Ariadne's POV

Charities jumped up. "Let's go-"

"No. I don't want you to ruin your gown, just in case Bell has. I'll get Harriet and Father and go look for her."

"But-"

"But nothing. Stay here," I said then looked at Juno. "Make sure she stays right here, and scream if she tries anything," I said with a wink.

Juno nodded and before I left, I saw her walking around Charities naming all of her rules and conditions. I smiled and ran back down to the ballroom, calling my guards to follow after me. "Father!" I ran over to him and explained what was going on and he immediately grabbed some other nearby guards and we all split up to look for Bell.

I decided to look outside, assuming the inside of the castle would be checked thoroughly and checked everywhere I had found her throughout the years. I ended up finding myself walking towards the stables. I looked in all the stalls, but found nothing except our four horses and a whole lot of bad smelling piles; not even the stable boy was there.

Then I jumped when a loud banging of metal on stone echoed through the stables. I went towards the sound, into the arena, hoping it wasn't Bell getting into trouble. Many possibilities flew through my mind, but what I saw was nowhere near what I had been thinking.

"I'm so sorry, I'm terribly clumsy," Bell said, stacking swords in her arms.

"No, no. It was my fault, honestly," the stable boy said, also picking up swords that had apparently been knocked down by one of the two who were now picking them up.

I slowly backed behind a corner, as to not be seen and give them their privacy. I decided to just stay and listen, I was her older sister after all.

The next few minutes went by in silence, except for the sounds of metal being piled next to each other. I was about ready to go and ask what they were doing when the boy finally spoke.

"Could... Should we start now?"

"Yes, we can," Bell said. "Now, this sword is probably the best for a beginner. And I'll take this one."

I peeked my head around the corner and saw Bell showing him different ways to hold his sword. "I know, they all feel unusual at first, but just pick one and you'll get used to it."

"Alright," he said and then held his sword out wobbly.

"Okay, we'll work on your stance next time. Now, show me how you would attack someone."

He stood there for a moment then stepped forward and struck, which Bell easily blocked. "That was... good. But try going faster and swinging harder, and don't worry about me, I've been doing this for years."

He nodded and charged again, this time Bell disarmed him in one fluid motion. "That was definitely better-"

"How was that better? You not only blocked my strike, but you also disarmed me. This is hopeless," he said, sitting down and Bell sat down next to him.

"It was better because you triggered my defensive side, which only a good strike can do. The first time it was just as if I was fighting in my sleep, no offense. But the second time, you improved so much that I actually had to try," she put her hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, eventually you'll be able to do that to me, unless of course you give up, but I wouldn't expect that from my brave Sir Austin. Now, shall we continue?"

He smiled and nodded, and I felt proud of my sister. But the feeling quickly vanished when I thought I heard some guards coming this way. I backed away from my hiding spot and I heard the sound of swords clashing grow faint, and then decided I was far away enough and called Bell's name, pretending I hadn't just seen her minutes before.

"Bell!" I called again. "Are you here?"

"Coming!" She called and I saw her running towards me a minute later.

"What were you doing in there?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips.

"Just making sure everything was in order for tonight's competition, but it seems as though no one has even started on getting the arena ready."

I smiled. "Come on, let's go tell father we found you-"

"Found me? Don't you trust me?" Her mischievous grin was back.

I shook my head, smiling. "Have you given us reason to?" We started walking back to the castle.

She shrugged. "Sorry about the dress."

I looked at it and found a few dirt spots and one or two snags, "We'll fix it," I replied with a sigh. "It's not that bad, you still look stunning," I said.

She smiled and nodded, then we walked back to the castle with our arms linked, and told every guard we passed that everything was fine. She's lucky I found her first, I thought as we talked to the fifth guard on his way to the stables.

"Where were you?" Charites asked once Bell and I entered the room.

Bell shrugged and smiled.

I watched with amusement as Charities gave Bell an inquisitive look and Bell blushed, nodding, and Charities appeared to be satisfied.

So Charities knows about it too.

Ooooohhh what do you think about Bell and the stable boy?? 

Did you guess where Bell would be??? Did it throw you off?