" I give you to the shiny East Sea, Queen Lucy, the Valiant." He placed a crown of silver laurel leaves on my head.
" Please, Peter, take me with you!" She called to her brother, the supreme king of Narnia.
" Lucy, I will not repeat it. Just no! We can't let anything happen to you! "He said firmly. He was angry, but Lucy was desperate. Narnia had a tough fight with the giants from the north, she wanted to help.
" Peter ..."
" Lucy, no!" He exclaimed as she jumped. When he saw the fear in her eyes, he sighed. He squeezed the bridge of his nose and was silent for a moment.
" Look ... Lucy ... You're only eleven years old. You still can't hold your bow properly. How do you want to fight? "
" I know ... I know how to fight a dagger, and I'm already learning with a sword," she tried, though she knew in advance that she wouldn't soften him with those words. He raised an eyebrow. She rolled her eyes. Sure.
" I will never allow you close combat."
" But Susan ..."
" Susan is older and more experienced in combat."
She sighed. She was already opening her mouth to tell him something, but she'd better give it up right away. She turned his back on him and looked out at the sea below the castle. She will become his true queen one day. She will one day rule over the East Sea.
" Lucy, I know it's hard for you, but hold on. I can't let anyone hurt you. You still have your whole life ahead of you. What would Narnia do without you? "
" And what would she do without you?" She turned to him. He smiled.
" Don't worry, nothing will happen to us. But enough was said. Don't forget that your lesson with Edmund begins in a moment, "he laughed when he saw the desperate expression and hugged her.
She will be destroyed again tomorrow. On the other hand, at least Edmund does not take her as a eleven-year-old, but as a straight opponent.
With some very clever trick, Edmund knocked out her light version of the sword and suddenly she had the tip of the blade under her chin.
"You 're getting better, sister," he blinked. She rolled her eyes and bent over for her sword.
" If I got better, I'd be able to keep up with you for a while."
" You may not see it, but I do. Although you are not yet fully identified with the sword, you do not have grace in your movements, but your blows are stronger and, above all, bolder. "
" So bolder?" She raised an eyebrow. He began to laugh.
" I have an idea. Sit down, you'll watch me and Kolarr fight together. Your task will be to monitor my every move. "
She did as he preached, sitting down and waiting for the next theater. It will definitely be interesting, because Kolarr is the best swordsman Narnia has after Edmund.
Kolarr approached Edmund.
" So, Kolarr, it's like we're up against each other in battle, okay?"
" Yes, Your Majesty," he nodded, and after these words he did not wait for Edmund's reaction and lunged at him.
They fought so fast that at times she felt like they were just a smudge, but she tried to focus fully on every movement.
Edmund was relaxed. He did not hold the sword so convulsively. He was ready at any time to jump, bend down and trip Kolarr's legs, using every single opportunity to disarm. On the other hand, Kolarr was not afraid to block the sword with his forearm. Of course, he was wearing armor, so nothing could happen to him. At least on the hands. The plate forearm served exactly this, when of course the knight did not have a shield.
Edmund turned his back on Kolarr and slammed his elbow into his sword-held shoulder. The metal thundered on the floor, and before Kolarr could remember, it also had the tip of a blade under his chin, as I had a moment ago.
" Very well, Kolarr, I liked your fighting style. But now go, we'll need you in the coming days, "he smiled at the man." Thank you for your help. "
" I am happy to help. Majesty, "he bowed and left.
She was suddenly sad. Edmund is coming too. There is also Kolarr. Everyone goes, except Lucy, Mr. Tumnus, and a few dozen soldiers tasked with guarding the castle.
" Do you really have to go? " She asked, her head bowed.
" Oh, Lucy," her brother sighed and joined her.
" You know we have to. The giants from the north began to revolt and cross the borders of Narnia with the intention of defeating us and taking control of the whole kingdom. They would have access to Archerland, Calormen and Telmar. "
" But why don't they go fight? Why do we have to defend them? "
" Because ... Imagine Narnia being the castle gate. If the defense of the gate fails during the attack on Cair Paravel, they will get to the bottom and the castle and its inhabitants are in great danger. "
" Yes. But you can get to the castle in other ways, not just through the castle gate. Just as they can reach Calormen by sea or Telmar by crossing the mountains. "
" You are right. But don't worry. Reinforcements will also come from Telmar and Archerland. "
" And Calormen?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
" Well," he scratched his head. "Calormen is a chapter in itself. The desert and Archerland´s protect us a little."
" I don't quite understand it, but I believe that one day I will. But Peter doesn't want to take me because he's afraid something will happen to me. But what if something happens to me here in the castle and none of you are here? "
" That's why," he said. "You're learning to fight with a sword. And that's why you're telling me now what you noticed in our fight."
She took a deep breath and imagined every single movement.
" That you were completely relaxed. You attacked a lot, but you also defended yourself a lot. You were ... graceful. Like you were dancing. He held the sword like his extended hand. And Kolarr took advantage of all the possibilities he had. Protected hands, feet, not afraid to use his strength. "
" Then why did Kolarr lose in the fight?"
" I think he's too focused on disarming you. There was not one step before you. He didn't dance. "
" Well, you have a strange name for reality, but yes. Sword fighting is like dancing. Like a duel in dance. If you want to win, you have to be one step ahead and use all the opportunities that have been given to you. All of them."
Edmund actually confirmed Lucy's words. She was very pleased in spirit.
" Come on, let's try again."
She stood up in front of him with a deep breath. How can he defeat him who is a head and a half higher?
" Don't forget, Lucy, dance, but take every opportunity."
She knew he was coming across something specific, but she hadn't figured out what yet. She nodded, inhaled, and indicated that she was ready.
Lunge. She bounced him off. More and more. Edmund didn't play with Lucy. He took it seriously.
Dance. Relax .
As he went to make another lunge, she deflected her sword with her forearm and skilfully slipped under his arm. Now he turns quickly. But until he could recover from the shock, she kicked him in the back with all her might. Edmund swayed, but only slightly, and was immediately turned back to her. He praised her with a small smile.
She was too distracted and suddenly had nothing in her hand. The thought flashed in her head that once he stood up to anyone like that, he would kill her right away.
Instinctively, she removed the dagger from her belt, which was attached to her side. She immediately felt better. She is more identified with the dagger.
She repulsed the attack with her forearm again. She wanted to trip Edmund's knee, but he jumped. Lucy also jumped to a safe distance from the sword. Now they stood facing each other. No one attacked, no one defended themselves.
You have to be one step ahead.
How do I know now what he's going to do? What should I do? Whatever I do, he already knows what it will be and how it will disarm me .
She ran to him and did almost the same as before, when he attacked, she slipped under his arm, but now she grabbed his wrist and twisted her hand back. She placed the blade of a dagger under his chin.
" I have you," she whispered in his ear.
" Very well, sister. But you'd better make sure you disarmed me completely, "she felt her smile triumphantly. She frowned and felt a slight sting on her stomach. She looked down. Somehow he picked up his dagger with his other hand and aimed it at her stomach.
" Damn," she sighed and released him. She threw the dagger at the nearest corner. "I'll probably never learn it! Tell me what I'm good at! I'm useless! I can't get close to the bow, I haven't worked properly with a bow yet! Tell me what am I here for? "
She was angry. Very. To himself, for being so incompetent that she can't defend herself.
" Come on, Lucy. Relax, deep breath. But look at where you got me. A few more times and you'll be better than me, "he laughed, but it didn't help. She ran her hands through her hair.
" You had more graceful movements. But you were still tense. Not much but enough. I have a feeling that the moment you pick the dagger, you were a little braver than with a sword. Only then did you use all your possibilities. You'd forgotten about the dagger before, but something was stopping you. In move. Your legs were constantly tangled in your skirt. "
She turned to him in astonishment.
" To the skirt?"
" Yes. Maybe you didn't feel that way, but I had a feeling you'd jump in, but you couldn't. That kick might have been stronger if you didn't have a heavy skirt. "
She frowned and looked at her dark green dress.
" Are you suggesting to me that it would be better to be in trousers?"
" Let's do it. Next time, try putting on your pants and blouse instead. You'll see how it goes, how would you feel. "
" It may be, but what if someone robs me when I'm in my clothes."
" Well, we'll train in dresses too, but try trousers next time. You'll see, "he shrugged." But that's enough for today. You've had enough. "
He was right. She was already tired. He will definitely have bruises on her forearms tomorrow. Although the plates have prevented cutting injuries, they will not prevent abrasions.
She raised her weapons and slowly made her way to her room.
" Lucy," Edmund said. She turned to him. "You were great today."
His praise conjured a hearty smile on her lips. She left him in the room to clean his sword.