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When Junia got to her allocated tent, the sun was already rising with the morning. Cloud bounded up as soon as Junia entered and Katana glanced up from where she had been sleeping, her eyes weary.

"You need sleep," Katana mumbled before falling asleep again. Junia smiled at her and lay down on the bed opposite, a small mound of sheepskin with a thick quilt thrown over it, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

She crouched on the windowsill of a tall tower, looking down. Wind swirled, making her blonde hair fly around her face, and almost obscured the sound of footsteps behind her. She turned and found Edward grinning at her.

"Jump," he urged, his voice a seductive whisper.

"No," Junia told him.

"I'll push you if you don't jump," Edward threatened.

Junia looked down. It was so far that she couldn't see the bottom. All she knew was that she would die when she hit the ground.

"Go on," Edward urged. "It will end all of your suffering, I promise."

Junia shook her head. "No, I can't. I'll die."

"Exactly." The voice came from right behind her.

"Edward, don't!" Junia screamed.

Then he pushed her, and she was falling. Plunging to her death, the ground racing up to meet her.

Only when she looked up, it wasn't Edward standing there. It was Ulysses, smiling at her.

Junia woke up to find herself on the ground, panting. Somebody was beside her... Lucrezia. Raven-haired Lucrezia, dressed in white silk with a gold band holding her hair away from her face.

"You were screaming," Lucrezia frowned, tenderly brushing her hair away from her face with soft hands.

"I... I was falling," Junia explained. She tried to sit up and collapsed. "What time is it?"

"Almost midday," Lucrezia said softly. "Edward was looking for you, so I went and checked myself. I was worried, to be honest. Lots of people in the West don't like you, and it would've been easy for any of them to sneak into your tent and stab you."

She stroked Cloud, who was lying next to Junia on the quilt. "Your dog is so cute," Lucrezia added.

"I've had Cloud for a long time," Junia explained. The next time she tried to sit up, she managed. "Where is Edward now?"

"I told him to watch the duels while I found you. I told Katana to go as well, although she was reluctant to do so. Giulio is winning against everyone," Lucrezia said. Then she paused. "I... saw you late last night."

"I know. You and Leandro."

"Please don't tell anyone. I know the West is supposed to be accepting of everyone, and we are, most of the time. But I am still expected to marry someone of a higher standing. Especially if Edward found out, my life would be ruined. Just... think nothing of it, please. We're trying to work it out."

"I understand."

"So, what were you doing last night?"

"I can't tell you."

Lucrezia's smile was wry. "You know my secret and that it would ruin my reputation. I'm sure what you were doing wasn't too bad."

"I went down to the forge. Got a blacksmith to make me a sword," Junia muttered, self-conscious.

"The Fox's forge?"

"Yes."

Lucrezia sighed. "You should never wager with a fox."

"How did you know about the wager?" Junia asked.

"Fox never gives things for free," Lucrezia replied. "Pray tell me, what exactly did you wager?"

"I have a week to beat him in a fight."

Lucrezia blinked, but thankfully didn't laugh. Instead, she shook her head. "It will never happen, trust me. However, I can help you with that."

"You can?"

"Don't forget I have a relationship with a guard." Lucrezia stood.

Junia beamed at her, and Lucrezia rolled her eyes.

"What? Don't be optimistic," Lucrezia retorted. "I will do what I can, but you will never win that wager."

She turned and left the tent. Junia watched her go and stood, gently nudging Cloud with her foot to wake the dog.

"Come on," Junia said.

The dog was instantly on her paws and followed Junia through the crowds/ When she reached the duels, people made way for her and her dog.

Edward stepped in front of her, blocking her way. The face of her dream.

She could still remember the sensation of falling, and shivered.

"I haven't seen you since you came here," Edward said.

"I know," Junia replied. She tried to step past him, but he moved too.

"Oh, come on. You're my fiancée." Edward smiled charmingly. "Why do you hate me so?"

"I don't," Junia lied. "I just really want to find Katana."

She couldn't disguise how self-conscious and naked she felt, a lot shorter than him, only a dog next to her.

"Don't try to deceive me," Edward accused. He looked hurt. "I know how you feel about me, and I have no clue why. We can't have this type of relationship."

"Then I'm sorry. But I can't do..."

"You tried to wager with the Fox," Edward cut in.

Junia blinked. "What?"

"I'm not stupid. I am well acquainted with Fenton." He unsheathed a sword from his belt, and it was only then that Junia realised he had been carrying two. The blade he held out was beautifully forged and sharp-edged, the metal black and smooth. At the pommel was the head of a fox with the words Iternito Retivir carved along the blade.

"He said to tell you that he'll meet you outside his forge in a week. If you don't, he will come and take it back himself," Edward informed her. Junia stared at the sword before glancing up at him.

"Thank you," she said quickly before running off. Cloud raced after her as she reached a stall selling sword sheaths.

"One sheath for this please," Junia said, holding up the sword.

The man selling them, his face mostly hidden behind a beard, raised an eyebrow sceptically, but examined the sword anyway.

"Good make. Fox, I'm assuming?" the man asked.

Junia nodded, and the man turned, measuring a few sheaths before sliding one over.

"Four Milates," he said.

"I am Junia Silverling," Junia informed him. "And if you want any charges, just ask the queen and she will pay you back."

Ignoring the man's cursing and yells, Junia was off again. Towards the biggest tent out of all of them, the one with the banner of the West hanging outside. After the guards let her in, she found Lucrezia inside with a knitting needle in her hands and Lynne beside her reading a report, her brows drawn and her lips tight. When Junia burst in, Lucrezia barely glanced up, but Lynne did.

"Yes?" Lynne asked.

Junia knew instantly what to say. "Where is Edward?"

Lucrezia winked and stood, setting her needles down to the side. "Let me show you, dear." The second they were out, Lucrezia grabbed Junia by the shoulders. "Leandro's waiting in a forest. Head past the forge and down the hill until you reach the trees. Leandro will see and can help you from there."

"I cannot thank you enough," Junia replied.

"It's my pleasure," Lucrezia replied, kissing her on the brow. "Now, go. You have a fox to outsmart."

Junia smiled before going the way Lucrezia had described, peering down through the trees to try and find Leandro. She was in a small valley between two hills, the grass around her green despite the winter. Wind whistled through, shifting the green blades apart and slipping between the folds of Junia's clothes to make her shiver. Dead leaves littered the ground, blown over from the naked limbs of the forest nearby. She had sheathed Fox's sword at her side, and she held the fox pommel as she waited for him.

He came from the side, making her jump. His brown hair was messy and his brown eyes gleamed golden in the light; he did not have a handsome face, but the warmness in his face made up for it. She judged he was most likely in his late thirties or early forties, but could have been older or younger.

"Did you seriously wager with the Fox?" Leandro asked, raising his eyebrows.

"He was humiliating me, and I didn't think, I just..." I'm so frustrated at being belittled all the time.

Leandro shook his head. "It's stupid. There is no joy to be had from beating little girls in fights."

"Are you here to help?" Junia asked.

He nodded, then gestured at the red leaves scattered across the ground. "Rake them into the forest."

Junia blinked, sure that she had misheard him. "I... excuse me?"

"The leaves. There is a rake there. Use it," Leandro said, proceeding to sit with his back to a tree. He lazily stretched his long legs out in front of him and took a whetstone to scrape along his own blade.

"But I thought you were..." Junia stuttered.

"Rake," Leandro offered.

Her cheeks flushed. "I'm a princess! I'm not..."

"The problem with princesses is that they become privileged and lazy," Leandro noted. "And you are no exception. Take the rake."

With a scowl, she did so. It was leaning to the side of a tree, made of smoothed wood with pointed wooden ends. She was surprised to find that it was quite heavy and tried to hide it.

"Now, move the leaves." Leandro looked back to his sword, whistling.

Incredulous, Junia stared at him.

"You want me to do manual labour?" she demanded.

"Now she gets it," Leandro muttered to himself. Then louder: "Do you want help or not?"

Grumbling, she shoved the leaves into a pile. She was annoyed by how quickly she tired, her arms aching and pulling at their sockets as she brought back the rake repeatedly.

"Is this really necessary?" Junia complained halfway through, sweat beading on her forehead.

"You walked for days to get to the South, I hear. You can do this." Leandro was more focused on his sword than her raking.

It took hours. Arduous hours that dragged by, one leaf after another, her arms tearing at her shoulders as she pulled the rake through the grass. Every movement was torture, but Junia forced herself to concentrate.

Just one more leaf. Come on. Ignore the fact that this is pointless. And now drag another.

Leandro pulled a thick stack of papers from his knapsack and was halfway through them when she stopped.

"Finished," she said, annoyed. "Am I supposed to beat the Fox now?"

Leandro shrugged, standing and putting the papers away. Then he pointed to the woods. "I want you to go on a run."

"My arms ache!"

"Good. Go run down a trail. Go as far as you can and come back."

"But..." Junia began.

"We're not doing this again," Leandro groaned.

She went. The gnarled fingers of the trees stretched out over her head, interlocking fingers, and hiding away the light, and roots poked up from the ground, seeking to trip her. She stumbled and pushed herself onward, glad that her skirts weren't too long. It was eerily quiet, and she found herself uncomfortable.

When she got back, her sides aching and her breathing ragged, he looked bored.

"That was barely two minutes," he said. "Do it again. Go further."

And she did. Again and again, until her whole body ached and cramped. She wanted to fall onto her knees, panting for breath, but he kept pushing her. She was only allowed short breaks between each run, and eventually offered sips from a flask in his knapsack.

Slowly, she made it out further and further. Past the tree with the fallen branch. Past the dip in the path. Each was a landmark for her, telling her she was making progress even as she wheezed and panted.

Finally, just as she was about to collapse on the floor and throw up her entire stomach, he looked her up and down and smiled.

"Better. We'll try again tomorrow," he said before walking off.

This sort of became karate kid but oh well

Love you all,

Shelly M x