- Emmalina's Point of View -

As I sat in the garden and watched the birds fly around, I pondered what Callum had said. Obviously he has no idea of what to say and what not to say to a girl, but he also wouldn't say those things unless he didn't mean them.

"Hey Emma," Samantha's voice came from the path.

"Hey," I answered mildly.

She sat down next to me and we didn't say anything for a very long time. It seemed like neither of us wanted to start off the conversation that we knew was bound to come.

So I decided I would.

"Why is he here?" I asked, not looking away from the pond.

"Because he wanted to come and visit."

"He just now suddenly decided to come over?"

"Emma he didn't mean those things he said. He was just surprised and said it the wrong way."

"No...No he meant them...And I don't blame him," I told her, suddenly realizing what I've been doing for over a year now.

"I see it now."

"See what?"

"He's right Samantha! You were right, Joe was right, everybody's been right about everything! Everyone except me...I haven't been acting the same and I see it now, so please, don't try and deny it," I said, getting up and running off.

"But Emma-"

"No! Stop! I don't want to hear it!...I hate this dress, my shoes are killing me, and my hair is a pain! I remember now why I never did these sorts of things. Because I can't STAND them!!!"

"Emma, wha-"

"Thanks a bunch Samantha for everything you've done!" I smiled, getting up and running back to the castle, leaving Samantha sitting bewildered on the bench.

I ran down the garden path and right past Callum and Joe, barely hearing Callum say, "I will never understand girls."

I ran up the stairs to my room quickly changing out of my dress and into my riding clothes, pulling my hair into a ponytail and grabbing my dirk that had spent months in my drawer, untouched. 

I ran back out of the castle and out the gate into the woods, leaning against a tree to catch my breath.

"Man, I'm out of shape!" I gasped.

For almost 12 months I hadn't even bothered to walk to town.

"I'm gonna have to get myself pulled together again."

Meaning twice as much training as I use to do. I started off by jogging to the clearing where I had my old targets then pulling off the ivy that had grown there. Then I practiced my knife throwing and, at first, I was a bit rusty, but I was pleased to find that it didn't take long for my old talent to come back. First I tried over hands, did those about four times, then under hands the same amount, then side hands, and finally a spin throw. That one I had to do a couple more times to get it just right. 

I laughed and fell down in the grass, rolling over and smelling the beautiful green plant. Then I grinned and got up, running all over the clearing in random patterns and leaping over the targets, discovering things I didn't even know I could do. 

Then I sat down and realized I should probably practice a few of my defense routines. Going up to my padded wooden dummy I did a couple sloppy blocks and kicks, getting the feel of the rhythm. Then I started putting some actual skill into them. I did my ten-count blocks, as usual, then I did some front kicks, side kicks, and round house kicks. Those were always the hardest. 

Then I started to stretch. I did some butterflies, frogs, scorpions, and splits. Now I was never a very flexible person, but I had figured out that once I stretch and warm up, I can gradually get my legs and back to be a lot more flexible then before. 

By then I was breathing pretty darn hard and sat back down in the grass, leaning against a wooden pull I used for practicing my close contact fighting.

As I sat there I suddenly felt as though I was being watched. I had always been able to tell when eyes were on me, and now I was getting the feeling that I should probably get out of there.

I quickly walked toward the targets where my knifes were still buried, suddenly hearing a noise like a twig snapping. 

Spinning around I saw a man not five yards away. He had long white hair that hung loose and he was very tall and skinny. He wore animal furs and carried a curved sword. His long face had an evil grin on it and he had an ugly crooked nose that had been broken several times.  

"Hello pretty," he chuckled.

I immediately ran to the target and pulled out one of my throwing knifes, not sure what to do next. Suddenly someone came from behind me and put a knife in my back, so I immediately leaned forward and thrust my left foot into the mans stomach in a back kick, then I turned and punched him in the jaw. 

It felt like a very solid punch and I was quite pleased with it, but I didn't have time to admirer my work before the man with the white hair ran toward me. 
I ducked my head and rammed forward into his core as he ran at me, using my right shoulder and upper arm to protect my neck. 
The man fell to the ground and three more bandits came at me, all carrying swords. One of them was ahead of the others which was an error on his own behalf. He would've been more powerful if all three of them had stayed together and I probably wouldn't have been able to deal with them, but now I had a chance to get out of this.

I ran toward the man, grabbing his neck with my right arm and using it as a lift to jump over his shoulder then flip him over mine. 
The two other men came at me at the same time so I used their weapons against them. As one of them thrust his sword at me I blocked and grabbed his wrist, pushing it upward to use his sword as a block for the other one. There was a stinging sound as steal clashed against steal and I used a forward kick to send one of the men sprawling on the ground.
Unfortunately the last man was a bit more skillful then the others and when I tried to kick him in the ribs he grabbed my leg and pulled it forward. Thankfully I could do the splits and I immediately pulled my left leg forward and swept it in an arch behind the man's left leg and causing him to fall to the ground. 

I stood up, satisfied at my work, but with my luck I should've known something would go wrong. 

And it did.

As soon as I turned around to run I was greeted by the white haired man, pointing a bow at me from 3 yards away.

"The games up missy. Turn around and put your hands in the air, NOW!" 

Reluctantly I turned around and raised my hands, glaring at the other men who were now standing.

Why does this always happen to me?

-Hello everyone! Here's the next chapter. What do you think? Did you like it? I'd love to hear your thoughts and as always, votes are appreciated. Thanks :D - Anna