Hilda

Despite looking attentively into the book she held between her hands, Hilda could not read a single word, for her vision was blurred by tears, and she was still crying as she sat beneath a large tree in the Northern woods, not so far from the gargoyles graveyard. 

She did not want to marry Mikal. She did not want to become a joke. She knew how everyone would make fun of her and talk behind her back. Poor Mikal. What a waste! Someone so handsome should be with a pretty young girl! Even he would not stop making fun of her himself. Moreover, he would further go and sleep around with any willing girl, and everyone would gossip and whisper behind her back, justifying her handsome husband's romances to be a natural result of his unfortunate marriage.

No, she would never allow that to happen. She deserved a man who would truly love and respect her. And she would love him with all her heart, even if he were the least handsome or the least wealthy. But Mikal was the last one to provide that. He was only marrying her for her father's gold. And yet, even when his intentions were clearly obvious, it was her own loving father who was trying to force her into this marriage. But she also knew that her father was not stupid. He too was after power. And who better than the Nordstroms to provide that? She was certain that if Mikal refused to marry her, her father would only offer her to Vilfred or even the child Lucian. Like some sheep! How humiliating... 

She quickly looked up from her book as she heard the sound of rustling footsteps, and she could see shadows moving between the trees, approaching her. 

"Please wait. Just listen to me," an approaching voice said, and the next moment the speakers emerged from behind a tree. Mikal, followed by Vilfred. Hilda quickly wiped away her tears.

"Lady Hilda, are you alright?" Vilfred asked as soon as he saw her, his warm green eyes frowning in concern, while Mikal walked behind him slowly with a cold smile.

"That must be a very touching book," Mikal smirked.

"What do you want?" Hilda shot him a hostile scowl.

"How unfriendly. I was only concerned when I saw your precious tears. And I thought tough boys don't cry."

"Mikal!" Vilfred reproached.

"First of all I was not crying," Hilda raised her head defiantly as she got up to her feet to face him. "And tough boys can show you how really tough they are." She put her hand over the hilt of her sword, and Mikal chuckled.

"I am quite certain you are tough, but you still can't beat me with that toy of yours," Mikal gestured at her sword.

"Oh I can quite assure you that is not a toy. And I can definitely beat you with this – not toy – of mine. I am far more experienced than you, young man. You see, I was already holding a sword when you were still a toddler."

"You mean to say you were a three year old toddler yourself, playing with a toy wooden sword."

"When I was three years old you were not even born yet," Hilda sneered.

"Yes I was." Mikal sneered back.

"You were not."

"I was."

"Stop it both of you," Vilfred snapped in. "How are you two ever going to get married?"

"Who said we are going to get married?" Hilda scowled. "Sir Mikal, I do not care what my father promised you, but I am sorry I cannot accept your offer of marriage. You see, you are too pretty for my taste."

"I am glad you realize that. It would be such an unpleasant situation if you were mistaken for the groom. By the way, I have never offered to marry you."

"Great! I am truly relieved. Now I can kill you without regrets." The next moment Hilda pulled out her sword from its sheath, only to find Vilfred hurrying to stand before Mikal protectively, a shocked expression on his face.

"Sir Vilfred, it seems that you do value your brother so much," Hilda chuckled.

"Of course I do."

"Well I heard that he is the greatest swordsman in Nordenland. I am quite curious to test if he is as good as the rumors say, that is, if you don't mind Sir Mikal," she challenged, teasingly pointing her sword towards his chest. 

"I apologize, but I do mind. I cannot waste my time on a low level duel with a woman."

"Oh! So you admit that I am a woman now? I am truly flattered," Hilda said as she raised her sword towards his neck. "But if you don't duel with me, I will take it that you are afraid of facing a woman."

"You are indeed too bold to be a woman after all," Mikal chuckled. "Perhaps I was mistaken." And the next moment, Mikal drew out his sword.

Their swords clashed, steel clanking heavily as they fought within the woods. Despite Hilda's confidence and unrivaled expertise, she couldn't help but feel a bit awed by the man before her. A combination of intimidating power and grace, his unrelenting sword fell against her without pause, his pale eyes gleaming at her with cold disdain. 

Hilda struck her sword against him fervently, barely avoiding his swift and deadly blows. And she realized that the rumors indeed seemed to be true. She could tell he was indeed the best swordsman she had ever faced. But she knew herself to be the smarter one. After a few more strikes she was already able to read his moves and understand his tactics. She smiled slyly. Mikal seemed to depend on speed and element of surprise rather than force. It wasn't going to take her much longer before she was able to predict all his moves. 

She was just thinking how easy it would be to defeat him, when she suddenly found herself being disarmed. She gasped, taken by surprise. No one had ever disarmed her before. Hilda quickly retrieved her sword and aimed back at Mikal before he had a chance to strike her. They continued to duel, pushing and chasing each other out of the woods until they reached the courtyard.  

"Enough! Stop!" Vilfred called out behind them.

Ignoring Vilfred, Hilda flapped her wings and took to the air, luring Mikal into an aerial duel, the most advanced and dangerous practice in swordsmanship. Only the very best swordsmen could manage to duel while flying, without getting disoriented or hurt. Hilda could notice that both Engelmen and human slaves started to gather below to watch the heated duel. She could even see both her mother and Mikal's mother down there, staring up at them in horror.

Mikal and Hilda struck their swords, the clanking of their blades followed by sharp gasps and rising whispers. It was a dangerous affair. One slightly wrong move would cost one of them their life. But Hilda knew how well trained she was. She continued to fight, her sword blocking Mikal's strikes without fail. She knew defeating Mikal would not be easy, but at least she was not going to let him win. She flew above him and swung her sword towards his head, but he was quick to dive below her and rise back behind her, where she turned just in time to stop his falling sword. 

"Stop it already. Get down!" Vilfred shouted. "You will hurt each other."

Vilfred was ignored once more, and it seemed they still had a long way before the duel ended. They fought without a word, only the sounds of their swords ringing in the air. Hilda suddenly found her sword flying away and falling to the ground, causing an outburst of exclamations and a handful of people to scurry away from the dropping blade. Horrified, she quickly dived to retrieve it, with Mikal right at her tail. Hilda snatched her sword as she landed to the ground, her speed forcing her to roll over before she could get back up to her feet. She turned with her raised sword just in time to stop Mikal's blade from falling against her chest. They continued their duel on land, and Hilda was panting already. 

"Tired yet?" Mikal teased, trying to look calm and unaffected, but Hilda could see that he was as exhausted as she was. She only answered him with a fierce frown and a raised sword. The clanking continued and their audience held their breaths. A few steps later, the duel came to an abrupt halt, and several gasps followed.

Hilda was standing still as she looked up at Mikal with wide eyes, while he was looking back at her with a smile of triumph, his sword hovering against her neck. But it didn't take long before her wide eyes relaxed and her lips curved into a mischievous smile. Mikal frowned slightly in confusion, while Hilda simply gestured with her head downwards without a word. Mikal followed her eyes, and his own eyes widened for a brief moment as he saw Hilda's sword resting threateningly between his parted legs.

"Is that how much you don't want to marry me?" Mikal leered as Hilda's blade still teased him between his thighs.

"Yes. I am not interested in girls. And you are about to be one now," she leered back at him as she pressed the cold blade closer. "You won't be able to marry me like this, will you?"

Mikal's face darkened, and without warning she found him suddenly catching her hand and squeezing it hard. Very hard. She grunted in pain and her hand opened involuntarily, where her sword fell onto the grass with a dull thud. The next moment, Mikal dropped his own sword before he grabbed her hair and pulled her head backwards, leaning in too close to her face. She winced at the pain in her scalp and she could hear loud whispers filling the courtyard.

"Sorry to ruin your plans," he hissed as he stared at her with unsettling pale eyes. "Now I can still marry you." 

She was glaring back at him with all the fury she could muster as he still grasped her hair. And the next moment, she found his mouth falling upon hers... A kiss.

Mortified, she groaned, slamming her fists against his chest as she pushed him away with all her might. And wearing her deepest of scowls, she charged at him, landing a fierce slap across his face.

How... dare... he!

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