A/N~ Argh. Here we are finally. I hope you'll forgive me. Everything's been completely hectic lately. But I PROMISED not to abandon this story. And I try to keep my promises.
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Tannia's emerald like eyes scanned the next page slightly before she began reading. Turan watched them light up with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. He nudged her gently.
"Care to share, Tan?"
"Oh," she blinked, shaking her head. "Right. Sorry." Trying not to smile, she began reading the next passage from the young warrior's journal.
Day 10
I can't believe it! Tannia wants to learn how to fight, too! I knew there was something weird about her.
Turan smiled, lounging back comfortably. "I knew that one was coming up soon. I could never get over the idea of you wanting to learn how to fight."
Little girls aren't supposed to learn how to fight. Dad said he'd teach her, though. I can't believe any of this.. my dad should know better than that. And Mum, too! She gave Tannia her ash stave that she had learned to fight on herself.
Tannia hesitated there, as if trying to process something. "Would you say your mum's a good fighter?"
"Definitely."
"And yet... you still thought girls weren't supposed to learn how to fight?" She raised her eyebrows at Turan, challenging him.
"I was eleven," he replied defensively. "And... stop trying to reason with me."
This must all be a joke. I'm supposed to be the warrior. Tannia doesn't need to learn how to duel. She's probably just jealous that I get to be warrior, and I know how to fight and she doesn't.
Tannia was hardly able to finish the last sentence in her fit of laughter. She tossed the journal in Turan's lap and erupted in giggles. "She's probably just jealous," she crowed mockingly.
Turan put on a wry smile, letting her indulge in the satisfaction of making fun of him. She finally stopped and wiped the corners of her eyes, flashing a grin at him. "Guess you have nothing to worry about. You still became warrior."
When Turan didn't reply, Tannia sat quietly for a few moments, thinking again. "Ah-ha. That ash stave. A learner's weapon. I gave it to Eula. I didn't even think about it being passed down like that."
"Mm. I was hoping when Eula had a proper weapon and was finished with it she'd teach someone younger than herself." He said gently, having already flipped the page and started glancing over Day Eleven. "She's a way to go yet, though."
Tannia was about to reply but shut her mouth as a smirk crossed Turan's face. She hadn't realized he'd gone ahead in the journal. She took the moment to get him back. "Care to share, dear?" She asked smoothly.
He let out a sigh and shook his head with a smile. "I'm letting myself take way too much abuse from you. If anything, this one will get you." He paused and looked up at her, but she was already watching him expectantly.
"Okay. Here.. Day eleven."
Dad started training Tannia today. It's all the basics. I wasn't that bad when I started, but Dad says I was. He's just saying that because he's supposed to. Dad got angry a few times when I started laughing, and finally told me to leave them alone. I didn't care, who wants to hang around a little haremaid all day anyways? Not me!
Tannia took on yet another playful facade. "Oh my, Turan. What will the Redwallers think when they find out how much time you've been spending with me?" She said with a quiet, fetching air. "Surely you'll be banished! Stripped from your du-"
She was silenced when Turan put his paw over her face and nudged her backwards lightly. "Oh get on with you!"
She pulled his wrist down with her paws and smiled up at him, snickering a bit. "Okay, okay. Keep going."
I found my friends and we went out and played tag on the open grounds. It was fun, because I was the fastest of everyone there. But then they all started talking about what happened to Tannia. They kept saying I liked hanging around her, and I told them to shut up and it wasn't true. They kept going "Suuuuure" over and over again, so I left. Those idiots. I'll never talk to them again.
Tannia smiled at that, and Turan noticed a somewhat more pleased feeling about her than a mocking one as it usually was. She looked over at him after a minute. "I bet you that didn't last long. As much as you've changed, you could never hold a grudge."
"Agreed," Turan nodded. "I'm just too nice, aren't I? No wonder everyone likes me so much."