Day 7
Me and Dad are back to our regular sparring now. He says I'm getting very good and that I'm very advanced for my age. That made me feel very proud. Tannia started talking again, and she came out to watch us spar like she used to. I didn't tell her to go away this time, though. I tried to ignore her instead. She seems too interested in dueling for a girl, it seems like.

"She seems to, it seems like," Tannia laughed. "You were a wonderful writer, Turan."

"I was eleven."

"Oh sure make excuses," she replied. "Anyway. Of course I was interested in dueling. I wanted nothing more then to be able to learn what you were learning."

Turan rubbed the back of his neck in a guilty fashion, glancing sideways at Tannia. "I know that now. Shall I repeat 'I was eleven'?"

She was there when Dad told me how good I was. She agreed with him. I didn't say anything because my friends were around. It's embarrassing when Tannia is nice to me. My friends will think I actually like her. Like a friend.. not the other thing. But that's still bad.

Turan smote his forehead with an open palm as Tannia simply offered Turan an amused smile, leaning back on her paws.

"Pray, what other thing is that, dear?" Tannia asked quietly, mocking innocent curiosity as she batted her eyes at him.

Turan glanced sideways at her, studying her as he contemplated his defense. Suddenly he stood and pointed an accusing paw at the haremaid.

"Get out of my room! Girls have cooties. Just imagine if the other Redwallers saw me! I'd be banished forever!" He continued to point at her, beckoning her towards the door and playfully glaring at her through hooded eyes.

Tannia stood up on the bed. She tipped Turan's sword from the hooks on the wall, took the hilt and gently leapt down. "Defend yourself, warrior." She drew out the last word as if she were making fun.

Turan looked back and forth for a weapon to use. Coming up with nothing, he put on a pitiful pout to his opponent, allowing his arms to fall helplessly. "You wouldn't harm a defenseless Redwaller, merciful Tannia?"

The maid blinked demurely at him. "Defenseless? Are you kidding me?"

He hesitated, watching Tannia. Before Tannia could register what had happened, she'd been tripped neatly onto her back and disarmed. Blinking in disbelief, she looked up to see Turan standing over her with the sword.

He smiled. "Yes, I was kidding." With his free paw he helped her up, then went and set his sword back up on the wall pegs.

Turning back, he found Tannia sitting back on the bed with the journal in her lap, flipping it back open. Coming up to the page where they had left off, she let her paw rest on the page. "Day eight."

Turan came and set next to Tannia, watching her. Smiling, Tannia read off the only five words that were scribbled across the page.

Too tired. I'll write tomorrow.

"Hmm, why was Master Turan so tired do you ask?" Tannia smiled, turning to the one sitting next to her. "Let us see."

She turned the page, settling down comfortably as she prepared to read the next entry. "Okay then. Day nine."

******

A/N~ Umm.. I'm in trouble now aren't I? Eee.. Can I save myself by mentioning how flippin' busy I've been? No? Eh, sorry I've taken so long to update!! I'm truuuuly sorry. I'll try not to let it happen again. Although I've hit a wall here. My computer is being all PMS-y with this security log-in thing. So I have to use my bro's laptop to upload stories. Um.. If I don't upload again soon.. It's because my brother got pissed. Riiight.

On a happier note. My birthday happened since my last upload! Granted it was three weeks ago.. But I am now officially fifteen! Yay! *waves little flag and throws confetti*