Teaching Florimel


Florimel looked up when the shadow broke the hot patch of sunlight streaming through the skylight of the Castle's gym. She brushed her long blonde hair from her lovely young face.

He was tall and dark, with dark expressive eyes. They told her that this man was actually her nephew, but she could still hardly believe it. Just as she could hardly believe that he had opened the door, crossed the room, and now stood before her... without making a sound!

He seemed to personify a certain feeling, coolness, silence, shade.

"Hello Florimel," he said shattering the quietness. He always called her by her proper name. There was a way in which he said it.. everyone else called her 'Flora,' and treated her like a child. But not her teacher. Not Jacob.

He stood there before her, his fists on his slim hips, smiling politely waiting for her to rise. His face handsome, but distant and inscrutible. She rose to her feet.

"Hi Jacob," she blushed, though she was sure that he paid no attention whatsoever. Why would he care? The handsomest, and nicest man in Amber just so happened to be married to the prettiest and nicest woman.

"I was thinking that we should work on quarterstaff today. Your archery skills are coming along nicely, but still I think we need to work on your ability to defend yourself in a hand to hand combat situation."

He walked slowly to the equipment locker, her azure eyes following him every step.

"The quarterstaff is the most underestimated of the hand to hand weapons. A properly cut and treated staff can easily match, if not surpass a blade in the hands of a skilled user."

And so it began... first the lecture, his dark green eyes intent on her. Then the practice. She spent the day struggling to anticipate his every move. Pushing herself to the limit to block his fierce onslaught, or conversely to edge a way around his impenetrable defenses. Her passion rose and was broke on the strenuous workout...

Only at the end of the day, her only reward was a few kind word of encouragement from her teacher, some bumps and bruises, and the knowledge that she was getting stronger and faster.

No one would be hurting her anytime soon.. No one, especially Sand or Delwin.

Her teacher? She smiled. That was a different story..


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