but saw that Gabrielle could easily do fifty of each without complaint. She was so busy, she forgot Glenn admitting to Crono and Magus that he loved her. Finally the day before the test, Crono and Magus cornered Glenn as he was leaving the mess hall after lunch. "You've got to tell her." Magus informed him arms folded across his chest. "Today." "You've stalled long enough." Crono said. "Has Glenn told Lady Gabrielle about his feelings for her?" Robo wanted to know. Crono and Magus had told their friend about what had been going on. Glenn shook his head. "I agree with Crono and Magus; you must tell her. She can't read your thoughts and your love is going to be one-sided if you don't tell her how you feel. She might feel the same way." "Ok, I'll go now." Glenn said holding his hands up in surrender. "I swear, I'll do it!" His friends gave him a doubting look. "Ok," Glenn cracked his knuckles. "Here I go." He walked to the guest wing with butterflies in his stomach. "Glenn!" Ayla cried. She grabbed his arm and yanked him away from Gabrielle's door. "Gabrielle heard you talk about her." Ayla admitted. "I couldn't stop her from going into the yard and she heard everything you said." "What?" he yelped. "She knows?" he demanded. Ayla nodded. "Oh, great!" he groaned. "This's going to be very interesting." He knocked on Gabrielle door and heard her call, "Come in!" Ayla mouthed, "Good luck" as he slowly opened the door and saw his squire reading a book on her desk. She smiled and held it up for him to see the title: Woman Warriors Through the Ages. Glenn grinned. "What's up?" she wanted to know sitting on her bed hugging her pillow. "Uh, I need to talk to you." Glenn announced sitting on her desk chair. "So talk." "About the fight tomorrow. Are you scared at all?" he asked. "No." Gabrielle said immediately. "I feel very prepared." Something behind her eyes was hiding something Glenn could see. "No jitters? No anxiety?" he inquired. He had discovered his butterflies had turned into fire breathing dragons and were raging in his stomach making him tremble. "I'm fine, Glenn!" she insisted. She laid down on her bed and sighed. "Why're you asking me this?" "Ok, enough beating around the bush." Glenn snapped. "Gabrielle, I know you heard me say.that I loved you a few weeks ago." She stayed silent. Glenn stood up and went to leave the room. "It's still true.I love you. You don't have to answer me now." Glenn forced it out and found he needed to sit down or he would fall over. "If you're scared about the fight coming up, I'll help you, ok? You just have to ask, that's all." Gabrielle refused to look into his eyes. He left the room silently and closed his door softly. Gabrielle jumped off her bed and ran out of her room into the hall. She ran out of the guest wing and dashed to the stables. She saw Magus there a few stalls away from Rebel's. His black stallion look a lot like the one he had rode in 12,000 B.C. She was shaking so badly she kept dropping her brushes as she combed her gelding. "Gold coin for your thoughts." Magus called over to her seeing her fidget. "You've known haven you." Gabrielle said absently as put Rebel's saddle on him. She made sure the scheming gelding hadn't swallowed a belly of air before tightening the girths. "Yes." Magus replied knowing what she was talking about. "I have for a while." He mounted his horse and walked to her stall. "C'mon, we'll take a ride in the Guardia Forest." "All right." Gabrielle murmured as she mounted.
* * * "Why didn't he just tell me?" Gabrielle wanted to know. "It'd've been a lot easier and faster." "I guess Glenn didn't see it that way." Magus told her. "It took a lot of bullying to get him to finally do it." Gabrielle looked at her saddle horn, "He said that if I was scared about the fight, he'd help me and that all I had to do was ask.what does he mean?" "Well," Magus began. "Are you scared about it?" he inquired. "Of course I am!" Gabrielle retorted. "I've never been more scared in my life!" "Then, Glenn's probably saying that he'll comfort you and help you through it." Magus concluded. "I advise you go talk to him." "But it's so awkward even to think of him now." Gabrielle protested. "Do you love him?" Magus asked. "I'm not sure. Good friends definitely, but I'm still not sure about loving him." Gabrielle replied carefully. "Oh, Gabrielle, you could never fool me when we were kids and you still can't!" Magus told her sharply. Gabrielle turned scarlet and fidgeted with her reigns. "I can tell, Gabrielle." He informed her. "You love him, trust me. It screams it in your eyes." "I'm still not sure." Gabrielle repeated. "Gods, Gabrielle, you need to realize what's before you!" Magus snapped. "Glenn truly loves you and you love him, it's only right for you to be together." "I need to think about this." Gabrielle announced. "Alone." She kicked Rebel to a gallop and left Magus alone. "Tell him your response quick! Before he eats himself alive." He called as he slowly turned his horse around and rode back for the castle.
* * * "Where is she?" Glenn demanded a sixth time. He was pacing nervously in his room where everyone was gathered. "Stop pacing, Glenn." Schala ordered. "You'll wear out the floor." Marle and Lucca turned their giggles into coughs when Glenn glared at them. "She said she needed to think, Glenn." Magus said. "Relax, she'll be back." "It's almost sunset!" Glenn retorted. He continued to pace around the room. Suddenly a door slammed next door. The waited until Gabrielle knocked on Marle door, which was four doors down. Marle raced to her room and opened the door. "Hey, Gabrielle." She greeted her cheerfully. "I have to talk to you." Gabrielle told her walking into the room. "What's up?" Marle inquired acting like she knew nothing. Crono, Magus, Lucca, Glenn, and Schala were pressing their ears to the adjoining door that went into Lucca's room while Robo tried to lecture them about eavesdropping. "You probably know this but Glenn told me that he loves me." Gabrielle said twisting her hands together. "Did he?" Marle asked. "Yes, he did!" Gabrielle retorted. "Then he said if I was scared about the test coming up, he'd help me." "Hmmm. I think you should see him tonight and talk." Marle advised. "Are you scared?" she wanted to know. "Of course I am!" Gabrielle cried. "Only someone with no nerves wouldn't be!" "D'you love him?" Marle asked inspecting her nails. After all the thinking she had been doing, Gabrielle had started to think that she did but her Amazon will stayed in place. Glenn held his breath dying to know what her answer was. "I think so, but I'm not sure." Gabrielle said gingerly. Glenn tried to be satisfied but truly wanted her to say that she loved him too. "Gabrielle, how can you not be sure?" Marle demanded. "Remember at the lake? The stables? The ball? After all the time you've spent together? I see you guys flirt all the time!" "I'll know by tomorrow. I just need a night to stew this all over." Gabrielle replied. "If I were you, I'd spent tonight sleeping." Marle suggested. "Good gods, I'm starving, let's go get some supper." "All right." Gabrielle left the room with the princess and the others exited the room. Gabrielle refused to make eye contact with Glenn fearing she'd blush. Normally the two sat next to each other during meals but tonight saw them sitting on opposite ends of the table they had claimed. Gabrielle tried to concentrate on her food and the conversation but her mind kept lingering on two things: Glenn and the test tomorrow. The test would be three rounds with three fresh knights in sword fighting and she would have to hit three different targets with two types of arrows. She would be expected to hit the quintain and ring correctly as well as unseat an opponent in three tries. She would also have a written test on Guardian law and history. It would take all morning and some of the afternoon with a short break for lunch. When she couldn't stand it anymore she excused herself and walked out of the mess hall and walked to the terrace along the west wall of the castle. From there one could see a marvelous view of Guardia Forest and a sunset. She leaned against the stone parapet and sighed. She jumped when a hand was laid on her shoulder. It was Lucca. "Don't worry," she ordered. "You've passed every quiz and test Robo and I could think of. Crono says you've beaten almost every squire in tilting and Magus said you kick his ass almost every time you spar. Marle says you're as good as her at archery. Ayla says your strength is three times what is was when you began." Her voice was kind when she said this. "And Glenn says your great with a sword now. He also told me to tell you good luck. I guess he's too nervous to talk to you now." Gabrielle sighed. Lucca patted her shoulder and left silently. "Gabrielle?" Glenn called. He ran up to her. "No matter what happens tomorrow, you're still going to be considered a knight in my book. Come with me, I need to talk to you." He beckoned her and led her to a fountain; they sat on the rim. "I hope what I said doesn't make you more nervous about tomorrow." Glenn said. "I just needed to tell you how I feel." "It's all right. And I want to thank you for helping me these three months. I was pretty pathetic when we started." "Only one thing is true about that." Glenn told her. He took her hand and looked into her eyes. "You're pretty." Gabrielle smiled and blushed. "Thank you." She said. Her heartbeat quickened and her breathing was heavier. "Thanks to you, I can use a sword and not behead anyone for my pains." "You made the progress." Glenn informed her. "You're fantastic with a blade now." He gave her hand a squeeze. Gabrielle nearly yelped and jumped up but bit her lip and stayed where she was. "Gods! I wish tomorrow would just come." She cried. "I'm sick of waiting!" "Oh, trust me, it'll come." Glenn told her grimly. "Well, it's sure taking its damn time!" Gabrielle groaned. "Well, Marle told me I should get some sleep," Gabrielle yawned. "And it looks like she's right. Good night." She said, desperately hoping Glenn wouldn't kiss her. "Good night." Glenn murmured letting go of her hand. He stood when she did and they hugged. Glenn kissed her forehead gingerly and released her. Gabrielle looked at him and their eyes held; then Glenn's mouth was on hers. Their lips had only touch for a second or two when Gabrielle pushed away startled. "Whoa!" she yelped. "That wasn't funny!" Gabrielle snapped looking back at him. Glenn pulled her to him and they kissed more romantically than before. After about ten seconds they pulled away both startled. "Ok, that wasn't funny." Glenn murmured. "I gotta go!" Gabrielle cried running from the terrace when she ran into Schala. "Gabrielle!" she cried. "You look like you just saw a ghost." "I-I'm fine!" she told her running from her. Gabrielle wanted to run long and hard until she was back home. Even though that was probably the best moment of her life, she was frightened out of her wits. She ran to her room and slammed the door. Not even bothering to light a candle she tumbled into her bed and hugged her knees. She was trembling and felt like she was going to throw up. She squeezed her eyes shut and demanded herself to go to sleep. She tossed and turned and thrashed about not able to get comfortable.
* * * Once Gabrielle fled, Glenn raced after her. He never knew how fast Gabrielle could run until this moment because he had to sprint just to keep her in view. He turned the corner into the hall before the guest wing and ran into Crono, who had dodged Gabrielle darting passed him. He nearly tackled him to the ground. Crono cut his escape short by grabbing his tunic and dragging him back. "Glenn! What's the matter? You look like a banshee's chasing you!" Crono was trying to keep his knight friend from running away by holding onto his arms. "Nothing! Gotta go!" Glenn called as he ripped himself away from Crono and ran into his room and slammed the door so loud it echoed for several seconds. Crono scratched his head extremely confused. "What the hell was that about?" he mumbled to himself.
* * * Gabrielle was still awake when Glenn went into his room. When he slammed his door she squeaked and jumped. She heard a thumb and Glenn's snarl of frustrated pain. She flinched and began to think of the test that was to be tomorrow morning. She was genuinely scared. She needed someone to hold her and tell her everything was going to be ok. Glenn's mumbling could be heard along with Magus's. After a few minutes the light at the crack of the adjoining door went dark indicating Glenn had gone to bed. Steeling herself she pushed the sheets off of her and tiptoed to the door. She shifted her weight anxiously from foot to foot and took a big breath and rapped her knuckles softly on the door and waited.
* * * Glenn collapsed into bed with an aggravated sigh. He had slammed his fingers in his dresser because his mind kept lingering on the thought of what had happened. He tried to relax and go to sleep but there was a soft knock on the door. He jumped. He crept up to the door thinking he had imagined it but when there was another knock. He walked up and opened the door slowly. He saw the shadowy form of Gabrielle standing there still in her tunic, shirt and breeches. She didn't even remove her boots. "Glenn," Gabrielle whispered hoarsely. She swallowed, "I'm scared." Glenn walked forward and wrapped his arms around the frightened Amazon. She buried her face in his shoulder and tried her best not to cry. "It's all right. You'll do great." Glenn murmured. He smoothed her soft hair with a gentle hand. Gabrielle looked at him and smiled a thank you. Gabrielle put her head against his chest. "I just want it to come so I can get it over with." Gabrielle said lifting her head and looking at him. "Thank you for all your help." She went to kiss his cheek but caught his lips when he turned his head. They both widened their eyes but then relaxed and held onto the kiss. "Sweet mother of Shatara." Gabrielle breathed when they broke the kiss. Gabrielle's knees were shaking and she felt like she was going to fall. Glenn was the first man she had kissed and before that she never was in a relationship and never wanted one. Now she had experience something she had never dreamed of before. Glenn gently kissed her lips again before releasing her. He looked like he was going to fall as well. Gabrielle couldn't stand it anymore and went into her room and lit a candle and sat down on her bed to ease her wobbling knees. Glenn followed her into her room and sat next to her. "I.I feel better." Gabrielle finally said. "Thank you." "Oh, no problem." Glenn replied nodding. He had thoroughly enjoyed their kiss and was hungry for another one. "Gods, how amazing these past months have been." Gabrielle murmured. "I know how to use a sword, to tilt, archery, my muscles are strong, I can ride a gelding that gallops like an avalanche." she grinned slyly at Glenn, "I had my first kiss." "Was it worth it all?" Glenn wanted to know. Gabrielle gave him a sly smile and grabbed the front of his tunic to pull him to her for a kiss. She turned her eyes heavenward and nodded, "Yes." She replied. Glenn grinned and leaned in for another kiss. Gabrielle pulled him back into another one when he pulled away. Soon Gabrielle was starting to lean back onto her pillows. Once Glenn saw what he was doing as he jumped up to his feet. Gabrielle sat up sharply and gasped. "Sorry." Glenn murmured. "Sorry about that." Gabrielle ran her fingers through her tousled hair, "It's all right." "Well.you need some sleep." Glenn told her. "You have that test to ace." He winked. He gave her a feather soft kiss on her mouth and walked out of the room. "Glenn." Gabrielle said. "Yes?" "About what you said," She got up and put her hands on his shoulders and rose slightly on tiptoe to whisper in his ear, "I love you too." She kissed his cheek. "Really?" he inquired. "Yes." Gabrielle replied. "Now go to sleep! You've got to watch your squire take her tests!" She gave him a playful shove. "And ace them." Glenn murmured leaving the room he blew her a kiss and winked. Once he closed the door, Gabrielle sighed dreamily and flopped into bed, kicking her boots off. She loved Glenn and he loved her; she took awhile getting to sleep but she fell asleep dreaming of being knighted and riding off with Glenn into the sunset.
* * * Glenn cried, "Yes!" and threw himself onto his bed grinning ear to ear. Gabrielle said that he loved him and he kissed her. He couldn't wait to see her again and especially couldn't wait to kiss her again. He sighed heavily and finally drifted to sleep.
* * * Gabrielle woke up and dressed quickly her hands shaking with anxiety. She could barely fasten her belt buckle her hands her trembling so badly. Drawing on a royal blue shirt and a scarlet tunic, she grabbed her helmet and clipped her sword on her sword-belt. Her legs clad in black breeches carried her soundlessly to the mess hall where her friends greeted her. She sat down and smiled at them. Crono slid a bowl of porridge in front of her and Magus poured her some apple juice saving her the task of going to wait in line. "How can you expect her to eat?" Lucca demanded. "C'mon, Gabby. You don't want to pass out during your test." Crono said. "Spare me, pass the honey jar." Gabrielle asked. Schala handed it over and Gabrielle drizzled honey in her porridge. She ate a spoonful then another; Glenn entered the room. He smiled at her making her blush. Marle nudged Schala and pointed at Glenn and Gabrielle smiling at each other. Gabrielle shoved Magus over so Glenn could sit next to her. Magus smiled and moved over. Glenn sat in the seat next to Gabrielle and grabbed a few slices of toast off of the platter. Gabrielle was still eating her porridge and poured herself some more juice. All of a sudden the girl was starving and finished her porridge. She went to the servers and asked politely for some more porridge. "Sure, little lady." The gruff kitchen hand ladled a few dollops of porridge into her bowl. He thrust it back to her. Gabrielle looked into his face and nearly gasped. The man had ragged dirty blonde hair and a beard that covered the last third of his face. The man's icy blue eyes made her shiver. She nodded slowly and thanked him and rushed back to the table. "Everyone!" she hissed. "It's Jaron." "What?" Magus whispered hoarsely. "Here?" "He's up at the server's window." Gabrielle told them. "Why is he here?" She asked eating a spoonful of porridge. Her face screwed up and she spit the porridge out into her napkin. "Gross!" she hissed. "Tastes like someone put brandy in it!" Gabrielle grabbed her tankard and drained it. "It appears to have traces of brandy in it." Robo announced. "I'm out of here." Gabrielle told them. "I need to warm up for the sword fighting." "I'll help you." Glenn got up and together they left the room. "Look at them." Crono giggled pointing at the door where they had exited. "They've hooked up!" "I knew they would!" Marle exclaimed. "They appear to be attracted to one another and enjoy each other's company." Robo remarked. "They are so diggin' on each other." Schala said. "Let's go to the stands. We can get a good seat to watch Gabby."
* * * They had been walking only a few feet out of the mess hall when Gabrielle had a splitting headache. NO! she thought. Not today! Soon the pain was so fierce she had to stop. Glenn turned and looked at his squire who was flinching in pain and grabbing her head. Right when Glenn touched her shoulder lancing pains shot through her abdomen. "Gabrielle what's wrong?" Glenn asked. "My head and my stomach.something's not right." Gabrielle replied her breathing getting heavy. She fell to her knees. "Oh gods!" Glenn cried panic in his voice. He ran to the mess hall a few feet away. "Guys! There's something wrong with Gabrielle!" Everyone jumped up and ran out of the mess hall and followed Glenn to Gabrielle who was lying on her side breathing ragged breaths. Robo knelt beside her and looked in her eyes. "Her pupils are dilated." He told everyone. "She has been drugged though I believe poison might be laced in it." "The porridge!" Lucca cried. She ran back into the mess hall and returned with the bowl. "Thank goodness we didn't wash it out." "The brandy covered the poison's taste. It is Amazon made, Gabrielle would have been able to recognize it as all Amazons are." Robo said. "When she spit it out only a bit of the substance got into her system." "Will she be all right?" Glenn wanted to know. "In a few hours the symptoms will disperse." Robo replied. "Hours!" Schala nearly yelled. "She'll miss her tests!" "That was probably the aim of the people who did this." Magus spat. "To prevent her from taking the tests or even kill her." Gabrielle was unaware of the entire conversation. She saw her friends as blurry multicolor blobs and their voices were booming and not understandable. Whenever the Amazon breathed she felt like a pillow was over her face and mouth. Her vision was beginning to go dark. "I may have an antidote for poison somewhere. I'll be right back." Lucca said and ran off with Robo in tow. "Let's get her to the sick bay." Crono said. Magus lifted the girl up and carried her to the sick bay in the west wing of the castle. Glenn followed extremely worried about his love and furious at the people who did this to her.
A/N: Training time! Well read and see how it goes!
Chapter Seven: Woman Knight (Part Two - One Night Left) As the weeks went by, Gabrielle's training got even more strenuous. Crono moved her to tilting at a wood ring and Magus started to spar with her. Marle started working wit different kinds of arrows like flame and ones that made a whistling noise when they flew. Lucca and Robo tested her every night on Guardian law and history. Ayla increased the amount of sit ups and push ups to do but saw that Gabrielle could easily do fifty of each without complaint. She was so busy, she forgot Glenn admitting to Crono and Magus that he loved her. Finally the day before the test, Crono and Magus cornered Glenn as he was leaving the mess hall after lunch. "You've got to tell her." Magus informed him arms folded across his chest. "Today." "You've stalled long enough." Crono said. "Has Glenn told Lady Gabrielle about his feelings for her?" Robo wanted to know. Crono and Magus had told their friend about what had been going on. Glenn shook his head. "I agree with Crono and Magus; you must tell her. She can't read your thoughts and your love is going to be one-sided if you don't tell her how you feel. She might feel the same way." "Ok, I'll go now." Glenn said holding his hands up in surrender. "I swear, I'll do it!" His friends gave him a doubting look. "Ok," Glenn cracked his knuckles. "Here I go." He walked to the guest wing with butterflies in his stomach. "Glenn!" Ayla cried. She grabbed his arm and yanked him away from Gabrielle's door. "Gabrielle heard you talk about her." Ayla admitted. "I couldn't stop her from going into the yard and she heard everything you said." "What?" he yelped. "She knows?" he demanded. Ayla nodded. "Oh, great!" he groaned. "This's going to be very interesting." He knocked on Gabrielle door and heard her call, "Come in!" Ayla mouthed, "Good luck" as he slowly opened the door and saw his squire reading a book on her desk. She smiled and held it up for him to see the title: Woman Warriors Through the Ages. Glenn grinned. "What's up?" she wanted to know sitting on her bed hugging her pillow. "Uh, I need to talk to you." Glenn announced sitting on her desk chair. "So talk." "About the fight tomorrow. Are you scared at all?" he asked. "No." Gabrielle said immediately. "I feel very prepared." Something behind her eyes was hiding something Glenn could see. "No jitters? No anxiety?" he inquired. He had discovered his butterflies had turned into fire breathing dragons and were raging in his stomach making him tremble. "I'm fine, Glenn!" she insisted. She laid down on her bed and sighed. "Why're you asking me this?" "Ok, enough beating around the bush." Glenn snapped. "Gabrielle, I know you heard me say.that I loved you a few weeks ago." She stayed silent. Glenn stood up and went to leave the room. "It's still true.I love you. You don't have to answer me now." Glenn forced it out and found he needed to sit down or he would fall over. "If you're scared about the fight coming up, I'll help you, ok? You just have to ask, that's all." Gabrielle refused to look into his eyes. He left the room silently and closed his door softly. Gabrielle jumped off her bed and ran out of her room into the hall. She ran out of the guest wing and dashed to the stables. She saw Magus there a few stalls away from Rebel's. His black stallion look a lot like the one he had rode in 12,000 B.C. She was shaking so badly she kept dropping her brushes as she combed her gelding. "Gold coin for your thoughts." Magus called over to her seeing her fidget. "You've known haven you." Gabrielle said absently as put Rebel's saddle on him. She made sure the scheming gelding hadn't swallowed a belly of air before tightening the girths. "Yes." Magus replied knowing what she was talking about. "I have for a while." He mounted his horse and walked to her stall. "C'mon, we'll take a ride in the Guardia Forest." "All right." Gabrielle murmured as she mounted.
* * * "Why didn't he just tell me?" Gabrielle wanted to know. "It'd've been a lot easier and faster." "I guess Glenn didn't see it that way." Magus told her. "It took a lot of bullying to get him to finally do it." Gabrielle looked at her saddle horn, "He said that if I was scared about the fight, he'd help me and that all I had to do was ask.what does he mean?" "Well," Magus began. "Are you scared about it?" he inquired. "Of course I am!" Gabrielle retorted. "I've never been more scared in my life!" "Then, Glenn's probably saying that he'll comfort you and help you through it." Magus concluded. "I advise you go talk to him." "But it's so awkward even to think of him now." Gabrielle protested. "Do you love him?" Magus asked. "I'm not sure. Good friends definitely, but I'm still not sure about loving him." Gabrielle replied carefully. "Oh, Gabrielle, you could never fool me when we were kids and you still can't!" Magus told her sharply. Gabrielle turned scarlet and fidgeted with her reigns. "I can tell, Gabrielle." He informed her. "You love him, trust me. It screams it in your eyes." "I'm still not sure." Gabrielle repeated. "Gods, Gabrielle, you need to realize what's before you!" Magus snapped. "Glenn truly loves you and you love him, it's only right for you to be together." "I need to think about this." Gabrielle announced. "Alone." She kicked Rebel to a gallop and left Magus alone. "Tell him your response quick! Before he eats himself alive." He called as he slowly turned his horse around and rode back for the castle.
* * * "Where is she?" Glenn demanded a sixth time. He was pacing nervously in his room where everyone was gathered. "Stop pacing, Glenn." Schala ordered. "You'll wear out the floor." Marle and Lucca turned their giggles into coughs when Glenn glared at them. "She said she needed to think, Glenn." Magus said. "Relax, she'll be back." "It's almost sunset!" Glenn retorted. He continued to pace around the room. Suddenly a door slammed next door. The waited until Gabrielle knocked on Marle door, which was four doors down. Marle raced to her room and opened the door. "Hey, Gabrielle." She greeted her cheerfully. "I have to talk to you." Gabrielle told her walking into the room. "What's up?" Marle inquired acting like she knew nothing. Crono, Magus, Lucca, Glenn, and Schala were pressing their ears to the adjoining door that went into Lucca's room while Robo tried to lecture them about eavesdropping. "You probably know this but Glenn told me that he loves me." Gabrielle said twisting her hands together. "Did he?" Marle asked. "Yes, he did!" Gabrielle retorted. "Then he said if I was scared about the test coming up, he'd help me." "Hmmm. I think you should see him tonight and talk." Marle advised. "Are you scared?" she wanted to know. "Of course I am!" Gabrielle cried. "Only someone with no nerves wouldn't be!" "D'you love him?" Marle asked inspecting her nails. After all the thinking she had been doing, Gabrielle had started to think that she did but her Amazon will stayed in place. Glenn held his breath dying to know what her answer was. "I think so, but I'm not sure." Gabrielle said gingerly. Glenn tried to be satisfied but truly wanted her to say that she loved him too. "Gabrielle, how can you not be sure?" Marle demanded. "Remember at the lake? The stables? The ball? After all the time you've spent together? I see you guys flirt all the time!" "I'll know by tomorrow. I just need a night to stew this all over." Gabrielle replied. "If I were you, I'd spent tonight sleeping." Marle suggested. "Good gods, I'm starving, let's go get some supper." "All right." Gabrielle left the room with the princess and the others exited the room. Gabrielle refused to make eye contact with Glenn fearing she'd blush. Normally the two sat next to each other during meals but tonight saw them sitting on opposite ends of the table they had claimed. Gabrielle tried to concentrate on her food and the conversation but her mind kept lingering on two things: Glenn and the test tomorrow. The test would be three rounds with three fresh knights in sword fighting and she would have to hit three different targets with two types of arrows. She would be expected to hit the quintain and ring correctly as well as unseat an opponent in three tries. She would also have a written test on Guardian law and history. It would take all morning and some of the afternoon with a short break for lunch. When she couldn't stand it anymore she excused herself and walked out of the mess hall and walked to the terrace along the west wall of the castle. From there one could see a marvelous view of Guardia Forest and a sunset. She leaned against the stone parapet and sighed. She jumped when a hand was laid on her shoulder. It was Lucca. "Don't worry," she ordered. "You've passed every quiz and test Robo and I could think of. Crono says you've beaten almost every squire in tilting and Magus said you kick his ass almost every time you spar. Marle says you're as good as her at archery. Ayla says your strength is three times what is was when you began." Her voice was kind when she said this. "And Glenn says your great with a sword now. He also told me to tell you good luck. I guess he's too nervous to talk to you now." Gabrielle sighed. Lucca patted her shoulder and left silently. "Gabrielle?" Glenn called. He ran up to her. "No matter what happens tomorrow, you're still going to be considered a knight in my book. Come with me, I need to talk to you." He beckoned her and led her to a fountain; they sat on the rim. "I hope what I said doesn't make you more nervous about tomorrow." Glenn said. "I just needed to tell you how I feel." "It's all right. And I want to thank you for helping me these three months. I was pretty pathetic when we started." "Only one thing is true about that." Glenn told her. He took her hand and looked into her eyes. "You're pretty." Gabrielle smiled and blushed. "Thank you." She said. Her heartbeat quickened and her breathing was heavier. "Thanks to you, I can use a sword and not behead anyone for my pains." "You made the progress." Glenn informed her. "You're fantastic with a blade now." He gave her hand a squeeze. Gabrielle nearly yelped and jumped up but bit her lip and stayed where she was. "Gods! I wish tomorrow would just come." She cried. "I'm sick of waiting!" "Oh, trust me, it'll come." Glenn told her grimly. "Well, it's sure taking its damn time!" Gabrielle groaned. "Well, Marle told me I should get some sleep," Gabrielle yawned. "And it looks like she's right. Good night." She said, desperately hoping Glenn wouldn't kiss her. "Good night." Glenn murmured letting go of her hand. He stood when she did and they hugged. Glenn kissed her forehead gingerly and released her. Gabrielle looked at him and their eyes held; then Glenn's mouth was on hers. Their lips had only touch for a second or two when Gabrielle pushed away startled. "Whoa!" she yelped. "That wasn't funny!" Gabrielle snapped looking back at him. Glenn pulled her to him and they kissed more romantically than before. After about ten seconds they pulled away both startled. "Ok, that wasn't funny." Glenn murmured. "I gotta go!" Gabrielle cried running from the terrace when she ran into Schala. "Gabrielle!" she cried. "You look like you just saw a ghost." "I-I'm fine!" she told her running from her. Gabrielle wanted to run long and hard until she was back home. Even though that was probably the best moment of her life, she was frightened out of her wits. She ran to her room and slammed the door. Not even bothering to light a candle she tumbled into her bed and hugged her knees. She was trembling and felt like she was going to throw up. She squeezed her eyes shut and demanded herself to go to sleep. She tossed and turned and thrashed about not able to get comfortable.
* * * Once Gabrielle fled, Glenn raced after her. He never knew how fast Gabrielle could run until this moment because he had to sprint just to keep her in view. He turned the corner into the hall before the guest wing and ran into Crono, who had dodged Gabrielle darting passed him. He nearly tackled him to the ground. Crono cut his escape short by grabbing his tunic and dragging him back. "Glenn! What's the matter? You look like a banshee's chasing you!" Crono was trying to keep his knight friend from running away by holding onto his arms. "Nothing! Gotta go!" Glenn called as he ripped himself away from Crono and ran into his room and slammed the door so loud it echoed for several seconds. Crono scratched his head extremely confused. "What the hell was that about?" he mumbled to himself.
* * * Gabrielle was still awake when Glenn went into his room. When he slammed his door she squeaked and jumped. She heard a thumb and Glenn's snarl of frustrated pain. She flinched and began to think of the test that was to be tomorrow morning. She was genuinely scared. She needed someone to hold her and tell her everything was going to be ok. Glenn's mumbling could be heard along with Magus's. After a few minutes the light at the crack of the adjoining door went dark indicating Glenn had gone to bed. Steeling herself she pushed the sheets off of her and tiptoed to the door. She shifted her weight anxiously from foot to foot and took a big breath and rapped her knuckles softly on the door and waited.
* * * Glenn collapsed into bed with an aggravated sigh. He had slammed his fingers in his dresser because his mind kept lingering on the thought of what had happened. He tried to relax and go to sleep but there was a soft knock on the door. He jumped. He crept up to the door thinking he had imagined it but when there was another knock. He walked up and opened the door slowly. He saw the shadowy form of Gabrielle standing there still in her tunic, shirt and breeches. She didn't even remove her boots. "Glenn," Gabrielle whispered hoarsely. She swallowed, "I'm scared." Glenn walked forward and wrapped his arms around the frightened Amazon. She buried her face in his shoulder and tried her best not to cry. "It's all right. You'll do great." Glenn murmured. He smoothed her soft hair with a gentle hand. Gabrielle looked at him and smiled a thank you. Gabrielle put her head against his chest. "I just want it to come so I can get it over with." Gabrielle said lifting her head and looking at him. "Thank you for all your help." She went to kiss his cheek but caught his lips when he turned his head. They both widened their eyes but then relaxed and held onto the kiss. "Sweet mother of Shatara." Gabrielle breathed when they broke the kiss. Gabrielle's knees were shaking and she felt like she was going to fall. Glenn was the first man she had kissed and before that she never was in a relationship and never wanted one. Now she had experience something she had never dreamed of before. Glenn gently kissed her lips again before releasing her. He looked like he was going to fall as well. Gabrielle couldn't stand it anymore and went into her room and lit a candle and sat down on her bed to ease her wobbling knees. Glenn followed her into her room and sat next to her. "I.I feel better." Gabrielle finally said. "Thank you." "Oh, no problem." Glenn replied nodding. He had thoroughly enjoyed their kiss and was hungry for another one. "Gods, how amazing these past months have been." Gabrielle murmured. "I know how to use a sword, to tilt, archery, my muscles are strong, I can ride a gelding that gallops like an avalanche." she grinned slyly at Glenn, "I had my first kiss." "Was it worth it all?" Glenn wanted to know. Gabrielle gave him a sly smile and grabbed the front of his tunic to pull him to her for a kiss. She turned her eyes heavenward and nodded, "Yes." She replied. Glenn grinned and leaned in for another kiss. Gabrielle pulled him back into another one when he pulled away. Soon Gabrielle was starting to lean back onto her pillows. Once Glenn saw what he was doing as he jumped up to his feet. Gabrielle sat up sharply and gasped. "Sorry." Glenn murmured. "Sorry about that." Gabrielle ran her fingers through her tousled hair, "It's all right." "Well.you need some sleep." Glenn told her. "You have that test to ace." He winked. He gave her a feather soft kiss on her mouth and walked out of the room. "Glenn." Gabrielle said. "Yes?" "About what you said," She got up and put her hands on his shoulders and rose slightly on tiptoe to whisper in his ear, "I love you too." She kissed his cheek. "Really?" he inquired. "Yes." Gabrielle replied. "Now go to sleep! You've got to watch your squire take her tests!" She gave him a playful shove. "And ace them." Glenn murmured leaving the room he blew her a kiss and winked. Once he closed the door, Gabrielle sighed dreamily and flopped into bed, kicking her boots off. She loved Glenn and he loved her; she took awhile getting to sleep but she fell asleep dreaming of being knighted and riding off with Glenn into the sunset.
* * * Glenn cried, "Yes!" and threw himself onto his bed grinning ear to ear. Gabrielle said that he loved him and he kissed her. He couldn't wait to see her again and especially couldn't wait to kiss her again. He sighed heavily and finally drifted to sleep.
* * * Gabrielle woke up and dressed quickly her hands shaking with anxiety. She could barely fasten her belt buckle her hands her trembling so badly. Drawing on a royal blue shirt and a scarlet tunic, she grabbed her helmet and clipped her sword on her sword-belt. Her legs clad in black breeches carried her soundlessly to the mess hall where her friends greeted her. She sat down and smiled at them. Crono slid a bowl of porridge in front of her and Magus poured her some apple juice saving her the task of going to wait in line. "How can you expect her to eat?" Lucca demanded. "C'mon, Gabby. You don't want to pass out during your test." Crono said. "Spare me, pass the honey jar." Gabrielle asked. Schala handed it over and Gabrielle drizzled honey in her porridge. She ate a spoonful then another; Glenn entered the room. He smiled at her making her blush. Marle nudged Schala and pointed at Glenn and Gabrielle smiling at each other. Gabrielle shoved Magus over so Glenn could sit next to her. Magus smiled and moved over. Glenn sat in the seat next to Gabrielle and grabbed a few slices of toast off of the platter. Gabrielle was still eating her porridge and poured herself some more juice. All of a sudden the girl was starving and finished her porridge. She went to the servers and asked politely for some more porridge. "Sure, little lady." The gruff kitchen hand ladled a few dollops of porridge into her bowl. He thrust it back to her. Gabrielle looked into his face and nearly gasped. The man had ragged dirty blonde hair and a beard that covered the last third of his face. The man's icy blue eyes made her shiver. She nodded slowly and thanked him and rushed back to the table. "Everyone!" she hissed. "It's Jaron." "What?" Magus whispered hoarsely. "Here?" "He's up at the server's window." Gabrielle told them. "Why is he here?" She asked eating a spoonful of porridge. Her face screwed up and she spit the porridge out into her napkin. "Gross!" she hissed. "Tastes like someone put brandy in it!" Gabrielle grabbed her tankard and drained it. "It appears to have traces of brandy in it." Robo announced. "I'm out of here." Gabrielle told them. "I need to warm up for the sword fighting." "I'll help you." Glenn got up and together they left the room. "Look at them." Crono giggled pointing at the door where they had exited. "They've hooked up!" "I knew they would!" Marle exclaimed. "They appear to be attracted to one another and enjoy each other's company." Robo remarked. "They are so diggin' on each other." Schala said. "Let's go to the stands. We can get a good seat to watch Gabby."
* * * They had been walking only a few feet out of the mess hall when Gabrielle had a splitting headache. NO! she thought. Not today! Soon the pain was so fierce she had to stop. Glenn turned and looked at his squire who was flinching in pain and grabbing her head. Right when Glenn touched her shoulder lancing pains shot through her abdomen. "Gabrielle what's wrong?" Glenn asked. "My head and my stomach.something's not right." Gabrielle replied her breathing getting heavy. She fell to her knees. "Oh gods!" Glenn cried panic in his voice. He ran to the mess hall a few feet away. "Guys! There's something wrong with Gabrielle!" Everyone jumped up and ran out of the mess hall and followed Glenn to Gabrielle who was lying on her side breathing ragged breaths. Robo knelt beside her and looked in her eyes. "Her pupils are dilated." He told everyone. "She has been drugged though I believe poison might be laced in it." "The porridge!" Lucca cried. She ran back into the mess hall and returned with the bowl. "Thank goodness we didn't wash it out." "The brandy covered the poison's taste. It is Amazon made, Gabrielle would have been able to recognize it as all Amazons are." Robo said. "When she spit it out only a bit of the substance got into her system." "Will she be all right?" Glenn wanted to know. "In a few hours the symptoms will disperse." Robo replied. "Hours!" Schala nearly yelled. "She'll miss her tests!" "That was probably the aim of the people who did this." Magus spat. "To prevent her from taking the tests or even kill her." Gabrielle was unaware of the entire conversation. She saw her friends as blurry multicolor blobs and their voices were booming and not understandable. Whenever the Amazon breathed she felt like a pillow was over her face and mouth. Her vision was beginning to go dark. "I may have an antidote for poison somewhere. I'll be right back." Lucca said and ran off with Robo in tow. "Let's get her to the sick bay." Crono said. Magus lifted the girl up and carried her to the sick bay in the west wing of the castle. Glenn followed extremely worried about his love and furious at the people who did this to her.