CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Tatiana appeared in front of Bjorn.
"Where is Morgan?" she asked while looking around.
"What are you doing here?" Bjorn asked her.
The princess appeared in front of them this morning in the training grounds while the knights were having their morning training.
Emma trailed after her, panting. Every time Emma runs after the princess, she can't help rethink her life decisions. The princess is too much to handle.
"I'm here to train with Morgan." Tatiana was still looking around which made Bjorn feel a little frustrated when he's right in front of her. "William told me that I know how to fight."
"You fight with everyone," Bjorn answered her in a matter-of-fact tone. Tatiana immediately stopped looking around and glared at Bjorn.
"Well I'm not here to fight with you. I need Morgan to help me train."
"He is not here."
"Where did he go, then?" Tatiana asked, "I thought you guys were always together?"
"The king sent him as a messenger for something," Bjorn answered shortly.
"That sucks." Tatiana's face turned into a frown. She wanted to let out steam or do something for the meantime while she's thinking of ways to save Elliot. She also wants to become stronger so she can defend herself when something bad happens.
"Well, I guess I'll come for him next time," Tatiana nodded casually at Bjorn and waved her hand, "Thanks, Cap!"
She wanted to be casual with him even though she hates him. She does no expect for them to be friends but she could at least try to not make him hate her even more, especially when Agatha arrives.
"Wait," Bjorn called after her. "I was your trainer before."
The knights who were pretending to do something other than eavesdropping paused at when they heard the Captain. The fact that the princess came was surprising to them and made them work two times harder than usual to either not get on her nerves or impress her. And now, they suddenly hear the Captain calling after her when she decides to leave.
"And?" Tatiana whirled. William told her than Bjorn trained her since the were young but stopped when Tatiana forced him into the engagement. That was history and now they both don't want to do anything with each other.
"I will train you instead of Morgan."
One of the knights choked on the water he was drinking after he heard the captain. There were a few gasps here and there and the weapons clattered on the ground after the knights accidentally dropped them out of shock.
They faked a cough and cleared their throat and went back to business when Bjorn glanced at them sideways and glowered.
Tatiana scrunched up her nose and laughed, and looked at Bjorn disbelievingly, "What? I think I heard you wrong."
Bjorn started down at her with his dark eyes. Tatiana stared at his face to see if he was joking or being sarcastic but there was so sign of humor in his face. Tatiana's laugh faded and looked around. The knights had their attention on the pair which made Tatiana realize that the guy was even more serious than she thought.
"Are you jesting?" she asked, her forehead creasing. "Because I don't understand why you would want to train me when you hate me so much."
"I'm just trying to pay back a debt." He answered shortly and turned around. "change your clothes. Training in a flashy and balloon dress isn't as effective."
Tatiana was left there standing with her mouth opened shortly after Bjorn left. Emma was also in a daze but reacted quickly and lifted the princess's chin.
"Let us go, your highness," Emma called her, "I think that the fact that he Captain of the knights will be training you himself is an opportunity to become better."
Emma pulled her away and later returned at the training grounds and is now wearing an outfit that is fit for training. She is wearing a long-sleeved white gown with a maroon outer surcot that is fitted in place by a black corset. The fabric is thin and light and easy to move in, though Tatiana prefers jogging pants than this.
Emma helped her tie her hair back into a high ponytail so that it wouldn't get in the way of training. As soon as they entered the training grounds, the knights could not help themselves but look at the princess in awe.
"The princess really is a beauty," one of the knights whispered breathlessly.
"Who cares if we lose the war, we're already winning with the rare beauty that we have as the future queen."
"All for the honor of Aragon."
Tatiana shifted uncomfortably from the stares. This is the first time she wore a thin and light dress that did not have many layers underneath. The weird thing is that she's fully clothed but she feels naked because it's thin.
"When is he getting here?" she muttered under her breathe and cautiously looked around. "Emma, do I look strange?"
"You look decent, your highness."
"That wasn't the question," she complained, "but I think that's good enough to know."
After a few seconds, the captain arrived at the grounds. He was wearing a simple white V-neck tunic and combat pants with his baldric on the side of his waist that carried a large sword. His hair looked like flat on his head like he just came out of the shower.
He was also holding a quiver and an arrow on his other hand. Tatiana could not help but stare at him, she could not deny that he was a handsome being. No wonder the previous Tatiana was head over heels for him.
She squinted her eyes at the bow and quiver he was holding. It looked like a set that's given to kids.
Bjorn walked closer towards them and handed the bow and quiver over to Tatiana. That's when she realized big and heavy it was. Her mind wasn't doing the math and logic as to why it looked like a kid's toy when Bjorn was holding it and then it became bigger and heavier when it was passed to her.
"Let's go to," he plainly said. He scanned Tatiana's outfit if it was eligible for training but only ended up looking away. He felt like it was a sin to stare at the princess's exposed neckline and collarbone. Even her body shape is more defined in that dress compared to when she's wearing the normal ones.
Tatiana followed after him as they passed through another arched gate. The training ground is surrounded may tall brick walls and the only entrance is the large gate at the front. The inside of the circle shaped training ground are subdivided parts. There is a division for sword training, warm ups, archery, sparring, swimming, and even a shooting and archery range.
They arrived at a field of open space where there are tables in front of them and shooting targets at a few meters away. Bjorn stood in front of one of the tables and nodded at her to come.
Tatiana found that kind of hot. She immediately slapped her cheek for thinking about such things and walked over to Bjorn.
"I taught you archery when you were nine." Bjorn said, you must at least remember some of it."
"But I was nine." Tatiana frowned at Bjorn, "there is no way I could remember that until now."
"Don't worry," Bjorn told her plainly and crossed his arms. "you were good at it even if it was your first time."
The princess rolled her eyes and placed her hands on the bow and pulled the arrow back and aimed.
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END