Ehem, well, I just read DURG! and I'm having quite the hard time concentrating. Christ that was funny…anyway, I have a question for anyone that cares to read this and then review. Should I keep this short and sweet (four to five chapters) or elaborate on it (seven to ten chapters)? I'd really like to know, because either way, I have great ideas. And damn these "L" buttons on the macs at school. They all seem stuck…

Anyway, enjoy.
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PAINS AND DUTIES OF ROYALTY
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Chapter Three: Pleasures, Part Two
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The walk through the hall was rather silent, with Miranda and I exchanging small talk. An affair had never once crossed my mind until that stunt she had just pulled. Emille…she was nice, beautiful…but so boring. She never has any excitement in her life, no danger whatsoever. She always leaves the castle with a guard or two, and never once does she do anything exciting. At least, she never tells me if she has. This whole life with her was becoming a dreadful bore, nothing like I'd imagined.

"Um…the armory?" Miranda's voice pulls me out of my contemplation, and I realize what she said, turning left and into the armory. This time, it was my turn to teach her. My time to look professional.

"So, which one?" before us stood rows and rows or spears, halberds, staffs, and other long range melee weapons. I pulled a random halberd from the bunch, and propped it next to Miranda, like a staff.

"Stand straight."

"Why?" She did so, but with a questioning look.

"A halberd cannot be too tall or too short. Too tall, and your movements become slow and labored. Too short, and the range of the weapon is cut in half, and you're more likely to hit yourself."

"Oh." I look the halberd up and down, then Miranda. She seems about three fourths the height of this particular one, so it seems to be a good fit. Making believe that I'm still comparing, I steal another glance at her. I scan her again, and stop at her chest. The view was then obscured as she crossed her arms.

"Al…up here…"

"Ahem, uh…yeah, a good start. This one will do fine."
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"Alright, as with a bow, stance is just as, if not more important with a lance or halberd. Stance dictates what directions you can move in, what movements are readily available to you, and in what directions the user can attack. A single shift in your weight can throw off your entire balance." I decide to…well, to put it blatantly, show off.

Miranda is right. I'm acting moronic, like a teenager trying to get a girl's attention. I'm stumbling with words, showing off, playing stupid…She's totally right to call me that.

"Albert…Albert! Okay, you killed it! It's dead!"

"Pardon?" I realize then that while thinking I had been showing off. At my feet lay a pile of shredded cloth and stuffing. The dummy's head lay a good fifteen feet from where I stood.

"Oh, yes…well. Um…did you see what I did?"

"No, all I saw was a blur."

"…Alright, look, take it…" I held out the halberd, and she took it.

"Hold it here…no, your too far down, move the hands up a little…good. Now remember, if you move your hands while attacking, your ranger differs. Move them down, and your range increases. Move them up, and your potential to land more powerful blows increases. Now, here's another dummy. Just…y'know…do what comes naturally." She gives me an unsure glance, but steps up to the dummy. She examines her grip and stance, and puts the halberd at her side.

"…But…I don't even know how to use one of these in combat…"

"Well…just try imitating some of Haschel's moves, just with a little less speed and more finesse. Go for vital points." She nods, and proceeds to go into a flurry of wild swings and fancy whatnots.

"Stop, stop, stop!" She stops dead, looking very embarrassed. I look at her face.

"That's a lovely shade of scarlet you're wearing."

"Shut up. What'd I do wrong?"

"Everything. No wild swinging. You came close to hitting me."

"I don't know what to do because you haven't really taught me anything yet!"

"Alright, calm down…Let's start with the stances."
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Two hours had passed since the start of her…training, if you will. She had the stances down pat, the long range, close range, agility, among others. Her combat was still lacking, but damn, she was fast. We had gone through four dummies. She didn't really destroy them out of skill, but more like frustration. She stopped swinging wildly, but had become somewhat familiar with how to handle a halberd, and was steadily progressing. We were both sweating profusely, tired, and losing interest in this…training. A lot like the sex life of Emille and I.

I assumed a long range stance, and she copied me, scanning me and changing her position accordingly. She spun the halberd under the arm, and assumed a defensive stance.

"Wait, why defensive? Who's attacking?"

"Well, this is practice, isn't it?"

"Yes, but I was going to show you how to string together different stances…"

"Doesn't that sound just a little too…advanced for me?"

"…I suppose…but maybe I'm not challenging you enough. We've been here for two hours or more and you seem to be…"

"Oh, shush, you're no marksman yourself."

"Alright, look, maybe we should call it a day."

"Fine with me, I need to wash. Do you have a change of clothes? Sleeping gowns, perhaps?"

"You're staying?"

"Of course! Emille invited me to stay for the ball."

"Ball? What ball? And when did you see Emille?"

"On my way to the castle. She was looking rather ruffled, but invited me to stay."

"Well…Uh, yes, we do have sleeping gowns. The guest room is two doors down from my room, next to---"

"I know where your room is, Al."

"Uh…yes, of course you do…" I let out an interrupting cough, trying to stall any further conversation. Instead, I just looked at her. Her body, her face…her chest…

"Albert…I'm up here again…"

"…Yeah…I'm…going to wash up…!" And with that, I was gone.
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Man, what is it with her? She knows I'm with Emille, and I do too. But perhaps she knows something I don't…like…maybe Emille is…no, no, he's not a risk taker, I keep forgetting.

"Your bath, sir."

"Thank you Bardle. And just leave my changing outfit on the bed."

"Very good, sir. Take your time. And no falling asleep in the tub again, you almost drowned last time."

"Yes, Bardle, you can leave now…" He left, closing the door behind him. The steam filled the bathroom, giving the air an almost naturedly feeling, like a humid day at the beach. I disrobe, and climb in. Hot at first, like always, then it cools down, with the steam forming a billowing cloud about me, it seems like I'm in the sky, flying on my jade colored wings…

Knock Knock.

"I'm not asleep Bardle! Quit worrying about me." Well…that's not really a fair command…it's his job, almost. I mean, all he does is---

"Albert…" The door slowly opens with an antagonizing creak, and in the doorway stands Miranda, in a lacy, almost see-through gown.

"Soa, what's wrong with you! Can't you see what I'm doing!" I sink down into the water, barely keeping my head above the relaxing liquid.

"Aren't you going to tell me something…?"

"I was about to, yes! Out!"

"I know that's not it…" She walks closer, and sits on the edge of the tub. The frills of her gown droop into the water, and it creeps upwards, spreading to the surrounding fabric. She crosses her legs, languidly lifting one and resting it on the other.

"Miranda, please…" I'm telling her to get out, but damn…I really wish she would stay…her skin, so soft…and her…just exciting…dangerous…everything Emille isn't.

"Albert…I know what's wrong with you, and I know why it's happening. You're bored. Simple, plain, and easy. You need something new."

"That maybe so, but I am not willing to risk a scandal with this kingdom, now if you please---" The sound of a jingling bell caught my attention, and scared me too much to finish my sentence.

"Miranda, out! Emille is back, she's coming up!"

"Where do I go!"

"Next to my bed is a small door, it leads to the guest room! C'mon, hurry up and get out!" She was gone before I finished my sentence, and the very next moment, I hear my bedroom door open, then Emille walks into the bathroom.

"Ah, there you are." She did seem rather…odd. Ruffled, like Miranda had said.

"Why are you back so late?"

"Is there anything wrong with a longer walk than usual?"

"No, just…nevermind."

"By the way, did Miranda come by?"

"Yes, she's in the guest bedroom."

"Good. I already have a dress prepared for her for the ball."

"About this ball…what's it for, and why didn't I hear about it?"

"Oh, no reason. Just a fun little get together with past friends…" She turns, and starts to walk out the door. I stop her to inquire about something different…about her.

"Emille…"

"Yes, Albert?"

"Why is your rear covered in dirt?" She stares at me strangely, then cranes her neck to examine herself. She pats the rear of her dress in a vain attempt to wipe it away.

"Is there anything wrong with lying down in the grass?"

"No…no, I suppose not…"