The Runaway Princess

~Chapter 13~

I feel nervous and hot, this is my first actual battle that could severely harm me. 

The armour isn't helping at all with the heat. 

My fingers hurt from how tight I am gripping the sword. 

"I recognise the two over here, you're Prince Thomas and you're Prince Anthony. But this one I have yet to find out who you are. I could recognise the Princes' armours any day but you, no." I glare but I doubt he can see me. 

"There is no need for you to know who he is." Anthony replies. 

"Soon I will know, but for now we must kill you first." His snarl is repulsive, I can't wait til I can dig my sword at him. I can tell icicle is just begging to be used. 

The King gestures for his knights to come forward and I look at them in examination. They all look well built except for the one closest to me, he looks slim. He must be fast, the others will be slower. 

"Twelve against three? That hardly seems fair." Thomas says, I know he's trying to act brave but you can hear the nerves affecting him in his voice. "If you are as skilled as its said then you'll have no problem. I can't say the same for the slim looking one over there." He nods towards me and I wish I could tell him that I've beaten them both. 

I have no idea how fights like these start but everyone steps forward and looks at their target. Three out of the twelve knights look at me, Thomas and Anthony each have four men. One is close to the King and watches all of us.

One of the muscular men takes a long stride closer and swipes his sword at my neck. I duck down and then clang at his waist. He steps back and the other muscle man comes for a bit of his taste as well. I deflect his hits and he does with mine, I hear him make a weird sound, almost animal like. 

He then kicks his leg out, I jump over just in time and go for the gap between the breastplate and shoulder. 

I push the sword in and the man groans. Before he attacks I hit the sword to the side of his head and he falls over. One down two to go. 

"He isn't that bad." I hear the King say. I ignore his comments as the first one comes back. 

Our swords hit each other repeatedly until he gets my arm. I bite my tongue to prevent myself from groaning and continue to fight. 

Soon I am able to hit his neck which leaves him gasping for air, I take the chance to trip him over and hit his head with the hilt of icicle. It really is easy to fight with this sword.

I stare at my final opponent. I turn my sword around so the hilt is back, firmly in my hands. 

We circle each other. He examines me for a weak spot and I do the same to him. I look at him, head to toe. Nothing so far. He makes the first move and goes straight for my head. I block just in time and direct his sword downwards then quickly go for his shoulder. He slightly blocks it so the cool metal of my sword hardly does any damage to the man. 

Through the slit in my helmet I lock eyes with the man, he doesn't look very old but it doesn't matter, he is my opponent and I am his. 

I risk a look to the other two, they are each fighting two people. Maybe I will help after this.

I turn back to the slim man and immediately jump away as he runs at me with his sword. The fighting suddenly becomes aggressive and harder, he is able to hit my injured shoulder and the pain sears through my arm. I hit his thigh making him trip. It wasn't hard, that's his weakness. As he's still in shock I jab the sword repeatedly at the spot. He falls over and I point my sword at his neck. He stays down but he needs to be unconscious. Just before I can aim at his head he swings his sword at my legs. I fall over and he is soon the one standing with his sword to my neck.

"Always have your guard up, weakling." I freeze at the word weakling. I grab my sword tightly and I throw it at his head hilt first, I know its a big risk but I must take it. I watch as the sword hits him hard with a clang!  

He falls down and I stand, I beam with pride as I grab my sword again. I stare down at the man's fallen body and can't help but feel a rush of energy surge through me. The adrenaline within me makes me want to fight more, I will not be called weak. Not ever.

I walk closer to Thomas and lock eyes with one of his opponents.

Before any of us can do anything someone grabs my helmet and pulls it off my head. My brown hair cascades down from within the helmet and down my back and shoulders.