A/N:

I've been so sluggish recently. Have you ever gone through a phase where you feel as if you're really tired of writing stories? It's a stupid phase. I'm trying to overcome it… Aaaanyway, thank you for your reviews!

C. Noelle: Someone who doesn't like Darrin that much!!! Wow!! Hehehe I'm a sucker for guys with dark hair too. I think you're going to like the prince of Kyrria. He has black hair, you know.

blue-hello-kitty: I meant Darrin. She going to interact more with him, and I don't mean bickering and arguing and all that angry stuff. =D

tayk: I finally know what you mean about Char and the "young man" thing. You're right about that. Silly me. Thanks for reviewing!

Crazayladay: Yup! There's something about the name "Ethan" that makes it so…cool. And why no cookie? =)

dragonfirechick: I would hang out in the Stadium too. =) And you've done archery before? That is so cool! I've always wanted to try archery (after watching LOTR, hehe). Is it hard to master?

awaiting impatient person: Don't worry. I'm putting in a scene that doesn't have Darrin and Tania fighting. They're always fighting, so I said to myself, "Hey, why not have them be decent with each other for once?"

CrimsonEnchantress: Yup. I'm going to put in a scene with Ethan and Tania together! (I'm sure C. Noelle would love that hehehe). And does Tania like Darrin? Hmmm…a hard question. Very hard. We'll see. ;)

Chapter Eleven

Darrin looked at her, a familiar, devilish smirk formed on his lips. "I'm hurt Tania," he said, pretending to sound wounded. "You think I'm not good enough to teach you?"

Tania gave him a look. "I—"

"Wait a minute," Ethan cut in. He turned to Darrin. "You're Tania's instructor?"

Darrin shrugged. "In the flesh."

Tania looked at the two suspiciously. "Do you two…err…know each other?"

Darrin and Ethan exchanged looks. Then they suddenly burst out laughing. Tania gave them a death glare, which was completely ignored. She sighed in frustration and looked around her. The people were now openly watching the little scene, now that Darrin had arrived. She could see that they were all trying hard not to laugh.

She turned back to the laughing, idiotic two. "Ahem."

They stopped a few seconds later. Darrin and Ethan both looked at Tania with amused faces. She, on the other hand, just continued to glower at them.

"May I ask what's so funny?" she asked coolly. "Do you know each other?"

Ethan grinned at her. "Tania, Tania, Tania," he said, draping his arm over Tania's shoulders, "Darrin works here. He's one of the trainers, like me."

Darrin's eyes swept over Ethan's arm. He narrowed his eyes. "That's right," he said through gritted teeth.

Tania gave him a look. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing!" he snapped.

"Fine!" she snapped back. "I'm sorry for asking!" She glared at him, then turned to Ethan. "Aren't trainers supposed to be twenty years old or older?"

"We're exceptions," Ethan replied, shooting Darrin a smirk, "because we have fully completed our training."

"We're not really trainers," Darrin said coldly, glaring at Ethan. "We're assistant trainers."

Tania shot him a puzzled look. What was he so angry about? "I see…" she said slowly. She then turned to Ethan and smiled. "What did you think of our duel?"

Ethan grinned roguishly. "You have potential."

Darrin snorted. Loudly. "She does not."

"She does, Darrin," Ethan said firmly.

"No, she doesn't." He glared. "Hey…which one of us has spent more time with her?"

"I have spent enough time with her to know that she does have potential. Admit it."

"She does not!"

"Liar!"

"All right!" Darrin burst out, startling Tania. "Yes, she does have a little bit of potential, but it's not enough to impress me and many others. There are a lot who have way more potential than her…like Kylee."

"Don't get me involved!" Kylee shouted before resuming her conversation with some guy.

"Well," Ethan said, eyeing Darrin levelly, "she either doesn't have it or she does. And I know that she does. It may not be much, but I think she will make a great fighter, if she works veryhard and is self-determined."

Darrin burst out laughing. "Too bad she doesn't have any of those qualities."

Tania gasped. "You ass!" she yelled, glaring at him. "I'm standing right here, you unfeeling scumbag!"

There were gasps from the male onlookers, followed by Kylee shouting "Oh grow up!" at them.

It was after the gasps that Ethan, Darrin, and Tania realized that they were making a scene. They snapped out of their little world and turned, meeting about thirty pairs of eyes. They winced slightly and apologized. The audience, however, seemed rather happily entertained with the whole thing, for they just shot the three amused grins.

"You are inconsiderate of other people's feelings," Tania hissed quietly at her blond-haired companion. She was shooting him a fierce look, which he was accepting quite coolly.

Darrin shrugged. "I was merely being honest."

Ethan sighed wearily. "Lay off, Darrin," he said softly. "I know you like her, but insulting her is really not the way to capture her attention."

Both Tania and Darrin start at this. "WHAT?!" they cried out at the same time.

Ethan gave them an innocent look. "Oh…did I say something?"

"I don't like this…this…girl," Darrin said hotly.

"I do have a name," Tania said irritably. She turned to Ethan. "And please don't ever say that again. It will give me nightmares."

"Me too," Darrin mumbled.

Ethan rolled his eyes. "Im(cough)ma(cough)ture."

"What's that?" Darrin asked dangerously.

"Nothing."

"Good. Don't you dare suggest anything like that again, Ethan."

"Don't tell him what to do," Tania scolded.

"Oh so you do want him to think that I like you!"

"I never said that, you arrogant jerk!"

"Well, you were hinting it!"

"What?! I was not!"

"Don't deny it!"

Tania's eyes widened. "You…you…" She really was going to burst any minute now. She balled her fists while her face turned into a pretty (not) shade of red. "You are a—"

"That's enough," spoke a voice. It was barely a whisper, but it had this sense of authority and danger mixed all together that Tania immediately clamped her mouth shut. Trembling slightly, she slowly turned.

She found herself looking at a very tall, grim-looking man in his forties. He had swarthy skin, very dark hair…and his eyes! They were the deepest blue, and the expression in them was enough to make people cower. They were full of power and menace, and if he was ever to look at you, it would seem as if he was looking through your very soul. You would feel exposed, bare—as if you can't hide your deepest secrets.

He must be the head of all this, Tania thought. She gulped nervously. "S-sorry," she whispered. She heard Darrin apologize quietly as well.

The man's stare was nerve-racking. When he spoke, his voice was neither cold nor warm, but it still frightened Tania. "While most people in this arena are amused with your little squabble," he said, "I am displeased at the fact that you both had the nerve to act in such a childish behaviour. You are no longer children!"

Tania hung her head. He did have a point.

"I suggest you leave the ring, my lady," the man said to her. "As you already know, females are not allowed to be trained here. You are welcome to come and watch, but you may not hold a single weapon."

This time, Tania dared to look at him. "Please," she said, "I really want to learn. I think I can do this. Just give me a chance to prove myself." She gave him a hopeful look, and for a split second there, she saw him soften.

But that was only for a split second.

"I'm sorry," he said. "You cannot. Good day." He nodded and walked away, leaving behind a distressed Tania. "Back to training, everyone!" he shouted, his voice slightly echoing.

Everyone snapped out of it and began to bustle around, pretending that nothing happened.

I go to this arena for one day and I'm already known as…wait…what do these people think of me?

Tania looked around her. Once every few seconds, different people would give her looks that she did not really understand. There were others who smiled warmly at her, and thankfully, she understood that.

"I can't believe all we can do is watch," Kylee grumbled as she leaned against the wall next to Tania. "I was having so much fun out there. What about you?" she asked, her eyes twinkling.

Tania glared at her. "Please don't."

Kylee laughed. "Sorry. But it was funny the way you were arguing with Darrin and not knowing that practically everyone was watching you."

Tania sighed angrily. "Don't remind me." Because of Darrin (who was currently fist fighting with someone younger than him and was no doubt winning almost effortlessly), she was in a rather foul mood. But he was only one of the two reasons. The headmaster's scolding earlier was the other reason. 'You may not hold a single weapon.'

She turned and saw Ethan. He was sword fighting with someone his age, and was winning as well. She smiled wryly. Ethan definitely was going easy on her when they duelled. He was practically yawning right now.

Tania sighed again. It wasn't fair. I bet Kylee and I would make good fighters if they let us train, she thought glumly. She turned her head and her eyes fell upon the serious headmaster, who was talking to one of the trainers. A few seconds later, the power of her gaze caught his attention. Their eyes met for a very brief moment. It was Tania who looked away.

Kylee sighed. "I think I better be going now, Tania. Are you coming?"

Tania did not reply. She was absent-mindedly staring at a fairly large section of the arena that was enclosed with walls and a roof. Kylee frowned and waved her hand in front of her friend's face.

Tania blinked. "Huh?"

"I have to go home," Kylee said. "Are you coming with me?"

Tania's eyes travelled to that spot again. "You go ahead," she said. "I think there's an armoury over there. They could be selling weapons. A souvenir would be lovely, don't you think?" She laughed wryly.

Kylee shrugged. "All right. I'll see you later." She smiled and left.

After Kylee's departure, Tania took off towards the armoury. She walked slowly, nodding at the lads, who in return, gave her stares. She sighed inwardly. She had been in the Stadium for more than half an hour now, and they still weren't used to her presence.

She entered the dim armoury and found it empty. Sure, there were weapons of all sorts everywhere she looked, but no one was there.

"Hello?" she called. She heard a soft noise from the back room and turned. She expected to be greeted by a burly man with a dark beard (her ideal image of a weapon maker), so was pleasantly surprised to see a very beautiful woman instead. She looked to be about thirty years old, maybe even younger, with silky, golden hair and brown eyes. She wore a simple dress made out of white cotton (which currently looked soiled), and sweat was pouring down her forehead.

The woman's jaw dropped when she saw Tania. She stared at her with wide, unblinking eyes. Tania shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. Finally, she couldn't stand the tense silence and decided to speak. "Um…hi?"

The woman snapped out of her trance. "Oh!" she cried out. "I am so sorry. It's just that… I-I didn't expect to see someone like you here. But then again, I am not entirely familiar with this place. I'm fairly new."

Tania smiled. Might as well make conversation. "How do you like Déoras so far?"

"A charming place. The people are so nice."

Tania shrugged. "Sometimes, I guess."

The woman gave her a weird look. Then she shrugged to herself and said, "So what brings you here?"

"I just came to look around. Do you mind?"

"Not at all. I find it quite nice to finally share my work with a person of the same gender."

"So you made all of these?" Tania asked, amazed.

The woman grinned. "My husband and I made all of them," she said, looking at the weapons around them. Then she turned back to Tania. "By the way, my name is Caelan."

"Tania."

"I know."

"Pardon?" Tania knitted her brow. News spreads faster than I thought. This woman is new here and she already knows who I am.

Caelan smiled. "Do you want to know a secret?"

A/N:

Part II of this chapter coming soon! =)