Berula {Herb}

"Faster, your opponent is looking for ways to strike you! Speed is essential!" Madame Kenna said to Arya.

She nodded before making her movements faster than they had been mere minutes ago.

"Zelie, don't go easy on her." Madame Kenna scolded.

Arya had been extremely astonished to find out that Lady Zelie would be joining the practice sessions with Madame Kenna. She had not mentioned anything to her earlier when they had crossed paths. Imagine her surprise when Madame Kenna said that they would be dueling!

Lady Zelie looked offended. "I would never dream of doing something like that."

"Well than, your moves are sloppier than they were back in the day. Do you still train as usual?" she questioned.

Arya shook her head slightly, only Madame Kenna could get away with talking to Lady Zelie like that. If it was someone else, they would probably been under her sword by this moment.

"I haven't gotten much time, if you haven't noticed; I'm busy running an academy." She replied cattily.

"What good does the academy do if the headmistress isn't as sharp as she once was?"

"That's why I'm here." Lady Zelie responded.

Madame Kenna smacked her forehead. "You do know there is going to be an exhibition match?"

Arya's ears perked up. She hadn't heard anything about an exhibition match before.

Lady Zelie gave Madame Kenna a mock serious look before pointing towards Arya. "Nobody is supposed to know that! It's one of the surprises for the tournament!"

Madame Kenna rolled her eyes. "Hush now, Arya practically knows almost everything and it's not like she is going to tell anyone."

Lady Zelie looked at Arya apologetically. "She didn't mean that you don't have friends because I know you do-me."

Madame Kenna gave Lady Zelie a glare. "You just made matter's worse, don't say anything else!"

"I'm not offended," Arya said. "I just like keeping to myself, it's not a crime is it?"

"Certainly not," Lady Zelie said.

"That is enough of this chit-chat!" Madame Kenna roared. "Let's get back to practice before I have students coming in and asking pesky little questions."

Lady Zelie and Arya obliged by facing each other.

Madame Kenna had a wooden sword with which she would give them a light tap when they were doing something incorrect and they would receive a jab if an Arya remained open. She tapped both Arya and Lady Zelie immediately.

"What?"

"Respect Zelie, I don't care if you're the princess of the country you always respect your teachers no matter what. By the way, your posture isn't relaxed. It was tense making it harder for your muscles." Madame Kenna said.

Lady Zelie bobbled her head in respect and relaxed her posture.

Madame Kenna turned her gaze towards Arya, "on the other hand, your posture says that you aren't ready to fight. You need to get in the zone, it doesn't matter that this is Lady Zelie, be serious. Your opponent could be a traitorous king but you need to be able fight for your country."

Arya fixed her stance and mirrored Lady Zelie's movements. They both stared at one another until it was Lady Zelie who made the first move. Arya was taken back and she barely managed to block the blow. But Lady Zelie didn't stop there. She continued pressing Arya back by attacking Arya one blow after another.

Arya was forced onto defense and all she could do was either block the blows or try to side-step them. Dueling with Lady Zelie was extremely tiring and Arya got to see first-hand as to why Lady Zelie was the headmistress of the Narvian Academy. She was in a level of her own and could probably hold her own against the Military Leader of Kalvaria.

"Enough," said Madame Kenna in a low voice.

They both stepped back with their respective swords in their hands. Arya was mentally and physically exhausted. She had never felt this tired with her other duels. Lady Zelie was phenomenal and she was lucky to have been able to duel against her.

"You really pushed the boundaries, didn't you?"

Lady Zelie released the knot that held her gown at her hips. "This will all help Arya in the future."

Madame Kenna turned towards Arya, "you held your ground well against Zelie. Next class we will try to get you to actually strike Zelie instead of being on defense. By attacking you first, Lady Zelie was able to turn you onto your heels. Striking first can also be fatal if you don't know your opponents strength but in this case, Lady Zelie knew yours which is why it didn't matter to her. It was good that you didn't attack first because you got to witness Lady Zelie's strength and make a quick assessment."

Lady Zelie gave Arya a smile. "You did well Arya."

Arya curtsied to Lady Zelie. "Thank you your highness. I must be on my way now, herbs and healing should be beginning in a short while."

Lady Zelie and Madame Kenna nodded. "Next week, same time." She said.

Arya nodded once before she left the training room but she did hear snippets of the conversation before leaving.

"She's still as formal as before?"

"It's her barrier," Lady Zelie replied. "To make sure she doesn't get close to anyone or get hurt."

"It will serve her well if she chooses to join the army."

Lady Zelie snorted. "The army would be foolish not to beg for her."

As Arya distanced herself from the training room, the voices faded and should couldn't hear anything else. She didn't know what to make of their conversation. Lady Zelie had hit the bull's eye; she hated opening herself to people. It made her seem vulnerable, something she wasn't ready to ever do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Yasmin, what is an herb that helps sooth irritating of a burn or cut?" Madame Guinevere asked.

"Plantain, the leaves help with the soothing of injuries. It is most commonly found in Europe and parts of Asia but can been found in North America as well." She said.

Yasmin was a girl with olive-tone skin and a mass of black curls that hid most of her face. Her curls seemed to be flying everywhere, especially when she spoke. She also had an accent, different from the typical Kalverian accent that hinted that she was a foreigner. If Arya were to guess, she would say that Yasmin was from the Middle East, probably from the royal family.

"Correct Yasmin, you may take a seat."

Yasmin sat back down in her seat. Madame Guinevere continued most of the lesson but Arya found herself zoning out and focusing on the conversation she had heard between Madame Kenna and Lady Zelie. She was curious and wondered if Lady Zelie spoke about her often with her presence. What did she say and to whom did she say it to?

Arya was broken out of her trace when she heard chairs shuffling and the girls getting up. She looked at the clock to see that the class was not over so why was everyone getting up?

"We're going to the gardens," Yasmin whispered to Arya after noticing her confused expression.

Arya nodded and got up with the rest of the class. They all lined up and a perfect line behind Madame Guinevere.

"I want you all to stay absolutely silent in the hallways. There are classes that are in progress and we don't want to disturb them." Madame Guinevere said.

The girls nodded and silently walked through the hallways of the Narvian Academy. As they were passing through, Arya could see that some classes remained open and the students were looking curiously towards them.

When the entered the courtyard, Madame Guinevere led them past the fountain and flowers to a place near the woods where the second garden lay. The Narvian Academy had two gardens; one was for the beauty which held luscious flowers like tulips, roses, iris, and many other deliciously scented blossoms.

The second garden was the one that contained herbs that were used for healing purposes. Rumor had it that Madame Guinevere personally tended to the plants in the second garden in order to ensure their grown and security.

When they had finally reached their destination, Madame Guinevere told them to gather around. "Today you will be collecting two things; elderberries and sage leaves. Make sure you are careful in extracting them because if any of the plants are harmed, you will be responsible for replanting and tending to the garden for the next few weeks." She made a motion with her hand, "off you go now."

There was much scrambling around the garden as the girls tried pushing each other in hopes of getting the most leaves and berries. Arya meanwhile hung on the outskirts. At the rate they were going at, she was sure the plants would be harmed one way or another. Instead, it was safer to disassociate herself from the group. She looked up to see the curly haired girl Yasmin doing the same.

The girl noticed her gaze and she spoke to Arya in the same thick accent. "Back in Ancient Egypt my ancestors used sage a lot and so I know they the girls are going to end up extracting the sage wrongly."

Arya nodded and didn't say anything. Instead she waited a while longer as the girls soon started leaving with leaves and berries in their hands. Yasmin and Arya went to work then. They collected the dark, sweet smelling berries and gently began plucking the leaves from the edge of the roots. When they both finished, Madame Guinevere told them all to head back inside.

When they entered the classroom she told them to go the counters that had been set up at the edge of the classrooms.

"You're going to be preparing medicine from these herbs. I won't be telling you how to prepare them, just do as you please. At the end of the class, I will be testing your medicines to see which ones can be used in the infirmary."

Arya found herself beside Yasmin once again. They both unanimously started working together. Arya washed the herbs careful with warm water and set a pot filled with water over the flames. Yasmin took the rest of the herbs and careful extracted the parts that would be used. She handed Arya the black berries with a clay bowl and a rock. Arya took it from her and slowly started crushing the berries making sure the juice was staying in the bowl. She extracted the out layered bits keep the juice berry itself for the actual medicine.

Yasmin started brewing the pot and added the sage leaves. Arya took a bit of the left over stem and added it as well for extra flavour. It was something that she had learned before. It made the medicine much stronger and more effective. Pretty soon the room was filled with aromas but not all of them were pleasant. Looking at the girls in front of them, Arya could see a murky brown color that was emitting a horrible smell. Arya was sure that they must have added dirt by accident.

"It's ready," Yasmin announced.

Arya peeled her gaze back onto her pot and took a little sip.

"Well if anything, it at least tastes good." Yasmin said after her sip.

Arya nodded. "Let's get started on the elderberry, about twenty minute's remain."

Once again, Yasmin and Arya found a pattern that they could work on. Arya actually quite liked the girl. She kept mostly to herself; much like Arya but Arya could tell that she actually did have knowledge. The way that she had handled the herbs and berries showed that she had plenty of practice in the art of medicine. It took precise and nimble fingers to be a healer, something Arya was sure Yasmin would be.

The only thing Arya couldn't figure out was why a royal like her was satisfied with doing tasks that were deemed for peasants. Arya knew that Yasmin belonged to royalty because why would Egyptian officials send a commoner so far from home.

Arya's curiosity got the best of her. "How long have you been here for?"

Yasmin's black-rimmed eyes met Arya's Aztec ones. "Almost six months. My father wanted to me to get a better education than my cousins, so he sent my abroad. Least to say, it caused quite a stir in my country. No women were sent so far alone, and many people protested but my father's mind was made up. He had connections in Kalvaria and found a way for me to be sent here."

Arya nodded. So Yasmin did belong in the high ranks of Egyptian authorities. She had gotten at least one thing right. Suddenly, she saw the pot bubbling. "I think the Elderberry syrup is almost ready." Arya said.

Yasmin check it with her fingers before letting Arya do a test of her own. Arya placed the syrup on her fingers and gently rubbed it. There was still a grittiness to it that made her think it wasn't ready yet.

"It needs more time."

Yasmin nodded before turning to ask Arya a question. "How long have you been at the academy?"

"Since I was ten-years-old." Arya replied in a clipped tone.

Yasmin seemed to take in the information surprisingly well. Many people had dozens of questions after they learnt how long Arya had been in the academy but Yasmin didn't say anything else after that. She simply took the syrup off the flame and signaled to Arya to get the flask.

The sweet scent of the elderberries entered Arya's nostrils as Yasmin poured down the mixture in the flask. Arya corked it just as Madame Guinevere said, "Everyone stop now. Whatever you have finished is what I'll be marking."

There were grumbles and noises of complaints around the room but Madame Guinevere ignored them all. She walked around the room smelling, touching and tasting all the samples. When Arya meant all, she meant all of them. Madame Guinevere tasted even the most pungent smelling syrups. Arya had to give her points for being a fair person.

When she arrived at Arya and Yasmin's station she gave them both a peculiar look. "I wouldn't have expected the two of you to actually ever work together."

Yasmin shrugged her shoulders and answered. "It kind of just happened and we actually work well together."

Madame Guinevere held the elderberry syrup to her nostril first. "We'll see about that."

She smelled and tasted the sage medicine next. Her face was motionless before she made her way to the front of the class.

"I must say, I was pleasantly surprised with some of your syrups. Others completely lacked the skills needed to become a healer." Her eyes wandered to the brown syrup. "However, there is a clear winner. Arya and Yasmin had the best syrups. They are so good in fact that I will be using them in the infirmary in case someone falls sick. Everyone clean-up your stations and you may leave when you are done."

Arya and Yasmin made eye contact with each other. Yasmin gave her a big smile showing of her white pearly teeth. Arya on the other hand, allowed the corners of her lips to turn upward.

"We did well." Yasmin commented.

Arya simply nodded in reply and began putting the pots and extra herbs away. Yasmin joined her soon and they had returned to their pattern, working in unison each knowing where the other was heading. In minutes they had their station cleaned and as they head out the door, Madame Guinevere gave them a big smile with her eyes gleam.

"I'm proud of you," she said.

Arya was proud of herself as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How do you guys like Yasmin? Do you want to see more of her? How about Lady Zelie and Madame Kenna's conversation about Arya? The Heres Gladdi is slowly approaching! Who is excited? As usual, please comment or vote below. Oh and also, there will probably be no update next week because I have exams starting on Monday. Wish me luck:)

Love you all,

Kyra