Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I know my boundaries," Kell assured her, that smirk growing a little more devilish. "And I know just how far I can push them, eldere." He picked up one of the wooden blades and inspected it. "Now... Maybe since your brother wore me down a little, you might have a chance of actually beating me. Care to try?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"If I win, you'll go talk to Ma tonight." Kate commented as he inspected the wooden blades that he had used while training with Sam. "After all, a friendly wager makes it all the more interesting."

 

[KieranSoares]

"And what if I win? What could you possibly offer me?" Kell asked with a handsome grin, tossing her a blade.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Whatever you want, my love." Kate murmured sweetly, looking at him with a devilish grin. "Within reason, of course."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think, dear Princess, I'll invoke surprise. If I win, you'll find out what I want." Kell gave his blade a quick spin to test its balance before stepping back into the dueling ring and taking his wooden dagger as well.

 

[heartofcourage]

"A mystery. I believe I'll take a chance and accept." Kate murmured, taking her sword and dagger and taking up her position across from Kell.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've never seen you dual-wield," Kell commented, his form remaining relaxed for the moment. "This will be interesting." Kell slowly lowered his stance as he circled her, his expression growing more serious when he focused on her. He wasn't going to go easy.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You've never seen me do a lot of things, Khelt." Kate commented as she took a low stance as well.

Her Da had taught her never to make the first move. You had to study your opponent and see if there was a weakness that might end the fight sooner.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell knew Kate's style well, but he also knew how to exploit her habits for his own benefit in a duel. He didn't give her the chance to study his movement, nor did he give any indicators of what he would do first. He struck fast, almost the moment she was done speaking. He purposely attacked her sword instead of Kate herself, knowing Kate was dangerous enough even without it. He intended to get it away from her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate knew he would make the first move. She was ready for the vicious stoke against her sword and she planted her feet, forcing him away from her momentarily. She took the moment to regroup, swiping down at him with her dagger to create some room between them.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell knew the tactic, and instead of jumping back, he blocked her dagger with his blade hilt and pushed even closer. It was typical of Highlanders to rely on wide, powerful swings and Kell knew Kate's had been partly trained that way by her father and uncles. The less room she had, the less she could rely on power and her longer blade. Kell's dagger blade managed to slash past her hip, but it wouldn't hurt for long being wooden.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate pressed forward after he slashed against her hip, her boot hooking around the back of his footpaw to pull him off balance. As she pulled him off center, she pressed it with her hip and side, giving him an extra shove.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell wasn't quite expecting Kate to pull such a trick that in a normal duel would be considered dirty fighting, but her father had long ago taught her that against most opponents, she had to be willing to break the code of honorable battle or they'd do it for her, especially in war when the scrappiest fighters won against the most noble and well-trained knights.

Kell let himself fall rather than risking opening himself up by stumbling. He tucked his legs and rolled backward, and the moment his footpaws and claws caught the dirt, he surged back forward and threw all his weight into Kate's smaller form, his blades locked against hers. It was like getting barreled into by a horse.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was ready for him, stretching one leg behind her to plant herself securely against his barrage. Her sword crashed with his viciously, but she kept her feet beneath her.

"I've learned a thing or two." She commented, giving him a grin.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I see that," Kell smirked at her, breaking away from her with one more clash. He set his stance lower now, something Brogan often did against her because she was so much lighter and smaller. If he could get lower than her, he could lift her right off her feet with a good grapple if he got past her weapons.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate made herself even smaller as she saw Kell change his stance. Low to the ground, she was still light on her feet and able to move as quickly as if she were at her full height. Even though she knew Kell would win, she was going to give him one hell of a fight.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell traded blows with Kate several more times before she was given an opening as he side-stepped and had to lift his blade to block her dagger. His stomach was open, something that rarely happened. He knew it too, but he realized too late.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate didn't make a move to strike the blow. Instead, she simply grinned at her wolf and chuckled softly. "Got you." She whispered in the quiet moment as they both realized that she would have won.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not if you didn't hit me," Kell countered, taking the moment of pause to barrel Kate over completely, pinning her to the ground beneath him and rewarding the hard fight with a kiss to her lips. "One of the oldest rules in the book, Princess. Press your advantage. And don't hesitate."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You are a cheat, Khelt." Kate said with a sigh as he took the moment to kiss her lips and tell her that she should always win the fight.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's not cheating, it's survival," Kell told her as he'd said many times when he won against her by less than honorable means. "But I'll take the defeat if you do me one favor."

 

[heartofcourage]

"What's that?" Kate asked as he held her pinned. "I should just tell you no."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You could say no, but where's the fun in that?" Kell asked with a grin. "Keep this safe for me til tonight," he murmured, pulling a strange box from his pocket and pressed it into her hand before leaving her with one last kiss and disappearing off toward the keep.

The box was hand-carved with Erygonian banded markings, and inside was a little carved white stone, the carving laid with silver in the Erygonian symbol for union. It was an ancient custom Kate knew from study. It didn't happen much anymore outside very traditional Erygonian families, but when an Erygonian wanted to ask for his love's mother's blessing (Erygonians having a matriarchal society), he would present her with such a stone as his vow to be dedicated to his mate should the mother consent.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate sat there in the middle of the sparring circle, stunned when she saw the little stone inside of the box. She glanced up to watch Kell retreat into the keep, her stomach doing a strange little flip as she thought about him asking her Ma for permission to marry. It suddenly felt very real that they were trying to unite with one another. It wasn't just a silly infatuation. They were talking marriage.

 

[KieranSoares]

It wasn't until near dinnertime that Kate saw Kell again, speaking quietly to Brogan off to one side. Brogan seemed thoroughly amused while Kell's playful demeanor from earlier had turned serious and a bit nervous.

As the family gathered, Kell found his usual seat and Brogan his, greeting Julia with a kiss. "Hiya, love," he murmured, looking especially pleased with everything around them that evening.