Teh1 Mary Sue

AN:: Due to popular demand, Star will have a familiar.

Important:: In a few days, I will change my penname to Tuathail.

)O(

"Star," Alanna caught her as she was about to leave. She turned, her beautiful locks gliding over her shoulders in a perfect arc.

"How are you with the sword?" Alanna asked.

"I'm a fair hand," Star replied with a small, modest smile. "I picked it up here and there, but I haven't learnt that much."

Alanna smiled and tossed her a practice sword, picking one up herself. "Want to have a go with me?"

"Of course, Lioness." Star replied, ever polite, even as jitters built up within her.

They both armed up, and picked up their practice swords again. Another, even larger crowd gathered around them, all wondering who would win this practice duel.

"Bet you ten gold nobles on Star," She heard Neal mutter to Roald. Alanna, apparently, heard as well.

"And you're an ever-grateful squire," she told him.

"And I'll bet on the Lioness," Roald grinned and they shook on it. "Let's watch."

The two women got ready on their respective ends of the court, and the practice duel began. Alanna attacked with a crescent chop, which Star cleverly blocked with an uphand swing. Alanna frowned and twisted her sword in a reverse crescent. Seeing this move coming, Star spun her sword with impossible speed into a matching reverse crescent, striking Alanna's sword aside with a wince-worthy clang. She then advanced, cutting towards the short redhead. Alanna dodged out of the way just in time, but not before Star swung her sword over Alanna's head to hit her on the other side, thankfully with the flat of the blade. Alanna bit her lip to hide a grimace, trying not to be distracted.

Star advanced again, parrying Alanna's sword away until her sword was pointed directly at Alanna's throat. Grinning and wiping sweat from her forehead, Star panted, "Yield?"

Alanna's expression of shock was slowly replaced with respect and amusement. "I yield." She said.

A tidal wave of applause washed over the stunned silence, each and every Tortallan present acknowledging Star's skills. She smiled modestly; slightly embarrassed that she'd caused a scene.

"Well done, Lady Star," Kel commented from the sidelines. "Well done."

"Lady Keladry..." Star approached her, looking slightly shy. "I heard you practice the glaive?"

"Yes, I do." Kel replied, slightly confused.

"I'd be honored if you would have a practice duel with me." Star said.

"Of course." Kel agreed, already eager to see how this wonderful swordswoman did with the glaive.

They took the court, each selecting a practice glaive. Kel picked hers up graciously while Star spun hers, twirling it around her wrist before finally tossing it into her hand. Brown eyebrows shot up at this display of skill, while the other girl blushed. She hadn't meant to show off.

Kel started with a downward swing, hard to manage with such a long, heavy weapon. Star ducked it and blocked, gritting her teeth as Kel's heavier weight bore down on her. She finally tucked her weapon in and rolled, causing Kel to stumble as she lost her balance. Star took that chance to roll to her feet and thrust her weapon forward.

Kel blocked the thrust, cursing quietly at Star's strength and uncanny speed. She lunged back, and Star knocked it out of the way quite easily. She then followed it with a butterfly tilt, neatly latching onto Kel's weapon and jerking it out of the brunette's hand.

Kel turned to stare at Star in shock. Nobody had beaten her so easily in quite a few years. Finally, a grin filled her face and she held out her hand.

Star took it, also smiling, knowing that with luck she had a new friend. She then turned on the admiring crowd to walk back to her rooms.

"Star!" Neal called after her as he caught up. "That was amazing."

"Thank you," she ducked her head to hide a blush. "It means a lot, coming from you."

"Honestly, how do you fight so well?" Neal was still in awe, and a little shy, talking to such a legend. It was perhaps wrong for him to think so, but in his opinion the Lioness didn't hold a candle to the Shang Unicorn.

She smiled. "I train, a lot. And I guess...I'm lucky. I'm sure you're great, too."

Neal shook his head. "Not nearly as good as you." It was obvious as day that he was in love with Star, and despite herself she quite enjoyed the attention. Then he turned and walked back to his rooms, leaving Star alone again as she continued down the corridor.

She walked into her room to a pleasant surprise. A phoenix perched on her table, its feathers gleaming and shimmering in the morning sun. Upon seeing her, the phoenix turned its head sharply and Star could swear it smiled.

Missed me? It asked her telepathically.

"Always," she replied with a huge smile, walking over to pet her familiar's head affectionately. "Mist, where've you been?"

I'm a phoenix, she replied almost haughtily. I always have places to be.

"Okay," Star replied, laughing. "I'm glad you're back."

It seems you've caused quite a storm already. Mist commented.

"Yeah, I believe I have." Star sighed. "Especially that Nealan of Queenscove. Quite a good man, and he seem to possess an actual sense of humor."

Are you falling in love?

"Maybe I am." She answered, without thinking.

Have you forgotten? Mist asked in disbelief.

"Forgotten..." Her eyes widened. "Oh, Goddess. How could I forget?"

She was nine again, standing next to the bodies of her adoptive parents, tears in her eyes. She heard herself cry, scream, yell at them to come back. She heard herself shout that she'll avenge them, that someday she will avenge them. She heard herself yell that she'll never love until she's avenged her parents. Even at such a young age, she knew how serious her vow was.

"Oh Goddess," she sat gently down on her bed. "Goddess bless. I'd forgotten."

You still plan to go through with so foolish a vow? The telepathic voice was cynical.

Star didn't hear. She was drowning in memories, in tears, in forgotten promises. She'd almost let herself give in to her heart.

And that just could not do.

)O(

Important:: In a few days, I will change my penname to Tuathail.