On the Moors (Open)

[Kayla]

Kayla was free for the afternoon. It wasn't so much that she had nothing to do so much as she had decided it didn't need to be done right now. Things had gotten a little overwhelming lately, and Kayla needed to get away and think. Between reading the histories, learning all the laws of Ireland, figuring out how royalty should act, and attending the court sessions she found tedious, she was beginning to grow distressed. Today the sight of the blue skies, the green moors dotted with purple flowers, and the gentle inviting breeze that wafted through a window, she had not been able to stand the comparably dark castle any longer. Slipping through the castle after changing into a simpler dress rather then the frilly affair she had been wearing earlier, she managed to avoid any nobles or other querying persons. Going to the stable, she visited her mare, Mist. Her sleek sides shone a pearly gray, and Kayla was relieved that she was well cared for. Still, both hankered strongly for a good ride. So they had gone. And now, galloping over the moors, letting her dark hair cascade behind her with the wind, Kayla laughed out of sheer joy. It was good to get away from her new life for a while. She had been raised a baker, and her greatest joys had been playing with the children and baking various delicacies. Now she was trying to settle into this more serious role. In one day, with the arrival of a small band of recruiters, she had found out she was the rightful queen of Ireland. The king, Terion, was not on the throne by blood right. In fact, he had never really explained to her how he had gotten there. All she really knew was that he used to be a healer. Strange. Dismissing that matter for now, she sighed at the thought of Terion. Such a strange man, he was. He had wanted her from the beginning, when he had strode into her bakery so strong and confident after she had told him off. She supposed he wanted - nay expected - them to marry. After all, he was king and she was queen. Kayla certainly would never throw him off the throne. He was a good king when he tempered his boyish nature with maturity, and he knew more about being a ruler than she did. They were friends, to be sure, not just business associates, but after that her feelings were mixed. Pushing the thoughts from her mind, she urged Mist into a run. For now she would just follow the sloping lands. It was a good day to be out.

[Narne]

(Mind if I cut in?

Narne was standing upon a high wall, of gathered stones that created a fence for a neighbouring cattle herder. Her entire body balancing on one small and misplaced rock, that would likely slip away, if the pressure was too much, or was stepped on the wrong way. Whatever took refuge upon it would surely come down with it, perhaps some of the stone wall too. Her body faced out towards the ocean ahead of her. The sea breeze galloped towards her and blew her golden tassels from her face. Not un-balancing her at all. The sense of being in control of her own self flooded her entire body. She was aware that she probably looked like some misplaced scarecrow, however this was a technique she had perfected when she became a warrior. When she had taught many boys the skill of the blade this was one of the very first exercises she put them through. It was a test of balance. Too win a quarrel with a sword, one needed balance.

Her mind remembered the days, where her skills were cherished by many, and those she taught had first thought she was senile, until they saw what she was teaching them and put it into practise. She took a deep breath, and without misplacing the rock any further stepped back off it. She had stood there for a good hour, so she thought, it was probably time she gave her limbs some movement. The faint noise of a galloping horse echoed through the fields. The jingle of the riding gear, and the thumping of the hooves sinking into the ground, gradually grew closer. Although Narne was aware of this, she kept to herself.

She withdrew her sword, and began work on her parrying skills. Yet, another effective necessity that one should always be taught. The corner of her eyes, showed a grey horse and rider upon a ridge nearby. They seemed in harmony both horse and rider. However Narne still disagreed towards having a horse carry her, or her belongings. Her long broad sword, caught what was left of the sun and sent its rays everywhere, as she twisted the sword here in there in a simple and effective method of parrying.

She gathered the rider would not intend any harm, and was simply out enjoying a ride. Perhaps getting rid off any troubles that had accumulated over the past few days, months or even years. The simple fact was that Narne did not even know the rider, and whether she would become acquainted with the rider had severe odds.

[Kayla]

(Not at all)

A twinkle glinted across the plains to Kayla's eyes. Out of the corner of her vision she saw a strange sight indeed. It was a woman, it seemed, and yet she was fighting with a sword. Quite expertly too. The hushed sounds of hooves on grass and the steady blowing of the horse was all that came to her now. Slowing the dancing gray horse to a simple canter, Kayla watched the swordswoman. She was skilled, and balanced well, for she fought invisible enemies on a wall of rocks. Her golden hair caught the light much like the blade of her sword. It interested Kayla, this woman fighting on a wall. She wondered who she was. Would she be receptive to anyone approaching? Kayla had been wanting to learn how to fight for some time now. Terion was distinctly against the idea, and he had been avoiding the subject for a while now. He claimed that he would protect her, and if not he than the guards. But it was always good to know how to fight. You never knew what would happen. Such as now. Someone could attack her. True, she carried a small dagger with her, hidden away in her sleeve. Still, she would like to learn how to fight at least basically. It was another adventure to learn a new things. Decisively, Kayla slowly brought Mist around, making sure to make her actions well known to the girl. It would not do to sneak up on her. Only thieves and cowards did that. Approaching from the front, Kayla kept her green eyes on the woman. Hopefully she would be willing to teach another. It wasn't necessary to let the woman know she was the queen.

[Narne]

The sword thrust forward into an invisible enemy. Narne began to add footwork into her. Strangely enough, Narne believed that a fight with swords was not a fight without any footwork. For footwork needed excellence balance, a keen sight an the agility to endure hours of both, as well as the consistent amount of strength driven by ones opponent would have to ideally be understood. That is why a hawk circled for awhile before it targeted its prey, or wolves played with flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, to find the weak links. Those who designed that into their fighting pattern would indeed, prove themselves worthy opponents, and would not face shame and embarrassment.

Narne pulled her sword backwards, as if she was blocking an attack, and then curved it around behind her back, until it came to the other side, which once again attacked her enemy. Narne stopped for a moment, as she heard the horse’s change of pace and direction. She turned to see both horse and human head her way. She supposed the woman wished a conversation, therefore Narne prepared herself. Narne had never been a conversation seeker, was not one for the mindless talk of women in towns and courts who consistently spoke ill of others. If anything, it bored and annoyed her.

However, the posture of this woman, was not at all like those sorts of women Narne tended to loathe. It appeared as though she tried to show some status, like she was putting on an act, however it was not enough to fool Narne. There was a natural flow of brown hair that decorated the woman’s pretty face, and left behind the uniqueness of the garment. Narne placed her sword in the ground and leaned on it. Her expression raised just slightly, as her eyes kept a constant gaze towards those coming closer, “Can I help you?” she asked pleasantly.

[Kayla]

Kayla watched the slender figure up on the wall, intruiged by the motions. It appeared to be a complicated dance of some sort, though the sword indicated that it was much more. In truth she had never thought of fighting as having anything to do with grace. It seemed always to be of pure strength, with the loser covered in gore and moaning from wounds. But perhaps, she thought as she watched this woman, there was more to it. The way her feet moved, the way the sword glinted in the light as she spun it about light as a feather, the way her body followed in fluid grace the movements of the sword, it all was lovely. Yet at the same time it seemed incredibly dangerous. But then again, weren't the most beautiful things dangerous? After all, the terrifying storms that plagued her nightmares were beautiful, even she had to admit that. The roiling clouds of purple and black and gray were powerful and lovely, and the brightness of the zinging lighting exhilarating. So perhaps fighting, too, was more than just gore and blood. Perhaps it was an art. Watching this woman, Kayla would guess it to be so. And it made her want to learn this complicated dance.

As she approached, Kayla was slightly put off to see the woman stop. She could have watched her for a bit longer and been perfectly fine with waiting. But still, it was good to know the woman would not attack nor run away. Somehow Kayla felt that she was not the kind to engage in idle chatter. Kayla was not either, and she appreciated those who held their tongues when words were not necessary. Then the woman spoke to her. "Yes, in fact you can," Kayla replied with a kind smile, her green eyes dancing from the thrill of running over the open moors, "I know this may seem rather upfront, but I wanted to know if you would teach me to fight like you were just a moment ago." After saying this she felt slightly foolish. She must appear wrong in the head, to just gallop up to someone to ask for sword fighting lessons. But the deed was done and there was no reversing time. So she sat up just a bit taller, determined not to show embarassment or intimidation. For in a way, this woman intimidated her with her deadly gracefulness. Hopefully she would not take offense to Kayla's asking.

[Narne]

Narne’s eyes touched at the woman. This woman before her, atop a horse that was surely good to look at seemed to want something. Narne was not at the liberty to give anything to people, especially those she did not know. She had once been at the liberty, and trained men fit for combat, however it was not likely that one would come to her now and ask for her help. The line was broadening between men and women. Women were thought of as inferior, and not physically strong. Yet, Narne was the proof of that being wrong. The wind flung Narne’s hair out across her face and she let it be.

A kind smile lit the woman’s face, as she seemed to be slightly embarrassed about what she was next to say. However, benignly Narne waited for the words to spill. Oh they came alright. Like a flash flood. The woman sat a little taller in her seat, Narne noticed that. Narne sat down on the stone wall, with an interested expression. It was rather odd for a woman these days, to walk straight up to someone and ask them to teach her to dance with a sword. However, there had to be courage behind it. Narne commended the brown haired woman on that.

A small smile cornered her lips as her mind retraced the words of the woman. Narne played with her sword for a moment as if she was ignoring the woman, when she was indeed thinking over the request this woman asked of, “Now why would someone as pretty as you wish to learn to fight?” Narne asked peacefully, twisting her sword so that the light caught on it, “Do not bother to answer that question,” Narne looked up and smiled, “I already know why… ”

Narne really hadn’t given the other woman a chance to speak. That was all part of her character’s charm. She tended to infuriate people, however she had learnt that made people stronger too. The men she had taught, absolutely loathed her, until they realised there was sense in what Narne made them do, “Come, give that horse a rest, sit in the meadow and tell me what has bewitched you to learn the art of sword play.”

This was perhaps the calm side of Narne. The fact, that she would so willingly take another under her wing and teach them life skills was not out of her character. Yet, she never accepted to teaching someone as suddenly as she had. Narne removed herself from the wall and sat on the grass, sort of randomly. She could be testing this girl. If this girl refused to sit in wet grass, it may be a sign of weakness in Narne’s eyes and she may refuse to teach the girl. Because teaching someone who afraid of getting muddy or wet, was not cut out for the whole killing thing.

[Kayla]

Following the lady's suggestion, Kayla dismounted. Stroking the velvety nose of the horse, she tied up the reins so that Mist would not step on them. A broken leg meant the horse would have to be killed to put it out of its misery, and she certainly didn't want that to happen. Letting the horse graze contentedly on the green meadow grass, she followed the woman until she just sat down on the grass. Kayla had no problems with that. In fact, after sitting on chairs all day she welcomed the chance to act as if she were a normal village girl again. Gracefully she knelt down and sat, her legs tucked to the side. The grass was slightly damp, but this was not a fancy dress, so she didn't really care. She figured now was as good a time as any to explain her sudden approach.

"I figured that I can't always rely on other people to protect me," she explained, "because one day they might not be there. So I need to learn how to at least basically defend myself. I am not planning on going out and fighting a war, of course - I would never be allowed to do that. But I do want to know how to fight. It would be a wise idea. I didn't ever learn because I never had to before; I had a very low-danger life. But now I live in Dublin, and I don't want to be caught without protection of any kind, especially with the romans trying to invade." Kayla avoided mentioning Terion or anything about royalty. She didn't want to drive off this woman by announcing that she was the queen or anything. This whole 'being royalty' thing was rather complicated sometimes.

[Narne]

Narne watched the grass across the field ripple, before her eyes turned back to the woman, who came to sit down beside her, after a moment of concerning herself with the horse. Narne took up a piece of grass and began to twist and twirl it. Such were these habits, for she was always tempted to do random things such as this. She listened to the woman’s words upon learning the art of sword play. Narne could see that there was honesty within the words, and therefore remained content on listening to the woman’s voice, until she ended, and when the vast emptiness of silence past between them for the moment, those few moments that would never be revisited, Narne knew that teaching a willing person, especially this woman the defence mechanism, could surely do no harm. The woman seemed wholesome enough, and seemed to be able to pick up quite quickly.

“Well, that seems like an honest enough reason to me,” she smiled, and twisted the blade of grass some more. Her eyes still cast out across the moors, “If I am to teach you these things, you must be willing to do as I say. For my methods are uncanny, and may seem useless at times.”

The tranquil wind blew an afternoon breeze towards them, and Narne’s face sat willingly, refreshing itself from the cool touch. Her blonde hair scattered here and there, and her clothing pushed up against her figure. Her sword, rested now on her crossed legs, without ado, Narne spoke again, “Have you ever held a sword?”

[Kayla]

Kayla waited for the woman to speak. If it had not been for the fact that they were on the open moors, the wind whispering over the grass and the sweet scent of heather gently enveloping them, she would have been a bit edgy. After a peaceful quiet, the munching of Mist in the background, the woman spoke. Kayla listened intently, glad that she had not been turned away this moment. She nodded. "I will do what you ask of me," she agreed. Even if things seemed useless, Kayla knew that they were often necessary. She had been raised a baker; she knew that the ingredients you added the least of were often the most important. The concept must hold true with other areas of life as well. Such as swordfighting. Again she was reminded that this was no clumsy swinging of a weapon.

"I have never held a sword, no. Just smaller blades, such as a dagger or knife. Those I can weild fairly well," Kayla explained. She felt the hard edge of the dagger that was within her sleeve. Never had she needed to use it, but it was always good to carry an extra measure of safety. Terion had recommended it, and even at these times when she went off without him expressly knowing it, she carried it with her. However, she knew the importance of needing a larger blade. A dagger would do hardly any good against a group. Hopefully she would learn quickly how to weild a blade. "I am Kayla, by the way," she added, "what may I call you?"

[Narne]

Narne listened to the woman’s earlier experience. Daggers were always a good weapon to have alongside a broad sword. If your sword was knocked from your hand, a dagger could always defend you, while you were working on getting to the sword. It could also be used in stealthy movements, and when the attacker is focused on sword, a smaller one may not occur to them, and you may get them by surprise. Apart from her sword, Narne loved her smaller daggers. She had a few hidden in sockets of her boots, a couple in her bag, and she was always handy at blacksmithing and repairing weapons.

The woman introduced herself as Kayla, and Narne nodded to acknowledge it, “My name is Narne,” she smiled kindly, “So seeing as you have used smaller blades, have you ever had to use them in a battle situation or defence?” It would be best now for Narne to find out Kayla’s history with the smaller blades. That way she’d find out how much experience and what she’d need to teach Kayla. It was good, that Kayla had agreed to do whatever Narne asked of. That showed some discipline. However Narne still pondered over why Kayla had asked a complete stranger to teach her this. Why had she not asked someone she knew back home? Narne was coming to a conclusion that Kayla intended no-one she knew, knew of her learning swordsmanship.

Narne’s eyes diverted to Kayla’s horse. It munched away peacefully at the grass, it’s ear flowing back and forth listening to surroundings. It’s long grey tail flicking here and there to keep pesky bugs away. Still Narne, had a revulsion to using beasts who were unwilling. Some may claim that most of them were willing, but that was because they had never tasted the sweetness of freedom. They’d never had a chance. Narne did not dislike people because they used beasts or ate them, it was just her personal opinion. A lot of people thought she was a weird invention towards her opinions, but she liked being different. She hated following trends.

[Kayla]

Kayla smiled a bit ruefully. "No, I've never had to fight with a blade for any reason. I am comfortable with them, because I was a baker before I moved to Dublin. It was a small village, I had no reason to fight anyone. All my fighting was done with words, not a weapon," she explained, "but now I need to be able to protect myself. My....protector I suppose you could say has been rather reluctant to teach me. He thinks I would take to it and try to fight in a war." Kayla laughed at this, causing the horse to perk up its ears and a few meadow sparrows to halt their songs to listen to the pleasing sound. "I would hardly do anything of the sort. I only wish to be prepared in the event that I or the city am attacked." Kayla did hope that Narne understood. Terion would not teach her; Kayla would find another teacher. Besides, being taught by a woman might be better, for she knew that the two genders probably fought somewhat differently. It would be a challenge to her, one that she relished, to fight well. Kayla was ready.

"What is it that you wish me to do first?" Kayla asked, for she was prepared to start her lessons this day. It was the luck of the Irish for her to find such a good teacher on a chance ride on the moors. It occured to her after she spoke that perhaps Narne was not ready to teach today. "If you wish it, that is," she added hastily, not wanting to offend her new acquaintance. It would not do to drive away a willing teacher on the first day. Kayla hoped that soon, if all went well, she would not feel as if she had to be on pins and needles so as not to offend this woman. But that was the way Kayla was; she spoke first and asked questions later. "What is your rate per lesson?" Kayla asked curiously. She would not expect a lesson without having paid for Narne's teachings. To do such would be an insult.

[Narne]

Narne sat patiently listening to Kayla’s history. So, this young lass had been a baker, and would defiantly be sharp of tongue no doubt. Kayla had an interesting air to her, something that not many other women had and by what Narne could gather, Kayla was eager to learn how to wield such a weapon. So, Kayla had a protector. A person who seemed to care a lot about her, if they would not teach her. The fact that they already knew, pointed it out to be a man. Hmmm, Narne was gathering a lot of information about Kayla, whether she knew it or not.

She watched the eagerness in Kayla’s eyes spark out, there was pure excitement lit in them, and Narne laughed and shook her head when the young woman asked what Narne wished her to do. However without giving Narne time to answer carried on to another sentence, and then yet another. She was definitely eager, Narne could grant her that. That was good though, it meant the person would put 100% into her work.

“Well to answer your first question, today we shall do nothing,” Narne said peacefully flinging her knotted piece of grass away. It began to bore her, “Except learn a bit about one another, so I can deem what point to start teaching you from.”

Narne waited a moment, before she carried on, and brushed a strand of hair from her face. Thinking over the asking price for her lessons. She had never been asked what pay she’d take, they’d always bargain with her. Sometimes she wouldn’t come out of it with much, however other times she was highly likely to get something from it. The fact that Kayla had asked first, showed another quality about Kayla, and that was she was fair. A fair person would be a good swordsmen, and a great opponent. She looked at Kayla and shook her head, “I have no asking price, Kayla. I offer my services to you, free of charges.”

In a moment, Narne stood up and took a deep breath and looked over the wall, “I suppose you wish these lessons to remain secret? Especially from the one you call your protector,” Narne leaned against the brick wall and awaited the woman’s reply peacefully. If Kayla, wished for no one to know of her training Narne would understand and her secret would remain safe.

[Kayla]

Kayla was slightly disappointed that no real teaching would go on today, but she accepted it without an argument. After all, it was best to know weaknesses and strengths of the person you were teaching. Also, Kayla relished the chance to discover more about this strange lady, about why she knew how to fight so well. It was an unusual thing to see nowadays in a woman. Most knew how to basically defend themselves, as Kayla did, but Narne seemed to be quite proficient with a blade. Kayla doubted that she had a husband or lover of any sort. After all, men often did not like to see their women fighting. Such as hers. Did she wish to keep it a secret? "No....." she slowly said, gazing into the distance, "it does not matter if he finds out. It is not that he disapproves, just that he is reluctant and too busy to teach me. He knows how, though. I don't think he would mind if I learned from a different teacher." Surely Terion would not mind. After all, he knew as much as she the need for her to be protected. Kayla figured that eventually she would have to teacher of her life now, of why she was in Dublin. But she preferred to wait a while. Narne was much less likely to care if she was a queen or not after she got to know her.

"And I will not hear of taking lessons for free," she added, standing up as well, "it is your time and skill that I will be using; time that you could be using for something else. I would not dream of taking that from you." With that Kayla was firm. She would not - could not - take advantage of the kindness of another. It seemed as if Narne had done this before, and as such she had no doubt been paid before. Kayla would be no different. "So what of you?" Kayla asked curiously, "do you live here?" Being new to this area, Kayla did not know who lived where. She assumed Narne lived nearby, if not here, unless there was a greater reason for her coming here rather than to practice.

[Narne]

As moments past, more and more of Kayla’s character was standing out. Her unyielding strength shining through the fact that she did not care whether her “protector” would mind if she was learning such a skill. Narne played with a few strands of her hair for a moment, as she listened. Not to appear ignorant. No, never that. To appear as though she was multitasking. That was the good thing about women, they could do so much more in their time then any man could.

That was another advantage. Men may have advantages with physical strength, but women still had the overall thinking ability and multitasking ability. Yet, another thing that would properly have to be mastered if any woman was to prove themselves worthy of wielding a sword.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Kayla rise with an adamant request that Narne be paid for the time she was offering. There was stubbornness there, a lot of it. It would be hard to get past it to. It was like Kayla had already built a firm hold to stop any persistence from battering it down. Narne smiled at that, “My time is my own. I am under no-ones command and I do with it, what I will. And, I will to teach you.”

The wind blew up behind them, scattering a few leaves here and there, blowing clouds in from the rough cerulean ocean seas, “No,” Narne shook her head, “I live no where. At least I don’t stay in one place. I’m a traveller,” she smiled. There weren’t many like her any more. But, what she did was what she had learnt. She had already been taught how to defend herself, on her travels became a marvellous tracker and learnt many different trades. She knew how to sing and dance, and to her that was all she needed to stay fit and happy. She had friends, of course. She had an individual here and there. However, that was not enough to restrict her to one abode.

There was still a whole world out there for her to discover. So many journeys and adventures to come. She could not resist the freedom offered to her by that.

[Kayla]

Kayla considered this. A wandering life, true, would be highly interesting, full of adventure and excitement. But it took a special person to take on that life, and Kayla simply knew that she was not that type. Narne seemed like a wandered, one who did not like being bound down. For Kayla, it was those very boundaries that made her love her life. The familiarity of places you went every day, people you saw, all made her feel contented and safe. She didn't think she could live under the knowledge that she did not know where her next meal would come from, nor where she would rest her head in the night. However, she applauded this blonde woman for doing so. It was no doubt a hard life, but a wonderful one for those who were disposed to do so. Kayla decided that though Narne seemed to push aside the idea of payment, she had not exactly said 'no'. Therefore, Kayla would still pay her whether she liked it or not.

Hearing the sound of gentle hooves on the loam come up behind her, Kayla turned around. Mist, curious as to what was going on, had decided to join them. With a small laugh Kayla rubbed her velvety nose. "Hey there, nosy," she teased softly, "grass no longer good enough for the likes of you, eh?" Digging in her pocket, Kayla pulled out a slightly pulverized sugar cube. "Here then, and be gone with you!" she said, offering the treat on an outstretched palm. The gray horse munched on it happily, her whiskery lips tickling Kayla's sensitive skin, then trotted off in search of more grass. Shaking her head a bit, Kayla turned back to Narne. "So what about me do you wish to know?" she asked curiously. If they were to get to know each other, then Narne had best ask what she was wondering.