~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Margaret - Salazen Grum~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All were busy as preparations were made for the Athena Day. Men all ran about sharpening and preparing weapons, making arrows, some practiced, and other patrolled the grounds.
I was sitting next to my mother and the Queen watching Alice and Tarrant doing mild swordplay while an exhausted Johanna and Alick sat and drank water watching as the two fought. On occasion Johanna would give advice or give random fighters a warning, sometimes false alarms to throw them off; she took no favor in who to help.
"Ilosovic and Hamish, Alice, just remember Ilosovic and Hamish!" She had once called and received annoyed looks from the watching Lord Hamish Ascot and his mother.
Alice suddenly began to fight harder. She swung with all her strength and knocked Hatter's sword away. They both looked at Johanna, I don't think either of them had gotten so far.
"No hold backs!" She said and took a sip of cool water. Hatter smiled a devilish smile and Alice looked like the hen the foxes had cornered. He lunged and grabbed the hilt of her sword.
"Orgal, Alice!" Johanna shouted and Alice leaned to the left. The Hatter's grip on the sword was lost. Alice swung the sword and stopped less than an inch from his throat. "Tie," Johanna shouted everyone looked surprised except Johanna, Alick and The Hatter.
"What?" we all exclaimed.
"Knife," Alick said simply, we looked and sure enough Tarrant had a knife pointed at Alice's stomach. The twins began to laugh and soon we all had to join in, Hamish looked purely disgusted at the activities but he never pulled away or stopped watching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Cailean – Salazen Grum~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We'll be out of this soon," I finished binding the armor to Medusa. "And then you and I, can leave this place for good."
"And none will bother uss?"
"Yes, now get some rest… big sister."
As I left I silently vowed that the Queens Red and White, the knave, the Hightopps, the inhabitants of Underland and Overland, and especially the White Champion Alice and her family, would die and pay the consequences. Since the White Queen was crowned the Red Queen has not left us to be alone, I am the only one not affected by her looks or gifted sight as she and I have the same blood. She was transformed into this beast by Underland herself as punishment for sleeping with her husband and for attempting to overthrow the crown. She was once a very beautiful woman, but now Underland would pay severely for what she did. She will suffer seeing her people and her land destroyed! But until then, we must be patient! Tomorrow my sister will fight the champion, and then we will be free and none will harm us.
Johanna-
Night had fallen long ago, yet I couldn't sleep and tomorrow was the fight. After I decided that sleep would be impossible until my mind was at rest. I walked out into the warm night in just my chemise, my mother had insisted that I wear a dress today when I wasn't training, and wandered around.
I felt myself drawn to the front gates where I found Alick staring off into the night. "Hello Alick," I said awkwardly, I still felt the dull sting of his words from a few nights ago.
"Good evening Johanna," he greeted with wary eyes. I nervously rubbed my arms and looked around me.
"Do you mind if, I join you for a while?" he nodded and I sat beside him. I curled my knees up to my chin and hugged my legs tightly.
"I'm sorry for what I said earlier, for being so rude and defensive." I whispered softly.
"It's alright, I'm used to it."
"You shouldn't be." There was a long silence after that, I didn't want to break it but I needed someone to talk to.
"The Queen has asked for my advice." I admitted.
"Oh, why would she ask a historian on warfare?" he asked casually. I almost laughed, he knew better than to think that, he was teasing me now, I knew it! But I didn't laugh, this matter was very serious.
"She was worried about the strongest Shiva Clan legend of Medusa. She was worried about her stone gaze turning the entire army to stone, and if it does and can happen, how to reverse it." I mumbled.
"And what did you tell her?" He said, licking his lips.
"I told her that the Shiva Clan legends are highly inaccurate. Their stories and legends were passed down by way of oral tradition, they have absolutely no written records and were destroyed a mere 150 years before the Hightopp and Calder Clans appeared with their oral history and written languages. I told her that the only true legends as far as we know are the poisonous claws and the bite of death. But just in case these legends are true I have advised that each soldier wear a piece of amethyst around their necks, it will spare them if they make eye contact with the Medusa according to the same legends and of course I had to double check and back it up with legends from other clans. I'm sure it will work."
Alick looked at me and paused, his scrutinizing gaze was starting to make me feel uncomfortable. "I know this sounds like a corny catch line, but I am in awe of your historic knowledge, and fascinated by your…" he cut off suddenly.
"My what, Alick," I pressed, leaning closer.
His face reddened, "I was really sure what I was going to say, but I suppose the best answer I can give you now is, perhaps your…lips, hair, eyes, everything." He drew closer and I felt my eyes drawn to his lips, just less than an inch from me. "Would you mind if I…"
"Alick, you talk too much, just shut up and…" He cut me off as he drew closer and gently pressed his lips to mine.
Oh my, it felt so wonderful, I couldn't get enough and yet it needed too. Oh why did I have to be so torn?
Alick drew away slowly and cupped my cheek. "Stay with me until the sunlight Annie, please."
I nodded, "I'll certainly stay, for as long as you want me."
Forgive me, but I'm just trying to elaborate on Johanna and Alick's feeling because originally the last bit just totally came out of the blue and I honestly love these two together...Especially when they fight, it's kind of funny to imagine...at least for THEMADHATTER1995 and I.