Warrior Princess ~ Chapter Two

Here's chapter two of my rough draft.

Chapter Two

Once the news had come that we were on the edge of a war, it was pretty obvious that there was no way the ball would continue. My father had gone strait into a meeting, and I had gotten changed out of my ball gown. Once I was changed I slipped out the castle and made my way to the stable. "Destrier? Are you in here?" I walked through the stable looking for him.  

"Of course I'm here. Where else would I be?" He snorts and looks at me.  

The question is what you are doing here. Why aren't you at the ball?" 

"The ball is over. I need to get out riding. I'll explain what happened on the way." I swung myself up onto his back, not bothering to put a saddle or bridal on, and rode out the gate. We rode for a while in silence before Desrtier finally spoke up. 

"You said you would tell me what happened."  

"Yeah, ok." I gave a sigh. "I still haven't figured it out myself though." 

"Just tell me what happened." Destrier said with a snort. 

"Alright, alright." I gave a small smile. "So wile everyone was dancing a messenger came and said a Prince Tirindalle had come. I don't know who he is, but father went very pale when he heard the news and he went straight into a meeting." 

"Are you sure it was a good idea coming out here if there is an army attacking?"  

"It'll be fine." I said as we came to a stop beside the old tower. I dismounted and sat down beside the river.  Suddenly I heard a sound from the forest. I stood up quickly and drew my sword.  

"You don't need that this time. It's just me." Cedric rode out into the clearing. He dismounted and came over beside me.  

"What are you doing here? And how did you know I had left?" 

"I followed you." He said with a shrug. "I couldn't let you come out here alone. No offence Destrier." Destrier shook his main.  

"He says none taken." I said with a chuckle.  

"Why are you out here Rachel?" Cedric asked quietly.  

"I had to get out. None of this makes sense, and when I'm confused, or frustrated, or angry, riding helps." 

"You should have at least told someone what you were doing." 

"Yeah I guess. I was just too flustered to think of it." We sat down beside the stream. "Cedric? Do you think there is any way we can stop a war from starting?" 

"I don't know. You should ask your father." 

"I suppose." I nodded. "I just can't believe we're being attacked! I don't even know who this Prince Tirindalle is. Do you?" 

"No." He shook his head.  

"It's strange. My father seems to fear him, but he has never mentioned him before. I wonder why."  

"I don't know. Why don't you ask your father when we get back?" I nodded, then smiled, and mounted Destrier.  

"Catch me if you can!" I cried, raising off. Faster and faster! I laughed, enjoying the feeling of all the cares and worries getting washed away. It wasn't long till we got back to the castle. Once I had given Destrier a brush and some food, I hurried up to my fathers study, wanting to ask him about the prince, but he wasn't there. I had just gone out into the hallway, wondering where he could be, when Caitlin came running around the corner.  

"Rachel! There you are. I've been looking for you. Where have you been?" She stood looking at me with her hands on her hips. 

"I went out riding. I couldn't stay inside any more." I looked around. "Do you know where my father is?" 

"Your father is in a meeting with a messenger from this Prince Tirindalle. I was trying to find you and let you know so you could go join in as you usually do, but you were nowhere to be found."  She looked at me pointedly. "Anyway. If you hurry you might get there before he leaves." She turned and hurried down the hall. I hurried after her, figuring there wasn't anything better to do. When we arrived at the doors to the throne room, I heard my fathers raised voice. I couldn't hear what he was saying but I could tell he wasn't happy. I knocked, and then opened the door and went in.  

"Ah, Rachel. We were just finishing." He ran his fingers through his hair, and then gestured to my chair. "Come take a seat." As I sat down, I examined the man in front of us. His was a medium height, and rather slim. He held himself with sickening self-confidence. And his eyes had a sinister look about them.  

"So, this is the beautiful princess I have heard so much about." He said. His words dripping with arrogance and flattery. "My Prince is rather intrigued with you, and I can see why." 

"Enough!" My father said. His voice shaking with anger. "Get out!” The man smirked, before turning and striding out the room.  

"Father? What was that all about?"  

"Nothing that you need worry about."  

"But father." I persisted. "From what that man said, it does have something to do with me." 

"Enough Rachel! I will not talk about this."  

"Father!" I practically shouted.  "Why can't you tell me? When will you stop treating me like a child? I'm seventeen. I should at least know what going on when I'm stuck in the middle of it."  

"I said enough Rachel!" He shouted, before turning and storming out the room. I stared after him, shocked. Then slumped down into my chair. When I looked up, Caitlin was standing beside me. 

"What happened?" 

"I honestly don't know." I said, looking up at her. "I came in and father stopped talking as soon as he saw me. Then he got angry at the man for some reason, and sent him away. When I tried to ask him about it he wouldn't say anything." 

"You got angry didn't you?" 

"Yes. He won't tell me anything." 

"You're not going to get anything by being angry." 

"I know. I just couldn't help it at the time. He wouldn't talk to me and I just lost it." 

"So? What are you going to do?" 

"I'm going to go apologise." I said with a sigh.  

"Who knows, he may have calmed down enough to tell you now." Caitlin said with a smile. I nodded and set off to find my father. I found him in his study. I knocked on the door.  

"Father?" He looked up at me. 

"Rachel! Come in." I slipped in and sat down. 

"I'm sorry for arguing with you Father. I should have kept quiet." He came over to me and hugged me.  

"It's alright, I understand." He looked at me. "I am going to be leading the men to battle tomorrow. I need you to trust me." I took a deep breath and nodded.  

"Yes Father." 

The Warrior Princess ~ Chapter One

This is the first chapter of the first draft of my novel. As it is the first draft, it does need a lot of work still, but I hope you like it.

 

 

Parry! Block! Thrust! Parry! I spun my sword around combating my father’s blows. "Father?" I asked, while blocking another thrust. "Do I have to go to the ball tonight?" I parried and gave a thrust of my own. " You know almost everyone thinks I'm weird, even though none of them know I can talk to animals, so it's not like I'm going to have a lot of friends there. And it will mean getting dressed up all fancy. None of my other birthdays have been like this. So why this one?"  I parried one thrust and spun around just in time to block another. 

"Rachel, just because others think you are weird, does not mean that you are." My father said, lowering his sword. "You are a very talented young lady. And you know why this birthday is different. You are seventeen. You're old enough to take over the throne." He smiled. "And besides, I think you are old enough to be thinking about who you will marry." 

I looked at him, my eyes wide. "Marry, father? Need I be thinking of that now?" 

He laughed at my indignant surprise. "I am not saying you need to make a decision now, but it is something to start thinking about. I want to know that you will always be looked after. Surely there is someone who you might care for?" 

I shook my head. "No. Well, maybe. I don't know." I looked down. "And even if I did, who would want to marry me?" Father came over to me and tilted my chin up. 

"Look at me. You are a beautiful, talented, kind, and wonderful young lady. Don't ever think you are weird or worthless." He hugged me. "I love you Rachel." 

I smiled up at him. "I love you too father." We put our swords away and sat down on a bench nearby. "Father, since I'm now seventeen, won't you tell me about mother please. How did she die?" My father stood up, his posture stiff and his eyes cold. 

"I will not talk of this now. I must go see that every thing is ready for tonight." He turned away. 

"Father! Why won't you talk to me? She was my mother! Don't I have a right to know? I've waited all these years, please, tell me!" 

"I said no!" He shouted back, without turning around. I turned away with a frustrated sigh. 

 

"Do you want to come for a ride with me?" I called to my best friend Caitlin, who was standing a little way away. When she was little her family died when their farm burned down. She has lived at the castle ever since. 

"When have I ever said no to a ride?" She said, laughing. We turned and made our way to the stables. I saddled up my black mustang stallion, Destrier, while she saddled up her strawberry bay Thoroughbred mare, Sparkles. Once ready, we cantered out of the castle and up into the hills. We had been riding for a while when Caitlin spoke up. "What happened at the end of your training? Your father didn't seem very happy." 

I sighed. "I asked him about my mother. He never talks to me about her, Caitlin. Every time I ask about her, he completely shuts down. She died when I was two. I've spent fifteen years of my life without her. Not knowing anything about her. I don't know what she looked like. I don't know what her family was like. He won't tell me anything. He won't even tell me how she died." I fell silent for a while. "I know I sound like I hate him for it, but I don't. He is the only family I have, and I know he cares for me. I know he doesn't want to hurt me. I just wish he would talk to me." 

"Maybe it still hurts him to talk about it." 

"I suppose that is probably why." 

 

Cantering over the hills with the wind in my face, helped me calm down, and soon I was smiling again, enjoying the ride. Not long after, a forest rose up in front of us. 

"Where are we going?" Caitlin asked. 

"How about to the tower? I always have liked sitting there." 

"Perfect!" She grinned at me. "Race you there?" 

"Try to keep up!" I laughed, racing forward. We galloped for a while, through thick forests, until finally, we broke out into a clearing. There stood an old tower, beside a laughing brook. We dismounted and sat down beside the brook, watching the sunlight dancing on the water. "What do you think my mother was like?" I asked, breaking the still silence. 

"She was probably like you." Caitlin said, looking at me. "Although you are like your father in some ways, in many ways you are not. I can only assume that you are like your mother in those ways." I smiled, dreaming about what my mother was like.  

Destrier came over to me and nudged me. "We must be going or you will not have time to get ready for the ball." I shook myself out of my daydream and nodded. 

"Destrier says we need to be going" I said to Caitlin, getting up. We both mounted, and cantered off toward the castle. Once back, we hurriedly got out horses settled in and then went to our rooms to get ready. It was horrible! My ladies-in-waiting covered me in perfumes, plastered my face in makeup, and dressed me in a ridiculously decorated pale pink dress. And then, as if that wasn't bad enough, they piled my long brown hair up on top of my head in such a way, I though I must surely look ridiculous! But finally, I was ready.  ~ 

I stood at the top of the stairs, out of sight of the crowd, listening to the music and people mingling, waiting for me to come down. I looked over at Caitlin, standing beside me. She too was dressed in a pale pink dress, but hers was far more simple, some might say plain, and her hair was hanging loose over her shoulders. I admired for a moment, how beautiful she looked, until I heard the herald announcing me. I took a deep breath and started down the stairs. Once at the bottom, everyone bowed and I curtsied in return. I then turned and made my way to my father. I curtsied to him and then took my place at his side. 

He stood and addressed the crowd. "Thank you all for coming to celebrate Rachel's seventeenth birthday. She is now officially old enough to take over the throne." Everyone clapped. "I cannot tell you how proud I am that she is my daughter." He turned and looked at me. "Happy Birthday!" He sat down, and one by one different people came up and made a speech, saying how glad they were that I was their princess, and how I would make a wonderful queen, and whole lot of other such rubbish. I knew they didn't mean any of it; they just wanted to please my father.  

Finally the speeches were over, but now the dancing would start. In my opinion this was even worse than the speeches! I sighed as I saw a young lord making his way toward me. But before he could reach me someone touched my arm. It was Cedric, the youngest of the knights, and a good friend of mine. "May I have this dance?" He asked with a bow. 

"Your timing couldn't have been better!" I said, taking his arm. He led me to the centre of the dance floor and we began to dance. He swirled me round and round. Finally the music came to a stop and I curtsied to him, breathless and laughing. Suddenly the door swung open and a guard ran in, hurriedly making his way between the dancers to my father.  

"My Lord!" He cried, kneeling. "I bring urgent news. The Prince Tirindalle has come. He and his army are camped between the mountains." I saw my father's face go pale. I looked at Cedric and then ran over to my father. 

"Father? What is wrong? Who is this Prince Tirindalle? Why has he come?" I could feel myself growing anxious. He said nothing, and just looked at me.