"Miss Hedervary!"

The voice rang out down the hallway, though she could hear it from where she was at, tending the Austrian's flowers outside. Elizabeta found herself outside more often these days, enjoying the warm summer rays and fresh air much more than the menial chores done inside the Austrian household. Certainly, this life was a much more comfortable one than the time she was with the Ottoman Empire - her defeat was not one of the better memories that the Hungarian had. Perhaps it was just coincidence, or really just poor timing of the time that resulted in a whirlwind of new rules and formalities that came with the aristocratic life. Well, most of her life was now dictated by what was between her legs (or lack of, for that matter). A woman must obey. A woman is not to be speak unless spoken to first. A woman must not dirty her hands in the affairs of a man's world. Clothings of the woman should be suffocating, apparently. Elizabeta would have a few choice words to whoever decided on these so-called social norms - she was the opposite of all these expectations. She was born a fighting nation, damn it all.

And yet...

...and yet, she did owe her life to this man. Certainly life under Austrian rule could have come under better circumstances, but it was undeniable that had she stayed under the Ottoman's grip she would lose her name, her people. Still, she missed the freedom she had. She sighed, making her way to the Austrian; probably another pot that needed cleaning or water that needed to be boiled for Edelstein's afternoon tea time. She didn't feel particularly inclined to be familiar with the other, despite the superiors often mention a unionof sorts. Purely political, of course, but it didn't mean that it meant that it was something she particularly wanted to do. Probably meant more restrictions. She smoothened out the wrinkles of her skirt, before making a final turn to the other's study.

"Yes, Mister-"

Elizabeta stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening slightly. This was certainly not the sight that she had expected to see. By all means she was fairly certain that this was the aristocrat's piano study, beautifully adorned with its mahogany tiles and the grand piano, not too far off from the side. Yes, that was there. And the man before her was most certainly Roderich Edelstein. Except...

Except the sheet music that often scattered the floors were no longer there.

Nor were the potted plants - pushed off to the side.

She didn't remember the room being this barren.

She most certainly didn't remember seeing Edelstein ever moving furniture around - actually, anything that would have been deemed more for servants to do, the man pushing a small table off to the side. She noted that he was a little out of breath, his coat (neatly) discarded to the side. She would have kept on standing there gaping had he not turned around, a relieved smile dancing on his face.

"Ah, Miss Hedervary! So good to see you here!"

"Mister Edelstein...? A-Are you alright?"

Something was off. So very, very, off.

"Me? Ah, yes, I'm fine. Better than ever, actually!" Whatever was on his mind his excitement didn't seem to stop anytime soon. Elizabeta couldn't even recall a time when he would be like this. The other continued. "In fact, I'd like you to help me with something."

"Yes?"

"Could you lock the door behind you? It's more of a precautionary than anything else."

"...Sorry?" To be honest, she would have rather said something along the lines of "what the hell are you planning to do?"

"The doors, please."

She turned, frowning slightly, not exactly liking where this is leading, locking the door as she considered her options. She never considered Roderich as the type that would try to take advantage in such a scenario, though the locked doors...worst comes to worst, she was fairly certain she could take him on. She turned around again, ready to ask again before she saw another strange sight.

Edelstein. Holding two swords.

Well, they were wooden swords. Nonetheless she remembered him mentioning in passing about his opinions of the battlefield, that war was a barbaric sort of trait that he wasn't particularly fond of. And yet there they were. Swords.

The Austrian was the first to break the silence.

"I, ah, heard you enjoyed these sorts of things."

She gaped at him. If Elizabeta remembered correctly, these were exactly the things that she's had others tell her to never bring up, or admit. Things unsuited for a woman's world.

"That...that was a thing of the past, Mr. Edelstein."

"Now, Miss Hedervary, there is no need to be shy. Just a small joust, a quick one!" He nodded towards the doors. "So it will go uninterrupted." Roderich gave a small smile, holding out one of the swords.

It had been so long since she's sparred with anyone. Too long. Elizabeta's fingers itched to grasp the sword, to attack and counterattack. Still, she was wary, stopping herself from grabbing onto the object.

"A...Are you sure this is alright?"

"Oh, yes, don't worry about me! I have trained with these weapons before." He handed the sword to her. "Go on, then."

Gingerly, she took the sword. It was much lighter than the real thing, but the weight still felt good in her hands, like she was greeting an old friend. She looked up at him.

"Shall we begin?"

"Mr. Edelstein, I don't think this is a good ide-"

Wood countered with wood, Elizabeta's instincts taking over immediately. Roderich made the first move in the middle of her sentence, the attack blocked by her own sword.

There was a brief flash of encouragement from the Austrian before he was promptly knocked over by the feet, Elizabeta countering in quick succession. The fall hurt a bit, but there it was! A smile, on her face! He was certain of it, before immediate guilt came over her.

"I didn't mean to-I mean, my body moved on it's own...!"

"It's quite alright! Oof, had this been in the battlefield I think formalities wouldn't factor in..." He laughed, brushing himself off.

Elizabeta couldn't help but smile a little, herself. He had terrible footing and honestly, not one of the better sparring companions she's had but he was trying to make her feel comfortable. It...it was a little sweet of him, actually. She didn't know if she should say thank you, or...well, she said the first thing that popped into her mind.

"Your stance is off."

"Sorry?"

"It was an easy opening to knock you down and out." She replied, softly. "Your arms as well, like that you could lose your grip on your sword as well."

"Perhaps you could show me, miss Hedervary?" He stood up, gripping the sword in his hands yet again.

She grinned.

At least an hour must have passed since then. There was a moment in time when she was actually dodging and attacking, and every now and then a shout on her behalf. An excitement builded up inside her, never feeling so alive in so long, the blood pumping in her veins as she struck again and again.

Perhaps it was one too many, as she was currently apologizing and tending to a rather worn out aristocrat, who had failed to dodge one or two (or maybe seven and more) blows. He didn't seem displeased though; worn out, for sure, probably bruised, but content.

"You're really bad at this." She said, smiling a little.

"Maybe, miss Hedervary." He gave her an apologetic laugh.

"Elizabeta."

"Sorry?"

"Elizabeta is fine. I mean, if you don't mind." She smiled, sitting beside him. "I'm sorry I haven't been...well, I haven't exactly been social to you. And all this- in your piano study, no less...it's...well...thank you. Really."

Roderich gave a smile of relief, his voice softening. "I...I know these living conditions aren't exactly what you'd like. Or this arrangement. Someone told me you were fond of the more...extremes of life. Considering your childhood I suppose it's quite natural for you to have those sorts of interests."

Elizabeta sighed. "I'm not particularly fond of these new restrictions." She admitted.

The Austrian was quiet for a moment. "It doesn't necessarily mean you have to follow them." He mused, giving it a moment's thought. "I-I mean, I think I have much to learn about what's acceptable and what's not, but I don't think I like the thought of an unhappy inhabitant in my house."

He was trying, he really was. Elizabeta felt a pang of sympathy. Here sat two people as opposite as one another, but underneath it lay a certain understanding for the other. Perhaps she could learn from him, and vice versa...

"The music you play is beautiful. I've never heard anything like it."

Roderich flushed a little. "I'm quite fond of it."

"Could I sit in and listen? The next time you play, that is." She paused. "You always kept the doors closed so I understand if it's a private matter..."

"I...I think I'd quite like the company." He turned to her. "If you'd like, I could teach you how to play. In return, you could help me with handling a sword."

"I think that could be arranged." She gave a warm smile, before standing up and brushing the dust off her skirts. "Well, if you're to play anything right now we should have this room fixed up, shouldn't we?"

Roderich laughed.

((And here's the second half! Oh gosh, I'm so sorry this took so long...school took over my life D:

I'm not sure if I could convey what I wanted onto here but thank you to everyone that read this! Once again, reviews are most welcome!))