Either Bass knew nothing of her run in with Duncan, or he chose not to say anything about it, which she was thankful for either way.
Actually, he didn't say much of anything to her as the days passed. He mostly spent breakfast reviewing the plans for the jousting tournament approaching, and other than that, she hardly saw him.
Charlie did however spent a vast amount of her time with Connor, getting to know him more and trying very hard to see him as her future husband and lover.
When she wasn't with Connor, she developed more of a routine after requesting she be allowed to return to her training. Bass was hesitant at first, but she quickly alleviated his worry by telling him of her father's approval.
With that he let her, but only under Jeremy's watch. The other knights were not bad men, but he must've thought they wouldn't care for her safety as much as Jeremy would.
She would've much preferred having an opponent who wouldn't baby her and go easy on her, but Jeremy was not that person. He was vastly different from Nora who knew Charlie was tougher than she let on. Jeremy delicately circled around her as if she were fine porcelain with a crack already down the middle. One false move and the whole thing would shatter into pieces.
Nevertheless she was still grateful for his instructions, he was a very good fighter, different from Nora, but both taught her beneficial things.
This also helped the time pass rapidly. Before she knew it, the day was upon them. Her family would be arriving midday for the tournament tomorrow, putting Charlie in good spirits all morning.
She sat grinning at the table in the Great Hall picking at her food, anxiously awaiting a message of their arrival while half listening to Connor ramble on.
She dropped her utensils in excitement as a servant entered, alerting them of their presence as they strode through the double door entryway.
The chair Charlie was sitting in scraped across the floor and flew backwards as she quickly stood up, running towards them.
The first face she sought out was the face of her father, grinning widely at her, "hey kiddo."
Flinging her arms around his neck, he reciprocated the hug, laughing at her enthusiasm, "With a welcome like this, one would think we've been parted for years."
Pulling away she stuck her tongue out and pretended to move out of his reach until her drew her back in, "I didn't release you yet."
With that Charlie laughed, "Since when have I ever listened to rules father?"
Miles feigned sadness, "I was hoping time spent with Bass would've made you more obedient."
Bass rolled his eyes from his stood position at the table, "she could spend centuries with me and I would never instill obedience in her."
Miles laughed, moving towards Bass' as Charlie met her mother's face, "hello mother, you're looking well."
"Thank you sweetheart, I trust your time here has been pleasant?"
Charlie nodded, "very much so."
Forgetting her mother's cold welcome, she pulled Danny into a tight hug, whispering in his ear, "please tell me you've been giving her hell in my absence?"
He chuckled, the vibration rumbling Charlie's own chest, "as much as I can."
When they pulled back he frowned, "I don't know how you do it, it's exhausting."
Nora rolled her eyes playfully, "please, if you ask me I'd say he's doing quite nice being a thorn in my side."
"Well no one asked you," Charlie quibbled, throwing her arms around Nora's neck before she could utter she didn't like hugs.
She hugged her back, "no one ever does. It's good to see you Charlie."
When they parted, she looked her once over, and then her eyes settled on Charlie's, "how are you doing? Are they treating you well here?"
Her mind went straight to the dungeon instance, but choosing not to mention it she nodded. It would probably start with a firm scolding from Nora about her irresponsible choices before all hell broke loose.
"Yes everything is lovely, how has everything been at home? Are you getting on alright?"
Worry for Nora was evident in Charlie's eyes, though there was little reason as to why. Nora could take care of herself, but Charlie worried more about Nora being lonely.
She nodded, playfully rolling her eyes, "yes your highness, I'm coping quite well without your presence. I only shed tears the first week of your departure."
Charlie just made a face at her, opening her mouth, only to be interrupted by Bass' voice close by.
"Hello Nora, it's lovely to see you again," Bass smiled at Charlie's right side.
Nora's mouth twitched into a small smile of her own, as she bowed lowly, "you as well your highness."
"Miles tells me you've developed into quite the extraordinary guardian over Charlie, and please Bass will suffice for old friends."
Her eyes flickered to Miles briefly, "I would hardly say extraordinary."
"All the same, I'll relieve Jeremy of his duties, as I'm sure Charlie would prefer your company."
He looked to Charlie who smiled and nodded, "yes, thank you."
"Excellent," he said looking between the two as his gaze landed on Charlie's, "dinner will be served shortly if you'd like to bathe and dress in more appropriate attire."
Charlie nodded as she went towards the doors. It was customary to have a sort of welcoming dinner whenever guests arrived, and usually before a jousting tournament Charlie was told there was a commencement dinner. Typically including more people, the other guests would not be arriving until morning.
She had made it no further than two feet when Nora called out behind her, "I'll escort you to your room."
For a minute, she almost forgot Nora accompanied to her room. She was used to Jeremy only following her when she requested his company or when she went outside.
Once they were outside the Great hall, Charlie immediately stopped and smirked at Nora, "you don't know where we're going."
An obvious statement but Nora typically took the lead. Charlie liked yielding the power.
"Yeah, yeah your highness, you're all powerful here and I am weak, lead the way, but careful not to go too fast. I fear getting lost," Nora sarcastically replied.
Chuckling at Nora's pouty manner, she pranced on in triumph, leading them through the winding maze to her room.
Once they were inside Charlie started to reflect on everything said earlier in the Great Hall, and how comfortable Bass seemed to be with Nora, like they were old friends. That's when she remembered he said as much. Curiously, Charlie turned around as Nora examined her chambers.
"I didn't know you knew the King," she blurted out as Nora just looked at her oddly.
"I think you've taken one too many hits to the head. You do remember who I am right? What's my name? How many fingers am I holding up?" Nora jokingly laughed.
Charlie however remained serious and adamant, "I'm not talking about my father the king. I'm talking about King Sebastian of course."
Nora sighed, she knew what Charlie meant but she was hoping to distract her enough to direct her line of query elsewhere.
"Yes," she said after a long pause, "I know Bas—King Sebastian," she instantly corrected herself.
Like her father, that nickname rolled off their tongue so smoothly as though he had never been anything other than just Bass to both of them.
"How did you know him?"
Nora knew Charlie well enough to know, even though she asked a simple and short question, she was searching for more answers. She wanted the big story, but unfortunately no one had ever given her such.
Sitting down at the edge of the bed, Nora looked up at her and smiled lightly, "my father served in the King's army, King Thomas, Miles' father and a great man. I lived with him at Longstead my entire childhood. When I was but 6 I found myself to be a very curious girl, not unlike yourself, which meant that I often got into trouble. Now, usually I was able to get myself out of this trouble, but there was one instance where I could not."
"You know of the great river Aristae, with it's long winding rushing waters, stretching as far as the eye can see until it drops off into the lake of Carnac?"
When Charlie nodded she continued, "I was playing alongside the bank one day, climbing a large oak tree hanging over the river, when it snapped from underneath my fingertips and I went barreling into the frigid waters. I could swim, but the current overpowered me, rolling me around like a ragdoll. I'm not sure if I even managed to scream, but I didn't have to because I felt a tight grip on my waist, then I could see sunshine breaking through and air rushed into my lungs. Someone had pulled me out."
Charlie's mind began trying to figure up all the possibilities settling on one person, Miles.
She was shocked as a smile crept on Nora's lips as though she could read her mind, "Miles likes to take credit for it because he said 'he's the one that spotted the fall,'" her imitation of Miles was so accurate Charlie couldn't help but giggle.
"It was Bass though who pulled me out and saved my life, granted Miles said he only did it to prove he was the better swimmer of the two. Bass tells the story a bit differently as you can imagine. Whatever the reason I owed my life to them, and believe me, they didn't let me forget it."
"From that point on, we were thick as thieves. Due to both of their father's castles being side-by-side, Bass and Miles were always glued at the hip. There was never a time Bass wasn't following right behind Miles' lead, no matter how poor his decisions were, and I know them to be poor because on more than one occasion they were scolded for their behaviors. That also meant they got me into trouble, more times than one, but they would never leave my side."
She laughed, reflecting on the memories, "I remember one time when we were not more than 15 they started a fight amongst themselves and both their mothers were furious. They made them attend dance lessons, and you should've see the look on their faces."
At that Charlie howled in laughter, "what did they start a fight about?"
Figuring it to be something silly, Nora frowned, but answered the question directly, "it was about me. Bass used to tease Miles all the time about letting a girl in on their adventures, and how Miles only did it because he fancied me."
Nora's sorrowful tone made Charlie's eyes soften, "why would that have been such a bad thing?"
Sadly, Nora looked at Charlie, "because it would've reflected poorly on him had he expressed romantic interest in a peasant. My family was by far peasants, but since we held no royal titles or rankings, we may as well have been peasants. That's just the way things worked."
She shrugged her shoulders, appearing indifferent to the matter, but Charlie could tell even though it was long ago when this happened, it still mattered to Nora now. Coming to sit down beside her, she let Nora direct the conversation.
"Anyway, they claimed it was a misunderstanding, saying it had nothing do with Miles' affections towards me. Bass stated he felt as though I was intruding and slowing them down because I was unable to keep up. Miles jumped to my aid because he thought Bass was belittling me. Miles knew my father to be a well-respected man and the best knight in the entire army. He wasn't going to stand for someone discrediting me when he knew firsthand my father's outstanding abilities. They were back to being friends within a days time, probably sooner after having to bond over the traumatic dance experience, which you should inquiry after. They welcomed me with open arms yet again, but it was never the same after that."
"When threats of war emerged I tried to remain loyal to them both. I couldn't help but picture 6-year-old Bass coming to my drowning rescue every time I saw him, but there was a change in him. Such a change that I could not stand idly by anymore, I was forced to pick a side and I chose Miles. I'm not even sure of my reasoning, both had done terrible things, but nevertheless I joined his army, just as my father had. My sister however, she chose a different path."
Charlie couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had never known Nora to have a sister and Nora could tell by the look of surprise on her face.
"Mia was her name. She never cared for our father, attributing him for our mother's flight. As soon as the opportunity to break away from the family arose she left. She didn't care who the opponent was, it could've been the devil himself and she would've jumped into his arms, just to get away."
"What happened to her? You said she 'was'?"
Of course she picked up on that, Nora trained her well enough to notice the minuscule details, "she died in battle, fighting alongside Bass' army."
Her diction conveyed one thing, but Charlie could look in Nora's eyes and see that she felt another. Did she blame Bass for her sister's death, because if it weren't for him, she would've never been in the fight?
Nora began shaking her head, laying a hand on Charlie's knee, "I don't blame Bass, I just wish he would've handled things another way. I wish he would've treated me differently."
Charlie's heart was pounding so loudly in her chest, she put her hand over it in order to ensure it stayed in place, "what happened afterwards?"
Only shaking her head with a small smile, she stood, "I think that's a story for a different time, you're meant to be dressed and presentable soon, we've wasted enough time as it is."
Charlie grabbed her arm, "wait, what did you mean treat you differently? You have to tell me the rest of what happened."
There was a fierce and commanding tone in Charlie's voice, but Nora only pulled her arm away, "please Charlie, another time. This is supposed to be a festive occasion."
"No," she rose from her bed, crossing her arms over her chest, "tell me now."
"Is that a direct order?"
Challenge swirled around in Nora's eyes. She had never acted in such a manner; Charlie had no idea what to think of it.
She only nodded, clearing her throat as she looked directly at Nora, "yes, I command you answer my question."
"He held me captive, hoping to bait Miles into surrendering," she replied coolly, "if that's all Princess, I'll be waiting outside your door until time."
Nora gave her no time to apologize for her rude behavior before slipping out the door. Charlie stood with her hand over her agape mouth. She didn't mean to push her so far, but Nora always remained calm in distress situations, she never lashed out at Charlie. It was obvious she didn't want to talk about that, but Charlie's mind couldn't rest until she knew, and even now it wasn't at ease.
There were a million thoughts running through her head. What happened? How did Bass treat her? Did her force her to do something? Or was none of this because of Bass, did it have to do with her father instead? Was it because Miles didn't rescue her?
Shaking her head, she let the thoughts sink to the bottom, but she would figure this all out one way or another.